Northeast
Embattled Sen Bob Menendez files to run for re-election as independent candidate
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., has filed a petition with nearly 2,500 signatures to run for re-election as an independent, despite being on trial for federal bribery charges.
The New Jersey Division of Elections lists Menendez as a candidate in the Nov. 5 election after he submitted a petition with 2,465 signatures. To make it onto the ballot, Menendez was required to collect 800 signatures.
Menendez has served three terms as a senator and is now seeking a fourth.
After much speculation over whether Menendez would run for re-election – given the various criminal charges he faces of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion and honest services fraud – he revealed in March that he would not be filing for the Democrat Senate primary.
REPUBLICANS SEE EMBATTLED MENENDEZ’S POTENTIAL INDEPENDENT BID AS CHANCE TO FLIP SENATE SEAT
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon/File)
Instead, Menendez announced at the same time his desire to run as an independent if he is exonerated during his summer trial.
He did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on his bid for re-election.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine, have both pleaded not guilty to bribery and obstruction of justice charges. They are accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in the form of cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz for the benefit of various business persons and the Egyptian government.
The senator’s trial kicked off in May.
SEN BOB MENENDEZ MAY BLAME WIFE NADINE DURING FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIAL: COURT DOCS
Sen. Bob Menendez holds a press conference as he rejects accusations of corruption and calls from fellow Democrats to step down from Congress on Sept. 25, 2023. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Jurors will be expected to discern whether evidence against Menendez and two New Jersey businessmen, Fred Daibes and Wael Hana, shows they were part of a bribery scheme, including meddling in criminal investigations and taking actions benefiting the governments of Egypt and Qatar.
All three have pleaded not guilty. Co-defendant Jose Uribe has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the other defendants. A trial for the senator’s wife is delayed until at least July for health reasons.
This is the second time in a decade that Menendez has been accused in a federal corruption case.
SEN MENENDEZ CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN ANOTHER SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT
An evidence photo shows gold bars that were allegedly gifted by Fred Daibes and found in Democrat New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and Nadine Menendez’s home. (United States District Court/File)
Menendez was charged by federal prosecutors with obstruction of justice in another superseding indictment unsealed in March relating to a multiyear alleged bribery scheme involving the Egypt and Qatar governments.
The 18-page indictment is wrapped into Menendez’s existing charges already against him and his co-defendants – including his wife, Nadine – for allegedly acting as a foreign agent and accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to benefit the Egyptian government through his power and influence as a senator.
The indictment comes after Uribe accepted the plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. The charges also alleged Menendez committed conspiracy, bribery, acting as a foreign agent, extortion and wire fraud.
Earlier in April, Nadine’s attorneys requested to postpone her trial after an “unexpected medical development” arose. She was diagnosed with a “serious medical condition” on April 9, her lawyers said.
Republicans in New Jersey welcomed the embattled senator’s potential independent re-election bid in 2024 as they look to break the party’s decades-long hold over the state’s U.S. Senate delegation.
Fox News Digital’s Julia Johnson and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Boston, MA
Boston Catholics offer mixed views on pope’s remarks following US operation in Venezuela – The Boston Globe
Digennaro’s wife, Judy, shook her head in disagreement.
“I feel quite the other way,” said Judy Digennaro, 72. “It might start rifts, but what’s most important is people talking, and that’s what the pope is trying to do.”
During a news conference with Vatican reporters in December, the pope called for dialogue between the United States and Venezuela. On Friday, he said violence had replaced dialogue as a means of resolving conflict and reiterated an earlier call to “respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all, ensuring a future of stability and concord.”
Some local Catholics said the remarks felt like an overstep. David Digennaro said he supports the Trump administration’s move to shift Venezuela’s leadership away from Maduro and would prefer the pope to limit his comments to humanitarian issues.
“If he’s talking about the people that live [in Venezuela,] that’s fine,” he said. “But if he’s referencing Maduro, that’s politics, and I’d turn away from it.”
Outside St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine in Back Bay, parishioners in crisp suits and colorful dresses filed out onto the sidewalk after Mass on Sunday afternoon. Several people said the pope’s address had not been mentioned during the service and praised the clergy for keeping the news separate from religious teaching.
Others voiced support for Pope Leo’s broader message of peace and dialogue but said they prefer that the pontiff avoid specifics.
Jordan Williamson, 35, of Quincy, said the pope is not the authority on international affairs. She said she looks to politicians for details about global conflicts and to Leo for moral guidance.
“The pope should be a moral voice that lays down the framework for why we do things,” said Williamson, who has attended the Boylston Street church for more than a decade. “But we all have jobs … and Mass is meant to transcend all of that.”
