Latest news with #Mills'
The Age
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
This new cli-fi novel envisages a more hopeful apocalypse
FICTION SalvageJennifer Mills Picador, $34.99 In Salvage, Jennifer Mills lets the billionaires escape our dying planet on a space station with a VIP list. And then she leaves them there to rot. This is Mills' first, fully fledged science-fiction novel to portray the before and after of ecological apocalypse, but it continues her merging of the uncanny or speculative with her artistic instinct for spatial and psychological choreography. In other words, Mills' novels begin by asking: what kind of world is this? But the focus is always on what it feels like to inhabit these unusual worlds. The Airways, Mills' previous novel, was ostensibly a queer fabulist horror story about a ghost seeking revenge. But this hook was masquerading a second, more experimental desire to assign a new form of language to this state of being. Dyschronia, which was short-listed for the 2019 Miles Franklin prize, ventured into weird fiction, imagining the desolation after the shore receded from an Australian coastal town, converting it overnight into a location of dark tourism – much to the chagrin of the few inhabitants who refused to leave. Taken all together, Mills' fiction continually returns to hauntings; her works explore how spectres from the past are eternally resurrecting in the present. Salvage is told through three interchanging sections. The first introduces us to Jude, living through the post-apocalypse by helping a loose collective of sovereign territories known as the Freelands. They implement forms of anarchy – non-hierarchical governance, direct democracy, the abolition of ownership – which history tells us works incredibly well in smaller factions but has never produced a viable macro-vision for the future. The Freelands exist on the fringes of a technologically and militarily superior state called The Alliance, which is governed by the antithesis: strict order, class, the rule of law. Each of these societies, given an opportunity to reinvent themselves, find older ideologies guiding how they rebuild the world from the scraps of older civilisations. Which way was it to utopia again? As a young girl, Jude was adopted by a billionaire, who later died in a helicopter crash. Jude's sister, Celeste, inherited the family fortune and invested it in space station project Endeavour, in which self-appointed chosen ones were given a seat on board this arc-like saviour, orbiting the Earth in a chemically induced torpor to 'sleep through the worst'. The second sections of Salvage are narrated by Celeste, on board Endeavour, shuffling at intervals down corridors, knocking into other boutique cosmonauts, looking for her sister. They soon suspect they've been abandoned or tricked, and strange occurrences and malfunctions do nothing to ease the nerves. In the third section, Jude and Celeste are together, before the apocalypse. They exist in a fortified complex called Sovereign House, basically a military bunker sequestered from the suffering and ruin experienced by everyone else. In these passages, we see Celeste persuaded by the mad billionaire looking for investors into his space station project, while Jude becomes disenchanted with her sister's myopic privilege.
Sydney Morning Herald
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This new cli-fi novel envisages a more hopeful apocalypse
FICTION SalvageJennifer Mills Picador, $34.99 In Salvage, Jennifer Mills lets the billionaires escape our dying planet on a space station with a VIP list. And then she leaves them there to rot. This is Mills' first, fully fledged science-fiction novel to portray the before and after of ecological apocalypse, but it continues her merging of the uncanny or speculative with her artistic instinct for spatial and psychological choreography. In other words, Mills' novels begin by asking: what kind of world is this? But the focus is always on what it feels like to inhabit these unusual worlds. The Airways, Mills' previous novel, was ostensibly a queer fabulist horror story about a ghost seeking revenge. But this hook was masquerading a second, more experimental desire to assign a new form of language to this state of being. Dyschronia, which was short-listed for the 2019 Miles Franklin prize, ventured into weird fiction, imagining the desolation after the shore receded from an Australian coastal town, converting it overnight into a location of dark tourism – much to the chagrin of the few inhabitants who refused to leave. Taken all together, Mills' fiction continually returns to hauntings; her works explore how spectres from the past are eternally resurrecting in the present. Salvage is told through three interchanging sections. The first introduces us to Jude, living through the post-apocalypse by helping a loose collective of sovereign territories known as the Freelands. They implement forms of anarchy – non-hierarchical governance, direct democracy, the abolition of ownership – which history tells us works incredibly well in smaller factions but has never produced a viable macro-vision for the future. The Freelands exist on the fringes of a technologically and militarily superior state called The Alliance, which is governed by the antithesis: strict order, class, the rule of law. Each of these societies, given an opportunity to reinvent themselves, find older ideologies guiding how they rebuild the world from the scraps of older civilisations. Which way was it to utopia again? As a young girl, Jude was adopted by a billionaire, who later died in a helicopter crash. Jude's sister, Celeste, inherited the family fortune and invested it in space station project Endeavour, in which self-appointed chosen ones were given a seat on board this arc-like saviour, orbiting the Earth in a chemically induced torpor to 'sleep through the worst'. The second sections of Salvage are narrated by Celeste, on board Endeavour, shuffling at intervals down corridors, knocking into other boutique cosmonauts, looking for her sister. They soon suspect they've been abandoned or tricked, and strange occurrences and malfunctions do nothing to ease the nerves. In the third section, Jude and Celeste are together, before the apocalypse. They exist in a fortified complex called Sovereign House, basically a military bunker sequestered from the suffering and ruin experienced by everyone else. In these passages, we see Celeste persuaded by the mad billionaire looking for investors into his space station project, while Jude becomes disenchanted with her sister's myopic privilege.