However, the tide may be turning against the Assad regime. The ongoing civil war has weakened the government's hold on the country, with large swathes of territory controlled by various rebel groups and Kurdish forces. The rise of extremist groups such as ISIS has further destabilized the region, creating a power vacuum that could be exploited by opposition forces.NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Title: Lei Jun: Xiaomi's First SUV Model YU7, Directly Pronounced as Y-U-7Looking ahead, TSMC remains optimistic about its future prospects, as the demand for semiconductor chips is expected to continue growing in the coming years. The company's ongoing investments in research and development, as well as its focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, position it well for sustained growth and success in the dynamic semiconductor market.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Brayden O'Connor's 17 points helped George Mason defeat Tulane 76-64 on Saturday. O'Connor went 7 of 10 from the field for the Patriots (7-3). Darius Maddox shot 4 for 11 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line to add 17 points. Jalen Haynes shot 4 of 11 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points. Rowan Brumbaugh led the way for the Green Wave (4-6) with 12 points and four assists. Gregg Glenn III added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Tulane. Mari Jordan also had 11 points. George Mason took the lead with 14:04 left in the first half and never looked back. O'Connor led their team in scoring with 15 points in the first half to help put them up 45-27 at the break. George Mason was outscored by Tulane in the second half by a six-point margin, but still wound up on top, while Haynes led the way with a team-high 10 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
O'Connor scores 17 as George Mason knocks off Tulane 76-64Poverty Surges in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste ProvinceIn recent news, Shanxi province in China has reported a case involving a missing female master's student who has been successfully located. However, the incident took a serious turn as the individuals involved have been taken into custody and will face criminal coercion measures.
The 0.2% rise in CPI can be attributed to various factors, including the continued recovery of the economy following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With businesses reopening and consumer demand picking up, prices for certain goods and services have seen a slight uptick. However, it is worth noting that this increase is still relatively moderate and within the government's target range for inflation.
Private mission to moon to pave way for humanity's return to lunar surface
The impressive surge in sales revenue can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, TSMC has been at the forefront of technological innovation, consistently introducing cutting-edge semiconductor technologies and manufacturing processes. This has enabled the company to secure a dominant position in the market and attract a wide range of clients, including leading tech giants such as Apple, AMD, and Qualcomm.
Title: The Best Women's Doubles of the Year - A Glorious Moment for the Sanctum Combination in Chinese BadmintonDana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Helen Flanagan on 'love' for Tulisa and who she wants to win I'm a Celebrity
Bur Oak Resources Offers Ontario Renewable Energy Services 12-17-2024 10:30 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Content Hum Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/1734432908.jpg Pioneering Sustainable Solutions for Homes and Businesses in Ontario Bur Oak Resources is a leader in renewable energy solutions, offering cutting-edge, sustainable energy solutions for homes, businesses, and rural properties. With a strong commitment to reducing carbon footprints, the company is at the forefront of providing off-grid systems, wind turbine installations, and other eco-friendly technologies that make Ontario's energy future cleaner and more efficient. As Ontario continues to embrace sustainable energy solutions, Bur Oak Resources is helping to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly power sources. Their team specializes in developing and installing off-grid systems and wind energy solutions, allowing homeowners and businesses to generate and store their power. This move toward renewable energy is critical as the province aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a resilient energy grid for the future. Bur Oak Resources is particularly well-known for its expertise in off grid systems Ontario [ https://bur-oak-resources.ca/off-grid-systems-ontario-canada ]. These systems are designed to provide complete energy independence to homeowners and businesses that are located far from the main power grid. Whether a remote cottage or a rural farm, off-grid solutions ensure a reliable and renewable energy supply using solar, wind, or hybrid systems. The company's experienced team works closely with clients to design and install customized off-grid systems that meet their energy needs and environmental goals. This ensures that Ontario residents can enjoy the benefits of renewable energy, regardless of their location. "We are committed to providing Ontarians with the tools and technology they need to reduce their environmental impact while increasing energy independence," said the spokesperson at Bur Oak Resources. "Our off-grid systems are a perfect example of how renewable energy solutions can empower people