Williamson’s friend, Sandra Pastrana of Arlington, agreed, saying she often steers her Bible study group away from political debate. Still, she said she recognizes that there are moments when religious leaders need to speak their minds.
“It’s never good for the church to get involved in politics, but as a moral voice of how the world should live within what’s going on, the church has a duty to say these things,” said Pastrana, 63.
Judy Digennaro said Leo’s address was encouraging, adding that society cannot move forward positively without open discussion.
“I’m happy when the pope has something to say and when he promotes peace and justice,” she said. “As Catholics, that’s what we’re all about, so if he’s willing to speak and say something, all the better.”
Many Boston churchgoers were unaware of the pope’s address and said that they focused more on the words of their individual priests.
Gobran Hanna, an electrical engineer who moved to Cambridge in June and attends St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, said he tends to spend time with members of the Catholic community who are less focused on politics, but conversations with fellow congregants about Israel, Ukraine, and Venezuela help keep him informed about global affairs.
Hanna said he welcomes Leo’s efforts to speak out against international injustices.
“When the pope makes a statement that might be related to politics, I look at that and see how it applies to my own life,” said Hanna, 23. “It’s not about somebody on this side or somebody on that side, it’s about how we can apply the lessons that the pope is teaching us.”
Lila Hempel-Edgers can be reached at lila.hempeledgers@globe.com. Follow her on X @hempeledgers and on Instagram @lila_hempel_edgers.
Pittsburg, PA
Nearly a Century Old, This Sears House Kit Home in Fineview is Still Fine | Pittsburgh Magazine
Built in 1928, the hillside home is packed with original millwork, charming details and loads of storage.
PHOTOS BY DONNELLY MEDIA, LLC
When Alena Taylor Keefe was in elementary school, her family moved to 2035 Biggs Ave. in Pittsburgh’s Fineview neighborhood.
The year was 1975, and she recalls being delighted with the Craftsman-style home built from a Sears housing kit that her family would call theirs for the next 50 years.
“It’s a place that you can call home,” she says. “Some places you can’t really say that about, but it’s just such a great family home.”

Built in 1928, the house has three bedrooms and one bathroom packed into 1,500 square feet.
“I grump about the fact that there’s only one bathroom and the kitchen is small because I love to cook, but I still made it work for many family suppers,” Keefe says. “We hosted holiday dinners where we extended the dining table into the living room to accommodate everybody. It was just home.”

The first floor of the home has that small, yet functional kitchen, a nicely sized dining room and a large living room that spans the front of the home. Keefe warmly recalls coming down the front staircase on Christmas mornings and posing in formal dresses beside the steps before school dances. She says her family also enjoyed the long front porch that runs along the living room.
“My dad would come out and read the newspaper, and I’d be on the swing with my mom while she worked on her crochet,” she says.
On the second floor, three equally sized bedrooms share a hallway bathroom with double sinks. A set of pull-down stairs leads to ample storage under the eaves.

Now in their 80s, Keefe’s parents have moved to a maintenance-free home near Keefe’s current home in Beaver County, so they can continue to enjoy family dinners together, but without the responsibility of home ownership.
While Keefe is wistful about selling the home her parents carefully loved for half a century, she is certain a new buyer will recognize its charm and value.
“So much has never been touched,” she says. “There is original woodwork, an original fireplace that still has a coal chute to the outside and a lovely built-in China cabinet in the dining room.”

Keefe also touts the home’s plentiful storage; there’s a clean, dry basement, attic storage and a detached two-car garage with a lower level could be space for a workshop, studio or general storage.
Keefe notes the roof was replaced in the last decade; there also were updates to the HVAC, including adding air conditioning, and the family replaced the upstairs flooring in preparation to sell the carefully maintained home.

The house is now listed by Brian Larson of Howard Hanna for $245,000. He says it checks all the right boxes for a first-time homebuyer — or anyone shopping for a clean, well-maintained home.
“This is a home that has clearly been loved and lived in with care,” says Larson. “Over the years, attention has been given to maintaining and improving the property in a way that supports comfortable, everyday living. While no home of this era is ever ‘finished,’ per se, the overall condition reflects consistent stewardship rather than deferred maintenance.”

Larson says buyers should not have issues with financing for this home, including loans through the Federal Housing Administration or other specialized lending programs. Priced right around the city’s median home price, Larson encourages shoppers to check it out.
“Many first-time buyer programs are available that may offer down payment assistance and competitive interest rates, helping make homeownership more attainable for qualified buyers,” he says.
