You may be familiar with a range of tips for living a healthy life: Watch your weight, exercise, eat nutritious food and don’t smoke, for example. What if you could combine these lifestyle factors with a host of other variables to learn your risk of developing specific diseases, to help catch and treat them early or prevent them altogether? Victor Ortega, M.D., Ph.D. , associate director for the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine in Arizona, explains how science is drawing ever closer to making such personal health forecasts possible. Previously inconceivable, such personal guides to well-being are becoming increasingly possible because of new and sophisticated genome-wide technologies that capture data spanning entire genomes, Ortega says. The complex scores are compiled from a combination of data from thousands to hundreds of thousands of a person’s DNA sequence variants. This type of large genome-wide data has the potential to predict disease risks, such as heart disease , diabetes , asthma and specific cancers . “Imagine knowing your genetic predisposition for having a heart attack in your 50s, or if you’re in the top 5 percent of the population for the risk of cancer or diabetes based on data from your whole genome. With this knowledge, you could make informed lifestyle choices and receive enhanced screenings to mitigate that risk,” Ortega says. As a pulmonologist and genomic scientist, Ortega is leading a charge to breathe new life into precision medicine advancements. His mission is rooted in a deep commitment to health equities and inspired by his grandmother. “My grandmother died of asthma, and that should not have happened. She was Puerto Rican like me, and Puerto Ricans have the highest severity and frequency of asthma of any ethnic group in the world,” Ortega says. “They also represent less than 1 percent of people in genetic studies. So, I’ve made it a life mission to develop cures and diagnostics for people like my grandma, and for all people.” Each person has millions of genetic variants, each having a small effect. But together, these variants can increase the risk of getting a condition. A polygenic risk score estimates the overall risk someone has of getting a disease by adding up the small effects of variants throughout an individual’s entire genome. Polygenic risk scores are not used to diagnose diseases. Some people who don’t have a high-risk score for a certain disease still can be at risk of getting the disease or might already have it. Other people with high-risk scores may never get the disease. People with the same genetic risk can have different outcomes depending on other factors such as lifestyle, which determine one’s lifelong environmental exposures, also called the exposome . Ortega says that getting to the point where all people know their polygenic risk scores will require a solid foundation of “omics” research and data sets, cutting-edge technologies and further discoveries of gene-disease links — all of which are within his team’s expertise and capabilities. Omics is an emerging multidisciplinary field of biological sciences that encompasses genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and more. “It’s going to take considerable work and planning, but it really is the way of the future,” he says. In the shorter term, Ortega plans to transition more omics discoveries from research laboratories to the clinic. Omics data can help identify the molecular culprits driving a person’s disease, as well as biomarkers that can lead to the development of targeted treatments and diagnostics. Recent omics discoveries at Mayo Clinic’s Center for Individualized Medicine have enabled scientists to predict antidepressant response in people with depression and discover a potential therapeutic strategy for bone marrow cancer. Scientists have also used omics to pinpoint genetic variations that potentially increase the risk for severe COVID-19, uncover potential clues for preventing and treating gliomas and unravel the genetic mystery of a rare neurodevelopmental disorder . Drawing from his years of extensive clinical experience in treating patients with severe respiratory illnesses, Ortega is also working to expand genomic testing to a broader set of diseases. He highlights the center’s collaborative Program for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases as an effective model that he hopes to amplify. The Program for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases proactively engages healthcare teams across Mayo’s clinical practice to conduct targeted genomic testing for patients with a suspected rare genetic disease. He says expanding this strategy to more diseases will help build collaborations across Mayo and educate more clinicians on genomics. It may also ensure the most effective genomic sequencing tests are given to patients, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. Dr. Ortega is leading the development of a polygenic risk score framework for Mayo Clinic, beginning with interstitial lung disease . This condition, marked by progressive scarring of lung tissue, is influenced by both rare gene variants and a collection of more common variants, all of which are captured together in polygenic risk scores.Stock market today: Wall Street climbs as bitcoin bursts above $99,000
