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Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians - The Associated PressJerry Yang didn’t speak English when he started school at L.A. Nelson Elementary. Now, as a Guyer High School sophomore, Yang is a budding teacher, and among 18 Denton ISD students qualified to advance to nationals from their work in Texas Association of Future Educators contests. Yang and his peers are also eligible for the Educators Rising National Conference. How did the high school student go from being a Mandarin speaker in an English as a second language program to a competitive aspiring teacher? Yang credits Denton ISD’s Teach Denton and how it channeled his enthusiasm for learning in elementary school. “I believe it’s because I was not a native speaker,” he said. “And I usually excel more, like faster than others. So then I helped others, and then it clicked for me at the same time.” Guyer High School sophomore Jerry Yang qualified for a national competition for future educators. Yang is a member of both Teach Denton, a Denton ISD program that offers training and development for students who want to be teachers, and his campus chapter of Texas Association of Future Educators. Yang said his ESL teacher nominated him for the program. “I was like ‘OK,’” he said. In elementary school classrooms across Denton ISD, teachers notice when some students help their classmates out. They might explain part of a small group activity, or help a friend stand in the right spot. They are eager to learn, too. Since the 2016-17 school year, teachers have tapped those students to join Teach Denton, a program that introduces students — some of them as young as prekindergarten — to teaching. Since its founding, Teach Denton has fed campus chapters of the Texas Association of Future Educators, a three-year education training program at LaGrone Academy that certifies students to work as classroom aides. Teach Denton is also a pathway to LaGrone’s teaching internship, a program that gives students professional development and student teaching experience ahead of college programs. Since the program was founded, 88 of Teach Denton’s alumni have returned to Denton ISD in full-time teaching positions. Denton ISD leaders are proud of that number, and officials from the Texas Education Agency have visited campuses to meet Teach Denton students and the school leaders who are shepherding them toward a career in the classroom or administrators’ offices. “We’re planting these seeds; we’re planting Christmas trees,” said Leah Zavala, the coordinator of Teach Denton. “We’re not going to have all of our vacancies and spots filled tomorrow. But this is that long-term goal. It’s building Rome, you know?” Leah Zavala, Denton ISD’s Teach Denton coordinator, speaks at a event for Teach Denton students in February. Zavala said the program has attracted attention from school districts across the country. The program grew out of a campus improvement plan, a sprawling project that the leaders of each campus complete regularly to align classrooms with everything from state standards to the needs of the regional and national labor market. Zavala said a deputy superintendent likened the initiative to planting trees that would bear fruit generations later. District leaders routinely consider the challenges that face public schools. Texas has been dealing with a teaching shortage for more than a decade, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and political upheavals. Denton ISD has fared better than other Texas schools. It’s a destination district, and boasts an 81.8% teacher retention rate. But the program isn’t about filling vacancies, Zavala said. It’s about connecting students who excel in the classroom and who show leadership traits to a vocation that makes an impact on lives, and on a granular level. Texas public schools act on a 2019 mandate from state lawmakers to make sure students can graduate from high school ready for college, a career or the military. Denton ISD has the typical pathways for students to pursue those outcomes. LaGrone Academy, the district’s advanced technology complex, offers certifications in longstanding trades, such as cosmetology, nursing, auto mechanics and welding. The campus also has a menu of newer certification programs, such as commercial photography, animation, law and forensics. Zavala said the campus improvement plan process sparked conversations about teaching. Every teacher and administrator knows students who are clever, curious and willing to lead. “The questions came up: Why are we not marketing our profession?’” Zavala said. “We have the career-tech complex. We have law enforcement, we have health science. All of these were feeding into a profession. And education is feeding into that same profession, but there was this disconnect with students dropping off and not going into education [in their] postsecondary [education]. And so we started asking, ‘Why are we not doing this?’ “It was really just an idea from [a Denton ISD deputy superintendent] of, like, ‘Hey, why don’t we?’ And if we are in the business of education, why are we not marketing for education?” Zavala said elementary school students and even prekindergarten students who demonstrate empathy can be considered. The youngest students can take part in activities that develop empathy and positive interactions. When they get into kindergarten, Zavala said, they can start attending monthly Teach Denton meetings. Middle and high school students in the program can join their campus chapter of Texas Association of Future Educators. Student in the Teach Denton program at Denton ISD are set on education and career paths in teaching, with the ultimate goal of returning to Denton ISD for their careers. Among their peers and with their faculty advisers, those students drill down on teaching and focus on things like differentiation in education, which prepares them for a typical classroom and its varied students and abilities, to classroom management. Yang