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Reiterates Commitment to Investing in America to Lower Grocery Prices, Raise Associate Wages, and Support Local Communities Highlights Resilience of Value Creation Model and Strong Momentum to Drive Long-term, Sustainable Growth Board of Directors Authorizes $7.5B Share Repurchase Program including $5B Accelerated Share Repurchase CINCINNATI , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today terminated its merger agreement with Albertsons after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted the Federal Trade Commission's request for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger. After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger. "Kroger is moving forward from a position of strength. Our go-to-market strategy provides exceptional value and unique omnichannel experiences to our customers which powers our value creation model. We look forward to accelerating our flywheel to grow our alternative profit businesses and generate increased cash flows. The strength of our balance sheet and sustainability of our model allows us to pursue a variety of growth opportunities, including further investment in our store network through new stores and remodels, which will be an important part of our 8 – 11% TSR model over time," said Rodney McMullen , Kroger's Chairman and CEO. America's Grocer is Committed to Lowering Grocery Prices & Investing in Associates "Kroger has an extraordinary track record of investing in America," said McMullen. "We are at our best when we serve others – our customers, associates, and communities – and we take seriously our responsibility to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices. When we do this, more customers shop with us and buy more groceries, which allows us to reinvest in even lower prices, a better shopping experience and higher wages. We know this model works because we've been doing it successfully for many years, and this is exactly what we will continue to do." Kroger's ongoing investments in America include: "I appreciate our associates who remained focused on taking care of our customers, communities and each other throughout the merger process," added McMullen. Share Repurchase Program Including Accelerated Share Repurchases Now that Kroger has terminated the merger agreement, the company is ready to deploy its capacity. With its strengthened balance sheet, Kroger will resume share repurchases after a more than two-year pause. Since announcing the merger, Kroger used its strong free cash flow and debt financing to build meaningful balance sheet capacity while maintaining its investment-grade rating. Kroger's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $7.5 billion of common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaces Kroger's existing $1 billion authorization which was approved in September 2022 . Kroger intends to enter an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement for the repurchase of approximately $5 billion of common stock. "Our strong balance sheet and free cash flows position us to deliver on our commitment to grow the business and return capital to shareholders, maintaining capacity to invest in lower prices and higher associate wages," McMullen said. Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to its capital allocation priorities including maintaining its current investment grade debt rating, investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, and returning excess free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases and a growing dividend over time, subject to board approval. Looking forward, Kroger plans to host an Investor Day event in late spring of 2025 to share an update on its strategic priorities, future growth prospects and long-term financial outlook. Merger Debt Redemption In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger will begin the process of redeeming the $4.7 billion of its senior notes issued on August 27, 2024 , that include a special mandatory redemption provision in accordance with their terms. The notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. Termination of Exchange Offers In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger has also elected to terminate its previously announced offers to exchange (collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes (the "ACI Notes") issued by Albertsons Companies, Inc., New Albertsons, L.P., Safeway Inc., Albertson's LLC, Albertsons Safeway LLC and American Stores Company, LLC (collectively, the "ACI Issuing Entities"), for up to $7,441,608,000 aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Kroger and cash. Kroger has also elected to terminate the related solicitation of consents (the "Consent Solicitation" and, together with the Exchange Offer, the "Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation") on behalf of the ACI Issuing Entities to adopt certain proposed amendments to the indentures governing the ACI Notes (the "ACI Indentures"). As a result of the Exchange Offer being terminated, the total consideration, including any consent fee, will not be paid or become payable to holders of the ACI Notes who have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their ACI Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offer, and the ACI Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. As a result of the Consent Solicitation being terminated, the proposed amendments to the ACI Indentures and the supplemental indentures previously entered into reflecting such proposed amendments will not become operative. About the Exchange Offers Global Bondholder Services Corporation served as exchange agent and information agent for the now terminated Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation. You should direct questions and requests for assistance to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers), or by email at contact@gbsc-usa.com . About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM. We are, across our family of companies nearly 414,000 associates who serve over eleven