Larson adds that he loves the sun-soaked room that runs along the front of the home, as well as the wide front porch and the property’s proximity to Fineview Park.
“Fineview is also known as one of the best vantage points in the city for fireworks and skyline views,” he adds. “With convenient bus access and an easy commute to Downtown, the neighborhood offers a unique blend of tranquility, accessibility and city connection.”

Keefe says that while the neighbors have changed over the course of 50 years, her family has always been thankful for the close-knit Fineview community.
“There are some chickens running loose, but everybody up there is so kind,” she says with a laugh. “The mailman lives up on the corner; everybody knows everybody. It’s just so nice.”
“);
$spagination = flexSlider.find(“.spagination”);
SPagination.Init($spagination.get( 0 ), {
size: slide_obj.count, // pages size
page: 1, // selected page
step: 3, // pages before and after current
cb: function(p){
flexSlider.flexAnimate(p-1, true);
}
});
}
}
}
function gtx_gallery_slide_before(slide_obj){
var slide=slide_obj.animatingTo;
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;
slideshow_ad_loaded = false;
var current_html = $active_slide.children(“.gtx-ad-container”).html();
if (current_html) {$active_slide.children(“.gtx-ad-container”).html(current_html.trim())}
gtx_track_slide( slide_obj );
changeURL(parseInt($active_slide.attr(“data-attachment_id”)));
//THUMBS SYNC – PAGINATED THUMBNAIL NAVIGATION
if($thumbs!==”” && navigation == “paginated_thumbs”){
var right_item=$slider.find(“.slides li[data-i=”+(slide +1 )+”]”).attr(“data-i-only-pics”)
if( right_item!= “”){
$thumbs.find(“li.gtx-thumb-img”).removeClass(“flex-active-slide”);
$thumbs.find(“li.gtx-thumb-img[data-i=”+(slide +1 )+”]”).addClass(“flex-active-slide”);
$page=$thumbs.find(“.slides>li”).has(“li[data-i=”+(slide +1 )+”]”);
$thumbs.flexAnimate($page.index(), true);
}
}
}
function gtx_gallery_slide_after(slide_obj){
var slide=slide_obj.animatingTo;
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;
if($active_slide.hasClass(“gtx-ad-slide”)==1){
if ($active_slide.find(‘iframe’).length === 1) {
$active_slide.find(‘iframe’)[0].remove();
}
$slider.delay(100).queue(function(){
$(this).addClass(“gtx-gallery-loading”).dequeue();
});
$ad_container=$active_slide.children(“.gtx-ad-container”).first();
if ($($ad_container).html().length li[data-i=”+(slide +1 )+”]”).attr(“data-i-only-pics”)
if( right_item!= “”){
$thumbs.find(“li.gtx-thumb-img”).removeClass(“flex-active-slide”);
$thumbs.find(“li.gtx-thumb-img”).eq(right_item -1 ).addClass(“flex-active-slide”);
$thumbs.flexAnimate(right_item-1, true);
}
}
if(typeof(googletag) != “undefined” && googletag !== null && googletag.pubads){
// Refresh ads within view
var tmp_now=new Date().getTime();
var last_refresh_diff= tmp_now – last_ad_refresh;
if(last_refresh_diff > 1000){
reset_ads_and_refresh();
last_ad_refresh=tmp_now;
}
}
//LAZY LOAD
range=5;
var $slides_to_hanle=$all_slides.slice(slide, slide + range +1);
if(slide – range >= 0){
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(slide – range, slide ));
}else{
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(0, range ));
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(range * -1 ));
}
if(slide + range >= $all_slides.size()){
//handle first slides
$slides_to_hanle= $.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_slides.slice(0,range));
}
$slides_to_hanle.find(“.gtx-image-container[data-background]”).each(function () {
var src = $(this).attr(“data-background”);
$(this).css(“background-image”, “url(“+src+”)”).removeAttr(“data-background”);
});
adjustNavHeight();
if( typeof SPagination !== “undefined” && flexSlider.find(“.spagination”).length>0 ){
if(SPagination.page != slide+1){
SPagination.page = slide + 1;
SPagination.Start();
}
}
}
function reset_ads_and_refresh(){
if(!advanced_ad_refresh){
// if option is not enabled, refresh all ads, minus out of page ads
