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Welcome to Pollapalooza, our occasional polling column. Do Americans agree with Republicans' transgender bathroom bans? The history of bathroom access in the U.S. Capitol is part of a broader story about how political representation in the U.S. has been limited to men until recently — female lawmakers didn't have access to a bathroom near the House chamber until 2011 , nearly a century after the first woman served in Congress and four years after the House elected its first female speaker. In January, Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride will also make history in congressional representation, becoming the first openly transgender individual to serve in Congress. But once again, being a trailblazer has come with challenges. In response to McBride's election, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution last week intended to ban transgender women like McBride from using women's bathrooms in the Capitol. House Speaker Mike Johnson initially equivocated on the issue, but under pressure from fellow Republicans like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, he issued a statement that all single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House offices "are reserved for individuals of that biological sex ." Mace has since followed up with an even more sweeping proposal , a bill that would apply a transgender bathroom ban to all facilities on federal property. These kinds of bills are often presented by their proponents as efforts to protect women and girls from sexual predators and preserve women-only spaces. Indeed, Mace has frequently invoked her status as a sexual assault survivor when talking about her bill. Critics have shot back that these arguments from Republicans are hypocritical given that President-elect Donald Trump and some potential members of his administration have been accused of sexual assault , and that policing the use of bathrooms in and of itself would be a violation of privacy . For her part, McBride has been dismissive of Mace's proposal, calling it an "effort to distract from the real issues facing the country." Transgender rights have emerged as a relatively new culture war battle in the past decade, and have become a hot-button issue in state and local policymaking. Around 2016, states began passing laws restricting transgender rights, with bathroom access being one of the first targets. (Other states, like California , have also passed laws protecting transgender rights in response.) Beyond bathroom bans, half of U.S. states have now restricted or banned transgender youth from playing in school sports on teams consistent with their gender identity, while 26 states have banned gender-affirming health care for children under 18. Similar policies were included in Project 2025 , the sweeping, Heritage Foundation-penned proposal for federal policies under the next GOP administration. And this year, Republicans across the country leaned hard into anti-trans talking points on the campaign trail. That message may have been effective. In a YouGov/Yahoo News survey earlier this month , 56 percent of Americans said they agreed more that "transgender rights have gone too far, infringing on the rights of women and children," compared to 32 percent who said they agreed more that "protecting transgender rights is essential to ensuring equality for all Americans." And in another YouGov poll last week , a plurality of 43 percent of Americans said they'd prefer their congressional representatives to focus more on upholding traditional definitions of gender, versus 30 percent who wanted them to focus more on protecting the rights of transgender people (12 percent said neither, and 15 percent were unsure). When it comes to specific policies, about half of Americans in that poll (including 78 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of Democrats) seemed to agree with Mace on bathroom bans, telling YouGov they think transgender people should use bathrooms that correspond to their assigned sex at birth, while 34 percent thought they should use bathrooms that align with their current gender identity, or either option. Slightly more voters also seem to favor bans on sports participation, while opinions are split on banning gender-affirming care for youth. In an October UMass Amherst poll , a plurality of Americans, 47 percent, supported bans on transgender individuals' participation in school sports teams matching their gender identity, compared to just 25 percent who opposed them (the rest were undecided). In a Morning Consult poll of registered voters from Nov. 6-7 , 56 percent said they would support and 30 percent said they would oppose banning transgender girls and women from competing in high school and college sports. Meanwhile, 39 percent in the UMass Amherst poll said they would oppose policies to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, while fewer, 35 percent, said they would support them. And in the Morning Consult poll, more were still in favor of the bans: 46 percent, compared to 39 percent opposed. But public opinion polling on transgender issues is often muddy, likely reflecting a high level of uncertainty and the fact that these are issues many Americans haven't grappled with until recently. For example, in an October CNN poll , registered voters were asked if they supported federal policies that were more supportive or more restrictive of transgender rights: Their answers were about evenly split between those options, but a plurality, 42 percent, said they "don't have strong feelings either way." That indicates that these issues may not be as pressing or important to many Americans as they are to politicians hoping to fan the culture war flames. — Monica Potts Split opinions on Trump's transition so far Trump's presidential transition plans have already caused a stir in Washington, especially over his controversial administration appointees , several of whom