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Surveillance tech advances by Biden could aid in Trump’s promised crackdown on immigrationA popular social media influencer in Florida has been arrested after allegedly stealing from Target. Target says a woman, later identified as Marlena Velez, entered a store in Cape Coral on Oct. 30 and began shopping. While at the self-checkout, police said scanned barcodes for items of lesser value before walking out of the store. "Initially, our officers got a report from Target about this retail theft. They looked into it. They got the security footage. They had a still frame of this woman who’s basically scamming the self-checkout at Target," said Mercedes Simonds, public information officer for the Cape Coral Police Department. Police said the stolen items, including household goods and clothing, are valued at more than $500. After police posted the suspect's picture on their Facebook and Instagram accounts, an anonymous caller identified the woman as Velez. A video posted on her TikTok account documents herself as she gets ready to leave her home on Oct. 30 in the same outfit and glasses in the surveillance video. Velez is now charged with theft. This story was originally reported by Shari Armstrong and Dominga Murray at Scripps News Fort Myers.
A year has passed since the 67-year-old Pole returned from his top Brussels job to secure a tight general election victory for his centrist-liberal alliance. Now settled into his second term as prime minister, his job is getting more interesting — and high profile — by the day. With France and Germany on extended political pit stops, Tusk finds himself in the EU spotlight just as Poland inherits the six-month rotating EU presidency next month. “It is almost banal to say it but there is a power vacuum in the EU with France and Germany, usually seen as leaders, in deep political crisis,” said Michal Matlak, a Polish-born fellow at the Central European University’s Democracy Institute. “Tusk as a former European Council president is naturally destined to shape European politics more as a result.” After a year of working to restore the rule of law, resolving an eight-year standoff with Brussels, Tusk promised this week to play a leading role in “winter talks” to resolve the Ukraine-Russia war. “I really want Poland to be a country that is not only present but also which sets the tone for decisions which should bring us security and protect Polish interests,” said Tusk. He repeated that message of growing international responsibility and robust national interest — the new Tusk sound — after Thursday’s meeting French president Emmanuel Macron. Responding to questions about sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee in the case of ceasefire, Tusk insisted there were no plans — for now at least. He added: “Decisions concerning Poland will be made in Warsaw and only in Warsaw.” Macron, echoing his Polish host, pushed the need for a united European front — something Warsaw has little hope of with German chancellor Olaf Scholz. Polish officials remain furious with Germany for imposing police checks a year go on their common border. They mock Scholz’s bilateral phone diplomacy with Vladimir Putin and remember not being invited to Ukraine talks in Berlin last October. German officials, meanwhile, were caught off-guard by Tusk’s decision to suspend asylum procedures on its border with Belarus, something Warsaw says is a response to migrants being trafficked there as part of a Russian “hybrid war”. As if to highlight the chill with Berlin, Tusk gave a warm — and public — welcome on Tuesday to Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz. The delighted chancellor hopeful, in advance of a snap election in February, responded in kind, calling Tusk “a great stroke of luck for Poland, but also a great stroke of luck for Germany”. Tusk may bring a stroke of luck as part of any European welcoming committee for the incoming Trump administration. For one thing Poland’s defence spending — more than twice the Nato minimum — could placate Trump, soften his threats to withdraw US forces from Europe; or even deal directly with Moscow on a Ukraine peace deal. The Tusk administration has repeatedly stressed the need for conciliatory language and a constructive working relationship with the Trump team. But Warsaw is not hanging about either on security. Last weekend Tusk was on the ground to launch the first stage of Poland’s €2.4 billion “Eastern Shield”: a 700km frontier of concrete barriers and steel tank traps along borders with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus. “The better the Polish border is protected, the greater the guarantee of peace,” said Tusk. His tough talk on borders and migration, echoing some of his national conservative predecessors, has disappointed some Polish voters and surprised some EU allies. But Warsaw observers say European expectations of Tusk need to be tempered by the domestic political realities he faces in 2025. Top of the list is the election, in May or June, of a new Polish president. This is an influential role with key defence and security competences as well powers to block legislation. Ramping up security rhetoric is part of a Tusk plan for his party’s pick, Warsaw mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, to emerge victorious. Failure to secure the presidency would hobble the Polish government. With Poland already part of Europe’s growing hardline mainstream on migration issues, expect a similarly robust Tusk line on the EU’s Mercosur trade deal with South American countries. Like Ireland, Poland fears it will disadvantage its crucial farming sector. Helping Tusk to boost Polish influence across the EU are second-term foreign minister Radek Sikorski and trusted Tusk aide, Piotr Serafin. As EU budget commissioner, he will boost Poland’s long-term clout in discussions over EU finances and domestic debates over the cost benefits of membership. “Tusk will be active in international politics but will make an effort to portray himself as fighting for Polish national interests on this stage,” said Mateusz Mazzini, a Warsaw-based political commentator and television host. “There’s a lot of wishful thinking around Europe for Tusk as a liberal white knight, but such expectations haven’t filtered through here. Poles remain sceptical towards anything like self-praise.”19 PAEC hospitals providing state-of-the-art treatment