if(ads_to_refresh.length > 0){
googletag.pubads().refresh(ads_to_refresh);
}
return;
}
if(ads_to_refresh.length == 0){
return;
}
var newAds = [];
var fullAdsToRefresh = [];
for(var i = 0; i wTop && slot.tn_positionY 8){
gtx_gallery_thumbs_set_backwards()
}
}
function gtx_gallery_thumbs_after(slide_obj){
if(slide_obj.count > 8){
gtx_gallery_thumbs_set_backwards()
}
}
function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_start(slide_obj){
gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy();
if(false && slide_obj.count > 8){
$thumbs.find(“.flex-control-nav.flex-control-paging”).removeClass(“flex-control-paging”).addClass(“g-pagination”);
}
if(slide_obj.count > 8){
$thumbs.find(“.flex-control-nav.flex-control-paging”).hide().after(“”);
$pagination = $thumbs.find(“.spagination”);
SPagination.Init($pagination.get( 0 ), {
size: slide_obj.count, // pages size
page: 1, // selected page
step: 3, // pages before and after current
cb: function(p){
$thumbs.flexAnimate(p-1, true);
}
});
}
}
function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_before(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == “object” && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy(slide_obj);
}
function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_after(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == “object” && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
//THUMBS SYNC – Go to first slide of this batch
if($thumbs!==”” && navigation == “paginated_thumbs”){
var $active_slide=$slider.find(“.slides>li.flex-active-slide”);
var $active_thumb_page=$thumbs.find(“.slides>li.flex-active-slide”);
//Check if the current slide is within this thumb batch
if(!$active_thumb_page.find(“li[data-i=”+$active_slide.attr(“data-i”)+”]”).size()){
first_thumb=$active_thumb_page.find(“li”).first().attr(“data-i”);
flexSlider.flexAnimate(first_thumb – 1, true);
}
}
if( typeof SPagination !== “undefined” && $thumbs.find(“.spagination”).length>0 ){
if(SPagination.page != slide+1){
SPagination.page = slide + 1;
SPagination.Start();
}
}
}
function gtx_gallery_paginated_thumbs_lazy(slide_obj){
var slide=(typeof slide_obj == “object” && slide_obj.animatingTo ? slide_obj.animatingTo : 0);
//LAZY LOAD THUMBS
if($all_thumbs!==”” && navigation == “paginated_thumbs”){
range=1;
var $slides_to_hanle=$all_thumbs.slice(slide, slide + range + 1);
if(slide – range >= 0){
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(slide – range, slide ));
}else{
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(0, range ));
$slides_to_hanle=$.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(range * -1 ));
}
if(slide + range >= $all_thumbs.size()){
//handle first slides
$slides_to_hanle= $.merge($slides_to_hanle, $all_thumbs.slice(0,range));
}
$slides_to_hanle.each(function () {
$(this).find(“img[lazy-src]”).each(function () {
var src = $(this).attr(“lazy-src”);
if(!src) return;
$(this).attr(“src”,src).removeAttr(“lazy-src”);
$thumbs.find(“img[lazy-src=””+src+””]”).attr(“src”,src).removeAttr(“lazy-src”);
});
});
}
}
function adjustNavHeight(){
imageHeight = flexSlider.find(“.gtx-slide-img.flex-active-slide .gtx-image-container”).outerHeight();
if(imageHeight > 0){
flexSlider.find(“.flex-prev,.flex-next”).css(“top”,Math.round(imageHeight/2));
}
}
var nextSlotId = 1;
function generateNextSlotName() {
var id = nextSlotId++;
return “adslot_” + id+”_”+Math.floor( Date.now() / 1000 );
}
function addAdInto(selector,options) {
try{
gtx_gallery_enable_dfp();
}catch(err) {
}
var slide=options.slide || -1;
var slotName = generateNextSlotName();
var ad_index = 0;
// Create a div for the slot
var slotDiv = document.createElement(‘div’);
slotDiv.id = slotName; // Id must be the same as slotName
$( selector ).append( slotDiv );
try{
ad_index=$( selector ).closest(“.gtx-ad-slide”).attr(“data-i-only-ads”);
}catch(err) {
}
// Define the slot itself, call display() to
// register the div and refresh() to fetch ad.