will compete in the Area 10 TAFE Conference at Texas Woman’s University over the weekend. The conference at TWU, hosted by the College of Professional Education and the Educator Preparation Program, includes students from Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties. Staci Scott, one of the two coordinators of the LaGrone Academy education internship program and campus TAFE chapter, is helping guide 85 students through the internship, which offers dual credit to students who plan to become certified teachers. The program, separate from Teach Denton, starts with five weeks of preparation, and then interns travel to Denton ISD campuses, where they do hands-on work and student teaching with younger students. “The more that I meet other teachers from other districts, I feel like our district is leading the way with this program,” Scott said. “So many districts want to get it going, but they’re not where we are.” Scott is in her third year sharing the helm of the internship, and she said she’s seeing some important things happen for the interns. “I think starting at an elementary level, keeping kids engaged and excited through their entire [school] career matters,” she said. “I think the fact that they are in classrooms actually teaching — it’s not for everyone, right? Teaching? I tell them, ‘This is such an opportunity for you to spend $75 to take this course and get to do what juniors in college do.’ “Because let’s be real, some people make it that far in college and then they do their student teaching and they’re like, ‘Oh, maybe this is not the route that I want to take.’ So the opportunity to be able to try it out and see is huge.” She also sees that the internship puts students in the classroom, a challenging place that is changing fast, early. By the time alumni are in collegiate teacher preparation programs, they’ve seen how students learn and interact. They’ve had a front-row seat to the challenges and the triumphs that students start experiencing the moment they start school. Scott said she sees room for growth in Teach Denton. “I think the earlier we can get kids in TAFE, and keep building that, we’ll be even better.” Students as young as pre-K can enter Denton ISD’s Teach Denton program. Many times, teachers notice certain characteristics, like helping others and a passion for learning, and recommend them for Teach Denton. An event in February honored the hundreds of Teach Denton students in the program. Yang is two years from graduation from Guyer High, but he’s already considering teacher preparation programs at the University of Texas and University of California. He’s also thinking of a career teaching high school biology and perhaps trying his hand as a public school administrator or college professor. And when he thinks of the future, he imagines teaching in a public school. Until then, Yang said, he’s going to mentor new TAFE students and continue competing while studying honors courses. As a Teach Denton student, Yang is already thinking about what the classroom will be like when he starts his career. “Our world is changing right now,” he said. “Technologies are more advanced, and new generations are coming up. We have to adapt to like the ever-changing present. I believe we should use resources, like AI, to help us, because that’s becoming a big thing. And I know ... teachers think that AI is cheating or something like that. But I think that in the future, AI is going to become like a useful resource.” Yang said both Teach Denton and TAFE have created a community for its members. Just like in team sports, Teach Denton students forge friendships. The students have built a support system for one another. And Yang said the skills students develop in Teach Denton don’t have to stay in classrooms. “I think a lot of people think that you’re in the program, you’re going to be kind of teacher and stuff, but I don’t think that I think that you’re in the program just to become a teacher,” Yang said. “You can do [work] in the program just to build your relationship with others, and basically strengthen your skills.” Zavala said Teach Denton has attracted attention from districts across the country. “Dr. [Robert] Stewart used to be our assistant superintendent of human resources, and he used to tell me all the time, ‘We’re going to take Teach Denton on the road, we’re going to take Teach Denton on the road!’” she said. “And we essentially have. We have gone to several different states in the U.S and talked about Teach Denton, and helped other education agencies in different states develop their grow your own program. Teach Denton is an exemplar for other districts.” Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.CLEVELAND — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt — the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. "We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. "Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. “As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.” Nakken is the second on-field female coach hired by the Guardians. In 2023, the club brought in Amanda Kamekona as their hitting development coach for their year-round training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Last season, she was an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron. Kamekona was twice a third-team All-American at UCLA after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbpanalo.999 。

