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After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizers
New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner appeared to take shots at his own team on social media. Gardner commented on an Instagram post from Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins when a fan replied to his comment asking Gardner to encourage Higgins to come to New York. More news: Packers Rule Out Two Key Defenders With Concussions "@saucegardner tell him come to da jets," the fan said. Gardner had a staunch reply for the fan. "I will NOT be telling him that." #Jets CB Sauce Gardner: pic.twitter.com/563zEUxHtj The comment from Gardner comes after a 40-14 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. The score was 40-0 when New York took out its starters. It was a new low point for an organization that has few highlights throughout its history. Gardner didn't hold back when reporters asked him postgame if the loss was embarrassing. "Embarrassing? I don't even know if that's the word," Gardner said. "You're telling me now it's 40-0? If you ask me that means it's the end of the season, obviously we're not going to the playoffs, some people might be checked out. That's just me going off speculation and what I'm getting at. You know what I'm saying?... We, quote un-quote, enhanced our roster in all areas. That just tells me we can't be playing as a team. We're probably just individuals. Last year, the year before, we had a roster that wasn't as talented as this roster, and we found ways to beat the Bills. We found ways to win. What's stopping that now?" The 2024 season has especially been a humiliating season for the 4-12 Jets. Things took a turn for the worst when the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh in October during his fourth season with the team. The organization also parted ways with general manager Joe Douglas after the Jets went into their bye week with a 3-8 record. While ownership chose to clean house early in the season, the results on the field never transpired. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers proved throughout the 2024 campaign that he is not mobile enough to run, not accurate enough to throw, and not humble enough to take responsibility for his poor performance. There's a very good chance the Jets will choose to part ways with Rodgers at the end of the season. With only one game left in the season, it's evident many players are even fed up with an organization that struggles to make smart decisions. For more on the NFL , visit Newsweek Sports .Supreme Court to hear cases on terrorism lawsuits, inmate appeals
Editor’s Note: Each Thursday throughout the winter, the Summit Daily News will provide a terrain update that will inform skiers and riders on what trails are opening before they head out to the slopes. As skiers and riders slowly trickle to Summit County for the Thanksgiving holiday, ski areas are busy prepping the mountain for the first major holiday of the winter season. Following a brief dry spell, Summit County ski areas received several inches of snow early this week, plus a blast of cold air to help with snowmaking, giving access to more terrain leading into the holidays. After successfully opening up its second base area of the season last week, Breckenridge Ski Resort will give skiers and riders access to the upper part of Peak 9 at some point this weekend. “Thanks to 10 inches of fresh snow this week, sustained cold temps and the hard work of our snowmaking and grooming teams, we’re excited to announce that upper Peak 9 will open this weekend with the addition of the Beaver Run SuperChair on Friday and the Mercury SuperChair planned for Saturday,” senior specialist in communications Sarah McLear said. The addition of the two lifts will provide access to intermediate terrain on Cashier and Bonanza. Additionally, Breckenridge has been able to open up more terrain on Peak 8, including Callie’s Alley, Swinger and Crescendo. More natural terrain is expected to pop open soon across both Peak 8 and Peak 9, at the discretion of Breckenridge’s teams. If all goes to plan, Breckenridge should have more than 300 acres open across Peak 8 and 9 for guests this weekend. “Last weekend, patrol opened Contest Bowl as a hike-to experience on an as-conditions-allow basis, and it was great to see skiers and riders getting out into some of our high-Alpine terrain again,” McLear said. “Patrol will continue to assess snow conditions and terrain openings on natural snow, and we have another storm stacking up for early next week that should help as well.” Breckenridge will now look to get Peak 8’s Rocky Mountain SuperChair and associated terrain open up next. The ski resort expects to have Rocky Mountain SuperChair open late next week. After that, Breckenridge will move its snowmaking efforts over to Peak 7 in order to hopefully open up the peak in mid-December. As of Saturday, Nov. 16, uphill access is open at Breckenridge. For the time being, there is one uphill route from the base of Peak 8 to Vista Haus via the Springmeier trail. Skiers and riders are encouraged to call the winch cat hotline at 970-547-5627 before uphilling and to keep an eye out on the resort’s social media and website for more routes to open as the resort progresses through its early season opening plans. Similar to Breckenridge, Keystone Resort has made great progress in terms of snowmaking and opening up more terrain. Due to the hard work from its mountain operation teams, Keystone will open its first black diamond run of the season — The Edge — on Friday, Nov. 22. In addition to giving access to The Edge, skiers and riders can also expect to see soft openings on natural snow across trails like Frenchman, Flying Dutchman and more throughout the upcoming weekend. As of Friday, Keystone will have 182 acres open for skiing and riding with more terrain growing close to coming online. “This is the most acreage we’ve had open for this time of year since the 2019-20 winter season, when we saw an unusually high natural snowpack in the early season, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work our teams have put in across our mountain to make this possible,” communications manager Max Winter said. As Keystone looks toward the Thanksgiving holiday, its teams will work hard to open up Mozart, Prospector and a handful of black trails on North Peak. Keystone is also on track to open up its mountaintop snow tubing next week. “It takes a village to make early season skiing like this possible,” Winter said. “Don’t forget to thank a snowmaker, ski patroller or any resort employee you see.” On Friday, Nov. 22, Loveland Ski Area will open up the Loveland Valley portion of the ski area. Housing the ski area’s ski school, Loveland Valley will allow skiers to access some of the ski area’s easy terrain before venturing over to Loveland Basin. Loveland Valley is expected to open up in the morning on Friday and will provide access to Lift 7 and the Rainbow Carpet. Earlier in the week, Loveland opened up several other trails including Nix Nox on Wednesday, Nov. 20, and Waterfall on Thursday, Nov. 21. Both newly opened trails can best be accessed via Chet’s Dream. On Saturday, Nov. 23, Loveland is scheduled to open up all of Richard’s Run, which can also be accessed by taking Chet’s Dream. Looking ahead, mountain operation teams at Loveland will be shifting their focus to Chair 6 which will provide access to Roulette. “With a storm in the forecast next week, we’re excited for more snow, and we will continue expanding our terrain offerings,” director of marketing and communications Loryn Roberson said. On Friday, Nov. 22, Copper Mountain Resort will begin spinning the American Flyer lift out of the Center Village base area. The lift will give guests access to Coppertone, High Point and Loverly trails. Throughout the weekend, guests can also expect several rope drops on trails that rely on natural snowfall surrounding the American Flyer lift. With the addition of American Flyer and its corresponding trails, Copper will nearly double its terrain footprint. “American Flyer is one of our main lifts out of Center Village, so we’re stoked to have it up and running and offer more access on the mountain,” communications and philanthropy manager Olivia Butrymovich said. “Conditions at Copper are great with 4 feet of snowfall this month and more in the forecast for early next week.” On Thanksgiving Day next Thursday, Nov. 28, Copper will have a Timberline Express grand opening event for the newly upgraded lift. Over the summer and fall, Timberline was upgraded from a four-pack to a six-pack lift. Weather and conditions permitting, the lift is scheduled to begin operations for the first time this winter on Thanksgiving Day. For more details on the event, visit CopperColorado.com. Over the last week, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area has had some productive snowmaking sessions, aiding the ski area in officially opening up the upper portion of the mountain. While A-Basin’s snowmaking reservoir recharges, snowcats are out in order to work on the latest piles of snow spread out across the slopes. Once A-Basin gives access to top-to-bottom skiing and riding off of the Lenawee Express lift, the ski area will turn its focus to the Molly Hogan lift in order to get its learning terrain online. For the weekend ahead, A-Basin will have Black Mountain Express spinning for laps on High Noon.
Musk makes history with $270m move
Award-Winning Author Patrick Finegan Releases New Novel - Toys in Babylon 11-25-2024 09:40 PM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: ABNewswire What happens when a quirky language app turns sinister? Murder, mayhem, and AI madness ensue in Toys in Babylon. Patrick Finegan is pleased to announce the release of his new novel, Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunnit, a riotously clever satire and murder mystery. This story takes readers on a madcap journey through the inner workings-and hilarious unraveling-of a wildly successful language-learning app. When the mascot and spokes-bear of a popular language app is found dead, chaos ensues. Was the culprit an ambitious executive, a disillusioned employee, a jilted lover, or perhaps one of the app's cartoon instructors-a charmingly animated AI with more intelligence than expected? Toys in Babylon is a satirical look at the intersection of technology, corporate ambition, and human folly, inspired by a chain novel prompt on a language app fan site. Originally serialized online, the story has been expanded into a definitive novel available in both English and German. Perfect for anyone who has ever learned a new language alongside quirky cartoon characters or questioned the rise of AI, Toys in Babylon delivers biting humor, compelling mystery, and a satirical edge that will resonate with fans of modern tech culture. About the Author Patrick Finegan graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Chicago Law School and Graduate School of Business. With over 30 years of experience in law, corporate finance, and management consulting, Finegan brings sharp wit and keen insight into the absurdities of the modern world. An avid language learner and author of three novels, he lives with his wife and grown daughter and continues to delight readers with his inventive storytelling. Follow Patrick Finegan on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrick.t.finegan X: https://x.com/pat_finegan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patfinegan/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patfinegan Toys in Babylon [ https://amzn.to/4fzpQFE ] is available for purchase at: * Amazon [ https://www.amazon.com/Toys-Babylon-Language-Parody-Whodunit-ebook/dp/B0CYDNGNX2 ] * Barnes & Noble [ https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-in-babylon-patrick-finegan/1146194187 ] https://www.amazon.com/Toys-Babylon-Language-Parody-Whodunit-ebook/dp/B0CYDNGNX2 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-in-babylon-patrick-finegan/1146194187 BookBuzz: https://bookbuzz.net/toys-in-babylon-a-language-app-parody-and-whodunnit-by-patrick-finegan/ Media Contact Company Name: BookBuzz Contact Person: Amanda - PR Manager Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=awardwinning-author-patrick-finegan-releases-new-novel-toys-in-babylon ] Phone: 7065098422 City: New York State: NY Country: United States Website: https://www.bookbuzz.net This release was published on openPR.The Handmaid’s Tale has kept viewers on the edge of their seats since its debut on Hulu — but how does the TV adaptation compare to the original book? Based on Margaret Atwood ’s novel of the same name , The Handmaid’s Tale takes place in a dystopian future where low fertility rates have resulted in women being forcefully assigned to men for the sole purpose of bearing children. Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Madeline Brewer, Ann Dowd, O-T Fagbenle, Max Minghella, Samira Wiley and Amanda Brugel have led the cast since the show’s premiere. Hulu went on to renew the series for six seasons — and it doesn’t stop there. The universe is expanding with an adaptation of Atwood’s 2019 novel The Testaments . It was previously announced that Hulu and MGM were developing the sequel series, but the network and the studio have yet to release any additional updates. Atwood, meanwhile, has previously discussed her role as a consulting producer on the hit Hulu series — including how little control she has over the script. “None of this was in any way under my control,” she told attendees at the Hay literary festival in 2018 about how the rights of the book were acquired by the distributors of the 1989 film version of The Handmaid’s Tale . “Even if I had thrown a tantrum and said you can’t do this, that would have had no legal standing.” Despite the lack of creative control, the author fiercely supported the show and its cultural impact, adding at the time, “I think I would have to be awfully stupid to resent it because things could have been so much worse. They have done a tippety-top job, The acting is great, they’ve stuck to the central set of premises.” While the show has somewhat veered from the book starting with season 2, Atwood understood the reasoning. “It’s a TV series. If you’re going to have a series you can’t kill off the central character and you also can’t have the central character escape to safety in episode one of season 2,” she noted. “It’s not going to happen.” Keep scrolling for the main differences between the show and Atwood’s version: The biggest shift away from the book’s origin came after season 1. In season 2, Hulu’s version of The Handmaid’s Tale started to rely on plot lines that hinged on the show expanding the world and the characters from Atwood’s original dystopian concept, allowing the adaptation to continue for six seasons. Atwood made it a priority not to confirm the real names of the handmaids — because they are named from the household they are given to, the novel wanted their past before Gilead to remain more of a mystery. The TV series, however, revealed that Moss’ character was named June before being assigned Offred, which represents her being given to Commander Fred Waterford (Fiennes). The change heightened June’s determination to gain back her freedom. The Handmaid’s Tale series cast Strahovski and Fiennes as members of the Waterford family. That was a big shift from the novel, which depicted the Waterfords as an older couple. Their age contributed to Serena Joy’s (Strahovski) inability to have kids. By aging Serena down, her dynamic and support for Gilead has made her more of a central villain. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Max Minghella has played Nick a.k.a a driver for the Commanders of Gilead since the show debuted in 2017 . The character ultimately developed a romantic connection with June, which served as motivation for him to help the victims of Gilead. The book version of Nick wasn’t explored in as much detail, arguably making his motivations harder for readers to decipher. Creating six seasons of a show means there’s more time and room for character development. As a result, side characters — including Aunt Lydia ( Ann Dowd ) — are explored more in an effort to show how Gilead formed and the ramifications of trying to go against the rules. Atwood’s novel, meanwhile, spent more time elevating Offred’s journey, in part because there wasn’t room for the story to explore more points of view. Atwood’s book was published in 1985, before certain technological advancements like smartphones and tracking devices. The Handmaid’s Tale took advantage of telling the story in a more modern era by leaning into the developments that have been made and having the show take place in the present instead of back in the ’80s.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court on Friday annulled the first round of the country's presidential election, days after allegations emerged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. The Constitutional Court’s unprecedented decision — which is final — came after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence on Wednesday that alleged Russia organized thousands of social media accounts to promote Calin Georgescu across platforms such as TikTok and Telegram. The court, without naming Georgescu, said that one of the 13 candidates in the Nov. 24 first round had improperly received “preferential treatment” on social media, distorting the outcome of the vote. Georgescu denounced the verdict as an “officialized coup” and an attack on democracy, as did the second-place finisher, reformist Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union party. Despite being an outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner who was to face Lasconi in a runoff on Sunday. Some 951 voting stations had already opened abroad on Friday for the runoff for Romania’s large diaspora, but had to be halted. Iohannis said he would remain in office until a new presidential election could be rerun from scratch. On Dec. 1, one week after the first round of the presidential race, Romania also held a parliamentary election , which saw pro-Western parties win the most votes but also gains for far-right nationalists. Iohannis said that once the new government is formed, the date of the new presidential vote would be set. On Wednesday the president had released intelligence files from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunication Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In a televised statement Friday, Iohannis said he was “deeply concerned” by the contents of the intelligence reports. “Intelligence reports revealed that this candidate’s campaign was supported by a foreign state with interests contrary to Romania’s. These are serious issues," he said. The Constitutional Court in its published decision cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as the use of “undeclared sources of funding.” It said one candidate received “preferential treatment on social media platforms, which resulted in the distortion of voters’ expressed will." Georgescu slammed the verdict as putting “democracy is under attack.” “I have only one pact ... with the Romanian people and God,” he said in a video statement. “We are no longer talking about fairness but rather about a mockery that betrays the principles of democracy ... It is time to show that we are a courageous people who know that the destiny and rights of the Romanian nation are in our hands.” Lasconi also strongly condemned the court's decision, saying it was “illegal, immoral, and crushes the very essence of democracy" and that the second round should have gone forward. “Whether we like it or not, from a legal and legitimate standpoint, 9 million Romanian citizens, both in the country and the diaspora, expressed their preference for a particular candidate through their votes," she said. “I know I would have won. And I will win because the Romanian people know I will fight for them, that I will unite them for a better Romania,” she added. Some 9.4 million people — about 52.5% of eligible voters — had cast ballots in the first round in this European Union and NATO member country. The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Most surveys had predicted the top candidate would be Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the ruling center-left Social Democrats. They indicated that second place would be claimed by either Lasconi or the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, George Simion. As the surprising results came in with Georgescu on top, and Lasconi narrowly beating Ciolacu, it plunged the political establishment into turmoil. The same court last week ordered a recount of the first-round votes, which added to the myriad controversies that have engulfed a chaotic election cycle. Following a recount, the court then validated the first-round results on Monday. Many observers have expressed concerns that annulling the vote could trigger civil unrest. The court said Friday that its decision was meant “to restore citizens’ trust in the democratic legitimacy of public authorities, in the legality and fairness of elections.” Simion, of the far-right party, said the development was a “coup d’état in full swing” but urged people not to take to the streets. “We don’t let ourselves be provoked, this system has to fall democratically,” he said. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said the court's decision amounts to a “crisis mode situation for Romanian democracy.” “In light of the information about the external interference, the massive interference in elections, I think this was not normal but predictable, because it’s not normal times at all, Romania is an uncharted territory,” he told The Associated Press. “The problem is here, do we have the institutions to manage such an interference in the future?” Georgescu’s surprising success left many political observers wondering how most local surveys were so far off, putting him behind at least five other candidates before the vote. Many observers attributed his success to his TikTok account, which now has 6 million likes and 541,000 followers. But some experts suspected Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated while Romania’s top security body alleged he was given preferential treatment by TikTok over other candidates. In the intelligence release, the secret services alleged that one TikTok user paid more $381,000 (361,000 euros) to other users to promote Georgescu content. Intelligence authorities said information they obtained “revealed an aggressive promotion campaign” to increase and accelerate his popularity. Georgescu, when asked by the AP in an interview Wednesday whether he believes the Chinese-owned TikTok poses a threat to democracy, defended social media platforms. “The most important existing function for promoting free speech and freedom of expression is social media,” he said.Thai defamation law fails good peopleHARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s 2023-24 Legislative Session closed Dec. 1 and the next session, while officially underway, doesn’t fully begin until lawmakers are sworn into office Jan. 7. Looking back, members of the state House and Senate introduced 3,862 bills and 924 resolutions across the two-year session. There were 77 bills adopted into law in 2023 and 162 adopted in 2024. The combined total of 239 was far fewer than the previous six legislative sessions. There hasn’t been a lower total since 2009-10 when 226 bills advanced into law — the last time the Pennsylvania General Assembly had a partisan divide. Democrats controlled the House while Republicans led the Senate. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, often cites the challenge of advancing legislation with a split government. That dynamic won’t change in 2025-26. Though there are 20 new members joining the legislature — 16 in the House, four in the Senate — the respective parties defended their majorities. Republicans have a 28-22 advantage in the Senate while Democrats maintained a 102-101 margin in the House. What follows is a look back at the outcome of legislation proposed last session by area lawmakers. Aaron Bernstine — 8th Legislative District Rep. Aaron Bernstine will formally begin his fifth term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives when members are sworn into office on Jan. 7, 2025. He ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Bernstine, a Republican, represented Pennsylvania’s 8th Legislative District — parts of Lawrence and Butler counties — since redistricting took hold in 2023. Prior to that, he represented what had been the former 10th District. He held three committee assignments along with a subcommittee appointment during the 2023-24 Legislative Session: Commerce, Finance and Gaming Oversight committees and a subcommittee on Housing Finance. Across the two-year session, Bernstine sponsored 154 bills and resolutions. He was the prime sponsor of two bills. One sought to allow state licensure for nurses educated at a school with national accreditation in addition to the current requirement that institutions hold regional accreditation. The other was a reintroduction of a bill from a prior session, “Markie’s Law,” that seeks to delay parole for state inmates convicted of certain offenses while incarcerated — 12 months for escape attempts, smuggling contraband or retaliation or intimidation of a witness; 24 months for a violent offense. Neither bill gained traction at the committee level. Bernstine is among the members of the conservative Pennsylvania Freedom Caucus. One bill that he announced but ultimately didn’t introduce would have sought to reclassify drag performances as “adult-oriented business” — a bill unlikely to advance given the current dynamics of the General Assembly. He voted against both budgets in the 2023-24 session, criticizing Gov. Josh Shapiro for submitting a “liberal wish list.” “His plan is a copy-paste version of the Bidenomics that are destroying our economy. From Philadelphia mass transit bailouts to doubling the minimum wage, Gov. Shapiro wants Pennsylvania to be just like California, which is where his campaign donations originate,” Bernstine said after the governor made his 2024 budget proposal. Bernstine attempted to trim more than 1% from this year’s $47.6 billion budget through a floor amendment, and he tried the same to enact school choice. He attended President-elect Donald Trump’s rally in Butler where an assassination attempt was made, and he stood up for local police and first responders amid criticism of event security and the immediate response after a bullet grazed Trump’s ear. Marla Brown — 9th Legislative District The 2025-26 session will be the second in the Pennsylvania House for Republican Rep. Marla Brown. She was re-elected to represent the 9th Legislative District, which covers a portion of Lawrence County, after running unopposed in both the primary and general elections. Brown’s first session saw appointments to four committees — Aging & Older Adult Services, Commerce, Finance and Health. She also chaired subcommittees on Care & Services and Local Business. She sponsored 83 bills and resolutions. On 14 bills and three resolutions, she was the primary sponsor, however, none made it into law. In fact, as a member of the House’s political minority, just one received committee consideration. Brown introduced one of at least three proposals to open primary elections to all voters, allowing those not registered with a recognized party, namely Democrat or Republican, to choose which ticket they’d vote on. Pennsylvania is one of nine states with closed primaries and is home to more than 1.46 million independent voters, nearly 16% of its entire electorate. Brown believed the change would help elevate moderate candidates across the political spectrum and improve governance in an era of hyper-partisanship. Open primary proposals aren’t novel but in a rarity, they actually garnered enough support to advance out of the House State Government Committee but were ignored before receiving consideration on the chamber floor. “This is a bipartisan issue, in my opinion, on which we should easily meet in the middle of the road. We’ve got to find common ground in the House if we’re going to be able to represent this state in the best way,” Brown said after introducing her bill. Brown’s other bill proposals ranged from mandating that social media companies report suspected drug sales to the creation of a targeted grant program for nurses to repay student loans amid workforce struggles. Brown sought to require felony charges for threats made against schools and mandate a prison sentence for the conviction of delivering fentanyl. She also pursued operator-friendly reforms within Pennsylvania’s cosmetology law. Brown voted against both budgets enacted during her tenure, so far, and she opposed cost of living adjustments for former state employees who retired before 2001. She hosted policy hearings in her district on drug addiction and transportation issues, supported a package of bills to provide tax relief to working families, and joined other legislators in calling on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to revise its maligned broadcast policy. She did not, however, vote in favor of a study authorized by the House to look into PIAA’s finances, broadcast agreements and more. Michele Brooks — 50th Senatorial District The start of the 2025-26 Legislative Session marks the midway point of Republican Sen. Michele Brooks’ third term in office. Her district, the 50th, includes Crawford, Mercer and most of Lawrence counties. Her current four-year term expires in 2026. In 2023-24, Brooks served as majority chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and vice chair of the Finance Committee. Her other committee assignments were Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Communications & Technology, Education, Rules & Executive Nominations and Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness. She sponsored 248 bills and resolutions last session including 60 bills and eight resolutions as a prime sponsor. The focus of the bills she introduced included eliminating inheritance taxes on siblings and other relatives, enacting consumer protections, the creation of a lost dog registry, extending the statute of limitations for the crime of drug delivery resulting in death, including sales taxes in advertised retail prices, addressing Lyme disease and expansive efforts to serve firefighters and EMS providers. Among the bevy of bills of which she was a prime sponsor, six became law and four others advanced to the House. The rest remained in the Senate. Motorcycles will be included in Pennsylvania’s Automobile Lemon Law after a Brooks bill became Act No. 151 of 2024, extending protections for manufacturer defects to a new class of vehicle. Senate Bill 500 , a bipartisan bill known as Owen’s Law, became Act 32 of 2023. It allows for medical prescriptions through Medicaid of donor milk for children younger than 12 months. Brooks was successful in expanding Pennsylvania’s Safe Haven Law. Act 134 of 2024 adds urgent care centers to designated locations where parents may safely surrender newborns if they feel unfit to care for the child. She also secured an amendment to Pennsylvania’s Public School Code through Act 55 of 2024 which will allow professionals in skilled occupations to more easily receive state certification to teach at career and technical schools. Her bill was amended as part of budget negotiations to include numerous negotiated updates to the code beyond her original intent. Act 66 of 2023, born out of Brooks’ Senate Bill 941, eases eligibility and qualifications to become a drug treatment counselor and increases counselors’ patient caseload capacity during an opioid epidemic, defined as 1,000-plus opioid overdose deaths in three consecutive years. Pennsylvania schools must notify parents and guardians in writing whenever ticks are removed from students under Act 120 of 2024. Schools must provide information on the symptoms of Lyme disease, and must preserve the tick for parents or guardians to either send into a state lab for analysis or allow the school to do so. Results are confidential. Elder Vogel — 47th Senatorial District Republican Sen. Elder Vogel returns to the Pennsylvania Senate for the 2025-26 Legislative Session after being re-elected to represent the 47th Senatorial District. Vogel defeated Democrat Kate Lennen in the general election, garnering nearly 64% of the vote and earning a fifth four-year term. He ran unopposed in the primary. The 47th Senatorial District consists of most of Beaver County and parts of Lawrence and Butler counties. In the 2023-24 session, Vogel served as majority chair of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee and vice chair of the Appropriations Committee. He also was appointed to the Banking & Insurance, Environmental Resources & Energy and Transportation committees. He sponsored 286 bills and resolutions last session, including nine bills as a prime sponsor. Three of the bills became law while the other six didn’t pass out of the Senate. Vogel worked for eight years to advance a bill guaranteeing insurance coverage for telemedicine services. After watching his proposals defeated through the years — be it through inaction, lack of House support, a veto by former Gov. Tom Wolf — Vogel’s Telemedicine Act was adopted in 2024 and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. Act 42 of 2024 assures patients that any medically necessary service they’d receive in person that’s covered by their insurance plan would also be covered if administered remotely through telemedicine. That coverage includes Medicaid and CHIP, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. His proposal to establish the Sexual Assault Emergency Services Act became Act 59 of 2023. It expands Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner programs at hospitals, using telehealth through the existing Penn State University SAFE-T Program to connect victims with specialized nurses to ensure through and timely care in cases of sexual assault. Another bill from Vogel became Act 18 of 2023, authorizing the first increases in dog license fees in nearly 30 years and for kennel fees, 60 years. The modest increases are intended to help improve dog law enforcement in the commonwealth. Vogel was a prime co-sponsor of two bipartisan proposals with Sen. Judith Schwank, D-Berks, that were developed to aid dairy farmers. One bill sought to help Pennsylvania dairy farmers enroll in the federal dairy margin coverage program while the other would allow the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board to collect and distribute over-order premiums collected on Class I fluid milk in Pennsylvania. Each bill was voted out of committee but gained no further momentum. He co-sponsored another bill with Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria/Clearfield/Centre, that would mandate a prison term of 20 to 40 years for anyone convicted of providing fentanyl or related synthetic opioids to minors. The measure received no consideration in the Senate. Vogel’s other proposals last session sought to create a statewide stroke registry, boost funding for the Pennsylvania Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund that aids senior citizens, low- and moderate-income families and persons with disabilities, and create licensing for professional music therapists. He also was active in promoting on-farm conservation efforts, raising awareness of food insecurity and promoting food drives as well as advocating for legislation to mitigate crop damage by deer, enhance trespass penalties related to hunting and add a seat to the Pennsylvania Game Commission Board.
India's premium sedan market is experiencing a strategic shift as manufacturers prioritise value creation over volumes through luxury, technology and performance integration. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast Toyota, with its recent launch of Camry at a dealership price of ₹48 lakh, is blending luxury with technology. The Japanese auto major, which has charted a different course, is backing its strategy with 25.49 km/litre efficiency and an 8-year/160,000 km hybrid battery warranty. "Through the longer battery warranty, we bring peace of mind to customers buying a hybrid electric vehicle and enhancing the momentum of vehicle electrification in the country," said a spokesperson for Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, is using the pure luxury approach and its priority remains top-end feature-rich vehicles. The C-Class, priced at ₹62.57 lakh and positioned as the 'Baby S-Class', targets first-time luxury buyers, said Santosh Iyer, MD &CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. The new Camry, with its main rival being the Skoda Superb, has also become an alternative to the likes of Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class, priced in the range of ₹46-61 lakh. Sales of the Camry are already inching closer to the number one player BMW 3 Series at 2,277 units in 2024. Sales of Toyota Camry stood at 1,911 units and Audi A4 at 1,172 units, according to data collated by Jato Dynamics. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program While the premium sedan segment's share in the overall domestic luxury car market has moderated to 24.8% in 2024 from 35.9% in 2022, manufacturers are successfully executing distinct premium positioning strategies. "In this evolved market, success will be defined by product positioning and clear value propositions rather than pure volume metrics," said Ravi Bhatia, president, Jato Dynamics. This strategy aligns with broader luxury car market trends , where average prices have risen 6.9% annually to ₹90.6 lakh, significantly outpacing the premium sedan segment's 2.9% price growth. The premium sedan segment's focused strategies are replacing broad-market approaches, which shows the premium sedan market, while smaller at 10,392 units through November 2024 compared to the luxury segment's 41,937 units, has matured enough to support multiple paths to premium positioning, said Bhatia. The trend is reflected in product strategies across manufacturers. Mercedes-Benz's C 300 AMG Line, for instance, comes with distinctive features like Burmester 3D surround sound, supporting its premium positioning. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 31, 2024. 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AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:04 p.m. ESTDiddy uses Donald Trump's criminal case in bail argument
