Syria’s besieged Assad makes overtures to US in bid to surviveNASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go
Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son Hunter is raising new questions about his legacy WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to go back on his word and pardon his son Hunter wasn't all that surprising to those who are familiar with the president's devotion to his family. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president has raised new questions about his legacy. Biden has held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns. It was part of an effort to draw a deliberate contrast with Republican Donald Trump. Now, both his broken promise and his act of clemency are a political lightning rod. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.Elumelu To Govt: Prioritise Security, Improved Access To ElectricityNone
Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordIn today’s Daily Dose of Social Media , we review the most notable activities and Entertainment from ATP and WTA players. Simona Halep surprised by training with Paula Badosa in Dubai, while Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton stole the spotlight at Madison Square the previous night. On the other hand, Venus Williams was honored for her cultural impact at an event in Miami. SimonaHalep joins Paula Badosa in Dubai to prepare for the 2025 season SimonaHalep, former World No. 1, is training with Paula Badosa in Dubai as she aimsto regain consistency and regularity ahead of the upcoming season. After achallenging period in her career, the Romanian appears determined to return tothe level that earned her two Grand Slam titles. Thepre-season block alongside Badosa could be a pivotal step for Halep as sheseeks to rediscover her best form in time for the demanding Australian swing.For her part, the Catalan is more motivated than ever to climb the rankings andhas invited Halep to join her training sessions under the Dubai sun. “Very niceto see these photos from Simona and Paula Badosa after they had practicetogether in Dubai for their preseason training. The 2025 season is not that faraway!,” the Romanian Tennis X account posted, sharing images from Halep’sInstagram story. Very nice to see these photos from Simona and Paula Badosa after they had practice together in Dubai for their preseason training. The 2025 season is not that far away! pic.twitter.com/2A17tHRcwj EmmaNavarro defeats Jessica Pegula at Madison Square Garden The iconicMadison Square Garden hosted an exciting evening of tennis, featuring twoexhibition matches that brought together some of the most notable names on thecircuit. In the women’s showdown, Emma Navarro triumphed over Jessica Pegula ina tightly contested all-American clash, securing victory with scores of 7-6 and7-5. The matchunfolded in a relaxed atmosphere, typical of such events, allowing the playersto showcase their skills while engaging with the New York crowd. The closescoreline reflected the high level of both athletes, with points that keptspectators captivated throughout. A uniqueaspect of the evening was the interaction between Navarro and Pegula, whoshared a light-hearted interview after the first set, highlighting theircamaraderie and sense of humour. For Navarro, this win in such a legendaryvenue serves as a confidence boost as she continues to establish herself on thetour. Meanwhile, Pegula, currently world No. 7, enjoyed the challenge and thedistinctive vibe of the event, which brought fans together to celebratetop-tier tennis in a more casual format. “Craaazygetting to play @thegarden thanks @tennisnightout for having us, loved everysecond,” Pegula shared on social media after the match. Una publicación compartida de emma navarro (@emma_navarro48) Flourishing at Madison Square Garden Emma Navarro takes out fellow American Jess Pegula 7-6, 7-5! #TheGardenCup pic.twitter.com/FG2QuYQVKl CarlosAlcaraz shines at Madison Square Garden CarlosAlcaraz returned to the spotlight in New York, a city etched in his memoryfollowing his US Open victory in 2022. This time, the Spanish sensationshowcased his talent at The Garden Cup , a special exhibition that paidhomage to Madison Square Garden’s storied history with tennis, harking back toits days hosting the Masters Cup, now known as the ATP Finals. Alcarazfaced rising star Ben Shelton in a match that delivered excitement andthrilling moments. After dropping the first set 4-6, the Spaniard reboundedwith a commanding 6-2 performance in the second set and secured the win in asuper tie-break with a 7-4 scoreline. Despite thefriendly nature of the event and its relaxed format, the intensity of play andthe quality of the rallies captivated the crowd. Alcaraz’s ability to adapt andthrill in any setting reaffirmed his status as a fan favourite, while Sheltonimpressed with his energy and potential on one of tennis’s most iconic stages. “Greatnight at Madison Square Garden! It’s been amazing to play here! @tennisnightout Charlotte,” Carlos Alcaraz posted. “Lastnight @thegarden was a movie Thanks to everyone with @tennisnightout thatmade it happen. Hope I’ll be back again ” Dr. Carlos Alcaraz helping Ben Shelton at The Garden Cup Wait for it pic.twitter.com/kqlntpIxZw Worthy of applause. #TheGardenCup | @carlosalcaraz pic.twitter.com/4rcBTBc2dn Great night at Madison Square Garden! It’s been amazing to play here! @tennisnightout Charlotte Getty pic.twitter.com/gvrb1SrELw Una publicación compartida de Ben Shelton (@benshelton) Venus Williams honored by Cultured Magazine Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was recently honored by Cultured