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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Eddie Lampkin Jr. and Donnie Freeman each posted a double-double and Jaquan Carlos finished an assist shy of joining them as Syracuse closed out its nonconference schedule with a 75-63 win over Bucknell on Saturday. The Orange evened their record at 6-6 with their sixth win in seven home games, taking a 12-point lead at intermission and maintaining it through the second half, handing the Bison (4-9) their seventh straight loss. Syracuse, which lost its Atlantic Coast Conference opener to Notre Dame, finished nonconference play 6-5. Lampkin and Freeman combined to score 24 first-half points and helped the Orange dominate the boards in the first half, 18-11. Pip Ajayi dunked near the 14-minute mark to get Bucknell within five, 48-43, but Elvin Edmonds IV missed a 3-point attempt to make it a one-possession game a minute later and Lampkin scored to push the lead to seven. Kyle Cuffe Jr. scored back-to-back baskets and Carlos added a layup to push the Syracuse lead back to a dozen points, 56-44. Lampkin finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds scored 15 points, grabbed 11 boards and dished three assists with a steal. Carlos posted 11 points with nine assists and three steals. Syracuse outrebounded Bucknell 43-27. John Bascoe hit 6 of 11 from behind the arc and led the Bison with 22 points. Noah Williamson finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Syracuse opens the heart of its ACC schedule when it plays host to Wake Forest on New Year's Eve. Bucknell opens Patriot League play January 2 at Lehigh. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballEarlier this year, the San Francisco Bay Ferry launched the MV Sea Change. Traveling to the city from the East Bay, it is the first zero-emission commercial ferryboat powered only by hydrogen fuel cells. It is a shining glimmer of hope on the horizon. Sea Change is the first ferry with drinkable emissions. It releases water vapor, which gets remineralized into drinking water passengers can drink onboard. This should be just the start for California’s transportation system. Our gasoline-based buses should be next in line for “green” possibilities. Starting when I was 12 years old, my parents would drop me off at the Larkspur ferry terminal or the San Rafael Transit Center to venture into San Francisco with my friends. I spent hours riding these nearly empty buses and ferries, allowing for beautiful sightseeing sprawled out over empty rows of seats. However, my short maritime and bus journeys weren’t just an exercise of independence. These underutilized vessels of Marin public transport emphasized a problem, a poorly executed means of transportation with worsening emissions. Studies show that, in many ways, Marin is the least accessible county among the five counties in the core Bay Area. With limited buses struggling to connect, only two lines servicing the Marin-to-San Francsico route and hard-to-access ferry terminals, many Marin residents feel forced to own personal vehicles. This exacerbates an increase in traffic congestion and carbon emissions. For many, gridlocked rush-hour commutes from San Francisco take nearly an hour when it should take just 20 minutes. Traffic jams are frequent with nearly empty carpool lanes, yet this is not due to some lack of environmental care. As one of the wealthiest counties, it is no surprise that Marin has one of the highest rates of electric vehicle ownership in the whole country. Our EVs comprise almost 6% of our registered cars. Each parking lot is flooded with an array of Teslas and Priuses. Marin County now has more electric vehicle chargers than gas stations. We pride ourselves on taking extra steps to be more environmentally conscious. However, our organic, locally sourced produce and compost bins aren’t enough to battle the gas-guzzling, inefficient public transport on the streets. Despite our high level of EVs reflecting our commitment to sustainability, our public transportation is behind. We prioritize investing in the latest Tesla models, yet Marin Transit has only six electric buses (according to last year’s “rollout” report). We could drastically reduce our carbon footprint by allocating some of our personal EV spending toward public transportation. Electrifying our buses and ferries will create a more sustainable system, lowering the carbon footprint per passenger by almost 50%. Sea Change demonstrates the potential to implement innovative green technology into California’s public infrastructure. Similarly, California’s high-speed rail project is designed to be environmentally sustainable, revolutionizing green transit innovation. We can’t keep making excuses. Our public transit system lags miles behind. While we have spearheaded the future of EV ownership, we have to broaden our activism to our busing system. The time has never been more pressing. We need to keep setting a precedent for the standard of land transportation. California isn’t just revolutionizing the convenience of electric personal vehicle ownership; it’s reinventing public transportation systems and inspiring cities across the country. I encourage everyone to reach out to Rep. Jared Huffman, our elected official in the House, and Amy Changchein, our deputy regional administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. Both are pushing for greener public transit in Marin. Show your support and let them know that our priority for eco-friendly transportation will help enact change. And, if you live in San Rafael, let your City Council representative know that you support Marin Transit’s plan for a new EV bus yard in the Canal neighborhood. We are fighting for change for our country and planet, so let’s get down to business in our cities, where it all starts. Let’s not let an eco-friendly ferry be the end of change. We can chart a new