When the California governor Gavin Newsom was a Veto SB 1047 -a state laws, a veto a veto -veto -veto -ceo from Redwood Research, Buck Shlegeris, a Veto -Veto -Veto -CEO by Veto the disregard for the hazards of artificial intelligence of the Governor of the governor had offended and amazed.

Berkeley based Redwood researchAn advisory company that focuses on reducing AI risks hopes that his research will likely be implemented in the numerous AI corporations of the Bay Area. Although Shhlegeris sees AI as a technology that seems infinitely capable, he also believes that this could possibly be existentially dangerous.

Relatives: besieged Cal State University of the 17 million dollar initiative for artificial intelligence, attacked, attacked

The rise of technology lately has led to different opinions about how the technology industry should regulate its exponential growth. For this mental debate between those that are against the regulation of AI and those that imagine that they condemn humanity to die out, at zero point.

Shhlegeris hopes that Redwood Research can progress with corporations like Google Deep Mind and Anthropic before its worst fears are realized.

Q: How would you describe the potential of KI?

A: I feel that has the potential to be a very transformative technology, even greater than electricity. Electricity is what economists call all -purpose technology, where you may apply them to piles and bunches of various things. As soon as you may have a electricity device, this principally affects every job, since electricity is such a convenient solution to move the ability supply. And in the same way, I feel that it should be very transformative for the world when AI corporations manage to construct AIS that may replace human intelligence.

The global economy grows yearly and the world is getting richer. The world is further developed more technologically and technologically yearly, and this is applicable eternally. It increased for the economic revolution. It has mostly change into faster since then. And a big limit for a way quickly the economy grows is the limit for a way much mental employees could be achieved, how much science and technology could be invented and the way effectively organizations could be carried out. And in the intervening time this can be a bottlenecks among the many human population. However, if we’ve got the chance to make use of computers to do pondering, it’s plausible that we are going to get massively accelerated technological growth in a short time. This could have extremely good results, but I also think that extreme risks are happening.

Q: What are these risks? What is the worst-case scenario for AI?

A: I don't need to literally talk in regards to the worst scenario. But I feel that AIS, the fundamental goals with humanity, have misjudged with humanity, are so strong enough that they principally take control of the world after which kill everyone for their very own purposes in the middle of the usage of the world … I feel it’s plausible.

Q: This is definitely scary.

A: I feel the scenario by which huge robot armies are built by countries by which robot armies need to be very helpful within the fight against wars for the apparent reason. But then the robot armies are expanded by AIS, who need to be built autonomously and buy them autonomously and construct up autonomous factories that may then turn around and kill everyone.

Q: So will we discuss a 1% likelihood?

A: More than 1%. Another bad result can be, I feel it’s conceivable that somebody from a AI company will take control of the world and appoint himself as emperor on this planet.

Q: Back to the Bay Area-specific AI industry: San Francisco appears to be a bed of aspiring giants within the Techskuten, while Berkeley and Oakland appear to be a stroke for research and AI security officers. How did these different political groups develop within the Bay Area?

It is essentially a historical accident. Basically there was principally a AI security community in Berkeley in Berkeley simply because. The Machine Intelligence Research Institute (Miri), which was an enormous deal on this room, had an end in Berkeley in 2007. And then I feel it’s just numerous people like a core community. I do know numerous individuals who work in Miri. I worked there myself and so they were in Berkeley, so I worked for them, so I moved to Berkeley. Another solution to say that Berkeley has long been a middle of the rationalistic community, and plenty of people who find themselves excited by AI security research that I feel they refer are related to the rationalistic community.

Q: I enjoy seeing a historical tie that explains how the communities have grown, even with a technology like AI that only dates back 30 years.

A: And the explanation why the SF is in SF is especially that VC -Startups were historical. There are simply not many large technology corporations in Berkeley and Oakland.

Q: How does Silicon Valley introduce this division in AI?

A: If I pulled broad strokes, the large corporations of the large Silicon Valley – with which I mean Google and Apple and Meta – how they appear at things. and capital? 'In my experience, these corporations only attempt to pursue AI skills because they imagine that this will likely be helpful for them in good products. The AI ​​people at Meta, lots of them are individuals who have recently got involved. But the individuals who began open AI and Anthropic were true believers who had entered these items before chat -gpt before it was obvious that this might be an enormous deal at short notice. And in order that they see a difference by which the open AI people and anthropic persons are more idealistic. Sam Altman has been saying very extreme things about AI on the Internet for greater than a decade. This applies less to the meta people.