magazine, which included her in its inaugural "Cult 100" list. This recognition celebrates influential individuals whose impact goes beyond their primary discipline. The magazine, known as the "leading voice for inspiration" at the crossroads of art, design, and style, acknowledges Williams not only for her tennis career but also for her significant contributions off the court. Venus Williams has demonstrated remarkable versatility beyond tennis. Recently, she launched her AI-based interior design firm, Palazzo, showcasing her passion for art and technology. Despite the challenges of venturing into a new field, Williams compares her perseverance in business to the resilience she showed in her tennis career, overcoming adversity and maintaining a competitive mindset. "I am so proud of my achievements on the court, but I take even greater pride in what I’ve accomplished beyond it," Williams stated. "Early on in my career, I utilized my platform to make a positive impact, whether through tennis or my design firm, V Starr. I like to think that my decisions to stand up for what’s right—and be an advocate for gender equity and women’s empowerment—has inspired the next generation." Una publicación compartida de Venus Williams (@venuswilliams) Coco Gauff defends Apple Music, calls out haters in playful rant Coco Gauff recently shared her thoughts on the ongoingdebate between Apple Music and Spotify, addressing what she perceives as anunfair bias against Apple Music. In a playful yet passionate statement, shedefended the music streaming service, highlighting its features that sheappreciates, such as top album and genre rankings, spatial audio, and detailedmonthly and yearly replay reports. Gauff expressed frustration with the strongreactions from Spotify users, who seem to take offense at seeing Apple Musicscreenshots. “why iseveryone an apple music hater?? we get to see our top albums, top genres, havespatial audio, andget a monthly replay report on top of the yearly one. I like spotify but thefan base can’t stand to see an apple music screenshot. you would think I killedtheir dog chile" why is everyone an apple music hater?? we get to see our top albums, top genres, have spatial audio, and get a monthly replay report on top of the yearly one. I like spotify but the fan base can’t stand to see an apple music screenshot. you would think I killed their dog chile This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.When Russia launched its unprovoked attack on Ukraine in February 2022, one of the first energy resiliency cracks to emerge was the vulnerability of the Ukrainian nuclear fleet. Now, even as the war approaches its fourth year, energy planners in Ukraine are turning to wind power and other renewable resources for energy security, resilience, and integration with the European green hydrogen economy. Building new energy facilities in wartime can be a Sisyphean task. However, wind power is a special case. In a typical wind farm, turbines are scattered over long distances. Knocking one out with a missile is just a temporary setback. Putting every turbine in a wind farm out of commission is not worth the expense, time, and risk. In the case of Russia, the missile strategy has focused on breaking down willpower by attacking hospitals, schools, and other civilian targets, not taking down a wind turbine or two. Substations and transmission lines are still vulnerable, but the repair and replacement timeline is shorter for those types of infrastructure than repairing the significant damage to a fossil energy power plant, let alone a nuclear facility. “Despite all the cheerleading for nuclear energy over at the COP28 climate talks, national security risks have taken center stage ever since Russia launched its unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” CleanTechnica observed last year. Nuclear advocates have raised the tempo since then. However, as of last year, Ukraine was already well on its way to making a mark in the wind power field, with plans for building the largest onshore wind farm in Eastern Europe. Almost as a sort of test case for wind power resiliency, early in the war, the Ukrainian energy firm DTEK Renewables began building a 19-turbine, 114-megawatt wind farm just 60 miles from the front line, in the Mykolaiv region near the Black Sea. The wind farm went into operation last May as the Tyligulska Wind Power Plant, billed as the only facility of its kind to be completed in an active conflict zone. DTEK also signaled its intention to expand the wind farm to 500 megawatts with a commitment to order 64 additional turbines from its partner, Vestas. “ This wind farm has become a symbol of resilience and faith in the Ukrainian energy sector, as it was built by Ukrainians during a full-scale war just 100 km away from the front,” DTEK observed in an update on the project earlier this year. DTEK also noted that the new wind power plant incorporates new technologies aimed at increasing the capacity of Ukraine’s transmission connections with Europe. “Ukraine needs distributed generation, including wind power, more than ever,” DTEK emphasized. They did not let the grass grow under their feet. In 2023, the company also began planning for the 650-megawatt DTEK Poltavska Wind Power Plant, to be located on lands of the Hlobyne territorial community in Poltava Oblast. The wind farm, including environmental studies , is moving forward, with construction slated for 2025. Vestas is just one of the non-domestic energy stakeholders supporting Ukraine’s transition to wind power and other renewables. Another example is the UK firm Elementum Energy , which is focusing on