million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names , serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about Kroger's financial position and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "confidence," "continue," "deliver," "expect," "future," "guidance," "model," "outlook," "strategy," "target," "trends," "well-positioned," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following: Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: the termination of the merger agreement and our proposed transaction with Albertsons and related divestiture plan; labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates, along with changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and seamless; the successful integration of merged companies and new strategic collaborations; and the risks relating to or arising from our proposed nationwide opioid litigation settlement, including our ability to finalize and effectuate the settlement, the scope and coverage of the ultimate settlement and the expected financial or other impacts that could result from the settlement. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow. Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-reiterates-its-commitment-to-lower-prices-and-initiates-new-7-5b-share-buyback-program-302329493.html SOURCE The Kroger Co.Jerry Yang didn’t speak English when he started school at L.A. Nelson Elementary. Now, as a Guyer High School sophomore, Yang is a budding teacher, and among 18 Denton ISD students qualified to advance to nationals from their work in Texas Association of Future Educators contests. Yang and his peers are also eligible for the Educators Rising National Conference. How did the high school student go from being a Mandarin speaker in an English as a second language program to a competitive aspiring teacher? Yang credits Denton ISD’s Teach Denton and how it channeled his enthusiasm for learning in elementary school. “I believe it’s because I was not a native speaker,” he said. “And I usually excel more, like faster than others. So then I helped others, and then it clicked for me at the same time.” Guyer High School sophomore Jerry Yang qualified for a national competition for future educators. Yang is a member of both Teach Denton, a Denton ISD program that offers training and development for students who want to be teachers, and his campus chapter of Texas Association of Future Educators. Yang said his ESL teacher nominated him for the program. “I was like ‘OK,’” he said. In elementary school classrooms across Denton ISD, teachers notice when some students help their classmates out. They might explain part of a small group activity, or help a friend stand in the right spot. They are eager to learn, too. Since the 2016-17 school year, teachers have tapped those students to join Teach Denton, a program that introduces students — some of them as young as prekindergarten — to teaching. Since its founding, Teach Denton has fed campus chapters of the Texas Association of Future Educators, a three-year education training program at LaGrone Academy that certifies students to work as classroom aides. Teach Denton is also a pathway to LaGrone’s teaching internship, a program that gives students professional development and student teaching experience ahead of college programs. Since the program was founded, 88 of Teach Denton’s alumni have returned to Denton ISD in full-time teaching positions. Denton ISD leaders are proud of that number, and officials from the Texas Education Agency have visited campuses to meet Teach Denton students and the school leaders who are shepherding them toward a career in the classroom or administrators’ offices. “We’re planting these seeds; we’re planting Christmas trees,” said Leah Zavala, the coordinator of Teach Denton. “We’re not going to have all of our vacancies and spots filled tomorrow. But this is that long-term goal. It’s building Rome, you know?” Leah Zavala, Denton ISD’s Teach Denton coordinator, speaks at a event for Teach Denton students in February. Zavala said the program has attracted attention from school districts across the country. The program grew out of a campus improvement plan, a sprawling project that the leaders of each campus complete regularly to align classrooms with everything from state standards to the needs of the regional and national labor market. Zavala said a deputy superintendent likened the initiative to planting trees that would bear fruit generations later. District leaders routinely consider the challenges that face public schools. Texas has been dealing with a teaching shortage for more than a decade, a situation worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and political upheavals. Denton ISD has fared better than other Texas schools. It’s a destination district, and boasts an 81.8% teacher retention rate. But the program isn’t about filling vacancies, Zavala said. It’s about connecting students who excel in the classroom and who show leadership traits to a vocation that makes an impact on lives, and on a granular level. Texas public schools act on a 2019 mandate from state lawmakers to make sure students can graduate from high school ready for college, a career or the military. Denton ISD has the typical pathways for students to pursue those outcomes. LaGrone Academy, the district’s advanced technology complex, offers certifications in longstanding trades, such as cosmetology, nursing, auto mechanics and welding. The campus also has a menu of newer certification programs, such as commercial photography, animation, law and forensics. Zavala said the campus improvement plan process sparked conversations about teaching. Every teacher and administrator knows students who are clever, curious and willing to lead. “The questions came up: Why are we not marketing our profession?’” Zavala said. “We have the career-tech complex. We have law enforcement, we have health science. All of these were feeding into a profession. And education is feeding into that same profession, but there was this disconnect with students dropping off and not going into education [in their] postsecondary [education]. And so we started asking, ‘Why are we not doing this?’ “It was really just an idea from [a Denton ISD deputy superintendent] of, like, ‘Hey, why don’t we?’ And if we are in the business of education, why are we not marketing for education?” Zavala said elementary school students and even prekindergarten students who demonstrate empathy can be considered. The youngest students can take part in activities that develop empathy and positive interactions. When they get into kindergarten, Zavala said, they can start attending monthly Teach Denton meetings. Middle and high school students in the program can join their campus chapter of Texas Association of Future Educators. Student in the Teach Denton program at Denton ISD are set on education and career paths in teaching, with the ultimate goal of returning to Denton ISD for their careers. Among their peers and with their faculty advisers, those students drill down on teaching and focus on things like differentiation in education, which prepares them for a typical classroom and its varied students and abilities, to classroom management. Yang will compete in the Area 10 TAFE Conference at Texas Woman’s University over the weekend. The conference at TWU, hosted by the College of Professional Education and the Educator Preparation Program, includes students from Cooke, Denton, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise counties. Staci Scott, one of the two coordinators of the LaGrone Academy education internship program and campus TAFE chapter, is helping guide 85 students through the internship, which offers dual credit to students who plan to become certified teachers. The program, separate from Teach Denton, starts with five weeks of preparation, and then interns travel to Denton ISD campuses, where they do hands-on work and student teaching with younger students. “The more that I meet other teachers from other districts, I feel like our district is leading the way with this program,” Scott said. “So many districts want to get it going, but they’re not where we are.” Scott is in her third year sharing the helm of the internship, and she said she’s seeing some important things happen for the interns. “I think starting at an elementary level, keeping kids engaged and excited through their entire [school] career matters,” she said. “I think the fact that they are in classrooms actually teaching — it’s not for everyone, right? Teaching? I tell them, ‘This is such an opportunity for you to spend $75 to take this course and get to do what juniors in college do.’ “Because let’s be real, some people make it that far in college and then they do their student teaching and they’re like, ‘Oh, maybe this is not the route that I want to take.’ So the opportunity to be able to try it out and see is huge.” She also sees that the internship puts students in the classroom, a challenging place that is changing fast, early. By the time alumni are in collegiate teacher preparation programs, they’ve seen how students learn and interact. They’ve had a front-row seat to the challenges and the triumphs that students start experiencing the moment they start school. Scott said she sees room for growth in Teach Denton. “I think the earlier we can get kids in TAFE, and keep building that, we’ll be even better.” Students as young as pre-K can enter Denton ISD’s Teach Denton program. Many times, teachers notice certain characteristics, like helping others and a passion for learning, and recommend them for Teach Denton. An event in February honored the hundreds of Teach Denton students in the program. Yang is two years from graduation from Guyer High, but he’s already considering teacher preparation programs at the University of Texas and University of California. He’s also thinking of a career teaching high school biology and perhaps trying his hand as a public school administrator or college professor. And when he thinks of the future, he imagines teaching in a public school. Until then, Yang said, he’s going to mentor new TAFE students and continue competing while studying honors courses. As a Teach Denton student, Yang is already thinking about what the classroom will be like when he starts his career. “Our world is changing right now,” he said. “Technologies are more advanced, and new generations are coming up. We have to adapt to like the ever-changing present. I believe we should use resources, like AI, to help us, because that’s becoming a big thing. And I know ... teachers think that AI is cheating or something like that. But I think that in the future, AI is going to become like a useful resource.” Yang said both Teach Denton and TAFE have created a community for its members. Just like in team sports, Teach Denton students forge friendships. The students have built a support system for one another. And Yang said the skills students develop in Teach Denton don’t have to stay in classrooms. “I think a lot of people think that you’re in the program, you’re going to be kind of teacher and stuff, but I don’t think that I think that you’re in the program just to become a teacher,” Yang said. “You can do [work] in the program just to build your relationship with others, and basically strengthen your skills.” Zavala said Teach Denton has attracted attention from districts across the country. “Dr. [Robert] Stewart used to be our assistant superintendent of human resources, and he used to tell me all the time, ‘We’re going to take Teach Denton on the road, we’re going to take Teach Denton on the road!’” she said. “And we essentially have. We have gone to several different states in the U.S and talked about Teach Denton, and helped other education agencies in different states develop their grow your own program. Teach Denton is an exemplar for other districts.” Success! 