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Jeanine Robel-Anthony Edwards (via: timesofindia.indiatimes.com) During an exciting Christmas matchup, Anthony Edwards powered the Minnesota Timberwolves to a vital win in their second encounter with formidable opponents. With his girlfriend Jeanine Robel and their children cheering him on, heartwarming moments unfolded as Edwards celebrated the victory and shared memorable posts on social media. From courtside family snapshots to engaging updates, Robel's presence added a personal touch to the team's success, captivating fans and followers. Family support and post-game celebrations Anthony Edwards says "ain't nobody gon' fight man relax" after Gobert and Gafford get heated 😂 In a highly-anticipated Christmas matchup, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves secured a crucial victory in their second encounter of the season against formidable opponents. With the support of his girlfriend Jeanine Robel and their children, Edwards celebrated the win, capturing heartwarming moments in a series of social media posts, including a victorious selfie with their daughter post-game. "Wolves winnnnn 🏆," she captioned the post. In a different scene, she filmed a charming video of her son and daughter watching the game from her lap. "Shannon with the 2 kids 💕," she captioned the post. She delightedly captured a moment of her daughter, Aislynn, taking in the game in style from the exclusive suite. "the suit life of 🐞," she wrote in the caption. Despite Kyrie Irving's impressive 39-point performance, the Timberwolves managed to keep the Mavericks below 100 points, securing a 105-99 victory. Edwards showcased his talent by scoring 26 points on 11-of-24 shooting, while also contributing eight rebounds and five assists. In 2020, Anthony Edwards and his girlfriend publicly acknowledged their relationship. Since then, she, a social media influencer, has been frequently spotted courtside supporting her beau. Following the birth of their daughter, she continues to bring their little one to cheer on her father during games. Notably, she accompanied Edwards to the Olympics in Paris this year, along with her daughter and son, Krue . Also Read: Gilbert Arenas is all smiles as girlfriend, Melli Monaco, presents him with $2,999 Christmas gift Jeanine Robel's hilarious video In a recent social media post, Jeanine Robel, girlfriend of NBA star Anthony Edwards, revealed her son Krue's disinterest in being photographed. Despite her best efforts to capture family moments, a video on her Instagram story hilariously captures Krue's unwavering focus on the basketball game. Even with her seven-month-old daughter in tow, Krue's attention remained steadfast on the NBA action, making for a comical and relatable family moment. "If you know krue taking pics ain't his thing fr 😂 the pics we do get are always forced!" Robel wrote in the caption. (via: Sportskeeda) Robel shares Krue with her former partner, renowned American rapper Chief Keef. The 10-year-old is not only Robel's son but also a talented basketball player at his school.Japan and other major exporters face a Trump-tariffs trade war

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Opposition MPPs slammed amendments to the Ford government's controversial bike lane bill Thursday, saying these moves would create legal protections for the province if cyclists are hurt or killed after lanes are removed. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, University-Rosedale NDP MPP Jessica Bell said new amendments to Bill 212 would make it so people could no longer sue the government if they are hurt on roadways as a result of bike lanes being taken out. "What this means is the conservatives want to remove themselves from any responsibility if someone is injured or killed in the future," Bell said. "It's heartbreaking, because someone will be injured or killed in the future." The Progressive Conservative government has been fast-tracking legislation that would require Ontario municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a lane of vehicle traffic. The bill also goes a step further and gives the province the power to remove the entirety of three major bike lanes in Toronto on Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, restoring them to vehicle traffic — moves that have been loudly decried by cycling advocates. Reporters repeatedly asked Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria Thursday if the amended bill would, in fact, protect the government from lawsuits — and each time he did not answer the question and instead pivoted to government talking points about traffic congestion. "Everything we do has the intention of safety," Sarkaria said. "We believe bike lanes should be on secondary roads." Whether or not the entirety of all three bike lanes on Bloor, Yonge and University will be removed remains up in the air, as provincial officials have provided few specifics about their plans. Sarkaria did say more than once Thursday that the bill would give the province the authority to "remove the entirety of the lanes" on those three roadways. "People understand this has gone too far," he said. "We need to have some common sense and reasonableness on this." Amendments to the bill passed at the committee, but it still needs to be voted on in a third reading at the provincial legislature — though with a Progressive Conservative majority, it is likely to pass. Opposition MPPs also took aim at other amendments to the bill Thursday, including those focused on who will pay for the removal of bike lanes. Toronto City Manager Paul Johnson that the province should be covering costs not just for the removal of the lanes, but also for their original implementation, considering staff and planning time. One amendment introduced Thursday specifically states the province is not required to reimburse municipalities for costs incurred when bike lanes were being installed. As the debate over this bill rages on, millions in taxpayer dollars are at stake. A Toronto city staff report from earlier this month concluded that work to remove the three bike lanes would cost more than $48 million and likely lead to only minimally faster commutes for drivers. Sarkaria said the province will foot the bill for removal costs, but also said he , as it is double the price tag of the initial installation. Speaking at the committee meeting Thursday, Oshawa NDP MPP Jennifer French accused the province of advancing a plan with the twofold distinction of being expensive and dangerous. "This is a political decision and people are going to be killed," she said.