Q: Do you think that that the hype that comes from these AI corporations is exaggerated – or do you underline it?

A: I feel that many individuals, especially Tech journalists who are likely to be a bit cynical after they talk in regards to the AI ​​people about how powerful they think they could possibly be AI. But I'm nervous that this instinct starts flawed here. I feel the AI ​​people don't overload their technology. My feeling is that the large AI corporations, if in any respect, undermine what they really construct because they’d sound incredibly irresponsible. I feel that sometimes they are saying things about how big they will likely be for his or her technology, what it sounds crazy, that personal corporations can develop it. I bet when you went to those corporations, you’ll hear her say how crazy things are saying publicly.

Buck Shlegeris profile

Title: CEO by Redwood Research

Age: 30

Training: BS in computer science from Australian National University

Residence: Berkeley, California.

5 things you need to learn about Buck Shlegeris

1. He worked on the Machine Intelligence Research Institute in Berkeley, where he contributed to researching AI security theory.
2. He is a teaching assistant on the Academy app in San Francisco and plans to make use of his income in programming to present charity organizations that improve the longer term.
3. Schlegeris comes from Australia and emigrated to the USA 10 years ago.
4. He is a multidisciplinary musician, including guitar, bass and saxophone.
5. During his studies at Australia National University, he taught students in code programs similar to Python, JavaScript and Haskell.

Originally published: February 21, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

By Linley Sanders, Associated Press

Washington (AP) – the trust of the Americans in air travel and the federal authorities who’re commissioned to keep up air security.

The survey of The Associated Press-Norc Center for Public Affairs Research Shows that 64% of US -growing say that aircraft tours are “very safe” or “something safe”. That is Just a little down from last yrWhen 71% said that. About 2 out of 10 US -growing people now say that air transport may be very or somewhat unsafe, in comparison with 12% in 2024.

The confidence in the power of the federal government agencies to make sure secure air travel. Just a little greater than half of US -growing people have “a lot” or “a moderate trust” within the federal government's authorities as a way to maintain air safety for the upkeep of flight safety of around 6 last yr.

The survey was carried out shortly afterwards from February sixth to tenth The collision on January thirtieth Between a passenger jet from American Airlines and a helicopter of the military in Washington, but beforehand A delta jet turned on his roof During the landing in Toronto. The Washington collision, by which all 67 people were killed on board the 2 aircraft, was the country of the country Deadliest aviation disaster Since 2001, the decline in trust has indicated, even though it is small, that the event can have touched some Americans. The survey 2024 was carried out after one other incident, by which questions on the protection of the flight were raised, by which a panel drained an Alaska Airlines Jetliner via Oregon and a gaping hole on the aircraft side.

Overall, the Americans think that traveling by plane is as secure as on foot or by automobile. About two thirds say that walking or driving are secure technique of transport. Only about half of US -grown -ups say that an area U -Bahn, U -Bahn or light rail system is secure. In accordance with 2024.

After the accident in Washington, President Donald Trump, a Republican, accused efforts of promoting funding and inclusion And reassured Americans that it’s secure to fly. This can assist to elucidate why Democrats and independent, but not the Republicans, saw a decline in trust.

The conviction of the independent that the aircraft tours is secure fell, of about 6 out of 10, which last yr actually described as much as about 4 to 10 as secure. About 7 out of 10 Democrats say that aircraft tours are secure, something after about three quarters in 2024. The Republicans haven’t modified their views of the protection of air travel.

Democrats and independent even have less confidence in government's ability to make sure air safety than 4 years ago. The survey was carried out beforehand The dismissal of employees of the probation helper air trip managementBut at the very least a part of the shift might be related to the change in Joe Biden's presidential administration, a democrat.

In January 2024, when bidges were still president, around 7 out of 10 Democrats stated that they’d a high degree of trust within the federal government's authorities as a way to maintain air security. Now only 6 of 10 Democrats say that. The trust of the independent also took back, while the opinions of the Republicans didn’t move.

The survey showed that the trust of the US -growing people in pilots and business airlines stays unchanged. About 8 out of 10 US-growing people have a high degree of trust in pilots, and about three quarters say about business airlines.

