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Daily Post Nigeria Gov Eno presents N955bn budget to Akwa Ibom Assembly Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Gov Eno presents N955bn budget to Akwa Ibom Assembly Published on November 26, 2024 By Lovina Anthony Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, presented a proposed total budget outlay of N955 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration on Tuesday. This was against the revised provision of N923.46 billion in the 2024 budget. The 2025 financial appropriation estimate comprised recurrent expenditures of N300 billion and capital expenditures of N655 billion. Eno said that the total capital receipts and expenditure for the year 2025 is estimated at N655 billion as against the proposed revised provision of N573.32 billion for 2024. He said that the 2025 Budget, which is christened “Budget for Consolidation and Expansion,” is predicated on an oil benchmark of $75 per barrel at a production rate of 2.12 million barrels per day with an estimated exchange rate of N1,400/US$. The Governor added that the 2025 oil benchmark and exchange rate is in line with the National Budget benchmark projections. He said that the total projected recurrent revenue for 2025 is estimated at ₦830 billion as against the proposed revised provision of B803.70 billion, representing a 3 per cent increase in revenue projection for the year 2025. The governor said the policy thrust objectives of the 2025 budget would be to achieve food security through investing heavily in the agricultural revolution. Other objectives included rural development through robust investments in modern living facilities such as all seasonal roads, rural electrification and others within rural communities to ultimately improve the quality of life for those in the rural areas and help stem rural-urban migration. Ensuring that public schools in the state are equipped and staffed by teachers who are passionate and dedicated. He said to realise the year 2025 budget objectives, the state shall adopt and improve the effectiveness of budget performance by ensuring fiscal discipline through the implementation of only programmes that were captured in the budget, among other strategies. In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Udeme Otong, assured the governor that the lawmakers would quicken the consideration process to ensure speedy passage of the 2025 budget estimate to fasten development in the state. Otong urged all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to cooperate with the House of Assembly during the budget defence to ensure speedy passage of the budget. Related Topics: Akwa Ibom Assembly Eno Don't Miss Kano Govt pays new minimum wage of N71,000 You may like Akwa Ibom: Eno approves N955bn budget estimate for 2025 Eno announces N80,000 minimum wage for Akwa Ibom workers Gov Eno vows to complete all road projects inherited from past govts Autonomy does not mean LG is separate entity – Gov Eno warns newly elected chairmen Gov Eno denies appointing daughter as Akwa Ibom First Lady following wife’s death Gov Eno appoints daughter Akwa Ibom First Lady after wife’s death Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
France celebrated the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark from destruction during a 2019 blaze. A two-hour service attended by incoming US president Donald Trump among other world leaders began with the archbishop of Paris knocking on the doors of the cathedral three times. "Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to bring together the far-flung children of God in joy," archbishop Laurent Ulrich commanded, banging with a wooden staff crafted from a roof beam that survived the inferno five years ago. Trump could be seen sitting on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting installed as part of the overhaul. In a short speech, Macron expressed the "gratitude of the French nation" for the restoration work, achieved at frenzied speed over the last five years. France had "rediscovered what great nations can do -- achieve the impossible", he said. One of the most moving moments came when firefighters in their protective gear walked through the congregation to thunderous applause as the word "Merci" ("Thank you") was beamed on the intricate facade and famous belltowers of the Gothic masterpiece. Small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds outside to witness the renaissance of a monument, which came close to collapsing due to the intensity of the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. Saturday's service featured classical music, the cathedral's choir as well as the "re-awakening" of the 8,000-pipe organ which is considered the voice and soul of the cathedral. A televised public concert planned outside featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. He scored a major coup by attracting Trump along with around 40 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to end the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office on January 20, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people and weighed into a row about whether the place of worship and tourist attraction should remain free to enter. The "immense" numbers set to visit Notre Dame should be welcomed "generously and free of charge", he said, clearly opposing a proposition from the French culture ministry to charge for entry. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. adp-sjw/jjAP Sports SummaryBrief at 3:45 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers, meet your latest lobbyists: online influencers from TikTok. The platform is once again bringing influencers to Washington, this time to lobby members of Congress to reject a fast-moving bill that would force TikTok's Beijing-based parent company to sell or be banned in the United States. On Tuesday, some influencers began a two-day advocacy event in support of TikTok, which arranged their trip ahead of a House floor vote on the legislation on Wednesday. But unlike a similar lobbying event the company put together last March when talks of a TikTok ban reached a fever pitch, this year’s effort appeared more rushed as the company scrambles to counter the legislation, which advanced rapidly on Capitol Hill. Summer Lucille, a TikTok content creator with 1.4 million followers who is visiting Washington this week, said if TikTok is banned, she “don’t know what it will do” to her business, a plus-sized boutique in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It will be devastating,” Lucille said in an interview arranged by the platform. In an unusual showing of bipartisanship, a House panel unanimously approved the measure last week. President Joe Biden has said he will sign the legislation if lawmakers pass it. But it’s unclear what will happen in the Senate, where several bills aimed at banning TikTok have stalled. The legislation faces other roadblocks. Former president and current presidential candidate Donald Trump, who holds sway over both House and Senate Republicans, has voiced opposition to the bill, saying it would empower Meta-owned Facebook, which he continues to lambast over his 2020 election loss. The bill also faces pushback from some progressive lawmakers in the House as well as civil liberties groups who argue it infringes on the First Amendment. TikTok could be banned if ByteDance, the parent company, doesn’t sell its stakes in the platform and other applications it owns within six months of the bill’s enactment. The fight over the platform takes place as U.S.-China relations have shifted to that of strategic rivalry, especially in areas such as advanced technologies and data security, seen as essential to each country’s economic prowess and national security. The shift, which started during the Trump years and has continued under Biden, has placed restrictions on export of advanced technologies and outflow of U.S. monies to China, as well as access to the U.S. market by certain Chinese businesses. The Biden administration also has cited human rights concerns in blacklisting a number of Chinese companies accused of assisting the state surveillance campaign against ethnic minorities. TikTok isn’t short on lobbyists. Its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance has a strong lobbying apparatus in Washington that includes dozens of lobbyists from well-known consulting and legal firms as well as influential insiders, such as former members of Congress and ex-aides to powerful lawmakers, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will also be in Washington this week and plans to meet with lawmakers, according to a company spokesperson who said Chew’s visit was previously scheduled. But influencers, who have big followings on social media and can share personal stories of how the platform boosted their businesses — or simply gave them a voice — are still perhaps one of the most powerful tools the company has in its arsenal. A TikTok spokesperson said dozens of influencers will attend the two-day event, including some who came last year. The spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about how many new people would be attending this year’s lobbying blitz. The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews. Lucille, who runs the boutique in North Carolina, says has seen a substantial surge in revenue because of her TikTok page. The 34-year-old began making TikTok content focusing on plus-sized fashion in March 2022, more than a decade after she started her business. She quickly amassed thousands of followers after posting a nine-second video about her boutique. Because of her popularity on the platform, her business has more online exposure and customers, some of whom have visited from as far as Europe. She says she also routinely hears from followers who are finding support through her content about fashion and confidence. JT Laybourne, an influencer who also came to Washington, said he joined TikTok in early 2019 after getting some negative comments on videos he posted on Instagram while singing in the car with his children. Laybourne, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, said he was attracted to the short-form video platform because it was easy to create videos that contained music. Like Lucille, he quickly gained traction on the app. He says he also received more support from TikTok users, who reacted positively to content he produced on love and positivity. Laybourne says the community