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KUWAIT: Cabinet announced Wednesday Kuwait’s official delegation attending the 45th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit. During their weekly meeting, held Wednesday at Bayan Palace and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, Cabinet expressed its warm welcome to the leaders of the GCC member states and their accompanying delegations, who are arriving to Kuwait for summit, set to be held on Sunday, December 1, 2024. According to a statement made by Shareeda Al-Maousherji, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, the ministers said they looked forward with optimism to the outcomes of the summit, wishing success to the leaders in advancing the GCC’s efforts and fulfilling the aspirations of the Gulf peoples. The lineup includes His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, and Shareeda Al-Maousherji, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. Additionally, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Public Works Noura Al-Mashaan, and Minister of Commerce and Industry Khalifa Al-Ajeel will be part of the delegation. The remaining ministers are Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic and Investment Affairs Noura Al-Fassam and Minister of Oil Tareq Al-Roumi. The delegation also includes senior officials from the Amiri Diwan, the Diwan of the Crown Prince, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. GCC Summit agenda In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Al-Yahya said the summit will address a range of important political and economic issues. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Minister Al-Yahya explained that the summit’s agenda will include discussions on strategic partnerships, cybersecurity, as well as the completion of the GCC electricity interconnection network and the GCC railway projects. GCC Foreign ministers are expected to arrive Thursday for a preparatory session of the GCC Ministerial Council, held the same day. The schedule will also include a visit to the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Center to view the “Gulf Cooperation Council Journey” exhibition, which showcases the council’s achievements and key historical milestones. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi said the Ministerial Council will review reports on the progress of decisions made at the 44th GCC Summit in Doha, as well as discuss memoranda from the various ministerial and technical committees, the General Secretariat, and issues related to strategic partnerships and dialogue with global countries and organizations. The meeting will also address the latest regional and international developments affecting the Gulf region. The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of this meeting as a key step in reinforcing Gulf cooperation and ensuring the success of the upcoming summit. Security arrangements Kuwait’s government agencies are working around the clock to prepare for the summit. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, emphasized Wednesday that all military and security sectors are mobilizing their full capabilities to ensure the success of the summit in a manner befitting the reputation of Kuwait. This statement came in a press release issued by the ministry, following a field visit conducted by Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf, accompanied by other security officials. The visit aimed to review the security and logistical preparations being made for the summit. Sheikh Salem Nawaf was briefed on the security plans, which include the involvement of the Kuwait National Guard, the Kuwait Fire Force, and other relevant agencies, to ensure the safety of dignitaries during the summit. During the visit, the roles and responsibilities of each unit involved in the security arrangements were discussed, highlighting the importance of seamless cooperation in protecting the participants and maintaining order.New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) takes the ball from Saints quarterback Derek Carr during the second half of an NFL football game at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Quarterback Derek Carr did not participate in the New Orleans Saints practice Thursday, but interim coach Darren Rizzi is still holding out hope for his return to the lineup potentially as soon as this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Carr has missed each of the last two games after he suffered a concussion and a left hand fracture in the Saints’ Week 14 win against the New York Giants. The hand injury is the last hurdle he has to clear to get back to the lineup. “His grip strength gets a little bit better every day; it’s improving,” Rizzi said. “I know I sound like a broken record when I come in here and talk about him, but it’s really the same deal: It’s a gradual improvement. “The biggest thing would be being able to see if we could, on Friday or Saturday, to get him to simulate what a game would look like.” With Carr still sidelined by the injury, rookie Spencer Rattler handled all the first team practice reps Thursday. He will get his fifth start of the season if Carr is unable to go. Running back Alvin Kamara also missed practice Thursday, and Rizzi did not sound as optimistic about his chances of playing in Week 17 against Las Vegas. Kamara injured his groin in the third quarter of the Saints’ Week 15 loss to the Washington Commanders, and he missed last week’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. The veteran running back is 50 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign. “I saw him today doing his rehab this morning; he was in really good spirits,” Rizzi said. “I don’t know on this short week if he’s got a realistic shot, but I think he has a very realistic shot the following week (against Tampa Bay).” Though the Saints were eliminated from the postseason before last week’s game against Green Bay, Rizzi said both of the veteran players are working hard to get back on the field before the end of the regular season — and if they are ready, he has no intention of keeping them on the bench. “Both of those guys have the mindset of they’d like to play again these last couple of weeks,” Rizzi said. “I appreciate and respect that.”

