Oklahoma had a chance to end a disappointing season on a high note with a Armed Forces Bowl victory over a solid Navy team. A quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter made that goal look like an inevitable reality. Instead, the Midshipmen stuck around and secured a 21-20 to finish 10-3 and send the Sooners to 6-7. Oklahoma nearly made it 21-0 in the second quarter but a crucial fourth-down stop in the red zone by Navy gave the Midshipmen some momentum. From their, Navy scored a touchdown in each of the remaining three quarters to take the lead while the defense held firm and limited the Sooners offense. Oklahoma would get a chance to tie it with a late touchdown but instead opted to go for two and failed to convert. Navy quarterback Blake Horvath went 7-of-12 for 92 yards in the air and had 18 carries for 155 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, including a 95-yard rushing touchdown that set a program record. Running back Alex Tecza had 15 carries for 43 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. went 28-of-43 for 247 yards and two touchdown while also adding 17 carries for 61 yards on the ground. Running back Gavin Sawchuk had 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Zion Kearney had two catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and tight end Jake Roberts had the other touchdown. The flat effort caused Oklahoma to go below .500 for the second time in the last three seasons. Fans took to social media to blast head coach Will Venables for his coaching decisions, including the two-point decision, and debate his future with the program. Oklahoma falls to 22-17 in the Venables era, but did have significant opt-outs from the game. Still, the storied program's first season in the SEC ended sour, and many will hope that new transfer quarterback John Mateer can bring the Sooners back to a strong place.
Private banks achieve priority sector targets for first time in FY'24
Why we love Fawn and Fox Books, Oklahoma's pop-up bookstoreFormer US president Jimmy Carter has died aged 100. Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.
The clean-up effort along the Santa Cruz coastline continued Friday, days after part of the Santa Cruz Wharf collapsed due to pounding high surf as city officials try to assess what their plans might be to rebuild the collapsed section. The Santa Cruz Wharf collapse happened at around 12:45 p.m. Monday afternoon, city officials confirmed. The section of the wharf that collapsed included the Dolphin restaurant and one of the public bathrooms on the wharf. Santa Cruz Fire officials said two people needed assistance being pulled from the water by life guards and a third person was able to get out of the surf on their own without help. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keely later confirmed the individuals who went into the water were city personnel who were assessing the integrity of the section of the pier that fell into the ocean. The Santa Cruz Wharf has been closed to the public since the collapse, as have many of the area beaches due to the dangers presented by debris in the water. Officials with the Santa Cruz Wharf posted on social media Friday morning that city workers would be active in the area by the river mouth of the San Lorenzo River as crews work to remove the wharf bathroom that washed ashore during Monday's storm. The public was being asked to obey the beach closure and stay clear of the area. "This beach is closed for your safety," the post read. "The community's safety is our priority, and we need you to give city staff the space to clear this debris safely." Local officials are facing some tough questions about the future of the structure that draws upwards of two billion visitors each year. When asked about plans to rebuild the 150-foot section that broke off in Monday's storm during a press conference Friday, the city's mayor acknowledged that remains an open question given the growing risks posed by climate change. "We'd be irresponsible if we didn't ask the question what is the right thing to do here," said Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keely. "But to say we're simply going to put it back is I think frankly much more risky and irresponsible than having a very serious conversation." The end of the wharf had already been closed for repairs after sustaining damage during the potent bomb cyclone storm of January 2023 that caused extensive destruction in Santa Cruz, Capitola and other coastal towns. City officials did not offer a time frame for when the wharf may be re-opened, but did say the city is working with the 20 or so businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing closure.
