
Put politics aside and act on online harms, mother of sextortion victim tells MPs OTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 3:02 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. A man uses a computer keyboard in Toronto on Oct. 9, 2023 photo illustration. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy OTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. The online harms bill is among the legislation that's been blocked from moving forward for months due to a parliamentary privilege debate raging between the Liberals and Conservatives. The bill targets seven categories of online behaviour, from the non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child, and would create a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. Justice Minister Arif Virani announced plans to split the bill into two parts this week, heeding calls from critics to separate the more controversial hate speech provisions from the child exploitation components. But the bill still can't move forward until the privilege filibuster is over. Barbie Lavers, whose teenage son died by suicide after being extorted online over intimate images, told a House of Commons committee Thursday that she supports the online harms legislation. Lavers asked politicians from all parties to come to a temporary alliance and stop using children as political pawns to show "one party is more correct than the other." "The longer Bill C-63 remains a political issue, the more children we will lose. We beg you to please stop wasting time and do something to help save our children," she said. Carol Todd, whose daughter Amanda died by suicide due to online sextortion, told MPs it is hurtful to watch political arguments after waiting 12 years for legislation. The Conservatives say they won't end the filibuster until either the Liberals hand over unredacted documents related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund to the RCMP, or the NDP agrees to bring down the government. The Liberals need the support of an opposition party to end or pause the privilege debate, which the NDP did last week when it allowed the government to pass legislation to enact a temporary federal sales tax holiday. But the New Democrats say they, too, want the documents handed over and will not agree to end the debate entirely. Virani said the goal of breaking the legislation into two was "to find consensus amongst parliamentarians on the things that we can agree to immediately." Conservative justice critic Larry Brock called for Virani to "give up" on the bill and instead adopt a Conservative private member's bill tackling online harms. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who introduced that bill, repeatedly put it forward as a superior alternative to the government's proposed legislation while questioning the witnesses at committee Thursday. Rempel Garner said her concern with the government bill is that it puts the social media platforms' responsibilities "into a regulator that hasn't been built and it gives online platforms the ability to wiggle out of this two, three, four years in the future." "I would direct your attention to C-412," she told Todd. The first part of the government bill, which Virani plans to prioritize, would create a new regulator to compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would also update rules around mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse material by internet service providers and some online services. Rempel Garner's bill would include measures modernizing the existing law against criminal harassment so a victim can ask a judge to force social media companies to identify someone who has repeatedly harassed them online. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives Dec 5, 2024 3:34 PM Brown: Indian diplomat pushed back when he used the words "Sikh nation" Dec 5, 2024 3:26 PM Feds outlaw another 324 types of firearms, propose donating guns to Ukraine Dec 5, 2024 3:25 PM Featured Flyer
Sierra Vista Junior High School is hosting a virtual toy drive until Dec. 13 to help students and families in need. Julia Murray, a social work intern and wellness coordinator, said that Sierra Vista is known as a tier one school, meaning it has a large student population in need. “A lot of the families that are in need don’t have reliable housing or transportation. A lot of our families aren’t actually going to have big holiday get togethers or gifts so we’re trying to give some of the families that are in need just a little extra help by giving them some support through gifts for their children,” said Murray. The toy drive is connected to an Amazon Wishlist to streamline donations and make it accessible to everyone. The wish list features board games, makeup, toys, and sports equipment that Amanda Markovich, school social worker, believed would be useful for a whole family and not just one student. On Dec. 13 the toy drive will conclude to allow time for the orders to be shipped to the school, said Murray. On Dec. 20, invited families will be able to go to school and select which gifts they would like to take. “The social worker will invite the families, and they get to pick an item for their kid as long as we get enough donations so there are plenty of options,” said Murray. The goal of the toy drive is to help as many students as possible, but it is limited to how many donations the school receives, she added. To donate to the toy drive, visit: tinyurl.com/32sthvrn.Nick Kyrgios says positive tests for duo are ‘disgusting’ and ‘a horrible look’