NEW YORK — Cam Johnson has been a powerful offensive force for the Nets in December. The 28-year-old forward has averaged 23.4 points per game in his first nine appearances this month while shooting 50% from the field, 44.3% from 3-point range and 87.7% from the free-throw line. That includes four games with at least 20 points and one 33-point eruption in a 101-94 defeat of the Toronto Raptors last week. Johnson has been the difference for Brooklyn in close games, for better or worse, depending on how you measure team success. Few wings on the open market have matched his recent production. And as he continues to surge, so does the price tag for any contending team looking to acquire him. “He’s our movement guy. He creates a lot of attention,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s running miles and miles and miles and a lot of the time he’s not the one taking the shot. But he’s definitely brought that composure to the group that has helped us in big-time moments where we were able to take the lead and close the game.” One of those moments came in Thursday’s 111-105 defeat of the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. An 82-76 game entering the fourth quarter, the Nets stormed back behind Johnson and Shake Milton to take a 99-97 lead with 3:40 left. The Nets were up three with 1:06 left when the Bucks suffered their worst mental lapse of the night. For whatever reason, they doubled Ben Simmons on a ball screen at the 3-point line and left Johnson wide open. The forward knocked down the trey despite getting fouled by Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins on the attempt. He completed the four-point play at the free-throw line moments later, which gave Brooklyn a seven-point edge with 47.9 seconds left. Johnson scored 10 of his game-high 29 points in the final frame. Trade speculation has followed Johnson since the offseason, but he continues to stay in the moment and fight for his current team. Some fans may not appreciate it, given the Nets’ rebuilding situation. But Johnson and company pay no attention to the noise. “When we believe we can win the game, which we did the entire game, we give ourselves a chance,” Johnson said. “So, it kind of starts with that belief. ... And then that kind of empowers guys to go out there and make plays, like Shake did, like Keon [Johnson] did, Noah [Clowney] hitting threes. So, it’s just that belief that we have to have across our roster that showed up in the second half for us today.” ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The Nasdaq-100 index has been in the spotlight recently, especially due to its fluctuations in the US stock market. However, one stock has stood out for its incredible performance, with a staggering 110,600% increase since its IPO. As we head into 2025, Axon Enterprise continues to be a standout stock, drawing attention from investors and Wall Street analysts alike. Axon Enterprise’s Remarkable Growth Axon Enterprise, previously known as Taser International, has experienced an extraordinary rise in value, boasting a gain of 110,600% since its IPO in the early 2000s. The company recently replaced Moderna in the Nasdaq-100 following its annual rebalancing, solidifying its place in the elite index. Despite Moderna’s strong performance during the pandemic, Axon’s consistent growth trajectory has made it a key player in the index. Why Axon Enterprise Remains a Strong Investment for 2025 Axon’s innovative approach to law enforcement equipment has set it apart in the tech and safety sectors. Known for its flagship Taser stun gun , Axon focuses on enhancing the safety of law enforcement officers, reducing suspect injuries, and fostering better community relations. This mission-driven approach, combined with its impressive financial performance, has made Axon a highly attractive stock for US investors. Aon’s Popularity Among Investors Despite the high growth percentages, Axon Enterprise remains a strong investment option, with many investors eager to purchase before prices surge further. The company’s commitment to reducing injuries and improving law enforcement safety has created a loyal customer base and a positive reputation, especially in the US. With its growing presence in the law enforcement market and continued innovation, Axon is expected to keep its momentum heading into 2025. Axon Enterprise’s meteoric rise in the Nasdaq-100 reflects its solid business model, innovative products, and growth potential. As it continues to make waves in the law enforcement and tech industries, Wall Street analysts maintain a positive outlook, signaling that Axon could be one of the top stocks to watch in 2025.
