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Paige DeSorbo Says She’ll Use This Acne Spot Treatment ‘Until the End of Time'TORONTO-Ontario, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Avante Corp. (TSX.V: XX) (OTC: ALXXF) (“ ” or the “ ”) is pleased to announce its financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024 all amounts in Canadian dollars thousands, unless otherwise indicated). Manny Mounouchos, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of Avante, commented, “The second quarter of fiscal 2025 marked another successful quarter of growth for Avante, with quarterly revenue increasing by 52% year-over-year. Our core business continues to thrive, reflected in a 29% growth in Recurring Monthly Revenue. The success of the NSSG acquisition has been a key driver of this growth, enabling us to expand our international revenue and elevate our global capabilities. Our proprietary Halo technology is now deployed in over 160 locations and continues to grow, with significant enhancements on the way. In addition to Halo, we’ve launched several innovative security solutions over the past year including Homeworxx, The Reserve (previously Toyboxx), Argus App, Avante Verified, Human-in-the-loop Remote Video Servies developed in partnership with Scylla, and WALL-E. Looking ahead, we plan to continue developing new tech-enabled products and integrating advanced third-party solutions. We remain committed to driving organic growth and enhancing profitability.” Raj Kapoor, Avante’s Chief Financial Officer, added, “I am pleased to report that we maintain a robust balance sheet, enabling us to fund the Company’s organic growth initiatives through positive cash flows from operations. The Company remains bank debt-free, with $3.9 million in cash on hand and access to $12 million in unused credit facilities. We have achieved positive Adjusted EBITDA in nine of the past eleven quarters while consistently maintaining strong gross margins. The outlook for the remainder of fiscal 2025 is highly positive, supported by our strong financial position, which enables us to pursue compelling acquisitions and advance key internal developments.” Management maintains a positive outlook for Fiscal 2025. The Company’s long-term financials serve as a guide to developing and executing long-term corporate strategy. Management is pleased to reiterate the Company’s long-term financial objectives: Readers should refer to the Company’s financial statements and MD&A in respect of its second fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024, for additional risk factors, accounting policies, detailed financial disclosures, reconciliation of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures, related party transactions, contingencies, and reporting of subsequent events. Such financial statements and MD&A are incorporated by reference into this news release and are filed electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR+”), which can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. (1)Adjusted EBITDA and Recurring Monthly Revenues (“RMR”) are non-IFRS financial measures that have no standard meaning under IFRS and as a result may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures by other companies. See Description of Non-IFRS Financial Measures. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA and RMR to Net Income or Revenues, as applicable, are provided in the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis (“MD&A”). The Company’s (“ ”) from continuing operations during the last eight quarters are summarized below. Gross profit margins over the last eight quarters ranged between 37.7% and 44.2%, and were 41.9% on a trailing twelve-month basis to September 30, 2024: (1)The Company’s fiscal year end is on March 31 of each year. “F23” means the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023; and “F24” means the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. The Company will also host an investor webinar to provide a corporate update and review its fiscal second quarter of fiscal 2025 financial results, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET (10:00 am PT). The call will be hosted by: Emmanuel Mounouchos, CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Avante, and Raj Kapoor, CFO of Avante. Avante Corp Inc. is a Toronto based leading provider of security operatives and technology enabled security solutions to residential and commercial clients. Avante’s mission is to deliver an elevated level of security globally, with white-glove mentality to high- net-worth families and corporations alike, through advanced solutions and methods of detecting conditions that require immediate response. The Company has developed a diversified security platform that leverages advanced technology solutions to provide a superior level of security services. With an experienced team and proven track record of solid growth, Avante is taking steps to establish a broad portfolio of security businesses and solutions for its customers through organic growth complemented by strategic acquisitions. Avante acquires, manages and builds industry leading businesses which provide specialized, mission-critical solutions that address the security risks of its clients. Avante is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker “ ”. For more information, please visit and consider joining our investor email list. Emmanuel Mounouchos Founder, CEO & Board Chair, Avante Corp. 416-923-6984 manny@avantesecurity.com This press release includes certain measures which have not been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) such as EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Recurring Monthly Revenue (“RMR”). These non-IFRS measures are not recognized under IFRS and and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Accordingly, users are cautioned that these measures should not be construed as alternatives to net income determined in accordance with IFRS. The non-IFRS measures presented are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. References to are to net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. References to are to net income before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization of intangibles & capitalized commissions, share-based payments, acquisition, integration and / or reorganization costs, deferred financing costs, loss (gain) in fair value of derivative liability and expensing of fair value adjustments per IFRS. , or , represent revenue during the fiscal period that benefited from contractual periodic billing to customers, typically monthly, quarterly or annually. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Recurring Monthly Revenues are appropriate additional measures for evaluating Avante’s performance. Readers are cautioned that neither EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA nor Recurring Monthly Revenues should be construed as an alternative to net income or revenues (as such financial measures are determined under IFRS), as an indicator of financial performance or to cash flow from operating activities (as determined under IFRS) or as a measure of liquidity and cash flow. Avante’s method of calculating EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Recurring Monthly Revenues may differ from methods used by other issuers and, accordingly, Avante’s reported Non-IFRS measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers. This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to the business of the Company and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “project”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “will”, “may” “estimate”, “pro-forma” and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company’s expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s ability to achieve the benefits expected as a result of the sale of Logixx Security Inc., anticipated growth from acquisitions, new service offerings and from development and deployment of new technologies and the list of risk factors identified in the Company’s Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), Annual Information Form (AIF) and other continuous disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any such statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Ford and General Motors will both donate $1 million and vehicles to President-elect Donald Trump’s January inauguration, Reuters reported Monday. CEO Jim Farley of Ford told reporters earlier this month he is excited about working with the incoming Trump administration to ensure the company is “rewarded for our commitment to America and Michigan,” according to the Detroit Free Press. “Ford’s employment profile and importance in the U.S. economy and manufacturing, you can imagine the administration will be very interested in Ford’s point of view,” Farley reportedly said. Bloomberg noted in a report last week that Trump’s plan for his first 100 days in office includes ending rebates for electric vehicle buyers. Farley said Ford expects changes in tax benefits for those consumers but noted the company is “very well-positioned” for any policy changes, according to the Detroit Free Press. Ford dealers have also been prioritizing electric vehicle sales in some markets, the newspaper quoted Farley as saying. “We did take some pricing action. We’re working with our dealers to make sure they sell the whole lineup, not just our hybrids. So they’re putting more emphasis on EVs in certain parts of the market,” he reportedly explained. Earlier this month, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said Trump listens intently to the automotive industry, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I think we’re very goal-aligned,” the newspaper quoted her as saying. “We want a strong economy. We want a strong manufacturing base in this country. We agree automotive jobs are important. I think there’s a lot that we could work on.” “But there’s going to be changes,” Barra reportedly continued. “But we’ve worked with many administrations for decades.”
FORT WAYNE, Ind. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, has filed a joint settlement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Google, the Data Center Coalition (DCC), and the Citizens Action Coalition (CAC). This settlement is the result of a collaborative negotiation process that supports I&M's ability to provide the best service possible for all customers and allows the company to continue pursuing opportunities that support the economic growth of its communities. It also addresses power demand increases with the recently announced data centers locating in northeast Indiana , as well as potential future large load customers, while ensuring reliable and affordable service for all customers. The settlement will require new large load customers, including data centers, to make long-term financial commitments proportional to their size to ensure the costs to serve these customers are reasonably recovered from the customer, and not passed on to existing customers. These investments will support the ongoing grid modernization for the benefit of all customers. Data centers provide the digital infrastructure enabling the applications, technologies, and services that have become central to our daily lives and modern economy—everything from banking and medical care to online education and entertainment. The growing demand for digital services can require a significant amount of electricity around the clock to operate. To serve this increased power demand, I&M is required to invest in additional generation, as well as new transmission facilities to meet customer needs and maintain a safe and reliable grid for all customers. In April, AWS announced an $11 billion investment in a data center campus just west of New Carlisle, Ind. that will create at least 1,000 jobs and Google announced a $2 billion data center in Fort Wayne . These investments are among the largest economic development projects in the state of Indiana and bring significant benefits to surrounding communities. "AWS is excited to be expanding our operations in Indiana and be part of the state's growing tech sector. We have recently announced an $11 billion investment that will create numerous well-paying jobs and significantly contribute to the state's economy," said Brandon Oyer , Head of Energy & Water for the Americas, AWS. "Through continued partnership with I&M, this agreement supports the ongoing investment to modernize the local electric grid for the benefit of all ratepayers and ensure that costs to support data center growth are not passed along to other customers." I&M is currently in conversations