seem to have come via the Fox News green room or carry the same types of legal and ethical baggage the president himself carries. One nominee, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz — whose nomination to attorney general scuttled the release of a House Ethics Committee review of sex trafficking allegations — already withdrew from consideration in the face of high-profile congressional drama over that report and his seemingly narrow odds of being confirmed. So, what do Americans think about Trump's transition and appointees? Fifty-four percent of voters surveyed in a Morning Consult poll from Nov. 15-17 and 59 percent in a YouGov/CBS News poll from Nov. 19-22 said they approved of Trump's transition so far. Of course, Americans tend to give newly elected officials grace as they gear up to take office. By comparison, the same two pollsters, respectively, found that 60 percent and 54 percent of Americans approved of Biden's transition at a similar point four years ago. When it comes to specific officials Trump plans to appoint to his administration, Americans may have an open mind, though many are unfamiliar with or unsure about specific picks. A YouGov/Yahoo News survey taken Nov. 14-18 found that 45 percent of Americans generally approved of Trump's Cabinet nominees so far, while 37 percent disapproved. In the Morning Consult poll, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Trump's choice for ambassador to Israel, had the highest net approval of 13 points among registered voters, though 25 percent said they didn't know or had no opinion about his potential appointment. Unsurprisingly, Gaetz was the least popular appointee on the list, and the only one with negative net approval (-7 points). The most familiar names were billionaire Elon Musk and 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who each had a 5-point net positive approval rating, with just 15-16 percent of respondents undecided about them. Beyond that, 21 percent to 37 percent of respondents said that they didn't know or weren't sure about each of the other appointees in the survey. The YouGov/CBS poll found that 53 percent of Americans feel "excited" or "optimistic" about what Trump will do as president, compared to 46 percent who feel "concerned" or "scared." One thing that hasn't changed, though, is deep partisan polarization over Trump himself. In an Echelon Insights poll from Nov. 14-18, favorable versus unfavorable opinions for Trump were tied at 49-49 percent. The same was true of the incoming majority party, with 48 percent saying they had a favorable view of the GOP, compared to 47 percent unfavorable. Those partisan divides are also evident when it comes to whether Americans think Trump should be allowed to make recess appointments , bypassing Senate approval if any of his appointees meet resistance, though a majority oppose the idea: 54 percent of voters (including 80 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independents) said they disapprove of recess appointments, compared to 38 percent who approved (including 68 percent of Republicans and 33 percent of independents) in a Data for Progress survey from Nov. 15-18 . The share of Americans who said the Senate should hold confirmation hearings on Trump's nominees was even higher in the YouGov/CBS poll: around 3 in 4 overall, including more than half of Republicans. — Monica Potts More Americans trust the polls than not After every election cycle in recent memory, it seems, there's been a litany of articles declaring the death of polling and the end of its utility . With polls underestimating Trump for the third cycle in a row, this year is no different. But in fact, the polls had a pretty good year in 2024: The average error in state-level presidential polls was the lowest it's been in at least 25 years. A good year overall for the polls could help bolster public confidence after two cycles of larger-than-average error and constant narratives of polling's demise. So, how do Americans feel about polls now? It's a bit of a meta answer, but a new poll shows that a plurality of Americans continue to trust polling. Forty-nine percent of respondents in Echelon Insight's latest omnibus poll said that, after the election, they trust polls "a lot" or "somewhat," compared to the 45 percent who said they trust polls "a little" or "not at all." Seven percent said they weren't sure. — Cooper Burton Politics won't be on most tables this Thanksgiving This Thursday is Turkey Day, and according to a new poll , most Americans won't be eating alone: In a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, almost 40 percent of Americans say that they plan to have Thanksgiving at someone else's home this year. But while the TSA is predicting the days around Thanksgiving this year will be the busiest air travel days on record , almost 70 percent of those people also say they don't expect to travel more than an hour away for dinner, and almost 90 percent said that they would be driving rather than flying. As for what they'll be doing there, the most common activities respondents said they're likely to do on Thanksgiving Day were watching sports (35 percent) and talking about work and school (also 35 percent). And despite the reputation the holiday has for political infighting with relatives, only 26 percent of respondents thought it was likely that they would talk about the presidential election. Republicans were more likely to say so though: 36 percent of Trump voters said they expect to talk about the election, while only 24 percent of Harris voters said so. — Cooper BurtonHail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiTouchless trash cans are one of the latest innovations in automated kitchen technology. They use infrared motion sensors to automatically lift the lid, allowing users to dispose of trash without touching the can. This hands-free operation makes them not only efficient and easy to use but also improves kitchen hygiene as it helps reduce