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SC’s Nikki Haley doesn’t support some of Trump’s cabinet picks. Which is she against?Former prime minister Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to legalising assisted dying, which will soon be debated by MPs. The former Labour PM said the death of his newborn daughter in 2002 did “not convince me of the case for assisted dying; it convinced me of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care”. In a rare intervention ahead of the Commons debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on Friday, November 29, Mr Brown shared a glimpse of the time he and his wife Sarah spent with their baby, Jennifer, who died when she was only 11 days old. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Mr Brown said: “We could only sit with her, hold her tiny hand and be there for her as life ebbed away. She died in our arms. “But those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarah’s lives.” While he acknowledged that at the heart of the assisted dying debate is a “desire to prevent suffering”, the former Labour MP called for a commission on end-of-life care to be set up, instead of the law change which MPs will consider. This commission, he said, should work to create a “fully-funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care”. “When only a small fraction of the population are expected to choose assisted dying, would it not be better to focus all our energies on improving all-round hospice care to reach everyone in need of end of life support?” he said. Mr Brown added: “Medical advances that can transform end-of-life care and the horror of people dying alone, as with Covid, have taught us a great deal. “This generation have it in our power to ensure no-one should have to face death alone, uncared for, or subject to avoidable pain.” Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP sponsoring the assisted dying Bill through the Commons, said she was “deeply touched” by Mr Brown’s decision to share his story. The Spen Valley MP said she agreed completely with his calls for better end-of-life care. But Ms Leadbeater added: “He and I agree on very many things but we don’t agree on this. “Only legislation by Parliament can put right what Sir Keir Starmer calls the ‘injustice that we have trapped within our current arrangement’. “The need to address the inability of the current law to provide people with safeguards against coercion and the choice of a better death, and to protect their loved ones from possible prosecution, cannot wait. “So for me it isn’t a case of one or the other. My Bill already includes the need for the Government to report back to Parliament on the availability and quality of palliative care, and I strongly support further detailed examination of its provision. We need to do both.” Though Ms Leadbeater made reference to the Prime Minister as she set out her difference from Mr Brown’s position, Sir Keir has opted not to say whether he will support the Bill. MPs will be given a free vote on the legislation, meaning their political parties will not require them to vote for or against it, and it will be a matter for their personal consideration. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is the latest senior minister to disclose her position on assisted dying, signalling to broadcasters on Friday that she may support the Bill. “I continue to support the principle of needing change but also to ensure that we’ve got the proper safeguards and systems in place,” she told ITV’s Good Morning Britain. Asked if that meant a “yes” when the Bill comes to the Commons, she replied: “I think I last voted on this about 20 years ago and so I have supported the principle in the past and continue to believe that change is needed but we do need to have that debate on the detail and I’ll continue to follow that debate next Friday.”

Elizabeth Warren on UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination: ‘People can only be pushed so far’

Even in death, John McCain has his daughter’s vote for president. In a podcast interview released Thursday, Meghan McCain revealed she cast a vote for her dead dad as a write-in for president on her 2024 ballot. The Republican political commentator and daughter of the late Arizona senator — who died in 2018 after a battle with brain cancer — waxed poetic about politics on the latest episode of “Next Question with Katie Couric.” “I wrote in my dad,” she told Couric. “People are mad at me. People are so mad at me, Katie. I mean, mad that I didn’t vote either way.” McCain went on to explain the reasoning behind her decision, saying she could “never” vote for Donald Trump but couldn’t support Kamala Harris either. “I don’t want anything on my conscience with any of it,” she said. “I can never vote for Trump. I can’t do it. I could never explain it to my children.” When probed further on why she didn’t vote for Harris , McCain told Couric she “really wanted” the VP to “give me a reason to vote for her and I just felt like it never happened.” But perhaps even more than Harris, McCain said her inability to vote for the Democratic ticket was largely due to Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. “Look, I’m a pro-life, pretty hardcore conservative woman and Governor Walz was way too extreme for me,” McCain said. “He actually scared me a lot more than she did. He’s very radical on abortion and his record during the 2020 George Floyd protests in Minneapolis...I felt like he was cosplaying as a Republican to try to get my vote.” John McCain, who served as a U.S. representative and senator from Arizona for over 30 years, also ran an unsuccessful bid for president in 2008. He reduced his role in the Senate after being diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2017 , ultimately dying from the disease a year later. His death still deeply affects his oldest daughter . “My dad dying gutted me,” Meghan McCain said. “I always feel like there’s life before my dad died and after my dad died. I didn’t become a different person, but it just hardens you and ages you when you lose anyone to brain cancer. You just become a different version of yourself.” But the 40-year-old mother of two said she’s relieved her father is not here to bear witness to the polarizing political climate. “There’s a part of me that’s happy he’s not alive to see all this, because it would have broken his heart so badly to see the divisions in the country the way they are.”

