The Winnipeg Police Service has defended how — and why — decisions are made to release suspects accused of crimes with conditions to follow ahead of court proceedings. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The Winnipeg Police Service has defended how — and why — decisions are made to release suspects accused of crimes with conditions to follow ahead of court proceedings. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The Winnipeg Police Service has defended how — and why — decisions are made to release suspects accused of crimes with conditions to follow ahead of court proceedings. The issue of releasing alleged repeat offenders and how bail and other forms of release are granted have become hot-button political issues locally and nationally in recent years, following public scrutiny of cases in which individuals accused of violent offences have gone on to be charged in further bloodshed after being let out on conditions. Canada’s premiers have made requests to the federal Liberal government for changes to the bail system. The Winnipeg Police Service says it is mandated by law to use custody as a last resort and to release charged persons on the least onerous conditions possible prior to their court date. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files) Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has pledged to make “jail, not bail” for repeat offenders the law if elected prime minister. In Manitoba, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced a plan earlier this year meant to encourage Crown attorneys to more stringently approach bail, though some prosecutors privately panned the policy. The WPS argues its hands are tied by recent Criminal Code amendments in how supervising officers determine who to release and who to detain, with news releases frequently including a line that says the release of suspects on undertakings or appearance notices are “mandated” by the law. But current Manitoba prosecutors and a University of Manitoba law professor who recently spoke to the say that’s a misinterpretation. Police can decide to release an individual on an undertaking or appearance notice at their discretion, which both require attendance in court, or recommend to Crown prosecutors they be detained. If they’re detained, the accused will then be granted a hearing, where the courts will determine whether to grant bail pending further proceedings. WPS Sgt. Grant Lindgren, who worked in the city police central processing unit for a long time, said Criminal Code amendments that followed two 2017 Supreme Court decisions have fundamentally changed how police make decisions regarding detention and release. “Detention is absolute, 100 per cent, last resort.... We’re obligated, bound by law, to release people as early as possible on the least onerous conditions,” said Lindgren. “Most importantly, our grounds for detaining somebody have to be on objective, reasonable grounds to believe that they pose a continued risk.” He said, as a supervisor, when one of his officers makes an arrest, he must take into account what the person’s record of criminal convictions for related offences is, whether they’re reasonably likely to attend court and if they’re a reasonable and objective risk to public safety or for reoffending, among other considerations. Lindgren added that now, following the law amendments, police are able to impose certain release conditions, such as curfews, that they were unable to prior. “There are a lot of what-ifs — but we can’t base an objective decision on a what-if scenario,” said Lindgren. “What-ifs are always concerning, because human nature is such that we (develop) an idea based on what might happen, but the principles of justice are such that your Charter rights are based on what is, not what if; it’s just that simple.” One Crown attorney told the it was “crap” that police “keep blaming it on the code” when they release an accused person alleged to have committed a crime of violence. “The code allows for us to detain people when there is violence,” the prosecutor said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “There are definitely times they release people and say it is because of the code, and that is not accurate.” U of M law professor Brandon Trask, who used to work as a Crown attorney in the Maritimes, said he finds the police use of the term “mandated” concerning. “It’s concerning that the public is being left with the impression that our law mandates release. Our law, generally speaking, does not mandate release — that’s a judgment call,” said Trask. “In a lot of cases, that’s simply not accurate, and I’m puzzled as to why the police keep saying an individual’s release was mandated. There are pathways in our Criminal Code... to take a person into custody.” Police have “ultimate discretion” to release an accused on an undertaking as they see fit, a second Crown attorney said. “They can release them on an undertaking without referring to us at all,” the prosecutor said. Lindgren said that he thinks the police service is interpreting the Criminal Code accurately. “If somebody says down the road, you didn’t interpret it correctly, then that’s their prerogative.” Winnipeg defence lawyer Chris Gamby said bail and other forms of release pending trial underpin Canada’s justice system — and emphasized it’s a Charter right. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “It’s tied directly to the presumption of innocence — anybody that is arrested and charged by police is presumed innocent, until a court decides otherwise,” said Gamby. “It is distasteful, I think, to detain people prior to that final decision, but it is necessary to do just that in some cases.” Cases that require detention include those where the public is at risk, the accused won’t show up in court or if it would be shocking to the public to see the accused bailed, shaking confidence in the administration of justice, said Gamby. He said detaining individuals without bail can upend the lives of accused people before their guilt or innocence is determined. erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Erik Pindera is a reporter for the , mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the in 2020. . Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Erik Pindera is a reporter for the , mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the in 2020. . Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Updated on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 5:55 PM CST: Minor edits

NoneIn 1996, a pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, administered a drug known as Trovan to children in Kano State, leading to deaths and permanent disability. Twenty-eight years after the incident, survivors lament how their lives have been negatively altered, writes VICTOR AYENI In 1996, Nigeria experienced the worst outbreak of meningitis which swept through the northern part of the country. An estimate given by the World Health Organisation in March 1996 revealed that there were 8,423 cases with 1,181 deaths. The cases were reported in Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Sokoto and Taraba states. Kano was the worst hit by the epidemic. Meningitis, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention is an inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Many different things can cause meningitis. It could be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Other causes include certain injuries and drugs. Most cases of bacterial meningitis are regarded as a medical emergency and sufferers are often advised to be treated as soon as possible. This made the Federal Government at the time, to approve the application of the pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer, which sought to enter the country and treat meningitis patients and provide preventive medication. Unbeknownst to the recipients, the patients were part of a trial for Pfizer’s experimental antibiotic, trovafloxacin (Trovan), a drug that had not yet received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Tragically, the consequences were devastating. The experimental drug led to the death of 11 children and left many others with lasting deformities. What many parents had hoped would cure a deadly disease instead unleashed a wave of death, disability, and emotional anguish. The aftermath of this tragedy sparked a prolonged legal battle involving the affected families, the Kano State Government, and Pfizer, a dispute that stretched over many years. Now, 28 years after Trovan was administered to children in Kano, and despite numerous court proceedings, the victims continue to grapple with the lasting impacts of this ill-fated medical experiment. Stunted dreams, dashed hopes One of the children on whom Trovan was administered, Rukaya Salisu, fought back tears as she narrated how her life has been negatively altered beyond what anyone could imagine since she was given the experimental drug. Salisu suffers from a rare case of osteoporosis, malocclusion, and other physical deformities which are associated with stunted growth and abnormal formation of her upper and lower limbs. When she was 15, she asked her mother what happened to her, after she observed that all her siblings looked normal but she didn’t. “It was then she told me that the government announced on the radio that all children that were nine months should be taken to the hospital for vaccination and I was given the Pfizer drug. “After the vaccination, I began to have fever and she gave me paracetamol. When I was taken to the hospital, I was told that the vaccine damaged my hormones that should help my body and teeth to be strong. I was normal before the vaccination. “Every day, my leg would break and I couldn’t walk again. My bone was no longer strong like those of normal people. That is why I’m not growing and even my teeth is not strong. My parents could not put me in school because if I’m playing with my mates, any small mistake and I fall down, I would sustain injuries,” she told News Central TV . Today, Salisu’s parents, who once supported her education, are no longer alive. Her siblings have stepped in to shoulder the burden of her school fees, feeding, clothing, and transportation. However, the emotional toll of being heavily dependent on others weighs deeply on her. “I wish I could work and make money, but I can’t because I’m not strong. I can’t even walk far and even when I want to bathe, I can’t carry the bucket by myself; I can’t do it. “My sisters and neighbours have been the ones helping me. In school, my roommates are the ones who hold my hands so I can walk to the lecture room,” she added, wiping away her tears. Salisu is just one of many who endured the devastating effects of Pfizer’s experimental drug. Another victim, Bilkisu Abbas, was told by her parents that the Pfizer drug was given to her when she was about three years old. Afterwards, she could not move her leg. “It started by shrinking one of my legs and completely drying it up. Then two days after being taken to the hospital, the other leg also shrunk and dried up. There is a muscle around my knee that cannot straighten because it’s permanently bent. “Sometimes, I would want to put on certain