contact with germs, bacteria and parasites that are often found in household waste. Choosing the ideal touchless trash can for your home will depend on several factors, from the number of people in your household to the shape, size and material that best suits your decor. As with regular trash cans, there are many different shapes and styles available. The most common shapes are round, oval, square or rectangular. While shape can play a factor in determining which trash can to get, it is more important to find the right size trash can for your space. A 13-gallon trash can is standard for a kitchen. However, a smaller 5- to 10-gallon option would be better if you want to place it in a cabinet. For large families that generate a lot of waste, a larger 20 to 30-gallon trash can may be preferable. The most common materials are either metal or plastic. While plastic is certainly the cheaper option, metal trash cans are more durable. A stainless steel trash can is a good option, as it will match kitchen appliances and won’t rust or tarnish with time. However, metal trash cans are more pricey, retailing between $100 and $200, depending on their size and features. There are only two choices when it comes to a power source: battery or mains. A mains-powered trash can requires a permanent power source, restricting its location options. Battery-powered trash cans can be placed wherever you like and are particularly suitable for bathrooms. Look for a model that gives a warning when the batteries need replacing to avoid any inconvenience. The features of a trash can significantly impact the price, so it is important to decide which features you would like. Some trash cans have carbon filters that absorb unpleasant odors; however, remember that the filters must be replaced periodically. Other trash cans may feature a locking mechanism, which is handy if you have pets or small children because the lid will remain closed even if it’s knocked over. simplehuman 45 Liter / 12 Gallon Semi-Round Automatic Sensor Trash Can What you need to know: An elegant-looking option available in a range of metallic and colored finishes. What you’ll love: It has a smooth and quiet motor. The surface is protected with an antimicrobial coating that inhibits the growth of bacteria. What you should consider : At 36 inches tall, it’s too big to fit inside a cabinet. iTouchless 13 Gallon Kitchen Trash Can with Lid and Odor Filter What you need to know: It is available in a range of shapes and sizes, and it has a fingerprint-proof stainless steel body. What you’ll love: A choice of either battery or mains power provides versatility. It has a built-in natural carbon odor filter and a lockable lid. What you should consider : It doesn’t come with batteries or a mains adapter. SensorCan MT04SS-9 Touchless Trash Can What you need to know: With a 4-gallon capacity, this trash can is ideal for use in a kitchen cabinet or a bathroom. What you’ll love: It effectively filters odors and comes with a lemon-scented fragrance cartridge. What you should consider : Although the body is made from metal, the lid is made from plastic, so it may not be as durable. iTouchless 16 Gallon Touchless Sensor Kitchen Trash Can and Recycle Bin with Wheels What you need to know: This versatile option makes separating your recyclables from your waste easy because it has two removable inner buckets with handles. What you’ll love: This trash can can be powered by batteries or an AC adapter. It can be easily moved around the kitchen with optional casters. What you should consider : The battery compartment is below the trash level, so you need to be careful to avoid getting the batteries wet. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Mine planners are frequently asked to generate a series of schedules which represent strategies for their businesses under varying market conditions. These conditions are often represented by some kind of informed commodity price forecast, though it is not my intention to discuss price forecasts here. However, for these given forecasts, I would like to show how modelling a more comprehensive options costing framework can have a meaningful impact on the strategy for a mine. Worker with cardboard head and umbrella, standing on the road while looking at signpost directing at the road to recovery or recession financial The Situation and the Pitfalls with a Traditional Approach Let’s look at a situation when the forecasted price path falls into pessimistic territory and the margin squeeze begins. In this case, mine planners who use the traditional simple OPEX-based costing model may decide that it is more economic to shut down one or more parts of the operation for the period of decline. This is because the traditional approach has no penalty associated with shutting down, except the opportunity cost captured in the discount rate. However, shutting down infrastructure (as well as re-starting it in future periods) has a cost, and this cost should be considered in addition to business-as-usual outlays when deciding whether or not to shut down. An Example To illustrate this situation I have developed an example of an open pit mine faced with a series of possible pessimistic future conditions. These conditions are represented by four different forecasts for copper over a ten year period: For each forecast, we must determine the strategy for the business: whether to operate, shut down or choose some combination of the two. The Methodology I modeled this example using an integrated optimization approach. The cut-off grade and material destinations of the mine are not pre-defined as the optimization will determine them based on the economic conditions and operating constraints (including a maximum milling constraint). There is no stockpiling in this model. A constant 10% discount rate is applied to calculate the net present value. I modelled the fixed costing environment using six possible operating options for each period, the combination of which