PITTSBURGH — The decorations outside Acrisure Stadium suggested Christmas. The play on the field by the home team hinted at another holiday entirely. Groundhog Day. Like Bill Murray in the iconic movie — set about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh in Punxsutawney — it's not that the Steelers are reliving the same day (or in their case, season) over and over exactly. It's that no matter what plan they come up with in a frantic effort to get to the other side, they seem to end up right back where they started. Competitive sure. But a contender? Ehhhh. Despite a series of aggressive moves — particularly on offense — that was considerably "unSteeler-like" in the offseason, Pittsburgh finds itself in familiar territory following a 29-10 loss to Kansas City on Wednesday: likely heading on the road in the first round of the playoffs, perhaps as a considerable underdog. While there is still time for Pittsburgh (10-6) to turn it around before a first-round playoff game on the second weekend in January, it's running out quickly. So too is the patience of those weary of being stuck on the treadmill of "good but hardly great" for far too long. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith — who is 0-3 in the postseason since being drafted in 2020 — wondered aloud afterward if there's enough "want to" on the roster. Safety DeShon Elliott bemoaned communication issues that have cropped up, the kind of thing that is tolerable in Week 2, not so much in Week 17. Coach Mike Tomlin described a performance against the Chiefs in which his team was outclassed at seemingly every turn "junior varsity." That may be being charitable. And while the offense certainly has its issues (see below), the reality is the NFL's highest-paid defense has lost its way during a three-game slide that has dimmed the considerable optimism that surrounded the club after Thanksgiving. Pittsburgh is allowing an average of 402 yards during the skid and while the Chiefs seemed to have plenty of juice at the end of the same three games in 11 days stretch the Steelers endured, their opponents appeared to be gassed. Patrick Mahomes did whatever he wanted as usual and Pittsburgh failed to get a single sack or produce a turnover. There were opportunities. Linebacker Mark Robinson forced a fumble on a punt return only to see someone in red-and-white fall on the loose ball. Linebacker Patrick Queen let a tipped pass in Kansas City territory fall through his arms for an incompletion. Earlier in the season, Pittsburgh was making those plays. Though it should be noted, the competition then wasn't on the scale of what it has faced against Philadelphia, Baltimore and the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The road has gotten considerably harder, just as the Steelers knew it would when the schedule was released in May. Like Phil Connors in "Groundhog Day," however, knowing what's coming and being able to navigate it are two different things. It took Connors a while to figure things out — anywhere from a few months to 25 or more years depending on who you ask — Pittsburgh doesn't have eternity to get it right if it wants to avoid a quick first-round playoff exit for the fourth time in five years. It has just over two weeks. And the clock is ticking. Maybe all the way back to 6 a.m. Because it sure looks like it's Groundhog Day. Again. WHAT'S WORKING: Not much. One of the few bright spots on a difficult day was the 36-year-old Russell Wilson's ability to make plays with his feet. He ran for a season-high 55 yards, his best single-game total since September 2023. WHAT NEEDS HELP: One of the reasons Wilson had to run is because on some plays, he had no choice while playing behind a youth-laden offensive line that looks as if it is wearing down late in the season. The Chiefs sacked Wilson five times — some of which, to be clear, were because of Wilson's indecisiveness — even with perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Chris Jones out while nursing a calf injury. Pittsburgh wants to be a team that imposes itself physically on the opponent. That has simply not happened during the current slide. The opponents have dictated the terms, particularly along the line of scrimmage. Turning that around this deep into a season may be a difficult ask. STOCK UP: Jaylen Warren is becoming the more dynamic option at running back. Warren has 37 touches for 212 yards during the three-game slide, while Najee Harris has 31 touches for 144 yards. Harris could become a free agent in March after the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option. While Harris — who has topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four seasons — certainly has a future in the NFL, it seems increasingly likely that it will be elsewhere. STOCK DOWN: Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. His egalitarian approach to play-calling allows everyone to get involved. That's not a bad thing during the dog days in the middle of the season. It keeps players at all levels of the depth chart engaged and adds wrinkles opponents need to account for. Yet in the final weeks, the ball should be finding its way to the established difference-makers more frequently. Calling a run for Cordarrelle Patterson — the league's oldest running back — on third-and-3 near midfield as Smith did late in the first half makes little sense. INJURIES: Perhaps the most jarring thing about Pittsburgh's swoon is that the Steelers are generally healthy. Sure, they missed cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) against Kansas City, but the rest of the 21 starters on offense and defense were in the lineup. KEY NUMBER: 0. The number of opening-drive touchdowns scored by the Steelers this season. For a group that has trouble "warming up to the game" as Tomlin likes to say, consistently being put in a position to play from behind against quality teams such as the ones Pittsburgh will see in the playoffs is inadvisable. NEXT STEPS: Rest up, heal up and try to find a way to restore some of its swagger ahead of a meeting with AFC North rival Cincinnati on the first weekend in January.