clothes, for instance, if I see fellow ladies wearing certain clothes that I love; I can’t wear those dresses. I end up getting embarrassed because the clothes would fall off my body. I have totally been deprived of my life,” Abbas said amid tears. Opening the lid on how her condition affected her marital life, Abbas revealed that her marriage lasted for a few months because her former husband left, stating that he could not cope with a deformed wife. “What hurts me the most is when prospective male suitors come around me. They will end up leaving, saying they can’t marry a cripple or disabled person. My husband left me because his family said I was too much of a burden on him, so he left me,” she said. Another victim, Hafsat Musa, recounted that she and her late brother, Abdullahi Musa, were hospitalised and treated with Pfizer’s experimental drug while battling meningitis. Abdullahi was discharged and allowed to go home, but unfortunately, he did not survive as he died the next day. Related News Kano unveils milk collection centres 21-year-old suspected thug arrested in Kano Police arrest key suspect in Kano youth clashes “I also took the medication and then it affected me in my legs. From then, I couldn’t use my legs again,” Hafsat said. ‘Our condition robbed us of education’ Also suffering a similar fate, 29-year-old Sa’adatu Tijani, said before she was given the drug at the hospital when she had meningitis, she walked around without any problem. But after the Pfizer medication, she described how her legs began to get bad to the point that she could no longer hold on to things firmly or do things that required energy. “It was as if my legs were cut off,” she told News Central TV. “After I was discharged from the hospital that was trying to treat me afterwards to no avail, I started learning how to move, stand, sit, and do other things that require the use of my limbs again. “My aunt carried me on her back and took me back to the hospital gate and told them how my condition has been worsened, but they refused to let us in saying it is not their business. Each time I remember it, my heart breaks.” The 29-year-old lamented that her condition forced her to quit going to school and also prevented her from getting married. “Anyone who has interest in marrying me or comes close, finds out that I’m disabled and then they will change their minds,” Tijani added. Also speaking in the documentary, Tijani’s father, Mr Mukhtar Danjuma, said his encounter with Pfizer had been a nightmare following the permanent disability to his daughter. “It’s been more than 22 or 25 years. Since then, we haven’t got any solution. We had to bring her back home to start treating her with Hausa alternative medicine when the orthodox medicine didn’t seem to be working.” Sharing a similarly grim reality, another victim, Mamman Abdullahi, revealed, “Unlike my siblings, I couldn’t attend school or hold a job. I’ve also become permanently dependent on medication. Every day, I visit the orthopedic hospital for my treatment.” A fraction of compensation Many parents endured the heartbreak of losing their children. Among them is Ismaila Danbuzu, whose daughter, Hadija Ishmael, passed away in 1996 after being administered Trovan in Kano. Although Pfizer had argued that the meningitis, and not its antibiotic, had led to the death of 11 children and harm to dozens of others, in 2009, it reached a tentative out-of-court settlement with the Kano State Government worth $75m. It was also reported that in 2011 Pfizer compensated each of the victims and the families affected with $175,000. Danbuzu said he only received $7,000 (an equivalent of N2.4m) instead of the $175,000 promised. “We need help. We need all the support to collect the remaining balance,” he said. “I was paid N2m and a few fractions not up to N40,000. They even called all the victims including myself in and they conducted a DNA test on us,” Tijani disclosed. “They said they would pay us $10,000, but they paid us only $7,000,” Asabe Bala, the mother of a victim alleged. A social justice advocate, Linus Usman, said Pfizer should have reached out to the victims during the compensation one after the other through their relatives, the hospital and the government. “It was gathered that some were not even aware of any compensation at any time,” Usman added. Former AGF speaks Commenting on how the Federal Government sought to get justice for the victims, a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN), explained that the issue started before his appointment in 2007. He noted that his predecessor was quite aware of the matter which happened in Kano, and that the state government had sought the support of the Federal Government to bring the directors of Pfizer and other officials who were directly involved to stand trial in Kano State. Aondoakaa said, “The president directed the request to my office and we gave them the support they needed. The Kano State government engaged a very competent and accomplished lawyer, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who later became the Vice President. “The matter was a federal offence so we requested to apprehend the officials and send them back to Nigeria for trials. We also obtained a warrant of arrest from the Federal High Court and the warrant was given to the office of the AG which I also sent to the Interpol to apprehend the officials.” Explaining what happened to the full compensation promised by Pfizer, the former AGF further stated, “When I came as AGF, Pfizer officials came to me and the compensation they were trying to offer Kano State government was N100,000 