forms the operating strategy of the business for each ten year scenario. I associated scalable tonnage and mining activities with variable costs (e.g.: pcost is in $/tonne, haulage cost is in $/hour, etc.). The key to this method is to include the fixed period-based cost options (e.g.: costs of shutting down, operating and restarting) in addition to the operational-based unit costing elements for each scenario as inputs into the optimization. To find the combinations of options which form the schedule with the highest NPV, I solved the problem with global optimization, which considers all periods simultaneously. The selection of the optimum option combination is accomplished within the optimization itself, and not as a post-scheduling cash flow evaluation. Sometimes in strategic mine plans, we “do nothing” to avoid any type of fixed costs, but this isn’t possible in real life, so it shouldn’t be an option for our mine plan. The Results Finding the optimal schedule using a global optimization is not straightforward. This is because the periodic variability in each of the price profiles must be leveraged, together with the known fixed cost options, to deliver the schedule with the maximum NPV. The following chart shows the periods when the mine should be shut down in order to maximize NPV; square markers reveal the periods for shutdown for each scenario. The worst case scenario (F2), demonstrated by a continuous 10% price regression, indicates that the mine and mill should persist operating until the price falls below $3500/t (YR7) and remain closed as the price continues to fall. The short term recession/slow recovery scenario (F3) indicates the best strategy for the business under these conditions is a single period mine and mill shut-down when the price falls below $4500/t (YR3), followed by continuous operations beyond. The medium term recession/aggressive recovery scenario (F4) indicates that the best strategy for the business is a mine and mill closure for the three lowest price years when the price falls below $4000/t (YR4-YR6), then resume operating in YR7 as the price recovers. Comparison with the Traditional OPEX-based Approach To confirm my methodology, I decided to compare my results with results using the traditional OPEX-based approach. If I took the shutdown costs out of the optimization process, what would the schedules look like? For all four forecasts, I modelled the same scenarios again with variable costs (only). But this time, the costs are only incurred during active periods of mining and processing, which is similar to the way many traditional models are set up. Here’s what happened: The results indicate that for the traditional approach there are additional shutdown periods (indicated by triangles), confirming that solving without the shutdown costs penalty directly affects the schedule results for this example mine. Summary This simple study only scratches the surface of this topic, however, it demonstrates how an additional, defined options framework for fixed costing (such as shutdown and restart costs) can significantly influence your strategic schedule. In general, when you add more information to the framework for your decision, you will get a more realistic result. The traditional approach lacks this framework and does not consider all factors when optimizing the schedule. This incomplete scenario may mislead you into following a flawed strategy of shutting down for longer periods of time, and ultimately missing out on value that is crucial in challenging economic times. What approach are you using to define real operating options in the face of future conditions? Share this on social media or by using the contact form below.None
WHEELING, W.Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WesBanco, Inc. ("WesBanco") (Nasdaq: WSBC) and Premier Financial Corp. ("Premier") (Nasdaq: PFC) today announced that WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders have each voted overwhelmingly to adopt and approve, as applicable, all proposals relating to the previously announced merger agreement for WesBanco to acquire Premier. The votes were held at the respective special meetings of WesBanco's shareholders and Premier's shareholders today. Approximately 85% of the votes cast at WesBanco's special meeting voted to approve the merger and to approve the proposal to issue shares of WesBanco common stock as described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus for the special meeting, and approximately 68% of the outstanding shares of Premier common stock voted to approve the proposal to adopt the merger agreement. "Shareholder approval is a key milestone that reflects strong confidence in the opportunities this merger creates for our communities, customers, employees and shareholders," said Jeff Jackson , President and Chief Executive Officer of WesBanco. "With this step complete, we look forward to receiving the required regulatory approvals and then scheduling the closing of the merger, so we can bring our community commitment and the resources of a stronger organization to all of our communities." With the completion of this critical milestone, the companies believe the merger is on track to close during the first quarter of 2025. The transaction remains subject to the completion of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals. The merger will create a regional financial services institution with approximately $27 billion in assets, significant economies of scale, and strong pro forma profitability metrics. With complementary and contiguous geographic footprints, the combined company would be the 8th largest bank in Ohio , based on deposit market share, have increased presence in Indiana , and serve customers in nine states. About WesBanco, Inc. With over 150 years as a community-focused, regional financial services partner, WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBC) and its subsidiaries build lasting prosperity through relationships