Sri Lanka Barometer showcases “Sri Lanka Speaks”Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans NEW YORK (AP) — The International Chess Federation says top ranked player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition. The federation said Friday that its regulations include a dress code that bars participants from wearing jeans at the event. The Norwegian chess grandmaster says he accepted a $200 fine but refused to change his pants out of principle before leaving the competition in New York. The federation said the dress code is designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.Law enforcement from all over Cache Valley came together Saturday to take 50 kids Christmas shopping. The annual Shop with a Cop event was bigger than ever before. Each child or teenager was partnered with an officer or deputy and given $250 to spend on items for themselves and their families. North Park Police Chief Kent Goodrich, who oversaw the event, said the number of kids able to participate and the amount allotted to each has grown in the last few years thanks to generous donations from several people and businesses. Staff at the Family Place helped select the children who participated. The event started with breakfast at the Cache County Sheriff’s compound. The large group then made its way to the north Walmart in a procession of lights and sirens. The kids rode with their officers. Logan police officer Tim Stauffer walked circles around the store with 11-year-old Adlee Anderson, picking out items for herself and a few of her siblings. Three of Anderson’s six siblings were also there, paired with officers of their own. Anderson said she helped come up with her siblings’ shopping lists, and her mother helped make hers. While she said she was having fun picking items for herself, she got most excited choosing toys and clothes for her siblings. Her list was mostly necessities like socks, clothes and personal hygiene items. So, Stauffer helped her choose a few fun things she wanted, like a kitchen play set. “He’s my favorite, even though I just met him today,” Anderson said of Stauffer. This was Stauffer’s first year participating in Shop with a Cop, and he said it was “super fun.” “This is something I’ve been wanting to do,” Stauffer said. “I want to be a school resource officer. It is good to get to know the kids and learn their interests. To let them know we are here for them." Once they found everything they needed, the two made their way to check out, then to the gift wrapping stations. The stations were manned by volunteers from around the community. Jeni Theobald volunteered to help giftwrap after her brother, who works for Walmart, mentioned they needed help. “This has been a big eye opener to what our community, especially our law enforcement, does for others,” Theobald said. “It’s opened my eyes to see the kindness and the charity that our community has.” Hyde Park and North Logan City Council members and the Hyde Park Youth Council were among those who volunteered to help giftwrap. Stephanie Allred is the Hyde Park council member in charge of the Youth Council. Allred said this is their second year helping with the event. “My kids like to do it, it’s very satisfying,” Allred said. “Some of the kids don’t know how to wrap, but they will after this.” Allred gave Goodrich credit for working hard to get additional donations and taking the event to a new level this year. “I feel like it really pulls the community together,” Allred said. “The heartbreaking thing is when (the kids) choose gifts for their families and choose necessities over fun things. It kind of tugs at my heartstrings to realize that even the kids understand their circumstances.” In addition to the items the kids picked out, Goodrich said each family will receive a stocking with gift cards from local businesses. “It’s a pretty neat event,” Goodrich said. “It’s an opportunity to pause the day-to-day grind and lend a helping hand. Which is what law enforcement is all about.” Officers from every agency in the valley and a couple from out of the valley joined the event, including North Park, Logan City and Smithfield Police Departments, Cache County Sheriff’s deputies, Utah Highway Patrol and deputies from Preston and Franklin County Sheriff's offices. Department of Natural Resources and Division of Wildlife Resources officers also participated.