CP NewsAlert: B.C. NDP government, Greens reach 'shared priorities' agreementNFL Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss announces battle with cancer outside of bowel duct on Instagram Live NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss announced that he has been battling a cancer found in his bowel duct between his pancreas and liver on Instagram live. Moss, aided by a cane, introduced himself as a cancer survivor and thanked his “prayer warriors” for their support. He had a Whipple procedure to put a stent on his liver on Thanksgiving after experiencing urine discoloration. Moss spent the last six days in the hospital before getting out on Friday and said he’s nursing himself back to full health with chemotherapy and radiation. Lindsey Vonn to enter World Cup ski races next weekend in Switzerland in her comeback at age 40 BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn will return to World Cup ski racing next weekend for a pair of super-G events in St. Moritz, Switzerland, as she continues her comeback at 40 years old. Vonn teased her return in an Instagram post through her sponsor, Red Bull, on Friday morning. She said “I hear St. Moritz is pretty nice this time of year.” The U.S. Ski Team then confirmed she will race in St. Moritz. She’s won five of her 82 World Cup races on the venue at St. Moritz. Picabo Street, a two-time Olympic medalist and Vonn’s former teammate, says “it’s the coolest thing ever.” De'Vondre Campbell won't be part of the 49ers after his refusal to enter a game, Kyle Shanahan says SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said linebacker De’Vondre Campbell won’t be part of the 49ers moving forward after he refused to enter a game after losing his starting job. Shanahan said the team is still working through the options of how to deal with Campbell after he walked to the locker room in the middle of a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Shanahan says the team is weighing its options, which could include a suspension or release, but that Campbell won't be part of the team for the final three weeks of the season. Saudi Arabia's plans to host the men's World Cup 2034 will be harmful for the climate, experts say Saudi Arabia says that to host the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer, it will build or renovate 15 stadiums, create a futuristic city and expand airports and public transport in a massive buildout to accommodate millions of athletes, coaches and spectators. That will emit tons of planet-warming greenhouse gases as concrete and steel are manufactured and transported, diesel-powered excavators and trucks move material and new buildings are powered and cooled. The buildings and construction sector, taken together, is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally. Because of the scale of the building plans and travel needed for the event, experts say the toll on the climate could be enormous. Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees acquired All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin. The Yankees also will send $2 million to the Brewers as part of the trade. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams and his signature “Airbender” changeup are eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28. Williams was 14 for 15 in save chances with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 38 and walking 11 in 21 2/3 innings. Cubs acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros, AP source says CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move was pending a review of medical reports. The Cubs are sending third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. US Olympic and Paralympic officials put coach on leave after AP reports sexual abuse allegations The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has placed an employee on administrative leave after The Associated Press reported that one of its coaches was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, causing her so much distress that she attempted suicide. USOPC officials sent an email to the U.S. Biathlon national team saying it wanted to commend the athletes who came forward with the “concerning allegations of abuse." The email, which did not name the employee, said officials were conducting an internal investigation. USOPC spokesperson Jon Mason said no further information would be released while the inquiry is underway. New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez says leaving for Michigan 17 years ago was a 'mistake' MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Rich Rodriguez says he regrets leaving West Virginia 17 years ago. Rodriguez was introduced as the coach at his alma mater on Friday. Based on the welcome he got from the thousands of West Virginia fans in attendance, much seems to be forgiven. Rodriguez told the crowd that he never should have left his home state. The 61-year-old coach says he's grown both as a person and a coach throughout his long career, and that his departure at the end of the 2007 season for a head coaching job at Michigan was a mistake. Rodriguez went 60-26 at West Virginia from 2001 to 2007. Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. Analysis: Only LeBron James knows what's happening right now, and what's in his future LAS VEGAS (AP) — LeBron James was starring in Las Vegas at this time last year, the headline attraction while he and the Los Angeles Lakers were about to win the inaugural version of the event now known as the NBA Cup. That's not the case this year. “Personal reasons ... he’s taking some time” is what Lakers coach JJ Redick said this week when detailing why James was missing from practice. “Left foot soreness” is the reason why the Lakers have ruled him out of Friday’s game in Minnesota. There’s been trade speculation in recent days. It's all very different than a year ago at Cup time.