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers pass tax increases on corporations, highest earners, but governor remains an obstacle
() The Maine Legislature on Thursday passed measures that would raise the tax rate on corporations and alter the state's tax brackets to provide relief for the middle class. Another proposal that specifically sought to raise taxes on millionaires, however, was rejected. All of these were determined by a handful, or in some instances just one, vote. And with such narrow margins, the chambers will be unlikely to overcome a potential veto from Gov. Janet Mills, who has already expressed her opposition. The advance of these tax changes comes amid the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee finalizing a budget plan to send to the Maine House of Representatives and Senate for approval, and the potential for increased tax revenue could be consequential. Advocates and some Democratic lawmakers specifically pushed for the Legislature to adjust taxes as a means to continue to fund the health and child care programs that Mills proposed cutting in her budget proposal. So far, only some of those proposals have made it into the committee's budget plan. Notably, the committee rejected Mills' suggested cuts to childcare worker stipends and Head Start. Meanwhile, the committee included some initiatives to save or raise money, such as rolling back funding for mental health programs and pensions, as well as increasing the cigarette excise tax. Both chambers backed LD 229, which would increase the base of the state's tax brackets. It would do this by both increasing the number of tax brackets and by adding a top tax bracket for high income earners. Maine currently has three tax brackets with tax rates of 5.8%, 6.75% and 7.15%. The top tax bracket is currently for any individual making more than $61,600. The bill would add two more brackets for the highest earners, which would be taxed at 7.75% and 8.95%. In the Senate, several critics of the bill said that raising tax rates on the wealthiest individuals would drive investors away. Though tax committee co-chair Sen. Nicole Grohowski (D-Hancock) said the state's tax code is currently 'upside down,' asking more proportionately from earners in the middle than those at the top. 'This bill is here to fix that,' she said. The ideas in this bill are not new, and could lend themselves to a veto, again. Mills' administration testified against the bill during its public hearing, reiterating many of the same concerns the governor had when she vetoed a bill last year that sought to adjust Maine's tax bracelets by adding a new top tax rate of 8.45% and expanding the lower tax brackets. While describing the bill as well intentioned in her veto message, the governor said the bill wouldn't reduce the tax burden for lower-income people because of the state's many exemptions, deductions and credits that more people have become eligible for in recent years. The governor also cited possible state budget challenges if Maine were to increase its reliance on a small number of taxpayers whose income is disproportionately composed of often volatile business. The other bill both chambers backed is LD 1879, which would raise the tax rate on corporations to support the agricultural economy, though the Mills administration is also opposed to this plan. Specifically, it would increase the top marginal corporate income tax rate to 10% on income over $3,500,000 for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. This revenue would then be distributed to various funds and programs, such as the dairy stabilization support fund, agricultural marketing loan fund and business recovery and resilience fund, among others. Michael Allen, associate commissioner for tax policy in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, testified against the bill on behalf of Mills during the public hearing, noting that it would make Maine's top marginal corporate income tax rate among the highest in the country. He also noted a number of technical concerns with the proposal. While both chambers have now passed LD 1879, it took several attempts for them to get on the same page. While the House initially passed this bill 77-67, the Senate failed to pass it with a 13-18 vote and subsequently voted against it without a roll call, returning it to the lower chamber in nonconcurrence. On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham (R-Winter Harbor) tried to recede and concur but his motion failed 65-78. The House then insisted on its vote to pass the bill and the Senate tabled it when it was sent back to that body on Wednesday. But on Thursday the Senate changed course, voting 18-16 to recede and concur with the House. Both chambers narrowly rejected what is commonly referred to as a 'millionaire's tax.' The proposal, LD 1089, was amended to a lower surcharge than initially proposed. It would place an income tax surcharge of 2% on the portion of a resident's taxable income beyond $1 million for single filers, $1.5 million for heads of households and $2 million for married people filing jointly. This revenue would then go toward funding public K-12 education. Originally, the bill sought to tax income over $1 million by an additional 4%, which would have mirrored a law recently passed in Massachusetts. The House failed to pass the measure 70-72 on Wednesday before voting against it without a roll call. The Senate ultimately did the same Thursday, after an initial vote to pass it failed 17-18. The Mills administration has also testified against this bill. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
