646-ph

646-ph Dutch households will see sharp rises in water bills next yearThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shut down access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace to two health insurance agencies. Here's a look at what's happened.DMACC plans to offer a certificate and associate degree in AI starting in the fall for students, working with national partners and mentors. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Des Moines Area Community College has expanded its partnerships in developing curriculum for education on artificial intelligence to better prepare students for a changing professional world. The community college announced last week that it has been selected to join the National Applied AI Consortium Mentorship program, which will provide DMACC with support and resources from colleges and universities with their own established AI curriculum. Executive Academic Dean for Business and Information Technology Anne Power said DMACC is also working to expand its AI education from non-credit, basic courses into an associate degree and certificate to help students and employers across the state gain the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with AI in their work. “I think it’s important that our education system in general does take the lead on AI in the state of Iowa, so that we can help educate our industry partners, governmental agencies on AI and how they can use it effectively in their organizations,” Power said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The consortium, developed by Miami Dade College, Houston Community College and Maricopa County Community College District, will give DMACC access to mentorship and resources from the colleges’ already-established AI curriculum, Power said. Only two other community colleges are involved on the mentee side of the consortium. Miami Dade College AI faculty member Norge Pena Perez has been assigned to work with DMACC, Power said, and in group meetings they have already discussed what courses and competencies should be included in curriculum and barriers that students have dealt with in the past in other programs. “It is all mentorship — how to develop the curriculum, how to market the program,” Power said. DMACC this fall became the first Intel AI for Workforce college partner in Iowa, aiding the college in developing curriculum for introductory, non-credit courses on AI. The first course, which started in October with 22 enrolled continuing education students, filled up within a couple of days, said Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence faculty member Becky Deitenbeck. The class is eight weeks long. A second course starting in November was offered to meet demand, which also met capacity. As it is an introductory class to the topic and industry of artificial intelligence, she said students are given broad strokes of its history, different ways it is utilized and where it has already been applied in the real world, like the Christmas Coca-Cola ad that was developed with AI graphics. “I always like to call it the 5,000-foot view of AI,” Deitenbeck said. When AI is brought up in conversation, Deitenbeck said people’s thoughts usually go to generative programs like ChatGPT, but in reality artificial intelligence has been around in different fashions for around 50 years. Deitenbeck said students are shown AI’s presence in different industries and its functions, and how and why it has become more popular. “It’s recently gained traction because we have not only the computing power, but also the resources in order to utilize the capabilities of these large language models,” Deitenbeck said. A separate, non-credit course on the ethics of AI will be available to students starting next semester alongside the introductory class. Power said the community college is currently working to get AI certificate and associate degree programs approved so students can enroll for the fall semester. One area of concern surrounding AI is the idea that people’s jobs will disappear as a result of these programs, Deitenbeck said, but she doesn’t believe this is true. Industry leaders have requested AI training for their employees, Power said, which served as a sort of catalyst for the college’s delve into AI education possibilities. AI is in the “forefront of everyone’s minds at this point in time,” Power said, with it impacting many, if not all, aspects of people’s lives. Deitenbeck said it affects how people create graphics, write code and complete other tasks, but that doesn’t mean that people’s careers or ways of life will go away. “There’s a lot of opportunities and exciting items on the horizon, even from an educational standpoint, in being able to ensure that students going into the workforce have the skills necessary that they need to be successful,” Deitenbeck said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter plans to turn pro and prefers to continue a dual role, playing wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL. Hunter could be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and is the favorite for the Heisman Trophy. Speculation about his future quieted as he gained notoriety by the week this season. Field Level Media projects Hunter as a top-three pick in the draft, and he confirmed Thursday this will be his last season at the college level. "That's definitely for sure," Hunter said on a conference call with reporters. Hunter is consistently playing between 100 and 125 snaps per game for Colorado. He has three interceptions on defense with 74 receptions, 911 yards and nine touchdowns playing wideout for quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Also a projected early first-round pick, Sanders committed to play in the East-West Shrine Game in Dallas. The son of Colorado head coach and Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders said Thursday he would cast a Heisman vote for Hunter. "If it's between me and him, I would want him to get it," Sanders said. "He does a lot of amazing things and things that haven't been done before. I'm not a selfish guy. I know what he's capable of, so I would rather him win." Hunter said he would invite his QB to New York if he's not named a Heisman finalist before they go about the business of finishing the season, possibly in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Shedeur Sanders said he's the best quarterback in the draft, and doesn't believe that's anything new. "I feel like I was the best quarterback in the last draft, too," said Shedeur Sanders. "Ever since I was draft eligible, I knew I'm the best quarterback. It's not up for me to prove myself to talking about why." Former teammates at Jackson State where Deion Sanders also coached, Hunter said he felt his draft stock began to rise only after critics moved past "the hate" for his coach. A flashy, charismatic cornerback in the NFL after starring at Florida State, Deion Sanders was the fifth overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Hall of Famers Troy Aikman (first, Cowboys), Barry Sanders (third, Lions) and Derrick Thomas (fourth, Chiefs) were chosen ahead of "Prime Time" along with offensive tackle Tony Mandarich (second, Packers). Hunter has picked the brain of Deion Sanders about a dual role in pro sports. Sanders was used selectively as a wide receiver and returned punts but was primarily a cornerback in addition to playing Major League Baseball. There's no base-stealing in Hunter's future, but he does believe he can push the envelope as a full-time two-way NFL player. "It's never been done," Hunter said. "I understand that it will be a high risk, (teams) don't want their top pick to go down too early, and I know they're going to want me to be in a couple packages. But I believe I can do it. Nobody has stopped me from doing it thus far. I like when people tell me I can't do it." --Field Level Media

