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mega r JIMMY Carter, the 39th President of the United States, has died aged 100 surrounded by his loving family. Beloved President Carter was known for living a life of service to others and for his faith, love of country, and family. Jimmy Carter was the oldest living US President after the death of George H.W. Bush in 2018. Carter was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia - the same place where he ultimately died. According to his biography on the White House website: "Peanut farming, talk of politics, and devotion to the Baptist faith were mainstays of his upbringing." He was a naval officer for seven years and became a submariner. He rose to the rank of lieutenant before he left the Navy when his father died in 1953, and he saw it as his responsibility to take over the family farm. He soon jumped into politics after being elected to the Georgia State Senate. In 1970, with the help of his wife, Rosalynn, he was elected the Governor of Georgia. In 1976, Carter beat out then-President Gerald Ford for the Oval Office, which he occupied from 1977 to 1981. During his presidency, Carter was known for his compassionate approach to politics. Domestically, he created 8 million jobs, many of which went to women, African Americans, and Hispanics. He expanded the national park system and created the Department of Education and the Department of Energy. Internationally, he soared and, in 2002, was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in helping to create the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. After his presidency, Jimmy and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center , a non-profit center that helps humanitarian causes around the globe. They also were heavily involved with Habitat for Humanity. Jimmy Carter died on Sunday 29, December, 2024 nearly two years after going into hospice care. His official cause of death is yet to be announced but his son Chip released a heartfelt statement confirming the death of his father. He said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. In 2015, he beat brain and liver cancer, but in 2019, his health began to suffer again. He chose hospice care over continuing medical treatment, the Carter Center announced on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Carter leaves behind his four children with his late wife Rosalynn, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rosalynn passed away on November 19, 2023, at 96 years old. Public events will commemorate Carter in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. and a state funeral will be held, The Carter Center confirmed. Whether Carter and his family decided to go through with the double funeral and how much of it will be public will be disclosed in the coming days. Carter will likely opt for burial in his home state of Georgia. However, like President H. W. Bush, he could have a state funeral in Washington DC and a personal funeral in his beloved hometown.Island resident becomes first Canadian student to fly an electric plane solo

Amazon Has Officially Entered the Car Dealer Business

Can You Guess The Player? Here’s Baseball America’s 2024 Holiday Prospects QuizOne day, when actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life. Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O'Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke). O'Donnell's candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She's one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others. People are also reading... Spreading kindness one butterfly at a time At the courthouse, Dec. 7, 2024 Camper total loss after fire north of Beatrice BPS receives a "good" classification Hubbell native, Gage County Fair performer hosting Christmas concert Holiday lights travel through downtown Beatrice for annual parade P.E.O. sponsors Holiday Tour of Homes Early names to know as Nebraska begins early shopping in the open transfer market Hit show ‘Yellowstone’ doesn’t just portray ranching in Montana. It has changed it. Amie Just: This recruiting class marks the beginning of a new era — one without walk-ons Orangemen wrestlers get their season started Now streaming and on DVD: 'Speak No Evil' scares the trip out of you Amie Just: A letter to Nebraska volleyball seniors ahead of their final match at Devaney At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 "Shop with a Cop" held "Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures," said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. "They absolutely do influence people." Some of the earliest celebrity health disclosures happened in the 1970s and 1980s with U.S. presidents and first ladies. When first lady Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after Gerald Ford became president in 1974, she spoke openly about her diagnosis, inviting photographers into the White House and helping make talk of cancer less taboo. In 1987, first lady Nancy Reagan used her breast cancer diagnosis as a chance to advocate for women to get mammograms. Her disclosure came two years after President Ronald Reagan's colon cancer diagnosis, about which the couple was equally as vocal. "Individuals throughout the country have been calling cancer physicians and information services in record numbers," the Los Angeles Times reported after Nancy Reagan's widely publicized surgery. The public showed a similar interest years earlier following Betty Ford's mastectomy. Another major milestone in celebrity health disclosures came in 1991, when 32-year-old NBA superstar Earvin "Magic" Johnson revealed he had tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "Life is going to go on for me, and I'm going to be a happy man," Johnson assured fans during a news conference. He immediately retired, only to return to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996. His disclosure, along with his work as an advocate for safe sex, helped shatter stigmas around HIV and AIDS. Calls to testing centers increased significantly in the days and weeks after Johnson's announcement. "That celebrity disclosure really helped people see there was a wider susceptibly