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MITCHEL FIELD, N.Y., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Frequency Electronics, Inc. ("FEI" or the "Company") (NASDAQ-FEIM) is reporting revenues for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024, of approximately $15.8 million and $30.9 million, respectively, compared to revenues of $13.6 million and $26.0 million, for the same period of fiscal year 2024, ended October 31, 2023. Operating income for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 was $2.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively, compared to operating income of $0.9 million and $3.0 million for the same period of fiscal year 2024. Net Income from operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2024 was $2.7 million or $0.28 per diluted share and $5.1 million or $0.53 per diluted share, respectively, compared to a net income from operations for the three and six months ended October 31, 2023 of $0.8 million or $0.08 per diluted share and $2.9 million or $0.30 per diluted share, respectively. FEI President and CEO, Tom McClelland commented, "By all financial metrics the second quarter of fiscal year 2025 performance was excellent. For both the quarter and year to date, revenue, gross margin, and operating income have grown substantially. The backlog is also holding strong; at $81 million (an all-time high) compared to $70 million at the end of the first quarter, and $78 million at the end of last fiscal year. The results reflect continued solid growth in our core businesses, which show every indication of continuing. We are well into the execution phase of several key programs won over the last two years, and our gross margins (48% for the quarter, and 46% for the first half of FY2025) reflect our successful efforts to obtain work, and deliver it successfully. Our ability to perform at high operational standards on our heritage satellite programs allows us to pursue new developments (especially for proliferated small satellites), which at least initially may be at lower margins. As we have been successful obtaining a mix of heritage and new development work, we anticipate continued profitability going forward, though the mix in any given quarter could potentially cause variability. Nonetheless, we believe that the operational improvements we have made over the past few years will allow us to generally achieve higher, more consistent margins than we have experienced in the past. "In October, FEI hosted a 'Quantum Sensor Summit' in New York City, a technical conference bringing together experts from around the world to share insights and expectations regarding this rapidly developing area of technology. This event was well attended, and we have obtained a lot of positive feedback from it. Quantum sensors is a rapidly developing market, one which FEI is well positioned to participate in based on our existing expertise, and one which we are actively pursuing as an avenue to continued growth well into the future. To support this effort we pursue external development funding where possible, but are also using internal R&D funding as necessary. This year internal R&D expenditures are up significantly (10% of revenue) as we work to stay competitive in this arena, but we remain debt-free and are confident in our ability to invest for profitable growth, reward our employees for serving our customers and maintain flexibility for shareholder-oriented initiatives, such as the two special dividends we have paid over the past two years. "All and all, I am happy with our performance, excited about our future, and proud to lead a workforce of talented and very dedicated individuals who are the real reason behind our success." Fiscal Year 2024 Selected Financial Metrics and Other Items For the three and six months ended October 31, 2024, revenues from satellite payloads were approximately $9.4 million, or 59%, and $17.7 million or 57%, respectively, of consolidated revenues compared to approximately $4.7 million, or 35%, and $9.5 million or 37%, respectively, for the same periods of the prior fiscal year. For the three and six months ended October 31, 2024, revenues for non-space U.S. Government/DOD customers were approximately $5.8 million, or 37%, and $12.1 million or 39%, respectively, of consolidated revenues compared to approximately $8.2 million, or 60%, and $15.1 million, or 58%, respectively, for the same periods of the prior fiscal year. For the three and six months ended October 31, 2024, revenues from other commercial and industrial sales accounted for approximately $0.6 million, or 4%, and $1.1 million or 4%, respectively, of consolidated revenues compared to approximately $0.7 million, or 5%, and $1.4 million, or 5%, respectively, for the same periods of the prior fiscal year. Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $2.4 million in the six months of fiscal year 2025, compared to net cash used in operations of $3.0 million for the same period of fiscal year 2024. Backlog at October 31, 2024 was approximately $81 million compared to $78 million at April 30, 2024. Investor Conference Call As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. Investors and analysts may access the call by dialing 1-888-506-0062. International callers may dial 1-973-528-0011. Callers should provide participant access code: 685880 or ask for the Frequency Electronics conference call. The archived call may be accessed by calling 1-877-481-4010 (domestic), or 1-919-882-2331 (international), for one week following the call (replay passcode: 51761). Subsequent to that, the call can be accessed via a link available on the Company's website through March 10, 2025. About Frequency Electronics Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEI) is a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of high precision timing, frequency generation and RF control products for space and terrestrial applications. FEI's products are used in satellite payloads and in other commercial, government and military systems including C4ISR and electronic warfare, missiles, UAVs, aircraft, GPS, secure communications, energy exploration and wireline and wireless networks. FEI-Zyfer provides GPS and secure timing capabilities for critical military and commercial applications; FEI-Elcom Tech provides Electronic Warfare ("EW") sub-systems and state-of-the-art RF and microwave products. FEI has received over 100 awards of excellence for achievements in providing high performance electronic assemblies for over 150 space and DOD programs. The Company invests significant resources in research and development to expand its capabilities and markets. www.frequencyelectronics.com FEI's Mission Statement: "Our mission is to transform discoveries and demonstrations made in research laboratories into practical, real-world products. We are proud of a legacy which has delivered precision time and frequency generation products, for space and other world-changing applications that are unavailable from any other source. We aim to continue that legacy while adapting our products and expertise to the needs of the future. With a relentless emphasis on excellence in everything we do, we aim, in these ways, to create value for our customers, employees, and stockholders." Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this press release regarding future earnings and operations and other statements relating to the future constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, our inability to integrate operations and personnel, actions by significant customers or competitors, general domestic and international economic conditions, reliance on key customers, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors, new products and technological changes, product prices and raw material costs, dependence upon third-party vendors, other supply chain related issues, increasing costs for materials, operating related expenses, competitive developments, changes in manufacturing and transportation costs, the availability of capital, the outcome of any litigation and arbitration proceedings, and failure to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting. The factors listed above are not exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2024, filed on August 2, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission includes additional factors that could materially and adversely impact the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, as such factors are updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are accessible on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . Moreover, the Company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict the impact of all these factors on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and any other public statement made by the Company or its management may turn out to be incorrect. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Contact information: Dr. Thomas McClelland, President and Chief Executive Officer; Steven Bernstein, Chief Financial Officer; TELEPHONE: (516) 794-4500 ext.5000 WEBSITE : www.freqelec.com Frequency Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands except per share data) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended October 31, October 31, (unaudited) (unaudited) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Revenues $ 15,820 $ 13,575 $ 30,898 $ 25,984 Cost of revenues 8,201 9,245 16,580 16,786 Gross margin 7,619 4,330 14,318 9,198 Selling and administrative 3,388 2,552 6,234 4,853 Research and development 1,613 840 3,101 1,347 Operating income 2,618 938 4,983 2,998 Interest and other, net 175 (135 ) 373 (146 ) Income before Income Taxes 2,793 803 5,356 2,852 (Benefit) provision for Income Taxes 139 6 272 13 Net income $ 2,654 $ 797 $ 5,084 $ 2,839 Net income per share: Basic and diluted income per share $ 0.28 $ 0.08 $ 0.53 $ 0.30 Weighted average shares outstanding Basic and diluted 9,585 9,399 9,562 9,392 Frequency Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) October 31, 2024 April 30, 2024 (unaudited) ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,698 $ 18,320 Accounts receivable, net 4,088 4,614 Contract assets 12,092 10,523 Inventories, net 25,480 23,431 Other current assets 1,590 1,233 Property, plant & equipment, net 6,274 6,438 Other assets 11,935 11,713 Right-of-use assets – operating leases 5,276 6,036 Restricted cash 1,342 945 $ 77,775 $ 83,253 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Lease liability - current $ 1,301 $ 1,640 Dividend Payable - - Contract liabilities 22,659 21,639 Other current liabilities 5,548 7,517 Other long-term obligations 8,030 8,096 Operating lease liability – non-current 4,044 4,545 Stockholders' equity 36,193 39,816 $ 77,775 $ 83,253 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