operations in western Ukraine. Last year, the company added 60 megawatts of wind power to the Ukrainian grid with the completion of Phase 2 of the Dnistrovska Wind Farm. This year, the company took the final steps towards acquiring a group of wind power projects totaling 200 megawatts, described in an email to CleanTechnica earlier this week. “This project demonstrates the critical role of business in recovery and sustainable development during uncertain times,” explains the Elementum’s Managing Director, Olga Rybachuk. In addition to its own investment, Elementum expects funding from international development banks and credit agencies as well as local banks. The entire group of projects is on the fast track for construction-readiness by the end of next year. In a poke at nuclear advocates, Elementum also emphasizes that “wind farms also offer a practical and resilient solution to energy needs during crises” due to their study-to-commissioning development cycle of just three years. Wind power is just one element in Ukraine’s plans for a green recovery . Energy planners are leveraging biomass and other renewable energy resources , too, with the aim of joining the European Union as a strong contributor to decarbonization and economic development rather than coming hat in hand as a supplicant seeking aid. Considering the EU’s focus on building a new green hydrogen economy , it’s not surprising to find Ukraine focusing on green hydrogen as well. Aside from the potential for exporting green hydrogen to Europe, Ukraine will also need a robust green hydrogen industry to decarbonize its steel industry in accordance with EU standards. In a recent analysis posted by the World Economic Forum, energy analysts point out that pre-war Ukraine was the 14th largest producer of steel in the world, but it was “also one of the dirtiest in the world.” “In 2020, the Ukrainian steel industry was responsible for 48 Mt CO2, 15% of the country’s entire carbon dioxide emissions,” write Oxford University Associate Professor Vlad Mykhnenko and Alli Devlin, Senior Decarbonisation Advisor for the organization ResponsibleSteel . Mykhnenko and Devlin note that Ukraine has already developed a near zero emission roadmap to decarbonize its steel industry with the assumption that it will join the EU. “This makes Ukraine’s steel decarbonisation non-negotiable,” they emphasize. With EU accession in mind, the two analysts also make the case for shifting the primary location of the Ukrainian steel industry from the eastern part of the country to the west, taking advantage of both land and sea transportation routes to the EU. As one of several ripple effects, the new green steel industry will also propel the demand for both green hydrogen and green ammonia fuel for steelmaking. In that context, Elementum Energy’s investment in wind power across the western region of Ukraine is particularly significant. Another investor of note is the German firm NOTUS Energy, which unveiled a plan last year to repurpose the site of the notorious Chernobyl nuclear disaster for wind power and other renewables in partnership with the Ukrainian transmission stakeholder Ukrenergo. NOTUS’s initial studies yielded the potential for a 1-gigawatt wind power opportunity. “A wind farm of this size would make a substantial contribution to the expansion of renewable energies in Ukraine and strengthen the independence and decentralization of the Ukrainian energy supply,” explained the Ukrainian branch of the firm, NOTUS energo Ukraina. Next steps include radiation and environmental analyses as well as an assessment of the transmission infrastructure. That could take a while, so stay tuned for more on that. Despite the lessons of Chernobyl, Ukrainian energy planners have not entirely ditched the idea of expanding nuclear capacity. At COP28 last year, Ukraine joined the US and 20 or so other nations in endorsing a declaration calling for a tripling of nuclear energy globally . Nevertheless, the US and other members of the international community have raised grave concerns about nuclear power plant security in the face of Russia’s continued attacks on civilian infrastructure. Against this backdrop, wind power advocates and other renewable energy stakeholders have a strong case to make for transitioning to a low carbon economy without the risk of another nuclear disaster. Follow me via LinkTree , or @tinamcasey on LinkedIn and Bluesky. Photo (cropped): Wind power continues to add megawatts of clean power to the Ukrainian electricity grid, even as Russia continues its drive to demolish the country’s energy infrastructure (Dnistrovska wind power plant courtesy of Elementum Energy, via email). CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit
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An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full a dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 100-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor recalls confusion and chaos during Japanese bombing 83 years ago PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors are planning to return to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. They are each over 100 years old. They will join active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for a remembrance ceremony hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.Sweet Security Introduces Evolutionary Leap in Cloud Detection and Response, Releasing First Unified Detection & Response Platform