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
slideshow_ad_loaded = true;
adslots[slotName] = googletag.defineSlot(‘home-design’, [300, 250], slotName)
.addService(googletag.pubads())
.setTargeting(“placement”, “gallery”)
.setTargeting(“slide”, slide)
.setTargeting(“post”, ‘350640’)
.setTargeting(“category”, ‘[“hot-property”]’)
.setTargeting(“galleryAdIndex”, ad_index);
googletag.display(slotName);
googletag.sizeMapping().addSize( [0,0], [[300,250]])
googletag.pubads().refresh([adslots[slotName]]);
});
}
gtx_gallery_syncHash = function(path){
pic = “”;
re = /pic/?([0-9]+)/?$/i;
if(!path && window.location.hash && window.location.hash.match(re)) path = window.location.hash;
if(!path && window.location.pathname && window.location.pathname.match(re)) path = window.location.pathname;
if(path){
matchslide = path.match(re);
if(matchslide && matchslide[1]>0){
pic = parseInt(matchslide[1]);
}
if(!isNaN(pic) && pic > 0){
slide=get_slide_by_attachment_id(pic);
if(slide>0){
avoid_next_pageview = true;
flexSlider.flexAnimate(slide – 1, true);
}
}
}else{
gtx_track_slide( )
}
}
function debounce(func, wait, immediate) {
var timeout;
return function() {
var context = this, args = arguments;
var later = function() {
timeout = null;
if (!immediate) func.apply(context, args);
};
var callNow = immediate && !timeout;
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(later, wait);
if (callNow) func.apply(context, args);
};
};
// delay the url state replacement to avoid overload
// RAYOS-271
var efficientlyReplaceState = debounce(function(title, path){
window.history.replaceState({}, title, path);
}, 1250)
function changeURL(pic){
basepath = window.location.pathname.replace(//pic/?([0-9]+)/?$/i,”/”);
if(isNaN(pic)) return;
path = basepath + “pic/”+pic+”/”;
title = “Pic “+pic;
if (typeof(window.history.replaceState) == “function”) {
efficientlyReplaceState(title, path)
} else {
window.location.hash = path;
}
}
function get_slide_by_attachment_id(id){
var slide=$slider.find(“.slides li[data-attachment_id=”+id+”]”).attr(“data-i”);
return parseInt(slide, 10);
}
function gtx_track_slide( slide_obj ){
if(slide_obj){
var slide = slide_obj.animatingTo;
}else{
var slide = 0;
}
$active_slide=$all_slides.eq(slide) ;
if(!avoid_next_pageview){
try{
var loc = location.pathname + “#slide” + (parseInt(slide) + 1);
if (rayos_gtm_gallery_pageviews) {
// Add gallery navigation info to dataLayer
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push({
‘event’: ‘rayos_virtual_pageview’,
‘location’ : loc
});
}
// Legacy support for GA tracking
ga(“send”, “pageview”, loc);
if (ga.getByName(“gtxcelTracker”)) {
ga(“gtxcelTracker.send”, “pageview”, loc);
}
}catch(err){
}
}
avoid_next_pageview = false;
}
//Add a callback on ad render
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
googletag.pubads().addEventListener(‘slotRenderEnded’, function(event) {
var slotName=event.slot.getSlotElementId();
if(typeof adslots[slotName] !==”undefined” && !event.isEmpty){
$slider.clearQueue();
$slider.removeClass(“gtx-gallery-loading”);
}
});
});
jQuery(“#gtx-gallery-thumbs-350640”).flexslider({
animation: “slide”,
controlNav: false,
animationLoop: false,
slideshow: false,
itemWidth: 100,
itemMargin: 5,
move: 1,
//asNavFor: “#gtx-gallery-slider-350640”,
prevText: “”,
nextText: “”,
after: gtx_gallery_thumbs_after,
after: gtx_gallery_thumbs_before
});
$thumbs=$(“#gtx-gallery-thumbs-350640”).data(“flexslider”);
$thumbs.find(“li.gtx-thumb-img”).first( ).addClass(“flex-active-slide”);
$(“#gtx-gallery-slider-350640”).flexslider({
animation: “slide”,
pauseOnHover: true,
controlNav: false,
//animationLoop: false,
//slideshow: false,
//sync: “#gtx-gallery-thumbs-350640”,
prevText: “”,
nextText: “”,
slideshow: false,
init: gtx_gallery_slide_init,
start: gtx_gallery_slide_start,
before: gtx_gallery_slide_before,
after: gtx_gallery_slide_after
});
if(mobile_mode){
$slider.find(“.flex-direction-nav”).hide();
}
});
Connecticut
Connecticut’s Murphy: Greenland Is a Distraction
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said Sunday that if President Trump acts on his desire to “annex Greenland,” that would end the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He also suggested the whole Greenland issue was an unnecessary distraction.
“It would be the end of NATO,” the Democrat told NBC’s Meet the Press. “NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland.” That, he suggested, would pit the U.S. against its NATO peers.
Murphy said the larger issue is that the president is “spending every single day thinking about invading Greenland, managing the Venezuelan economy, building a ballroom.” That takes time away from addressing healthcare and affordability issues, he said.
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology5 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX3 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX7 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa5 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Montana1 day agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says