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CHPT) (“ChargePoint”), a leading provider of networked solutions for charging electric vehicles (EVs), today reported results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2025 ended October 31, 2024. “We are encouraged by record EV sales in the industry, and we continue to see network utilization driving the need for more charging infrastructure,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO of ChargePoint. “Our third quarter results exceeded our expectations, and demonstrate that our strategy, focus on operational excellence, and rigorous cash management are translating to tangible results.” For reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results, please see the tables below. For the fourth fiscal quarter ending January 31, 2025, ChargePoint expects revenue of $95 million to $105 million. The Company is concentrating on returning to growth and streamlining operations to continue on its path to positive non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA, which is targeted for a quarter in fiscal year 2026. ChargePoint is not able to present a reconciliation of its forward-looking non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA goal to the corresponding GAAP measure because certain potential future adjustments, which may be significant and may include, among other items, stock-based compensation expense, are uncertain or out of its control, or cannot be reasonably predicted without unreasonable effort. The actual amounts of such reconciling items could have a significant impact on ChargePoint's GAAP Net Loss. ChargePoint will host a webcast today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific / 4:30 p.m. Eastern to review its third quarter fiscal 2025 financial results. Investors may access the webcast, supplemental financial information and investor presentation at ChargePoint’s investor relations website ( ) under the “Events and Presentations” section. A replay will be available after the conclusion of the webcast and archived for one year. ChargePoint is creating a new fueling network to move people and goods on electricity. Since 2007, ChargePoint has been committed to making it easy for businesses and drivers to go electric with one of the largest EV charging networks and a comprehensive portfolio of charging solutions. The ChargePoint cloud subscription platform and software-defined charging hardware are designed to include options for every charging scenario from home and multifamily to workplace, parking, hospitality, retail and transport fleets of all types. Today, one ChargePoint account provides access to hundreds of thousands of places to charge in North America and Europe. For more information, visit the , the , or contact the or or . This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions including statements regarding our projected revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and our goal to achieve positive non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made in this press release, including: macroeconomic trends including changes in or sustained inflation, interest rate volatility, or other events beyond our control on the overall economy which may reduce demand for our products and services, geopolitical events and conflicts, adverse impacts to our business and those of our customers and suppliers, including due to supply chain disruptions, tariffs, component shortages, and associated logistics expense increases; our limited operating history as a public company; our ability as an organization to successfully acquire, integrate or partner with other companies, products or technologies in a successful manner; our dependence on widespread acceptance and adoption of EVs, including auto manufacture's plans and strategies to transition to predominately manufacture EV and any corresponding increased demand for installation of charging stations; our current dependence on sales of charging stations for most of our revenues; overall demand for EV charging and the potential for reduced demand for EVs if governmental rebates, tax credits and other financial incentives are reduced, modified or eliminated or governmental mandates to increase the use of EVs or decrease the use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels, either directly or indirectly through mandated limits on carbon emissions, are reduced, modified or eliminated; our ability, and our reliance on our customers, to successfully implement, construct and manage National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) grant opportunities in accordance with the respective terms of the NEVI program in order to validly secure and obtain awarded funding and win additional NEVI grant opportunities; our reliance on contract manufacturers, including those located outside the United States, may result in supply chain interruptions, delays and expense increases which may adversely affect our sales, revenue and gross margins; our ability to expand our operations and market share in Europe; the need to attract additional fleet operators as customers; potential adverse effects on our revenue and gross margins due to delays and costs associated with new product introductions, inventory obsolescence, component shortages and related expense increases; adverse impact to our revenues and gross margins if customers increasingly claim clean energy credits and, as a result, they are no longer available to be claimed by us; the effects of competition; risks related to our dependence on our intellectual property; and the risk that our technology could have undetected defects or errors. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our financial results are included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 9, 2024, which is available on our website at and on the SEC’s website at . Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by applicable law. ChargePoint has provided financial information in this press release that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). ChargePoint uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results. ChargePoint believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and believes they provide meaningful supplemental information to investors regarding ChargePoint’s underlying operating performance because they exclude items the Company believes are unrelated to, and may not be indicative of, its core operating results. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with ChargePoint’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of ChargePoint’s historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review these reconciliations. ChargePoint defines non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets and restructuring costs for severances and employment-related termination costs, facility and other contract terminations. Non-GAAP gross margin is non-GAAP gross profit as a percentage of revenue. ChargePoint defines non-GAAP cost of revenue and operating expenses as cost of revenue and operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense, restructuring costs for severances and employment-related termination costs, facility and other contract terminations, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, non-cash charges related to tax liabilities and litigation settlements, including associated non-recurring legal expenses and professional service fees related to the modification of the convertible debt. ChargePoint defines non-GAAP net loss as net loss excluding stock-based compensation expense, restructuring costs for severances and employment-related termination costs, facility and other contract terminations, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, non-cash charges related to tax liabilities and litigation settlements, including associated non-recurring legal expenses and professional service fees related to the modification of the convertible debt. These amounts reflect the impact of any related tax effects. Non-GAAP pre-tax net loss is non-GAAP net loss adjusted for provision for income taxes. . ChargePoint defines non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss as net loss excluding stock-based compensation expense, restructuring costs for severances and employment-related termination costs, facility and other contract terminations, amortization expense of acquired intangible assets, non-cash charges related to tax liabilities and litigation settlements, including associated non-recurring legal expenses, professional service fees related to the modification of the convertible debt, and further adjusted for provision of income taxes, depreciation, interest income and expense, and other income and expense (net). Investors are cautioned that there are a number of limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures to analyze financial results and trends. In particular, many of the adjustments to ChargePoint’s GAAP financial measures reflect the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in its financial results for the foreseeable future, such as stock-based compensation, which is an important part of ChargePoint’s employees’ compensation and impacts hiring, retention and performance. Furthermore, these non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP, and the components that ChargePoint excludes in its calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the components that other companies exclude when they report their non-GAAP results. In the future, ChargePoint may also exclude other expenses it determines do not reflect the performance of ChargePoint’s operating results. CHPT-IR Networked charging systems $ 52,662 $ 73,893 $ 182,182 $ 286,788 Subscriptions 36,417 30,559 106,053 86,935 Other 10,533 5,831 26,959 17,084 Total revenue 99,612 110,283 315,194 390,807 Networked charging systems 52,852 109,452 173,152 317,335 Subscriptions 17,512 19,999 53,812 53,495 Other 6,462 4,778 16,249 12,263 Total cost of revenue 76,826 134,229 243,213 383,093 22,786 (23,946 ) 71,981 7,714 Research and development 38,299 