What's next for Google's search monopolyCampbell's Drops After CEO Takes NFL Job
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If President-elect Donald Trump taps Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to be his next secretary of defense over current nominee Pete Hegseth , it will upend the 2026 governor race in the Sunshine State. Hegseth's nomination remains in jeopardy as Republican senators voice growing concerns about his past conduct with women and alcohol, which has Trump reportedly considering DeSantis as his backup replacement. TRUMP CABINET PICKS: WHO'S BEEN TAPPED TO SERVE IN THE PRESIDENT-ELECT'S ADMINISTRATION Hegseth claims he's not withdrawing his name from consideration despite reports that meetings with lawmakers are Thursday have been rescheduled. "I spoke to the president-elect this morning. He said keep going keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way," Hegseth told CBS News Wednesday morning. Still, if DeSantis moves up to lead the Defense Department, there would be the political equivalent of musical chairs. "It would cause a seismic shift and the political gamesmanship about who wants to pursue which seat in 2026," said Ford O'Connell, a Florida Republican strategist. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez (R-FL) would succeed DeSantis as the chief executive of Florida, according to state law. Núñez would almost certainly have the advantage in the 2026 race as the incumbent governor and would make history as the state's first female governor. But she will likely face stiff competition if former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz decides to run for governor after his attorney general bid flamed out last month, or if Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) decides to throw his hat in the race. (DeSantis is term-limited and could no longer run for governor in 2026.) O'Connell, however, pushed back on Núñez becoming the de facto winner in 2026 if she succeeds DeSantis. "I don't think it's going to help her be a front-runner because the bench is so deep in Florida. If someone like Byron Donalds were to get in that race, he'd automatically become the front runner," he said. A source familiar with Florida's Republican scene told the Washington Examiner, "Some people are saying that Rick Scott might want to go back and be governor of Florida." Scott's office did not respond to a request for comment. But if he ran, it would complicate a race that could already feature Nuñez, Gaetz, and Byron Donalds. However, the source claimed that if Gaetz and Donalds were to come to an agreement where "one chose to run for governor, the other chose to run for senator, they both could win" given Trump's support for both candidates. DeSantis was already weighing options to fill Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-FL) seat after Trump tapped the senator as his Secretary of State nominee. The Florida governor could likely tap Lara Trump, the president-elect's daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee, to replace Rubio. "If I am appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and he feels that I’m the right fit to take over the U.S. Senate seat for Marco Rubio, those are big shoes to fill, but I would take it very seriously,” said Lara Trump at The Washington Post’s 2024 Global Women’s Summit in November. There was some speculation DeSantis would appoint a placeholder to Rubio's seat, such as his chief of staff James Uthmeier, and would then run for the Senate in 2026. But if he were Defense Secretary that position would place him in a prime position for a presidential run in 2028, although he would likely be challenging Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Dennis Lennox, a Republican strategist, expressed skepticism over DeSantis's willingness to return to Washington after serving as a congressman from 2013 to 2018. WHAT TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO DO ON DAY 1 IN THE OVAL OFFICE "While the Pentagon is a plum gig, it’s hard to see how he could parlay that for something down the road. I suppose leaving the governorship early is the one way he can best position his lieutenant governor and heir presumptive, Jeanette Nuñez, against a Matt Gaetz or Byron Donalds," Lennox said. "But if that’s his objective then camping out in Marco Rubio’s Senate seat makes more sense. Going to the upper chamber would keep DeSantis on the scene until 2032, if J.D. Vance doesn’t keep the White House in 2028," he added. Floridian voters will also decide on April 1, 2025, who will fill Gaetz's seat after his resignation from Congress. Trump endorsed Jimmy Patronis, the state's chief financial officer, to replace Gaetz in the 1st Congressional District in a Truth Social post. “As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to grow our economy, secure our border, stop migrant crime, strengthen our incredible military/vets, restore American energy DOMINANCE, and defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump said. “Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” he continued. Patronis sent in his letter of resignation last month to run for the seat, which has a primary on Jan. 28, 2025, with April 1, 2025, as the scheduled date for the special election. His last day is March 31, 2025. Floridians will also decide on who will replace Rep. Mike Waltz, who is leaving Congress to become Trump's national security advisor. State Sen. Randy Fine received Trump's backing for the 6th Congressional District and launched his bid last week. Trump "needs fighters who will Make America Wealthy Again, Make American Safe Again, and someone who will stand up for Israel," he wrote on X . "That is why today I’m announcing my candidacy for FL 6th Congressional District."Fairways & Bluewater's brand: Their key to success