to HIV," Gall Myrick said. "People were more likely to say, 'I need to think about my own risks.' It was very powerful." When it comes to heart and stroke health, President Dwight Eisenhower helped make heart attacks less frightening and mysterious. During a news conference in 1955, millions of Americans learned from the president's doctors about his heart condition, his treatment, and concrete steps they could take to reduce their own heart attack risk. Other notable figures have shared their health experiences over the years. Soap opera legend Susan Lucci , who was diagnosed with heart disease in 2018, has advocated for women's heart health. Basketball great Kareem Abdul Jabbar talks about his irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillation, and advocates for regular health screenings. Lawyer, author and television personality Star Jones continues to speak about heart disease risk after having lifesaving heart surgery in 2010. Longtime TV and radio personality Dick Clark brought stroke and aphasia into the national spotlight when he returned to hosting "New Year's Rockin' Eve" in Times Square just a year after his 2004 stroke and continued until his death in 2012. And actor and comedian Jamie Foxx recently revealed he had a stroke last year. "Celebrity disclosures represent teachable moments," said Dr. Seth M. Noar, director of the Communicating for Health Impact Lab at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. "Searches for different health conditions often spike in the wake of these types of announcements. They cause people to think about these health issues, learn more about them, and in some cases change their behaviors." Celebrities have also highlighted the importance of CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to restore a person's heartbeat if they experience cardiac arrest. Interest in CPR and AEDs spiked in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during an NFL game broadcast on national TV. Views of the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR pages jumped more than 600% in the days following Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Three months later, around 3 million people had watched the AHA's CPR video. Family members of celebrities who have died from a heart issue have also spread awareness. After actor John Ritter died of an undiagnosed aortic dissection in 2003, his wife, actor Amy Yasbeck, started the Ritter Foundation to raise awareness about the condition and help others avoid a misdiagnosis. A literature review published in Systematic Reviews in 2017 found that people are conditioned to react positively to celebrity advice. Research also has found that people often follow advice from celebrities who match how they perceive – or how they want to perceive – themselves. The most effective celebrity disclosures are frequently the ones that tell a compelling story and include clear steps people can take to apply lessons the celebrity learned to their own health situation, Gall Myrick said. "People are more likely to take action when they feel confident and capable." Research has shown that celebrity disclosures often impact calls to hotlines and page views on health-related websites, and they can spark behavioral and even policy changes. Anecdotally, Gall Myrick said, people ask their doctor more questions about health conditions and request medical screenings. Celebrities can have a big impact because people tend to have parasocial relationships with them, Gall Myrick said. These are one-sided relationships in which a person feels an emotional connection with another person, often a celebrity. People may feel as if they know the basketball player they've watched on the court for years, or the Hollywood actor they've followed, she said. They want to comfort them after a health disclosure. Social media has only increased this feeling of familiarity, as celebrities regularly share mundane – but fascinating – details of their daily lives, like what they eat for breakfast, their favorite socks, or the meditation they do before bed. "We spend a lifetime being exposed to celebrities through the media, and over time, you get to know these public figures," Gall Myrick said. "Some feel like friendships." A study published in the journal Science Communication in 2020 compared reactions to actor Tom Hanks, who had COVID-19 early in the pandemic, and an average person with COVID-19. Researchers found that participants identified more with Hanks when it came to estimating their own susceptibility to COVID-19. The participants also felt more emotional about the virus that causes COVID-19 when thinking about it in relation to Hanks versus an average person. When a celebrity reveals a health condition, it's a surprise that may feel personal, especially if they are well-liked and the health issue is dramatic and sudden. "We feel like we know them, and the emotional response is what can then push people out of their routine," Gall Myrick said. Noar said a celebrity health story is often a more interesting and powerful way to learn about a health condition than just the facts, which can feel overwhelming. People are drawn to the slew of media coverage that typically follows a celebrity disclosure, he said. "Some of these high-visibility public figures' stories are now woven into some of these illnesses," Noar said. For example, Angelina Jolie is often linked to the BRCA1 gene mutation after the actor shared she had a preventive double mastectomy because of her elevated breast cancer risk and had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed because of her increased risk for ovarian cancer. "It's a narrative, a story that humanizes the condition in a way that very informational communication really doesn't," Noar said. "People remember it, and it can potentially be a touch point." After a disclosure, patients may bring up a celebrity's story during a doctor's appointment and connect it to their own care. Today's multiplatform digital culture only amplifies celebrity messages. "You're seeing everyday people react to these events, and that can have a ripple effect too," Gall Myrick said. "We know from research that seeing messages more than once can be impactful. Often it's not just one billboard or one commercial that impacts behavior; it's the drip drip drip over time." Still, there's a cautionary tale to be told around the impact of celebrity health news, especially if the celebrity has died. An unclear cause of death may lead to speculation. Gall Myrick said that guesswork could potentially end up hurting rather than helping if patients were to act on misinformation or a lack of information. "Maybe the death was atypical or it needs more context," she said. "That's where advocacy groups and public health organizations come in. They need to be prepared for announcements or disclosures about celebrity deaths, and to fill in some of those gaps." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!49ers GM John Lynch says Brock Purdy status ‘tenuous’ after MRI on shoulder injury