If every man was as fortunate as my Mohna, the world would be a better place,” saying this, 81-year-old Muhammad Ashraf chuckles toothlessly, while he smokes his hubble-bubble ( hookah ), distantly looking at cars racing on the motorway, snaking along his ancestral village, Gah Begal, on the outskirts of Chakwal. Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh was born in Gah in 1932. Ashraf was his classmate and friend. Gah lies about 80 kilometre south [of] the federal capital Islamabad. The village was unknown until Manmohan Singh became the prime minister of India. My father came to me saying “ Oye apna mohna hindustan da wazeer ho gaya jay ” (our Mohna has become the prime minister of India) “We’re finally on the map,” says Muhammad Zaman, Ashraf’s son. “There were celebrations and everyone danced on the beats of dhol... when I was a kid, my father used to tell me tales about Mohna,” Ashraf recalls. “We used to walk five miles to school, we were together till the fourth grade, I failed but he continued to study. He was a very hard-working student, while I was not that intelligent. I couldn’t even write my name. He used to study in candlelight and prepare for exams, sometimes he used to do my homework too! I remember the day of our exam, we had left for school early, without having breakfast... and after the paper, when we were returning home, we discovered a berry tree. "Mohna picked up some stones and threw [them] at the berries and I picked them from the ground and ate them all; he got so annoyed that he started beating me saying ‘ wattay assi sut-dae nay, tay bairey tussi khanday ho ’ (I throw the stones and you eat all the berries). I want to tell Mohna that the tree is still in our village. They were going to cut it down to construct a road, but I told them that this tree belongs to Manmohan Singh.” Raja Muhammad Ali, another friend of Manmohan and the deputy mayor of the village died two years ago, but he was fortunate to meet his childhood friend in 2008, after six decades, in Delhi. Ashraf smiles. “He took presents for Mohna, shoes and shawls. I sent him the famous Chakwali ‘rawori’. He invited Mohna to come to Pakistan and visit Gah, but then we heard about some terrorist attacks in India which were blamed on Pakistan.” Despite sore relations, Mr Singh had not forgotten his schoolmates and school. He arranged funds for the school’s renovation. And the school was to be named after him during President Musharraf’s time. Renovations were done but the school still retains the original name, for some unknown political reasons. The school record of Manmohan Singh is still well preserved in the head master’s cabinet. —Published in 2012 in Pique magazine. Shared by Kamran Rehmat on X Follow us on: Facebook , Twitter , Google News , Instagram Join our official telegram channel ( @nationalherald ) and stay updated with the latest headlinesDTE Energy’s outage map shows more than 1,400 customers have lost power since the freezing rain started falling early Monday afternoon. Waterford Township initially had the largest outage – more than 1,000 customers – but that appears to be resolved. Nearly 500 customers in Farmington Hills, north and south of 13 Mile Road, west of Northwestern Highway, are waiting for power to be restored. DTE’s estimated time is 6:30 p.m. today. Related Articles Nearly 400 customers in Royal Oak are without power, down from nearly 475 earlier. DTE estimates service will be restored before 5 p.m. today. Some of the outages are caused by tree branches, others by wildlife or equipment issues, according to outage map details. The National Weather Service Office in White Lake Township estimates the freezing rain and sleet will turn to snow as the night progresses, with about an inch accumulating by Tuesday morning. Ice under the snow could make for dicey travel. The county road commission has salt trucks on the road and used social media to ask drivers to use extreme caution. “Mother Nature is throwing some crazy weather at us right now,” the road commission’s post concluded.Icetec and RENEW Partner to Drive Energy Resiliency and Decarbonization