AP News Summary at 3:42 p.m. ESTSyria rebel leader discusses 'transfer of power' after Assad's fall
Construction is underway on a unique housing development build in Gananoque that uses onsite robotics and is aimed at addressing the affordable housing crisis through innovation and technology. Developed and funded by Horizon Legacy Group as part of the Marco Polo 100 Digital Build Challenge, this project will deliver 26 stacked townhouse units using advanced robotics, automation, and 3D printing technologies integrated with traditional construction methods. The initiative focuses on reducing construction costs to $100 per square foot, providing a model for affordable and sustainable housing. The project has received unanimous approval from the Gananoque planning committee and council, The development features bachelor, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, designed to meet diverse housing needs. Horizon Legacy Group will act as the designer, developer, construction manager, owner, and operator of the project. With energy-efficient R-30 insulated wall assemblies and all-electric systems, the buildings are designed to reduce energy intensity by 20 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 67 per cent, meeting and exceeding Ontario Building Code standards. Proponents say the use of robotics is expected to streamline construction processes, consolidating three trades into one and helping to combat labour shortages. The robotic systems are designed to operate outdoors in Canadian climates, integrating software, hardware, and materials to meet structural and safety requirements. Mayor John Beddows and Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark recently took a site tour. [caption id="attachment_2878035" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Gananoque Mayor John Beddows, second from left, and Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark, at right, recently took a site tour of the Horizon Legacy housing development project in Gananoque.[/caption] “They’re trailblazing using robotics in home construction, to complete projects faster and at less cost,” said Clark. Beddows also praised the project, saying this is a living experiment that refines and improves the approach to address the challenges of input costs and skilled trade shortages. This project is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2025. Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Breyten Breytenbach (1939-2024) was an artist, poet, thinker and outspoken political activist who changed the literary landscape in South Africa. He died on 24 November in Paris, where he had first been exiled in the 1960s. Exploring themes of identity, exile and justice in a career spanning almost six decades, his paintings were exhibited in major galleries and he was awarded prestigious literary prizes. Breytenbach was a master of metaphor . Metaphors transcend the literal meanings of words, creating new associations and images that stir the reader’s imagination. But his metaphors leave all definitions and theories about metaphor short. By joining concepts and words in curious ways his metaphors create imaginative alternatives : die maan is ‘n silwer skree (The moon is a silver scream) Often he would create new words and meanings in the process: om te onthou, is om te verbeel ... ek ontbeel jou. (To remember, is to imagine ... I remagine you – where “ontbeel” is a new word.) His poetry brimmed with astonishing and often baffling metaphors. But for him, metaphors were never mere literary devices or ornamental tools of poetry, paired with rhythm and incantation. To him, metaphor was an ethical imperative. This act of sparking the moral imagination was, for Breytenbach, the essence of poetry – and indeed, of art. The ability to constantly imagine alternatives to the fixed meanings of words, to reimagine concepts like self, nation, group, identity, Afrikaans , Afrikaner , and Africa, remained the central focus of all his creative endeavours, whether in painting, poetry, or prose. Breytenbach’s resistance to all forms of oppression and exclusion, which led to his clashes with Afrikaner nationalism and apartheid in the 1960s, and ultimately to his imprisonment, was rooted in his resistance to the power of words to fix meanings and confine possibilities. I grew up in the confined and deeply nationalist, religious