to take control of their energy needs, no matter where they live." One of the key offerings from Bur Oak Resources is the installation of Ontario wind turbines [ https://bur-oak-resources.ca/wind-turbines-ontario-canada ], a sustainable solution that harnesses the power of the wind to generate electricity. With the province's vast and diverse landscape, wind turbines are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those seeking to generate clean energy. Bur Oak Resources specializes in residential and commercial wind turbine installations, offering turnkey solutions, including site assessments, installation, and ongoing maintenance. Bur Oak Resources is a trusted provider of Ontario renewable energy [ https://www.bur-oak-resources.ca/ ] solutions, committed to delivering sustainable, cost-effective, and innovative systems to meet the energy needs of homes and businesses. With a focus on off-grid systems, Ontario wind turbines, and other renewable energy technologies, Bur Oak Resources helps clients take control of their energy use while reducing their environmental impact. The company's expert team offers full-service solutions, including energy audits, system design, installation, and maintenance, ensuring each project is tailored to the client's needs. Media Contact Company Name: Bur Oak Resources Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=bur-oak-resources-offers-ontario-renewable-energy-services ] Phone: 705-476-0990 Address:North Bay - Main Office 160 Pinewood Park Dr City: North Bay State: ON P1B 8Z4 Country: Canada Website: https://bur-oak-resources.ca/ This release was published on openPR.By limiting the number of devices that can be logged in with a single account, Tencent Video is taking a proactive approach to protect their intellectual property and ensure fair compensation for the content they provide. This new policy will require users to be more mindful of their login activity and may inconvenience those who have grown accustomed to sharing accounts with others.Not many people have heard of before, but it is based out of New York and recognizes technology that prioritizes customer well-being by reducing their stress and cognitive load. Remarkable is the first e-paper device to become certified. This is due to the device not having any distractions, such as a web browser, social media or popups. To be awarded certification by the Calm Tech Institute, a product is evaluated against an 84-point standard based on Calm Technology principles. Examples include the product’s demands on a user’s attention, the periphery, robustness, light, sound, and material use. reMarkable Paper Pro joins a select group of early products and is awarded certification. These products share the common trait of creating experiences that work with our attention, not against it. reMarkable has been in the business of calm technology since the launch of our original paper tablet in 2017,” said Jon Dalvang, vice president of product design at reMarkable. “With reMarkable Paper Pro, we’re pushing boundaries in the market for better thinking tools. We’re honoured to receive this pioneering ‘Calm Tech’ certification, which inspires us to continue developing products that put human focus and deep thinking at the center.” Launched in September 2024, reMarkable Paper Pro is a digital notebook combining the freeing simplicity of writing on paper with powerful tools for editing and sharing your work. It is also the first remarkable product with a colour E INK screen, which adds versatility. Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
In the aftermath of the fire incident, Alibaba Cloud's technical teams worked tirelessly to assess the extent of the damage and evaluate the impact on their services and customers. The data center that was affected played a critical role in hosting a vast amount of cloud computing resources, and its temporary shutdown had ripple effects on the availability and accessibility of certain services. Alibaba Group acknowledged the inconvenience caused to their customers and partners and expressed their commitment to restoring services as swiftly as possible.North Carolina retaining its status as the nation’s most prominent ticket-splitting state was the top political story for 2024 as determined by the Winston-Salem Journal. Voters supported putting Republican Donald Trump back in the White House, while delivering an overwhelming win for Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein over embattled Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in the governor’s race. North Carolinians also rejected Trump’s MAGA acolytes for lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instruction. Speaking of Robinson, his GOP primary win over state Treasurer and Winston-Salem native Dale Folwell was the runner-up story. Third on the list was the national speculation that Gov. Roy Cooper could become Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate before removing his name from consideration. Fourth was the Republican supermajorities’ successful override votes of 10 Cooper vetoes during the 2024 session, as well as the potential ending of the House supermajority in the 2025 session. Rounding out the top-five is the so-called “power grab” attempt by Republican legislative leaders of certain authorities of the Democratic-elect governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of Public Instructions. Both Trump and a Democratic governor candidate won North Carolina for the third consecutive general election. Trump carried North Carolina by a 50.95% to 47.56% margin over Harris. Trump received 2.87 million votes. Meanwhile, Stein defeated Robinson by 3.03 million to 2.22 million votes, or 54.8% to 40.1%. Stein not only was the largest vote-getter in the statewide races, but received 160,496 more votes than Trump. There were minimal, if any, Trump coattails for the other Republican MAGA acolytes running for lieutenant governor (Hal Weatherman), attorney general (U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop) and superintendent of Public Instruction (Michele Morrow). They were defeated by Lt. Gov.