NoneOklahoma's Brent Venables Ripped by CFB Fans After Armed Forces Bowl Loss to Navy
The UN's marathon climate summit neared the finish line early Sunday, with nations due to approve or reject a hotly-disputed deal for wealthy historic emitters to provide at least $300 billion to poorer countries that had demanded much more. After an exhausting two weeks of negotiations in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea capital of Baku, COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev declared open the final summit plenary after midnight, two days after the conference was officially scheduled to end. A final text was released following several sleepless nights for negotiators, with tensions boiling over as small islands states and the world's poorest countries walked out of one meeting. "This package is an affront to us. We are the countries that have the most at stake," said Tina Stege, climate envoy of the Marshall Islands, an atoll nation threatened by rising seas. Top German negotiator Jennifer Morgan told AFP that countries would be presented a "take it or leave it" deal. Before the closing session, delegates huddled in small groups on the floor of the main conference room inside Baku's sports stadium to pore over copies of the latest draft deal line by line. "I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome," Babayev said. A number of countries have accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets temperature records and faces rising deadly disasters. Small island nations and impoverished African states on Saturday angrily stormed out of a meeting with Azerbaijan, saying their concerns had been ignored. "I think it caught a lot of people by surprise," said Brazil's climate envoy, Ana Toni. "It all happened very quickly." The walkout triggered an emergency meeting between those nations and top negotiators from the European Union, United States and Britain with the COP29 presidency in which new proposals were made. Wealthy countries and small island nations have also been concerned by efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last year's summit to phase out fossil fuels. The final text proposes that rich nations raise to at least $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change. It is up from $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire -- and from $250 billion proposed in a draft Friday. That offer was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which have demanded at least $500 billion to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions. Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, called the draft "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world". Developing power Brazil pleaded for at least some progress and said it would seek to build on it when it leads COP30 next year in the Amazon gateway of Belem. "After the difficult experience that we're having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we're facing," Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva told delegates. As staff at the cavernous and windowless stadium began packing up, diplomats rushed between meetings, some armed with food and water in anticipation of another late night. Panama's outspoken negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, warned not to repeat the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. "I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm disheartened, I'm hungry, I'm sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen," he told reporters. Climate activists shouted "shame" as US climate envoy John Podesta walked the halls. "Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," he said. Wealthy nations say it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. South African Environment Minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." The United States and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. The final draft encouraged developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, reflecting no change for China which already pays climate finance on its own terms. The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. bur-np-sct-lth/jm
The Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the firing hadn't been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season, leading to the move to fire Brown about six months after he agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season. The Kings have lost an NBA-worst nine games this season after leading in the fourth quarter with the worst one coming in Brown's final game as coach Thursday night against Detroit. Sacramento led by 10 points with less than three minutes to play only to collapse down the stretch. Jaden Ivey converted a four-point play with 3 seconds left when he made a 3-pointer in the right corner and was fouled by De’Aaron Fox. That gave the Pistons a 114-113 win, leaving the Kings in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Kings came into the season with hopes of finishing in the top six in the West and avoiding the play-in tournament after acquiring DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer to add to a core that featured Fox, Domanta Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Fox, who is in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $163 million contract, declined to sign an extension in the offseason. He said on a podcast with Draymond Green earlier this month that he wanted to be on a team that could “compete at a high level.” Sacramento has been far from that this season, thanks in large part to an NBA-worst 3-11 record in games decided by five points or fewer. Brown publicly criticized Fox for his role in the game-winning play Thursday night, saying he should have been closer to Ivey instead of committing a foul on a close out. "You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line,” Brown said. “Everybody should, and why there was a closeout by Fox, I’m not sure. I got to go back and watch the tape. But for sure 100% we told our guys, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, stay on the high side, stay on the high side.” Brown has a 107-88 record in two-plus seasons in Sacramento with a winning record in both of his full seasons. Rick Adelman is the only other coach to post a winning record in a full season since the Kings moved to Sacramento Brown previously had two stints as coach in Cleveland and spent one-plus season as Lakers coach. He has a 455-304 record and has made the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons. He won Coach of the Year twice, also getting the award in Cleveland in 2008-09. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