Protest blocks access to Deltaport for three hours FridayJimmy Carter, a transformative diplomat despite Iran

Ministers have been urged to speed up plans to criminalise the creation of sexually explicit deepfake images. Conservative peer Baroness Owen has proposed a law to make it an offence to create or solicit intimate images of people without their consent. The government has not backed her bill, which would apply to England and Wales, as it is planning to bring forward its own legislation to tackle the issue next year. However, Baroness Owen criticised ministers for "delaying action", saying this was "a betrayal of those who need our protection the most". A deepfake is an image or video that has been digitally altered with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to replace the face of one person with the face of another. Baroness Owen said the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes was growing rapidly, with so-called "nudification" apps easily available online. Her bill would create new offences, with those found guilty facing a fine and up to six months in jail. But it is unlikely to become law without government support. The former adviser to Boris Johnson was the youngest member of the House of Lords , after being nominated by the ex-prime minister in his resignation honours list. Introducing her bill in the chamber, Baroness Owen said 99% of sexually explicit deepfakes were of women, describing this as a "disproportionately sexist form of abuse". She told peers AI meant "a woman can no longer choose who owns an intimate image of her". "Technology has made it possible for them to be created by anyone, anywhere, at anytime, regardless of whether she consents," she added. The peer cited research suggesting one app had processed 600,000 images in its first three weeks, while the biggest site "dedicated to deepfake abuse" had 13.4 million hits per month. Labour's general election manifesto promised to ban the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes and justice minister Lord Ponsonby said the government agreed more needed to be done to protect women from this form of abuse. "But we must also act carefully so that any new measures work with existing law and, most importantly, will effectively protect victims and bring offenders to justice," he added. He said the government would deliver its manifesto commitment and bring forward its own legislation next year. Baroness Owen said she was "devastated" the government was not backing her bill, adding: "I know that survivors will feel let down". "This bill will save lives and delaying action is a betrayal of those who need our protection the most," she said. Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Grender said the bill was "essential", adding: "Women can't suffer delay on this issue." Sharing or threatening to share sexually explicit deepfake images are already illegal in England and Wales under the Online Safety Act, which passed last year. The last Conservative government also promised to make creating such images a criminal offence. However, its proposals ran out of time to become law when the general election was called in May. Campaigners had raised concerns the proposals would make creating such images a crime only if someone wanted to cause "alarm, humiliation or distress to the victim", rather than simply if the individual had not consented to their image being used in this way. Online safety campaigner Baroness Kidron urged the Labour government to ensure any new legislation would not require malicious intent to be proven. The crossbench peer said: "The one thing we know is that, if you have to prove intent, it is worse than useless." Baroness Owen said her bill would be consent-based so the burden was not on the victim to prove intent. Lord Ponsonby said the government was "actively considering" this issue. However, he added that in a criminal case "the onus is never on the victim to marshal evidence or to prove intent of the perpetrator", and this would be a matter for the police and prosecutors. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said any legislation must be consent-based and cover solicitation as well as creation to be effective. "The public wants to see change and the government must now deliver on this manifesto commitment," she added.Treysen Eaglestaff scores 19 as North Dakota cruises past Waldorf College 97-57

Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceThe 49ers will do everything they can to finish the 2024 season with a 9-8 record but coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t thinking beyond that. A 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams all but ended their playoff aspirations with games at Miami, at home against Detroit and the regular-season finale in Arizona still to play. For a team that had played in the NFC Championship Game four out of the last five years and played in two Super Bowls, it’s a huge letdown. “I’ll talk about 2025 when we get to 2025,” Shanahan said in a conference call with local media Friday. “But you have hope every year. You put together the best team possible, you go and practice and you go out there and you battle. So that’s what we do every single offseason. “You figure out how to get the best players possible through free agency and the Draft, you try to keep your best players as possible, you go to work and you show up for Week One.” The 49ers are coming to grips with being an also-ran. The reasons for the 49ers’ slide go much further than making a bad choice last offseason to bring in linebacker De’Vondre Campbell as a temporary replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who was rehabbing a torn Achilles. of removing Campbell from the roster either through suspension or release after he declined to play against the Rams. One thing Shanahan has no intention of doing is questioning his team’s want-to and preparation, even of those qualities have resulted in something foreign for the 49ers in terms of playing clean football. “I thought our guys showed up ready to play,” Shanahan said. “I thought we battled and a few key plays were the difference in the game. But I thought our guys sold out and I expect them to sell out the next three games.” While the 49ers’ commitment wasn’t an issue other than Campbell, their execution and playmaking was a huge problem on offense. The 49ers gained 191 yards of total offense, the second-lowest number since Shanahan arrived in 2017 and took control of the offense. It’s only the second time the 49ers failed to gain 200 yards of offense in 141 games with Shanahan as head coach. The only time they gained fewer yards was a 31-7 loss to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game played for more than three quarters without a viable quarterback since Brock Purdy (elbow) and Josh Johnson (concussion) were injured and Purdy had to re-enter the game unable to pass. The 49ers were so anemic against the Rams they failed to reach the red zone just one week after going 5-for-6 in a 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Asked if he could ever remember that happening as a play-caller, Shanahan said, “I’m not sure. I’ve been doing this a long time.” On the 49ers’ second series, Purdy found tight end George Kittle for a 33-yard gain — the play set up a 53-yard field goal by Jake Moody for a 3-0 lead — and the 49ers didn’t have a snap that gained more than 18 yards the rest of the night. They averaged 3.6 yards per snap and were 3-for-12 on third-down conversions. “I know that we were averaging like three yards a play at halftime. I don’t know what it was after that,” Kittle said. “They came out with some funky looks once in a while, but I just thought as skill positions, whether it was tight end, quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, I just thought we could have stepped up our game and played better and we didn’t. “ Purdy insisted there were plays there for the taking — rain or no rain. “The weather was the weather in the first half, but even with that, I think there were still some ops for us to convert on third down and move the chains,” Purdy said. “In the second half there were drives where we could’ve stayed on the field. I had to be better for this team and didn’t play my best.” Linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s return was an inspiration to Shanahan and his teammates, with the 49ers’ linebacker registering eight first half tackles and ranging sideline to sideline as if he’d never had a ruptured Achilles. He departed when his leg tightened up, with Monday bringing the news that it had more to do with fatigue than another injury. With the 49ers getting a mini-bye this weekend before visiting Miami in Week 16, Greenlaw could be good to go for another start. “He’s got some soreness. He’s day to day,” Shanahan said. It reminded Shanahan of Greenlaw in Year 3, when he had a groin injury in the opener that needed surgery, and other than 13 snaps in Week 11 against Minnesota, didn’t play again until the regular-season finale against the Rams when he had 12 tackles. “We needed to win that to go to the playoffs,” Shanahan said. “And that game, I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen from linebacker play and it was looking a lot like that last night too. Exactly the same, it was just only a half a football, but it was amazing.” — Left tackle Trent Williams continues to heal slowly from an ankle injury but Shanahan hopes to get him in the lineup before the season is over. “He’s trying to get back, but it’s just been a frustrating injury for him,” Shanahan said. ” t hasn’t healed like he or we would like. Having these 10 more days before our next game, hopefully that gives a better chance” — Defensive end Nick Bosa emerged from the Rams game without any setbacks to his oblique/hip injuries. “It was awesome to get Nick back and he really helped us,” Shanahan said. “It was a good sign that they didn’t tell me about anything today.” — Linebacker Dee Winters is day to day with a neck injury. Linebacker Fred Warner, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and cornerback Renardo Green each played all but one snap on defense. One game after playing a career low 15 snaps, safety Ji’Ayir Brown played 60 snaps with Malik Mustapha missing the game with a chest injury. Brown came out of the game with a groin injury and is day to day. Guards Aaron Banks and Dominick Puni, tackles Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz, center Jake Brendel and Purdy played every offensive snap. Starting split end Jauan Jennings was targeted nine times from Purdy while missing just three snaps but had just two receptions for 31 yards. The 75.9 percent figure of snap counts was the most for Isaac Guerendo in his rookie season after coming in questionable with a foot sprain. Backup Patrick Taylor Jr. played just three snaps. Related Articles Greenlaw made a remarkable return in his first game back from rupturing an Achilles tendon last Feb. 11. Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, playing with a sore knee, played 26 snaps mostly after Greenlaw’s departure with Campbell refusing to enter the game. Tashaun Gipson got his first work on defense since rejoining the 49ers on Nov. 7. Edge rusher Ronald Beal Jr., who has had trouble getting traction as a pass rusher all season, played sparingly with Nick Bosa (47), Leonard Floyd (39) and Yetur Gross-Matos (31) getting the bulk of the work.