U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records after a quiet day of trading. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, on Tuesday to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. The South Korean won sank against the dollar after its president declared martial law and then later said he’ll lift it. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 2.73 points, or less than 0.1%, to 6,049.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 76.47 points, or 0.2%, to 44,705.53. The Nasdaq composite rose 76.96 points, or 0.4%, to 19,480.91. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 17.79 points, or 0.7%, to 2,416.35. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 17.50 points, or 0.3%. The Dow is down 205.12 points, or 0.5%. The Nasdaq is up 262.74 points, or 1.4%. The Russell 2000 is down 18.38 points, or 0.8%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,280.05 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,015.99 points, or 18.6%. The Nasdaq is up 4,469.56 points, or 29.8%. The Russell 2000 is up 389.27 points, or 19.2%.

Lewandowski hits 100 Champions League goals as Barca beat BrestRuben Amorim warned “the storm will come” eventually as Manchester United’s head coach tried to temper expectations ahead of the trip to Arsenal. The 39-year-old has been a breath of fresh air since succeeding Erik ten Hag, with his personality and approach, coupled with promising early performances, bringing hope back to Old Trafford. Amorim has been touched by his warm welcome but repeatedly urged fans to avoid jumping the gun, having followed a draw at Ipswich with home wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton. Ruben Amorim has hit the ground running at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA) Put to Amorim it will be hard to manage expectations if they won in the capital, the head coach said: “I would like to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come. “I don’t know if you use that expression, but we are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games. “And I know that because I’m knowing my players and I know football and I follow football, so I understand the difference between the teams. “We are in the point in that we are putting simple things in the team, without training, and you feel it in this game against Everton, they change a little bit the way they were building up. “They are very good team, and we were with a lot of problems because we cannot change it by calling one thing to the captain. A midweek trip to the capital awaits ? #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/1e6VrILJW3 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 3, 2024 “So, we don’t have this training, so let’s focus on each game, on the performance, what we have to improve, trying to win games. And that is the focus. “I know it’s really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences. We want to win all the time. No matter what. “We are going to try to win, but we know that we are in a different point if you compare to Arsenal. “So, it is what it is and we will try to win it and we go with confidence to win, but we know that we need to play very well to win the next football match.” The trip to Arsenal is the second of nine December matches for United, who are looking to avoid suffering four straight league defeats to the Gunners for the first time. The Red Devils have not won a Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium since 2017, but Amorim knows a thing or two about frustrating Mikel Arteta’s men. Ruben Amorim and Sporting Lisbon knocked Arsenal out of Europe two seasons ago (John Walton/PA) “Arsenal this year, they play a little bit different,” Amorim said. “They are more fluid. “For example, two years ago when we faced them with Sporting, you knew how to press because you can understand better the structure. “Now it’s more fluid with (Riccardo) Calafiori and (Jurrien) Timber in different sides. One coming inside, the other going outside. Also (Martin) Odegaard changed the team, and you can feel it during this season. “So, you can take something from that game, especially because I know so well the opponent so you can understand the weakness of that team. “But every game is different, so you take something, but you already know that you are going to face a very good team.” Amad Diallo has enjoyed a flying start under Amorim (Martin Rickett/PA) The 22-year-old, who put in a man of the match display in Sunday’s 4-0 win against Everton, is out of contract at the end of the season, although the club holds an option to extend by a year. Diallo has repeatedly spoken of his desire to stay at United and it has been reported an agreement is close. Amorim said: “I think he wants to stay, and we want him to stay. So that is clear and we will find a solution.”