(TNS) — Debate has once again sprung up around the use of surveillance technology by the Urbana Police Department. Aldermen Grace Wilken and Jaya Kolisetty have drafted an ordinance that creates an approval process for "policing surveillance technology and databases," as well as policy and reporting requirements for these tools. "It's important for the public, and their council representatives, to have knowledge and approval of the surveillance technologies used on the public," Wilken told . "There is currently a policy void, with no required process to purchase or use policing surveillance technology nor a process of transparency for the public." However, Police Chief Larry D. Boone called the proposed ordinance "an overreach" and said he could not support it in its current form. "While transparency and accountability are essential values, this ordinance is drafted so broadly and rigidly that it risks further crippling the Urbana Police Department's (UPD) ability to function effectively and efficiently," he said. "The language of the ordinance imposes undue burdens on UPD operations, micromanages routine functions, and threatens to undermine the department's ability to safeguard public safety." The proposed ordinance will be discussed at Monday's 7 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting. No action will be taken during the session. If the ordinance is approved as written at a future regular meeting, the Urbana Police Department would be required to obtain the city council's approval before acquiring "any new policing (surveillance) technology or database" or using existing tools that fall into these categories "in a new manner not previously approved." "In deciding whether to approve the request, the City Council shall consider whether the public safety benefits of the use of the policing technology or database outweigh the economic, social, and community costs, including potential negative impacts on civil liberties and civil rights and potential disparate impacts on particular communities or groups," the ordinance states. Additionally, at least 60 days before seeking approval, the police department would have to create a "use report" and "use policy," which would be submitted to the council and shared with the public. The public would then have 45 days after the filing of these documents to submit formal comments to the council on this matter. The department would also be required to present use reports and policies for all police surveillance technology and databases already in use within 120 days of the ordinance's passing. The deadline could be extended with written approval from the city council. The council would then go through the same approval process outlined above for the existing technologies and databases. The ordinance also requires an annual report on all policing surveillance technology and databases used by the department. The ordinance's definition of police surveillance technology is lengthy and includes, but is not limited to, items such as "artificial intelligence and machine learning," automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), facial recognition software, drones, and tools that can be used to gain access to mobile devices or computers. A policing database is defined in the ordinance as "any system used as part of a policing function that is capable of accessing, storing, cataloging, or analyzing information associated with or capable of being associated with any specific individual or group, including but not limited to audio, video, images, text, meta-data, location, spectral imaging, or biometric information." This includes, but is not limited to, fingerprint databases, DNA databases, ALPR databases, criminal history databases and gang databases. Boone said these definitions are "so expansive that they encompass nearly every tool or system used by law enforcement" and added that tools he sees as "basic technologies," such as ALPRs, are lumped in with "more complex or sensitive technologies" in the ordinance. He also said that the 60-day notice period is not compatible with "the fast-paced demands of modern policing" and voiced concern that requiring approval for technology already in use could disrupt ongoing investigations. On the other hand, the ordinance's language indicates concern about surveillance technologies having an adverse impact on civil rights and being used in a discriminatory manner. The CU Muslim Action Committee has announced its support for the proposed local ordinance. "Discriminatory, Islamophobic surveillance in the name of counterterrorism is something we have experienced in this country since 9/11," said member Sana Saboowala, citing reporting by PBS. "This policy would ensure that the city council can serve as a check on these technologies, while allowing for transparency and public input around police surveillance in the city." Furthermore, Wilken and Kolisetty wrote that transparency is needed as new questions arise over whether such tools will be used to locate individuals seeking out-of-state abortions in