Chinese Stocks in US Rally as Beijing Vows to Boost DemandThe committee that chose the 12 contenders for college football's national title was only worried about one thing — ranking the teams. Where those teams landed in the College Football Playoff bracket was based on a formula created by conference commissioners. That jumbled up the pairings — there are some big gaps, for instance, between where a team is seeded and where it's ranked — and made a strong case for tinkering in the future. “I think the process to rank the best 25 teams is a great process,” said selection committee chairman Warde Manuel. “I’ve heard debates and discussions about how the seeding of the tournament should go. I will leave that up to the commissioners.” Among the choices the commissioners made months ago that set the template for the bracket released Sunday: • Favoring conference champions by giving four of them byes and one more an automatic spot in the field, no matter where they were ranked in the CFP's top 25. • Not reseeding the bracket after the first round, a move that could have given the best teams more favorable early matchups. • Making no attempt to avoid regular-season rematches early in the playoffs. There was also the issue of the 12-team bracket, which could very well be expanded in the next year or two. All those choices led to a field full of possibilities, but also one containing head-scratching matchups. The choices could, in some eyes, undermine the College Football Playoff's main mission, which is ( making more money while) providing more “access” — in other words, a fair shake to more than four deserving teams. For instance, top-seeded and undefeated Oregon could play its first game against Big Ten foe Ohio State, which was ranked No. 2 for much of the season and lost to the Ducks by a point earlier this year. And Boise State, from the non-power Mountain West Conference, is the third seed, even though the committee ranked the Broncos ninth. Here is how things might have looked if certain rules that could come into play in the future were already in place: Ariona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, left, and quarterback Sam Leavitt celebrate after the team's win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Conference championship game on Saturday in Arlington, Texas. Conference champions First things first — there's not a single tweak that would've placed Oregon at anything other than the No. 1 seed. The Ducks are the only undefeated team in major college football and winning a title this year would leave them a jaw-dropping 16-0. Had the rules called for simply slotting in the top 12 teams, though, Alabama would be in the bracket and Oregon's path would be wildly different. A look at the coulda-been matchups: — No. 12 Arizona State at No. 5 Notre Dame: Big 12 champs would've made it because they rose three spots after that big win over Iowa State. — No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Ohio State: Without automatic berths for conference champions, Tide would have been in, not at the ReliaQuest Bowl against a 7-5 Michigan team. — No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee: Mustangs could've slept soundly despite that heartbreaking loss to Clemson. And the Vols would have had a home game instead of a trip to Ohio State. — No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana: Hoosiers would've gotten the home game their coach thought they deserved, with the winner facing the Ducks. The third and fourth byes would have gone to Texas and Penn State, both losers in their conference title games — a turn that would have furthered questions as to whether those games have outlived their usefulness. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel celebrates after beating Penn State in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis. Reseeding, rematches As things stand, Oregon will face either Ohio State or Tennessee at the Rose Bowl in the quarterfinals. Reseeding or avoiding regular-season matchups in the early rounds would likely have given the Ducks an easier game to start. Under a reseeding scenario, the Ohio State matchup could only happen if every home team — Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and the Buckeyes — were to win its first-round game. This tweak also would prevent this year's possibility of Clemson vs. Arizona State in the quarterfinals — two teams that weren't in the top 12 a week ago. Or the prospect of two bye teams — ASU and Boise State — being big underdogs against teams, think Texas or Penn State, that have to win a game to play them. More teams This one is a loaded question, because when the playoffs expand they will do so with different rules. One formula kicking around involves giving three automatic spots to the Big Ten and SEC, two to the ACC and Big 12, one to the best-ranked champion of a Group of Five conference and three at-large spots. This, too, would cause problems and shuffling and teams getting passed over. But where it really breaks down is that 18th-ranked Iowa State of the Big 12 would land in this bracket as the 14 seed despite losing to Arizona State by 26. Hard to see that going over well at Miami, or Ole Miss, or Colorado. Then again, nobody ever said this was going to be fair. Stiliana Nikolova, of Bulgaria performs in the rhythmic gymnastics individuals all-round qualification round, at La Chapelle Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India reacts as he collides with San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. India was safe and Campusano was charged with an error. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kimberley Woods of Britain competes in the women's kayak cross time trial at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Noah Lyles, of the United States, jumps as he limbers-up ahead of the men's 100-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A member of the Seattle Mariners tosses a ball against a wall during drills at spring training baseball workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia waits to receive serve during her first round match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Czech Republic's Jiri Beran, left, competes with France's Yannik Borel in the men's team epee bronze final match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) France's Adrien Truffert jumps over Argentina's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli during a quarterfinal soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Bordeaux, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Italy's Sara Curtis splashes her face with water before a women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Ivory Coast 's Seko Fofana, top, duels for the ball with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Costa Rica midfielder Jefferson Brenes, from left, Alvaro Zamora (21), Francisco Calvo (15) and Joseph Mora (8) are pelted with drinks and trash after celebrating a Brenes goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match against Honduras, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tyrrell Hatton, of England, reacts on the 11th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Augusta, GA. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Quincy Hall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Tim Tszyu, of Australia, hits Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight title bout Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Workers peep through curtains to watch a match between France's Gael Monfils and Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Amy Yang, of South Korea, is doused after winning the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Workers remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti) Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, scores his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue ) Czech Republic's Michal Kempny, right, punches United States' Brady Tkachuk during the quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Turkey's Taha Akgul, left, competes with Georgia's Geno Petriashvili in a men's freestyle 125 kg category gold medal wrestling match during the European Wrestling Championships, in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith cries after winning the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Carles Coll Marti of Spain competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke heat at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots between New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III and guard CJ McCollum in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New Orleans. The Lakers won 110-106. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man in a monk's robe waves the French flag as the peloton passes during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 163.5 kilometers (101.6 miles) with start in Macon and finish in Dijon, France, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Belgium's Jeremy Doku, left, challenges for the ball with Romania's Andrei Ratiu during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A spectator walks through a water mist sprayer on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, kicks off of a wave as he warms up prior to the quarterfinals round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Wyndham Clark waits to hit on the 17th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Kolkata Knight Riders' wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to make an unsuccessful attempt to run out Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket final match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Serbia's Novak Djokovic embraces his daughter Tara after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Spain's Dani Olmo clears the ball from the goal line during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A fleet of boats compete in the mixed multihull sailing race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) A horse watches from its stable ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Silver medalist Simone Biles, of the United States, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, of the United States, right, bow to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, during the medal ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Denver celebrates after winning the championship game against Boston College in the Frozen Four NCAA college hockey tournament Saturday, April 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Denver won 2-0 to win the national championship. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (13) and cornerback Elijah Jackson (25) break up a pass to Eastern Michigan wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. (3) in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. Washington won 30-9. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Johnson, right, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jared McCain, center, and Adem Bona during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Elise Mertens, of Belgium, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Wearing a device that measures his energy consumption, the Israel Amputee Football Team player, Ben Maman, left, fights for the ball with a young soccer player from a local team during a practice session in Ramat Gan, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A soccer fan dressed as Spiderman watches Brazil play Uruguay in a Copa America quarterfinal match on a screen set up for fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Brazil lost in a penalty shootout and Uruguay qualified for the semifinals. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Men dressed in traditional clothes try to pull the opponent over the table at the German Championships in Fingerhakeln or finger wrestling, in Bernbeuren, Germany, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kicks the ball after double faulting against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Water is sprayed on the pitch as the ball boys and girls walk along the center line before the start of the men's Group A field hockey match between South Africa and Germany at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Colombes, France. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) reaches for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Morocco's Widad Bertal celebrates after defeating Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong in their women's 54kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Brazil's Priscila eyes the ball during a women's semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Spain at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at Marseille Stadium in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young fan before the start of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mozambique's Deizy Nhaquile battles rough seas during a women's dinghy race, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People watch the cauldron rise at sunset by the Olympic rings during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher) A light show is projected from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Kateryna Tabashnyk, a high jumper, sits for a portrait Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the athletics arena of the "Polytechnic" sports complex, which was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, is reflected on a surface as she performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Italy's Giovanni Tocci competes in the men's 3m springboard diving preliminary at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Wake Forest keeps trying new things early in the season, even if not all of the adjustments are by design. The Demon Deacons will try to stick to the script when Detroit Mercy visits for Saturday's game in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Demon Deacons (5-1) will be at home for the final time prior to three