BUCHAREST (AP) – Romania’s defiant far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu yesterday stood outside a closed polling station to denounce a top court’s unprecedented decision to annul the first round of the vote in which he emerged as frontrunner. “Today is Constitution Day and there is nothing constitutional in Romania anymore. I am here in the name of democracy,” Georgescu, 62, he told media in Mogosoaia, outside Bucharest. “By canceling democracy, our very freedom is canceled.” The court cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as undeclared sources of funding. Without naming Georgescu, the court said one candidate received “preferential treatment” on social media platforms, distorting voters’ expressed will. Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu topped the polls in the first round on November 24, and was due to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff. Thirteen candidates ran in the first round presidential race in the European Union and NATO member country, the aftermath of which was gripped by myriad controversies including a recount of the vote ordered by the same court. New dates will be set to rerun the presidential vote from scratch. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement marking Constitution Day on Sunday that “we find ourselves in a moment of profound responsibility towards the values that characterise us as a nation.”CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5 , the first to ride Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they're fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: "We're just on a different path." NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo June 5 as they head to the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Fla., for their liftoff on the Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station. "I like everything about being up here," Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun." Both astronauts lived up there before, so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. "Mindset does go a long way," Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first graders in October. He's from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I don't look at these situations in life as being downers." Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait June 13 inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. "When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams was "invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined to comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. "Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission," NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, both Expedition 71 flight engineers, make pizza Sept. 9 aboard the International Space Station's galley located inside the Unity module. Items are attached to the galley using tape and Velcro to keep them from flying away in the microgravity environment. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, had to deal with "rumors," as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's "super hungry" and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod's 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. "Hopefully I'll be home before that happens — but you never know," she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. The astronauts in the video seemed to be in good spirits with one stating, “It’s gonna be delicious.” (Scripps News) "We can't deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together," his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband "has it worse than us" since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. "We are certainly looking forward to February!!" she wrote. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Get local news delivered to your inbox!Consumer goods firms step up capex to drive sustainable growth
Stocks closed higher on Wall Street, giving the market its fifth gain in a row and notching another record high for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% Friday. The Dow added 1%, and the Nasdaq composite tacked on 0.2%. Retailers had some of the biggest gains. Gap soared after reporting quarterly results that easily beat analysts’ estimates. EchoStar fell after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. On Friday: The S&P 500 rose 20.63 points, or 0.3%, to 5,969.34. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 426.16 points, or 1%, to 44,296.51. The Nasdaq composite rose 31.23 points, or 0.2%, to 19,003.65. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 42.65 points, or 1.8%, to 2,406.67. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 98.72 points, or 1.7%. The Dow is up 851.52 points, or 2%. The Nasdaq is up 323.53 points, or 1.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 102.84 points, or 4.5%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,199.51 points, or 25.1%. The Dow is up 6,606.97 points, or 17.5%. The Nasdaq is up 3,992.30 points, or 26.6%. The Russell 2000 is up 379.60 points, or 18.7%.Archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl heads of state look onThe Assam Rifles alone destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation this year, primarily in three Manipur districts -- Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Chandel. A defence spokesman said that through meticulously planned joint operations, the force successfully identified and destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, primarily in the districts of Ukhrul, Churachandpur, and Chandel. The Assam Rifles continued its determination to fight against the menace of poppy cultivation along the India-Myanmar border, he said. The spokesman said that by eliminating poppy fields and striking at the roots