Illinois, asylum seekers without legal immigration status, and "peaceful individuals or organizations" exercising rights such as "expressing grievances against the government." "There are examples of multiple cities throughout Illinois that are or were giving access to local surveillance data to ICE, Immigration and Custom Enforcement," Wilken said. "... There are many other examples regionally and nationally where surveillance data has been used to harm people and impede upon privacy rights." She cited a 2019 release from the ACLU of Illinois, which reported that records obtained by the ACLU of Northern California showed that "over 80 local law enforcement agencies from over a dozen states" had agreed to share license plate location data with ICE, including a handful of departments in Illinois. Boone said that ALPRs are essential when it comes to investigating crimes and recovering stolen vehicles. He added that the surveillance technologies currently used by Urbana police "consist of a disjointed assortment of various items couched in the 1990s, with no unified or cohesive technological infrastructure in place." "As crime continues to evolve, it is crucial that law enforcement tools and strategies evolve as well," he said. "The integration of technology into policing is no longer a mere enhancement but a necessity." A proposed budget amendment to purchase ALPRs previously failed to make it out of Committee of the Whole in November 2021, with the vote split 4-3. A memo attached to the proposed ordinance notes that, in June 2023, Wilken and Alderman Chris Evans proposed adding language to the budget ordinance that would have required city council approval for the purchase of certain surveillance technologies. The motion failed 5-2. However, Mayor Diane Marlin said at the time that the city would not authorize or purchase ALPR technology "without explicit majority approval" from city council. Also up for discussion at Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting: an agreement to donate a vacant, 0.15-acre parcel at 2310B E. Main St. to the Champaign County Forest Preserve District to enable continued expansion of the Kickapoo Rail Trail. ©
Qatar tribune Agencies OpenAI on Friday outlined plans to revamp its structure, saying it would create a public benefit corporation to make it easier to “raise more capital than we’d imagined,” and remove the restrictions imposed on the startup by its current nonprofit parent. The acknowledgement and detailed rationale behind its high-profile restructuring confirmed a Reuters report in September, which sparked debate among corporate watchdogs and tech moguls including Elon Musk. At issue were the implications such a move might have on whether OpenAI would allocate its assets to the nonprofit arm fairly, and how the company would strike a balance between making a profit and generating social and public good as it develops AI.Under the proposed plan, the ChatGPT maker’s existing for-profit arm would become a Delaware-based PBC - a structure designed to consider the interests of society in addition to shareholder value. OpenAI has been looking to make changes to attract further investment, as the expensive pursuit of artificial general intelligence, or AI that surpasses human intelligence, heats up.Its latest $6.6 billion funding round at a valuation of $157 billion was contingent on whether the ChatGPT-maker could upend its corporate structure and remove a profit cap for investors within two years, Reuters reported in October.The nonprofit, meanwhile, will have a “significant interest” in the PBC in the form of shares as determined by independent financial advisers, OpenAI said in a blog post, adding that it would be one of the “best resourced nonprofits in history.” OpenAI started in 2015 as a research-focused nonprofit but created a for-profit unit four years later to secure funding for the high costs of AI development. Its unusual structure gave control of the for-profit unit to the nonprofit and was in focus last year when Sam Altman was fired as CEO only to return days later after employees rebelled. “We once again need to raise more capital than we’d imagined. Investors want to back us but, at this scale of capital, need conventional equity and less structural bespokeness,” the Microsoft-backed startup said on Friday.“The hundreds of billions of dollars that major companies are now investing into AI development show what it will really take for OpenAI to continue pursuing the mission.” Its plans to create a PBC would align the startup with rivals such as Anthropic and the Musk-owned xAI, which use a similar structure and recently raised billions in funding. Copy 30/12/2024 10The Grocery Shopping Tip To Always Follow When Grabbing PerishablesFormer Big Brother Naija housemate Queen Atang has expressed dissatisfaction with negative online remarks. In an Instagram post, Queen revealed a screenshot of a fan’s comment about her marriage and husband. Reacting, the mother of one expressed her dismay, noting she cannot recall throwing shade at anyone online to receive such a demeaning comment. She further described social media as a “vile space” and acknowledged that she has read numerous negative things about herself. She wrote, “On this internet. I’ve read so much about myself. All I can say is this space is vile. I can’t even recall throwing a shade at anyone. I mind my business and hustle. I don’t even defend myself on this space, no matter how bad. I have seen real love from my fans on this internet. My dm is filled with amazing and lovely comments from y’all. ”And I’ve also read comments and sometimes I do ask myself, Queen is this you or someone else? God help me. All I’ve always prayed for is too be famous and rich. Fame I’ve. Money I’m hustling up to get. But it may seem as though the fame is landing me in troubling here and there. God help me.”