-elect Rachel Hunt, Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson and superintendent-elect Maurice “Mo” Green, the former Guilford County Schools superintendent. Bishop and Morrow both drew about 180,000 fewer votes than Trump, while Weatherman was about 230,000 votes shy of Trump. What is different about the 2024 statewide races is that “voters generally cast party-line votes and aligned their Council of State votes with their presidential preference,” said John Dinan, a Wake Forest University political science professor who is considered a national expert on state legislatures. “But in cases where one party’s candidate was able to portray the other party’s candidate as outside the mainstream, especially in open-seat races, this led some voters to engage in ticket-splitting.” Folwell built his governor’s campaign in March 2023 on the pillars of being the top statewide race vote-getter in 2016 and 2020, and that he offered stability, experience and maturity as “the best governor that money can’t buy.” Folwell did not hold back his questioning of Robinson’s qualifications to be governor given Robinson’s statements about racism, gender identity and women’s role in society. Yet, once Trump full-throatedly endorsed Robinson, calling him “Martin Luther King on steroids,” that was enough to push Robinson to a decisive win over Folwell and Bill Graham. Among the criticisms of Folwell’s candidacy was that he was too prickly, too boring and didn’t display the same fiery campaign rhetoric as Robinson. Trump, however, chose to ostracize Robinson from his presidential campaign following the controversial Sept. 19 CNN report, as well as several Southeast Republican governors withdrawing their support. The CNN report included that Robinson wrote that he was a “Black Nazi” and that he not only supported a return of slavery but that he also wanted to own slaves. The story also said Robinson wrote that he liked to watch transgender porn. The comments were made on the porn website Nude Africa between 2008 and 2012. Robinson has denied making the comments and has filed a lawsuit against CNN. Folwell pulled no punches in the aftermath of the bombshell CNN report, calling Robinson a “counterfeit conservative” and “always playing the victim.” “In the end, North Carolina voters decided they wanted a government that would be more moderate because that is how North Carolinians see themselves,” said Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor at Winston-Salem State University. Saying “It’s not the right time for North Carolina or for me to be on a national ticket,” Cooper pulled on July 30 his name from consideration as a vice presidential candidate for Harris . Being a popular two-term Democratic governor in a center-right Southern state was viewed by political analysts as a viable ticket-balancing option as Democrats attempted to shift N.C. back into the win column. CNN reported that Cooper, at 67, was the oldest potential vice president candidate under consideration. “After all, only one person can be chosen for the vice president nominee, and there are at least a handful of strong candidates who come from swing states and who would provide some ideological balance to the ticket in the way that Cooper would have done,” Dinan said. Another factor: Political analysts cited Robinson as being a potential deterrent for Cooper pursuing the vice president nominee. Robinson could potentially have issued executive orders as acting governor while Cooper was campaigning out of the state. As Cooper bowed out of VP consideration, speculation continued to swirl that Cooper is at the top of the list for Democratic challengers for two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis in 2026. John Quinterno, principal with South by North Strategies Ltd. of Chapel Hill, said that given Cooper’s accomplishments as governor and his long career in public service, he “would be a strong candidate” to take on Tillis. Stein will enter office Jan. 1 with a viable, but razor-thin, veto power since House Democrats were successful in gaining a 49th seat, thus breaking the Republican super-majority after two years. A super-majority exists when Democrats or Republicans control two-thirds of a chamber’s seats. Since Republican legislators regained supermajority status in April 2023 after Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham switched from Democrat, they overrode 29 Cooper vetoes during the 2023 and 2024 sessions. Stein said that in the governor’s race, North Carolinians “chose hope over hate, competence over chaos, decency over division.” Although Stein registered “a clear win,” John Locke Foundation senior political analyst Mitch Kokai cautioned that “he ought to be careful not to view that victory as an overwhelming mandate for his policy prescriptions.” Meanwhile, Rep. Cecil Brockman, D-Guilford, continues to embrace his role as a potential supporter of certain GOP legislation, telling the News & Record that “you need me. I don’t need you .” That’s even though four other eastern N.C. House Democrats have been