He’s got a hungry chart. A candidate for New Jersey governor posted a doctored list of his “most-listened-to” annual Spotify songs online — falsely claiming all of the top five were by Bruce Springsteen, the congressman admitted in a report. New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer — who’s accused of fibbing about his fandom to drum up voter support among Boss-loving Garden State residents — tweeted the doctored “Spotify Wrapped” recap on Dec. 6. The phony personalized chart was created using the music app’s signature yellow background and features the Jersey rock legend’s tunes “Thunder Road,” “Because the Night,” “Glory Days,” ” “Badlands” and “The Rising.” “No surprises here....Fun fact: my first ever concert was at Meadowlands to see The Boss!” Gottheimer, 49, wrote in the X post. But observers soon pointed out the font of his recap list was different than other Spotify Wrapped uploads — calling into question if it was real. “Did Gottheimer’s campaign fake a Spotify Wrapped to curry favor with fans of The Boss? The things you do to win an election in this state,” Matt Arco, a politics reporter for NJ.com wrote on X. “This is a fake,” another user wrote under Gottheimer’s post. Pressed about the suspicious list, Gottheimer (D- Bergen County) confessed the music stats were bogus. “This would be my Spotify Wrapped if I didn’t share my account with my 12- and 15-year-old kids,” he told NJ.com .“While it’s Springsteen all day for me — don’t get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!” He later tweeted, “This was a fun holiday tweet. It’s a joke to question my Springsteen creds, just ask my dog named Rosalita!” When the congressman announced he was running for governor last month, he took the podium to the Springsteen classic “Glory Days” as supporters cheered. Gottheimer also name-drops the Boss on campaign’s website, saying he spent his childhood “catching a Springsteen show every chance he could get.” A rep for Gottheimer said the congressman’s social media team put the graphic together as a playful end-of-year post, and that his most-listened-to Spotify artist of the year really is Springsteen. Other most-listened-to artists include Billy Joel, Drake, Travis Scott and Taylor Swift because he shares the account with his family, the rep said. “I’ve never been in the car with him when he wasn’t listening to Bruce Springsteen,” the rep told The Post. “I’ve never met someone who’s more of a fan.” Springsteen was born in Long Branch, NJ and has become a beloved symbol of the state’s working class chops and rallying cry for many residents. Spotify Wrapped is a data-based campaign that provides a personalized recap of users annual listening habits.

MLB shifts six 2025 Rays games to avoid weather issues

The Rays' usual home, domed Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton last month with almost all of its roof shredded and no possibility of playing there next year. As a result, the Rays moved their 2025 home games from St. Petersburg to the New York Yankees training complex at nearby Tampa, which has an 11,000-seat outdoor stadium. An April series scheduled against the Los Angeles Angels that had been set for California will instead be played April 8-10 in Florida. A series between the two which had been set for August in Florida will now be hosted by the Angels on August 4-6. A Rays series against the Minnesota Twins planned in Minneapolis from May 26-28 will instead be played on the same dates in Tampa while a series that had been set for Tampa on July 4-6 will now be played in Minnesota. Florida summers can bring extreme heat and rain. js/bsp

DES MOINES — A grant that supports Iowa businesses expanding their child care options for workers has been reopened for previous awardees and new applicants, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday. The Child Care Business Incentive Grant, launched in 2022, helps businesses cover the costs of child care centers in their communities, either on-site or in local centers. The grant is funded by federal pandemic relief assistance funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The grant is available to any Iowa business with at least 75 full-time employees and is not a child care business. Awards are administered as reimbursements and require a 50-50 private match for all grant funds provided. Grant funds can be used to support the expansion or new construction of child care or day care facilities for employees. The employer must serve as the child care provider or partner with a local provider. According to the governor’s office, priority will be given to applicants who are located in areas classified as in high demand for child care, projects planning to increase child care capacity by creating new slots across multiple age groups, and projects planning to build on-site child care centers. Applications are open at through 2 p.m. on Dec. 23, according to the governor’s office. “While we’ve made great progress in supporting our labor force coming out of the pandemic, challenges remain, and it’s important to recognize the connection between child care and a successful workforce,” Reynolds said in a news release. “We encourage any eligible employer to apply for this unique opportunity that can jump-start the child care options that support their employees and allow their businesses to grow.” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the appointment of Iowans to serve on the newly constructed State Soil Conservation and Water Quality Committee. The panel, which was established in 1939 to promote proven water quality practices and provide expert advice on state agriculture programs, was altered by legislation that continued Gov. Kim Reynolds’ reorganization of the executive branch of state government. Under the new law, the committee went from having authority over rule-making and budget approval, to providing advice and recommendations. Those authorities were transferred to the Secretary of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources. The process of appointing committee members also changed under the new law. Previously, nine members were appointed to six-year terms by the governor and were subject to confirmation by the Iowa Senate. Now, 12 members are appointed to two-year terms by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. “We are continually innovating, recruiting new partners, and looking for the best ways to efficiently get more conservation work done, and so we value the perspectives, ideas, and input of these passionate stakeholders,” Naig said in a news release. “I appreciate their willingness to serve as we all work together to improve our water and conserve our soil in the years ahead.” By law, the members represent various regions of the state and relevant areas of expertise. The newly appointed committee members are: Bruce Barnhart, Melbourne; Dennis Carlson, Hampton; Steve Hofmann, Lamoni; Jody Kerns, Edgewood; Mike McGhee, Indianola; Colleen Miller, Albert City; Luke Monat, Urbandale; Ramona Nitz, Cherokee; Kent Stuart, West Branch; John Tuthill, DeWitt; and Ashley Utt, Bloomfield. Zach Hoffman, political director for the Republican Party of Iowa, will serve as Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s Chief of Staff, Bird’s office announced Wednesday. Hoffman previously clerked in the Iowa House of Representatives and served eight years in the Iowa National Guard. He is a graduate of Drake University. “(Hoffman) is a proven leader with an unwavering commitment to service, whether it be in the military or for the state,” Bird said in a press release. “He will be a key asset in our mission of serving crime victims, keeping Iowa communities safe, and defending Iowans’ rights and freedoms.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Is Dylan About To Cake Walk to a Win in ‘The Great British Baking Show’ Finale?

49ers look to maintain 'urgency' against rival Rams

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Toronto-based generative artificial intelligence (AI) startup plans to build a multibillion-dollar AI data centre in Canada with the support of the federal government. The feds have committed up to $240 million CAD towards the effort in what marks their first investment through the recently unveiled $2-billion . The Government of Canada said this new facility will provide computing power to Cohere and other Canadian technology companies. BetaKit has confirmed with Cohere that the company is partnering with American cloud computing firm CoreWeave to build this facility. Its exact location has yet to be determined, and no further financial details have been released at this time. Founded in 2019 by former Google researchers, Cohere builds large-language models that power chatbots and other generative AI applications. Unlike some of its rivals, which include OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and Google, Cohere caters exclusively to businesses. Earlier this year, Cohere closed in Series D financing at a $5.5-billion valuation, making it one of Canada’s most valuable tech startups.None

Until a summery August day, Holocaust survivor Helena Stefaniak wasn’t sure she’d ever see her sister again. Stefaniak and her sister, Barbara Rychlowski, lived in Warsaw, Poland, when Nazis invaded in 1939. After five years under German occupation, she was abducted off the streets and sent to a forced labor camp. Rychlowski was captured soon after and sent to a different camp. They wouldn’t see each other again until 1947, reuniting and immigrating to the United States. After a test of survival, it was time to enjoy life. A Polish-American soldier had convinced his family to sponsor Stefaniak’s move. Stefaniak found herself with her husband, John, in Connecticut, and Rychlowski was in New Jersey. Helena Stefaniak, right, and her sister, Barbara, during a reunion in New Jersey They talked on the phone every day, traveling when they could. However, they grew older. Come 2024, Stefaniak was 100 and her sister was 96. It was hard to travel. Stefaniak’s eyes grew worse, and she moved to Helena to join her daughter. Stefaniak grieved, her daughter Helen Fee remembered. As much as it hurt, Stefaniak accepted she may not see her sister again. And then Fee thought of AARP. AARP, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting older Americans, works with Wish of a Lifetime. Since its inception in 2008, nearly 3,000 gifts have been given, aiming to help America’s elders accomplish dreams. After a nomination, AARP agreed to support Stefaniak. Fee still remembers her mother’s reaction to the news. “I think I have a surprise for you,” Fee had told Stefaniak. It took some time before her mother understood, but the tears came. “My sister,” Stefaniak wept. “My sister.” Helena, 52, and Barbara, 48, in 1976 