of narco-trade, Assam Rifles has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring stability and security in Manipur and beyond. According to the defence official, the battle against poppy cultivation has been a consistent priority for the paramilitary force, as reflected in its sustained efforts over the years. In 2020 the force identified a staggering 8,057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1,695 acres were destroyed. This trend of rigorous action continued in subsequent years with 5,610 acres identified and 1,976 acres destroyed in 2021. The Assam Rifles intensified its operations in 2022 identifying 494 acres and destroying 715 acres, including previously undiscovered patches. In 2023, 1,735 acres were identified and 1,488 acres were eradicated. By 2024 the area of identified poppy fields had declined significantly, reflecting the success of the state and Central governments and security forces' multi-pronged strategy, the spokesman pointed out. Noting that the ongoing ethnic crisis in Manipur, no single agency can effectively address this challenge alone, the spokesman said that collaborative operations have proven essential, with Assam Rifles actively coordinating with state and central agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Manipur Police and other CAPFs deployed in the area. The NCB, as the nodal agency for drug enforcement under the Ministry of Home Affairs, ensured synergy among all stakeholders during operations, especially during the opium harvesting seasons. Joint operations have focused on curbing cultivation, disrupting supply chains and dismantling the networks sustaining the illicit drug trade. The security cover provided by the force has ensured the safe execution of destruction operations in vulnerable and conflict-prone areas. Assam Rifles deftly incorporated advanced technology, such as drone surveillance in identifying poppy fields in inaccessible terrains. An official statement said that these high-tech measures are complemented by actionable intelligence from local communities and inputs from civil society organisations (CSOs). The Leveraging of Technology and Community Support has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of operations, ensuring a swift and targeted approach. Additionally, the Force has also maintained a robust ground presence through Area Domination Patrols in traditional cultivation zones. This persistent vigilance has acted as a deterrent to the resurgence of illegal farming practices, the statement said. Beyond destruction campaigns, Assam Rifles has also prioritised addressing the socio-economic factors driving poppy cultivation. Under its "Drug-Free Manipur" initiative, the Force has conducted extensive awareness drives to educate communities about the perils of drug addiction and the risks associated with illegal farming. Through regular interactions with villagers and local leaders, the force has actively promoted sustainable livelihood options, encouraging a shift toward legitimate and long-term economic activities. Assam Rifles' zero-tolerance policy against narcotics-related activities has led to legal actions against defaulters, including cultivators and financiers. These measures, combined with efforts to restrict cross-border narcotics trafficking, have disrupted the infrastructure supporting poppy cultivation.
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Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.
Miracle Maddy: Vancouver family creates pediatric oncology gift baskets in honor of their daughterOne of the great things about covering the Toronto Maple Leafs is that every year, there’s a big debate surging in what is always a large, passionate fan base. The subject feeding this year’s civil war feels decided already, one-third of the way into the season. The two things universally agreed upon so far are that (a) the Leafs are getting outstanding goaltending from Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll and (b) they’re playing well defensively , thanks to a new coach, a new shutdown defenceman ( Chris Tanev ) and an improved penalty kill. Advertisement Those two positives have combined to allow the Leafs to jump from 21st in goals against last season all the way up to fifth, improving their GAA by 0.55. All good things. No war. No fighting. Kumbaya. But... At the other end of the equation, the Leafs have declined from second in goals scored last season all the way down to 18th, dropping their goals per game by 0.67. So, net of everything, that’s bad, right? 0.67 is, after all, bigger than 0.55. Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. As far as I can tell, there are three factions within the fan base right now when it comes to where the Leafs are at with their offence. Faction 1: This isn’t a problem. The team needs to adapt to a more playoff-ready style of game, they’re playing great defensively and the goals will come as they grow accustomed to the Craig Berube Way. Faction 2: This is a problem, but they’ve had a bunch of injuries and just wait until Auston Matthews gets back on track. It should be fine. Faction 3: Oh no, it’s all happening again. Step 1 for me with this question was a desire to take a closer look at why the Leafs have lost so many goals this season. Who isn’t scoring? Is it just the injuries? Or something else? In terms of offence from the defence, as Jonas noted on Monday , they’re still not getting a lot. Last season, the Leafs’ blueliners scored 0.29 goals per game. This season, that’s down to 0.26. It’s not a great number, and you’d like to see an improvement after adding Oliver Ekman-Larsson , but