Afrikaner environment of the 1960s and 1970s. Afrikaners were settlers in South Africa who would later create apartheid under white minority rule. To me, Breytenbach offered a radically different way of being Afrikaans. His work – like that of André Brink and later Antjie Krog – inspired me to study literature. Over decades of teaching his writings, I saw first-hand how they transformed students’ perspectives on art, life, identity, justice and politics. His words and his life were deeply intertwined. In both, he rejected rigidity. For Breytenbach, the ethical question – how to live well – and the creative act of using language were one. Through poems, essays, letters, and speeches, he unmasked and resisted language’s tendency to fixate, to solidify. In doing so, he resisted the ways in which rigid language contributes to restrictive thinking and actions. Who was Breyten Breytenbach? Born in Bonnievale in the Western Cape province in 1939, Breytenbach grew up in Wellington and studied fine arts at the University of Cape Town before moving to France in the early 1960s. While he built a career as a painter in Europe, he made his debut as an Afrikaans poet in 1964 with Die ysterkoei moet sweet (The Iron Cow Must Sweat). This groundbreaking work, along with nearly all his subsequent output , profoundly shaped Afrikaans literature. He also wrote in English and French, fearlessly addressing themes of identity and justice. In apartheid South Africa, this placed him in direct opposition to the government, Afrikaner society, and even many of his fellow Afrikaans writers. Breytenbach was unrelenting in his critique of Afrikaner writers of the 1960s. He chastised them for being inspired by French novels and European philosophy while turning a blind eye to the oppressive conditions of the people around them and dismissing the work of Black writers whose voices were systematically silenced and banned . In Paris, Breytenbach met his Vietnamese wife, Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien, but apartheid’s racial laws denied her a visa to visit South Africa, as she was classified as “non-white”. This forced the young couple to travel to neighbouring Swaziland (today Eswatini) to meet his parents. Prison and banning The personal affront of apartheid’s injustices became even more real to him, spurring his decision to join Okhela , a resistance organisation opposing the apartheid regime. He returned to South Africa under a false passport to rally support for the resistance but was caught, tried for treason – a charge that carried the death penalty – and sentenced to nine years in prison in 1975. While he penned some of Afrikaans literature’s most moving love poems , Breytenbach also authored searing critiques of the government, resulting in the banning of many of his works. His poem Brief uit die vreemde aan slagter (Letter from Abroad to the Butcher), addressed to apartheid prime minister John Vorster , was even used against him during his trial. After his release from prison in 1982, Breytenbach lived in exile in France and the US. Themes of identity and exile remained central to his work, as he navigated the liminal space of the “middle world” – never fully arriving, never truly leaving. Magical use of language His exuberant language, vivid imagery, and the magical interplay of sound and rhythm continued to captivate readers. Breytenbach travelled widely, forging connections with fellow poets in exile. Notably, he translated Palestinian writer Mahmoud Darwish ’s poetry into Afrikaans. Yet his unwavering commitment to justice often put him at odds with former allies, as he was unafraid to criticise those who betrayed their ideals once they wielded power. Ultimately, Breytenbach’s resistance was rooted in a steadfast opposition to power that seeks to define, exclude, or suppress. He believed that words, with their power to shape and confine meaning, must continually be renewed, challenged, and opened to new possibilities. For Breytenbach, the role of the artist was to nurture a creative imagination capable of imagining ethical alternatives to stagnation and dogma. This was not just an artistic philosophy; it was a way of life. Read more: More than an oppressor's language: reclaiming the hidden history of Afrikaans Breytenbach’s influence is profound and far-reaching. Those who have been touched by his words cannot remain unchanged. He was at once a conscience, an accuser, and an encourager – humane and gentle, reminding even the marginalised that they need not surrender to others’ definitions of them. He exhorted all to resist clichés, to reject fixed identities, and to keep reimagining the world anew. Willie Burger does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.Graphjet Technology Schedules Business Update CallUnai Emery feels confidence returning after Aston Villa end winless run
