Business People: Former East Metro lawmaker John Kriesel takes role at Northland VodkaSportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
Missouri Western State University’s Law Enforcement Academy is seeing equipment upgrades and covering tuition fees for incoming cadets. MWSU intends to utilize $150,000 of leftover American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide tuition assistance to cadets who are currently or will be enrolling in its Law Enforcement Academy located at 4525 Downs Drive in St. Joseph, Missouri. The City of St. Joseph recently announced its plans to utilize the leftover ARPA funds in an effort to replace antiquated equipment and failing infrastructure, in the hopes of reducing costs for MWSU. Some of the antiquated equipment which is being replaced includes weapon holsters, protective vests, armory items, tasers and other equipment that Law Enforcement Academy cadets train with prior to graduation. A secondary goal of the ARPA funds is to secure equipment that is a close match to what current area law enforcement officers utilize daily. “We train the way we fight,” said Lonnie Bishop, Regional Law Enforcement Academy Director with MWSU. “We want everything in our Academy to be as similar as we can to what our officers that are out on patrol now and protecting us, utilize in the city.” An important piece of equipment that the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department officers use is also receiving is an upgrade. SJPD officers will see equipment upgrades to their current Taser X26P, it will be updated to the Taser 10 – a taser in which the probes are able to make a more efficient connection to a suspect’s body. The new Taser 10’s will also be used by cadets who are currently beginning their training at the Law Enforcement Academy. The goal of this is to create an easier transition for graduates when they gain positions with any of the local law enforcement agencies. “One thing we want to do is make sure that our officers are equipped with the best equipment, that we can afford, so they can do their job safely and more efficiently,” said SJPD Chief Paul Luster. “Starting them in the academy with that modern technology to train with, and then just come right over when they enter into policing being familiar with it, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish here.” One of the most significant benefits from the Law Enforcement Academy’s usage of the leftover ARPA funds is being able to offer tuition assistance to incoming cadets. City of St. Joseph Officials are hoping that this decision to allow MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy to access the leftover ARPA funds for cadet tuition assistance, as well as, upgrades for equipment and infrastructure will further improve recruitment efforts for area law enforcement agencies. The Law Enforcement Academy stated that they will pay the tuition and fees for additional cadets who enroll any time between now, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2026. “Officer recruitment has always been something the city and county has been working to improve,” Director Bishop said. “We’re continuing to see our program get better and this is going to allow us to get more officers out on the force and serving and protecting the community.” Shawn Dalton, recent graduate from MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy, has shared his intentions to transition to a position within the SJPD after he had first-hand experience with some of the new and improved equipment which he explained has better prepared him for his new position. “They teach us here in the Academy that every scenario we face is going to be different,” Dalton said. “Even witnessing the de-escalation scenario we just went through, I’ve learned with my past experience, that certain female officers are better at negotiating and calming down individuals, so my role sometimes is just to be there and be that cover officer.” “All the equipment we’re using and each scenario we’re going through has prepared me for this job ahead,” Dalton concluded. For those interested in more information about MWSU’s Law Enforcement Academy visit the university’s website at www.missouriwestern.edu/academy/ .No. 1 South Carolina women stunned by fifth-ranked UCLA 77-62, ending Gamecocks' 43-game win streak
LGUs key to housing safety, says PhivolcsPresident-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on Monday, Jan. 20 — an event that’s been in the works since before voters even filled out their ballots. Trump’s swearing-in is slated to take place on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. The inauguration is put on by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies , a bipartisan group tasked with planning and executing the inauguration. But the Presidential Inaugural Committee , formed after the November election, is responsible for the parade, galas and other events inauguration events not held at the Capitol. While the inauguration is open to the public, tickets are required to attend. And for that, those interested in attending the swearing-in of Trump and his vice president, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, will need to turn to their U.S. senator or congressional representative. Many elected officials, including California Sen. Alex Padilla, already have forms on their official websites for those who wish to attend. Those interested must include their name, address, email, phone number and the amount of tickets requested. Padilla’s office said it “will offer a limited number of tickets