UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!VANCOUVER — Vancouver Canucks defenceman Filip Hronek is expected to be out until the end of January as he recovers from a lower-body injury. General manager Patrik Allvin issued a statement Tuesday saying Hronek underwent a successful procedure for the undisclosed ailment and is expected to miss about eight weeks. He says the 27-year-old Czech blueliner will not require surgery for an upper-body injury. Hronek hasn’t played since going into the endboards hard late in Vancouver’s 5-4 loss to the Penguins in Pittsburgh last Wednesday. He’s been paired with captain Quinn Hughes for much of the season and registered eight points (one goal, eight assists) in 21 games. The Canucks (13-7-3) have dealt with a litany of notable absences this season, including all-star goalie Thatcher Demko, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, and star centre J.T. Miller, who’s on an indefinite leave for personal reasons. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024. The Canadian Press
Wall Street tumbles as Fed projects slower rate cuts next yearUN watchdog to conduct probe into sexual misconduct allegations against top international prosecutor
There’s a fresh new season of this week, titles Rivals in celebration of the release of Marvel Rivals (a PVP title that releases this month). In this season, we get a load of new cards, new locations, plus the return of High Voltage game mode later this month. For new cards, the Season Pass card is Galacta, Daughter of Galactus. Her text reads “Each turn, the first card you play at another location reveals with +3 Power.” While you might think she makes sense for Galactus decks, she is already seeing good play in Sebastian Shaw/Silver Surfer decks. Definitely something to keep an eye on. Other new cards this season include (On Reveal: Add an Ice Cube to each side of this location), (On Reveal:Merge with one of your cards here. You can move that card next turn.), (After each turn, add a DoomBot 2099 to a random location if you played exactly 1 card.), (When you end a turn with unspent Energy, 25% chance to HULK OUT!), (You can move this once. After your opponent plays a card here, steal 1 Power from it.), and (Activate: Afflict an enemy card here with negative Power equal to this card’s Power). For new location, you can look forward to (After you play a card here, move it.) and (Cards can’t be discarded). Toky0 2099 sounds like an instant retreat for discard players, so that’s dumb. High Voltage returns December 28 and runs through January 4. How exciting. //
By James Royal, Ph.D., Bankrate.com Cryptocurrencies are enormously volatile, but that volatility can create opportunities for profit if you’re looking to trade these digital assets. Cryptos such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have risen a lot since their debut — but they’ve also experienced tremendous boom-bust cycles along the way. Experienced traders have been speculating on cryptocurrencies for years, but how can you get started if you’re new to the crypto market? Here’s how to start investing in cryptocurrency and the significant risks you need to watch out for. First things first, if you’re looking to invest in crypto, you need to have all your finances in order. That means having an emergency fund in place, a manageable level of debt and ideally a diversified portfolio of investments . Your crypto investments can become one more part of your portfolio, one that helps raise your total returns, hopefully. Pay attention to these five other things as you’re starting to invest in cryptocurrencies. As you would for any investment, understand exactly what you’re investing in. If you’re buying stocks, it’s important to read the annual report and other SEC filings to analyze the companies thoroughly. Plan to do the same with any cryptocurrencies , since there are literally thousands of them, they all function differently and new ones are being created every day. You need to understand the investment case for each trade. In the case of many cryptocurrencies , they’re backed by nothing at all, neither hard assets nor cash flow of an underlying entity. That’s the case for Bitcoin , for example, where investors rely exclusively on someone paying more for the asset than they paid for it. In other words, unlike stock, where a company can grow its profits and drive returns for you that way, many crypto assets must rely on the market becoming more optimistic and bullish for you to profit. Some of the most popular coins include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana , Dogecoin and Tether (a stablecoin) . So before investing, understand the potential upside and downside. If your financial investment is not backed by an asset or cash flow, it could end up being worth nothing. A mistake that many new investors make is looking at the past and extrapolating that to the future. Yes, Bitcoin used to be worth pennies, but now is worth much more . The key question, however, is “Will that growth continue into the future, even if it’s not at quite that meteoric rate?” Investors look to the future, not to what an asset has done in the past. What will drive future returns? Traders buying a cryptocurrency today need tomorrow’s gains, not yesterday’s. The prices of cryptocurrencies are about as volatile as an asset can get. They could drop quickly in seconds on nothing more than a rumor that ends up proving baseless. That can be great for sophisticated investors who can execute trades rapidly or who have a solid grasp on the market’s fundamentals, how the market is trending and where it could go. For new investors without these skills — or the high-powered algorithms that direct these trades — it’s a minefield. Volatility is a game for high-powered Wall Street traders, each of whom is trying to outgun other deep-pocketed investors. A new investor can easily get