he built on the platform rallied around his family when he had to undergo heart surgery in 2020. Following the surgery, he said he used the platform to help raise $1 million for the American Heart Association in less than two years. His family now run an apparel company that gets most of its traffic from TikTok. “I will fight tooth-and-nail for this app,” he said. But whether the opposition the company is mounting through lobbyists or influencers will be enough to derail the bill is yet to be seen. On Tuesday, House lawmakers received a briefing on national security concerns regarding TikTok from the FBI, Justice Department and intelligence officials. AP Journalist Didi Tang contributed to this report. This story was originally published on March 12, 2024. It was updated on December 23, 2024 to clarify a quote by TikTok content creator Summer Lucille.TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockmate Ventures Inc. (TSX.V: MATE) (OTCQB: MATEF) (FSE: 8MH1) (“ Blockmate ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that it has closed its strategic investment (the “ Offering ”) involving a group of strategic investors led by Antanas Guoga (Tony G) for gross proceeds of $1,400,000. This strategic funding supports Blockmate’s pursuit of industry leadership in blockchain innovation and underscores our commitment to sustainable and transformative technology. In connection with completion of the Offering, the Company has issued 14,000,000 units (each, a “ Unit ”) at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share, and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire a further common share at a price of $0.50 until December 23, 2027. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to statutory restrictions on resale until April 24, 2025, in accordance with applicable securities laws. In addition, Tony G has voluntarily agreed to restrict resale of the 10,000,000 Units he acquired in the Offering until December 23, 2025. No finders’ fees or commissions were paid by the Company in connection with completion of the Offering. Incentive Grant The Company also announces that it has granted 5,275,000 incentive stock options (the “ Options ”), 1,200,000 restricted share units (the “ RSUs ”) and 5,000,000 deferred share units (the “ DSUs ”) in accordance with its omnibus incentive plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”) adopted by shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on November 23, 2023. 625,000 of the Options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of thirty-six months. The remaining 5,000,000 Options vest quarterly over a twenty-four month period, and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of forty-eight months. The RSUs vest and will be settled in common shares of the Company after twelve months. The DSUs vest after twelve months but will only be settled in common shares of the Company upon the departure of the holder from the Company. 2,725,000 of the Options and all of the DSUs exceed the available room under the Incentive Plan. The Company intends to seek approval of shareholders to increase the size of the Incentive Plan at the next annual general meeting and will at that time seek ratification from shareholders for the additional Options and the DSUs. Until such time as shareholder ratification has been received, the additional Options and DSUs will not vest and will not be eligible for exercise or settlement. In the event shareholders elect not to ratify the grant, and room within the Incentive Plan is not available at the time, the additional Options and DSUs will be cancelled. Early Warning Disclosure In connection with the incentive grant, Domenic Carosa, a director of the Company, has been issued 5,000,000 Options and 5,000,000 DSUs. Prior to the grant, Mr. Carosa controlled 17,252,400 common shares, 1,500,000 incentive stock options, and 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants, of the Company, all of which are held by Carosa Corporation B.V., a holding company controlled by Domenic Carosa. The common shares controlled by Mr. Carosa prior to the grant represent approximately 15.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Following the grant, Mr. Carosa has control and direction over 17,252,400 common shares, 6,500,000 Options, 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants and 5,000,000 DSUs of the Company. Assuming the exercise and conversion of all of the Options, share purchase warrants and DSUs controlled by Mr. Carosa, he would have control and direction over 31,752,400 common shares of the Company representing approximately 19.8% of the then outstanding common shares of the Company. Mr. Carosa has acquired the securities for investment purposes and in connection with his compensation as a director of the Company and, as disclosed in the accompanying Early Warning Report, may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately or otherwise, as circumstances or market conditions warrant. A copy of the Early Warning Report filed with the applicable securities regulators regarding the above acquisition will be available under the profile for the Company on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). About Blockmate Ventures