Information Services Co. ( TSE:ISV – Get Free Report )’s share price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$27.75 and traded as low as C$26.20. Information Services shares last traded at C$26.53, with a volume of 5,250 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, CIBC raised their price target on shares of Information Services from C$34.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Read Our Latest Research Report on ISV Information Services Stock Performance Information Services ( TSE:ISV – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The company reported C$0.60 EPS for the quarter. Information Services had a return on equity of 12.37% and a net margin of 8.75%. The company had revenue of C$60.93 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of C$63.40 million. Research analysts forecast that Information Services Co. will post 2.2194553 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Information Services Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.23 per share. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.47%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Information Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 80.70%. Information Services Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Information Services Corporation provides registry and information management services for public data and records in Canada. It operates through three segments: Registry Operations, Services, and Technology Solutions. The company provides land titles registry services that issues titles to land and registers transactions affecting titles; land survey services, which registers land survey plans and creates a representation of Saskatchewan land parcels in the cadastral parcel mapping system; and geomatics services that manages geographic data in relation to the cadastral parcel mapping system. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Information Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Information Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Brandon Stroud scores 16 as South Florida knocks off Webber International 106-49Rockfire Resources (LON:ROCK) Trading Down 8.9% – Time to Sell?Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officeBy LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process National Politics | Many Americans have come to rely on Chinese-made drones. Now lawmakers want to ban them Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: ‘Sex-for-money arrangements,’ drug-fueled parties and trips The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. ‘Substantial evidence’ indicates that Gaetz had sex with underage girl, the committee said The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Gaetz said evidence would ‘exonerate’ him but provided none of it In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” Justice Department didn’t cooperate with the committee The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.
Study reveals rich predator diversity in Saudi Arabia’s habitatsThe controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.
Trump asks US SC to pause law threatening TikTok banFOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — As spontaneous celebrations rippled throughout the Los Angeles Chargers' locker room after their resounding 40-7 win over the New England Patriots, coach Jim Harbaugh grabbed general manager Joe Hortiz and wrapped him up in a bear hug. “Love you!” Harbaugh said. “Love you!” Hortiz responded. “Great job! Let's keep it going,” Harbaugh replied, finally loosening his grasp. The Chargers (10-6) are back in the playoffs. But the message is clear: They have their eyes on achieving much more. Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and Los Angeles locked up its second playoff appearance in three seasons with Saturday's victory. “We had a good opportunity tonight and we went out and took it," Herbert said. “We had a good plan. All week we knew how big of a game this was for us. Guys were dialed in, focused and we executed today.” It also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. “You talk to them and there's more to do,” Harbaugh said. “There's no coach who could have it better than to be coaching these players. Nobody. Maybe the only person would be future us, could have it better than us.” Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson. Ladd McConkey had eight catches for 94 yards and pulled in TD throws of 6 and 40 yards. With a 10-yard reception in the second quarter, he passed 1,000 yards receiving for the season, making him the third Chargers rookie receiver to reach that milestone. JK Dobbins rushed 19 times for 76 yards and a TD. The Patriots (3-13) have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. “We just didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game,” coach Jerod Mayo said. “No complementary football, and that’s what you get.” Asked if he thinks he is coaching for his job, Mayo said it comes with the territory. “I’m always under pressure and it’s been that way for a very long time, not just when I became the head coach of the Patriots," he