that’s not where the decline is coming from. Up front, the only forwards the Leafs lost who scored goals for them last season were Tyler Bertuzzi (0.26 goals per 82 games) and Noah Gregor (0.07), and their totals have only partially been replaced by newcomers like Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz (0.07 and 0.11). Advertisement The biggest decline has been, unsurprisingly, from Matthews, as he contributed a whopping 0.84 goals per 82 games last season — 23 percent of the Leafs’ overall total. So far this season, he’s missed nine games, during which he would have been projected to score seven or eight goals based on his 2023-24 scoring rate. Those nine goals alone would be enough to move the Leafs up into 10th in NHL scoring. Overall, the Leafs are down 0.55 goals per game simply from Matthews being either out of the lineup or less effective when he has been playing, which is a huge percentage of the 0.67 they’ve lost. But Toronto’s struggles to score at the level they did last year aren’t simply a matter of no Matthews and a failure to replace Bertuzzi’s 21 goals (although obviously those both hurt). If we break down the Leafs’ forwards into top six and bottom six, we can see their collective loss of offence down the lineup is almost identical to what they’ve lost from Matthews. What’s interesting is that, if Toronto’s loss of offence is supposedly systems-generated, it hasn’t affected the other top-six forwards. The combined quintet of William Nylander , Mitch Marner , John Tavares , Matthew Knies and Bobby McMann is up 0.51 goals per game, stepping up in a big way to fill the gap left by Matthews. It’s really the down-the-lineup forwards who have fallen off, both due to poor play and, in some cases, injuries. On its own, losing Bertuzzi wasn’t that big of an issue, with Knies ready to take the next step and effectively double his goal production. But the combined impact of taking both Bertuzzi and Calle Jarnkrok out of the lineup entirely without suitable replacements —as well as the goals drying up for Nick Robertson and Max Domi and the injuries to a few others — has been hard to overcome. Even David Kämpf , Ryan Reaves and Pontus Holmberg combining for just one goal after 27 games adds up, as that’s almost nothing from a full line. Even from fourth-liners, you need to be getting more than that. Advertisement At some point, these issues become cumulative, as you have too many players who can’t generate offence trying to do just that while playing with other struggling teammates. Here’s the full breakdown of where the offence has come from last year versus this year. The other thing I noticed in my analysis of the Leafs’ offence is that, statistically, they’re not down that much in terms of the scoring chances they’re creating under Berube. Per Evolving-Hockey , the Leafs finished last season fourth in the NHL in expected goals with 3.62 per 60 minutes played. This season, that’s down to 3.29, which puts them ninth. That’s a 9 percent drop — far less than the 18 percent drop in offence overall. That stat, combined with the fact they’re currently 20th in shooting percentage, says they’ve been a bit unfortunate to not hit the back of the net more often, even with the lack of talent they’ve had some nights on the roster. Knies, McMann, Marner and Nylander are all generating better chances in all situations than they did a year ago, so it hasn’t been a blanket falloff across the roster. The biggest drop in chances, again, comes back to Matthews not being Matthews and Berube not having Bertuzzi and Jarnkrok to help push more NHL-calibre depth into his bottom six. The fix, then, for this isn’t going to be complicated. They need to get more forwards healthy and create lines that allow them to generate more than a goal every three games from the bottom six, one of the worst rates for any team in the league. Start sitting offensive black holes, too, whether that’s Reaves, Holmberg, Robertson or some combination of all three. They also need to continue to improve the power play, which still sits down in 18th after a brutal start. But the two biggest things are probably the most talked about already: 1. Hope and pray Matthews can get back to his 60-plus goals a season self as soon as possible. Advertisement 2. Find a way to add scoring talent before the trade deadline, even if it’s not down the middle. I don’t know that the Leafs are ever going to get back to the 3.6 goals per game juggernaut they were last season, but that’s likely not necessary, not with their improvements defensively and in goal. But a 10-to-15-percent bump up shouldn’t be out of reach here, between getting a bit healthier, a bit more luck and maybe, at some point, some help from the front office. (Top photo of Tristan Jarry making a save against Auston Matthews: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)ATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can't hide the Atlanta Falcons' offensive shortcomings. Three straight setbacks, including an ugly 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, has left the Falcons 6-6 and feeling the pressure. Only a tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay has kept the Falcons atop the division. Now the Falcons must prepare to visit streaking Minnesota, which has won five straight . Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett knows the Falcons must solve the flaws which have been exposed in the losing streak. “It’s now or never,” Jarrett said. “You have to flip the mindset fast.” Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in the loss, matching his career high. Coach Raheem Morris said he didn't consider playing rookie Michael Penix Jr. against the Chargers and won't think about benching Cousins this week. Morris acknowledged the Falcons can't expect to win when turning the ball over four times. It was the latest example of Atlanta's offensive decline. In the three-game losing streak, Cousins has thrown six interceptions with no touchdowns. The Falcons were held under 20 points in each loss. If not for the rash of interceptions which has contributed to the scoring problems, more attention would be devoted to the surge of big plays on defense. The defense forced two fumbles and set a season high with five sacks, including two by Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons ranked last in the league with only 10 sacks before finding success with their pass rush against Justin Herbert. Herbert was forced to hold the ball while looking for an open receiver, so some credit for the pass-rush success belongs to Atlanta's secondary. The Falcons gave up only two first downs in the second half and 187 yards for the game. Cousins, 36, was expected to be the reliable leader on offense after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract. The four interceptions were his most since 2014 with Washington. Cousins now will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as he returns to Minnesota, his NFL home from 2018-23. Cousins has thrown 13 interceptions, one shy of his career high set in 2022. His passer rating of 90.8 is his lowest since his 86.4 mark as a part-time starter in 2014 with Washington. “Certainly when you haven’t played at the standard you want to a few weeks in a row, you know, you do want to change that, turn it around,” Cousins said. Running back Bijan Robinson had his busiest day of the season, perhaps in an attempt to take heat off Cousins. Robinson's 26 carries set a career high. He ran for 102 yards with a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. He also was heavily involved as a receiver with six catches for 33 yards. With 135 yards from scrimmage, Robinson has eight games this season with more than 100 yards combined as a rusher and receiver, the second-most in the league. Tight end Kyle Pitts had no catches on only two targets. He has only six catches in the last four games after appearing to establish momentum for a big season with two seven-catch games in a span of three weeks in October. Morris noted the Falcons have “so many people that we've got to get the ball to” but noted he'd like to see Pitts more involved. Younghoe Koo's hip issues were such a concern that kicker Riley Patterson was signed to the practice squad on Friday and added to the active roster Saturday. Patterson was on the inactive list as Koo was good on two of three field goals, missing from 35 yards. Koo has made 21 of 29 attempts this season. He did not have more than five misses in any of his first five seasons with Atlanta. 70 — WR Drake London had nine receptions for 86 yards, giving him 70 catches for the season. London, a 2022 first-round draft pick, is the first player in team history with at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. While Ray-Ray McCloud III led the team with a career-best 95 yards on four catches against the Chargers and Darnell Mooney has had some big games, London has been the most consistent receiver. The Falcons face a difficult test Sunday in their visit to Minnesota (10-2), which has five straight wins and is 5-1 at home. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Two weeks before Election Day, Rake Force’s Jake Dailey and a small group of colleagues drove two pickup trucks, a mini-excavator and a handful of chainsaws up to the tree-covered ridgetops south of Cle Elum Lake. The small agroforestry company had contracted with The Nature Conservancy to thin stands on the Ellsworth Creek Preserve. Now, the conservancy was bringing them to Washington’s Central Cascades. During the days that followed, while now President-elect Donald Trump held a series of increasingly profane and aggrieved rallies across the country, Dailey and his crew did just what the soon-to-be president had once offhandedly suggested: they “cleaned” the forest. Or more precisely, they thinned several acres of young conifers in order to reduce fuel density and obtain the biomass needed for biochar production. But to Dailey and a few others who were up on that ridge — veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — the work was more than just good land stewardship. It was also a form of personal healing. There was a time when Dailey was much more politically aligned with the President-elect and many of his supporters. Those views were part of what drove him to join the military in the first place. “I was super patriotic, like, born on the Fourth of July, born at Pearl Harbor,” Dailey said. “I grew up as a conservative Republican, and I believed ... in American exceptionalism, and that’s why I joined.” From Idaho, where he spent much of his childhood camping, hunting and fishing, he went first to Fort Lewis — now Joint Base Lewis-McChord — and then to Iraq, where he served as a combat medic with the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2010. Jake Dailey bucks young Douglas fir trees. The hypocrisy and trauma he witnessed there, culminating with the suicide of a fellow soldier, crumbled his previously jingoistic worldview and left him with post-traumatic stress disorder — part of what Dailey considers a grave, “moral injury.” “My thought was, ‘What are we doing?’ But I couldn’t answer my own question because I needed to survive,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything to help those people ... except not shoot them, like, I’m not gonna do anything to hurt these people. I’ve already contributed to (that) enough, and I sort of became a conscientious objector in my own mind.” For Jared Busen, a friend of Dailey’s and fellow veteran who has helped with several of Rake Force’s early projects, switching from the reserves to active duty had less to do with politics and more to do with a need for purpose. His engineering job with equipment manufacturing giant Caterpillar had left him unfulfilled, and Busen thought he might find more meaning in flying helicopters for the Army. “I needed to do something cool, and I thought maybe that was the answer,” he said. Not only did that job, which Busen likens to being a “glorified taxi cab driver,” prove just as unfulfilling. The war he went to and its aftermath left him questioning. Like Dailey, Busen came home traumatized — a fact that he avoided confronting head-on for years. “I very intentionally made sure I never got diagnosed with (PTSD) while I was in, because it’s a four-letter word still in the military ... especially as a pilot,” he said. “And then eventually I just had to come to terms with it. And it really was, like, five weeks ago when I had my appointment to officially get the diagnosis.” In many ways, fieldwork is a natural fit for somebody accustomed to life in the military. It’s mission-oriented, teamwork-dependent and requires a certain amount of mental and physical grit. “You learn to accept being uncomfortable, and then it’s just your new norm,” Busen said. “And then obviously, fuels reduction is really straightforward,” he added. “And sometimes it’s nice to work like that, because you don’t have to think too much. It’s like, ‘All right, here’s my task for the day.’” Jared Busen limbs a young conifer while working on a thinning project. Dailey first got into conservation work when he and his wife began homesteading near Toledo, and also found the physicality of it to be “a lot like Army PT.” But what felt even more familiar was the way working in the woods gave him a chance to once again rely on the person next to him, as he was trained to do. “We can’t do anything without a battle buddy, and when we get out, they expect us to go it on our own,” he says. “We suffer in that case, and I believe this work re-immerses us in that camaraderie.” But there was an even deeper effect that conservation work was having on Dailey. The relief it brought was more than just physical, or even mental. It was metaphysical. It provided moral healing for the moral injuries he’d suffered during the war. And it did so not by replicating the military ethos, but rather by actively undermining it. “We committed to serve our country ... but what we did over in Iraq and Afghanistan wasn’t really service to our country,” he said. “I believe it was theft of resources.” And the choices Dailey believes veterans are left with, as they wrestle with this cognitive dissonance, are stark. “You either lie to yourself, or you kill yourself — that’s our options. Or, you get into conservation — you get into atoning for the thing you contributed to.” To Busen, conservation work is perhaps a little less monumental than an act of moral atonement, but no less important or impactful. Simply put, it provided meaning and fulfillment in a way that none of his previous jobs had. It gave him a chance to exercise certain deeply gratifying sensibilities that he’d developed well before joining the military — sensibilities that he first acquired as a young man and avid bird-watcher. “When (you) get heavy into birding ... you can’t help but start seeing all the destruction,” he said. “It was through birding that I started seeing the bigger picture of our ecosystems.” Young hemlock trees seen on the Ellsworth Creek Preserve. Busen still remembers the specific bird that first got him hooked and opened his eyes to this bigger picture of ecological interconnectedness — the species that many in the birding community call one’s “spark bird.” He was 20, and living and working in the Midwest. The bird was a black-necked stilt, which typically dwells along coastlines, but was somehow in front of him in a Minnesota farm field. And the strangeness of this situation induced a paradigm shift in his thinking. “The world had suddenly opened up around me, and I started paying more attention to it,” Busen said. “There was this whole world I had been ignoring all of my life ... so it kind of just introduced me to, like, ‘Hey, pay attention to nature, because it’s everywhere, and it’s interacting with us, and we’re interacting with it, and we’re surrounded by it.’” Busen brought this newfound awareness with him to the Army — to Afghanistan, South Korea and Alabama. When he wasn’t flying helicopters, he was paying attention to whatever birds there were around him. In Korea, he conducted shorebird surveys with a local nonprofit. In Alabama, he worked weekends as a coastal bird steward for the Audubon Society, and would spend whole days answering questions and talking to beachgoers. He brings his sensibilities with him to his current work as a wetland technician for the Tulalip Tribes — to the way he crafts his planting plans for riparian areas and food forests. “I try to make sure that insects and small mammals and birds and any larger fauna are accounted for and have habitat and space in whatever I’m developing,” he said. “And not just, ‘Oh it’s pretty from a distance,’ or ‘It’s only for human use.’” He thinks on behalf of, and tries to give back to the whole ecosystem. “It pays a quarter of what I used to make,” he says. “But now I have a purpose I believe in.”