Inc. Blockmate is a venture creator focussing on building fast-growing technology businesses relating to cutting edge sectors such as blockchain and renewable energy. Working with prospective founders, projects in incubation can benefit from the Blockmate ecosystem that offers tech, services, integrations and advice to accelerate the incubation of projects towards monetization. Recent projects include Hivello (download our free passive income app at www.hivello.com ) and Sunified, digitising solar energy. The leadership team at Blockmate have successfully founded successful tech companies from the Dotcom era through to the social media era. Learn more about being a Blockmate at: www.blockmate.com/ . Blockmate welcomes investors to join the Company’s mailing list for the latest updates and industry research by subscribing at https://www.blockmate.com/subscribe . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Justin Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer Blockmate Ventures Inc. justin@blockmate.com (+1-580-262-6130) Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release Forward-Looking Information This news release contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on the assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Raindrop disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.AllenComm, a leading provider of innovative, effective learning experiences, and Pure Storage Data Solutions have received recognition for an online learning program to support a corporate values initiative SALT LAKE CITY , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- AllenComm — an innovator in learning advisory, design, tech and talent for the corporate learning and development market — and Pure Storage have received a 2024 Silver Davey Award for an online learning program designed to help the data solutions company build and nurture a unified corporate culture worldwide. The annual Davey Awards, one of the world's largest and most prestigious creative awards competitions, honors the achievements of the "Creative Davids" who derive their strength from big ideas, rather than stratospheric budgets. After rapid growth from a few hundred employees in a single office to more than 5,600+ members and offices internationally, Pure Storage was looking to build upon the corporate culture that made it successful. AllenComm collaborated with the company to create a unique learning program that not only reflects internal marketing communications but inspires learners to find value and reward in the experience. The scalable online program, entitled Simply Pure, uses a narrative-oriented approach that puts learners in charge of their learning experience. Engaging videos, motion graphic videos and interactive activities are incorporated to showcase the company's history and explain unfamiliar technical terms, with contextual stories added to generate excitement. Learners can select any of five topics based on what they want to know, rather than having to follow a defined path created for them. After 6 months, and more than 2,300 Pure Storage team members participating in the program, employees say they feel more connected personally with their jobs because they now understand more clearly how they fit into the broader organization. "Shared stories can strengthen an organization's leadership culture by connecting with and engaging all employees as participants in the story," said AllenComm CEO, Ron Zamir . "Our learner experience designers worked closely with Pure Storage to capture their foundational stories and to scale the storytelling with video and animation." "At Pure Storage, we value inspiration and innovation as central to our culture," said Jack Reid , Learning Partner at the company's Leadership Academy. "AllenComm has helped us to realize our vision of scaling our culture with a development program that is intentionally not a typical training program. We're honored that the result of our partnership is receiving acclaim within the learning industry, but we're even more excited that this foundational program in our Pure Leadership Academy is helping to democratize leadership in our expanding organization." You can learn more about the award-winning Pure Storage program here. To find out more about other learning programs developed by AllenComm, visit their website . About AllenComm For over 40 years, AllenComm has partnered with leading companies and non-profit organizations to create and scale transformative learning solutions. Extensive instructional design experience, innovative learning technologies and agency-level creative teams enable AllenComm to stand out in the learning landscape. Considered one of the top firms of its kind, AllenComm wins dozens of industry awards year after year for its custom learning solutions. Partnering with AllenComm to supplement and support learning and adjacent needs for human capital management has helped customers reduce expenses, shorten onboarding periods and increase the impact of their efforts. Media Contact AllenComm, AllenComm, (801) 537-7800, info@allencomm.com , AllenComm View original content: https://www.prweb.com/releases/allencomm-and-pure-storage-win-2024-davey-award-for-education-website-302324141.html SOURCE AllenComm
Iowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level MediaArkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong said Tuesday that he is entering the NFL Draft. Later in the day, a school spokesman told reporters that Armstrong will skip the Razorbacks' bowl game. The destination isn't yet known. Armstrong led the Southeastern Conference in both receptions (78) and receiving yards (1,140) but caught just one touchdown in 11 games this season. His catches and yardage were both second-most in Arkansas history behind Cobi Hamilton, who had 90 receptions for 1,335 yards in 2012. "It's been a journey for the books and I wouldn't trade it for anything because it has made me into the man I am today," Armstrong said of his Razorbacks tenure in a social media post. "... I will never forget all the moments that were shared here in Fayetteville." Armstrong played two seasons at Texas A&M-Commerce before transferring to Arkansas ahead of the 2023 season. In two seasons with the Razorbacks, he caught 134 passes for 1,904 yards and six scores. --Field Level MediaGlentoran manager Declan Devine Glentoran boss Declan Devine saluted his 10-man braves following their dramatic Big Two win over Linfield at the BetMcLean Oval. Skipper Marcus Kane led by example by plundering the only goal of the game just before the interval – the result catapulting the east Belfast team up to third place in the Sports Direct Premiership table.
By Tony Leys | KFF Health News GLENWOOD, Iowa — Hundreds of people who were separated from society because they had disabilities are buried in a nondescript field at the former state institution here. Disability rights advocates hope Iowa will honor them by preventing the kind of neglect that has plagued similar cemeteries at other shuttered facilities around the U.S. The southwest Iowa institution, called the Glenwood Resource Center, was closed this summer in the wake of allegations of poor care . The last of its living residents were moved elsewhere in June. But the remains of about 1,300 people will stay where they were buried on the grounds. The graveyard, which dates to the 1800s, covers several acres of sloping ground near the campus’s brick buildings. A 6-foot-tall, weathered-concrete cross stands on the hillside, providing the most visible clue to the field’s purpose. On a recent afternoon, dried grass clippings obscured row after row of small stone grave markers set flat in the ground. Most of the stones are engraved with only a first initial, a last name, and a number. “If somebody who’s never been to Glenwood drove by, they wouldn’t even know there was a cemetery there,” said Brady Werger, a former resident of the facility. During more than a century of operation, the institution housed thousands of people with intellectual disabilities. Its population declined as society turned away from the practice of sequestering people with disabilities and mental illness in large facilities for decades at a time. The cemetery is filled with residents who died and weren’t returned to their hometowns for burial with their families. State and local leaders are working out arrangements to maintain the cemetery and the rest of the 380-acre campus. Local officials, who are expected to take control of the grounds next June, say they’ll need extensive state support for upkeep and redevelopment, especially with the town of about 5,000 people reeling from the loss of jobs at the institution. Hundreds of such places were constructed throughout the U.S. starting in the 1800s. Some, like the one in Glenwood, served people with disabilities, such as those caused by autism or seizure disorders. Others housed people with mental illness. Most of the facilities were built in rural areas, which were seen as providing a wholesome environment. States began shrinking or closing these institutions more than 50 years ago. The shifts were a response to complaints about people being removed from their communities and subjected to inhumane conditions, including the use of isolation and restraints. In the past decade, Iowa has closed two of its four mental hospitals and one of its two state institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. After closures in some other states, institutions’ cemeteries were abandoned and became overgrown with weeds and brush. The neglect drew protests and sparked efforts to respectfully memorialize people who lived and died at the facilities. “At some level, the restoration of institutions’ cemeteries is about the restoration of humanity,” said Pat Deegan, a Massachusetts mental health advocate who works on the issue nationally . Deegan, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, sees the neglected graveyards as symbolic of how people with disabilities or mental illness can feel as if their individual identities are buried beneath the labels of their conditions. Deegan, 70, helped lead efforts to rehabilitate a pair of overgrown cemeteries at the Danvers State Hospital near Boston, which housed people with mental illness before it closed in 1992. More than 700 former residents were buried there, with many graves originally marked only with a number. The Massachusetts hospital’s grounds were redeveloped into a condominium complex. The