said. New England quarterback Drake Maye finished 12 of 22 for 117 yards and a touchdown. He became the first rookie quarterback in franchise history with a TD pass in eight straight games. But he was sacked four times, and a second-quarter fumble marked his eighth straight game with at least one turnover. Los Angeles outgained New England 428-181 for the game. Maye briefly left the game to be evaluated for a head injury following a blow to his helmet in the first quarter. He was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart, jarring the ball loose as Maye spun out of bounds. No flag was thrown on the play and Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field. He initially sat on the bench before going to the medical tent for evaluation. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series, which ended in a punt. But after further evaluation in the locker room and a Cameron Dicker 27-yard field goal put the Chargers in front 10-0, Maye returned to the game for the Patriots’ third series, at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Maye scrambled for 9 yards on his first play back, ending with him being hit by linebacker Junior Colson as he slid to the ground. Colson was flagged for unnecessary roughness. Five plays later, Maye mistimed a toss to Demario Douglas, causing a fumble that was recovered by Derwin James. The Chargers took over on the New England 24 and nine plays later, Herbert connected with McConkey for a 6-yard touchdown pass to put Los Angeles in front 17-0. Injuries Chargers: WR Joshua Palmer left the game in the third quarter with a heel injury. DB Elijah Molden limped off the field after a collision in the third quarter. He returned but was later driven off the field on a golf cart because of a shin injury. Patriots: In addition to Maye, CB Christian Gonzalez left the game in the second quarter to be evaluated for a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion. Rookie record McConkey, a second-round draft selection, also set a Chargers rookie record for catches, surpassing Keenan Allen, who had 71 in 2013. Up next Chargers: Visit Las Vegas in their regular-season finale. Patriots: Host Buffalo next Sunday in their season finale. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Kyle Hightower, The Associated Press
Seasonal Trends in Kitchen Remodeling for Mesa Residents This Winter 12-28-2024 10:02 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire Mesa Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Whatever the reason, winter is prime time for kitchen remodeling. If there's one thing I've learned as a contractor in Mesa, it's that winter has a way of getting people in the mood for a little change-especially when it comes to their kitchens. Maybe it's the cooler weather (yes, 40 degrees F counts as "cold" here, fight me), or maybe it's the post-holiday blues that spark the urge to freshen things up. Whatever the reason, winter is prime time for kitchen remodeling [ https://mesakitchenandbathroomremodeling.com/#:~:text=Projects%20And%20Counting-,Kitchen%20Remodeling,-in%0AMesa ]. And let me tell you, nothing keeps you warm like dreaming about that sleek new backsplash while your old microwave wheezes in the background. Been there, remodeled that. If you're one of the many Mesa residents thinking, Hmm, maybe it's time to give the kitchen a glow-up, let me walk you through some seasonal trends and what I've seen work beautifully for clients this time of year. Why Winter? Timing Is Everything Let's start with the obvious: winter in Mesa is a contractor's dream season. Unlike other parts of the country, where snowstorms can shut down projects faster than you can say "shovel," we've got mild, workable weather that keeps everything on schedule. But that's not all. Most people save their big home improvement projects for spring or summer, which means less competition for slots with your favorite kitchen remodeling company. So not only do you have better availability, but you might even snag a few discounts from contractors looking to fill their calendars. If you're searching for "kitchen remodeling near me [ https://www.google.com/maps?cid=14779623139302125299#kitchen-remodeling-near-me ]," this is the perfect time to take advantage of the quieter season and get a jumpstart on your dream kitchen. Also, can we talk about how satisfying it is to wrap up a remodel just in time for Super Bowl parties? Because yes, showing off a shiny new kitchen to your guests while passing around nachos is its own kind of flex. Winter Kitchen Trends That Are Totally Worth It Now, let's get into the fun stuff. Here are some of the trends I've seen pop up in kitchen remodeling projects around Mesa this winter. Spoiler: they're equal parts functional and drool-worthy. 