crushed by the volatility. That’s because volatility shakes out traders, especially beginners, who get scared. Meanwhile, other traders may step in and buy on the cheap. In short, volatility can help sophisticated traders “buy low and sell high” while inexperienced investors “buy high and sell low.” If you’re trading any asset on a short-term basis, you need to manage your risk , and that can be especially true with volatile assets such as cryptocurrency. So as a newer trader, you’ll need to understand how best to manage risk and develop a process that helps you mitigate losses. And that process can vary from individual to individual: Newer traders should consider setting aside a certain amount of trading money and then using only a portion of it, at least at first. If a position moves against them, they’ll still have money in reserve to trade with later. The ultimate point is that you can’t trade if you don’t have any money. So keeping some cash in reserve means you’ll always have a bankroll to fund your trading. It’s important to manage risk, but that will come at an emotional cost. Selling a losing position hurts, but doing so can help you avoid worse losses later. Finally, it’s important to avoid putting money that you need into speculative assets. If you can’t afford to lose it — all of it — you can’t afford to put it into risky assets such as cryptocurrency, or other speculative assets, for that matter. Whether it’s a down payment for a house or an important upcoming purchase, money that you need in the next few years should be kept in safe accounts so that it’s there when you need it. And if you’re looking for an absolutely sure return, your best option is to pay off high-interest debt. You’re guaranteed to earn (or save) whatever interest rate you’re paying on the debt. You can’t lose there. Finally, don’t overlook the security of any exchange or broker you’re using. You may own the assets legally, but someone still has to secure them, and their security needs to be tight. If they don’t think their cryptocurrency is properly secured, some traders choose to invest in a crypto wallet to hold their coins offline so they’re inaccessible to hackers or others. Remember that investing in cryptocurrency can be part of a broader investment strategy, but shouldn’t be your only one. While investing directly in cryptocurrency is popular, traders have other ways to get into the crypto game, some more directly than others. These include: Each of these methods varies in its riskiness and exposure to cryptocurrency, so you’ll want to understand exactly what you’re buying and whether it fits your needs. In theory it takes only a few dollars to invest in cryptocurrency. Most crypto exchanges, for example, have a minimum trade that might be $5 or $10. Other crypto trading apps might have a minimum that’s even lower. However, it’s important to understand that some trading platforms will take a huge chunk of your investment as a fee if you’re trading small amounts of cryptocurrency. So it’s important to look for a broker or exchange that minimizes your fees. In fact, many so-called “free” brokers embed fees — called spread mark-ups — in the price you pay for your cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is based on blockchain technology . Blockchain is a kind of database that records and timestamps every entry into it. The best way to think of a blockchain is like a running receipt of transactions. When a blockchain database powers cryptocurrency, it records and verifies transactions in the currency, verifying the currency’s movements and who owns it. Many crypto blockchain databases are run with decentralized computer networks. That is, many redundant computers operate the database, checking and rechecking the transactions to ensure that they’re accurate. If there’s a discrepancy, the networked computers have to resolve it. Some cryptocurrencies reward those who verify the transactions on the blockchain database in a process called mining. For example, miners involved with Bitcoin solve very complex mathematical problems as part of the verification process. If they’re successful, miners receive a predetermined award of Bitcoins. To mine Bitcoins , miners need powerful processing units that consume huge amounts of energy. Many miners operate gigantic rooms full of such mining rigs in order to extract these rewards. As of October 2024, running the Bitcoin system burned as much energy per year as the country of Poland. If you’re looking to invest in Bitcoin, you have a variety of ways to do so, and you can work with a number of companies, including: If you’re looking to buy Bitcoin, pay particular attention to the fees that you’re paying. Here are other key things to watch out for as you’re buying Bitcoin . An altcoin is an alternative to Bitcoin. Many years ago, traders would use the term pejoratively. Since Bitcoin was the largest and most popular cryptocurrency, everything else was defined in relation to it. So, whatever was not Bitcoin was lumped into a catch-all category called altcoins . While Bitcoin is still the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization by far, it’s no longer the only game in town. Other altcoins such as Ethereum and Solana have grown in popularity, making the term altcoin somewhat outmoded. Now with a reported 15,000 or more cryptocurrencies in existence, it makes less sense than ever to define the industry as “Bitcoin and then everything else.” Cryptocurrency is a highly speculative area of the market, and many smart investors have decided to put their money elsewhere. For beginners who want to get started trading crypto, however, the best advice is to start small and only use money that you can afford to lose. Bankrate’s Brian Baker contributed to an update of this story. ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Jobs and resumes: When is it appropriate to exaggerate?