So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidays

Feds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the for the . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will one year later. ___ AP soccer:

30 Years Ago, PlayStation's Biggest Risk Changed Gaming Forever

North Dakota State's stunning 29-28 loss to the University of South Dakota cost the Bison the top seed in the FCS Playoff and a solo Missouri Valley Football Conference title, but that seemed to be all they lost. The Bison received the number two seed for the upcoming playoffs, meaning NDSU will host games at the Fargodome if they keep on winning. ADVERTISEMENT NDSU will face the winner of Abilene Christian and Northern Arizona next Saturday, Dec. 7. That doesn't mean there's a lack of topics to discuss surrounding Bison football as they head for a bye week. NDSU will practice the next three days before dispersing for the Thanksgiving holiday. WDAY's Dom Izzo and The Forum's Jeff Kolpack discuss the loss to South Dakota and what happened and how it could affect the upcoming playoff run., known for enjoying a glass of vodka while hosting foreign dignitaries, is a modern proponent of the temperance movement compared to previous leaders. Peter the Great, for instance, would consume from a custom-made 1.5-litre chalice. His love of women was the only match for his love of alcohol. Boris Yeltsin, meanwhile, was discovered wandering along Pennsylvania Avenue, during a presidential trip, half-dressed and on a quest for pizza. now, however appears to be reshaped in his more temperate image. Tax measures and marketing restrictions mean alcohol consumption has fallen for over ten years, hitting a low of seven litres per person in 2017, down from a record high of 20 litres in 2003. These 'health initiatives' are now been undermined by another of Putin's hallmark policies - war. The mental strain of nearly three years of full-blown conflict is now reportedly causing a resurgence in heavy drinking. From January to October of this year, alcohol sales in Russia reached a record 184.2 million decaliters, according to data released by the industry regulator, marking the highest volume since records began in 2017. Russians' fondness for vodka, a term that affectionately translates to 'little water', remains strong, with the national drink topping the market with 62.5 million decaliters sold. Sales of still wine reached 46.9 million decaliters, a rise of 22.5 per cent from 2017, while sales of sparkling wine saw a significant increase of 10.9 per cent from last year and a whopping 61 per cent more than in 2017, totalling 16.3 million decaliters. Research agency To Be Exact claims Russians are now consuming the equivalent of eight litres of pure alcohol per person each year. This surge in consumption, of course, has accompanied an increase in alcohol dependency rates, as reported by Moscow officials, marking the first such rise in a decade. From 2010 to 2021, first-time diagnoses of alcohol use disorder fell from 153,900 to 53,300. However, in 2022, this figure began to climb again, with doctors issuing 54,200 diagnoses. Russia's health ministry has attributed this trend to the Covid-19 pandemic, where people stuck inside due to lockdown restrictions had nothing better to do than to drink. However, this explanation fails to consider an obvious unanswered question about war and the increasing totalitarianism within Russian life. "Social and economic upheavals, increased geopolitical confrontations and sanctions have somewhat slowed" progress in reducing excessive alcohol consumption, Ruslan Isayev, who heads a Moscow-based addiction clinic, told Kommersant. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Other reasons include fears of losing a loved one, being drafted into the military, or facing imprisonment for voicing dissent - all compounded by the existential threat of nuclear confrontation with the West. On Tuesday, the Kremlin declared that it had lowered the bar for launching a nuclear strike against the West, updating its nuclear weapons doctrine to permit their use in response to attacks on its territory with Western-supplied arms. Concurrently, Russia has started manufacturing mobile nuclear bomb shelters for the first time. Perhaps the advice to Moscow should be: make vodka not war.