The AP-NORC survey of 1,112 adults was carried out from February 6 to 10 using a sample from the probability base of NORC, which is designed as representative of the US population. The sales edge for adults in total is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

Originally published: February 19, 2025 at 4:45 a.m. PST

Three Bay Area high schools received grants from the National Parent-Teacher Association, funded by the social media platform TikTok, to assist teens and their families discuss digital safety.

The PTA organizations on the three schools — American High School in Fremont, Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco and the Oakland School for the Arts — each received $3,000 to determine a program called “Create with Kindness.” This would allow students and their parents or guardians to return together to speak about their experiences on social media and what sort of support they need.

TikTok has also put together a comprehensive toolkit of the platform's security tools and resources. The company's future within the United States is uncertain; A bill signed in April 2024 would ban the social media service by January 19 unless it separates from its China-based parent company. However, the Supreme Court agreed to listen to arguments on its constitutionality on Friday.

“This digital world is not going away, so we need to be proactive about how we deal with it,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of the National PTA. “Through this partnership with TikTok, we are working with them to educate families, bring them together, have open conversations, listen to teens, listen to parents and invent together.”

The grants may be utilized by PTA organizations to prepare events related to this system, equivalent to providing translation services, child care or meals. TikTok provided a complete of $300,000 for the grants, which were distributed to 100 local and regional PTAs in high schools across the country.

Ronald Taylor, head of Youth Safety Outreach and Partnerships at TikTok, said this system goals to assist bridge the knowledge gap between teenagers and their parents about social media. He said parents desired to know what safeguards were in place to guard their children and the way they may use them. On the opposite hand, Taylor said he has heard teens say they need more transparency about what deems certain content “volatile” in comparison with others.

Taylor said one in all the safety features they wish to promote is the “Family Pairing” feature, which allows an adult to pair their TikTok account with their child's account to observe their use of the app, including their searches . Taylor highlighted TikTok's efforts to advertise secure use of its platform, equivalent to through standard safety features that direct people looking for potentially harmful content to links to assist centers to discourage teens from viewing inappropriate content.

When asked if there are concerns about censorship around race, gender and sexuality on the platform resulting from parental oversight features, Taylor said TikTok is designed to “really facilitate that conversation between teens and adults in their lives” and The program focuses on modeling these conversations and providing support.

“Working with the National PTA and listening to the experiences of teens and parents is critical to helping build safe platforms,” Taylor said. “That’s really the biggest thing that I think is the most important takeaway from our work; It’s really about putting youth at the center as experts in their own experiences.”

Johnson said this system is a proactive effort to provide families the resources to have these conversations about digital safety and practice positive interactions online. She said the rules taught in these workshops could help parents ensure their children are usually not bullied online and are usually not exposed to content that shouldn’t be good for them. And while TikTok is the main focus of those events, Johnson said this recommendation may be applied across all social media platforms.

“We believe that when an individual family allows their teens to access an app or a platform like TikTok, it is so important that everyone in the household knows how to navigate this platform safely,” Johnson said.

Nick Cawthon, PTA president at Oakland School for the Arts, said they hope to attain a balanced perspective on social media, especially given the negative impact it might probably have on teenage girls. He said he hoped this system would also display how social media platforms may be used for good and illustrate the potential pitfalls that arise from interacting with these platforms.

Mugdha Ghole, PTA president at American High School, said her organization plans to carry a “Create with Kindness” event during lunchtime sometime in February or March. She said they plan to ask psychologists to their event and offer refreshments to encourage students and their families to attend.

Valerie Vitullo, PTA president at Abraham Lincoln High School, said she connects along with her children by sharing videos on TikTok. And while she said her children have never needed to take care of greater than an inappropriate direct message that was easily blocked and ignored, she said she's looking forward to this system to see how other parents interact with their children and social media interact.

“If parents know how these programs work, we will be better prepared,” Vitullo said.

All three PTA presidents said they hope to host their “Create with Kindness” events by March, but each TikTok creators and users have concerns a few possible ban. President-elect Donald Trump has signaled his opposition to the measure signed by President Joe Biden.

Vitullo said she was concerned that banning TikTok can be a violation of free speech.

“We need access to information. “We see things on TikTok and Instagram that we don’t see in mainstream media,” Vitullo said. “With a TikTok ban, we will be much more disconnected from each other and we will not be able to consciously share ideas and educate each other about what is happening in anything, be it political, social, our health, our lives and mental well-being. “

Still, Vitullo said her PTA chapter is still planning the “Create with Kindness” event.