The Las Vegas Raiders are at a crossroads. Do they stick with head coach Antonio Pierce or do they Lane Kiffin him before the playoffs? With future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, a part owner, most insiders speculate that Brady will bring his winning attitude and football expertise to do a little spring cleaning with the Raiders. Rumors are swirling about which coaches might be a good fit for the Raiders in the next season. Here are the top 5 names that have been floated around. Mike Vrabel Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel is at the top of the list to possibly replace Pierce. Sports Illustrated’s Hondo Carpenter thinks that Vrabel will get the nod from the Raiders to be the next head coach. Carpenter said on The Las Vegas Raiders Insiders podcast, “I am in no way advocating for moving on from Antonio, at all, and I want to make that clear. But I believe that if they move on from him, it will be Mike Vrabel. He has a great relationship with [Tom] Brady. They are very close.” Bill Belichick Bill Belichick is in the mix for obvious reasons, the Tom Brady connection. He would be someone that the organization could trust to get the job done of restoring the Raiders back to their winning ways. Also, Belichick has a winning reputation and has a no-nonsense approach to football. He understands the x’s and o’s. The drawback to a Belichick is that the man is 72 years old. The question with Belichick is would he have the stamina for a 18-week season? Probably not. Jon Gruden Another familiar choice for nostalgic reasons. Under Gruden, his record with the Raiders overall was 64-38. If you remember back in 2021, Jon Gruden stepped down from the organization after making racist, homophobic, and misogynist remarks about various people in the NFL. It is reported by The New York Times that Jon Gruden was not happy with the direction that NFL was going in before he stepped down. In an in-depth investigation by the league, it found that Gruden made disparaging comments about the LGTBQIA+ community, specifically the acceptance and drafting of gay players, the introduction of women referees, and the protesting of the National Anthem by certain players. If Gruden were to be given another chance at the helm, he would completely alienate most of the Raiders’ fanbase (i.e. Women, LGTBQIA+ community, & Minorites). That would be a disastrous hire and a public relations nightmare for the Raiders organization. Kliff Kingsbury Kingsbury sounds like a great fit for the Raiders. Sure, he’s a great offensive-minded coach with the ability to score consistently but his problem lies in not finishing out the games. The Raiders could benefit from a coach with the complete package and Kliff Kingsbury is not there yet. Also, although he is an offensive genius, Kingsbury’s defenses were sub-par when he was a head coach, but he still may be worth the hire if he finds a decent defensive coordinator. Joe Brady A sleeper choice for the job would be Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. In the past, Brady has been glanced over for head coaching jobs. The con for the Raiders hiring Joe Brady would be his youth. It would be hard to hire a young coach who players might not respect or take seriously. Plus, they’ve already made that mistake when they hired a young Lane Kiffin, so they may not want to go that route again. Whoever the Raiders choose to pick in the off-season (if they decide to fire Pierce as many think) he needs to make an impact early. The Raiders’ goal is to rebuild the franchise with their draft picks, add some veteran players, have a steady defense, and build an offensive machine that will guarantee them wins consistently week in and week out. This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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Dr Troy Baisden. Photo: Waikato University By Pretoria Gordon and Mary Argue of RNZ Changes to a critical science fund are short-sighted and will have negative effects on universities' ability to carry out research in humanities and social sciences, a senior academic at Victoria University says. But a business group said the changes to the Marsden Fund were the right move - and would boost productivity, living standards and economic growth. Science, Innovation and Technology minister Judith Collins on Wednesday announced changes to the fund, which is administered by the Royal Society and provides grants for scientific research. Collins said humanities and social sciences would no longer be supported, and the independent panels that made funding decisions would be disbanded by next year, as part of a "more strategic approach to science funding across the board". Every application for funding must now describe its potential to generate economic, environmental, or health benefits for New Zealand, and 50 percent of grants from the Marsden Fund each year must have the potential for economic benefit. Association of Scientists co-president Dr Troy Baisden told RNZ's Morning Report programme today the move was a "very dangerous problem" that all scientists were worried about. "This is just ill-informed. "If we undermine the foundation of everything that we do, the things that everyone wants from science fall down with the