JERUSALEM — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Rescuers and residents search for victims Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon. Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few miles from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 20 miles north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israeli security officers and army soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.* Tariffs could lead to produce shortages as well as price hikes, experts warn * Mexico and Canada are top suppliers of US agricultural imports * Tariffs may disrupt cattle and pork trade between US, Mexico, and Canada By Leah Douglas and Ed White WASHINGTON/REGINA, Saskatchewan, - U.S. prices may rise next year for avocados, strawberries and other fresh produce, and consumers could face shortages, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on plans to slap tariffs on goods from Mexico and Canada, agricultural economists and industry executives said. Mexico and Canada are by far the top two suppliers of farm products to the United States, with imports of agricultural goods valued at nearly $86 billion last year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs data. Duties on their food shipments could cause jarring financial and operational ripple effects on U.S. supplies and highlight how reliant the nation has become on its neighbors for feeding its population, economists said. Trump said Monday he would sign an executive order on his first day in office in January that would impose a 25% tariff on all products coming into the United States from Canada and Mexico to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the U.S. U.S. consumers would feel impacts at grocery stores and restaurants, with items being out of stock, Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said on Tuesday. "We would see fewer items in general in the produce section," Jungmeyer said. "Restaurants would have to reconfigure their menus, maybe putting in less fruits and vegetables or decreasing portions." About two-thirds of all U.S. vegetable imports and half of fruit and nut imports come from Mexico, according to the USDA: nearly 90% of its avocados, as much as 35% of its orange juice, and 20% of its strawberries. Avocado exports to the United States have soared 48% since 2019, according to U.S. trade data, as consumers have increasingly put them in salads and on sandwiches. The U.S. market accounts for about 80% of Mexico's total avocado exports, data by the USDA shows, a trade worth $3 billion last year. "It would generate an inflationary spiral," said Alfredo Ramírez, governor of Michoacan, Mexico's main avocado producing state. "Demand would not fall," he said. "What would increase are costs and prices. This would bring us an increase in inflation and direct repercussions for consumers." Margarita supplies could be hit, too. Imports of beer and tequila together make up nearly a quarter of Mexican imports of agricultural goods into the U.S. last year. U.S. imports of Mexican tequila and mezcal - both used for making cocktails, such as margaritas - totaled $4.66 billion in 2023, up 160% since 2019. PIGS, CATTLE MIGRATION Trump's plan could also slow the migration of more than 1 million cows exported by Mexico across the border each year, to become part of the U.S. beef supply. U.S. producers have slashed their cattle herds in recent years, pushing up beef prices. They could benefit if tariffs lead to fewer cattle and beef imports, said Bill Bullard, chief executive officer of the Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America. Tariffs could also further increase meat prices for U.S. consumers, though Bullard said importers and meat processors may be able to absorb some extra costs. "We look forward to tariffs," he said. "It will help to level the playing field for our domestic producers." To the north, tariffs also could disrupt shipments of beef and dairy cattle and hogs between the U.S. and Canada, and potentially affect producers in both countries. Manitoba alone sends about 3 million piglets each year to producers in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Nebraska, where feed corn can be sourced more cheaply, according to the Canada Pork Council and Manitoba Pork Council Midwestern farmers then raise and fatten up the animals in their feeder barns, before sending them to slaughter - and the pork flows both to buyers in the U.S. and Canada after processing. TRUMP TRADE WARS 2.0 The latest USDA projections show that the U.S. in 2025 will likely run a deficit in agricultural trade of more than $42 billion, driven in part by consumer interest in off-season produce and imported alcohol from Mexico. The threat of tariffs could be a way of attaining leverage over Mexico and Canada in the lead-up to renegotiation of the USMCA trade deal, set to be reviewed in 2026, said Peter Tabor, an attorney and senior policy advisor at Holland & Knight and a former USDA trade official. But implementation of steep tariffs over time could mean the U.S. may be seen as an unreliable trading partner and that importers of U.S. goods would look elsewhere to fill the void, Tabor said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Canadians bristle - or shrug - at Trump's trollingDrones, helicopters being considered for U.S. border, public safety minister says