The Constitution is not the product of a “particular party”, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, asserting that the document was neither a gift of colonial rule nor a compilation of good things borrowed from the constitutions of Western countries, but an expression of the country’s “civilisational values.” Also Read : Congress tried to destroy Constitution’s basic principles: Rajnath Singh Speaking in the Lok Sabha to open the debate marking 75 years of the Constitution, Singh took a sharp dig at the Congress and said Opposition leaders were roaming around with copies of the Constitution in their pockets. Also Read : Rahul Gandhi offers Tricolour to Rajnath Singh urging BJP to run Parliament | Watch “Today many leaders of the Opposition roam around with the copies of the Constitution in their pockets. Inhone bachpan se yahi dekha hai (this is what they have learnt from their childhood)... For generations they have seen their family members keep the Constitution in their pockets,” Singh said. Also Read : Defence minister Rajnath Singh headed to Russia to boost defence ties He was taking a potshot at Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders carrying copies of the Constitution while on campaign trails. Attacking the Congress for disrespecting the Constitution, he said the 41st Constitutional Amendment Bill was introduced in 1976, the purpose of which was to provide immunity from criminal prosecution to the Prime Minister, governors and the President for all acts done before assuming office and during their tenure. “The 38th Constitutional Amendment tried to make the decision to impose emergency ‘non-justiciable’. The Election Law Amendment Bill was brought, with the sole objective of giving immunity to all those electoral malpractices that challenged the election of Mrs Indira Gandhi,” he said. The Union minister said the Constitution was the result of nearly three years of rigorous debate and deliberation and was not merely a legal document but a reflection of the aspirations of the people, and also a means to fulfil them. “It was an expression of the general will of the people. After many centuries, once again the destiny of India was in the hands of the people of India. The dream of Swaraj, which was seen by the freedom fighters of India and common Indians, had been fulfilled,” he said. Describing the Constitution as “sovereign and omnipotent”, Singh said the document paved the way for nation-building, touching upon all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life. “At the same time, it also creates a moral trajectory for people,” he said. While the Congress and other opposition parties accused the BJP of wanting to alter the Constitution and made this charge a focal point of their 2024 elections campaign, Singh said the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder and ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee believed that the Constitution should be the result of collective efforts and consensus. “In 1944, six years before our Constitution was written, many prominent leaders gave their views about the Constitution in a document called “Constitution of the Hindusthan Free State”. It also spoke of ensuring religious freedom for all citizens,” he said. He said the Narendra Modi government’s mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas” was in accordance with the spirit of dharma and justice enshrined in the Constitution. He said while the Congress always used the Constitution as a medium for political gains, giving preference to “satta” over “samvidhan” (power over Constitution), the BJP’s commitment to the Constitution was very clear. “We have never played with the independence and autonomy of any institution. The values of the Constitution are not just a matter of saying or showing for us. The values of the Constitution, the path shown by the Constitution, the principles of the Constitution, will be visible everywhere in our minds, in our word, in deed,” he said. He said the Constitution stood firm even in the face of Emergency and corrupt governments. “You look at the history, even during the dark days of Emergency, we strongly opposed every attempt to undermine the basic character of the Constitution,” he said. To counter the opposition’s demand for caste-census, he said the party should explain how it proposes to rejig quotas. “... It should not be used to deceive people. You should tell how much reservation you want to offer to which caste,” Singh said.Watch: Moment Simon Harris re-elected to the Dail parliamentWASHINGTON — Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal with the industry being squeezed by discount chains and other competition. Public companies are under a lot more scrutiny and if private, the Nordstrom may have more leeway in reviving a department store chain that has been attempting to reinvigorate sales for years. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, or about $4 billion in all, representing a 42% premium on the company's stock as of March 18, when reports of a potential transaction was reported by the media. The acquiring group will also pick up more than $2 billion in Nordstrom debt. The traditional department stores have suffered in the face of withering competition from giants like Walmart and Target, as well as a host of fast-fashion bands and Amazon.com. Nordstrom rivals Macy's and Kohl's have been pressured by major investors to make huge changes in order to return more profit to shareholders. Sales at Nordstrom have essentially flatlined over the past decade or so and it announced last year that it was closing all of its Canadian stores and cutting 2,500 jobs as it winds down operations in the country. Nordstrom first announced plans to expand to Canada in 2012 and opened its first store in Calgary at CF Chinook Centre in September 2014. The offer announced Monday tops the previous $23-per-share bid that the Nordstrom family and Mexican retail group, El Puerto de Liverpool, made in September. The board also plans to authorize a special dividend of up to 25 cents per share, based on Nordstrom’s cash on hand immediately prior to and contingent on the close of the transaction. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2025, at which time the company's shares will no longer trade publicly. “While a change in ownership does not automatically remedy all of the problems with the department store operation, it will allow the family and their backers to take a long-term view of the business and make necessary investments and changes away from the short-term scrutiny of public markets,” wrote Neil Saunders, Managing Director of GlobalData, in a note to clients. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, with members Erik and Pete Nordstrom, part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recusing themselves from that vote. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Erik and Pete Nordstrom are the fourth-generation leadership at the Seattle retailer, which was founded in 1901 as a shoe store. Erik is the company’s chief executive and Peter is president. After opening 23 new stores so far this year, the company now operates a combined 381 Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in the U.S. Nordstrom shares fell about 1.5% Monday, but they are up 34% this year on rumors of a family takeover. The company's stock is still down considerably from post-pandemic highs above $40 per share. In May of this year, Bruce Nordstrom, a retail executive who helped expand his family’s Pacific Northwest department store chain into an upscale national brand, died at age 90 . He was one of several Nordstrom family members who in 2017 made a push to take the company private, proposing to buy out the 70% of the department store’s stock they didn’t already own. Those talks failed in 2018 but earlier this year, his sons started another series of buyout negotiations , leading to Monday's announcement.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown revealed that discussions with free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman were at a standstill, which led to the team exploring other options. "I won't get into specifics but I feel like the negotiations stalled," Brown said on Monday, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. "I feel like we made a really competitive offer and showed that we wanted him back. But we had to pursue other options. We couldn't just sit there." On Dec. 13, the Astros traded outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a package that included third baseman Isaac Paredes. The team subsequently signed first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .

( MENAFN - Investor Brand Network) The longest-running annual, in-person podcasting conference in the world, the PODFEST expo invites the podcast community from all over the globe. The event will be held from January 16, 2025, to January 19, 2025, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®. The event venue offers world-class amenities and is within walking distance of all local attractions. PODFEST Expo will be running for its 11th consecutive year in 2025. Witness the greatest gathering of the brightest minds in the podcast industry. The event offers robust networking that leads to lasting relationships. Attendees can connect with the industry leaders and build a stronger... Read More>> To learn more, please visit . About InvestorWire InvestorWire (“IW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on advanced wire-grade press release syndication for private and public companies and the investment community. It is one of 70+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers : (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries ; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets ; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact ; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers ; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions . With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, IW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, IW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. IW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge. For more information, please visit Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorWire website applicable to all content provided by IW, wherever published or re-published: /Disclaimer InvestorWire Los Angeles, CA 310.299.1717 Office [email protected] InvestorWire is powered by IBN MENAFN23122024000224011066ID1109025673 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.ORONO, Maine (AP) — Caleb Mead ran for 113 yards and a touchdown and New Hampshire beat Maine 27-9 on Saturday in a season-ending contest for both teams. The Wildcats (8-4, 6-2 Coastal Athletic Association) spotted Maine to a 9-0 lead when Joey Bryson kicked a 39-yard field and Carter Peevy threw an 8-yard touchdown to Montigo Moss, all in the first quarter. But midway through the second, the Wildcats took control and proceeded to score 27-straight points to clinch the win. Denzell Gibson ran it in from the 1 to end a 13-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 6:08 to reduce the deficit to 9-7 with 11 seconds left before halftime. On the first play from scrimmage after the break, Mead ran for a 57-yard touchdown for a 14-9 lead. Nick Mazzie kicked field goals of 21 and 22 yards and Seth Morgan ran it in from the 7 with 2:03 left to end it. Peevy threw for 168 yards for Maine (5-7, 3-5). ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

The New Statesman’s A-Z of 2024Columbia River Treaty talks continue amid incoming Trump presidency