foundations, and this is a change that undermines the norms that underlie these sort of fundamental research systems throughout the world." Baisden said New Zealand had an odd system for funding research and the amounts awarded were only enough to get started, not completely fund things. "This government has a mandate to rebuild the economy and it is critical that we spend taxpayers money on research that can generate real benefit to New Zealand," the minister told RNZ. "It is also important to note that only 50 percent of funding needs to show economic benefit, the Marsden Fund will continue to support blue-skies research that advances new ideas, innovation and creativity and where the benefit may not be immediately apparent." Professor Nic Rawlence. Photo: supplied Morning Report "They do vitally important research we think." Many of the projects were very collaborative, he said. He pointed to work on the New Zealand wars, or investigating the barriers to vaccine uptake, or climate mitigation. "The archaeology example, we are looking at how Māori and Pakeha lived in New Zealand, how their societies functioned and if we don't learn from history were doomed to repeat it, which will have big economic impacts." Without the Marsden Fund there were no other funding options, Rawlence said. "The danger here is with humanities and social sciences funding being scrapped... that could result in a brain drain with people going overseas." In 2024, the amount of Marsden funding available was approximately $77.7 million. The Royal Society, which has administered investment of the Marsden Fund on behalf of the New Zealand Government for 30 years, said it would be assessing the broader implications of these changes. President Dame Jane Harding said it would continue to work to support the social sciences and humanities through a range of mechanisms in addition to funding. "Increasingly it is understood that research needed to generate benefits for our country will need to be interdisciplinary, integrating knowledge from experts in the social sciences and humanities with science, engineering, and technology. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland. Photo: supplied Surprise and concern An email sent to all Victoria University staff from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland said it had taken the whole sector by surprise. "We have fundamental concerns about the changes, which we believe are short-sighted and will have significant negative effects on all universities' ability to carry out valuable and critical research in humanities and social sciences." She said all universities in New Zealand were united in their condemnation of the changes. "We know that humanities and social sciences research is hugely valuable to us as a university, and necessary for the well-being of society in general. "We'll be doing everything in our power to ensure such valuable research is supported." Hyland told RNZ she stood by her statement. "It was our response to learning about the changes and we wanted our people to know of our level of concern and unwavering support for our researchers." A statement from Universities New Zealand said the announcement was very concerning. While investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines were important for shorter-term economic benefit, it said, longer-term transformation of innovation and the lifting of productivity required social and culture change also. "We know that government fu nding is tight, and we know that government has to be able to defend where taxpayer money is going. But the answer is not to cut out the humanities and social sciences from the Marsden Fund." 'The right move' Catherine Beard. Photo: supplied BusinessNZ welcomed the change, with advocacy director Catherine Beard calling it "the right move". "New Zealand continues to languish in the productivity space. It's a problem that can be partly solved through innovation. "Directing the Marsden Fund to focus more narrowly on research that will help to support high-tech, high-productivity, high-value businesses and jobs is the right move." New Zealand's research and development expenditure is growing, but is still well behind the OECD average, Beard said. "Setting clear expectations by funding research that can boost New Zealand's economy and living standards is a welcome step toward a better tomorrow." Labour's research, science and innovation spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell said New Zealand only spent half the OECD average for science, research, and development. "It's time the government saw research as a priority. "We want to keep talented people here, who contribute to the growth of New Zealand's knowledge base and economy. These cuts leave academics and researchers with fewer options, ... making them more likely to join the thousands of people leaving the country to pursue opportunities elsewhere. "Critical thinkers are essential to advancing our economy, protecting our environment, and building our cultural identity." However, the ACT Party said the changes would help the funding deliver long-term benefits for New Zealanders. "Politicians shouldn't decide which specific research projects are funded, but we have a duty to ensure taxpayer money