56,524 110,861 165,563 Sales and marketing 34,678 39,834 106,376 116,545 General and administrative 17,975 33,463 52,794 82,627 Total operating expenses 90,952 129,821 270,031 364,735 (68,166 ) (153,767 ) (198,050 ) (357,021 ) Interest income 1,604 1,868 6,930 6,168 Interest expense (9,315 ) (3,820 ) (22,486 ) (9,673 ) Other income (expense), net (202 ) (2,815 ) (1,090 ) (2,173 ) (76,079 ) (158,534 ) (214,696 ) (362,699 ) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 1,511 (315 ) 3,567 162 $ (77,590 ) $ (158,219 ) $ (218,263 ) $ (362,861 ) Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (0.18 ) $ (0.43 ) $ (0.51 ) $ (1.01 ) Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted 435,331,445 376,182,783 428,757,738 360,818,131 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 219,409 $ 327,410 Restricted cash 400 30,400 Accounts receivable, net 111,854 124,049 Inventories 221,988 198,580 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 66,467 62,244 Total current assets 620,118 742,683 Property and equipment, net 37,909 42,446 Intangible assets, net 71,662 80,555 Operating lease right-of-use assets 14,782 15,362 Goodwill 214,303 213,750 Other assets 7,564 8,567 Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 74,056 $ 71,081 Accrued and other current liabilities 143,163 159,104 Deferred revenue 102,787 99,968 Total current liabilities 320,006 330,153 Deferred revenue, noncurrent 134,056 131,471 Debt, noncurrent 299,410 283,704 Operating lease liabilities 16,019 17,350 Deferred tax liabilities 10,343 11,252 Other long-term liabilities 5,523 1,757 Total liabilities 785,357 775,687 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 44 42 Additional paid-in capital 2,028,722 1,957,932 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (15,150 ) (15,926 ) Accumulated deficit (1,832,635 ) (1,614,372 ) Total stockholders' equity 180,981 327,676 Net loss $ (218,263 ) $ (362,861 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 22,205 21,160 Non-cash operating lease cost 2,700 3,257 Stock-based compensation 61,083 91,946 Amortization of deferred contract acquisition costs 2,388 2,112 Inventory impairment — 70,000 Non-cash interest expense 12,750 — Reserves and other 17,104 7,486 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net 6,267 8,693 Inventories (24,207 ) (183,569 ) Prepaid expenses and other assets (6,250 ) (6,135 ) Accounts payable, operating lease liabilities, and accrued and other liabilities (25,291 ) 31,738 Deferred revenue 5,249 28,685 Net cash used in operating activities (144,265 ) (287,488 ) Purchases of property and equipment (10,136 ) (14,671 ) Maturities of investments — 105,000 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (10,136 ) 90,329 Debt issuance costs related to the revolving credit facility — (2,853 ) Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under employee equity plans, net of tax withholding 7,742 10,957 Proceeds from issuance of common stock in connection with ATM offerings, net of issuance costs 2,970 287,198 Change in driver funds and amounts due to customers 5,681 8,935 Settlement of contingent earnout liability — (3,537 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 16,393 300,700 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 7 (691 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (138,001 ) 102,850 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 357,810 294,562 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 219,809 $ 397,412 Stock-based compensation expense (1,260 ) (1,847 ) (3,870 ) (4,780 ) Amortization of intangible assets (774 ) (759 ) (2,301 ) (2,291 ) Restructuring costs (1) (961 ) (996 ) (961 ) (996 ) Stock-based compensation expense 1,260 1,847 3,870 4,780 Amortization of Intangible Assets 774 759 2,301 2,291 Restructuring costs (1) 961 996 961 996 Stock-based compensation expense (9,831 ) (14,451 ) (28,864 ) (39,804 ) Restructuring costs (1) (2,867 ) (4,183 ) (2,867 ) (4,183 ) Stock-based compensation expense (4,518 ) (6,467 ) (14,422 ) (17,393 ) Amortization of intangible assets (2,304 ) (2,249 ) (6,829 ) (6,794 ) Restructuring costs (1) (5,067 ) (1,343 ) (5,067 ) (1,343 ) Stock-based compensation expense (5,107 ) (10,118 ) (13,927 ) (29,969 ) Restructuring costs (1) (933 ) (9,079 ) (933 ) (9,079 ) Other adjustments (2) (1,728 ) (788 ) (5,729 ) (893 ) Stock-based compensation expense (19,456 ) (31,036 ) (57,213 ) (87,166 ) Amortization of intangible assets (2,304 ) (2,249 ) (6,829 ) (6,794 ) Restructuring costs (1) (8,867 ) (14,605 ) (8,867 ) (14,605 ) Other adjustments (2) (1,728 ) (788 ) (5,729 ) (893 ) Stock-based compensation expense 20,716 32,883 61,083 91,946 Amortization of intangible assets 3,078 3,008 9,130 9,085 Restructuring costs (1) 9,828 15,601 9,828 15,601 Other adjustments (2) 1,728 788 5,729 893 Provision for (benefit from) income taxes 1,511 (315 ) 3,567 162 Depreciation 4,230 4,135 13,074 12,076 Interest income (1,604 ) (1,868 ) (6,930 ) (6,168 ) Interest expense 9,315 3,820 22,486 9,673 Other expense (income), net 202 2,815 1,090 2,173 (1) (2) View source version on : CONTACT: Investor Relations Nandan Amladi Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations John Paolo Canton Vice President, Communications Gosselin Director, Corporate Communications KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOFTWARE ENERGY BATTERIES SOURCE: ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 04:10 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 04:17 PMThe NBA got viewers for Christmas, even while going up against NFL games. The NBA's five-game Christmas lineup was the league's most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen's preliminary numbers. It's an 84% rise over the NBA's Christmas numbers from 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
