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WASHINGTON — As president-elect Donald Trump rattles his closest neighbours with threats of tariffs, he is also firming up the team of loyalists to put his plans into action. Trump's team to lead his trade agenda and the American economy include trade lawyers, former advisers and Wall Street executives who have all expressed favourable views of tariffs. "He's choosing a lot of people who are going to be loyal to him and his ideas," said Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont. "And that probably will lead to a lot more volatility than even we saw in the first term." On Tuesday evening, Trump picked Jamieson Greer to be U.S. trade representative. The president-elect said Greer played a key role in the first Trump administration imposing tariffs on China and negotiating the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement. If confirmed, Greer will oversee the trade pact’s review in 2026. "Jamieson will focus the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on reining in the country's massive trade deficit, defending American manufacturing, agriculture, and services, and opening up export markets everywhere," Trump said in a statement. Greer was the chief of staff to former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer as the trilateral agreement was being crafted to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was torn up last time Trump entered office. Greer's nomination came the day after Trump said he will impose a 25 per cent import tariff on goods coming from Canada and Mexico. He has also announced an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China. Trump said the tariffs against Canada and Mexico would remain in place until both countries stop people and drugs, in particular fentanyl, from illegally crossing the border into the U.S. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report suggested Trump’s previous pledge to impose a 10 per cent levy would take a $30-billion bite out of the Canadian economy. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. and trade comprises 60 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product. Some economists have warned across-the-board duties would cause inflation in the U.S., even though Trump campaigned on lowering costs for Americans. Greer was deeply involved in Trump's original sweeping tariffs on China and subsequent negotiations on the U.S.-China Phase 1 trade agreement, online biographies say. In testimony about China's trade agenda at a House trade subcommittee last year, Greer said he believes "good fences make good neighbours, and trade enforcement is an important part of establishing those fences." On Tuesday, Trump also tapped Kevin Hassett to be the director of the White House National Economic Council. The role will be key in fulfilling Trump's campaign promise to fix the U.S. economy. His announcement said Hassett will also "ensure that we have fair trade with countries that have taken advantage of the United States in the past." Hassett served during the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and the president-elect has called him a "true friend." The latest nominations round out an economic team that includes hedge fund executive Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary and Howard Lutnick, the CEO of Wall Street investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald, who was tapped for commerce secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Lutnick would oversee a sprawling cabinet agency and Trump's tariff agenda. He has been a vocal supporter of Trump's tariff plans. In an CNBC interview in September he said tariffs are "an amazing tool for the president to use — we need to protect the American worker." Lebo said as Trump prepares to return to office he is removing any person who could prove to be a guardrail or check on his power. "These are people aligned with Trump," Lebo said. "More and more aligned with his campaign rhetoric." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press
Jude Bellingham came to the defence of Kylian Mbappe after the forward's nightmare performance at Anfield in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Real Madrid . The France star missed a penalty at 1-0 to compound a miserable game on Merseyside in which he was shackled by Conor Bradley and Ibrahima Konate throughout. With Vinicius Junior missing due to injury, the pressure was on Mbappe to perform in his more favoured wide-left attacking role, but he looked a shadow of his best self as Liverpool claimed a convincing win through goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. Former Real Madrid and Liverpool winger Steve McManaman accused Mbappe of failing to step up when his team needed him the most in the absence of several injured stars. MORE: All the latest soccer news | Real Madrid news | Explaining how 'socios' own Real Madrid "They needed him tonight," he told TNT Sport. "Without Vinicius, without some of the other stars, they needed him to do something. He flattered to deceive, and that was his moment. That was his moment. "The Madrid press, they'll be quite ruthless tomorrow, and they'll be ruthless about Kylian because he just didn't deliver again when they needed him to. "Madrid are going through a rough patch at the moment, and the big players are not playing well, so that shines a light on him even more. Vinicius is not here. Will Kylian step up tonight? No, he won't." Kylian Mbappé's first 1,500 minutes of competitive football in a Real Madrid shirt has been... underwhelming? pic.twitter.com/qDjJMaoAei Mbappe's teammates were quick to stand by him, though. Bellingham made it clear that the missed penalty was not the reason behind their defeat, even if it came at a critical moment. "It's a big moment in the game, but it can happen. He's a wonderful player, but the pressure given how good he is is huge," he told BT Sport. "The penalty's not the reason why we lost the game. As a collective, we weren't good enough. Kylian can keep his head high. I know for sure he'll produce many more moments that are huge for this club. "To be fair, from the first minute, they took control of the game. We never really maximised the spells we had in possession. They were more up for it than us, which is really disappointing to say. It's a bad result against the best-performing team in Europe. It's no disgrace, but it's a bad result." Luka Modric told Movistar that Mbappe is "training well and with confidence" and stressed that things would eventually click. "Sometimes, it doesn't work out, like today with the penalty," he said. "But we have confidence in him and I'm sure Kylian will end up doing what is expected of him."