Rachel Maddow reportedly takes hefty pay cut amid MSNBC uncertaintyBrazil’s Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot, unsealed police report says

Shailene Woodley still cries over ‘toxic’ Aaron Rodgers relationshipBritish Columbia’s top Mountie says rolling out body-worn cameras for officers in the province will address calls to “enhance public trust,” but a sociologist who studies technology’s effect on policing says evidence of it reducing use-of-force incidents is “inconsistent.” Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, commanding officer of the RCMP’s E Division in B.C., said Thursday that the initiative to have front-line officers in B.C. wear the cameras is the “largest and most ambitious rollout of body cameras across the province.” “The introduction of the cameras is now the national standard for the RCMP and addresses calls I’ve personally heard from local, regional, Indigenous and provincial leaders to address the overall need to enhance public trust (and) confidence in policing,” McDonald said. He said the introduction of the cameras and the evidence-management system to handle the digital data they collect “is expected to provide transparency to strengthen accountability and to enhance officer and public safety.” Insp. Ted Lewko, the officer in charge of the RCMP detachment in Mission, B.C., said Thursday that he’s grateful that Mounties in his community will be among the first to wear body cameras to record police interactions with the public. Lewko said 44 cameras will be used by his officers starting next week, and he’s “very hopeful” that they will improve officer safety, strengthen trust with the public and help resolve complaints more quickly. Police said during a news conference in Surrey that thousands of Mounties across B.C. will soon be fitted with the devices. About 300 cameras will be issued to officers in Mission first, then to other communities, including Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island, and Cranbrook, Kamloops and Prince George. The national deployment of body cameras is expected to be completed by the end of next year, and follows other law enforcement agencies in B.C. that have started employing body cameras, including in Vancouver and Delta. Chris Schneider, a sociology professor at Brandon University in Manitoba, studies how technology “contributes to changes in policing and police work.” Schneider said the evidence around whether body cameras reduce instances of use of force and police complaints is “inconsistent,” but research shows that “people feel safer with cameras.” “When you look at the actual evidence about reductions in crime and harm, they don’t coincide with people’s feelings,” he said. Schneider said police, government officials and the public have, in recent years, “shifted to discussions around accountability and transparency.” However, he said those two terms are usually measured in the social scientific or scientific research literature. “Meaning that there’s no way for us to actually know whether or not body worn cameras contribute to transparency and accountability,” he said. The $240 million supplied by the federal government for the program, and $50 million a year pledged to support the RCMP’s body cameras, could go to investments in “social infrastructure” including affordable housing, addiction rehabilitation institutions, job training, education and health care, he said. “The research literature is crystal clear that these things ... lead to concrete reductions in crime and reductions in harm and make communities better, happier and safer,” he said. Schneider said there are more effective, but more complex, ways of enhancing police accountability and transparency, such as strict policies around discipline for officer misconduct, as well as requiring officers to hold professional liability insurance. Officers found liable for misconduct would see their premiums rise, and too many occurrences would make carrying such insurance too expensive, he said. “The idea being that they could no longer afford to be police officers. All the bad apples go away. We’re only left with good cops. Problem solved,” he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024.