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It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree stands lit during its lighting ceremony. The 74-foot tall, 11-ton Norway Spruce from West Stockbridge was donated by Earl Albert. He and his wife Lesley planted it in 1967. The tree and the Alberts' story, has warmed the hearts of many. On Christmas Day, Sir Paul McCartney chose it as a backdrop for a photo with his wife, Nancy Shevell. WEST STOCKBRIDGE — For a 57-year-old Norway spruce begotten by love and Berkshires soil, it was the selfie of all time. It got its picture taken with a Beatle. Sir Paul McCartney sent a message of Christmas and Hanukkah greetings on social media as he stood with his wife, Nancy Shevell, in front of the bedecked spruce at Rockefeller Center. “Happy Christmas all round the world and have a heck of a Hanukkah, — Paul," McCartney wrote in the message posted to his Instagram and Facebook pages on Dec. 25. A post shared by Paul McCartney (@paulmccartney) Sir Paul shared the photo along with another picture of a lit Hanukkah menorah. (Shevell is Jewish, as was his first wife, Linda Eastman, according to an article in The Forward entitled, “Why Paul McCartney should be known as ‘the Jewish Beatle,” by local author Seth Rogovoy.) But back to the Berkshires’ own celebrity spruce, donated to Rockefeller Center. The tree, at 74 feet tall, has bestowed and received its own tidings of comfort and joy since word got out that it would be heading to New York City. In “All You Need Is Love” fashion, the tree seemed to unite the Berkshires after a grueling election season, a wildfire and an assortment of other bad news. This 74-foot tall Norway Spruce at Earl Albert's family home in West Stockbridge, shown on Oct. 28, has been chosen as the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The tree’s history in the yard of a modest Albany Road home is a love story for the ages. Newlyweds Earl and Lesley Albert planted the tree in 1967, the same year the Beatles released the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and hits including “All You Need Is Love,” “Penny Lane” and “Hello, Goodbye.” A few days after Lesley Albert died in 2020, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze knocked at Earl Albert’s door. Pauze had come to the Berkshires scouting for future Christmas trees. Their tree caught his eye. Earl and Lesley's son, Michael Albert, told The Today Show that, at the time, he wondered if Pauze was “an angel or something.” The elder Albert told The Eagle that he intends to install a plaque at the tree’s stump to honor his wife's memory. Earl Albert, shown in 2013, said he intends to put up a plaque in honor of his late wife, Lesley, at the stump of the 74-foot spruce tree that he donated to Rockefeller Center. Even before it traveled to New York City on a flatbed last month, it drew many fans. And around 800 people outside watched as it was felled. Then, Sir Paul got his moment with the spruce. McCartney’s post received more than 406,700 likes on Instagram; more than 125,000 on Facebook. McCartney is no stranger to elaborate holiday decorating. “We’ve got the decorations up already actually,” he said in a Dec. 21 answers to fan questions on his website. “And I’m one of those guys that loves to overdo decorations, so I need a minute to sit back, relax and enjoy them. So, that’s what I’ve got to look forward to.” McCartney also said that his holiday plans after his 2024 tour ended with a concert in London on Dec. 19 included “a well-deserved rest,” he wrote in his website post of “You Gave Me The Answer — The Final Fan Questions for 2024.” “It’s Christmas, so it’s family time for me,” he wrote. This year he is most thankful, he told fans, for “My family, as always; my kids and [my wife] Nancy, who are all great people.” After a rest, he’ll be back to making more music. He told fans that one New Year’s resolution is to “finish a new album!” “I’ve been working on a lot of songs," McCartney said, “and have had to put it to the side because of the tour. “ What will become of the superstar spruce when the year turns, its bejeweled, 800-pound star is winched off, and its 5 miles of light strands are unwound? The timber will be used to build houses for those who need a home to call their own.