“I hope it will be a success. I hope the parents and students we present this to get a lot out of it,” she said. “It’s important to have that kind of connection with your children.”

Originally published: January 9, 2025 at 6:15 am PST

As wildfires spread to neighborhoods, they burn all forms of materials present in cars and houses and the whole lot around them — electronics, paint, plastics, furniture.

Research shows that the mixture of Chemicals released When man-made materials like these burn, what’s produced in a vegetation fire is different and potentially more toxic. The smoke and ash can waft under doors and around windows in nearby homes, introducing chemicals which might be absorbed into furniture, partitions and other interior surfaces and proceed to off-gas for weeks to months.

When people return to smoke-damaged homes after a wildfire, there are several steps you possibly can take to guard your health before you begin cleansing.

Increased content of metals and VOCs

In 2021, after the Marshall Fire swept through neighborhoods near Boulder, Colorado, my colleagues and I at universities and labs in Colorado heard from many residents who were concerned in regards to the ash and lingering odors of their homes made that might otherwise have withstood the flames.

They found them in houses that my colleagues were in a position to quickly test increased amounts of metals and PAHs – polycyclic fragrant hydrocarbons – within the ash. We also found elevated VOCs – volatile organic compounds – in air samples. Some VOCs, similar to Dioxins, benzene, formaldehyde And PAHwill be toxic to humans. Benzene is a known to be carcinogenic.

At this time, we were unable to seek out any information in regards to the physical health effects of individuals returning to smoke-filled homes after a wildfire. So to search for patterns, we residents surveyed Affected by the hearth six months, one 12 months and two years after the hearth.

We also discovered this six months after the hearth Many people reported symptoms This was consistent with the health risks related to smoke and ash from fires.

More than half (55%) said they experienced at the very least one symptom that they attributed to the Marshall Fire six months after the hearth. The mostly reported symptoms were itchy or watery eyes (33%), headache (30%), dry cough (27%), sneezing (26%) and sore throat (23%).

All of those symptoms, in addition to a wierd taste within the mouth, have been linked to people reporting that their home smelled different once they returned there every week after the hearth.

Many survey participants reported that the smells diminished over time. Most attributed the development in odor to the passage of time, cleansing surfaces and air ducts, replacing furnace filters, and removing carpets, textiles, and furniture from the house. Despite this, many still had symptoms.

We also found that living near numerous burned buildings was related to these health symptoms. We found that for each 10 additional buildings destroyed inside 820 feet (250 meters) of an individual's home, headaches increased by 21% and strange tastes of their mouth increased by 26%.

These symptoms are consistent with what can be expected from exposure to the chemicals we present in the ash and measured within the air within the few smoke-damaged homes we were in a position to examine intimately.

Persistent symptoms and questions

There are still many unanswered questions on the health risks posed by homes damaged by smoke and ash.

For example, we don't yet know what the long-term health consequences could be for people living with gases from wildfire smoke and ash of their homes. We found a major one Decrease within the number of individuals report symptoms one 12 months after the hearth. However, 33% of individuals whose homes were affected and who responded to a subsequent survey still reported at the very least one symptom that they attributed to the hearth. About the identical percentage also reported at the very least one symptom two years after the hearth.

We also couldn't measure the quantity of VOCs or metals everybody was exposed to. However, we consider reports of a change in odor in an individual's home every week after the hearth indicate the likely presence of VOCs in the house. This is more likely to have health implications for people whose homes are exposed to wildfire smoke or ash.

Tips for safeguarding yourself after forest fires

Forest fires are More and more houses and other buildings are burning down As an increasing number of people move into the interface between wilderness and city, temperatures are rising and the hearth season is lengthening.

If your house survives an area wildfire, listed here are a few of them Steps to take into consideration Before you begin cleansing:

• When you're ready to scrub your house, start by protecting yourself. Wear at the very least one N95 (or KN95) mask in addition to gloves, goggles, and clothing that covers your skin. Cleaning can release a few of these gases and ash back into the air.

• Keep individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant women, children and pets away from cleanup operations.

• Vacuum floors, curtains and furniture. A current scientific study documents how cleansing all surfaces in a house can reduce VOC reservoirs and lower VOC concentrations in indoor air. Once the air outside clears, open the windows to let in clean air.

• Avoid harsh chemical cleaners as they will react with the chemicals within the ash.