PITTSBURGH 74, LSU 63Watchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were presentCanadians bristle - or shrug - at Trump's trolling
By SARAH PARVINI, GARANCE BURKE and JESSE BEDAYN, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump will return to power next year with a raft of technological tools at his disposal that would help deliver his campaign promise of cracking down on immigration — among them, surveillance and artificial intelligence technology that the Biden administration already uses to help make crucial decisions in tracking, detaining and ultimately deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status. While immigration officials have used the tech for years, an October letter from the Department of Homeland Security obtained exclusively by The Associated Press details how those tools — some of them powered by AI — help make life-altering decisions for immigrants, including whether they should be detained or surveilled. One algorithm, for example, ranks immigrants with a “Hurricane Score,” ranging from 1-5, to assess whether someone will “abscond” from the agency’s supervision. Related Articles The letter, sent by DHS Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Eric Hysen to the immigrant rights group Just Futures Law, revealed that the score calculates the potential risk that an immigrant — with a pending case — will fail to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The algorithm relies on several factors, he said, including an immigrant’s number of violations and length of time in the program, and whether the person has a travel document. Hysen wrote that ICE officers consider the score, among other information, when making decisions about an immigrant’s case. “The Hurricane Score does not make decisions on detention, deportation, or surveillance; instead, it is used to inform human decision-making,” Hysen wrote. Also included in the government’s tool kit is a mobile app called SmartLINK that uses facial matching and can track an immigrant’s specific location. Nearly 200,000 people without legal status who are in removal proceedings are enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program, under which certain immigrants can live in the U.S. while their immigration cases are pending. In exchange, SmartLINK and GPS trackers used by ICE rigorously surveil them and their movements. The phone application draws on facial matching technology and geolocation data, which has been used before to find and arrest those using the app. Just Futures Law wrote to Hysen earlier this year, questioning the fairness of using an algorithm to assess whether someone is a flight risk and raising concerns over how much data SmartLINK collects. Such AI systems, which score or screen people, are used widely but remain largely unregulated even though some have been found to discriminate on race, gender or other protected traits. DHS said in an email that it is committed to ensuring that its use of AI is transparent and safeguards privacy and civil rights while avoiding biases. The agency said it is working to implement the Biden administration’s requirements on using AI , but Hysen said in his letter that security officials may waive those requirements for certain uses. Trump has publicly vowed to repeal Biden’s AI policy when he returns to the White House in January. “DHS uses AI to assist our personnel in their work, but DHS does not use the outputs of AI systems as the sole basis for any law enforcement action or denial of benefits,” a spokesperson for DHS told the AP. Trump has not revealed how he plans to carry out his promised deportation of an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally. Although he has proposed invoking wartime powers, as well as military involvement, the plan would face major logistical challenges — such as where to keep those who have been detained and how to find people spread across the country — that AI-powered surveillance tools could potentially address. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, did not answer questions about how they plan to use DHS’ tech, but said in a statement that “President Trump will marshal every federal and state power necessary to institute the largest deportation operation” in American history. Over 100 civil society groups sent a letter on Friday urging the Office of Management and Budget to require DHS to comply with the Biden administration’s guidelines. OMB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Just Futures Law’s executive director, Paromita Shah, said if immigrants are scored as flight risks, they are more likely to remain in detention, “limiting their ability to prepare a defense in their case in immigration court, which is already difficult enough as it is.” SmartLINK, part of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, is run by BI Inc., a subsidiary of the private prison company The GEO Group. The GEO Group also contracts with ICE to run detention centers. ICE is tight-lipped about how it uses SmartLINK’s location feature to find and arrest immigrants. Still, public records show that during Trump’s first term in 2018, Manassas, Virginia-based employees of BI Inc. relayed immigrants’ GPS locations to federal authorities, who then arrested over 40 people. In a report last year to address privacy issues and concerns, DHS said that the mobile app includes security features that “prohibit access to information on the participant’s mobile device, with the exception of location data points when the app is open.” But the report notes that there remains a risk that data collected from people “may be misused for unauthorized persistent monitoring.” Such information could also be stored in other ICE and DHS databases and used for other DHS mission purposes, the report said. On investor calls earlier this month, private prison companies were clear-eyed about the opportunities ahead. The GEO Group’s executive chairman George Christopher Zoley said that he expects the incoming Trump administration to “take a much more aggressive approach regarding border security as well as interior enforcement and to request additional funding from Congress to achieve these goals.” “In GEO’s ISAP program, we can scale up from the present 182,500 participants to several hundreds of thousands, or even millions of participants,” Zoley said. That same day, the head of another private prison company told investors he would be watching closely to see how the new administration may change immigrant monitoring programs. “It’s an opportunity for multiple vendors to engage ICE about the program going forward and think about creative and innovative solutions to not only get better outcomes, but also scale up the program as necessary,” Damon Hininger, CEO of the private prison company CoreCivic Inc. said on an earnings call. GEO did not respond to requests for comment. In a statement, CoreCivic said that it has played “a valued but limited role in America’s immigration system” for both Democrats and Republicans for over 40 years.AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:15 p.m. EST
MORGANTOWN — Plenty of young football players get advice on the game from their fathers. And for many of them, that advice might come with an eye roll from the kid, subjected to another story of Dad’s high school days. West Virginia University linebacker Josiah Trotter doesn’t roll his eyes. He takes notes. His dad has a Pro Bowl NFL pedigree. Growing up, Josiah Trotter and his brother looked at their dad as simply their dad. Everybody else looked at him as former All-Pro Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. And while Josiah Trotter said his dad tries not to get in the way of his WVU coaches, he still has been able to offer some important lessons on how to play the game. “As you grow older, you realize it’s great to have that,” Trotter said. “It’s great to have that father figure in life, especially one that played in the NFL to give you key points – how to watch film, how to prepare and how to carry yourself as an athlete, a man and a football player.” Jeremiah Trotter spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 2000 and a second-team All-Pro in 2001. Both his sons, Josiah and Jeremiah Jr., have followed in his footsteps. Jeremiah Jr. played football at Clemson and was a 2024 fifth-round draft pick of the Eagles. Josiah was a four-star linebacker prospect that was considered one of the top 10 overall college prospects in Pennsylvania as a high school senior. Yet in the pee-wee football days, the Trotter sons didn’t see their father as a superstar pro football player, though that connection got clearer as they matured. “When we were younger, we just looked at him as Dad,” Trotter said. “When you get older, you start to realize and everything like that.” The younger Trotter’s introduction into college football was delayed in some ways. A knee injury in spring practice left him sidelined for the 2023 season, taking a redshirt. Yet he quickly made an impact on WVU’s defense when he got healthy. Trotter has started 10 of WVU’s 11 games this season at linebacker. He is second on the team in total tackles (84) and quarterback hurries (four) while adding four tackles for loss, assisting on a sack, intercepting one pass and breaking up two more. The West Virginia defense as a whole has seen its struggles this year in communication and giving up big plays. Trotter said that, while he talks with his dad a lot, much of the conversation focuses on what he can do to be a better player rather than the Mountaineer defense as a whole. “When we talk, we just talk about ball,” he said. “Just giving me key points and stuff to help me, to support my game, things I need to continue to get better at. Everything with (the defense’s struggles), he just leaves to the coaches.” Are there times Trotter admits his dad gets repetitive in his advice? Sure, but he also realizes that when his dad says something multiple times, he’s making a point about how important it is. “The knowledge he has, all you can do is just sit back and listen and use it to grow,” Trotter said. “At the end of the day, I’m not perfect, so I know that what he has to tell me, he’s only going to help me get better. “I’m trying to get where he was,” he added. —