1. Earthy Color Palettes Gone are the days of stark, white kitchens dominating every Pinterest board. This winter, I've noticed clients leaning into warm, earthy tones-think sage greens, soft taupes, and even muted terracottas. These colors bring a cozy, grounded vibe to kitchens, which pairs perfectly with Mesa's desert aesthetic. One client of mine recently swapped their glossy white cabinets for a matte olive green finish with bronze hardware, and let me tell you, it was chef's kiss. It transformed their kitchen from "meh" to something straight out of a design magazine. 2. Statement Backsplashes If you're not ready to commit to a full kitchen overhaul, a bold backsplash is where it's at. This winter, people are ditching the traditional subway tiles for something with texture and personality. Think Moroccan zellige tiles, geometric patterns, or even bold, hand-painted designs. I worked with one couple who chose a bold blue-and-white patterned backsplash that reminded them of a trip to Greece. Every time they walked into their kitchen, they felt like they were on vacation. (And honestly, who doesn't need that in the middle of January?) 3. Open Shelving for Seasonal Decor Now, I know open shelving is divisive-either you love it, or you're haunted by the idea of dusting every day. But this winter, it's trending for a reason. People are swapping out upper cabinets for sleek wooden shelves where they can display everything from festive mugs to cookbooks and potted herbs. If you're the type who likes switching up your decor with the seasons, open shelving makes it easy to add a little winter flair (like pine garlands or warm-toned ceramics) without overhauling the whole space. 4. Energy-Efficient Appliances Winter is also a time when people start paying attention to energy use-probably because holiday light displays have already sent the power bill sky-high. Investing in energy-efficient appliances isn't just good for the planet; it's also an easy way to modernize your kitchen without sacrificing style. One family I worked with swapped their clunky old fridge for a sleek, stainless-steel model with a smart screen. Not only does it look amazing, but now they can check what's inside without opening the door (and accidentally letting all the cold air out). It's like living in the future. Lessons From My Own Winter Kitchen Remodel Full disclosure: I'm not just a contractor-I'm also a serial home improver. Last winter, I decided to tackle my own kitchen remodel. Here are a few things I learned along the way (the hard way, of course). * Plan for delays. Even in Mesa, where weather rarely gets in the way, unexpected delays can happen. My custom cabinets? Yeah, they took an extra two weeks to arrive because the supplier ran out of stock. Fun times. * Know your non-negotiables. I'm all about being flexible, but there were a few things I refused to compromise on-like a deep farmhouse sink and under-cabinet lighting. Figure out what matters most to you, and don't budge. * Trust the process. Remodeling can be chaotic. There were days when my kitchen looked like a disaster zone, and I questioned every decision I'd ever made. But once it all came together, it was so worth it. Finding the Right Kitchen Remodeling Company Near You If you're thinking, Okay, I'm in. But where do I even start? don't worry-I've got you. Finding the right kitchen remodeling company [ http://mesakitchenandbathroomremodeling.com/ ] nearby is all about doing your homework. Look for reviews, ask friends for recommendations, and don't be afraid to ask questions. When you meet with potential contractors, make sure they're on the same page about your vision and budget. And if they're not excited about your project? Move on. The right team will be just as hyped about your new kitchen as you are. Wrapping It Up Whether you're dreaming of an earthy, grounded space or a high-tech cooking haven, winter is the perfect time to bring your vision to life. Kitchen remodeling in Mesa [ https://mesakitchenandbathroomremodeling.com/#:~:text=Kitchen%20Remodeling%20in%0AMesa ] is more than just a trend-it's an opportunity to create a space you'll love for years to come. So grab a cup of coffee, sketch out your dream kitchen, and start reaching out to remodeling companies. Who knows? This time next year, you could be whipping up holiday cookies in the kitchen of your dreams. And trust me, that's a feeling worth chasing. Mesa Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling specializes in transforming homes with top-notch kitchen remodeling services tailored to Mesa residents. The company focuses on creating modern, functional, and stylish spaces that reflect clients' unique preferences and needs. Offering a range of services, including custom cabinetry, countertops, backsplashes, and energy-efficient appliance installations, they ensure high-quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Known for their excellent customer service, Mesa Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling works closely with homeowners to bring their dream kitchens to life while staying within budget and timeline constraints. Whether it's a full renovation or small upgrades, they're a trusted choice for kitchen remodeling in Mesa. Media Contact Company Name: Mesa Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Contact Person: Support Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=seasonal-trends-in-kitchen-remodeling-for-mesa-residents-this-winter ] Phone: (623) 343-6363 Address:1440 S Country Club Dr #9 City: Mesa State: AZ Country: United States Website: http://mesakitchenandbathroomremodeling.com/ This release was published on openPR.Rockfire Resources (LON:ROCK) Shares Down 8.9% – Here’s Why