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Sobot: Redefining Excellence in Customer ServiceElmhurst native Fred Lorenzen got his start in auto racing as an 18-year old, racing stock cars at Soldier Field in Chicago in the early 1950s. Success there eventually led to racing stardom in a career in which Lorenzen was credited with 158 NASCAR starts and 26 wins, including the 1965 Daytona 500 and the World 600 that same year. In 1998 he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers and in 2015 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame , an accomplishment all the more remarkable given his Midwest roots at a time when the sport was dominated by Southerners. Fred Lorenzen, right, of Elmhurst, signs up to compete in the Old Dominion 250-mile stock car race to be run in Martinsville, Va. in 1966. H. Clay Earles, center, president of the track, looks happy over the entry. (Chicago Tribune archive) Lorenzen died Dec. 18, a few days before what would have been his 90th birthday, according to statements from his family and NASCAR. “The NASCAR Hall of Fame team joins the racing community in mourning the passing of Fred Lorenzen,” NASCAR Hall of Fame Executive Director Winston Kelley said in a statement, calling Lorenzen “a legend whose impact will forever be felt in the sport.” In a death notice, his family noted he had battled dementia for over 20 years. His daughter, Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom, told the Tribune in 2015 she thought her father’s dementia might be related to long-ago crashes. Some of his memories were not so clear in 2015. But the Hall of Fame induction that January was a special time for Lorenzen and his family. “We all flew down to Charlotte,” Gardstrom said. “We were there for the whole weekend. I haven’t seen my dad so happy with a glow in his eyes and smiling for so long. “He was so happy – he recognized all his old racing buddies. What a gift to give to a man who’s given so much to NASCAR. That was the best thing.” Along with his racing success, Lorenzen’s personality helped put a face on the sport. “Fred’s nicknames personify him as well as anyone,” Kelley said. “Fast Freddie or Fearless Freddie described his penchant for driving fast and on the largest of NASCAR tracks. The Golden Boy was a nod to his Hollywood good looks. That combination made him one of the most successful and recognizable stars of NASCAR in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. His leading-man good looks and smooth driving earned him legions of fans and brought a new style and class to the sport.” Even before those early stock car races in the Chicago area, Lorenzen was speeding around the streets of Elmhurst in a lawnmower-powered go-kart he built. “He always had a passion for cars,” Gardstrom said in 2015. Fred Lorenzen, of Elmhurst, shows off his custom 1950 Ford with a 1954 Cadillac engine with 350 horse power at the All Class Auto Show held at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago on May 7, 1955. Next to Lorenzen is E.G. Braner, of Chicago, back left, and Bruce Mann, of Chicago, on right. (Phil Mascione/Chicago Tribune) Stan Kalwasinski, who writes about motor sports, called Lorenzen “a racing icon” in the Chicago area. Kalwasinski, who met Lorenzen several times, said he first heard of him around 1963 when network sports television shows included short clips or excerpts of auto races. Gardstrom said that after winning local United States Auto Club events in the late 1950s at both Soldier Field and at O’Hare Stadium — a former racing venue south of the airport — her father shifted gears. “He decided he wanted to try out NASCAR on his own,” she said, “but he went broke twice.” However, Lorenzen, also known as “The Elmhurst Express,” never gave up. He finally connected with Ralph Moody of the famed Holman Moody Ford racing group, and in late 1960 Moody offered him an opportunity to drive in NASCAR events. Lorenzen’s career with NASCAR was relatively short. Except for a brief comeback, he retired from racing in 1967, saying he was tired of the traveling and living out of hotels. He shifted gears again, transitioning into a successful career in real estate. Kelley said Lorenzen’s selection for the Hall of Fame recognized his overall success both on and off the track and his contributions to the sport. “He excelled on big tracks and big races,” Kelley said, noting that Lorenzen was the first driver to earn $100,000 in a season, doing so in 1963. Kelley also noted Lorenzen’s Elmhurst roots. “He was one of the first non-Southerners to come into NASCAR and have great success.” In addition to Gardstrom, Lorenzen’s survivors include his son Chris Lorenzen and two grandchildren. Graydon Megan is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

By JIM VERTUNO | Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court in Lubbock and announced Sunday, argues the NCAA violates the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act by promoting women’s sports that may include a transgender athlete. The law is designed to protect consumers from being misled or tricked into buying products or services that are not as advertised, the lawsuit said. The Texas lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to stop trans athletes from competing . The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop the NCAA from allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports in Texas, or in sports that involve Texas programs. Or it wants the court to require the NCAA to stop marketing events as “women’s” sports if transgender athletes are allowed. In a statement, Paxton appeared to reference the recent controversy involving San Jose State women’s volleyball , where several opponents forfeited matches this season on grounds the Spartans had a transgender player. A federal court last month refused to block the school from playing in the Mountain West Conference championship. “When people watch a women’s volleyball game, for example, they expect to see women playing against other women, not biological males pretending to be something they are not,” Paxton said. “Radical ‘gender theory’ has no place in college sports.” The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. Paxton accused the NCAA of “intentionally and knowingly jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of women” and turning women’s sports into “co-ed competitions.” The NCAA does not track data on transgender athletes among the 544,000 currently competing on 19,000 teams at various levels across the country. NCAA President Charlie Baker testified in Congress earlier this month that he was aware of fewer than 10 active NCAA athletes who identified as transgender. “College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America, and while the NCAA does not comment on pending litigation, the Association and its members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition in all NCAA championships,” the NCAA said in a statement Monday. Brooke Slusser, the San Jose State volleyball co-captain who was among the group of players who sued the Mountain West Conference over her teammate’s participation, praised the Texas lawsuit on social media. “Hey NCAA, just in case you haven’t realized yet this fight will just keep getting harder for you until you make a change!,” Slusser posted on X . The NCAA established a policy in 2010 that requires trans athletes who were assigned male at birth to complete at least one year of testosterone suppression therapy before being eligible to compete on a women’s team. Trans athletes who were assigned female at birth and transitioned to male can compete on a men’s team but if they have received testosterone treatment are ineligible to compete on a women’s team. The athletes are required to meet their chosen sport’s standard for documented testosterone levels at various points during a season. In 2022, the NCAA revised the policy in what the organization called an attempt to be aligned with national sports governing bodies. If a governing body does not have a trans athlete policy, then it scales up to the international federation that oversees the sport. If there is no international federation policy, previously established Olympic policy criteria would be followed.Kingsport rider Steve Clark earned a three-peat recently at the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) National Championships. Clark, who recently turned 70, earned his third straight Vintage Open Age Novice championship with six wins in 12 events, including two of the last three. He scored wins at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama and at Mill Creek Motorsports Park in Arkansas. He finished the season with a fifth-place finish in Oklahoma. Riding his 1974 Yamaha MX 250, he also won races in South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. He was runner-up at his home track, Muddy Creek Raceway, in August. Clark finished well ahead of Hawaiian rider Charles Eiman in the national standings. Riders from Washington State, Arkansas and Kansas were in the three spots behind him. “Each year, I’ve learned to ride faster to keep up with the competition,” he said. “Each year, there are younger riders joining our organization as I’m getting another year older. It’s a challenge to race against new riders who may be half my age.” Clark also won four out of 12 races he entered in the Vintage 60+ Novice class, which obviously has riders closer to his age. He capped off the season winning the VMX National against a strong field of riders in Oklahoma. Amazingly, Clark didn’t ride for nearly four decades. He was involved in the sport early growing up in Knoxville, but left the sport 45 years to work on a career in finance. He retired in April which allowed him to compete at 15 national events in 13 different states. He ranks the local track at Muddy Creek and the new track at Barber as the top places to compete. Over the course of the season, there were 60 racers who competed in the Vintage 60+ races. Like any sport, the more you practice and compete, the better your chances. He’s learned how to be aggressive at the track without putting too much stress on the bike. “I started hitting the jumps harder in a higher gear,” he said. “I wasn’t taking extreme chances or anything like that. It was learning how to be more competitive in certain situations without being dangerous. Muscle memory is a real thing and once you get used to certain motions, you perform better in that sport.” Motocross is a physically demanding sport for riders of all ages. Clark keeps in shape by often going on hikes with his wife, Brenda, on the trails on Bays Mountain. At the shop, he’s lifting heavy equipment around to keep his arms, legs and back strong. Clark credited his wife for helping with the navigation to and from the tracks as well as taking care of the pit area set-up and communication at the track. Gary Graybeal, a seasoned mechanic, has been with him all six years since his return to the sport. “He keeps my race bikes in top shape and is a big part of my success,” Clark said. “Together, we have won three national championships.” KINGSPORT