when those become available.” Californians can also request tickets from their congressional representative, many who have similar forms on their respective government websites as well as other information about the tickets. Rep. Young Kim, for instance, noted on her website that tickets just provide access to the swearing-in ceremonies. Tickets to balls and the parade are handled by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, her website said. No tickets are needed to view the inaugural parade from open locations along the route. Tickets to the swearing-in are limited, it said, and those who do not receive tickets could still watch the proceedings played on monitors along the National Mall. “January is historically cold and wet. Crowds will be very large, and you will be in the cold for several hours during the inauguration ceremony,” Kim’s website advised. “Be prepared to arrive for the ceremony early to take into consideration delays due to the large crowds.” Kim represents California’s 40th congressional district, which includes western San Bernardino and Riverside counties and eastern Orange County. Local or state Republican parties do not distribute tickets to the inauguration. Related ArticlesVancouver's Bench Accounting abruptly shuts down, with 600 jobs potentially lost
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionDemand in Canberra's public health system is on track to increase by 20 per cent over two years as health authorities explore ways to meet the "extraordinary" surge while dealing with a workforce that has not gone up by the same amount. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Activity in the system was up 12.3 per cent in the 2023-24 year and is already up by about 8 to 9 per cent in this financial year. Canberra Health Services chief executive Dave Peffer said the increase was extraordinary especially as staffing had not increased by the same amount. "You do hit a point where you've got a range of constraints around affordability but also the sustainability of your workforce," he said. "The workforce hasn't grown 20 per cent in two years, activity has, which means we have a challenge ahead of us and we'll need to work on this in terms of not just efficiency but what it is we can reasonably do as a healthcare service as it grows." Health authorities are embarking on a restructure in Canberra Health Services , with a new operations centre established to help manage demand in the system. The centre oversees the health service and manages patient flow at the hospital. The new centre puts patients at the centre of the system, with Mr Peffer saying the current divisional structures were too fragmented. ACT Labor promised to hire 800 health staff during the election campaign, with the staff to be hired across the system , including nurses, doctors, midwives, specialists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals. However, it has been a struggle to hire staff, and doctors have been demanding better pay from the territory government. The Fair Work Commission is set to decide on a pay rise for public hospital doctors after more than two years of unsuccessful talks and months of industrial action . Doctors have said it has been increasingly difficult to recruit and retain staff in the system which has contributed to the shortages. Figures show the extraordinary demand the health system is under. There are more than 7700 people on the waiting list for elective surgery in Canberra's public health system. Of those 2151, or 28 per cent, are overdue. Those needing plastic surgery are waiting the longest with 65 per cent of category two patients (those who need surgery within three months) being overdue for surgery. Canberra Health Services is also struggling with outpatient waiting lists. Outpatients are those who receive treatment or have an appointment with Canberra Health Services without staying overnight in a hospital. Health authorities have been exploring measures to reduce lists. An internal document, given to the ABC, listed measures Canberra Health Services could consider to reduce the dermatology outpatient waitlist. Activity in Canberra's public health system is on track to rise by 20 per cent. Picture by Sitthixay Ditthavong One measure was to stop accepting people outside of the ACT, but the hospital's planned care committee rejected this. Australian Medical Association ACT branch president Kerrie Aust said it was important clinicians oversaw these lists. "What we don't want to lose is clinical autonomy around waitlist determination," she said. "Within all departments around Canberra Hospital they are reviewing ways to improve the wait lists and one of the consequences of that is looking at who shouldn't be on the waitlist." A Canberra Health Services spokesman said the company would consult teams and would inform the public of any changes. "Canberra Health Services is focused on delivering a sustainable health services that enables us to provide health care to those with greatest clinical urgency and most in need," a spokesman said. "This means we have to routinely look at the sustainability of our wait lists. "CHS will consider all options for ensuring we can provide care to the most clinically urgent patients and those in greatest need. We will include our teams in the discussion about our approaches. CHS is committed to being transparent with our community and will communicate clearly when decisions are made." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Lucy Bladen Reporter Canberra Times Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au More from ACT Politics Police will investigate alleged bus driver fish head assault 6m ago No comment s Health authorities explore how meet 'extraordinary' demand surge with static staffing 6m ago No comment s 'A bad system will beat a good person': massive restructure for ACT health system No comment s 'Troubling': Audit finds transparency problems with how levy is spent No comment s This judge said nothing wrong about rape trials. So why is everyone so outraged? No comment s Geocon's full plans for Phillip pool revealed - 286 units are just the start No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... 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Last men standing: Aussie lower order fires after Bumrah show, hosts lead by 333 going into fInal day at MCGJanet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January