consecutive road games. Detroit Mercy (3-2) already has two more victories than all of last season. After a couple of narrow wins and a loss at Xavier, Wake Forest had a smoother time earlier this week in defeating visiting Western Carolina 82-69 on Tuesday night. Yet these are games when teams have to figure where contributions are going to come from in certain situations. The experimenting took a turn for Wake Forest in the Western Carolina game. Center Efton Reid III had limited minutes because of migraines, so there was a shift in responsibilities. Normal backcourt players Cameron Hildreth and Juke Harris logged time at the power forward slot. "That's just part of it," coach Steve Forbes said. "They did a good job adjusting. We ran a lot of stuff and there are several guys learning different positions. ... I give credit to those guys for doing the best job that they could do on the fly and adjusting to the play calls that we ran and the stuff that we changed." Wake Forest could excel if both Parker Friedrichsen and Davin Cosby can be consistent 3-point threats. Friedrichsen slumped with shooting in the first few games of the season and was replaced in the starting lineup by Cosby. In Tuesday's game, Friedrichsen drained four 3-pointers, while Cosby hit two. "It was really good to see Parker and Davin both make shots together," Forbes said. Not everything was solved for the Demon Deacons. Western Carolina collected 12 offensive rebounds, and that took some of the shine off Wake Forest's defensive efforts. "We can't be a good defensive team, or a really good defensive team, unless we rebound the ball," Forbes said. "It's demoralizing to your defense to get stops and then not get the ball." In Detroit Mercy's 70-59 win at Ball State on Wednesday, Orlando Lovejoy tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists. "We got the ball to the shooters and playmakers," first-year Titans coach Mark Montgomery said. "You could tell by the guys' body language that we were going to get a road win. It had been a long time coming." On Saturday, the Titans will look for their second road victory since February 2023. The outcome at Ball State seemed significant to Montgomery. "We had to get over the hump," he said. "Our guys grinded it out." --Field Level Media

For years, large drillers in California sold unprofitable wells to smaller companies willing to wring the last drops of oil out of them. The process essentially kicked the cost of cleaning up oil fields — pumping concrete down well bores, removing tanks and pipelines — to operators with less ability to pay for the eventual cleanup. Policymakers and advocates predicted that taxpayers — not the oil companies themselves — would ultimately have to pay billions for remediation once those oil and gas operations ran dry. Unplugged wells emit climate-warming methane and pose long-term hazards to soil and groundwater. But a new law may finally be slowing the so-called well shuffling, state data shows. Since the start of this year, companies have proposed selling 766 wells in the state. But before the wells can change hands, purchasers are now required to request an estimate for a bond to plug the wells from the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), the agency that regulates drilling. Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one . To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How The requirement is part of a new law passed last year to ensure that someone — not taxpayers — is forced to put up the money to clean up the wells before they can be sold. The state quoted bond amounts totaling $80.5 million for those hundreds of wells. Most of that money was for a bond to eventually plug 729 wells in Kern County that Vaquero Energy Inc. wanted to buy from Aera Energy. The remaining 37 wells are scattered across Santa Barbara, Orange, Kern, Fresno, and Los Angeles counties and are owned by two dozen companies. The majority of those wells were idle, and nearly all were marginal — producing less than 15 barrels of oil a day, enough to produce just 472 gallons of gas. But after the state determined how much it would cost to bond those wells, all 37 of the proposed sales fell through. The California Geologic Energy Management Division directed questions about the failed transactions to the involved companies. Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one . To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How To Rob Schuwerk, the executive director of Carbon Tracker’s North American office, it means that the law is working as intended: Companies are no longer passing off marginal wells to operators who lack the financial means to plug them. “The law has stopped some of the bleeding,” Schuwerk wrote in an email to Capital & Main. Capital & Main reached out to all of the operators involved in the proposed sale of wells. Most did not respond to emails and phone calls. Chad Hathaway, the owner of Hathaway LLC, wanted to buy 14 wells from Kern River Holding LLC. The state required that he file a $2.6 million bond to complete the transaction. His company in the Mount Poso oil field in Kern County specializes in refurbishing and reactivating marginal wells. In an email to Capital & Main, Hathaway wrote that California “places such high costs on abandonment and remediation that it makes the transfers impossible, unaffordable, and economically unfeasible to bond.” He noted that the state’s bonding estimates run much higher than his company’s internal estimates. That sentiment is shared by other operators. Signal Hill Disposal LLC, a wastewater disposal company based in Southern California, responded with “shock and awe” after the California Geologic Energy Management Division said it needed to obtain a $651,820 bond to acquire a single well in Los Angeles County, according to division emails obtained by Capital & Main. The quoted amounts to plug wells are, however, in line with and even a little below figures included in a Sierra Club idle wells report released in December 2023 that is frequently cited by some lawmakers in Sacramento. That report put total cleanup liabilities for all unplugged wells in California at $22.9 billion. A Carbon Tracker report from 2023 estimated that the costs of decommissioning all those wells would be more than double the projected cash flows for all oil-producing companies in California given how much oil is left in the ground. Going forward, Carbon Tracker’s Schuwerk said, California needs “to increase financial assurance on all entities,” which he said could be accomplished through bonds or sinking funds , which can be dedicated to cleanup costs and which oil operators pay into over time. But any plan to clean up oil fields through bonds alone faces a major hurdle: Bond sellers have become reluctant to work with California oil operators, said Mark Karr, a senior account manager with SuretyBonds.com. “Out of all the bonds we sell, this is one of the highest risk industries,” Karr said. “A lot of surety companies think it’s not