Mercury will be in retrograde until Dec. 15, the last of four times it appears to move backward in the sky this year. For at least a portion of 2024, nearly every planet in our solar system has been in retrograde. It's when a planet appears to move in the opposite direction of other planets. According to astrology, it's time to have patience as we enter this retrograde during this holiday season. Try to be a little more understanding and adaptable during Mercury's retrograde. You should also give yourself more time to travel and avoid signing any new contracts you aren't sure about. Before you go, check in with your reservations and proofread your email responses. Before making decisions, give plans and projects some thought, according to the Almanac . What is retrograde? "Retrograde" comes from the Latin word "retrogradus," which combines the words "retro," which means "backward," and "gradus," which means "step." The word "anapodizō," which means "to step or go back," was used by the ancient Greeks. When Mercury is in retrograde, what does it mean? Because Mercury takes about 88 days to complete its orbit, we usually see three or four Mercury retrogrades a year. Astrologers say Mercury regulates travel, business, technology and communication, as well as the mind. That's why Mercury can be blamed for travel delays , technology problems and people from your past coming back into the picture, they say. What planets will experience retrograde in December All of our solar system's planets, including Pluto, the dwarf planet, have retrograded this year. Earth's not included in that, because the planets are retrograding from Earth's point of view. Planets that will retrograde into December are Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune. Retrograde calendar for 2024 and 2025 Mercury is in retrograde now through Dec. 15, the last for 2024. Facts about Mercury Mercury is the first planet in our solar system, closest to the sun, so its daytime temperatures can rise to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. It has no atmosphere, so nighttime temperatures can drop as low as minus 290 degrees, according to NASA . Ancient history of noting retrogrades Claudius Ptolemy, an ancient Greek astronomer, had one of the first written records of explaining retrograde motion in the second century A.D. The Ptolemaic model depicted planets moving around Earth in a big circle, known as a deferent, then going around a smaller circle while retrograding, called an epicycle. Though ancient astronomers didn't fully understand the solar system's movements, astrologers assigned meaning to the planets and how they moved through the skies, including their speed and direction. In about the same era as Ptolemy, Hellenistic astrologer Vettius Valens wrote "The Anthology," the longest, most detailed treatise on astrology from that time period. Valens wrote, "If the star is setting or proceeding with a retrograde motion, it will be harmful and hazardous." Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra, a medieval astrologer, wrote "The Beginning of Wisdom" in 1148 A.D. as a basic introduction to astrology. In it he wrote, "A planet about to turn retrograde is like a frightened person, fearing adversities that are coming to him." Modern astrologers have a more benign approach to describing planetary retrogrades, calling them "an internalization of that planetary function." Because Mercury rules the mind and communication, Mercury's retrograde can be a time for reflection. SOURCE The Planetary Society, Sacramento State University, Astrology.com, astro-see.com and USA TODAY researchGrid Dynamics Holdings Set to Join S&P SmallCap 600
CHRIS Brown has a lifelong love, a passion, an obsession he just can't let go - basketball. Six months ago the former professional basketball player focused all of that energy into a new business at Broadmeadow called Hoop Dreams. Login or signup to continue reading "I always wanted to start something focusing on individual coaching," he said. "When I came here to play it was a rugby league town. The last couple of years basketball has just taken off." Brown was an international import back in 2003 to the former local team - the Hunter Pirates. He had been playing in Japan, but the guard took the opportunity to play in the NBL and this move would end up anchoring him to the city. Brown fell in love and the couple went on to have three children who "fortunately also fell into basketball". His eldest child Diyah, 13, plays for the Newcastle Falcons and has made country NSW selection, with hopes of pursuing the game further. Basketball is booming in the Hunter, with plans for a new $82-million Newcastle basketball stadium under way. But the project has garnered hundreds of objections from the community due to the location on Wallarah and Blackley ovals. "We need the courts, we need the space," he said. "With the NBA popularity growing here and on social media the sport is considered cool, kids love the culture of it. Everyone is watching Steph Curry shoot threes, they love it." With a $30,000 fitout complete with a custom-designed court, gym, meeting space and even a mural, it is easy to see why this dedicated basketball training space has quickly grown in popularity for young players. According to Brown there are 75 aspiring and academy athletes on the books, ranging from under 12s right through to age 18. The roster of coaches, which includes program appearances from NBL 1 Falcons players Myles Cherry and Ryan Beisty, focus on individual skills and going back to basics. "Within a week we were at capacity," he said of