Two weeks before Election Day, Rake Force’s Jake Dailey and a small group of colleagues drove two pickup trucks, a mini-excavator and a handful of chainsaws up to the tree-covered ridgetops south of Cle Elum Lake. The small agroforestry company had contracted with The Nature Conservancy to thin stands on the Ellsworth Creek Preserve. Now, the conservancy was bringing them to Washington’s Central Cascades. During the days that followed, while now President-elect Donald Trump held a series of increasingly profane and aggrieved rallies across the country, Dailey and his crew did just what the soon-to-be president had once offhandedly suggested: they “cleaned” the forest. Or more precisely, they thinned several acres of young conifers in order to reduce fuel density and obtain the biomass needed for biochar production. But to Dailey and a few others who were up on that ridge — veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — the work was more than just good land stewardship. It was also a form of personal healing. There was a time when Dailey was much more politically aligned with the President-elect and many of his supporters. Those views were part of what drove him to join the military in the first place. “I was super patriotic, like, born on the Fourth of July, born at Pearl Harbor,” Dailey said. “I grew up as a conservative Republican, and I believed ... in American exceptionalism, and that’s why I joined.” From Idaho, where he spent much of his childhood camping, hunting and fishing, he went first to Fort Lewis — now Joint Base Lewis-McChord — and then to Iraq, where he served as a combat medic with the U.S. Army from 2009 to 2010. Jake Dailey bucks young Douglas fir trees. The hypocrisy and trauma he witnessed there, culminating with the suicide of a fellow soldier, crumbled his previously jingoistic worldview and left him with post-traumatic stress disorder — part of what Dailey considers a grave, “moral injury.” “My thought was, ‘What are we doing?’ But I couldn’t answer my own question because I needed to survive,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything to help those people ... except not shoot them, like, I’m not gonna do anything to hurt these people. I’ve already contributed to (that) enough, and I sort of became a conscientious objector in my own mind.” For Jared Busen, a friend of Dailey’s and fellow veteran who has helped with several of Rake Force’s early projects, switching from the reserves to active duty had less to do with politics and more to do with a need for purpose. His engineering job with equipment manufacturing giant Caterpillar had left him unfulfilled, and Busen thought he might find more meaning in flying helicopters for the Army. “I needed to do something cool, and I thought maybe that was the answer,” he said. Not only did that job, which Busen likens to being a “glorified taxi cab driver,” prove just as unfulfilling. The war he went to and its aftermath left him questioning. Like Dailey, Busen came home traumatized — a fact that he avoided confronting head-on for years. “I very intentionally made sure I never got diagnosed with (PTSD) while I was in, because it’s a four-letter word still in the military ... especially as a pilot,” he said. “And then eventually I just had to come to terms with it. And it really was, like, five weeks ago when I had my appointment to officially get the diagnosis.” In many ways, fieldwork is a natural fit for somebody accustomed to life in the military. It’s mission-oriented, teamwork-dependent and requires a certain amount of mental and physical grit. “You learn to accept being uncomfortable, and then it’s just your new norm,” Busen said. “And then obviously, fuels reduction is really straightforward,” he added. “And sometimes it’s nice to work like that, because you don’t have to think too much. It’s like, ‘All right, here’s my task for the day.’” Jared Busen limbs a young conifer while working on a thinning project. Dailey first got into conservation work when he and his wife began homesteading near Toledo, and also found the physicality of it to be “a lot like Army PT.” But what felt even more familiar was the way working in the woods gave him a chance to once again rely on the person next to him, as he was trained to do. “We can’t do anything without a battle buddy, and when we get out, they expect us to go it on our own,” he says. “We suffer in that case, and I believe this work re-immerses us in that camaraderie.” But there was an even deeper effect that conservation work was having on Dailey. The relief it brought was more than just physical, or even mental. It was metaphysical. It provided moral healing for the moral injuries he’d suffered during the war. And it did so not by replicating the military ethos, but rather by actively undermining it. “We committed to serve our country ... but what we did over in Iraq and Afghanistan wasn’t really service to our country,” he said. “I believe it was theft of resources.” And the choices Dailey believes veterans are left with, as they wrestle with this cognitive dissonance, are stark. “You either lie to yourself, or you kill yourself — that’s our options. Or, you get into conservation — you get into atoning for the thing you contributed to.” To Busen, conservation work is perhaps a little less monumental than an act of moral atonement, but no less important or impactful. Simply put, it provided meaning and fulfillment in a way that none of his previous jobs had. It gave him a chance to exercise certain deeply gratifying sensibilities that he’d developed well before joining the military — sensibilities that he first acquired as a young man and avid bird-watcher. “When (you) get heavy into birding ... you can’t help but start seeing all the destruction,” he said. “It was through birding that I started seeing the bigger picture of our ecosystems.” Young hemlock trees seen on the Ellsworth Creek Preserve. Busen still remembers the specific bird that first got him hooked and opened his eyes to this bigger picture of ecological interconnectedness — the species that many in the birding community call one’s “spark bird.” He was 20, and living and working in the Midwest. The bird was a black-necked stilt, which typically dwells along coastlines, but was somehow in front of him in a Minnesota farm field. And the strangeness of this situation induced a paradigm shift in his thinking. “The world had suddenly opened up around me, and I started paying more attention to it,” Busen said. “There was this whole world I had been ignoring all of my life ... so it kind of just introduced me to, like, ‘Hey, pay attention to nature, because it’s everywhere, and it’s interacting with us, and we’re interacting with it, and we’re surrounded by it.’” Busen brought this newfound awareness with him to the Army — to Afghanistan, South Korea and Alabama. When he wasn’t flying helicopters, he was paying attention to whatever birds there were around him. In Korea, he conducted shorebird surveys with a local nonprofit. In Alabama, he worked weekends as a coastal bird steward for the Audubon Society, and would spend whole days answering questions and talking to beachgoers. He brings his sensibilities with him to his current work as a wetland technician for the Tulalip Tribes — to the way he crafts his planting plans for riparian areas and food forests. “I try to make sure that insects and small mammals and birds and any larger fauna are accounted for and have habitat and space in whatever I’m developing,” he said. “And not just, ‘Oh it’s pretty from a distance,’ or ‘It’s only for human use.’” He thinks on behalf of, and tries to give back to the whole ecosystem. “It pays a quarter of what I used to make,” he says. “But now I have a purpose I believe in.”It looked like there was an episode of “Power Slap” taking place in the stands during the UCLA-USC football game on Saturday. In a video that made its way around social media , a female fan, who wore a UCLA bucket hat slapped a male fan while he was sitting in the stands at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif.. The blonde woman stood over the man — who was wearing a red sweatshirt, a Trojans color — wound her arm back and struck him hard as fans nearby were visibly stunned by the incident. Warning: Adult Language “Woah woah woah, what the f–k,” someone can be heard yelling. “What the hell!” The woman caught herself after the force of her haymaker caused her to stumble. The man in the red sweatshirt was seen touching his face to assess any damage before looked up at the woman and raised his hands in the air. Fans nearby looked on while the woman took a few steps back while staring down the man. It is unclear if the two knew each other or what sparked the vicious scene. The fans have yet to be identified. It is also unclear if stadium security or authorities intervened. Despite the ongoings in the stands, the Trojans rallied back to defeat the rival Bruins 19-13 and became bowl-eligible. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 221 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown to Ja’Kobi Lane in the fourth quarter.Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:46 p.m. ESTDe La Rosa scores 27 points as Columbia tops Fairfield 85-72