identified as potentially playing the same flipping role. The Republican-controlled legislature completed Dec. 11 the passing of controversial Senate Bill 382 that curtails or ends certain authorities of four Democratic Council of State seats, as well as making the State Highway Patrol commander post a non-elected Cabinet position appointed by the legislature. The N.C. House overrode Cooper’s veto by a 72-46 vote along party lines on Dec. 11. Cooper vetoed the bill Nov. 26, calling it “a sham” and a “cruel blow.” Cooper and Stein needed just a day to file on Dec. 12 a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court challenging the constitutionality of SB382 with the foremost focus on the SHP commander legislation. SB382 also moves the State Board of Elections to the State Auditor’s Office, prevents the attorney general from undermining state law, and allows the state Treasurer to appoint a member to the Utilities Commission. SB382 appropriates an additional $227 million in Hurricane Helene disaster relief funding, but doesn’t immediately disperse it. “The people of western North Carolina are desperate for help from their state government. Yet, this bill is a power grab, not hurricane relief,” Stein said in a statement. Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, and House speaker for the 2025-26 sessions, said the disaster relief funding in SB382 “has been framed incorrectly” and “this body is entirely committed to helping folks in this state with storm relief.” The Republican supermajorities overrode a Cooper veto to make school vouchers to private and religious schools available to all parents no matter their household income , as well as enforcing that urban Democratic sheriffs cooperate with federal ICE agents. About $460 million is now available for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program for the 2024-25 school year. Funding for the waitlist is retroactive, with eligible families qualifying for a tuition reimbursement from their schools. There are more than 72,000 voucher applications for this school year, but only about 16,000 students were approved before the money ran out. Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said there have been 27,256 applicants in Tier 1, which includes the lowest-income household, as well as 13,060 in Tier 2, 25,750 in Tier 3 and 12,228 in Tier 4, which Lee said half of which come from Mecklenburg and Wake counties. All North Carolina sheriffs began Dec. 1 being required to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers for offenses committed on or after that date. Several metro sheriffs — including Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough of Forsyth County and Sheriff Danny Rogers of Guilford County — have limited their cooperation. “No longer will sheriffs in our most populated counties get away with ignoring federal immigration detainers issued by ICE,” according to a joint statement from Republican Senate Judiciary Committee chairmen Danny Britt Jr. of Robeson County, Warren Daniel of Burke County and Buck Newton of Wilson County. “With House Bill 10 finally becoming law, and the Trump administration taking over in Washington, we’re on the path toward a stronger border and safer United States.” Another potential casualty within SB382 is the loss of the Forsyth County Superior Court 31-D seat , held by Democrat Todd Burke. The seat would be eliminated in 2029, along with a seat in Wake County also held by a Democrat. In their place, the legislature would create two Superior Court seats, one appointed by the Senate leader and the other by the House speaker. Both judges would serve an eight-year term. Their districts would be identified when the nominees are submitted for appointment. Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, and House minority leader, said Burke’s seat is being eliminated because he took legal stances opposed by Republican legislative leadership and not because of the quality of his overall work or the lack of need for the seat. A primary example came in 2017 when Burke was part of a three-judge panel that ruled it was unconstitutional for the Republican supermajority at that time to revamp the state elections board and ethics commission weeks before Cooper was sworn in to his first term as governor. Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, and Senate minority leader, called part of the intent of SB328 to allow Republican legislative leaders to be able to turn to favorable Superior Court judges that they appoint, rather than go before judges that may hold them accountable to the constitutionality of their actions. Yet another successful GOP veto override in House Bill 237 loosened campaign-financing laws and significantly restricted public mask wearing for health and safety reasons. The insertion of state campaign finance law changes into HB237 has been pitched as either leveling the playing field on corporate and union donations, or opening another floodgate for out-of-state dark money into high-profile 2024 election races. HB237 became law amid predictions that the Stein-Robinson governor’s race would be among the costliest in the country. “This legislation creates a gaping loophole for secret, unlimited campaign money in the middle of an election year,” Cooper said in a statement. “The legislation also removes protections and threatens criminal charges for people who want to protect their health by wearing a mask.” Rep. Sarah Crawford, D-Wake, said the number of North Carolinians affected by the masking part of HB237 could reach 2 million when counting immunocompromised