course. Liora Homa, who grew up in San Rafael, is a student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Who fancies a festive game of Labour or Liz? The rules are quite simple - I'll set out some quotes and you guess whether they came from a member of the current tax-raising and workers' rights improving Labour administration or from the right-wing scourge of the anti-growth coalition and former prime minister Liz Truss . So put down your turkey sandwiches, off we go: 1. "We are rolling up our sleeves and removing red tape" 2. "A red tape bonfire will encourage business investment and boost growth" 3. "[Regulation of financial services] has gone too far" 4. "Where [regulation] is stopping us building... then mark my words - we will get rid of it" 5. "We needed to stop drifting in the direction of... more regulation, which was causing sluggish growth" That's your lot. Think you've got them all? Well, here are the answers. Numbers 1, 3 and 4 are Labour, while 2 and 5 are Liz Truss. Read more: Liz Truss responds after lettuce banner prank Okay, Trivial Pursuit this may not be. But there's a not-so-subtle point I'm attempting to sketch out here. Many of the noises the current government is making on growth and regulation are not so different to the ones that emanated from our shortest ever serving prime minister - a politician most in the Labour Party view as the antithesis of everything this administration stands for. We see it again in Sir Keir Starmer 's Christmas Eve letter to regulators setting a mid-January deadline for them to put forward ideas for removing "barriers to growth". 👉Listen to Politics At Jack And Sam's on your podcast app👈 None of this should come as much of a surprise. Changing the rules to encourage a more pro-business environment is one of the few levers the prime minister can pull to try and boost the UK's sluggish growth rate. But one person's "barrier to growth" can be someone else's "essential safeguard". Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Read more on economy: Is chancellor playing fast and loose with inflation? Low Christmas sales in key month, ONS finds For example, campaign groups have already called for the "Growth Duty" in the mandate of the water regulator to be replaced with something focused more on the environment. That's on top of existing criticism OFWAT has faced for taking too soft an approach to the management of private water companies. There's concern over in the financial services sector too. Politics Hub Quiz: Test your political knowledge in the quiz of 2024 Earlier this month, 50 economists and policy experts wrote to the chancellor warning about her plans for deregulation. Businesses will likely give all this all a warmer reception though. But even that will be set against wider concern over the financial strain being put on firms by the huge tax rises in the budget. The timescales associated with regulatory reform means it will likely take years before we can take a reliable reading of whether any measures announced by Labour are actually boosting growth. Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free Follow our channel and never miss an update For Sir Keir Starmer, the danger is that he's unable to reconcile the political and economic contradictions in his wider policy platform. Can you be pro-growth while raising taxes? Can you cut regulation but still protect workers and the environment? Or put more simply, can you be both Labour and Liz?
Vibration Table Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030Photo: © Getty Images Amber Heard has voiced her support for Blake Lively following her sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni. The 37-year-old actress recently launched a lawsuit against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star, accusing him of harassing her while making the romantic drama film - and Amber has now thrown her support behind Blake, revealing that it reminds her of her defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp. Speaking to NBC News, Amber said: "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying ‘A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on.' I saw this firsthand and up close. It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” In 2022, Amber was found to have defamed her ex-husband with an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse. The 61-year-old actor - who always denied abusing his ex-wife - was awarded $15 million in compensatory and punitive damages, while Amber won one of three counter-claims, and was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages. The former couple - who divorced in 2017 - both presented different versions of their romance during the high-profile trial. Meanwhile, Blake recently accused her former director of causing her "severe emotional distress" during the movie shoot. The actress - who played Justin's on-screen love interest - subsequently told the New York Times newspaper: "I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted." Justin has denied the allegations, with his lawyer describing the claims as "categorically false". Bryan Freedman, who is acting as a lawyer for the actor and his Wayfarer Studios production company, told Variety: "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media."