• Clean your HVAC filter and ducts to stop further spread of ash, and alter filters monthly until the smell is gone. Portable air purifiers with carbon filters may help remove VOCs and particles.

• If your automobile smells like smoke, it’s best to consider changing the cabin air filter.

You've probably seen several advertisements for services and products designed to extend your security online. When you switch in your TV, see online advertisements, and even receive in-app notifications, you're prone to come across cybersecurity technology marketed as the last word solution and last line of defense against digital threats.

Cybersecurity is big businessand technology firms often sell their products based on fear. These campaigns are sometimes based on what I call the technology-user cycle, a feedback loop that creates more problems than it solves.

Here's how it really works: Cybersecurity firms often market their products with tactics that include fear (“Hackers are looking for your data!”), blame (“If something happens, it's your fault!”), and complexity (“Only our advanced solution can “protect”) emphasize “You”). They perpetuate the idea that users are not inherently smart enough to manage security independently and that the solution is to do so Adopt the newest services or products.

As Cybersecurity ResearcherI find that this approach is commonly unintentional, harmful consequences for humans. Instead of feeling empowered, users feel helpless and convinced that cybersecurity is beyond their understanding. They may even evolve Techno stressoverwhelmed by the necessity to sustain with constant updates, recent tools, and limitless threat alerts.

Over time, this could result in apathy and resentment. Users may withdraw because they imagine they’re at all times in peril irrespective of what they do. Ironically, this mindset makes them more vulnerable as they start to overlook easy, practical steps they may take to guard yourself.

The cycle is self-sustaining. When users feel less confident, they usually tend to demand recent technologies to resolve their problem, reinforcing the very marketing tactics that created their insecurity in the primary place. Security vendors, in turn, deliver on their guarantees of complete solutions, reinforcing the claim that individuals cannot manage security without their products.

Ironically, as people's reliance on security products increases, their security may decline. They begin to disregard basic practices, change into indifferent to constant warnings, and blindly trust in solutions they don't understand.

The result’s that users proceed to be stuck in a loop where they depend on the technology but lack the boldness to make use of it safely, creating much more opportunities for those with malicious intent to take advantage of it.

Development of cybercrime

I even have been working in cybersecurity because the early Nineteen Nineties and have seen the sector evolve over the a long time. I've seen adversaries adapt to recent defenses and exploit people's growing reliance on the Internet. Two key changes particularly are defining moments within the evolution of cybercrime.

The first change got here with the conclusion that cybercrime might be hugely profitable. As society transitioned from paper checks and money transactions to digital payments, criminals discovered that it was relatively easy to acquire and steal money electronically. This transition to digital finance created opportunities for criminals strengthen their attacksbypasses physical barriers and targets the systems that underpin modern payment methods.

The second shift occurred over a decade ago, when criminals directly targeted individuals slightly than simply going after firms or governments. While corporate attacks, ransomware campaigns, and significant infrastructure breaches still make headlines, there has also been one Increase in attacks on on a regular basis users. Cybercriminals have learned that individuals are sometimes less prepared and more trusting than firms, providing lucrative opportunities.

This combination of digital financial systems and direct user engagement has redefined cybersecurity. It's not nearly protecting businesses or critical infrastructure; It's about ensuring that the common person isn’t left defenseless. But the best way cybersecurity technology is marketed and deployed often leaves users confused and feeling helpless.

Empowering users

The excellent news is that you may have more power than you think that. Cybersecurity doesn’t must feel like an unsolvable puzzle or a task for experts alone. Instead of letting fear drive you into techno-stress or apathy, you possibly can take matters into your individual hands by counting on trusted sources like community organizations, local libraries, and tech-savvy friends.

These trusted voices can simplify the jargon, provide straightforward advice, and enable you to make informed decisions. Imagine a world where you don't must depend on faceless firms, but as an alternative turn to a network of people that genuinely wish to see you succeed.

I imagine cybersecurity providers should offer tools and training which can be inclusive, accessible, and focused on users' real needs. At the identical time, people should actively take part in community-driven initiatives, adopt thoughtful security practices, and depend on trusted resources for advice. People feel more confident and capable after they surround themselves with people who find themselves willing to show and support them. Users can then adopt the technology properly, slightly than buying every recent product out of fear or turning away entirely.