individuals, those that assist them, and workers who require masking to perform their jobs outdoors. A compromise reached between House and Senate Republican leadership narrowly defined exemptions as allowing individuals ages 16 and older to wear a medical or surgical grade mask for the purpose of preventing the spread of contagious disease — with the condition of removing it upon request by law enforcement. “Bad actors have been using masks to conceal their identity when they commit crimes and intimidate the innocent,” said Sen. Danny Britt, R-Scotland, and Senate sponsor of HB237. “Instead of helping put an end to this threatening behavior, the governor wants to continue encouraging these thugs by giving them more time to hide from the consequences of their actions.” The Triad will be represented by two new-blood Republican U.S. House candidates in newcomers Pat Harrigan and Addison McDowell . Both cruised to comfortable victories in their respective 10th and 6th district races considering they were all but ordained once they won their primaries in March given their districts were gerrymandered into safe Republican seats during the 2023 redrawing of the state’s congressional map. The redrawn map produced what political analysts had projected: a shift from North Carolina’s 14 congressional seats being split at 7-7 to a 10-4 Republican majority. Their victories were pivotal to U.S. House Republicans holding on to a bare majority of seats for the 2025-26 sessions. Democratic-leaning Winston-Salem is in the new 10th, along with Republican-leaning western Forsyth County suburbs and solidly conservative counties Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin. The 6th District is the most Triad-centric of the four U.S. House districts in the region. The new map includes Kernersville, Walkertown and the southern Forsyth border — all Republican strongholds. In Guilford County, the 6th District portion forms a loop shaped like a backward C around the county’s suburban communities and High Point. Also included are all of Davidson, Davie and Rowan counties, and about 20% of Cabarrus County. A bipartisan and controversial N.C. Senate medical marijuana bill cleared the chamber in June for the second time during the 2023-24 sessions. However, Republican House leadership quickly shelved the revamped House Bill 563 without receiving a committee hearing. Outgoing House speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, told legislative media outlets that for a medical marijuana bill to clear the House, there would need to be “reasonable controls,” and a balance to have enough distributors to prescribe and avoid a monopoly. Still, a block of House Republicans has opposed any medical marijuana language out of concern that it could serve as a gateway to legalized recreational marijuana use. They also claim that medical research isn’t definitive that it benefits users. The bill also contains language that would: place Tianeptine, Xylazine and Kratom on the state’s controlled substance schedules; create criminal penalties for criminal possession and unlawful sale of embalming fluid; and create penalties for exposing a minor to a controlled substance. HB563 would permit the use of medical marijuana — prescribed only by a licensed physician — for individuals with ALS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder and other ailments, but not for those experiencing chronic pain. Importantly, the bill does not allow recreational marijuana usage or the marketing of medical marijuana to anyone under age 21. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI is set to report its second-quarter results on Thursday before the opening bell. Here's a look at what to expect from the largest full-service restaurant operator in the country. What To Know: Darden Restaurants faced challenges, including rising food prices and labor shortages. Inflation also pushed the company’s costs higher, keeping many consumers eating at home. The company also reported disappointing first-quarter earnings in September. But for the second quarter, there are signs of a recovery. Read Next: Nike Needs A Turnaround After Q2 Results Are Released This Week: Will New CEO ‘Just Do It?’ According to data from Placer.ai, guest visits to Darden's restaurants like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse grew by 0.9% in the period from July through September 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Darden's visitor growth of 0.9% outperformed the broader full-service restaurant segment which saw a decline of 1.9% in the same period. What Else: Darden Restaurants is counting on its exclusive, multi-year delivery partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. UBER to help boost sales, alongside various value promotions and revamped menus to attract cash-strapped consumers. For example, Olive Garden is running its popular "Never-Ending Pasta Bowl" promotion one month early and for three weeks longer in 2024 compared to previous years. Darden Restaurants will report its second-quarter results before Thursday's opening bell and will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET the same day. According to estimates from Benzinga Pro , analysts expect the company to report earnings of $2.02 per share and quarterly revenue of $2.9 billion. Price Action: According to Benzinga Pro , Darden Restaurant shares are down 1.51% at $165.04 at the time of publication Tuesday. Read Next: ‘Americans Bought Less But Paid More,’ Says Peter Schiff: Experts Digest November Retail Sales Data Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.