American Military News
10-06-2025
- American Military News
Juror's cocaine conviction upends attempted murder trial in Georgia
A juror in a Fulton County attempted murder trial failed to disclose her decades-old felony conviction for cocaine possession, prompting a defendant's convictions to be wiped out and a new trial granted. In a unanimous ruling published Thursday, three judges of the Georgia Court of Appeals granted Darren Mills' request for a new trial in the criminal case accusing him of attempting to kill a drug dealer during an armed robbery in Atlanta. Mills is serving a 30-year sentence in Calhoun State Prison on several convictions including attempted murder, armed robbery and participation in criminal street gang activity. The judges said one of the jurors in Mills' 2017 trial, referred to in the ruling as 'C.L.L.,' said nothing when the trial judge asked prospective jurors if they had been convicted of a felony and not had their rights restored. Georgia law generally prohibits convicted felons from serving on juries. In a posttrial hearing, the juror testified she had never been pardoned for her crime, according to the ruling. It shows the juror was initially sentenced under Georgia's First Offender Act, which gives defendants the opportunity to have the record of their conviction erased. The juror's conviction remained because she violated her probation by possessing cocaine, case records show. 'We are obviously happy about it,' Mills' lawyer, Matthew Winchester, said Friday about the ruling. 'We think that's the right result.' Winchester said he'll seek Mills' release from custody on bond as soon as the case is returned to the trial court. He said prosecutors from the Fulton County district attorney's office have indicated they will seek review by the Georgia Supreme Court. The ruling, if upheld, should mean that Mills' two co-defendants, Dominique Carter and Quatez White, can also get a new trial, Winchester said. Carter and White were not involved in Mills' appeal. Representatives of the Fulton DA's office did not immediately respond to questions about the ruling. Attempts to contact the juror Friday were not immediately successful. 'Overall, I thought it was a clear-cut result that needed to be imposed,' Winchester said of the court's decision. 'The law is unequivocal.' Case records show the juror pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and was sentenced under the First Offender Act in 1995, the year Mills was born. Her first offender status was revoked in 1997, court filings show. The crime in which Mills, Carter and White were accused happened in 2015 outside a home on Cooper Street in Atlanta, according to court records. Mills said in a recent filing the victim was a self-proclaimed drug dealer who was robbed and shot several times. Mills maintains that prosecutors mistakenly identified him as a suspect, Winchester said. Court records show Mills, Carter and White were indicted in 2016 and pleaded not guilty to participation in criminal street gang activity, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, possession of a firearm and arson. They were each acquitted of the firearm charge and found guilty of the other charges. Mills, who was sentenced to 30 years in prison, said on appeal his counsel learned of the juror's conviction after the trial while investigating some 'inflammatory statements' made by an alternate juror. In June 2023, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Eric Dunaway denied Mills' new trial request, saying the juror's felony conviction did not impact the case in a way that was unfair to Mills. Dunaway said the juror's testimony indicated she either did not hear or misunderstood the question about felony convictions during jury selection. '(Mills) has not demonstrated that any juror misconduct occurred here or that he was harmed by any such conduct,' Dunaway wrote in an order. Fulton prosecutors told the appellate court the juror may have actually shown favor toward Mills because she had heard of gang members who participated in positive activities, knew at least one person who socialized with or spent time with a gang and had at least one child or friend who took pictures with guns, money and drugs. The juror's great-nephew was affiliated with a gang and had been convicted and sentenced for it, prosecutors wrote in a recent filing. '(The juror) believed sometimes you fall victim to the streets, that sometimes you don't have a choice, and that everyone deserves a second chance,' prosecutors wrote. 'Mills failed to show (the juror) deliberately concealed information about her status as a convicted felon and Mills failed to show actual bias on her part towards Mills.' The appellate judges said they were not persuaded by prosecutors' arguments in the case. ___ © 2025 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Patty Mills news adds intriguing twist to speculation about his NBA future