with additional data center customers, who have also expressed an interest in locating in the northeast Indiana region. The settlement filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) recognizes the energy needs of new large customers and proposes additional commitments that these customers must meet when establishing electric service. These new requirements are important to balance the interest of the new customers with the interest of I&M's existing customers. The new structure will enable I&M to optimize its existing and future investments to serve these new large loads in a way that is expected to reduce energy rates for all customers over time. In addition, the settlement ensures that such net new investments will be reasonably recovered from these large load customers. "I&M looks forward to working with some of the leading technology companies in the world that have chosen to locate in northeast Indiana . It is an exciting time for our region and I&M is committed to doing our part to support these customers as they bring investments and jobs to Indiana. I&M has the responsibility to serve the new customers, while also protecting existing customers, including residential, small business and those within other industries, from impacts related to necessary infrastructure improvements required to serve these customers," said Steve Baker , I&M president and chief operating officer. Protecting the interests of all customers was an important consideration of all parties that participated in the settlement agreement, including the OUCC and CAC. "Data centers will play a critical role in Indiana's future economic development in the years to come, while requiring substantial increases in power generation and transmission infrastructure," said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Bill Fine. "The terms in this agreement will ensure a balanced approach as those investments are made, protecting residential, commercial, and industrial customers from bearing the costs of new infrastructure necessary to serve new, large-volume customers." "As ratepayer advocates since 1974, Citizens Action Coalition takes very seriously our role as watchdogs for utility consumers," said Kerwin Olson , CAC Executive Director. "This settlement includes significant protections for I&M ratepayers as these large new loads come online in Indiana and provides for increased transparency into the energy needs and impacts of these new customers. Additionally, the contribution to INCAA will enable meaningful assistance and support for low-income Hoosiers in managing their monthly energy bills, including weatherization services to make homes more efficient, healthier, and safer." To further demonstrate the commitment of supporting the local communities, the companies that are signatories to this joint settlement—AWS, Microsoft, and Google—have each agreed to provide an annual contribution of $500,000 for five years to the Indiana Community Action Association, which provides various programs to support low-income Hoosiers once those companies begin taking service in the I&M service territory. "Since breaking ground on our campus in Fort Wayne , Google has been committed to being part of Indiana's economic future and supporting communities across the state to thrive for the long term. The inclusion of community support in this settlement builds on that commitment. We are building a strong partnership with Indiana Michigan Power and look forward to working together to explore opportunities for us to invest in new solutions, like grid-enhancing technologies, that will strengthen energy infrastructure for all Indiana customers," said Amanda Peterson Corio , Global Head of Energy at Google. About Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne , and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan , 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana , more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company's generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation. About American Electric Power (AEP) Our team at American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We are investing $54 billion from 2025 through 2029 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia , West Virginia and Tennessee ), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma , and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas , Louisiana , east Texas and the Texas Panhandle ). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio . For more information, visit aep.com . News releases and other information about I&M are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/im-and-stakeholders-file-large-load-settlement-to-advance-grid-reliability-and-support-economic-growth-302314657.html SOURCE Indiana Michigan PowerRoblox chief product officer Manuel Bronstein sells $2.35 million in stock
Guest Opinion: Trump should bring on a great American housing boomAuthorities are sharing more details about Luigi Mangione 's arrest. After taking him into custody on firearm charges in Altoona, Pa. on Dec. 9, police revealed the items they found in possession of the 26-year-old, who the New York Police Department named as a "strong person of interest" in connection to the targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . When Mangione was discovered by officials at a McDonald's in the Pennsylvania town, he was carrying a ghost gun and suppressor that was "consistent with the weapon used in the murder" of Thompson, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced at a news conference Dec. 9. And that's not all Mangione—who was recognized by a McDonald's employee, according to the NYPD—had on him at the time. Authorities also recovered multiple fraudulent IDs, one of which was a fake New Jersey license that matched the one used by the Thompson shooting suspect to check into a New York City hostel before Thompson's murder, per the NYPD. Additionally, police revealed that a mask consistent with those worn by the shooting suspect and a three-page document allegedly written by Mangione were uncovered, the latter of which Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenney said "speaks to both" his "motivation and mindset." "These parasites had it coming," the Maryland native allegedly wrote in the multi-page paper, a police official who viewed the document