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Maine marking one year since worst mass shooting in its history
Lewiston, Maine — With flags lowered across the state, Maine residents whose sense of safety was shattered last year by the deadliest mass shooting in the state’s history planned to mark the day Friday in ways big and small, including a planned memorial service.
The killings of 18 people by an Army reservist in Lewiston drove home the stark reality that no corner of the country is safe from gun violence, including a state where people often boast of the low crime rate.
The largest of the gatherings was expected at the city’s hockey arena, where there were to be moments of silence at the time of the shootings.
Community has emerged as an important component of the grieving process since the shootings, Elizabeth Seal said through a sign language interpreter at an event with victims and survivors last week. Seal’s husband, Joshua Seal, was killed in the shootings.
“Once justice is served, I feel maybe we can start that process of healing,” Seal said through the interpreter. “But in the meantime, we’re going to stay ‘Lewiston Strong.'”
Seal and dozens of other survivors and relatives of victims recently began the formal process of suing the U.S. Army for what they say was a failure to act to stop the 40-year-old reservist, Robert Card.
The shootings on Oct. 25, 2023, happened at a bowling alley and a cornhole tournament hosted by a bar and grill. Card died by suicide, and his body was found two days later.
Justin Juray, owner of the Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley where the shooting began, said the venue would close for the day Friday to let staff be with their families. He said it had been a tough week as the day approached, and Friday would be particularly hard.
“We don’t need work to add to their stress,” he said. Juray and his wife, Samantha, reopened the bowling alley in May, six months after the shooting. Two staff members were among the eight people killed there.
All told, more than 130 people were present at the two sites, according to the state’s director of victim services. In addition to the 18 killed, there were 13 wounded by gunfire and 20 non-shooting injuries.
The gunman’s family and fellow Army reservists reported that he was suffering from a mental breakdown.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Maine Legislature passed new gun laws that bolstered the state’s “yellow flag” statute, criminalized the transfer of guns to prohibited people and expanded funding for mental health crisis care.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said the healing isn’t over.
“As we continue down the long and difficult road to recovery, let us remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we are ‘Lewiston Strong,’ and that we will continue to heal, together,” she said.
“Lewiston Strong” took off in the days following the tragedy and continues to inspire, reports CBS Portland, Maine affiliate WGME-TV.
The Maine People’s Alliance has kept up its “Lewiston Strong” sign, a constant reminder that’s led to contemplation.
“What does it mean anyway and what comes next after you’ve declared yourself to be strong?” asked the alliance’s Carrie Jadud.
“How do we be strong for each other and for ourselves? But more importantly, how are we healing, healing ourselves, healing each other, healing as a community?” Jadud reflected.
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Makers of Coach and Michael Kors handbags blocked from merger in antitrust case
A U.S. District judge has halted the merger between the makers of Coach and Michael Kors handbags, saying it would reduce competition and hurt consumers.
In her ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon noted that Tapestry Inc. and Capri Holdings are “close competitors” and that the merger would result in “the loss of head-to-head competition” and raise prices for shoppers.
The decision followed seven days of testimony.
In after hours trading shares of Capri fell more than 50% while shares of Tapestry rose 12%.
The ruling came six months after the FTC sued to block Tapestry’s $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri, saying that the deal would eliminate direct competition between the fashion companies’ brands like Coach and Michael Kors in the so-called affordable luxury handbag arena.
The agency also said that the deal announced in August 2023 threatens to eliminate the incentive for the two companies to vie for employees and could depress employees’ wages and workplace benefits. The combined Tapestry and Capri would employ roughly 33,000 people worldwide, the agency said.
The two companies’ brands cover a wide array of items from clothing to eyewear to shoes. Tapestry has been on an acquisition binge for the past several years, and already owns Kate Spade New York, Stuart Weitzman and Coach. Capri owns the Versace, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo brands.
Specifically, Tapestry’s Coach and Kate Spade brands and Capri’s Michael Kors brand are close rivals in the handbag market. The FTC had said that they continuously monitor each other’s handbag brands to determine pricing and performance, and they each use that information to make strategic decisions, including whether to raise or reduce handbag prices.
Tapestry said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press on Thursday that the decision granting the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction was “disappointing” and “incorrect on the law and the facts.”
“Tapestry and Capri operate in an industry that is intensely competitive and dynamic, constantly expanding, and highly fragmented among both established players and new entrants,'” Tapestry said in a statement. “We face competitive pressures from both lower- and higher-priced products and continue to believe this transaction is pro-competitive and pro-consumer. “
The company said it intends to appeal the decision, consistent with its obligations under the merger agreement.
Capri could not be immediately reached for comment.
Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a published note that the blocking of Tapestry’s acquisition of Capri will come as a blow to both companies.
“For Tapestry, it puts an end to the goal of becoming a bigger house of brands, and it leaves its plans for future growth in tatters,” he said. He noted that in a slower market, Tapestry will now need to rely on pushing its existing brands harder, which he believes will be challenging. He noted that the group could, in time, also look to make smaller acquisitions.
The ruling leaves Capri “in poor shape and, in betting on being acquired, has neglected the hard work that needs to be done to course correct many of its weak brands,” Saunders said.
Capri will either need to find another party to buy it or it will have to embark on a major reinvention plan, he said.
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Costco recalls salmon over listeria concerns
Costco is recalling packages of salmon over concerns they could be contaminated with listeria.
Acme Smoked Fish Corp, the shopping club’s salmon provider, sent a notice to Costco shoppers this week informing them of the recall of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon, due to potential contamination with listeria monocytogenes bacteria.
The notice was sent to customers who Costco records show purchased affected fish products between October 9-13. Only packages from lot number 8512801270 are affected.
Customers who purchased the recalled salmon are instructed not to eat it and to return it to a Costco store for a full refund.
“We regret this unfortunate incident and have taken immediate corrective steps to ensure that this issue never happens again,” Acme Smoked Fish Corp. CEO Eduardo Carbajosa said.