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are climbing Thursday after market superstar Nvidia and another round of companies said they’re making even fatter profits than expected. The S&P 500 was pulling 0.7% higher, as of 2:45 p.m. Eastern time, after flipping between modest gains and losses several times in the morning. Banks, smaller companies and other areas of the stock market that tend do best when the economy is strong helped lead the way, while bitcoin briefly broke above $99,000. Crude oil, meanwhile, continued to rise. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 532 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2%. Nvidia's rise of 1.4% was the strongest force pushing the S&P 500 upward after yet again beating analysts’ estimates for profit and revenue. It also gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that topped most analysts’ expectations thanks to voracious demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Its stock initially sank in afterhours trading Wednesday following the release of the results. Some investors said the market might have been looking for Nvidia's revenue forecast to surpass expectations by even more. But its stock recovered in premarket trading Thursday, and Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said it was another “flawless” profit report provided by Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, whom Ives calls “the Godfather of AI.” How Nvidia’s stock performs has tremendous impact because it’s quickly grown into Wall Street’s most valuable company at roughly $3.6 trillion. Its meandering up and down through the day dragged the S&P 500 and other indexes back and forth. The frenzy around AI is sweeping up other stocks, and Snowflake jumped 32.3% after reporting stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, whose platform helps customers get a better view of all their silos of data and use AI, also reported stronger revenue growth than expected. BJ’S Wholesale Club rose 9.1% after likewise delivering a bigger profit than expected. That may help calm worries about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. A day earlier, Target tumbled after reporting sluggish sales in the latest quarter and giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Nearly 90% of the stocks in the S&P 500 were also rising, and the gains were even bigger among smaller companies. The Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped a market-leading 1.9%. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, helped keep indexes in check. It fell 5.5% after U.S. regulators asked a judge to break up the tech giant by forcing it to sell its industry-leading Chrome web browser. In a 23-page document filed late Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice called for sweeping punishments that would include restrictions preventing Android from favoring its own search engine. Regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android but left the door open to it if the company’s oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct. Drops for other Big Tech stocks also weighed on the market, including a 2.4% slide for Amazon. In stock markets abroad, shares of India’s Adani Enterprises plunged 22.6% Thursday after the U.S. charged founder Gautam Adani, 62, in a federal indictment with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. The businessman and one of the world’s richest people is accused of duping investors by concealing that his company’s huge solar energy project on the subcontinent was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. Indexes elsewhere in Asia and Europe were mixed. In the crypto market, bitcoin eclipsed $99,000 for the first time before easing back to roughly $98,250, according to CoinDesk. It’s more than doubled so far this year, and its climb has accelerated since Election Day. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make the country “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Bitcoin also got a boost after Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission who has pushed for more protection for crypto investors, said he would step down in January . Bitcoin and related investments, of course, have a notorious history of big price swings in both directions. MicroStrategy, a company that's been raising cash expressly to buy bitcoin, saw an early gain of 14.6% for its stock on Thursday quickly disappear. It was most recently down 10.7%. In the oil market, a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude rose 2% to bring its gain for the week to 4.8%. Brent crude, the international standard, climbed 1.8%. Oil has been rising amid escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war. In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher following some mixed reports on the U.S. economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.43% from 4.41% late Wednesday. One report said fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week in the latest signal that the job market remains solid. Another report, though, said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region unexpectedly shrank. Sales of previously occupied homes, meanwhile, strengthened last month by more than expected. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Yuri Kageyama contributed.