launching the business. "The kids love basketball, but there is so much more to sports than just the game. We have a nutritionist, strength and conditioning training, a psychologist. The goal is skill development for kids of all ages, but we also just want to help create good kids." Brown has big plans for the business which is currently running as a not-for-profit. He wants to create outreach programs in NSW, to get the teenagers out into low socio-economic communities to do their own coaching. "It is important for those high performance kids to give back, to have that experience," he said. The third part of the puzzle is travel, taking his own Hoop Dreams teams to play in other competitions both nationally and abroad. On the first weekend of November, Hoop Dreams saw its first touring team compete in the Annual Seaside Classic Tournament in Port Macquarie. The under 17s girls team took home the win. "The hardest transition is figuring out what do you do when you stop playing professional sport," he said. "I hope we can build this as place for connection, a community for these kids." Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017. Jessica began her journalism career in 2009 as a cadet at The Port Stephens Examiner before moving to London for a two-year stint working in magazines and digital publishing. The Lake Macquarie local returned to Australia where she took up a reporting role at The Maitland Mercury. She worked across several rounds including local council, police and property before moving into digital journalism and joining the team at The Newcastle Herald in 2017. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!( MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) MANAMA, Dec 23 (KUNA) -- The Kuwaiti Ministry of Social Affairs participated on Monday in the Arab Social Affairs Ministers senior meeting in Bahrain, to discuss common issues among member states. The delegation was headed by Ministry of Social Affairs Acting Undersecretary Khaled Al-Ajmi, said the ministry in a press statement. The meeting discussed continuing lifesaving projects in Palestine, monitoring the social and humanitarian situation in Lebanon, preparing for the 34th Arab League summit, and the upcoming fifth Economic and Social Development summit. They added that the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals were reviewed, especially those related to poverty, rights of persons with disabilities, as well as issues related to the elderly in Arab countries. (end) ays MENAFN23122024000071011013ID1109025298 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. 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BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin's “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday. Merkel, 70, appears to have no significant doubts about the major decisions of her 16 years as German leader, whose major challenges included the global financial crisis, Europe’s debt crisis, the 2015-16 influx of refugees and the COVID-19 pandemic. True to form, her book — titled “Freedom” — offers a matter-of-fact account of her early life in communist East Germany and her later career in politics, laced with moments of dry wit. Merkel served alongside four U.S. presidents , four French presidents and five British prime ministers. But it is perhaps her dealings with Russian President Putin that have drawn the most scrutiny since she left office in late 2021. Merkel recalls being kept waiting by Putin at the Group of Eight summit she hosted in 2007 — “if there's one thing I can't stand, it's unpunctuality.” And she recounts a visit to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi that year in which Putin's labrador appeared during a photo opportunity, although Putin knew she was afraid of dogs. Putin appeared to enjoy the situation, she writes, and she didn't bring it up — keeping as she often did to the motto “never explain, never complain.” The previous year, she recounts Putin pointing to wooden houses in Siberia and telling her poor people lived there who “could be easily seduced,” and that similar groups had been encouraged by money from the U.S. government to take part in Ukraine's “Orange Revolution” of 2004 against attempted election fraud. Putin, she says, added: “I will never allow something like that in Russia.” Merkel says she was irritated by Putin's “self-righteousness” in a 2007 speech in Munich in which he turned away from earlier attempts to develop closer ties with the U.S. She said that appearance showed Putin as she knew him, “as someone who was always on guard against being treated badly and ready to give out at any time, including power games with a dog and making other people wait for him.” “One could find this all childish and reprehensible, one could shake one's head over it — but that didn't make Russia disappear from the map,” she writes. As she has before, Merkel defends a much-criticized 2015 peace deal for eastern Ukraine that she helped broker and her government's decisions to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia. And she argues it was right to keep up diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow until she left power, Merkel concluded after first meeting then-Sen. Obama in 2008 that they could work well together. More than eight years later, during his last visit as president in Nov. 2016, she was one of the people with whom she discussed whether to seek a fourth term. Obama, she says, asked questions but held back with an opinion, and that in itself was helpful. He “said that Europe could still use me very well, but I should ultimately