told CNN Dec. 9 . "I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done." And while the NYPD did not provide further details into the document, Kenney said during the press conference that the writings showed that Mangione seems to have "some ill will toward corporate America." Mangione was taken into custody five days after Thompson was shot in the chest by an unidentified gunman outside the New York Hilton hotel in Manhattan, where he was headed to speak at an investor conference held by United Healthcare's parent company, UnitedHealth Group. Investigators recovered three discharged gun shell casings from the scene, which a senior New York City law enforcement official told NBC News at the time had the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" etched on them. Shortly after, Thompson's wife Paulette Thompson told NBC News that her husband had been receiving threats prior to his death , explaining to the outlet, "I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him.” Mangione has not been charged in connection to Thompson's death, but multiple officials told NBC News that his arrest could be a break in the CEO's case. And as for Thompson's friends, coworkers and family? UnitedHealthcare shared in a Dec. 9 statement to NBC News that they hope this investigation update will bring relief to those affected by the "unspeakable tragedy." "We thank law enforcement, and we will continue to work with them on this investigation," the company's statement continued. "We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.” For more on about Thompson’s death, keep reading. Who is Brian Thompson? Brian Thompson was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. He first joined the company in 2004 and held several positions before taking on the role of CEO in 2021. Prior to working at UnitedHealthcare, Thompson was employed at PwC, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also graduated with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor's degree in business administration as an accounting major in May 1997, the school's public relations manager Steve Schmadeke told NBC News. Thompson, who lived in Minnesota, was married to Paulette Thompson —though according to a Wall Street Journal report, they had been living in separate homes—and was the father of two sons. He was shot and killed in New York on Dec. 4, 2024. Thompson was 50 years old. How did Brian Thompson die? Patrol officers from the New York City Police Department’s Midtown North Precinct responded to a 911 call at 6:46 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2024 regarding a person who was shot in front of the New York Hilton Midtown hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a media briefing later that morning. Kenny noted officers arrived at the scene at 6:48 a.m. and found gunshot wounds on Thompson’s back and leg. The chief detective said Emergency Medical Services transported Thompson several blocks to Mount Sinai West, where the CEO was pronounced dead at 7:12 a.m. “The victim was in New York City to speak at an investor conference," NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said during the media briefing. "It appears the suspect was lying in wait for several minutes. And as the victim was walking to the conference hotel, the suspect approached from behind and fired several rounds, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target.” Tisch said the shooting appeared to be a “pre-meditated, pre-planned, targeted attack” and not a random act of violence. “The full investigative efforts of the New York City Police Department are well underway,” she noted, “and we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case.” What do investigators know about the shooting of Brian Thompson so far? According to Kenny, the shooter—who has yet to be named or arrested—headed to the New York Hilton Midtown on foot and arrived outside the hotel five minutes before Thompson’s arrival. In a video, Kenny continued, Thompson was seen walking alone towards the Hilton at 6:44 a.m. after exiting his separate, nearby hotel apparently for a UnitedHealth Group investors conference that was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. that day. The chief detective added the shooter—who ignored “numerous other pedestrians”—approached Thompson from behind, shot him, walked towards him and continued shooting. Kenny said the gunman then fled on foot before getting on an ebike, and the shooter was seen riding into Central Park at Center Drive at 6:48 a.m. Kenny said three live nine-millimeter rounds and three discharged shell casings were recovered during the investigation. A senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told NBC News Dec. 5 the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" were written on the shell casings. However, Kenny noted the motive for the killing is still unknown. He added a cellphone was discovered in an alley where the shooter fled before walking on a sidewalk toward the ebike, but it's unclear if it belonged to the gunman. Kenny also said investigators are "looking at everything"—including Thompson's social media and interviews with employees and family—that could help in the case. They're also working with Minnesota and Atlanta law enforcement. What have investigators revealed about the gunman who shot Brian Thompson? During the Dec. 4 briefing, Kenny said the shooter appeared to be a "light-skin male" who was "wearing a light brown or cream-colored jacket, a black face mask, black and white sneakers and a very distinctive gray backpack." On Dec. 4, New York police shared photos of an individual they're looking for holding a gun and riding a bike. Later that day, the NYPD tweeted out more pictures of a person they said they're searching for wearing a black mask, dark hooded jacket and gray backpack. Two senior law enforcement officials told NBC News these photos were captured from a Starbucks prior to the shooting. On Dec. 5, the NYPD released additional photos of a person of interest that showed the individual wearing a hooded jacket and lowered face mask. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News the photos came from surveillance video at an Upper West Side hostel. Two separate law enforcement officials noted to the outlet investigators are trying to determine if the individual used a fake ID and paid cash for a hostel room. Three senior law enforcement officials also told NBC News investigators think the shooter possibly took a bus to New York from Atlanta, with the outlet reporting officials are looking at names on tickets from a Nov. 24 Greyhound bus trip to see if they can identify the shooter and that Greyhound said they're cooperating with authorities. On Dec. 6, Kenny told CNN investigators think the shooter may have left New York as he was spotted at Port Authority. What has Brian Thompson’s family said about his death? After learning of the shooting, Thompson’s family mourned his passing. “We are shattered to hear about the senseless killing of our beloved Brian,” a family statement obtained by NBC affiliate KARE in Minneapolis on Dec. 5 read. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives. Most importantly, Brian was an incredibly loving father to our two sons and will be greatly missed. We appreciate your condolences and request complete privacy as our family moves through this difficult time.” Thompson’s wife Paulette also recalled how her husband had received threats. "Yes, there had been some threats," she told NBC News Dec. 5. "Basically, I don’t know, a lack of coverage? I don’t know details. I just know that he said there were some people that had been threatening him." What has UnitedHealth Group said about Brian Thompson’s death? UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, also expressed how it was "deeply saddened and shocked at the passing of our dear friend" Thompson, flying its flags at half-mast at corporate headquarters in Minnesota. "Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him," a Dec. 4 statement from the organization read. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Our hearts go out to Brian’s family and all who were close to him.” And while the company noted "our hearts are broken," it shared in a Dec. 5 statement that it has also "been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place." "So many patients, consumers, health care professionals, associations, government officials and other caring people have taken time out of their day to reach out," the message read. "We are thankful, even as we grieve. Our priorities are, first and foremost, supporting Brian’s family; ensuring the safety of our employees; and working with law enforcement to bring the perpetrator to justice. We, at UnitedHealth Group, will continue to be there for those who depend upon us for their health care. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their husband, father, brother and friend." However, there's also been public criticism about UnitedHealthcare, Thompson and America's healthcare system overall. These have included online conversations about insurance companies' claim denial rates as well as a look at accusations against Thompson. For instance, in a class-action lawsuit filed by the City of Hollywood Firefighters' Pension Fund in May 2024 and obtained by NBC News, Thompson was accused of selling more than $15 million of his personal UnitedHealth shares after allegedly learning of an investigation of the company by the U.S. Department of Justice before the public did. When asked about the trades allegedly made by Thompson and other executives, a UnitedHealth spokesperson told Bloomberg in April 2024 "these directors and officers followed our protocols and received approval from the company." The lawsuit, per the BBC , remains active. And while a motive for the shooting has again not been revealed, many outlets have noted the words "deny," "defend" and "depose" on the shell casings are similar to the title of a 2010 book called Delay Deny Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It . (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family). (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
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Eric Pahls, a Republican political consultant with Big Dog Strategies, and Cole Robinson, right, executive director of the Johnson County Democratic Party, find some common ground despite disagreements about why the GOP did unexpectedly well against Democrats in 2024 races for Kansas Legislature. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Dole Institute video) TOPEKA — Johnson County Democratic Party executive director Cole Robinson says outcome of November elections for the Kansas Legislature affirmed the partisan value of Republicans’ supermajorities in the House or Senate and the gravity of political calculations by voters in the 2030 governor’s race. Robinson said that from a Democrat’s perspective it was essential to focus during the next three election cycles on ending the GOP’s two-thirds majorities in the Legislature and to place another Democrat in the governor’s office in 2030. Both steps would be pivotal to limiting the power of Republican lawmakers to once again gerrymander legislative districts for their benefit when boundaries were redrawn in 2032, he said. “If you’re in favor of more moderate politics in Kansas, the most important race of our intermediate lifetimes is the 2030 gubernatorial,” Robinson said. “If Democrats should break out of the superminority at some point, then that 2030 governor’s race will allow for fair maps in 2032.” The November election affirmed that the Senate and House maps signed into law in 2022 would give Republican candidates decisive advantages through the next three election cycles, he said. Robinson was joined recently at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence by Eric Pahls, vice president of the political consulting firm Big Dog Strategies, for a postmortem on the November elections in Kansas. In terms of the Legislature, Republicans outperformed expectations by broadening supermajorities in both chambers. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s political action committee and the Kansas Democratic Party failed in a bid to take enough seats to disrupt the GOP’s ability to thwart Kelly’s vetoes. It takes two-thirds votes in the House and Senate to override a veto. Pahls, who helmed the successful 2nd District congressional campaign of Republican Derek Schmidt, said Republicans in legislative contests were aided by Democrats focusing on the wrong issues. Democrats decided to attack Republicans in an attempt to raise fear among voters about termination of abortion rights, defunding of public education and the legacy of former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, Pahls said. But GOP candidates and the majority of voters in legislative races talked about kitchen-table economics, lowering property taxes and enhancing public safety, he said. “It goes back to messaging. Democrats had good messaging for the county and the federal level. They just never laid out the case why you should put (more Democrats) in the Legislature,” Pahls said. When the Legislature convenes at 2 p.m. Jan. 13 in Topeka, the House will contain 88 Republicans and 37 Democrats. That’s three more GOP members than in the 2024 session. In the Senate, there will be 31 Republicans and nine Democrats. The Republican majority in the Senate grew by two, but GOP leadership’s grip will tighten because a handful of contrarian Republicans didn’t seek reelection. Pahls and Robinson agreed that framing elections based on candidates’ loathing or affinity for Brownback, who was among the state’s least popular governors, had likely come to an end in 2024. Robinson said the Brownback attack lines had become “stale.” And, Pahls said it no longer made practical sense to attempt to appeal to voters based on decisions Brownback made more than a decade ago. The duo agreed funding from special-interest groups aligned with conservatives — Americans for Prosperity, Kansas Chamber and Kansans for Life — had a heavy influence on legislative campaigns in November. The political action committees operated by these and other organizations invested in early political mailers and digital advertising that set the tone for unknown Democrats challenging Republican incumbents. “Our candidates were getting defined before they could even get to the door or even send out their own campaign materials,” Robinson said. “It’s successful campaign tactics. It’s totally at a different level than a lot of the Democratic attacks on the incumbents.” He asserted Republican-oriented organizations and candidates turned slivers of truth into narrative tidal waves that were impossible for Democrats to defend against. It’s a feature of the Kansas Republican Party’s playbook, he said, “because it works.” “We just got massively outspent, especially on negative advertising,” Robinson said. “You put all that together and it just highlights the disadvantages we have right now against the Republicans in legislative races.” Pahls said Democrats should concede they failed to deliver messaging that was credible and relevant to voters in 2024. The ability to recruit quality candidates shouldn’t be overstated, he said. “You can literally just outwork your opponent,” Pahls said. “Usually the messaging victor goes to the person with the most cash. However, that can be outdone. If you have a message that can cut through the noise, you can beat a money disparity.”Shatel: Unpacking Tony White's chess move to Florida State, no Nebraska-Iowa handshake
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin public worker and teachers unions scored a major legal victory Monday with a ruling that restores collective bargaining rights they lost under a 2011 state law that sparked weeks of protests and made the state the center of the national battle over union rights. That law, known as Act 10, effectively ended the ability of most public employees to bargain for wage increases and other issues, and forced them to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. Under the ruling by Dane County Circuit Judge Jacob Frost, all public sector workers who lost their collective bargaining power would have it restored to what was in place prior to 2011. They would be treated the same as the police, firefighter and other public safety unions that were exempted under the law. Republicans vowed to immediately appeal the ruling, which ultimately is likely to go before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. That only amplifies the importance of the April election that will determine whether the court remains controlled 4-3 by liberal justices. Former Gov. Scott Walker, who proposed the law that catapulted him onto the national political stage, decried the ruling in a post on the social media platform X as “brazen political activism.” He said it makes the state Supreme Court election “that much more important.” Supporters of the law have said it provided local governments more control over workers and the powers they needed to cut costs. Repealing the law, which allowed schools and local governments to raise money through higher employee contributions for benefits, would bankrupt those entities, backers of Act 10 have argued. Democratic opponents argue that the law has hurt schools and other government agencies by taking away the ability of employees to collectively bargain for their pay and working conditions. Union leaders were overjoyed with the ruling, which affects tens of thousands of public employees. “We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we’re ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again,” said Ben Gruber, a conservation warden and president of AFSCME Local 1215. The law was proposed by Walker and enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature in spite of massive protests that went on for weeks and drew as many as 100,000 people to the Capitol. The law has withstood numerous legal challenges over the years, but this was the first brought since the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped to liberal control in 2023. The seven unions and three union leaders that brought the lawsuit argued that the law should be struck down because it creates unconstitutional exemptions for firefighters and other public safety workers. Attorneys for the Legislature and state agencies countered that the exemptions are legal, have already been upheld by other courts, and that the case should be dismissed. But Frost sided with the unions in July, saying the law violates equal protection guarantees in the Wisconsin Constitution by dividing public employees into “general” and “public safety” employees. He ruled that general employee unions, like those representing teachers, can not be treated differently from public safety unions that were exempt from the law. His ruling Monday delineated the dozens of specific provisions in the law that must be struck. Wisconsin Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he looked forward to appealing the ruling. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges,” Vos said in a statement. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the state's largest business lobbying organization, also decried the ruling. WMC President Kurt Bauer called Act 10 “a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings." The Legislature said in court filings that arguments made in the current case were rejected in 2014 by the state Supreme Court. The only change since that ruling is the makeup of Wisconsin Supreme Court, attorneys for the Legislature argued. The Act 10 law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also disallowed the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. The law was the signature legislative achievement of Walker, who was targeted for a recall election he won. Walker used his fights with unions to mount an unsuccessful presidential run in 2016. Frost, the judge who issued Monday's ruling, appeared to have signed the petition to recall Walker from office. None of the attorneys sought his removal from the case and he did not step down. Frost was appointed to the bench by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed the Walker recall petition. The law has also led to a dramatic decrease in union membership across the state. The nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum said in a 2022 analysis that since 2000, Wisconsin had the largest decline in the proportion of its workforce that is unionized. In 2015, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature approved a right-to-work law that limited the power of private-sector unions. Public sector unions that brought the lawsuit are the Abbotsford Education Association; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215; the Beaver Dam Education Association; SEIU Wisconsin; the Teaching Assistants’ Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695.
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired, the struggling chipmaker said Monday in a surprise announcement. Two company executives, David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will act as interim co-CEOs while the company searches for a replacement for Gelsinger, who also stepped down from the company's board. The departure of Gelsinger, whose career spanned more than 40 years, underscores the turmoil at Intel. The company was once a dominant force in the semiconductor industry but has been eclipsed by rival Nvidia, which has cornered the market for chips that run artificial intelligence systems. Gelsinger started at Intel in 1979 and was its first chief technology officer. He returned to the company as chief executive in 2021. Gelsinger said his exit was “bittersweet as this company has been my life for the bulk of my working career,” he said in a statement. “I can look back with pride at all that we have accomplished together. It has been a challenging year for all of us as we have made tough but necessary decisions to position Intel for the current market dynamics.” Zinsner is executive vice president and chief financial officer at Intel. Holthaus was appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products, which includes the client computing, data center and AI groups. Frank Yeary, independent chair of Intel's board, will become interim executive chair. “Pat spent his formative years at Intel, then returned at a critical time for the company in 2021,” Yeary said in a statement. "As a leader, Pat helped launch and revitalize process manufacturing by investing in state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, while working tirelessly to drive innovation throughout the company.” Gelsinger's departure comes as Intel’s financial woes have been piling up. The company posted a $16.6 billion loss and halted its dividend in the most recent quarter, and its shares have fallen by about 60% since he took over as CEO. Gelsinger announced plans in August to slash 15% of its huge workforce — or about 15,000 jobs — as part of cost-cutting efforts to to save $10 billion in 2025. Nvidia’s ascendance, meanwhile, was cemented earlier this month when it replaced Intel on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Unlike some of rivals, Intel manufactures chips in addition to designing them. Under Gelsinger, the company has been working to build up its foundry business making semiconductors in the U.S. designed by other firms, in a bid to compete with rivals such as market leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. or TSMC. Intel has benefited from tens of billions of dollars that the administration has pledged to support construction of U.S. chip foundries and reduce reliance on Asian suppliers, which Washington sees as a security weakness. After taking over as CEO, Gelsinger unveiled plans to build a $20 billion chipmaking facility in central Ohio , and poured billions more into expanding in Europe , where leaders were also worried about dependence on Asia. The Biden administration had said it would give Intel up to $8.5 billion in federal funding for semiconductor plants around the country, but last week it trimmed that amount , according to three people familiar with the grant who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Shares of the Santa Clara, California, company jumped in early trading Monday but ended the day down 0.5%. AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed to this report from London.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada , then the Panama Canal . Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland . The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with which he's picking fights even before taking office on Jan. 20. In a Sunday announcement naming his ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote that, “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He's also been suggesting that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, said Trump tweaking friendly countries harkens back to an aggressive style he used during his days in business. “You ask something unreasonable and it’s more likely you can get something less unreasonable,” said Farnsworth, who is also author of the book “Presidential Communication and Character.” Greenland, the world’s largest island, sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is 80% covered by an ice sheet and is home to a large U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979 and its head of government, Múte Bourup Egede, suggested that Trump’s latest calls for U.S. control would be as meaningless as those made in his first term. “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” he said in a statement. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” The Danish Prime Minister’s Office said in its own statement that the government is “looking forward to welcoming the new American ambassador. And the Government is looking forward to working with the new administration.” “In a complex security political situation as the one we currently experience, transatlantic cooperation is crucial,” the statement said. It noted that it had no comment on Greenland except for it “not being for sale, but open for cooperation.” Trump canceled a 2019 visit to Denmark after his offer to buy Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, and ultimately came to nothing . He also suggested Sunday that the U.S. is getting “ripped off” at the Panama Canal. “If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he said. Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded in a video that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” but Trump fired back on his social media site, “We’ll see about that!” The president-elect also posted a picture of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone under the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The United States built the canal in the early 1900s but relinquished control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter . The canal depends on reservoirs that were hit by 2023 droughts that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships, administrators also increased the fees that shippers are charged to reserve slots to use the canal. The Greenland and Panama flareups followed Trump recently posting that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State" and offering an image of himself superimposed on a mountaintop surveying surrounding territory next to a Canadian flag. Trudeau suggested that Trump was joking about annexing his country, but the pair met recently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida to discuss Trump's threats to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian goods. “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s comments are more about leveraging what he says to get concessions from Canada by putting Canada off balance, particularly given the precarious current political environment in Canada,” Farnsworth said. “Maybe claim a win on trade concessions, a tighter border or other things.” He said the situation is similar with Greenland. “What Trump wants is a win," Farnsworth said. "And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.” Associated Press writers Gary Fields in Washington and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.3 players LA Lakers are interested in trading for, and 3 they are ready to trade awayNSW Premier Chris Minns has rejected the comments of Foreign Minister Penny Wong after she equated the democratic state of Israel with the authoritarian regime in Russia. The Foreign Minister put Israel in the same basket as Russia and China during her recent address to the University of South Australia for the Bob Hawke Lecture. When asked about Ms Wong’s comments on Wednesday, Mr Minns told Sky News he did not accept the comparison but admitted he had not read the speech. “If you're asking me directly, would I equate the actions of Russia with the democratic actions of the state of Israel? The answer is no,” Mr Minns said. “I'm not going to... equate the democratic state of Israel with the actions of Russia. I'm not going to do that. And I don't believe that's the case. “It's difficult for me to comment about a speech that I haven't read.” The Foreign Minister has been criticised by Jewish leaders for a supposed campaign against Israel amid Australia’s spiralling relationship with Jerusalem. “We expect Russia to abide by international law and end its illegal full-scale war on Ukraine,” Ms Wong said in her speech on Monday night. “We expect China to abide by international legal decisions in the South China Sea. We also expect Israel to abide by international law.” The Foreign Minister also said it was “not antisemitic to expect that Israel should comply with the international law”. The comment appeared to be in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has blamed the Albanese government for enforcing antisemitic policies. “Anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitism,” Mr Netanyahu said on Saturday after Australia voted against Israeli’s occupation of Palestine at the United Nations. The Israeli Prime Minister also accused the Albanese government of an “extreme anti-Israeli position”. Ms Wong used her Hawke Lecture to defend Labor's stance on Israel as the Coalition has blamed the Prime Minister for “ emboldening and enabling ” antisemitic crime. “Australia and Israel are democracies where our citizens can agree or disagree with individual policies or actions of their governments,” Ms Wong said. “The fact that we are both democracies should mean that there is respect for disagreement. Respect and tolerance.” Asked at a press conference whether it was appropriate to compare Israel with Russia and China on Tuesday, Ms Wong defended her remarks. “The point I was making in this speech is that international law applies to all of us. It applies to Australia, it applies to all nations,” Ms Wong said. Despite this, the opposition has condemned the Labor for failing to repair ties with the Israeli government. “For the Foreign Minister to compare Israel, a friendly liberal democracy, to two authoritarian states, is an outrageous slur,” shadow home affairs minister James Paterson told Sky News. “It continues Labor’s campaign of vilification against the Jewish state and contributes to the climate of fear Jewish Australians are feeling right now. “The Foreign Minister should tone down her attacks on Israel before it gets even worse.” The Jewish community has endured a devastating rise in antisemitism, including a terrorist attack in Melbourne on Friday and a hate crime in Sydney on Wednesday .