Adam Olsen is beginning a new life after politics, but he’ll still be working for his home. The former North Saanich and the Islands Green Party MLA is stepping into a new role as the lead negotiator for W̱JOȽEȽP’ (Tsartlip) First Nation, where he has called home for his whole life. Olsen, who was first elected to the B.C. Legislature in 2017, will now lead negotiations on behalf of W̱JOȽEȽP’. His efforts as negotiator will focus largely on conversations with federal, provincial, regional and local governments as well as BC Ferries and other organizations operating in the region. “I am honoured to be in this role and to work on behalf of this beautiful community to advance our interests and rights as W̱JOȽEȽP’ and W̱SÁNEĆ people,” said Olsen in a press release. “It’s important that we take the initiative, as other communities have, to ensure that we take care of our people and W̱JOȽEȽP’ and W̱SÁNEĆ traditional territory. I look forward to having conversations with my relatives here about what we hope and dream to achieve.” Olsen announced he would not seek re-election last June, after seven years representing North Saanich and the Islands from 2017 until 2024. In that time, he championed the Southern Gulf Islands forum which brought together many levels of government along with First Nations leadership to discuss the economic, cultural, environmental and social well-being of the Gulf Island communities. Olsen's goal as lead negotiator is to see W̱JOȽEȽP’ advance as other Nations have throughout Canada. When announcing Olsen's new position, W̱JOȽEȽP’ highlighted that provincial and federal policies on land, resources, governance and rights have often not served First Nations communities. Instead, stating that these policies have systemically divided these communities and negatively impacted their quality of life, something Olsen hopes to change. “These governance structures have fractured our communities and do not serve our people, our relatives or our territory,” said Olsen. “For me, in this role, success is finding ways to create systems that benefit our community’s needs and interests. We must raise our voices to make change so that we may fulfill our inherent rights as Indigenous people in this province.”
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MultiPlan Gains Investor Support For Refinancing Plan, Shares SurgeFive more people are facing charges as part of an investigation into extortion attempts made against South Asian businesses in Brampton and Mississauga, police say. The five accused — four men and one woman — were arrested and charged recently and have been released from custody with conditions, Peel Regional Police said in a news release on Thursday. The woman and three of the men were charged with extortion. Police said they have also recovered four firearms. According to police, the arrests and charges follow incidents in September 2023 and January, May, June and July of this year. The recent arrests, charges and seizures of guns are all part of an investigation into extortion-related incidents by the Peel Regional Police Extortion Investigative Task Force (EITF), a team made up of investigative and intelligence units supported by tactical teams. Police alleged in the release that extortion-related incidents in Peel Region have involved demands for large sums of money under the threat of violence. The incidents have also involved property damage and weapons offences. "Victims of these incidents are often contacted through social media platforms, such as WhatsApp and Facebook, which allow online chat groups," police said in the release. Peel police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said in a video statement that police noticed a "disturbing" trend in late 2023 in which business owners were becoming the victims of extortion attempts for large sums of money under the threat of violence. "These incidents deeply impacted victims and their families and were felt throughout our community and communities right across this country," he said. In response, police set up the task force. Since it was launched, Duraiappah said police have investigated more than 60 extortion-related incidents, made 23 arrests and laid 154 charges. Duraiappah said police have also seized 20 firearms, several rounds of ammunition, several high capacity gun magazines, more than 11 kilograms of methamphetamines and more than $10,000 in proceeds of crime. He added that police have recovered six stolen vehicles. "The EITF continues to work closely with law enforcement partners across Canada and the U.S. to investigate these incidents, and we anticipate our efforts will lead to further arrests and charges," Duraiappah said. "Anyone who receives a demand for money under the threat of violence is urged not to make any form of payment and to call the police immediately." According to police, the five accused are a 27-year-old man from B.C., a 25-year-old man from Brampton, a 44-year-old man from Brampton, a 24-year-old man from Hamilton and a 21-year-old woman from Brampton.
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