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated businessman Warren Stephens to serve as America’s ambassador to the United Kingdom. “Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social. “I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top diplomat, representing the USA to one of America’s most cherished and beloved allies.” Stephens, who is CEO of private investment bank Stephens Inc, donated millions to Trump’s re-election campaign this year. If his nomination is successful, Stephens will help to maintain the so-called “special relationship” between the US and the UK. The role of US ambassador to the UK is one of the most coveted diplomatic positions, and presidents have been known to bestow the role to prominent backers. During his first term in office, Trump appointed Woody Johnson, a top Republican donor and owner of the American football team the New York Jets, as UK ambassador. Barack Obama chose long-time Democratic Party fundraiser and lawyer Louis Susman as his first emissary to the UK - or the Court of St James.The states that saw the most active attacks against election certification two years ago certified the results of this year’s races without controversy this week, prompting the Arizona secretary of state to proclaim that “election denialism” is a thing of the past. Others said they weren’t so sure. Certification proceeded normally this year in part because Donald Trump won the presidential race, quieting his supporters after he had spent the campaign making unsubstantiated claims that he could lose only through widespread cheating . The statewide certification votes Tuesday in Nevada and New Mexico follow a vote Monday to certify the results in Arizona. In all three states, the certification process was tumultuous during the 2022 midterms when Democrats won most statewide offices. Those controversies followed attempts by Trump and his allies to halt or challenge certification in Michigan, Georgia and other battleground states in 2020, disrupting what until then had been a routine administrative process. This year, some who have been the most vocal in questioning the integrity of elections have instead been celebrating Trump’s victory. “The results are being accepted in the manner that they are, in part, because those who have been eroding trust or casting doubt on the integrity of U.S. elections have a result they feel good about,” said David Levine, a former local election official in Idaho who now advises on election administration issues. “Hopefully we can get back to a place where Americans can feel confident in the results even if it’s one they disagree with.” On Tuesday, Nevada and New Mexico certified their statewide results with little discussion. During Monday’s certification in Arizona, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes reflected on the lack of controversy this year. “I think the age of election denialism, for all intents and purposes, is dead,” he said. Sitting next to Fontes, state Attorney General Kris Mayes, a fellow Democrat, said she was more skeptical. Her Republican opponent in 2022 spent two years challenging his loss . “Do I think election denialism is dead? No, I don’t,” she said. “We’ll see over the next couple of election cycles what happens, but I don’t think we’re there yet.” Public confidence in elections has dropped since Trump challenged his loss in 2020 and made false claims of widespread fraud, particularly among Republicans . Some Republicans began targeting the certification process, when local and state boards certify the results after local election officials provide them with the final tally of votes. A firestorm erupted in Georgia over the summer when the state election board, with a new pro-Trump majority, attempted to politicize the certification process with changes later blocked by the courts. While certification battles did not surface after the Nov. 5 election , a vocal segment within the Republican Party remains deeply skeptical of election processes, particularly of the availability of mail ballots and the use of ballot scanners to tally votes. During a forum Monday on the social platform X led by the group Cause of America, the group's director expressed doubt about voting equipment. Shawn Smith, who also is a retired Air Force colonel, argued the certification process suppresses legitimate concerns and goes against “the sovereignty of the people.” Although not as widespread as four years ago, this sentiment did surface sporadically at the local level this month. In Washoe County, Nevada, which includes Reno and voted narrowly for Vice President Kamala Harris, the vote to certify the results was 3-1 with one abstention. Commissioner Jeanne Herman has consistently voted against certification and did not make a public comment about her vote this year. Commissioner Mike Clark, a staunch Trump supporter who had also previously voted against certification, said he would abstain and left before the vote. “I am not an election denier and clearly the person I wanted to win, won this state,” Clark said before leaving the meeting. “However, that does not mean that all the protocols were followed and that we can truly certify the election.” Such skepticism, whether in Nevada or elsewhere, leaves the door open to certification disputes during future elections. The questioning of election results isn't limited to Republicans. Even though Harris quickly conceded after losing all seven presidential battleground states , online posts among her supporters continue to raise concerns about her loss. One Reddit community that has amassed 23,000 members features a steady drumbeat of Democrats scrutinizing a result they can’t believe is real. Some posting in the group have issued calls to contact Harris and her running mate to ask them to demand a recount or otherwise object to the outcome. Among the battlegrounds, Michigan was among those where Trump and his allies pressed to halt certification of the 2020 election for Democrat Joe Biden amid false claims of fraud and manipulation. Two Republican members of the Wayne County Board of Canvassers who initially opposed certification eventually relented. The state board of canvassers eventually voted to certify, even after one Republican member abstained. This year, the state board voted unanimously on Nov. 22 in favor of certifying and praised the state’s election workers. In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger certified his state’s results on Nov. 22. Four years ago, the Republican state official was facing immense pressure from Trump and his allies to investigate their unsubstantiated claims of fraud. Also certifying results Tuesday, and doing so unanimously, was the state Board of Elections in North Carolina. It was the only presidential battleground state won by Trump in 2020 — and the only one where he and his allies didn't make claims of fraud. Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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