even worth it because we’ve had to pay out so many times” to the state after oil operators reneged on promises to use their own money for plugging wells. The state’s largest operators, including Chevron, may be best positioned to set aside cleanup money, considering their still very profitable global operations. But actions by driller Aera Energy, which recently merged with California Resources Corporation to become the state’s largest well operator, show how challenging it can be to make companies put up a sufficient bond. In one proposed transaction this year, Aera asked the California Geologic Energy Management Division for a bond estimate to sell 11 wells to an unidentified company. In another, where Aera wanted to sell 729 wells to Vaquero Energy, it’s not clear which company initiated the transaction. The bond amounts for the two transactions would have totaled $75.3 million, but neither moved forward. Neither Aera or Vaquero responded to requests for comment. And months before its shareholders voted in June to acquire Aera, California Resources Corporation told state regulators that its stock transfer acquisition of Aera meant no wells were actually changing hands. The California Geologic Energy Management Division agreed with the company’s interpretation of the law, and did not force California Resources Corporation to file a bond for acquiring Aera’s wells. California Resources Corporation estimated in financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that its long-term costs for cleaning up all of its unplugged wells after the merger — about 38,000 — amounted to $1 billion. By contrast, the Sierra Club estimated that the two companies’ liabilities to plug their idle wells amounted to $3.5 billion combined. California Resources Corporation filed a $30 million bond for cleanup costs with the state in December 2023, the maximum amount under the law at the time. Meanwhile, the state is taking more steps to hold companies financially liable for their wells. In September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law to charge companies thousands of dollars per idle well annually unless they start plugging them. Despite President-elect Trump’s desire to promote domestic oil production, the federal government may find it difficult to intervene in matters related to drilling on state lands. “It does not in any immediate way intersect with federal law or implicate federal interests,” said Ann Alexander, an environmental attorney and policy consultant who advocated for the oil well bonding law. The bonding law is a step in the right direction, but California needs to continue finding ways to make oil operators pay for cleanup, Alexander said. Other industries could serve as a model, such as the nuclear power sector, in which plant operators are required by federal regulations to put money into a sinking fund for decommissioning . “No matter how much people want to keep [California’s oil drilling] industry alive, it is fundamentally on the wane,” she said. Copyright 2024 Capital & Main A message from Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. Donate now and your gift will be DOUBLED. Join us as a $25/month donor or make a $300 one-time gift, and we’ll send you a limited-edition gift bundle as a token of our gratitude. It’s our way of saying thanks for supporting our work. Grist is the only award-winning newsroom focused on exploring equitable solutions to climate change. It’s vital reporting made entirely possible by loyal readers like you. At Grist, we don’t believe in paywalls. Instead, we rely on our readers to pitch in what they can so that we can continue bringing you our solution-based climate news. Donate now and your gift will be DOUBLED!Kinickerless mum caught on CCTV dropping bag of cocaine in Monkwearmouth’s Grange Park Primary School

Native American patients are sent to collections for debts the government owesFine Gael election candidate John McGahon has broken his silence and issued leaflets to homes in Louth asking them for support. The letter, seen by the Irish Mirror, says that the Senator “loves his community” and that if it is “not possible” for voters to give them their number one vote, he would like them to consider giving him their “highest transfer”. Videos of an altercation between Mr McGahon and farmer Breen White during a late-night altercation outside a Louth pub started circulating online earlier this month. READ MORE: Taoiseach Simon Harris 'not sure' if he will canvass with under fire John McGahon READ MORE: Paschal Donohoe compares Simon Harris to Coleen Rooney as he confesses to new guilty pleasure Mr White, from Castleblaney, Co Monaghan, sued Mr McGahon for assault and battery outside the Rum House pub in Dundalk, Co Louth, on June 16, 2018. Mr McGahon, who was elected to the Seanad after the incident, denied the claims and said he was assaulted and acted in self-defence. In July, a High Court civil jury awarded Mr White €39,000 following the alleged assault. It apportioned blame at 65 per cent against Mr McGahon and 35 per cent against Mr White. A separate criminal trial found Mr McGahon not guilty of assault. In the new letter sent to households in Louth, Mr McGahon said that “Ireland stands at a crucial moment”. “The choices we make now will shape the future of our country, for our children, our families and our businesses,” he wrote. “Since I was first elected as a councillor back in 2014, I have worked my heart out for county Louth. I love our county. It’s my home and I am very proud of the work we have achieved here. “Helping people is the most rewarding part of my job, and it has been a privilege to do that over the past 10 years as a councillor and then a senator. "But now, at this crucial election, our community needs a TD who will champion it, both at home in Louth and nationally in Dáil Éireann. I hope you can see how much I love our community and how hard I work for it. “That’s why I am looking for your number one vote. If that is not possible, please consider me for your highest transfer. “The coming election is going to be really close, so please make sure to vote.” The letter has the Fine Gael logo in the bottom right corner. Elsewhere, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Wednesday that he did not know if he would canvass with Mr McGahon in Louth. “I’m not sure, is the honest answer,” he said. “John McGahon is a duly selected Fine Gael candidate. He's on the ticket, as is councillor Paula Butterly. It's up to the people of Louth to decide if they wish to vote Fine Gael, which candidate to support. “I've made it very clear my view in relation to violence. I’d need to reflect on that so I'm not sure. “No [I wouldn’t ask him to leave if he showed up]. We’re not in that space at all. “But whether I do or don't get to canvass with Senator McGahon is a matter I'm not yet decided on.” Mr Harris said that he will continue to canvass on Thursday and until 10pm on Friday when the voting closes. Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .