NEW YORK , Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorney Advertising -- Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Enphase Energy, Inc. ("Enphase" or "the Company") (NASDAQ: ENPH ) and certain of its officers. Class Definition This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Enphase securities between April 25, 2023 and October 22, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/ENPH. Case Details This Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about the Company's business and operations. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants systematically overstated the Company's ability to maintain its pricing levels and market share for microinverter products in Europe in the face of competition from low-cost, Chinese alternatives. Finally, the Complaint alleges that due to Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions and the significant decline in the market value of the Company's common stock following the revelation of the fraud , investors suffered significant damages. What's Next? A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/ENPH. or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller , of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660 . If you suffered a loss in Enphase you have until February 11, 2025 , to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. There is No Cost to You We represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful. Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , X , Facebook , or Instagram . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC Peretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller 332-239-2660 | [email protected] SOURCE Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCFROM Brat Summer to Bridgerton Boobs - it’s been a cracker of a year in the fashion world, says Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend. From best revenge dress to best trend setter, we reveal the winners of Fabulous' Fashion Awards. BODY POSITIVITY AWARD NICOLA COUGHLAN 11 Derry Girl-turned-Brigerton leading lady Nicola Coughlan became an icon this year Credit: Getty THE Bridgerton leading lady became an icon this year — and not just for those steamy sex scenes in series three of the hit Netflix period drama. During a press junket in June, the 37-year-old had a perfect response when told she was “very brave” for daring to bare her very normal-sized body on screen. “You know, it is hard because I think women with my body type — women with perfect breasts — we don’t get to see ourselves on screen enough,” she fired back, as ladies around the world fist-pumped in admiration. READ MORE ON FASHION STYLE SLIP I wanted cute family pictures at Winter Wonderland but had a total fashion fail SKINCREDIBLE I'm a makeup artist & my easy tip will make your face look as smooth as butter Later speaking about her sex scenes, Nicola said it felt like the ideal retort to the endless conversation surrounding her size, and we couldn’t agree more. Her cleavage is so magnificent no wonder sales of balcony bras were boosted this year — up 61 per cent — as we all clambered to recreate Bridgerton Boobs. BEST REVENGE DRESS J-LO 11 Jennifer Lopez bounced back from her divorce with a knockout revenge dress Credit: Getty IN August, Bennifer called it quits for the second time, with Jennifer Lopez filing for divorce from Ben Affleck . Most read in Fabulous SAY WHAT? Only those with a top IQ can name all nine Christmas songs in this emoji quiz GAME OVER My kids got nothing under the tree this Xmas... they were so rude to me this year FACING THE FUTURE I was stared at until I got a face transplant - now I want to find love PRETTY KNITTY I'm a laundry expert - top tips to make sure you don't ruin your Xmas jumpers In September, she did what any self-respecting woman would do — and bounced back with a knockout revenge dress. Not content with posting a series of sexy snaps on social media, the 55-year-old actress wore a Tamara Ralph couture gown at the premiere of her film Unstoppable at the Toronto International Film Festival. The dress featured hundreds of small mirrored discs that made J-Lo shine like a disco ball. With large cutouts along each side held together by black velvet bows, it was a seriously show-stopping number. Even if Ben, 52, wasn’t seething with jealousy, we were — over how amazing she looked. SERVICES TO LINGERIE RIHANNA 11 Singer Rihanna is still the queen of our smalls Credit: Savagexfenty IN a year that saw the return of the legendary Victoria’s Secret catwalk show, after a six-year absence, Rihanna is still the queen of our smalls. Now a mum of two, the 36-year-old creator of undies brand Savage X Fenty has been refreshingly upfront about the changes her body has been through post-children. In April, she told Interview magazine: “You just see ripples coming from places you never knew, and it’s all in your thighs, because your thighs are carrying the weight of your baby and uterus.” Creating sexy lingerie for every body shape, the singer is single-handedly making us feel better about our own wobbly bits — one pair of knickers at a time. BEST TREND SETTER Charli XCX 11 The Brat look reigned supreme this year, named after Charli XCX’s sixth album Credit: GC Images TIKTOK trends change faster than the weather, and this year we’ve seen everything from demure to “mob wife”. Reigning supreme, however, was the Brat look, named after Charli XCX’s sixth album, released in June with an iconic slime-green cover. A celebration of youthful hedonism, Brat Summer was about being carefree, cool, chaotic and unashamedly yourself. Think laddered tights, no bra, and what (slightly older) folk would call 90s grunge. The trend became so ubiquitous that MP Emily Thornberry played a song from the album during her Labour conference DJ set, and TikTok was taken over by Charli’s hit song Apple, which amassed over 1.4million #brat TikTok videos. BEST METHOD DRESSER ZENDAYA 11 Zendaya took things to a whole new level on the red carpet Credit: Getty IT’S been one hell of a year for the 28-year-old American actress, with lauded roles in two of 2024’s biggest movies — sci-fi epic Dune, and sexy tennis romp, Challengers. But on the red carpet, she took things to a whole new level with what her stylist Law Roach dubbed “method dressing, kind of like method acting”, AKA wearing outfits inspired by her films. In February, to promote Dune, it was a futuristic hooded gown and cyborg catsuit by Mugler, while Challengers in April featured tennis whites and stilettos with tennis balls. Game, set and match to Zendaya. BEST MALE Paul Mescal 11 Paul Mescal rocking athleisure-wear and ankle-swinging tailored trousers Credit: GC Images FROM his off-duty Gaelic football shorts, to his fashion-forward red-carpet clobber, Irish heart-throb Paul Mescal , 28, reached style-god status this year. We had an inkling of his fashion power when Normal People hit screens in 2020, with Connell’s chain getting its very own Instagram account and sparking a wave of jewellery-wearing blokes. Come 2024, and the Gladiator II star is in a league of his own, rocking athleisure-wear and ankle-swinging tailored trousers with equal panache. And it’s not just us who think so — GQ crowned him their Most Stylish Person Of 2024, too BEST NEWCOMER LABOUR LAIDES 11 Deputy PM Angela Rayner swapped sensible suits for a series of block-colour looks Credit: Getty LABOUR’S return to power in July saw Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s impeccably dressed wife Victoria thrust into the spotlight. The NHS worker loves British fashion brand ME + EM — which duly sold out of anything she wore. Deputy PM Angela Rayner swapped sensible suits for a series of block-colour looks from the brand. It turned out the 44-year-old had got the £2,000 haul for free. A shout-out goes to ex PM, Tory Rishi Sunak for nearly killing off the Adidas Samba trainer, when he wore a pair during a video promoting tax policies. HIGH STREET HERO ABBEY CLANCY 11 Abbey Clancy wins our High Street Honey award for her collections with F&F at Tesco Credit: F&F THIS year, A-listers swapped Bond Street for the high street, with a slew of big-name collaborations. From Kate Moss at Zara to Victoria Beckham at Mango and Claudia Winkleman at Marks & Spencer , we’ve been blessed with a variety of price ranges and tastes. But it’s model Abbey Clancy who wins our High Street Honey award for her collections with F&F at Tesco. The 38-year-old mum of four released a Christmas capsule collection in October which quickly went viral. Sell-outs that shoppers couldn’t get in their trolleys quick enough included a sequin cardigan with black bow ties, £29.50, and a gold long-sleeved sequin mini dress, £35. More please, Abbey! LEGEND AWARD PAMELA ANDERSON 11 Pamela Anderson has found herself at the top of every invite list in fashion Credit: Getty FROM Baywatch to a critically acclaimed turn in new film The Last Showgirl — to say Pamela Anderson has come a long way is an understatement. Finally taken seriously as an actress, the 57-year-old has also found herself at the top of every invite list in fashion as she continues to ditch make-up and champion bare-faced beauty on the red carpet. This year, she has rocked impeccably chic looks from top designers including Elie Saab, Oscar de la Renta and Loewe. In November Beyonce dressed up as two of Pammy’s characters — from Baywatch and her 1996 flick Barbwire — with a platinum blonde wig and ’90s brows in an Instagram video. If that’s not the perfect homage, then we don’t know what is. BEST SLOBRITY KATIE HOLMES 11 Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes really flew the flag for mums worldwide Credit: Getty A-LISTERS including Jennifer Lawrence and Megan Fox embraced scruffy dressing (despite their bulging bank balances), as so-called slobrity style peaked. But it was Dawson’s Creek star Katie Holmes who really flew the flag for mums worldwide, by nailing laid-back style. When not on the red carpet, the 46-year-old actress was often spot-ted shuffling around New York in baggy jeans, with an oversized bag, clutch-ing a coffee and her packed lunch. Can we relate, or can we relate? Katie’s street-cred rose even further when she was spotted wearing some low-key arm candy from British high street brand Dune, this October. Needless to say, the XL Deliberate brown tote bag sold out before we could nab one. But we still salute Kate for making dressing-down look so good — and for being the reason our iron is now gathering dust. BEST TOURDROBE THE SWIFTIES 11 A sparkly, bejewelled army of Swifties dressed for the superstar's Eras tour Credit: Getty TAYLOR SWIFT’s epic Eras tour boosted our economy by £1billion, and saw ticket-holders spend an average £56 on a new outfit to wear for it. If you were lucky enough to get to one of the 15 UK concerts between June and August, you would have seen a sparkly, bejewelled army of Swifties dressed for the occasion. Read more on the Scottish Sun CHRISTMAS MIRACLES Christmas baby joy for Scots parents as little ones begin arriving EDGE OF THE WORLD Inside the remote Scots golf club dubbed 'the world's loneliest course' Fans flocked to eBay to find pre-loved looks, with searches for “Eras Tour” seeing a 400 per cent increase, and a 60 per cent rise in online hunts for “sequin dress” in just a week. And it wasn’t just the kids — TikTok videos of “Taylor Swift Older Fan Outfit” amassed 9.7million posts, too. Swifties, we salute you.
NoneNo. 7 Tennessee dispatches UT Martin to remain undefeatedSeventy-one corpses; that's what police found in two forest monasteries, thrusting them into the public eye for all the wrong reasons. The temples claimed the corpses were just "tools for meditation". But was this practice enlightening -- or just plain bizarre, a grotesque deviation from traditional Buddhist meditation? The police raid at the Nakornchai Boworn forest monastery in Phichit province on Nov 25 made headlines when officials found 41 coffins containing corpses in 15 meditation halls within the dense 200-rai woodland compound. Each hall contained four to five bodies, many reduced to dried remains, their skin clinging to bone. The corpses, stored in coffins buried shallowly beneath golden lids, were used as objects of meditation, said the abbot, Phra Ajarn Saifon Pantito. Most of them were donated by relatives as "teachers" for meditation practitioners. Hardly had the shock subsided when officials raided the Sirichan forest monastery in Kamphaeng Phet province, where 30 other corpses were similarly used as meditation objects. Both temples are part of the same network, employing the same meditation techniques. Meditation with decaying bodies is nothing new. It is one of 40 meditation methods taught in Buddhism. In ancient times, some monks would head to cemeteries, sitting next to decaying bodies to meditate on life's fleeting nature. It was raw, direct, and effective -- a way to break attachment to the physical self and understand anicca or impermanence. Yet scaling up by amassing dozens of corpses and turning the traditional asubha meditation into a formalised ritual is a new twist, raising ethical and legal questions. The truth of impermanence, however, is not the temple's ultimate goal. According to the abbot, the practice aims to cultivate "magic eyes and ears" supernatural powers, enabling practitioners to see and hear beyond ordinary senses. He reportedly explained that developing psychic powers requires rigorous mental exercises to confront fear and build mental strength. The corpses, he said, act as their teachers. However, such pursuits are far from the Buddha's teachings. While Buddhism acknowledges the mental power that comes from concentration meditation, it warns against becoming attached to psychic phenomena. Not only is it not the path to spiritual liberation, it can lead practitioners astray, trapping them in even deeper greed and delusion. The Buddha focuses on vipassana, or insight meditation, which focuses on cultivating mindfulness to observe the impermanence of life and the illusory nature of the self. This practice fosters unconditional loving kindness and compassion by freeing the mind from greed, lust, and delusion. After the raids, the police charged the temples with operating cemeteries without legal permits and fined them 3,000 baht per corpse. Does this mean that with the right permits, these temples could continue using corpses to cultivate psychic powers, claiming that it is a Buddhist practice? The police clarified that their focus is purely on legal matters. It's up to religious authorities to decide whether using corpses for meditation is acceptable. But the issue goes beyond legality. In Buddhist traditions, the dead are cremated, not kept permanently. Cremation is believed to release spirits, allowing them a journey to other realms. Temples typically don't have cemeteries for long-term storage of bodies. Will legal permits change this tradition, allowing temples to keep dead bodies for good? The temples' proponents may argue that the corpses were donated with families' consent. But consent isn't the only issue. Were practitioners prepared for the possible psychological toll? Was there support for those overwhelmed by fear and hallucination? Ethical and practical concerns abound. They may also argue that it is common for temples to preserve the corpses of meditation masters for public worship. Why can't they? Amid the controversy, Chusak Sirinil, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office, stated that he believes the practice of "magic eyes and ears" corpse meditation is a deviation from Buddhism. He urged the National Office of Buddhism to investigate the incidents on religious grounds and implement effective oversight policies and measures. There has been longstanding exploitation of Buddhist practices, he noted, and the National Office of Buddhism must take a more proactive role in addressing these issues. He is being cautious. Politicians simply do not want to ruffle feathers with the clerical establishment. While aligning with public sentiment, he emphasised that it is the responsibility of clerical authorities to rule what is acceptable or not and address these problems internally to protect Buddhism. The police have arrested the temple people in question. The government has spoken up, urging action from cleric authorities. The ball is in the clergy's court. The clergy must answer. Are corpse meditations acceptable? If not, why? If so, under what conditions? What are the measures to protect practitioners? What actions should be taken to clean up rogue monks -- and to increase cleric efficiency? Throughout the controversy, an authoritative voice from the clergy is missing. This is troubling. The deafening silence from the clergy reflects a systematic inertia that has allowed widespread laxity in the monkhood. As in past years, stories of sex and drug scandals in the monkhood have become so common that they hardly surprise anyone anymore. At the same time, temple corruption and the commercialisation of Buddhism continue to erode public trust, with no effort from the clergy to address these problems. This year, however, scandals involving monks -- ranging from wildlife hunting to corpse meditation -- have crossed new lines of controversy. Strict recruitment and training, as required by the Vinaya , the monastic code of conduct, are urgently needed. Financial transparency in temples is equally important. According to the Vinaya, monks aren't even supposed to touch money, yet many disregard this rule entirely. With around 250,000 monks and nearly 45,000 temples across the country, the monkhood needs modern administration and management to ensure it aligns with Buddhist teachings. Currently, such systems simply don't exist. The clergy still operates under a feudal, hierarchical structure. The Supreme Ecclesiastic Council, composed of senior monks in top positions, lacks a secretariat or the mechanisms needed to set goals or enforce policies. Meanwhile, the National Office of Buddhism -- a government body -- primarily serves as a middleman for distributing state funds to temples. Traditional, top-down preaching by monks is increasingly out of touch with modern realities and concerns. By focusing on individual moral failings while ignoring the structural injustices that cause social suffering, the clergy is often seen as part of the status quo rather than a force for change. Combined with widespread temple corruption, recurring scandals, and the perception of senior monks as a privileged class disconnected from ordinary people, public faith in the clergy continues to decline. This erosion of trust has fuelled the growth of lay Buddhist teachers and meditation movements, offering meaningful practices without the frills of temple theatrics. However, some of these movements have also been co-opted for personal gain. What should Buddhists do? It's worth remembering that authentic Buddhist practices are never about theatrics. The focus should never be on novelty, shock value, or supernatural powers. Instead, it's about introspection. Simple methods like mindfulness of breathing, physical movements, or observing body sensations are timeless and effective. They remind us that the answers aren't outside but within. Don't be swayed by sensationalism. Buddhism isn't about spectacle. It's about shedding greed, lust, and delusion. And you don't need 70 corpses to do that. Sanitsuda Ekachai is a former editorial pages editor. She writes on human rights, gender, and Thai Buddhism.
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Missing dog returned to family home and rang the doorbell WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Athena, a 4-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, escaped her home in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on Dec. 15, prompting a search among the community and nearby towns for her. Yet on Christmas Eve, Athena appeared at the family's front door ringing on their doorbell — ending a search after more than a week. Her owner, Brooke Comer, said Athena's escape brought multiple communities in her town and neighboring towns to search for her dog, and that Athena's escape was about a 20-mile roundtrip near the train tracks. Sinkhole in New Jersey keeps I-80 closed after a section collapses into an abandoned mine WHARTON, N.J. (AP) — Road crews are repairing Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey after a sinkhole from an abandoned mine shut down the eastbound lanes. The state’s transportation department says it remains unknown when those lanes will reopen. The hole opened up along the highway’s right shoulder Thursday morning, and the guardrail was still hanging suspended across the gaping 40-foot-wide hole on Friday. Drivers are currently having to detour near Wharton, about 40 miles west of New York City. The New Jersey Department of Transportation said crews will work around the clock to the repair the roadway. Customs agents seize 22,000 fake Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers shipped from Israel HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency says it seized more than 20,000 counterfeit Pennsylvania vehicle inspection stickers that were shipped from Israel to an address in Philadelphia. The agency said that customs officers found the stickers in two different shipments that arrived on different days, Nov. 26 and Dec. 9. The agency didn't say in a Thursday statement who sent the stickers, who was to receive them and what purpose the stickers were going to serve. The agency said it made no arrests. Pennsylvania requires that motor vehicles be inspected annually to ensure they meet minimum mechanical, safety and emissions standards. One owl rescued by a Minnesota woman is euthanized; efforts to save the other continue ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — One of the two owls rescued by a Minnesota woman in a story that went viral this week has died, but the other is still getting medical care. Wildwoods Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Duluth said in a Facebook post Thursday that the snowy owl rescued by Annabell Whelan had internal injuries, a broken wing and a broken leg, and had to be euthanized. The great gray owl also rescued by Whelan suffered broken bones and large soft tissue wounds. Wildwoods says the injuries are severe and veterinarians are doing everything they can to “give the bird a chance at recovery.” Whelan happened to find both injured owls at different places Monday. 2 Florida tourist spots halt drones in shows following a separate accident that injured a boy ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A theme park resort and a huge hotel in central Florida either have stopped using drones or canceled their drone-based shows after several drones collided and fell from the sky during a separate holiday celebration in downtown Orlando. The accident last weekend injured a boy who required surgery. Universal Orlando said this week that it was pausing the drone component of its “CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular” show, while Orlando World Center Marriott posted that it was canceling its scheduled drone shows during the holiday week. The halt in using drones follows last Saturday’s accident at a holiday show at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando. NASA's Parker Solar Probe survives close brush with the sun's scorching surface NEW YORK (AP) — NASA has confirmed that a spacecraft has made the closest approach to the sun. Earlier this week, the Parker Solar Probe passed within a mere 3.8 million miles of the sun. Space agency officials received an all-clear message Thursday night confirming Parker survived the journey. The spacecraft was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. It'll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the sun's outer atmosphere iis so much hotter than its surface. 'Morrison Hotel' made famous by The Doors goes up in flames in LA The former Morrison Hotel, which was famously on the cover of a 1970 album by The Doors, has been significantly damaged by a fire in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Fire Department says the four-story building burned for nearly two hours Thursday. More than 100 firefighters helped bring the fire under control. The building had been vacant for more than a decade but several people who were inside at the time escaped without injuries. The Morrison Hotel was featured on the album’s cover that showed legendary frontman Jim Morrison in the middle. That album was viewed as a comeback for The Doors. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. Suzuki Motor former boss Osamu Suzuki, who turned the minicar maker into a global player, dies at 94 TOKYO (AP) — Osamu Suzuki, the charismatic former boss of Japanese mini-vehicle maker Suzuki Motor Corp., has died. He was 94. Suzuki was known for his candid remarks and friendliness, calling himself an "old guy from a small to mid-size company.” He became CEO of Suzuki in 1978 and helped turn the company into a global brand name. It was the first Japanese automaker to start local production in India and has had tie-ups with industry leaders like General Motors and Volkswagen. It is working with Toyota on developing self-driving vehicles. The company said Suzuki died Wednesday of malignant lymphoma. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay.Nebraska plans not to get caught sleeping vs. South DakotaBritish Japanese director Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s documentaries are a process of trying to understand the culture in which she grew up. “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams” (2019) used a high school baseball tournament as a window into Japanese society. “Monk by Blood” (2013) and “Temple Family” (2021) meditated on the age-old tussle between tradition and progress, via the story of a priest-to-be with a taste for DJing. For her latest feature, Yamazaki spent a year filming at an elementary school in Tokyo’s Setagaya Ward, with the aim of showing how the citizens of tomorrow are formed. Her thesis, echoed by various characters in the documentary, is that primary education in Japan is about more than just academic subjects: It’s teaching students how to live in society. Starting in spring 2021, “The Making of a Japanese” is an intimate chronicle of a turbulent year defined by the strictures of the coronavirus pandemic. Face masks are mandatory, even outdoors; hand sanitizer is omnipresent. Teachers get to grips with using Zoom during classes, to varying degrees of success. While posing for a photo with another student on the first day of school, a 6-year-old grumbles that he can’t socially distance.Nebraska will be trying to preserve its perfect in-state record when it hosts South Dakota on Wednesday night in a nonconference game in Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers (4-1) are 3-0 at home and also won Friday at then-No. 14 Creighton, beating their in-state rivals on the road for the second straight time. But the last time they did that, in 2022, they followed that win with a 16-point loss at Indiana to open Big Ten Conference play. "Believe me, we've addressed a lot of things," Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg said. "A lot of people are saying some really positive things. You've got to find a way to put that behind you. I've liked how our team has responded and come back to work after that great win at Creighton." Brice Williams leads the Cornhuskers with 18.2 points per game and was one of five players in double figures against Creighton. Juwan Gary topped the list with 16. South Dakota (6-2) comes to town off a 112-50 home win Monday night over Randall, the third non-Division I school it has beat. The Coyotes' last game against a D1 opponent was Friday at Southern Indiana, resulting in a 92-83 loss. This will be South Dakota's second nonconference game against a Big Ten opponent, after a 96-77 loss at Iowa on Nov. 12. In December, the Coyotes also visit Santa Clara, hovering near the top 100 in KenPom adjusted efficiency, before jumping into Big Sky play. "The schedule is very good and that should help us," third-year South Dakota coach Eric Peterson said before the season. "We have some good nonconference games that should help prepare us for the end of the season." Nebraska has held four of its opponents to 67 or fewer points, with Saint Mary's the only one to top that number in the Cornhuskers' lone loss. Opponents are shooting 38.1 percent this season. South Dakota shot below 40 percent in its two previous games before shooting 62 percent against Randall. Isaac Bruns, who scored 20 to lead South Dakota in the Randall game, paces the Coyotes with 12.9 points per game. --Field Level Media
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Article content Coincident with Donald Trump’s electoral victory, increasing numbers of America’s corporations are backing off their DEI — diversity, equity, inclusion — programs. Recommended Videos Trump’s opposition to DEI is clear and JD Vance’s bold opposition to this agenda was one of the reasons for his selection as Trump’s running mate. As the Trump transition team completes its work bringing in the new leadership that will run the American government, it’s clear that a priority is to uproot the woke rules, directives and institutions that Democrats have implanted in the federal government. Efforts will be made to de-woke the military, the defence department and other major government departments and agencies. The justice department will work to use existing law to challenge the prevalence of woke rules that have so widely taken over the governance and operation of our universities. Walmart, one of America’s largest companies, has just announced it will end the Center for Racial Equity it launched in 2020 with funding of $100 million. The website of this centre describes its mission as working to “foster equitable outcomes for people ... (and) to address the root causes of gaps in outcomes experienced by Black and African American people in education, health, finance and criminal justice systems.” Walmart also, according to The Wall Street Journal , will “stop allowing third-party sellers to offer some LGBTQ-themed items on Walmart.com.” Boeing Corporation, per the same report, has also announced a similar winding down of these efforts. Whereas we can understand how a political agenda can find its way into government institutions, how does this happen in the private sector? What motivated these corporations that operate in a free marketplace and are owned and controlled by private stockholders to incorporate a political agenda into their business and operating practices, and what is motivating them now to back off these programs? Has the management of these corporations changed their minds regarding the business efficacy of these programs? Or did they put them in place initially to curry favour with a political regime once in power and now they are backing off to curry favour with a new regime? Let’s recall, again, how profoundly our culture has changed. If there was a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, it was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963. And if there was a defining line in that speech, it was King’s declaration that “I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.” The Civil Rights Movement was, in the grand scheme of things, about right and wrong. About good and evil. The movement succeeded because it was rooted in these truths. As King argued in 1963, the problem was not our Constitution but its implementation by human beings who permitted evil to find its way into our culture. Unfortunately, rather than following through with the true biblical spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, the nation took the path of politics to implement justice, making our country less free, rather than turning to King’s appeal to the Bible to improve our freedom, in the spirit in which the Constitution was written. We might consider that moment, when politics took over, the birth of today’s woke movement. The result has been a vast politicization of our country and our culture. My hope is we learn and don’t trade one political regime for another. Yes, we need to go back to a culture of free markets and merit. But it all starts with the choices free individuals make and those choices must start with a conviction of good and evil as defined by the Bible that King had in mind when he spoke that day in Washington in August 1963. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and EducationTesla emerges as surprising rival to AMD and Nvidia in quest to grab next-gen HBM4 memory for AI and supercomputersBest gifts for fitness lovers and wellness enthusiasts you want to treat this Christmas
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general dismissed a felony assault charge Friday against a police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man to the ground, breaking his neck, during an argument over a traffic ticket. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general dismissed a felony assault charge Friday against a police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man to the ground, breaking his neck, during an argument over a traffic ticket. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general dismissed a felony assault charge Friday against a police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man to the ground, breaking his neck, during an argument over a traffic ticket. Gentner Drummond announced that he had intervened in the case and dismissed the aggravated assault and battery charge against Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson, 28. Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna charged Gibson this month after body-worn camera video released by police showed Gibson throwing Lich Vu to the ground after Vu touched Gibson during the argument following a non-injury traffic accident Oct. 27. “As attorney general, I will not permit Oklahoma police officers to face criminal prosecution for conduct adhering to their training,” Drummond said in a statement. “While the outcome of this incident is unquestionably devastating for Mr. Vu and his family, I do not believe the officer exhibited criminal intent.” Prosecutors said Vu suffered a brain bleed and a broken neck and eye socket. There was no immediate response to messages sent to Behenna seeking comment on Drummond’s decision. She said previously that after evaluating the case, prosecutors determined Gibson’s actions were an unreasonable use of force. Drummond said Vu should not have touched Gibson during the argument. 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. “No individual is allowed to hit or push an officer, regardless of whether he or she doesn’t understand English well or comes from a different culture,” Drummond said. “The simple truth is, this unfortunate incident never would have occurred if Mr. Vu had kept his hands to himself.” The use of force prompted outrage in Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community, particularly since the video shows Vu had difficulty communicating with Gibson during the interaction and appeared not to understand what the officer was telling him. Gibson’s attorney, former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, said Drummond’s decision to drop the charge was “well reasoned and correct.” Mark Nelson, president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police, said no officer wants to see someone injured and he hopes Vu makes a swift and full recovery. “However, our members often have to make split-second decisions, and they cannot control the outcome of every situation,” Nelson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, when someone resists law enforcement, they increase the risk of harm to themselves or others.” Advertisement Advertisement
Every constituency that elected a new Reform UK candidate at the general election has experienced long delays to road improvement schemes and resulting congestion, a report has found, in a possible clue to the growing appeal of populist parties. A series of other places where Nigel Farage’s party is now polling well are also lacking transport infrastructure, the report added, as well as a perception among locals that decisions were being made in London that made their lives more difficult could push them to abandon major parties. The report, by the consultancy Stonehaven, stressed that it “does not argue that the presence or absence of a road is the root cause of populism, or recommend building these particular roads”. It added: “But it does argue that an absence of good transport links to the outside world – especially by road – is one of places where populist critique rings true.” Such a demonstrable link between physical infrastructure and the rise of populist parties is particularly resonant for Keir Starmer’s Downing Street, where his team believe that they could lose numerous seats to Reform at the next election unless they can tangibly improve voters’ lives, a view shared by many Labour MPs . The report argues that roads appear to be a particularly important emblem of areas that feel “left behind” and failed by central government, particularly those where a lack of good public transport and the need for many people to travel to work outside the town creates regular gridlock. Reform took five seats in July with one of them, Ashfield, already held by the party, after Lee Anderson defected from the Conservatives four months before the election. Of the four other seats, the report lists Great Yarmouth, the Norfolk town now represented by Reform’s Rupert Lowe, as a particularly good example of the idea, with its route towards Norwich, the A47 Acle Straight, being a single carriageway despite years of local campaigning, and 22,000 vehicles using it every day. People in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, where the MP is now Farage, are heavily reliant on the A133 road where abandoned plans to improve it are evident in “ghost bridges” built for a proposed scheme but never used, the report notes. Similarly, Skegness, in the area represented by Richard Tice, is in a part of Lincolnshire with notoriously poor road links and no success with campaigns to extend the M11 motorway. South Basildon, won by James McMurdock, is better connected but faces significant freight traffic, worsened by long delays to the Lower Thames Crossing. The report used constituency-level MRP polling carried out last month, which estimated that of six Labour MPs whose constituencies adjoin the A1(M) around Doncaster, an increasingly busy route not greatly improved since it opened in 1961, five would currently lose their seats to Reform. Robert Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester, said the study seemingly gave a clue as to why Reform and its predecessors, Ukip and the Brexit party, tended to do disproportionately well in coastal parts of the east of England, given the often poor transport links in these areas. Poor transport was both a source of frustration in itself, but also likely to exacerbate economic decline, and encourage the exit of younger, more aspirational locals, Ford added. There was, however, one potential benefit to this for mainstream parties seeking to counter populists, he said: “The A1(M) not being upgraded since 1961 is a very specific and real concern that you can address in a very specific way. Even if it isn’t the only, or even the most important driver of this kind of support, it is something that politicians can actually grip. “If people are saying, ‘I don’t like the way society is changing,’ it’s kind of rather hard to know what the policy response is, whereas in this case it’s rather easier.”Broncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up Raiders
The inquest jury has made a series of recommendations for the improved supervision and care of vulnerable young people after recording a verdict of suicide in Shane O’Connor’s death. Sinead O'Connor with her son Shane. The son of Sinéad O’Connor found his imminent 18th birthday a “very daunting experience” as he would no longer have access to specialist health and welfare services for young people, an inquest into his death at age 17 heard. The inquest jury has made a series of recommendations for the improved supervision and care of vulnerable young people after recording a verdict of suicide in Shane O’Connor’s death. His body was found in a secluded area at the back of a housing estate outside Bray, Co Wicklow on January 7, 2022 less than 24 hours after he was reported missing from Tallaght University Hospital at a time when he was supposed to be under supervised 24/7 one-to-one care. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner’s Court heard the teenager had been brought to TUH’s emergency department by his mother on December 29, 2021 after a drug overdose in what was believed to be an attempted suicide. The inquest heard staff were not available to provide the 24/7 supervision prescribed by the hospital’s doctors. Evidence at the time was that he had absconded from TUH on the morning of January 6, 2022. A senior social worker with Tusla, Joyce Connolly, told the second day of the inquest on Tuesday that Shane and his mother had a “complex and turbulent” relationship but were also very close and “in some way dependent on each other throughout their lives.” Ms Connolly said the singer hoped to resume full-time care of her son and there were ongoing discussions to see if that might be possible. Ms O’Connor, who formally identified her son’s body to gardaí, died suddenly herself from natural causes just 18 months later in London. The inquest heard Shane had been under the care of Tusla since 2015 and had been fostered by his half-brother, Jake Reynolds – the late singer’s eldest child – and his partner, Lia Petcu, between July 2016 and May 2018 before being placed in residential care facilities. Asked about rules on what Shane could do when he had chosen not to engage in education, Ms Connolly said a “delicate balance” had to be struck but they had power to stop him leaving to do what he wished. Ms Connolly said a committee sat on January 4, 2022 to consider applying for a special care order for Shane – which would have given Tusla power to deprive the teenager of his liberty – but deferred a decision as it did not have a report from the HSE’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). However, Ms Connolly said she believed Shane’s needs were more “of a mental health nature.” She said the teenager would have been actively encouraged to attend addiction treatment services but it was “an unfortunate factor” that he did not want to stop consuming cannabis. Ms Connolly noted that he had indicated that his life was better when he was using the drug. However, she said childcare authorities also had no powers to prevent him accessing such substances. Asked about possible improvements that could be made, she recommended “greater work on relationship-building” between the various State agencies involved in the care of young people. Aoife Scanlon, a manager of the New Beginnings residential care centre in Newbridge, Co Kildare where Shane had lived since March 2019, said he had settled in well to the facility for the first year. However, the inquest heard the teenager seemed to deteriorate from July 2021, although Ms Scanlon said she could identify no particular trigger for it. New Beginnings later informed Tusla that it no longer felt it could provide safe accommodation for Shane because of his complex mental health needs. Ms Scanlon said they had continued to support him by providing staff to assist TUH and Shane’s father, Donal Lunny – a leading folk musician – with 24/7 supervision of Shane after his admission to the hospital. The inquest heard New Beginnings stopped assisting with such supervision under Covid-19 guidelines after Shane was deemed a close contact when Mr Lunny tested positive for the virus on January 4, 2022. Ms Scanlon fought back tears as she recalled Shane as “a lovely, lovely lad.” “He struggled with being in care for a good while but he knew he needed a level of support,” she added. Ms Scanlon also remarked: “He was so intelligent, so smart. He knew he could make it in life and would have spoken to that.” The inquest heard that Shane spent his days in Dublin city centre and Bray and would get lifts from Newbridge. Ms Scanlon said the reality of the situation was that New Beginnings operated “an open unit” and the teenager could not be physically stopped from going out. She believed that he spent a lot of time with his then girlfriend in Bray. However, Ms Petcu expressed concern over how Shane could be allowed “out all day” at the age of 15 to do whatever he wanted. “What adult would let a child do that,” she remarked. There was an emotional exchange during the proceedings between several members of Shane’s family including Ms O’Connor’s father, Seán, and her daughter, Róisín Waters, which arose after a juror had raised a question about the teenager’s access to cannabis. The coroner, Cróna Gallagher, observed that it was a “very difficult situation.” Ms Waters left the hearing a short time later appearing visibly upset and did not return. At another stage, Mr O’Connor described how his daughter and Shane were “very close.” “They loved each other madly,” he observed. Mr O’Connor outlined how the singer was also suffering mental health issues around the same time of her son’s death. “She was not in a position to do more than she did, which was a lot,” he added. A psychiatrist who had treated Shane at the Linn Dara in-patient psychiatric unit at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot, Dublin, Tara Rudd, said the teenager’s substance misuse had caused his mental health problems. Although his condition always improved following detoxification, Dr Rudd said Shane never contemplated giving up his use of cannabis. She said Shane had not engaged with therapeutic services at Linn Dara because he was unable to. Dr Rudd spoke fondly of how they had argued a lot but he would always come back to apologise and joke that he would not invite her to his housewarming. “Spending time with his family and getting his own place was all he wanted,” Dr Rudd recalled. She added: “I’m saddened for his family and this young man that he didn’t live the life he deserved to live,” she added. The inquest heard that CAMHS had requested that Shane be kept at Linn Dara for the final three months before reaching his 18th birthday. However, Dr Rudd said it was not warranted as he had no active mental health illness at the time and it would have been “unfair.” She told the coroner that she believed the development of a specialist young adult mental health service to assist those aged 16-25 years to transition from CAMHS to adult mental services would be useful. A jury of six men and two women made a series of recommendations including that all HSE hospitals should have clear protocols for the close supervision of vulnerable patients, particularly children. They also called for a review of protocols for reporting missing people to ensure that gardaí would accept such reports from family members, Tusla and medical staff. Evidence was heard that gardaí in Tallaght would not accept a report that Shane was missing from TUH staff and stated it had to be made by Tusla. Closing the inquest, Dr Gallagher said the hearing had involved “very complex evidence” which was also “very arduous and harrowing” but expressed hope it had been of some value to his family. The coroner acknowledged that Shane had suffered in his short life but that he had hoped as he matured that he could “move through this time of crisis.” She said she could only imagine the shock of his death to his family, noting that he would have celebrated his 21st birthday next March. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, contact the Samaritans on 116 123; Pieta House on 1800 247 247 or text HELLO to 50808, a free 24/7 text support service for people going through a mental health or emotional crisis.ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant is skipping his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Grant, a key part of the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team, announced his decision Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fellow Michigan interior lineman Mason Graham had already declared for the draft. Both are projected as likely first-round picks. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound Grant was a third-team Associated Press All-American. He had 32 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries. Grant helped Michigan upset Ohio State in the Big Ten regular-season finale, making four tackles. Cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland have also declared for the draft leading up to Michigan's game against No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Wahoo defense too much for Central City in C-1 finalPowell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies. Despite Trump’s comments, the Fed chair said he was confident of widespread support in Congress for maintaining the central bank’s independence. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins is the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner. Trump calls Atkins a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. The SEC oversees U.S. securities markets and investments. If confirmed next year by the new Republican-led Senate, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who's been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative SEC member during his tenure and known to have a strong free-market bent. Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there? It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history. Experts say it could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success — keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia’s new law was approved by its Parliament last week. It's an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. The ban won’t go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That’s not clear, nor will it be easy. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story A basic tenet of journalism — calling someone for comment on a story — was seen as a threat by defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's mother. Penelope Hegseth appeared on Fox News Channel to talk about her son, whose nomination by President-elect Trump to lead the Pentagon is threatened by a series of stories about his past behavior. One came this past weekend, when The New York Times wrote about a private email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son about his treatment of women. She said on Fox News that she felt threatened when the Times called her about the email, which she had quickly regretted sending. The Times said they were engaging in routine journalism. District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two ZIP codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The complaint filed on Wednesday in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership service. The lawsuit alleges Amazon in mid-2022 imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on the two low-income ZIP codes. An Amazon spokesperson says the company made the change based on concerns about driver safety. The spokesperson says claims that Amazon's business practices are discriminatory are “categorically false.” Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden has pledged another $600 million for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration. He told African leaders Wednesday that the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.” Biden used the third and final day of his visit to Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway. The U.S. and allies are investing heavily to refurbish train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola in a region rich in critical minerals to counter China's influence. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags A U.S. Senate subcommittee is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of the Senate Permanent on Investigations say airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Some senators expressed frustration during a hearing on Wednesday hearing when airline executives couldn't explain how they set various fees. Airlines say fees let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want.Ogbonna accounts for 5 TDs, Henderson runs for 185 yards and Buffalo beats winless Kent State 43-7
MONO threatens to sue over SET warningI always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * I always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion I always wondered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political fate would have been had he come clean on the SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 and admitted to Canadians that he went too far when he tried to pressure then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to drop criminal charges against the Montreal-based company. It was a turning point in Trudeau’s political career, one that will likely end in either his resignation or electoral defeat in 2025. By the fall of 2019, after it was clear the prime minister and his most senior staff badgered Wilson-Raybould for months to try to get her to change her mind on the SNC-Lavalin case, Trudeau’s Liberals were reduced to a minority government in an October federal election. The prime minister never recovered. The SNC-Lavalin scandal in 2018-19 could be considered a turning point in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political career. (Spencer Colby / The Canadian Press files) He could have taken a different path. Trudeau could have, in the first place, refrained from politically interfering in a criminal prosecution case. That would have been the best option. But once he and others in his government did try to pressure Wilson-Raybould (and, by extension, the director of public prosecutions) to drop charges against SNC-Lavalin in favour of a “remediation agreement,” he still could have admitted his error and told Canadians the truth. He was given that option by Wilson-Raybould, who eventually resigned from cabinet and was subsequently punted by Trudeau from the Liberal caucus. She suggested to Trudeau when the two met alone at a private plane terminal at the Vancouver International Airport on Feb. 10, 2019 that he still had the chance to tell Canadians the truth. “There still would have been a way to admit everything publicly, address the wrongs, and do better — much better,” wrote Wilson-Raybould in her 2021 book titled (which I’m finally getting around to reading). “There still would have been a way to preserve the credibility of our system and respect the rule of law.” Wilson-Raybould said she was hopeful when she left the meeting that the prime minister would do the right thing. The SNC-Lavalin story was still fresh; it was just three days after the reported that the Trudeau government attempted to politically interfere in a criminal prosecution. Trudeau immediately denied the story, calling the allegations “false.” But Wilson-Raybould thought there was still time to turn things around by telling the truth. “He said he would think about it and that we would talk again,” she wrote. “I left the meeting feeling hopeful — in hindsight, too hopeful.” That hope was short-lived. Trudeau called a second meeting with Wilson-Raybould for the next day, this time at a Vancouver hotel. The prime minister was condescending, dismissive and refused to admit wrongdoing. He rejected Wilson-Raybould’s advice. “I recounted, again, the incidents where pressure was attempted, and he again had excuses or answers for everything,” she wrote. “I could see the agitation visibly building in the prime minister. His mood was shifting. I remember seeing it. I remember feeling it.” Trudeau became “strident” and disputed everything Wilson-Raybould said. He claimed everyone in his office was telling the truth (implying Wilson-Raybould wasn’t) and that she had not experienced what she said she did, a line he would later use publicly by claiming Wilson-Raybould “experienced things differently.” He was gaslighting her. He wanted her to lie. The prime minister became increasingly angry during the hotel-room meeting because he wasn’t getting his way. In a third meeting that evening, she told the prime minister she would be resigning from cabinet the next day. She did and the rest is history. But what would have happened had Trudeau taken Wilson-Raybould’s advice and publicly acknowledged his errors, early enough to avoid — or at least mitigate — the catastrophic political fallout that ensued? He could have said something like: “In my zeal to find a solution to the SNC-Lavalin issue and to avoid job losses, I went too far in my discussions with the attorney general. Upon reflection and after seeking further advice, I now realize that by repeatedly urging Ms. Wilson-Raybould to reconsider her position not to overturn the decision of the director of public prosecutions, I was inappropriately interfering in a criminal prosecution. That was wrong, I apologize unreservedly and I am committed to upholding the rule of law and the independence of the prosecutions branch.” Don’t people want their politicians to admit errors when they make them? Wouldn’t that be a refreshing change from the constant duck-and-cover style of politics we’re so used to, where politicians rarely, if ever, acknowledge wrongdoing? 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. Elected officials will make mistakes from time to time — it’s unavoidable. Wouldn’t it be healthier and more constructive for them to admit those errors, to demonstrate — for the public good — that they have the intellectual capacity to change their minds upon further reflection, or due to changing circumstances? Would they not be rewarded politically for doing so? We’ll never know for sure on the SNC-Lavalin file. But Trudeau’s decision to dig in, lie and gaslight Canadians, rather than admit he was wrong (his wrongdoings were later confirmed in a scathing ethics commissioner report), was the beginning of his political downfall. There were other things that contributed to that downward spiral and his inability to form a majority government again. But things may have turned out very differently for Trudeau had he taken Wilson-Raybould’s advice during those meetings in early February 2019. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. . Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The ’s editing team reviews Tom’s columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the ’s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement
OSD Habib Tajik made additional secretary Home Division