SPEEDWAY Kingsport Speedway honored its 2024 track champions at the annual awards banquet held at the Kingsport Farmers Market last Saturday night. Keith Helton was recognized as Late Model champion with Alex Miller the class runner-up. Rob Austin was tops in Street Stock and Jay Swecker was second. Kevin Canter regained his title in Mod 4 ahead of 2023 champion Chris Amburgey. Kenny Absher was Pure 4 champion with Dallas Morelock runner-up. Greg Bohannon took the Super Street championship as Brandon Yarber took runner-up honors. Keith McMurray captured the Beginner FWD title and Tyler Swecker was like his father, a track runner-up finisher. Charles Gunter was the title holder in Crown Vic with Tyler Conway second. Rookie of the Year honors were: Hunter Morgan (Late Model), Ryan Lark (Street Stock), James Austin (Pure 4) and Alisha Frazier (Mod 4).Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgs

President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska's Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one" or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley's home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama's action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska's senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump's suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski , who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. ___ Rush reported from Portland, Oregon.

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen health economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health, the nation's leading medical research agency. Trump, in a statement Tuesday evening, said Bhattacharya, a 56-year-old physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, "to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.” “Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest Health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease," he wrote. The decision to choose Bhattacharya for the post is yet another reminder of the ongoing impact of the COVID pandemic on the politics on public health. Bhattacharya was one of three authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 open letter maintaining that lockdowns were causing irreparable harm. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . The document — which came before the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and during the first Trump administration — promoted “herd immunity,” the idea that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. Protection should focus instead on people at higher risk, the document said. “I think the lockdowns were the single biggest public health mistake,” Bhattacharya said in March 2021 during a panel discussion convened by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Great Barrington Declaration was embraced by some in the first Trump administration, even as it was widely denounced by disease experts. Then- NIH director Dr. Francis Collins called it dangerous and “not mainstream science.” His nomination would need to be approved by the Senate. Trump on Tuesday also announced that Jim O’Neill, a former HHS official, will serve as deputy secretary of the sprawling agency. Trump said O’Neill “will oversee all operations and improve Management, Transparency, and Accountability to, Make America Healthy Again,” the president-elect announced. O’Neill is the only one of Trump’s health picks so far who brings previous experience working inside the bureaucracy to the job. Trump’s previous choices to lead public health agencies — including Kennedy, Dr. Mehmet Oz for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator and Dr. Marty Makary for Food and Drug Administration commissioner — have all been Washington outsiders who are vowing to shake up the agencies. Bhattacharya, who faced restrictions on social media platforms because of his views, was also a plaintiff in Murthy v. Missouri, a Supreme Court case contending that federal officials improperly suppressed conservative views on social media as part of their efforts to combat misinformation. The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in that case. After Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he invited Bhattacharya to the company's headquarters to learn more about how his views had been restricted on the platform, which Musk renamed X. More recently, Bhattacharya has posted on X about scientists leaving the site and joining the alternative site Bluesky, mocking Bluesky as "their own little echo chamber.” Bhattacharya has argued that vaccine mandates that barred unvaccinated people from activities and workplaces undermined Americans' trust in the public health system. He is a former research fellow at the Hoover Institution and an economist at the RAND Corporation. The National Institutes of Health falls under HHS, which Trump has nominated Kennedy to oversee. The NIH's $48 billion budget funds medical research on vaccines, cancer and other diseases through competitive grants to researchers at institutions across the nation. The agency also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at NIH labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Among advances that were supported by NIH money are a medication for opioid addiction, a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, many new cancer drugs and the speedy development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

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