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Reports: Bill Belichick interviews for North Carolina job
FIA and Extreme H progress first-ever off-road hydrogen racing World Cup The FIA Extreme H World Cup has taken the next step as a landmark competition committed to showcasing hydrogen innovation and gender equality in motorsport. Having signed a non-binding Heads of Terms, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Extreme H continue to collaborate on the framework of the competition, ensuring the values of the FIA Extreme H World Cup align with the FIA’s dedication to promoting sustainable, technologically-advanced, and inclusive racing platforms that reflect the future of global motorsport. The FIA Extreme H World Cup will be the first hydrogen-powered racing series, utilising cutting-edge fuel cell technology to demonstrate the viability and potential of hydrogen as a zero-emission energy source. This event will set a new benchmark for the automotive industry and racing sector, underlining motorsport’s vital role as a testbed for clean energy solutions. The FIA is confident that Extreme H will inspire further investment in hydrogen infrastructure, critical for a sustainable, low-carbon future. In addition to its technological advancements, the FIA Extreme H World Cup is committed to driving gender parity in motorsport, with all teams featuring an equal number of male and female drivers. This inclusive approach provides a level playing ground for talent to excel, enhancing opportunities for female drivers and inspiring a new generation of racers and fans to motorsport. By championing gender equality and environmental responsibility, the FIA Extreme H World Cup supports shared core values and vision for the future of motorsport. FIA President, said: “ Founder and CEO of the FIA Extreme H World Cup, said: “ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at FIA and Extreme H progress first-ever off-road hydrogen racing World Cup, Driving Home for Christmas... with Hydrogen The festive season brings more than just celebration – it carries a significant environmental impact. Our Christmas festivities over just three days could generate as much as... How hydrogen powered vehicles will help India reach its emissions targets – WEF Hydrogen is a critical element in India’s efforts to reduce transport-related emissions. Industrial clusters such as the Kerala Green... Not Toyota, not Hyundai – This brand has reinvented the real hydrogen engine this way – The Moment The faster-than-light engine predicted by Einstein has been created – Here’s how it works It’s the end of...NFL Scout: Texas' Quinn Ewers Is 'Tough as Nails Mentally' After Return from BenchingJERUSALEM — The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants began early Wednesday as a region on edge wondered whether it will hold. The ceasefire announced Tuesday is a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. An international panel led by the United States will monitor compliance. People are also reading... 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At the courthouse, Nov. 23, 2024 Search warrants lead to arrest of man in narcotics investigation No change in bond amounts in child abuse death case Clabaugh family presents Outstanding Educator award Harmonizers to perform ‘I don’t care who’s played': Nebraska’s Dana Holgorsen on personnel changes at tight end Courthouse lighting ceremony planned for Sunday Kidnapping in Nebraska prompted police chase that ended with 3 dead on I-29 in Missouri Inside Nebraska volleyball’s finishing kick for a Big Ten title: First up, Wisconsin Zitel bound over to district court in death of child Just Askin': Dana Holgorsen noncommittal on future, ranking a big week for Nebraska Athletics Streaming review: 'Landman' gives Billy Bob Thornton a real gusher of a series Amie Just: Bring out the tissues — and the brooms — for Nebraska volleyball's emotional win The ceasefire began at 4 a.m. Wednesday, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict that in recent weeks turned into all-out war. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. The ceasefire does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Rescuers and residents search for victims Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon. Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. Residents fled. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. Israeli security officers and army soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.