Wall Street has been closely watching who President-elect Donald Trump will pick, especially given his plans to remake global trade. WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump on Nov 22 said he had chosen prominent investor Scott Bessent as US Treasury secretary, a key Cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs. “I am most pleased to nominate Scott Bessent to serve as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States,” Trump said in a statement released on Truth Social. “Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost international investors and geopolitical and economic strategists.” Wall Street has been closely watching who Trump will pick, especially given his plans to remake global trade through tariffs and extend and potentially expand the raft of tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term. The choice came after days of deliberations by Trump as he sorted through a shifting list of candidates. That list included Apollo Global Management Chief Executive Marc Rowan and former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh. Investor John Paulson had also been a leading candidate, but dropped out, while Wall Street veteran Howard Lutnick, another contender, was appointed as head of the Commerce Department . Mr Bessent, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has advocated for tax reform and deregulation, particularly to spur more bank lending and energy production, as noted in a recent opinion piece he wrote for The Wall Street Journal. The market’s surge after Trump’s election victory, he wrote, signaled investor expectations of “higher growth, lower volatility and inflation, and a revitalised economy for all Americans”. Mr Bessent follows other financial luminaries who have taken the job, including former Goldman Sachs executives Robert Rubin, Hank Paulson and Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s first Treasury chief. Dr Janet Yellen, the current secretary and first woman in the job, previously chaired the Federal Reserve and White House Council of Economic Advisers. Economy’s quarterback As the 79th Treasury secretary, Mr Bessent will essentially be the highest-ranking US economic official, responsible for maintaining the plumbing of the world’s largest economy, from collecting taxes and paying the nation’s bills to managing the US$28.6 trillion (S$38.5 trillion) treasury debt market and overseeing financial regulation, including handling and preventing market crises. The treasury boss also runs US financial sanctions policy, oversees the US-led International Monetary Fund, World Bank and other international financial institutions, and manages national security screenings of foreign investments in the US. Mr Bessent will face challenges, including safely managing federal deficits that are forecast to grow by nearly US$8 trillion over a decade due to Trump’s plans to extend expiring tax cuts next year and add generous new breaks, including ending taxes on Social Security income. Without offsetting revenues, this new debt would add to an unsustainable fiscal trajectory already forecast to balloon US debt by US$22 trillion through 2033. Managing debt increases this large without market indigestion will be a challenge, though Mr Bessent has argued Trump’s agenda will unleash stronger economic growth that will grow revenue and shore up market confidence. Mr Bessent will also inherit the role carved out by Dr Yellen to lead the Group of Seven wealthy democracies to provide tens of billions of dollars in economic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion and tighten sanctions on Moscow. But given Trump’s desire to end the war quickly and withdraw US financial support for Ukraine, it is unclear whether he would pursue this. Another area where Mr Bessent will likely differ from Dr Yellen is her focus on climate change, from her mandate that development banks expand lending for clean energy to incorporating climate risks into financial regulations and managing hundreds of billions of dollars in clean energy tax credits. Trump, a climate-change skeptic, has vowed to increase production of US fossil fuel energy and end the clean-energy subsidies in President Joe Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Fed facing The Treasury secretary is also the administration’s closest point of contact with the Federal Reserve. Both Dr Yellen under Mr Biden and Mr Mnuchin under Trump typically met weekly with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often over breakfast or lunch. Mr Bessent has floated the idea of creating a “shadow” Fed chair. This would entail nominating as early as possible a presumptive Powell successor to the Fed Board who would then deliver their own policy guidance so that, as Mr Bessent told Barron’s in October, “no one is really going to care what Jerome Powell has to say anymore”. The next seat to open up at the Fed Board is that of Governor Adriana Kugler, whose term runs to January 2026. Mr Bessent has since said he no longer thinks the idea of a shadow chair worth pursuing, the Wall Street Journal reported. Mr Powell’s term as Fed chair expires in May 2026, and presidents rarely wait until the Fed chief’s term ends before nominating a successor. From finance to DC Mr Bessent, 62, primarily lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with his husband and two children. He grew up in the fishing village of Little River, South Carolina, where Mr Bessent has said his father, a real estate investor, experienced booms and busts. Mr Bessent worked for noted short seller Jim Chanos in the late 1980s and then joined Soros Fund Management, the famed macroeconomic investment firm of billionaire George Soros. He soon helped Mr Soros and top deputy Stanley Druckenmiller on their most famous trade - shorting the British pound in 1992 and earning the firm more than US$1 billion. In 2015, Mr Bessent raised US$4.5 billion, including US$2 billion from Mr Soros, to launch Key Square Group, a hedge fund firm that bets on macroeconomic trends. Key Square’s main fund gained about 31 per cent in 2022, according to media reports, but firm assets have declined to approximately US$577 million as of December 2023, according to a regulatory filing. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowThe integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into major infrastructure projects is rapidly transforming the landscape of Malaysia’s development sector. From the ambitious Pan Borneo Highway to water supply dams, renewable energy initiatives and mixed development projects, the Malaysian government is placing ESG principles at the forefront of planning and implementation. This approach not only ensures long-term sustainability but also aligns the nation with global standards of responsible development. Planners, designers, builders and policymakers across the country are now tasked with embedding ESG considerations into every phase of their projects. By doing so, they are shaping infrastructure that balances environmental conservation, social inclusivity and governance transparency, thus ensuring a future that benefits all stakeholders. Tan The Push for ESG in Infrastructure Malaysia’s adoption of ESG principles in infrastructure projects is a response to pressing global and local challenges. Climate change, environmental degradation, social inequality, and governance lapses have made it imperative to rethink the traditional approach to development. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim underscored the importance of ESG in a recent policy announcement, stating, “The integration of ESG is not an option; it is a necessity. By incorporating these principles into our infrastructure projects, we are building a resilient and sustainable future for Malaysia.” The government’s ESG agenda aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Malaysia’s net-zero carbon commitment by 2050. As such, ESG adoption is being heavily promoted through policies, incentives and stricter regulations that guide planners, designers, builders and policymakers toward more sustainable practices. Pan Borneo Highway: A Model of ESG Integration One of the flagship projects showcasing ESG adoption in Malaysia is the Pan Borneo Highway. Spanning Sabah and Sarawak, this transformative project is designed to improve connectivity, boost economic activity, and enhance the quality of life for millions of Malaysians. However, the project’s success is not just measured in kilometers of road laid. It is also evaluated based on how well it integrates ESG principles: 1. Environmental: Measures are being taken to minimize deforestation, protect wildlife habitats, and reduce carbon emissions during construction. The inclusion of wildlife crossings ensures that the highway does not disrupt the migration patterns of endangered species. 2. Social: Local communities are actively involved in the decision-making process, ensuring that the project benefits them without causing undue displacement or disruption. Efforts to provide employment opportunities to locals are also prioritized. 3. Governance: Transparent procurement processes and strict compliance with environmental laws underscore the project’s governance framework. Regular audits and reports ensure accountability at every stage. The Pan Borneo Highway is setting a benchmark for ESG-integrated infrastructure, demonstrating how large-scale projects can achieve economic goals while respecting environmental and social priorities. Water Supply Dams: Balancing Growth and Conservation Water supply dams are critical to Malaysia’s efforts to ensure water security, manage floods, and support agricultural and industrial activities. However, these projects have historically faced criticism for their environmental and social impacts. The adoption of ESG principles is now changing that narrative. 1. Environmental: Before construction, detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are conducted to identify potential risks to ecosystems and biodiversity. Mitigation measures, such as the reforestation of surrounding areas and the inclusion of fish passages, are being implemented. 2. Social: Community consultations play a pivotal role in planning dam projects. Efforts are made to compensate and relocate affected communities fairly, ensuring they receive improved living conditions and opportunities. 3. Governance: Policies promoting accountability and transparency in project execution ensure that public funds are used responsibly. Additionally, local governments work closely with environmental and social organizations to monitor the projects’ long-term impacts. Renewable Energy Projects: Driving the Green Agenda Renewable energy projects are central to Malaysia’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. Solar farms, wind turbines, and hydropower plants are being developed across the country, with ESG principles guiding every step of the process. 1. Environmental: Renewable energy projects significantly reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Many projects also incorporate eco-friendly technologies to further minimize their environmental footprint. 2. Social: These projects create green jobs and foster community development. Local stakeholders are engaged to ensure that the benefits of renewable energy projects are equitably distributed, particularly in rural and underdeveloped regions. 3. Governance: The government has established policies that encourage private-sector investment in renewable energy. Sustainability-linked financing mechanisms and tax incentives are helping drive the adoption of green technologies. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad noted, “Renewable energy is not just about environmental sustainability; it is about empowering communities and creating a just energy transition.” Mixed Development Projects: Building Smart and Inclusive Communities Mixed development projects are redefining urban spaces in Malaysia by integrating residential, commercial, and recreational facilities into sustainable ecosystems. ESG principles are embedded into the design and execution of these projects to ensure they contribute to a greener and more inclusive future. 1. Environmental: Green buildings, energy-efficient designs, and smart technologies are being incorporated to reduce the carbon footprint of these developments. Renewable energy sources, such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems, are increasingly becoming standard features. 