Patty Mills is going back to college. No, not as a mature-age student. Mills landed an intriguing new job in basketball which has added to speculation about his playing future in the NBA. This week the University of Hawaii announced Canberran-born Mills would be the general manager of its men's basketball team, in a voluntary and "newly created" role. The move comes amid speculation about Mills' future in the NBA, which is still uncertain. While the 36-year-old hasn't indicated he is planning a serious transition away from playing yet, let alone retirement, he is now off-contract following this season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Mills has been most recently linked to moves back to Australia in the NBL, though there remains a chance he picks up another deal with an NBA team for next season and stays in the US, where his pregnant wife Alyssa is also from. Mills has been a frequent visitor of Hawaii as a home owner, and with 16 years of NBA experience under his belt, the Australian has plenty to offer any college basketball program. At the University of Hawaii, the five-time Olympian and Tokyo Games bronze medallist will be tasked with supporting "student-athlete mentorship and development, while contributing to key areas including recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement." "I'm deeply honoured to join the University of Hawai'i basketball program as the new general manager." Mills said in a statement. "This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai'i - our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition. "My connection to UH began in 2007, but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I've felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home. I'm truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I'm committed to honouring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear. "I can't wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai'i basketball." READ MORE SPORT: The University of Hawaii has several ties to Australia via its other sports programs that recruits athletes from Down Under. Mills also lives in the state during the NBA off-season, he had his wedding there, and has sponsored basketball events in Hawaii. "This is a truly special day for our program," Rainbow Warriors coach and Mills' former college coach at St Mary's, Eran Ganot, said. "The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawai'i. "Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear. "With his wealth of NBA and international success, both on and off the court, he will help us build our program to its peak potential. There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty. "We're fired up and feel fortunate that he's taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community." Patty Mills is going back to college. No, not as a mature-age student. Mills landed an intriguing new job in basketball which has added to speculation about his playing future in the NBA. This week the University of Hawaii announced Canberran-born Mills would be the general manager of its men's basketball team, in a voluntary and "newly created" role. The move comes amid speculation about Mills' future in the NBA, which is still uncertain. While the 36-year-old hasn't indicated he is planning a serious transition away from playing yet, let alone retirement, he is now off-contract following this season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Mills has been most recently linked to moves back to Australia in the NBL, though there remains a chance he picks up another deal with an NBA team for next season and stays in the US, where his pregnant wife Alyssa is also from. Mills has been a frequent visitor of Hawaii as a home owner, and with 16 years of NBA experience under his belt, the Australian has plenty to offer any college basketball program. At the University of Hawaii, the five-time Olympian and Tokyo Games bronze medallist will be tasked with supporting "student-athlete mentorship and development, while contributing to key areas including recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement." "I'm deeply honoured to join the University of Hawai'i basketball program as the new general manager." Mills said in a statement. "This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai'i - our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition. "My connection to UH began in 2007, but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I've felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home. I'm truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I'm committed to honouring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear. "I can't wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai'i basketball." READ MORE SPORT: The University of Hawaii has several ties to Australia via its other sports programs that recruits athletes from Down Under. Mills also lives in the state during the NBA off-season, he had his wedding there, and has sponsored basketball events in Hawaii. "This is a truly special day for our program," Rainbow Warriors coach and Mills' former college coach at St Mary's, Eran Ganot, said. "The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawai'i. "Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear. "With his wealth of NBA and international success, both on and off the court, he will help us build our program to its peak potential. There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty. "We're fired up and feel fortunate that he's taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community." Patty Mills is going back to college. No, not as a mature-age student. Mills landed an intriguing new job in basketball which has added to speculation about his playing future in the NBA. This week the University of Hawaii announced Canberran-born Mills would be the general manager of its men's basketball team, in a voluntary and "newly created" role. The move comes amid speculation about Mills' future in the NBA, which is still uncertain. While the 36-year-old hasn't indicated