and solutions that empower our customers for success in their financial journeys. Customers across our eight-state footprint choose WesBanco for the comprehensive range and personalized delivery of our retail and commercial banking solutions, as well as trust, brokerage, wealth management and insurance services, all designed to advance their financial goals. Through the strength of our teams, we leverage large bank capabilities and local focus to help make every community we serve a better place for people and businesses to thrive. Headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia , WesBanco has $18.5 billion in total assets, with our Trust and Investment Services holding $6.1 billion of assets under management and securities account values (including annuities) of $1.9 billion through our broker/dealer, as of September 30, 2024 . Learn more at www.wesbanco.com and follow @WesBanco on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Premier Financial Corp. Premier Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: PFC), headquartered in Defiance, Ohio , is the holding company for Premier Bank. Premier Bank, headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio , operates 73 branches and nine loan offices in Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Pennsylvania and also serves clients through a team of wealth professionals dedicated to each community banking branch. For more information, visit Premier's website at www.PremierFinCorp.com . Matters set forth in this press release contain certain forward-looking statements, including certain plans, expectations, goals, and projections, and including statements about the benefits of the proposed Merger between WesBanco and Premier, that are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those contained or implied by such statements for a variety of factors including: the effects of changing regional and national economic conditions, changes in interest rates, spreads on earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and associated interest rate sensitivity; sources of liquidity available to WesBanco and its related subsidiary operations; potential future credit losses and the credit risk of commercial, real estate, and consumer loan customers and their borrowing activities; actions of the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Institution Regulatory Authority, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, the Securities Investors Protection Corporation, and other regulatory bodies; potential legislative and federal and state regulatory actions and reform, including, without limitation, the impact of the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act; adverse decisions of federal and state courts; fraud , scams and schemes of third parties; cyber-security breaches; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; rapidly changing technology affecting financial services; marketability of debt instruments and corresponding impact on fair value adjustments; and/or other external developments materially impacting WesBanco's operational and financial performance, the businesses of the WesBanco and Premier may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected; the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the proposed Merger may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes; disruption from the proposed Merger may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with clients, associates, or suppliers; the required governmental approvals of the proposed Merger may not be obtained on the expected terms and schedule; changes in economic conditions; movements in interest rates; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success and timing of other business strategies; the nature, extent, and timing of governmental actions and reforms; and extended disruption of vital infrastructure; and other factors described in WesBanco's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Premier's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, and documents subsequently filed by WesBanco and Premier with the SEC. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available at the time of the release. Neither WesBanco nor Premier assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wesbanco-inc-and-premier-financial-corp-announce-shareholder-approvals-of-merger-agreement-302329433.html SOURCE WesBanco, Inc.CLEM_A.Williams 30 pass from Klubnik (Hauser kick), 8:10. CLEM_Page 57 interception return (Hauser kick), 3:17. CLEM_Wesco 55 pass from Klubnik (Hauser kick), 10:49. CLEM_Haynes 70 run (Hauser kick), 6:07. CLEM_Haynes 9 run (Hauser kick), 1:02. CLEM_A.Williams 9 pass from Klubnik (Morton kick), 13:13. CIT_G.Johnson 9 run (B.Barnes kick), 5:06. CLEM_FG Hauser 32, :57. CIT_Graves-Billips 66 pass from Bennett (B.Barnes kick), 10:31. CLEM_Carter 4 run (kick failed), 6:25. RUSHING_The Citadel, Crawford 7-71, G.Johnson 15-65, Ibrahim 12-57, Bennett 9-54, Wallace 5-37, Fletcher 4-9, Graves-Billips 2-1, Knauth 1-(minus 6). Clemson, Haynes 5-118, Klubnik 4-34, Vizzina 4-30, Eziomume 3-27, Adams 5-27, Turner 1-23, Mafah 3-14, J.Green 1-13, Segars 1-12, Carter 1-4. PASSING_The Citadel, Bennett 2-10-1-90, Fletcher 1-1-0-9. Clemson, Klubnik 12-16-0-198, Vizzina 6-14-0-62, Pearman 0-1-1-0. RECEIVING_The Citadel, Graves-Billips 2-90, Underwood 1-9. Clemson, A.Williams 5-72, Wesco 3-75, Turner 3-33, Crosby 1-21, Patt-Henry 1-16, Ad.Randall 1-14, Moore 1-10, Bentancur 1-7, Kelley 1-7, N.Johnson 1-5. MISSED FIELD GOALS_The Citadel, B.Barnes 40. Clemson, Hauser 46.None