2. Social: Mixed development projects prioritize inclusivity by offering affordable housing, accessible public transportation, and community spaces. Planners and designers aim to create environments that cater to people from all walks of life, fostering social cohesion. 3. Governance: Developers are held accountable for adhering to ESG guidelines, with regular audits and public disclosures ensuring transparency. Local governments also play a key role in monitoring compliance and facilitating stakeholder engagement. Challenges in ESG Implementation Despite the government’s strong push for ESG adoption, challenges remain: 1. High Initial Costs: Incorporating ESG principles often requires significant upfront investment, which can deter some stakeholders. However, the long-term savings and benefits outweigh these costs. 2. Skill Gaps: There is a need for more training and capacity-building initiatives to equip planners, designers, builders, and policymakers with the knowledge and skills required to implement ESG effectively. 3. Resistance to Change: Some industry players are hesitant to adopt new practices, citing concerns about profitability and feasibility. Government incentives and awareness campaigns are crucial in overcoming this resistance. Government Incentives for ESG Adoption To encourage ESG adoption, the Malaysian government has introduced several initiatives: • Tax Incentives: Developers and contractors who integrate ESG principles into their projects are eligible for tax breaks and rebates. • Green Financing: Sustainability-linked loans and green bonds are being promoted to fund ESG-compliant projects. • Policy Frameworks: Stricter regulations and comprehensive guidelines ensure that all major infrastructure projects adhere to ESG standards. The Path Forward The adoption of ESG principles in Malaysia’s major infrastructure projects represents a transformative shift in the nation’s development strategy. By balancing economic growth with environmental conservation, social equity, and governance transparency, Malaysia is paving the way for a sustainable and inclusive future. Planners, designers, builders, financial industry players and policymakers have a critical role to play in this journey. Their collective efforts will determine the success of the nation’s ESG agenda and its impact on future generations. As Malaysia continues to champion ESG integration, the Pan Borneo Highway, water supply dams, renewable energy projects, and mixed development initiatives will stand as testaments to the country’s commitment to responsible and sustainable development. With strong government support and stakeholder collaboration, Malaysia is well on its way to becoming a regional leader in ESG-driven infrastructure.
Shelia Poole | (TNS) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ATLANTA — Holidays are a time for families and friends to gather, but for older people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, it can cause so much stress and confusion that they could be in danger of what experts calls wandering. Related Articles Health | Millions will see rise in health insurance premiums if federal subsidies expire Health | What’s behind rising autism rates: A broader definition of autism and better screening Health | Most US teens are abstaining from drinking, smoking and marijuana, survey says Health | An Alabama woman is doing well after the latest experimental pig kidney transplant Health | Walking in a rhythmic wonderland with holiday songs that could help save lives “I would say around the holiday time is the biggest challenge for people with dementia,” said Kim Franklin, senior manager of programs and services at the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Schedules are changing, people are traveling, families are coming together and friends are coming over. There’s a lot of chaos going on and that can cause a person to wander. They want to get away. It’s hard for them to process what’s happening.” The Alzheimer’s Association reports 72% of dementia patients who wander are found alive by the next day. Alerting 911 as soon as the person goes missing is critical. The odds of survival decrease as more time passes. Angel Alonso, president of Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery based in Gwinnett County, said the vast majority — between 60% and 70% — of the 30 to 40 calls the nonprofit received last year involved people with the disease. The GESAR is a volunteer-driven organization that works with law enforcement to find people who have gone missing, including children, people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and people lost during major disasters. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Vice President John Clark, who is also volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For caregivers and loved ones, a relative who goes missing is devastating. Two of Clark’s grandparents had dementia, so he gravitated to search and rescue to help other families and caregivers keep their loved ones safe. He’s consulted with police departments across metro Atlanta on the best ways to find people with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can cause people to lose their ability to recognize people and places that are familiar. According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are often warning signs that a person might wander. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander during the course of the disease. That includes people returning from a regular walk or drive later than usual. Or they may talk about fulfilling former obligations, such as going to work or talk about going home even when they’re at home. Sometimes they become restless and pace or make repetitive movements. Clark recounted one call for help when a family reported a missing relative, but they insisted she couldn’t have gone far because of a bad knee that limited her to walking no further than the mailbox. Searchers found the missing woman 7 miles from home. Even those who have never shown an interest in wandering might start without warning. Dan Goerke is fortunate. His late wife, Diane, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, once went missing from the car of a caregiver. The caregiver had stopped for an errand. Diane had waited alone in cars as people ran errands before. But this time, when the caregiver returned, Diane was gone but her seat belt was still fastened. “It was like she disappeared into thin air,” said Goerke, who said he doesn’t blame the caregiver. Fortunately, she was found uninjured and nearby a short time later that same day. Goerke said it’s hard for caregivers to always be on guard for wandering. “We have so many things to juggle that’s not necessarily at the top of our minds. We have to manage medications, take them to doctor’s appointments, cook meals and taking care of things day to day,” he said. Clark said when searching for someone with dementia, one of the keys is to know what the person was like before their diagnosis. Often their long-term memories are still strong. They once found a woman who walked out of her home and went to where she used to shop and to her old job, although it had closed. Recently, GESAR unveiled a new tool to search for missing people: Maverick. An 8-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Maverick is in training to be part of the GESAR search and research team that will track missing people, including wandering dementia patients in metro Atlanta. In cases involving children and people with dementia, a dog’s personality can also be an asset. Labs like Maverick are friendly and affectionate, not imposing or threatening like some other breeds — and less likely to scare the person who is lost. Canines can be used in searches in both rural and urban areas. “He’s an asset,” said Maverick’s handler, Carmen Alonso. “His nose can pick up odors and track where a person has been that we might not think to go that direction.” At the Cobb County Police Department, Public Information Officer Sgt. Eric Smith said if dogs are needed to search for a wanderer they call the sheriff’s department, which has bloodhounds. “They’re not apprehension dogs so there’s little or no likelihood of a bite,” he said. Technology can also help, Smith said. Searchers can use drones and families can install technology on a person’s car to help locate it or use other kinds of trackable devices including on their phone. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Clark, who is also a volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Most cases they’ve worked on have had favorable results, according to the Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery organization. No two searches are the same, said Sgt. Jeremy Blake of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. “When responding to calls for a missing person, the response is different than that of a fleeing suspect,” he wrote in an email. “The K-9s that are used to track missing persons are not trained in the apprehension of suspects. ... Often times, if the K-9 cannot locate the missing person, they can provide officers with a more accurate direction of travel than they may previously had.” Nearly 7 million U.S. residents age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s according to the most recent Facts & Figures report . Of those, more than 188,000 Georgians ages 65 and older also have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter. There is a better chance of being found in urban environments because of a higher probability of a “good Samaritan” stepping in. Wanderers may give no forewarning. Often those with memory issues wander away during activities they’ve done safely in the past, such as shopping or sitting on a front porch. Some people who still drive can become disoriented and drive for miles away from home. According to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, on average, half the calls for missing persons involve the elderly or someone with disabilities. Call 911 as soon as possible. Have a photograph available for first responders and an article of clothing to provide a scent for search dogs. Sharing what the missing person liked to do in prior years can be a key: Did they have a job they went to every day? Did they like to fish or go to a certain spot? Searchers will need to know the last time the person was seen to help determine how far a person might have wandered. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association and Cobb County Police Department.) ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor," Miller said. Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — dropped 30.6% compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula's predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia reported historic lows in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country's environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024's figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were draped in smoke in August from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the Amazon River fell to desperate lows , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River's main tributaries dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon's fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole." But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don't how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of a voice on nature conservation decisions , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people's role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support," Ebus said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org .
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