Police in northern B.C. say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a man was found dead outside the small community of Mackenzie, about 180 kilometres north of Prince George. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Police in northern B.C. say they're investigating a "suspicious death" after a man was found dead outside the small community of Mackenzie, about 180 kilometres north of Prince George. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Police in northern B.C. say they’re investigating a “suspicious death” after a man was found dead outside the small community of Mackenzie, about 180 kilometres north of Prince George. Mounties say major crime investigators are looking for witnesses or people who were in the area of the Finlay Community Connector Forest Service Road on Friday evening or Saturday morning. They say Mackenzie RCMP responded to a call Saturday morning about a man “lying on the edge of the roadway” where responding officers found the body. They say the man’s body was found near the Litnit Creek bridge. Mounties say the investigation is now in the hands of the North District Major Crime Unit, in partnership with local police and the BC Coroners Service. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Investigators say they’re looking for witnesses or dash-camera footage from the forest service road near the bridge from between 9 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. AdvertisementSDSU_FG Plascencia 35, :00. SDSU_Cooper 14 run (Plascencia kick), 7:48. SDSU_FG Plascencia 30, 3:16. USU_Barnes 19 run (Cragun kick), 1:55. USU_Page 9 pass from Barnes (Cragun kick), :16. USU_Sterzer 10 pass from Barnes (Cragun kick), 10:58. USU_Page 6 pass from Barnes (kick failed), 12:26. USU_K.White 5 run (Cragun kick), 8:07. USU_Turner 1 run (Cragun kick), 3:08. SDSU_M.Shaw 12 pass from Tupou'ata-Johnson (Plascencia kick), :32. RUSHING_San Diego St., Cooper 23-118, O'Neil 8-35, Tupou'ata-Johnson 4-18, Sutton 1-17, Napier 2-0. Utah St., Barnes 15-193, Faison 9-52, Turner 12-52, Jameson 8-30, White 1-5, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Petras 4-(minus 9). PASSING_San Diego St., O'Neil 24-32-0-199, Tupou'ata-Johnson 3-4-0-25. Utah St., Barnes 13-15-0-139, Petras 5-7-1-27. RECEIVING_San Diego St., Brown 7-114, Harrison 4-17, Napier 4-2, M.Shaw 3-33, Bennett 3-25, Poke 3-20, Davis 2-4, Cooper 1-9. Utah St., White 6-67, Page 6-55, Sterzer 2-24, Tia 2-11, Hestera 1-6, Turner 1-3. MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.TKO? Police pepper spray brawling Wolverines, Buckeyes
Post falsely links comedian to UnitedHealthcare CEO killing | Fact check
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Strome scored with 2:36 remaining as the Anaheim Ducks rallied from a two-goal deficit in the second period to defeat the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on Sunday. Strome's goal, his sixth of the season, originally wasn't called, but it was reversed after a review. Strome's shot was entirely over the goal line before Edmonton goalie Calvin Pickard could stop it with his skate. Mason McTavish added an empty-net goal. It is the first time since March 30, 2019, the Ducks have defeated the Oilers by more than one goal. Cutter Gauthier, McTavish and Robby Fabbri each had a goal and an assist. Drew Helleson also scored for Anaheim, which snapped a seven-game losing streak to Edmonton. Lukas Dostal made 20 saves. Leon Draisaitl had two goals and Connor McDavid two assists for the Oilers, who were 3-0-1 in their past four. Evan Bouchard also tallied a goal and Pickard stopped 27 shots. Takeaways Oilers: Draisaitl became the fourth player with at least 120 regular-season points in the calendar year. The forward has 50 goals and 71 assists in 2024. The last calendar year to feature as many NHL skaters with 120-plus points was 1993. Ducks: Anaheim had a 32-23 advantage in shots on goal and has won four of its last seven. Key moment Fabbri tied it at 3-all with 2:27 remaining on a snap shot from the right faceoff circle after getting the pass from McTavish. Fabbri has seven points (three goals, four assists) in eight games since returning from a knee injury. Key stat McDavid has a 14-game point streak against the Ducks (11 goals, 23 assists). The only teams he has a longer active point streak against are Nashville and New Jersey at 15 games. Up Next Both teams have home games on Tuesday. The Oilers face Utah while the Ducks take on New Jersey. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl The Associated PressCitius Pharmaceuticals stock hits 52-week low at $0.16A former stock car racer and self-proclaimed paranormal investigator has posted footage to YouTube he said shows drones flying off the New Jersey coast in “deliberate formations” over the Atlantic Ocean. CJ Faison, a Delaware YouTuber with 600,000 subscribers, rented himself a boat, grabbed his night vision video camera, and ventured from the Pine Barrens to the ocean 26 miles east. Faison claimed in the 45-minute video to be “doing something no YouTuber or news outlet has done.” He teased in the footage “we think we uncovered the truth” about the recent sightings of mysterious unmanned aircraft hovering over the Garden State. Sightings of unidentified drones emitting strange light patterns started back in mid-November, and reached a fever pitch around Dec. 8. The debate over what the drones actually are and who is controlling them rages on, with the feds providing little more than assurances they pose no threat to the public. Like most of the purported drone footage online, Faison’s footage from the rented boat fails to provide clear images of what he claimed were drones that emerged from the ocean. A series of blinking lights was caught by Faison’s camera. He noted the lights blinked in a pattern similar to the lights of commercial aircraft. “They’re blending in,” the YouTuber said. “Hidden in plain sight!” Some of the alleged drones Faison filmed moved quickly, darting across the horizon. “It’s wild,” he proclaimed. “It’s eerie.” “This is only the beginning,” Faison further warned. “I have so many questions. What’s launching these drones? How are they staying airborne for hours? What’s their energy source? And why here? Why New Jersey?” New Jersey officials said this week the number of sightings had dropped, with very little activity reported around Christmas. The drop-off follows FAA-imposed restrictions on New York and New Jersey airspace. The FBI said it has investigated approximately 5,000 of the various reports it received from the public, with about 100 deemed credible.