This community-based approach goes beyond individual corrections. It creates a culture of shared responsibility and empowerment and helps create a safer and more resilient digital ecosystem.

resources

To take control of your cybersecurity and construct your confidence, it's essential to know where to seek out reliable information and support. The following list of resources includes trusted organizations, community programs, and academic tools that may enable you to higher understand cybersecurity, protect yourself from threats, and even connect with local experts or colleagues for advice.

Whether you would like to protect your devices, learn learn how to spot fraud, or stay informed concerning the latest digital threats, these resources are a terrific place to start out. Empowerment starts with step one to understanding your digital world.

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect within the fatal shooting of a health care executive in New York City, apparently lived a charmed life: He was the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite preparatory school in Baltimore and with degrees from the most effective schools within the country Top private universities.

Friends in an exclusive apartment community on the sting of touristy Waikiki, Hawaii, where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived, were widely considered to be a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on the beach and at parties.

Now investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to find out why Mangione can have deviated from that path and made the violent and radical decision to shoot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street.

The murder sparked widespread discussion about corporate greed and injustice within the medical health insurance industry, and even sparked folk hero feelings toward his killer.

But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that assumption after Mangione was arrested Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania saw Mangione eating and noticed in surveillance camera photos released by the New York Police Department that he was following Resembled suspects.

“In some dark corners this murderer is being hailed as a hero. Listen to me, he’s not a hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald's this morning.”

Mangione's family and upbringing

Mangione comes from a outstanding Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his most famous projects was the Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978.

The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County law enforcement officials blocked the doorway to the property that public records show is related to Luigi Mangione's parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the doorway.

According to a 2003 Washington Post report, Nick Mangione, a father of 10, groomed his five sons – including Luigi Mangione's father, Louis Mangione – to assist run the family business. According to his grandfather's obituary, Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi.

According to an announcement from Loyola University commemorating the death of Nick Mangione's wife in 2023, Luigi Mangione's grandparents donated to charity through the Mangione Family Foundation. They donated to numerous causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the humanities.

One of Luigi Mangione's cousins ​​is Maryland Republican state Rep. Nino Mangione, a House spokesman confirmed.

“Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in an announcement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We are praying for Brian Thompson’s family and asking people to pray for everyone involved.”

Mangione's education and skilled profession

Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020, a university spokesman told The Associated Press.

He learned to code in highschool and helped found a club at Penn for people involved in games and game design, based on a 2018 article in Penn Today, a campus publication.

His social media posts indicate that he belonged to the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. They also show him attending a Stanford University program in 2019 and in photos with family and friends on the Jersey Shore in addition to in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico and other destinations.

The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is considered one of Baltimore's elite prep schools. The children of a number of the city's wealthiest and most outstanding residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the varsity. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Governor Fife Symington.

In his farewell speech, Luigi Mangione described the “incredible courage of his classmates to explore the unknown and try new things.”

According to a LinkedIn profile, after highschool, Mangione accomplished a software programming internship at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs within the hit strategy game Civilization 6. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it will not comment on former employees.

He most recently worked at car-buying website TrueCar but hasn't worked there since 2023, the top of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP.

Time in Hawaii and reports of back pain

Like other residents of the shared penthouse that houses distant staff, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesman for owner and founder RJ Martin.

“Luigi was generally considered a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There were no signs pointing to the alleged crimes he was alleged to have committed.”

At Surfbreak, Martin learned that Mangione had had severe back pain since childhood, affecting many points of his life, including browsing, Ryan said.

“He went surfing with RJ once, but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went to a climbing gym together.

Mangione left Surfbreak to have surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted on a social media account linked to Mangione showed what gave the impression to be an X-ray of a metal rod and a number of other screws inserted into an individual's lower spine.

Martin didn't hear from Mangione for six months to a 12 months.

An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts concerning the negative effects of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti concerning the dangers of “adapting well to a deeply sick society.”

The police report a darker turn of events

According to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by the AP, Mangione was likely motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” medical health insurance corporations and a disdain for corporate greed.

He wrote that the U.S. has the costliest health care system on this planet and that big corporations' profits proceed to rise while “our life expectancy” doesn’t increase, the bulletin said, based on a review of the suspect's handwritten notes and social media posts.

He appeared to view the targeted assassination of UnitedHealthcare's CEO as a symbolic defeat, claiming in his note that he was “the first to approach the matter with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said.

Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and can have taken inspiration from the person who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said.