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New Delhi: Delhi Police has identified and deported seven Bangladeshi nationals, including five women, who were found staying illegally in the capital. The deportations were part of an ongoing verification drive to identify unauthorised foreign nationals in the South District area. The individuals were apprehended near Arjan Garh metro station on Dec 28. Two of the men were identified as Mohammad Umor Faruk, 33, and Riyaj Miyan alias Remon Khan, 20, both residing in Rajeev Nagar, Gurugram. DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan said, "Our teams have been regularly visiting slums and suspected areas to verify documents, including voter IDs and Aadhaar cards." Police said the operation involved teams from the Anti-Auto Theft Squad and District Line, who worked with local informants and utilised surveillance technology. The teams also focused on areas such as labour camps and unauthorised colonies during their drives. tnn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.Forthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”
Wake Forest still experimenting ahead of Detroit Mercy game
Yes, it's illegal to take pictures of a movie at the theatersFootball enthusiasts have questioned the omission of Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, from the final shortlist of the prestigious CAF Women’s Awards 2024, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Confederation of African Football unveiled the list on Wednesday night and despite having several Nigerians vying for honour in six categories, some fans were not pleased with the omission of the Atletico Madrid forward who has been impressive for both club and country. Last season, the high-flying forward finished the league season with 10 goals and four assists in 30 games and has hit the ground running this campaign scoring five goals and providing two assists from eight games. Reacting to the 24-year-old’s surprise omission on the CAF X handle, Fortunatus Stephen said, “Why is Nigeria’s Ajibade missing from the list?” Another X user, Janet added, “I can’t believe that CAF overlooked Ajibade for this award despite her impressive season with Falcons and Atletico Madrid.” Stephen James wrote, “This must be the joke of the century. Not having Ajibade on this list is proof that jokes write themselves. All the best.” Meanwhile, some of the fans backed goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to win the award. “Chiamaka Nnadozie is the best among the best,” Akanni Oluomo wrote. Prolific Suzy and Egbowon Oluwaseun responded to the tweet with the goalkeeper’s name and the flag of Nigeria. Janet added, “Nnadozie for the win, she deserves it and congratulations to her in advance unless CAF decides to cheat her.” However, in the Best Goalkeeper category, most football enthusiasts, both Nigerians and other countries, believed that without any doubt the Paris FC shot-stopper would claim the honour. Related News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Edo Queens celebrate Ijamilusi over sterling Falcons debut Ajibade poised for Atletico, Liga F awards Debbi Love said, “Chiamaka Nnadozie will replace Asisat Oshoala as regards the dominance of this category. She will likely dominate the CAF Goalkeeper of The Year for seven consecutive years unless there is a major injury.” Bolarinwa added, “All the way for Chiamaka.” Rajee wrote, “No long talk, just give it to Chiamaka.” In the Player of the Year category, the 23-year-old faces competition from Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga (both from Malawi), Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy and Zambia’s Barbra Banda For the Goalkeeper accolade, she competes against Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco), and South Africa’s Andile Dlamini. Adding to Nigeria’s strong representation, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, a rising star from Rivers Angels, has been shortlisted for Young Player of the Year, joining four other promising talents from Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa. The Super Falcons are among the contenders for Women’s National Team of the Year, competing with Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, and Cameroon U-20. Falconets coach Chris Danjuma has also been recognized with a nomination for Women’s Coach of the Year, highlighting his contributions to Nigeria’s U-20 team. On the club front, Edo Queens, reigning Nigerian Women League champions, have earned a spot on the shortlist for Women’s Club of the Year. The winners will be determined by votes from the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, and football stakeholders. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.