follow my feelings,” she writes. There was no such warmth with Trump, who had criticized Merkel and Germany in his 2016 campaign. Merkel says she had to seek an “adequate relationship ... without reacting to all the provocations.” In March 2017, there was an awkward moment when Merkel first visited the Trump White House. Photographers shouted “handshake!” and Merkel quietly asked Trump: “Do you want to have a handshake?” There was no response from Trump, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. Merkel faults her own reaction. “He wanted to create a topic of discussion with his behavior, while I had acted as if I were dealing with an interlocutor behaving normally,” she writes. She adds that Putin apparently “fascinated” Trump and, in the following years, she had the impression that “politicians with autocratic and dictatorial traits” beguiled him. Merkel says she tried to help then-Prime Minister David Cameron in the European Union as he faced pressure from British Euroskeptics, but there were limits to what she could do. And, pointing to Cameron's efforts over the years to assuage opponents of the EU, she says the road to Brexit is a textbook example of what can arise from a miscalculation. After Britons voted to leave the EU in 2016, an outcome she calls a “humiliation” for its other members, she says the question of whether she should have made more concessions to the U.K. “tortured me.” “I came to the conclusion that, in view of the political developments inside the country at the time, there would have been no acceptable possibility for me to prevent Britain's way out of the European Union from outside,” Merkel says. Merkel was the first German chancellor to leave power at a time of her choosing. She announced in 2018 that she wouldn't seek a fifth term, and says she “let go at the right point.” She points to three 2019 incidents in which her body shook during public engagements as proof. Merkel says she had herself checked thoroughly and there were no neurological or other findings. An osteopath told her that her body was letting off the tension it had accumulated over years, she adds. “Freedom” runs to more than 700 pages in its original German edition, published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch. The English edition is being released simultaneously by St. Martin's Press.
A one-of-a-kind jacket made from seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton's race-worn suit from the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix has gone up for auction . The auction is set to run from November 27 to December 5, 2024, and is part of a collaboration between PUMA, the Mercedes Formula One team, and London-based creative studio Raeburn. The proceeds from the sale will go to a non-profit organization empowering young people, which is in line with Hamilton's own personal charitable efforts with Mission 44 and Ignite. This comes after Lewis Hamilton secured a second-place finish in the Las Vegas Grand Prix after he made his way through the field from a tenth-place start. Speaking to the media after the race , Hamilton explained: "I had a great time, when you're progressing it's always a great feeling. "It felt very much like my old days [karting] at Rye House, starting at the back and coming through – so it was great. "[It was a] really good balance in the car today, felt a lot better than it was yesterday – particularly Q3 – but it's just phenomenal for the team. "It is slightly bittersweet as if we had qualified where we should have yesterday, I think I could have won. Nevertheless, I didn't think I would have been able to finish P2 today before the race so I'm very happy." There had been speculation earlier in the season that the British driver was past his peak. However, the seven-time champion put those opinions to bed after clinching his home race win in Silverstone in July followed by a win in Belgium and an incredible run in Vegas where he drove from P10 to P2. Hamilton is also set to join Ferrari in 2025. After racing with Mercedes since 2013, where he secured six of his seven Drivers' Championship titles, Hamilton is set to leave the team to fulfil a childhood dream of one day driving for the iconic Maranello-based squad. On top of this, he is also eager to fight for his record-breaking eighth championship title. Speaking to the media about his upcoming move at the time of the announcement, Hamilton explained his decision-making behind the move: "I feel like... it was obviously the hardest decision that I think I've ever had to make. Obviously I've been with Mercedes for, I think it's like 26 years they've supported me, and we've had an absolutely incredible journey together. We've created history within the sport, and it's something I take a lot of pride in and I'm very proud of what we've achieved. "But I think ultimately I'm writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter." He added: "Of course, I think for every driver growing up, watching the history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, I think probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up, and you see the driver in the red cockpit and you wonder what it would be like to be surrounded by the red," Hamilton said. "You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the sea of red Ferrari fans and you can only stand in awe of that. It's a team that's not had huge success recently, since 2007, and I saw it as a huge challenge. Without a doubt, even as a kid, I used to play [on games] as Michael in that car, so it definitely is a dream and I'm really, really excited about it."