___

Associated Press reporter Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, DC, contributed to this report.

Originally published: December 11, 2024 at 7:26 am PST

“Weapons, Guards and Gates”

About one in five American adults recurrently provide unpaid care or financial support to their adult relatives or friends. And about 1 in 7 young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 live with their parents.

But the true level of support amongst Americans is deeper and broader.

From parents covering the price of unexpected automotive repairs to co-workers fundraising for his or her colleagues' medical expenses, Americans help one another in countless ways.

As Social work scientist who explores these patterns of what I call “financial interdependence“I often see transactions that challenge the common American narrative that most people in this country manage their own spending.”

A protracted-standing tradition

The practice of sharing money with friends and family members has deep roots in American society. Many Native American communities have done this Traditions of sharing food and other resources one another.

In the nineteenth century Mutual aid associations formed in every single place from Philadelphia to Florida. Many of them have helped lift black people out of economic hardship. These organizations provided every little thing from unemployment assistance to funeral expenses.

Today's informal support networks reflect these historical patterns.

In particular, many immigrant communities maintain traditional practices joint saving and lending Money. Mexican American families often take part in “tandas,” where their savings are pooled to attain financial goals or meet urgent needs. Likewise the West African and Caribbean communities within the USA Organize “Susu” groupswhile many Chinese American communities form “hui” associations.

In addition, local “hometown associations” often offer each financial and social support to their members, helping immigrant communities within the United States and other people of their home countries.

Everyone does it

These mutual support agreements are very widespread and apply to all income levels, although in numerous forms. She will be secular or religious in nature. The true extent of this sort of activity is usually unknown.

Lower-income families often engage in frequent, smaller exchanges. She could share the food costsFor example, relatives may help one another pay large, unexpected bills.

Wealthier Americans tend to offer larger amounts of cash to larger relations, but less often. This may also include parents Help with a deposit on a young adult's first home or paying a part of the price of 1 Grandson's college education.

Some families establish formal structures resembling: Financial trusts or 529 Education Savings Accounts to facilitate the implementation and tracking of those transfers. The number of individuals using 529 accounts has steadily increasedbecause the states offer appropriate resources and tax incentives.

The nature of this financial support often reflects economic needs and cultural values. In many East Asian American communities, for instance, adult children routinely provide financial support to their parents – as a cultural expectation.

Regardless of the community involved, technology has modified the best way people share money with their family and friends.

Mobile payment platforms make it easier to allocate costs and supply quick help. Money transfer apps have normalized small-scale financial sharing amongst family and friends.

Online and social media platforms are used to assemble resources for medical expenses, funerals or emergencies. These tools extend traditional support networks beyond geographic boundaries.

Other forms of support

Financial assistance can go far beyond direct monetary assistance.

Families and communities could Buy groceries in bulk living together to get monetary savings or living together to deal with rising housing costs. Some parents create informal childcare cooperativeswhile others coordinate care responsibilities for aging relatives with their prolonged families.

Financial education often focuses on individual saving and budgeting. Still, many Americans practice financial interdependence by managing their funds and making decisions along with others.

Tackle challenges

To meet today's economic challenges, Americans are finding creative solutions using shared resources.

More and more young adults need more help becoming homeowners than what they will get from a bank. The average home price has far outpaced wage growth Family support is crucial for a lot of first-time buyers.

Tuition fees have stabilized, albeit at a high levelThis results in more families pooling their resources for educational support. This often arises long-term financial commitments across generations.

Medical expenses remain a number one reason for financial stress Families must depend on one another to pay health care costs.

These support systems operate at many levels, including family, community, workplace, and government.

Some employers now offer this Emergency loan programs and related resources for the plight of employees. Some firms create formal peer support systems for workers facing financial challenges.

A number of states also support caring relatives through tax credits to reimburse their expenses.

Understanding the financial burden of caregiving, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proposed a tax credit to support nursing and transportation services for those in need of care.

Some complications

While financial interdependence is a vital help, it will probably also bring challenges.

Financial obligations can strain family and friendship relationships. Providing an excessive amount of financial help could cause or worsen problems Power imbalances in relationships. Some churches may not have the funds for to support all members equally and effectively.

Clear communication and healthy boundaries may also help manage these tensions.

As economic pressures increase for a lot of American families, these informal financial support networks have gotten increasingly essential. Studies show that costs are rising It is becoming increasingly difficult to attain financial stability on your individual.