per person. They based it on the fact that if a Nigerian policeman died while on duty, his compensation is N100,000. “That made me a little pissed off. I told the officials that the children that died, some of them could have been the president of Nigeria, some could have been the richest man in Africa or the world or they could have been Secretary-General of the UN. So, cutting the lives of children short with an unauthorised medical trial cannot be compared to the Nigerian Police Force. “They said they would build a children hospital but I told them to go build a children hospital in Kano and whatever was paid was also paid to the Kano State Government.” When News Central asked the state Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, if he had information on what was paid to Kano State, he replied, “I don’t know if Kano State was given money in cash, but I knew that a hospital was built of about millions of dollars, I can’t remember the figure.” The state Director of Public Health, Imam Wada, described the incident as the “most unfortunate phase in the history of Kano, Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health which we don’t want to be repeated ever.”

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Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”PHILADELPHIA — After intense campaigns, dozens of lawsuits, half a recount and rampant misinformation, Philadelphia election officials certified the 2024 general election Monday. In a meeting that lasted less than 10 minutes , the three-member Philadelphia Board of Commissioners approved minutes from their prior meeting and asked for public comment. (There was none.) Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Progyny, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PGNY – Free Report ) by 282.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,013 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 31,014 shares during the quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Progyny were worth $704,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its stake in shares of Progyny by 703.9% in the 2nd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 46,475 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,328,000 after purchasing an additional 40,694 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Progyny by 3.0% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 756,228 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,636,000 after buying an additional 22,012 shares in the last quarter. Kestrel Investment Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Progyny during the 2nd quarter valued at $5,005,000. Farallon Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Progyny by 120.8% during the 2nd quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 1,308,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,436,000 after acquiring an additional 715,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS grew its holdings in shares of Progyny by 15.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kornitzer Capital Management Inc. KS now owns 976,501 shares of the company’s stock worth $16,366,000 after acquiring an additional 132,672 shares during the last quarter. 94.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently commented on PGNY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $25.00 target price on shares of Progyny in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Progyny from $31.00 to $22.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Progyny from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Progyny from $30.00 to $17.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, BTIG Research downgraded shares of Progyny from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 7th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Progyny presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $25.42. Progyny Stock Up 0.6 % Progyny stock opened at $15.57 on Friday. Progyny, Inc. has a 12 month low of $13.39 and a 12 month high of $42.08. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $15.84 and its 200-day simple moving average is $22.31. The stock has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.44. Progyny ( NASDAQ:PGNY – Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, November 12th. The company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37 by ($0.26). Progyny had a net margin of 5.03% and a return on equity of 11.36%. The firm had revenue of $286.63 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $296.85 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.16 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Progyny, Inc. will post 0.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Progyny Profile ( Free Report ) Progyny, Inc, a benefits management company, specializes in fertility and family building benefits solutions in the United States. Its fertility benefits solution includes differentiated benefits plan design, personalized concierge-style member support services, and selective network of fertility specialists. Further Reading Five stocks we like better than Progyny Trading Halts Explained The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing Where Do I Find 52-Week Highs and Lows? 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Investing In Automotive Stocks FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Receive News & Ratings for Progyny Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progyny and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

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