he is planning a serious transition away from playing yet, let alone retirement, he is now off-contract following this season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Mills has been most recently linked to moves back to Australia in the NBL, though there remains a chance he picks up another deal with an NBA team for next season and stays in the US, where his pregnant wife Alyssa is also from. Mills has been a frequent visitor of Hawaii as a home owner, and with 16 years of NBA experience under his belt, the Australian has plenty to offer any college basketball program. At the University of Hawaii, the five-time Olympian and Tokyo Games bronze medallist will be tasked with supporting "student-athlete mentorship and development, while contributing to key areas including recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement." "I'm deeply honoured to join the University of Hawai'i basketball program as the new general manager." Mills said in a statement. "This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai'i - our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition. "My connection to UH began in 2007, but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I've felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home. I'm truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I'm committed to honouring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear. "I can't wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai'i basketball." READ MORE SPORT: The University of Hawaii has several ties to Australia via its other sports programs that recruits athletes from Down Under. Mills also lives in the state during the NBA off-season, he had his wedding there, and has sponsored basketball events in Hawaii. "This is a truly special day for our program," Rainbow Warriors coach and Mills' former college coach at St Mary's, Eran Ganot, said. "The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawai'i. "Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear. "With his wealth of NBA and international success, both on and off the court, he will help us build our program to its peak potential. There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty. "We're fired up and feel fortunate that he's taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community." Patty Mills is going back to college. No, not as a mature-age student. Mills landed an intriguing new job in basketball which has added to speculation about his playing future in the NBA. This week the University of Hawaii announced Canberran-born Mills would be the general manager of its men's basketball team, in a voluntary and "newly created" role. The move comes amid speculation about Mills' future in the NBA, which is still uncertain. While the 36-year-old hasn't indicated he is planning a serious transition away from playing yet, let alone retirement, he is now off-contract following this season with the Los Angeles Clippers. Mills has been most recently linked to moves back to Australia in the NBL, though there remains a chance he picks up another deal with an NBA team for next season and stays in the US, where his pregnant wife Alyssa is also from. Mills has been a frequent visitor of Hawaii as a home owner, and with 16 years of NBA experience under his belt, the Australian has plenty to offer any college basketball program. At the University of Hawaii, the five-time Olympian and Tokyo Games bronze medallist will be tasked with supporting "student-athlete mentorship and development, while contributing to key areas including recruiting, fundraising, and community engagement." "I'm deeply honoured to join the University of Hawai'i basketball program as the new general manager." Mills said in a statement. "This role is not only a professional milestone, but a personal one as well. Despite being from different parts of the Pacific region, as someone from the Torres Strait Islands, I feel a strong cultural connection to Hawai'i - our communities share deep respect and spiritual connection to the land, sea and sky and the strength of family and tradition. "My connection to UH began in 2007, but since becoming a member of the North Shore community, I've felt a genuine sense of belonging that reminds me so much of home. I'm truly grateful to be embraced by this community, and I'm committed to honouring that connection by serving our program and representing the values we hold dear. "I can't wait to get to work alongside this incredible staff to give back to the game, grow the game and help build something special for Hawai'i basketball." READ MORE SPORT: The University of Hawaii has several ties to Australia via its other sports programs that recruits athletes from Down Under. Mills also lives in the state during the NBA off-season, he had his wedding there, and has sponsored basketball events in Hawaii. "This is a truly special day for our program," Rainbow Warriors coach and Mills' former college coach at St Mary's, Eran Ganot, said. "The landscape of college athletics has changed significantly and continues to evolve more toward a professional sports model. Our goal is to boldly navigate these times while staying consistent to the values of our program and the values of Hawai'i. "Having immersed himself in the island culture for the last decade, Patty shares those values and his love for the islands is abundantly clear. "With his wealth of NBA and international success, both on and off the court, he will help us build our program to its peak potential. There are few people who exemplify what it means to be a caring professional more than Patty. "We're fired up and feel fortunate that he's taken on this leadership role with us. We know his impact will be felt not only within our program but also across our awesome University and island community."