visiting Poland for first time since WWII. On AARP's dime, Stefaniak and Fee spent three days in Newark, New Jersey. The reunion was at a hotel, not far from where Rychlowski lived. For a long time, the sisters didn’t speak, Fee said. They held each other as tightly as they could. “I never thought I’d see you again,” Stefaniak told her little sister in Polish. The next days were spent shopping, cooking and talking, talking, talking, Fee said. Neither sister could travel independently anymore, so the chance to go into the world was cherished fun, she said. A fellow immigrant family Stefaniak had supported in Connecticut drove to meet her, bringing a hoard of homemade pierogi and other Polish foods. A good portion now sits in Fee’s freezer — quality Polish food is hard to find in Montana, Fee said with a smile. Their goodbye was uneventful. “I’m glad I got to see you one last time,” Stefaniak said, matter-of-fact. And then, she went home. Helena Stefaniak, left, sits with her daughter Helen Fee on Nov. 21 during an AARP celebration of her "Wish of a Lifetime" being granted, where she was reunited with her sister. Stefaniak, 100, is a survivor of the Holocaust. On Thursday, at an AARP celebration of the completed wish, Fee said just thinking about it brings her to tears. It was hard to describe why. For a time, Stefaniak and Rychlowski were each other’s only family, she said. Their father died in a concentration camp, she said. The sisters witnessed suffering and horrors, and yet strangers would have no idea. Stefaniak’s grandchildren know she survived the Holocaust, but it's not part of their view of her. She’s simply Grandma. The AARP featured multiple speakers, including a social worker who handled Stefaniak’s wish, Connor Downer. They were moved by the sisters final hug, and said they were honored to witness something “distance never destroyed.” Cake was served, and Stefaniak was given a picture book detailing the trip. She cradled the book in her hands and turned the pages. She’d see it later with her magnifying glass, she and family joked. “I never thought this could happen,” Stefaniak said. “To the people that organized this ... Thank you.” Christine Compton is a reporter for the Helena Independent Record. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Chillicothe, OH, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Chillicothe is taking "dinner and entertainment" to the next level with the launch of its state-of-the-art golf simulator! Combining mouth-watering barbecue with gamified golf, this one-of-a-kind experience is perfect for golf enthusiasts, barbecue lovers, and anyone looking for a fun outing. Whether you're sinking birdies or indulging in brisket , Dickey's has you covered. For just $40 per hour, guests can use their own clubs and balls to play on world-class courses simulated with cutting-edge Full Swing technology. The golf simulator is open during Dickey’s normal business hours, with flexible reservations available for early mornings or late evenings by calling ahead. Special Features Include: Food and Drink Specials exclusively for players in the simulator. Event Hosting: Perfect for birthdays, bachelor parties, office gatherings, and more. Special event packages available for groups of up to 8 golfers. Tournaments and League Play: Compete for glory or just for fun—call for details. Random Contests: Keep an eye out for surprise challenges throughout the year. “We’re thrilled to bring this unique experience to our Chillicothe location,” said Shawn Bower, franchisee of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit . “The golf simulator pairs perfectly with our slow-smoked barbecue, offering an unforgettable time for both avid golfers and families looking to try something different. Whether you’re working on your swing or just having fun, you’ll love the combo of golf and great food.” Players can rent the simulator by the hour, not per person, making it ideal for groups. For reference, one person can complete 18 holes in an hour, while four players will need about four hours for a full round. Laura Rea Dickey , CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., shared her excitement: “Dickey’s is always looking for innovative ways to bring communities together, and this golf simulator is a fantastic example. We’re combining our tradition of quality barbecue with a modern, interactive experience that’s sure to delight our guests.” Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, added: “This is more than just a game or a meal; it’s a way to elevate how people spend their time with friends and family. Dickey’s in Chillicothe is showing how franchisees can create dynamic, memorable experiences while staying true to our roots.” Perfect for Special Events Looking for an unforgettable gathering spot? Dickey’s golf simulator can host parties and events of all kinds. From birthday celebrations to bachelor parties and office outings, this gamified barbecue experience makes every occasion more fun. Call the Chillicothe location for pricing and details. Ready to swing and savor? Visit Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Chillicothe today to try this one-of-a-kind experience. About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can’t be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr ., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com. Attachment The Best Golf Simulator