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:04 p.m. EST
Elon Musk Spent $270 Millions To Help Donald Trump Win US Presidency
Trying to fit in routines around work can be tricky, especially for women. New research from Vitality’s ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report finds that eight in 10 women under 50 say their demanding work schedules are holding them back from being active. As a result, a quarter of women exercise less than once a week (25%), and over half of women exercise less than they used to (52%). Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, in partnership with Vitality, is launching Walk Out to Work Out, a new initiative encouraging women to reclaim time during their busy working days to stay active. Jessica Ennis-Hill has shared a few tips to help women fit in exercise around their working day (Image: Vitality) Additionally, she has shared some top tips on how to fit some exercise in during the working day. The full ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report can be found on the website here . 5 top tips to fit in exercise around the workday 1. Incorporate Exercise ‘Snacks’ Jessica shared: "As a busy mum and business owner, I know how challenging it can be to fit in long workouts. That’s why I swear by short bursts of activity—what I call "exercise snacks." "Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch between meetings or a quick walk to clear your mind, these small moments can really add up and keep you feeling active without disrupting your day. 2. Walk and Talk Jessica explained: "When I need to take calls or brainstorm ideas, I often head out for a walk with my dog while doing it – ticking off two things I have to do. I find it not only helps me stay active but also boosts my creativity and focus. "Turn phone calls or virtual meetings into walking meetings where possible. It’s a simple way to add movement while staying productive." 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Reclaim Your Lunch Break "As someone who’s juggled intense schedules, I’ve learned the importance of protecting my lunch break," Jessica said. "I use part of it for physical activity, whether it’s a quick workout, a jog, or a calming walk. "If you feel like your lunch break has disappeared into your workday, speak to your employer about how you can reclaim that time — it’s yours to use for your well-being. I suggest putting it in the diary as a meeting – this will ring-fence the time for you." 4. Advocate for Active Policies Jessica explained: "I have worked with a lot of different sponsors and their teams and I’ve seen the difference it makes when workplaces support physical activity. "If you’re struggling to stay active, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with your employer. Suggest ideas like walking meetings, group exercise activities, or even flexible working hours to make staying active more achievable. "Remember, these changes benefit everyone, from employees to the company itself. Recommended reading: 5. Set Active Reminders Jessica said: "I rely on technology to keep me on track. Fitness trackers or simple alarms can remind you to stand, stretch, or take a short walk every hour. "Even small movements like this can make a huge difference to your energy levels and focus throughout the day."President-elect Donald Trump weighed in Saturday on the immigration issue that has been roiling some of his highest-profile supporters online, telling The New York Post that he has “always been in favor” of H-1B visas. It is not exactly true: Trump has waffled on his support for the H-1B program over the years, going so far as to suspend it late in his first term while his administration planned harsh new restrictions for workers seeking the visas. Denial rates also soared during Trump’s first term , while they plummeted after President Joe Biden took office. The program is designed as a pathway for highly skilled foreigners to legally work in the United States, often in fields related to science and technology. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties,” Trump told the Post. “I’ve been a believer in H-1B,” he added. “I have used it many times. It’s a great program.” His support comes as his billionaire ally Elon Musk has been going to bat for H-1Bs on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, which he owns. To many people, the H-1B program represents American meritocracy, helping the U.S. reward the best and brightest workers of any background. Some entrepreneurs see it as key to staffing their businesses. Anti-immigration hardliners, though, consider the program to be harmful to native-born American workers, and some want to abolish it completely. Trump’s hardline anti-immigration rhetoric helped power him to a second term in office — but there appears to be growing disagreement within his base over which groups of people should be excluded. “America rose to greatness over the past 150 years because it was a meritocracy more than anywhere else on Earth,” Musk wrote Friday. “I will fight to my last drop of blood to ensure that it remains that land of freedom and opportunity.” At another point , Musk said “those in the Republican Party who are hateful, unrepentant racists” were “contemptible fools” who should be “removed ... root and stem,” even though Musk himself been accused of fueling racist rhetoric . Vivek Ramaswamy, who will work with Musk on a commission to cut down government spending the duo considers wasteful, also voiced support for H-1Bs, although in a way that rankled some of his fellow conservatives . “American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long,” Ramaswamy wrote on X, arguing that the U.S. needed to import highly skilled foreign workers because of a supposed flaw in American work culture. Fueling the backlash to H-1Bs on X this week was right-wing extremist Laura Loomer, who has been alleging Musk is not a true member of the “Make America Great Again” movement. Loomer accused Musk of “censoring” her and stepping on her right to free speech by revoking her blue verification check, claiming it vanished even though she paid for it. 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