None5 top tech gifts for the holidaysDEAR NEIL: A squirrel must have planted a bur oak acorn in one of our pots last year because we were blessed with a seedling this spring. It grew well (27 inches tall), although it was attacked by a fungus this fall. Should we plant it into the ground now or wait another year? Sawfly damage on bur oaks is of no particular concern. Dear Reader: Plant it in the next month or two. In fact, I would plant it right away. Its root system is probably winding around and around at the bottom of the pot. If so, use your pruning clippers to cut one or two of the encircling roots so that they will branch out. Otherwise, they may girdle themselves as they grow larger over the years. You really don’t want to leave it in a container any longer than necessary. It’s tall enough to stand on its own. Put a stake alongside it to keep an animal from stepping on it, and keep it watered every few days now through the winter, spring, and summer. By the way, the “fungus” might have been the minor damage of sawfly larvae as they take the tissues out from between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. They are fairly common on bur oaks, but they are of no particular concern. DEAR NEIL: We moved to Texas from Indiana last spring. I’d like to plant rhubarb. What suggestions do you have for me? Dear Reader: It is not adapted to this part of the country. We’re simply too hot. I could try to encourage you with tips and tricks, but I’d just be wasting your money and effort. Stick with things that will be far better suited. DEAR NEIL: I know you like a shrub called Italian jasmine, but I can’t find it in nurseries. Do you have any suggestions? Dear Reader: Sadly, I do not. It’s a venerable old plant that was more popular 50 to 70 years ago than it is now. But it’s handsome and really ought to be brought back into more common use in our landscapes. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s Jasminum humile. North Carolina State University’s website notes that it has recently been separated into a separate genus with the name Chrysojasminum humile. Italian jasmine is a venerable old plant that was more popular 50 to 70 years ago than it is now. It’s an arching shrub to 4 to 5 ft. tall and 5 or 6 ft. wide, perhaps slightly larger in South Texas. It’s winter-hardy about as far north as the I-20 corridor or slightly beyond, although the great cold spell of February 2021 did a lot of damage to plants that had previously survived for decades. It has square stems that are lined with small, very dark green, glossy evergreen leaves. Its flowers are produced in late winter and spring. They’re small, trumpet-shaped and clear yellow. I’ve never seen any fruit on the plants. Italian jasmine is propagated by stem cuttings taken in late winter on through early summer. It roots very easily, and several cuttings can be planted into each nursery pot to make plantable transplants within 12 months. It grows best in full sun and in highly organic, consistently moist soils. I’ve never seen an insect or disease bother it. If you decide that you’d like to try it, ask for it at your favorite independent retail garden center. Ask for the owner, manager, or buyer, and see if they stock it or can order it in for you come springtime. Nurseries that do landscape contracting year ‘round are usually your most likely sources. DEAR NEIL: If I have overseeded my bermudagrass lawn with winter rye, do I need to worry about applying nitrogen fertilizer this time of year? Dear Reader: You do not need to worry. Apply it at half the rate recommended for normal feedings. The rye is still young and just getting started. By applying your high-quality nitrogen fertilizer (30 to 40 percent of the nitrogen in slow-release form) in the reduced rate, most of it will be taken up by the ryegrass. Any that’s left over will be held in reserve by the permanent turf’s root system. All will be well. DEAR NEIL: Ten years ago we planted a red maple in our front yard. For several years it provided beautiful fall color, but in the past two years the leaves have started to turn black around their edges by early October. They fall to the ground with no color change. A second tree in another location provides beautiful color. Is it climatic or something in the soil? What can we do? Dear Reader: If you’re talking about Acer rubrum, the true red maple from the Northeast, I’ve seen that happen time and again here in Texas. It’s especially common in alkaline soils (western two-thirds of Texas). It can also be due to one tree getting way too dry or suffering trunk or root system injury. Examine both trees closely, and if you’re still puzzled, have a certified arborist take a look at the affected tree. DEAR NEIL: I have grown tomatoes in two raised beds, alternating the beds when I plant. I add compost and manure each time before I plant. This year’s crop was very limited, and it was suggested that I replace all of the soil. That would be such a job. What do you suggest? Dear Reader: I don’t have nearly enough facts. Nematodes might be involved. They are microscopic, soil-borne worms that sting plant roots and suck fluids from them. The plants become stunted and unproductive, and you can usually see knotty galls on their roots. In that case, replacing the soil might be your best choice. Do a little research on nematodes to see if they sound like a possibility. You can also have the soil tested for their presence by working with the Texas Plant Clinic at Texas A&M. All the information is on their website. Otherwise, be sure the plants are still getting full sunlight. Sometimes we allow shade to creep over our gardens without noticing it. Have a question you’d like Neil to consider? E-mail him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com . Make your house a home