is focused on research that delivers tangible benefits for society and the economy," science, innovation, and technology spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar said. Some projects were hard to justify to taxpayers who were struggling to afford the basics, she said. "Every dollar spent on these grants is a dollar that is not supporting research in the hard sciences, or for that matter, life-saving medicines, essential infrastructure, or tax relief for struggling households."Some elite US universities favor wealthy students in admissions decisions, lawsuit allegesCLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston's performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world's largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team's ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski's job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson's future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he's even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It's also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson's backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland's full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What's not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he's made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn't: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” Winston has done something else Watson couldn't: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski's system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb's go-ahead TD run. RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh's edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law late Tuesday before backing down, placing the military in control of all government and judicial functions in a power grab that came after months of political stalemate. The hours of crisis and chaos have thrown the future of his presidency into doubt. As the military and police sought to contain protesters who had poured into the streets around the National Assembly, the president announced he would lift the order as soon as he could convene his Cabinet, heeding a defiant vote from the opposition-led legislature. The Cabinet met before dawn Wednesday local time, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, as protesters chanted for Yoon’s impeachment. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WINNIPEG - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG – Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew offered condolences Monday to the families affected by two fatal police shootings in the province and spoke to the challenge faced by officers on the front lines. “I want to take the opportunity to thank police officers across this province who go to work and keep us safe each and every day,” Kinew said while at the convention for the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. The night before, a street standoff involving police left one man dead and an officer recovering from a stab wound to the throat. Kinew told reporters no one wants to see a person die after an altercation with police but officers are often tasked with responding to high-risk situations. “Police officers have a difficult job to do, that’s at the best of times, so I support law enforcement,” he said. “When we’re thinking about the holidays and people going to the malls and people going to the shopping areas around the province, people have got to be safe.” Police were called early Sunday evening to the Unicity shopping area in the city’s far west about an officer who had been stabbed in the throat and a suspect who had been shot. Acting police Chief Art Stannard later told reporters that officers had been in the area as part of a retail theft initiative, which sees police work in hot spots in the city that have seen a rise in retail theft and violent crime. Police said the man who was shot was given CPR at the scene before he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. They said the injured officer was also transported to hospital and treated for his injury. Police declined to provide more details about what happened, including the age or identity of the man killed, noting the case is being reviewed by the police watchdog agency — the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. The agency confirmed it’s investigating the death of the man but did not provide any other details. Videos circulating on social media appear to show a man being shot outside a bus shelter. In a 24-second clip, two police officers tell a person “to put it down” and “to drop it.” The man appears to advance toward the officers and at least one officer begins shooting. It’s not clear in the video whether the man who was shot was holding a weapon. Stannard told reporters Sunday he’s aware of the video and asked the public to avoid rushing to judgment. Coun. Markus Chambers, chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, said Sunday’s incident is tragic for all involved and noted it could renew calls for the board to implement body cameras. “Body-worn cameras likely wouldn’t have resulted in this not happening, but it is a mechanism of looking at the accountability around what happened,” Chambers said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The councillor said the board would be monitoring the rollout of body cameras in RCMP detachments across the province to see if they’re effective. It was the second fatal police shooting in three days. A 17-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation was shot and killed by an RCMP officer on Friday. Mounties said they received a report that a man was agitated and armed with an edged weapon in a home on the First Nation, north of Winnipeg. RCMP said the teen was outside with the weapon when officers arrived and, despite numerous orders to drop it, he moved toward them and was shot. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Advertisement AdvertisementAccording to the Wall Street Journal , Washington is investigating the most popular home internet router brand due to its possible links to China-backed cyberattacks. The Justice and Defense, and Commerce departments are investigating the router brand, and the Commerce Department is subpoenaing the company. As the report indicates, the investigation could lead to a potential ban on the popular router brand as early as next year, as the attacks targeted Defense Department suppliers, government organizations, non-government organizations, and think tanks. The ban could be a massive hit for the router brand, which holds about 65% of the U.S. market and, as mentioned in the report, is even a router used by the Department of Defense and NASA. The Wall Street Journal also comments that TP-Link routers are commonly shipped to customers despite their security flaws, and according to people familiar with the matter, the company refuses to address this. But the router brand spokeswoman had something different to say: “We welcome any opportunities to engage with the U.S. government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the U.S. market, U.S. consumers, and addressing U.S. national security risks.” If the router ban becomes a reality, it will be one of the most extensive extractions of Chinese telecom equipment from the U.S. since the Trump administration removed Huawei Technologies in 2019. The low prices of some TP-Link routers have definitely made them attractive over the years, and some of the more high-end options rank among the best Wi-Fi routers you can buy — at least, before this news broke. Regardless of what happens, you can stay safe by securing your Wi-Fi network and updating your router firmware . It’s important to keep the firmware up to date to get the latest patches that remove vulnerabilities hackers use to exploit it.
Enerpac Tool Group Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results
Micron is planning to build a large semiconductor plant on Route 31 in Clay. The company says the plant will employ up to 9,000 people and cost up to $100 billion to build. Photo taken Friday, May 3, 2024. Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com Glenn Coin | gcoin@syracuse.com Syracuse, N.Y. – A week after signing a deal to get up to $6.1 billion from taxpayers to build factories in the U.S., Micron Technology today announced record quarterly revenues. Micron’s revenues for the past three months were $8.7 billion, an 85% increase from the same period last year, the company reported today. Micron turned a $2 billion profit for the quarter. Micron’s previous record quarterly revenues were $8.6 billion, for the three months ending in May 2022. Micron’s fiscal year runs from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31. Results announced today were from the quarter that ended Nov. 28. Today’s report marks a dramatic turnaround from a year ago, when the company posted a $1.2 billion loss on revenues of $4.7 billion. Micron last week signed a deal to get up to $6.1 billion in taxpayer subsidies from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The money would be used to build two memory chip manufacturing plants in the town of Clay and one in Boise, Idaho, the company’s headquarters. The money isn’t paid upfront, but would be doled out as Micron reaches certain construction and equipment installation milestones. The Commerce Department has said it will not release the formal agreement with Micron that details those milestones. Micron says it plans to break ground in November 2025 on the two fabrication plants, or fabs, in Clay. Building and outfitting those two fabs could cost about $50 billion, the company estimates. Micron could see $20 billion in taxpayer subsidies for the Clay project, about 40% of the total cost for the two fabs. Micron has said it plans to build two more fabs after that. Micron is expected to submit a preliminary environmental report to government agencies this week on the potential impacts of the Clay project. The review and public airing of that plan is likely to continue into next summer. Read more about Micron Technology in Clay Refugees: The workforce we didn’t know we needed (Guest Opinion) With Micron funding assured, let’s get to work, CNY (Editorial Board Opinion) JMA Wireless wins $44 million CHIPS Act grant for Syracuse expansion, Schumer says Now that Micron has nailed down billions in federal money, what’s next for Clay project? Micron signs historic deal with feds for $6.1 billion to build chip plants in Central NY, Idaho