Strain-tuned potassium niobate may enable cleaner, smarter devicesBy KEVIN FREKING WASHINGTON (AP) — National defense would see a 1% increase in spending this fiscal year under a Pentagon policy bill that also gives a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. Related Articles Politics | Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back The measure is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but not this year as some Democratic lawmakers protest the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill is expected to pass the House Wednesday and then move to the Senate, where lawmakers had sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the $895.2 billion authorized in the compromise measure before them. Lawmakers are touting the bill’s 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said their pay has failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. “No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that’s exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “This bill goes a long way to fixing that.” The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a “tremendous loss for our national defense,” though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. “We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it,” Wicker said. House Republicans don’t want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 that could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a “very real problem.” He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. “These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives,” Smith said. “And in this bill, we decided we’re going to bar servicemembers’ children from having access to that.” Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care is in the thousands. He said he could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson’s office insisted upon the ban. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying “I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates.” Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, “and yet, here it is in this bill.” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team was not telling Democrat how to vote on the bill. He said he was still evaluating the legislation as of Wednesday morning. “There’s a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well,” Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration had requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. The Senate is expected to take up the legislation next week. It then would move to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke coach Manny Diaz says quarterback Maalik Murphy will face discipline “internally” after extending both of his middle fingers skyward in celebration after throwing a long touchdown pass early in the weekend win against Virginia Tech . Diaz said Monday that Murphy's exuberant gesture, caught on the ACC Network national broadcast, was directed at offensive coordinator Jonathan Brewer in the booth after a bit of practice “banter” from a few days earlier. Diaz said the Texas transfer just let his excitement get away from him but still called it “unacceptable in our program." Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.None
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting. He didn't pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title, playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. "The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish," he said through a translator. "The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I'm in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger." When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? "That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do," Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia's Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and '21. "I was telling him, `Man, I'm going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,'" Judge recalled. "He'd say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he'll do." When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. "March and April were not my friend this year." Judge said. "Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can't mope. You can't feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody's going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?" ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark, initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I'm really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. BRIEFLY PIRATES: Pittsburgh hired Matt Hague as its hitting coach, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in 2008. Hague replaces Andy Haines, who was fired after Pittsburgh finished in the bottom 10 in the majors in every significant statistical category last season, including runs (24th) and home runs (25th), while also striking out a club-record 1,504 times, second-most in the National League behind Colorado. The 39-year-old Hague spent last season as an assistant hitting coach with the Toronto Blue Jays. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Griz 'Zoo Crew' heads to Bozeman for Brawl of the Wild
George Washington 72, Illinois St. 64CLEM_A.Williams 30 pass from Klubnik (Hauser kick), 8:10. CLEM_Page 57 interception return (Hauser kick), 3:17. CLEM_Wesco 55 pass from Klubnik (Hauser kick), 10:49. CLEM_Haynes 70 run (Hauser kick), 6:07. CLEM_Haynes 9 run (Hauser kick), 1:02. CLEM_A.Williams 9 pass from Klubnik (Morton kick), 13:13. CIT_G.Johnson 9 run (B.Barnes kick), 5:06. CLEM_FG Hauser 32, :57. CIT_Graves-Billips 66 pass from Bennett (B.Barnes kick), 10:31. CLEM_Carter 4 run (kick failed), 6:25. RUSHING_The Citadel, Crawford 7-71, G.Johnson 15-65, Ibrahim 12-57, Bennett 9-54, Wallace 5-37, Fletcher 4-9, Graves-Billips 2-1, Knauth 1-(minus 6). Clemson, Haynes 5-118, Klubnik 4-34, Vizzina 4-30, Eziomume 3-27, Adams 5-27, Turner 1-23, Mafah 3-14, J.Green 1-13, Segars 1-12, Carter 1-4. PASSING_The Citadel, Bennett 2-10-1-90, Fletcher 1-1-0-9. Clemson, Klubnik 12-16-0-198, Vizzina 6-14-0-62, Pearman 0-1-1-0. RECEIVING_The Citadel, Graves-Billips 2-90, Underwood 1-9. Clemson, A.Williams 5-72, Wesco 3-75, Turner 3-33, Crosby 1-21, Patt-Henry 1-16, Ad.Randall 1-14, Moore 1-10, Bentancur 1-7, Kelley 1-7, N.Johnson 1-5. MISSED FIELD GOALS_The Citadel, B.Barnes 40. Clemson, Hauser 46.
LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1."Christopher Linton of Alabama Highlights His Views on Business Leadership and Community Impact in New Online Q&A 12-04-2024 09:36 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Erase Technologies, LLC Christopher Linton, CEO of LoneStar Labor Management and a respected community advocate, recently participated in an exclusive online Q&A where he discussed his career journey, leadership philosophy, and dedication to community service. Known for his unique approach to blending business success with ethical responsibility, Linton provided a deep dive into the values that have guided his professional path and fueled his commitment to positive social impact. In the interview, Linton, originally from South Alabama, credited his Southern upbringing and experiences as a young athlete for instilling values such as integrity, teamwork, and resilience. "Growing up, I learned that success isn't just measured by individual achievements-it's about the impact you have on others," he shared. Now based in Houston, he leads LoneStar Labor Management with these principles, emphasizing long-term client relationships, ethical growth, and employee well-being. Linton also discussed his community engagement, highlighting his passion for youth mentorship and supporting local programs that help student-athletes build skills both on and off the field. "Empowering young people to reach their full potential is a personal mission for me," he explained, underscoring the importance of giving back through initiatives that foster leadership and lifelong learning. The Q&A offers a compelling look at Linton's journey from small-town roots to becoming a successful entrepreneur, showcasing his belief that true leadership means making a positive impact on both the business and community fronts. For more insights from Christopher Linton, read the full Q&A, visit the website here [ https://ceoworld.biz/ ]. About LoneStar Labor Management: LoneStar Labor Management is a Houston-based staffing agency specializing in labor solutions for the poultry and food manufacturing industries across the United States. Under Christopher Linton's leadership, the company is committed to sustainable growth, community engagement, and providing exceptional service to clients. Media Contact Contact Person: Christopher Linton Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=christopher-linton-of-alabama-highlights-his-views-on-business-leadership-and-community-impact-in-new-online-qa ] City: Houston State: Texas Country: United States Website: http://christopherlintonalabama.com This release was published on openPR.Ohtani wins third MVP, while Judge takes his second
New Zealanders are feeling noticeably more positive about the housing market, and ASB's economists say that is likely to turn into more activity, and rising prices. The bank's latest housing confidence survey shows an increase across all of its measures - house price expectations lifted, there was positivity about interest rates continuing to drop and improving sentiment about whether it's a good time to buy. A net 20 percent of respondents thought it was a good time to buy, up from 8 percent last quarter. Aucklanders had some of the strongest expectations of house price increases, where a net 29 percent think prices will rise, up from 13 percent last quarter. A reading of zero would indicate respondents were evenly split. ASB senior economist Kim Mundy said the turnaround in sentiment was not surprising given the "substantial" decline in mortgage rates since mid-July. She said expectations that prices would rise were growing at a slower pace. "While the housing market is certainly poised to pick up, and Real Estate Institute data shows sales activity is already on the rise, it may take some time before this translates into a pronounced upswing in house prices... while this might point to a pickup in market momentum, it might not point to a pickup in price gains as quickly. She said falling interest rates were one of the main factors pushing activity higher but that could be offset by other economic factors, such as a rising unemployment rate and uncertainty. "If you have any concerns about the safety of your job or being made redundant you're not going to be in the market to buy a house irrespective of what interest rates are doing. "Our survey data shows overall confidence levels remain lower than what we observed at the start of the year - close to 72 percent of those surveyed expect house prices to remain flat or rise, compared to 90 percent in the first quarter of 2024 which suggests New Zealanders may be concerned about other economic impacts that may hinder house price gains such as rising unemployment and slowing net migration." ASB had previously expected prices to rise by 10 percent next year but Mundy said that was under review. There was a lot of stock on the market, which could have a dampening effect on prices, she said. "Inventory is at 10-year highs, there are plenty of houses to choose from so buyers are not having to pay up or fight to get the one they want." She said overall the coming months were likely to have a trend of growing housing market optimism. "We expect that to turn into higher house prices."NFL Week 14 injury tracker: Latest updates on Trevor Lawrence, Baker Mayfield, DeVonta Smith and other playersRape allegation against Jay-Z will not affect NFL relationship, says chief