NoneTrump's picks for key positions in his second administration
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PHOENIX — Someone donated a gold coin worth more than $1,300 through a Red Kettle in the Phoenix area, according to the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center. The half-ounce Gold American Eagle coin was dropped in a Red Kettle in the Valley. A note included with the coin read, “May this gold help the people in need during the Christmas season. Bless you all.” Face value of the coin is $25, but the Kroc Center had it appraised and sold it for $1,310. “We witness extraordinary acts of kindness and giving year-round, and this incredible donation is certainly no exception,” said Captain Dustin Rowe, Kroc Center Corps Officer. “We want to thank this generous donor from the bottom of our hearts.” Despite the donation, the Kroc Center’s Red Kettle donations are still down 18 percent compared to the same time last year. According to the Kroc Center, around 84 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army nationally are used to support local programs and services. Watch 12News for free You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12+ app! The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV . 12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12+ app to add to your account , or have the 12+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late MarchTrump's Bold Cabinet Picks: A New Era in LeadershipNebraska Gov. Jim Pillen suffered fractures to a vertebrae and several ribs and sustained several other injuries deemed “severe but not life-threatening” after falling off a horse Sunday afternoon. Pillen remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Nebraska Medicine in Omaha on Monday after undergoing a minimally invasive surgery, according to doctors who spoke at a news conference. The 68-year-old was riding on horseback near Columbus with his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter when he fell, the governor’s office said. A spokeswoman for the governor said the Nebraska State Patrol “acted consistently with protocols for his security.” Pillen was taken to Columbus Community Hospital by ambulance and later by helicopter to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, a Level I Trauma Center, where he arrived in stable condition. Dr. Hillman Terzian, a trauma surgeon at Nebraska Medicine, said Pillen was conscious and able to speak with the medical team despite suffering several painful injuries. Pillen had sustained a minor fracture to his L1 vertebrae in his lower back, but no damage to his head, neck or spinal cord, Terzian said. He also had fractures to seven ribs on his left side — “a very, very painful injury to have” — which partially collapsed his lung. The governor also sustained minor lacerations to his spleen and a kidney, doctors said. Pillen underwent a minimally invasive surgery known as a coil embolization where a wire was passed into the arteries near the spleen to allow for a coil to be inserted to stop the bleeding. “He did very well during that procedure and has been stable the entire time,” Terzian said. The governor was sedated during the procedure, Terzian said, which lasted roughly one hour. Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly was notified by Pillen’s chief of staff of the situation and briefly served as acting governor during the surgery, according to the governor’s office. Terzian said the injury to Pillen’s kidney should resolve on its own. Despite the painful injuries, Terzian called Pillen “a doctor’s dream.” “I wish more patients were as motivated as him,” Terzian said. “He’s already been walking laps, which is very impressive when you examine him and you talk to him. He’s a tough guy, and that shows with the way he’s recovering so far.” Terzian said Pillen will likely leave the ICU on Monday afternoon, but will remain at Nebraska Medicine “for at least another day if not longer” to make sure the fractures to his ribs are healing. “Our biggest focus right now is that pain control because we want him to have adequate respiratory function,” said Dr. Charity Evans, the chief of acute care surgery at Nebraska Medicine. “(Pillen’s) an active person, so we want to return him to that active lifestyle, and so that will guide some of our treatment options as we move forward,” she added. According to the governor’s office, Pillen has made arrangements to conduct work from his hospital room in Omaha as he recovers. He was out of surgery in time to watch the second hall of the Nebraska men’s basketball team’s win against Murray State on Sunday night. The governor and his wife, Suzanne, as well as their family, said they were “enormously grateful to the teams at Nebraska Medicine and Columbus Community Hospital,” as well as the EMS professionals who transported him. “The governor looks forward to returning to his office soon after Christmas and wishes a blessed and safe holiday to all Nebraskans,” his office said. The horse, Jack, is doing “fine,” a spokeswoman said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com . On Bluesky @chrisdunker.bsky.social We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.