rehabilitated cemeteries now have individual gravestones and a large historical marker, explaining what the facility was and who lived there. The sign notes that some past methods of caring for psychiatric patients seem “barbarous” by today’s standards, but the text portrays the staff as well-meaning. It says the institution “attempted to alleviate the problems of many of its members with care and empathy that, although not always successful, was nobly attempted.” Deegan has helped other groups across the country organize renovations of similar cemeteries. She urges communities to include former residents of the facilities in their efforts. Iowa’s Glenwood Resource Center started as a home for orphans of Civil War soldiers. It grew into a large institution for people with disabilities, many of whom lived there for decades. Its population peaked at more than 1,900 in the 1950s, then dwindled to about 150 before state officials decided to close it. Werger, 32, said some criticisms of the institution were valid, but he remains grateful for the support the staff gave him until he was stable enough to move into community housing in 2018. “They helped change my life incredibly,” he said. He thinks the state should have fixed problems at the facility instead of shutting it. He said he hopes officials preserve historical parts of the campus, including stately brick buildings and the cemetery. He wishes the graves had more extensive headstones, with information about the residents buried there. He would also like to see signs installed explaining the place’s history. Two former employees of the Glenwood facility recently raised concerns that some of the graves may be mismarked . But officials with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which ran the institution, said they have extensive, accurate records and recently placed stones on three graves that were unmarked. Department leaders declined to be interviewed about the cemetery’s future. Spokesperson Alex Murphy wrote in an email that while no decisions have been made about the campus, the agency “remains committed to ensuring the cemetery is protected and treated with dignity and respect for those who have been laid to rest there.” Glenwood civic leaders have formed a nonprofit corporation that is negotiating with the state over development plans for the former institution. “We’re trying to make the best of a tough situation,” said Larry Winum, a local banker who serves on the new organization’s board. Tentative plans include tearing down some of the existing buildings and creating up to 900 houses and apartments. Winum said redevelopment should include some kind of memorial sign about the institution and the people buried in the cemetery. “It will be important to us that those folks be remembered,” he said. Activists in other states said properly honoring such places takes sustained commitment and money. Jennifer Walton helped lead efforts in the 1990s to properly mark graves and improve cemetery upkeep at state institutions in Minnesota . Some of the cemeteries are deteriorating again, she said. Activists plan to ask Minnesota legislators to designate permanent funding to maintain them and to place explanatory markers at the sites. “I think it’s important, because it’s a way to demonstrate that these spaces represent human beings who at the time were very much hidden away,” Walton said. “No human being should be pushed aside and ignored.” Related Articles Health | A stroke changed a teacher’s life. How a new electrical device is helping her move Health | Raw milk nearly killed her son. Now avian flu is bringing more attention to its risk. Health | Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too Health | CDC chief urges focus on health threats as agency confronts political changes Health | New rule allows HIV-positive organ transplants On a recent day, just one of the Glenwood graves had flowers on it. Retired managers of the institution said few people visit the cemetery, but amateur genealogists sometimes show up after learning that a long-forgotten ancestor was institutionalized at Glenwood and buried there. Former grounds supervisor Max Cupp said burials had become relatively rare over the years, with more families arranging to have deceased residents’ remains transported to their hometown cemeteries. One of the last people buried in the Glenwood cemetery was Kenneth Rummells, who died in 2022 at age 71 after living many years at the institution and then at a nearby group home overseen by the state. His guardian was Kenny Jacobsen, a retired employee of the facility who had known him for decades. Rummells couldn’t speak, but he could communicate by grunting, Jacobsen said. He enjoyed sitting outside. “He was kind of quiet, kind of a touch-me-not guy.” Jacobsen helped arrange for a gravestone that is more detailed than most others in the cemetery. The marker includes Rummells’ full name, the dates of his birth and death, a drawing of a porch swing, and the inscription “Forever swinging in the breeze.” Jacobsen hopes officials figure out how to maintain the cemetery. He would like to see a permanent sign erected, explaining who is buried there and how they came to live in Glenwood. “They were people too,” he said.Trump's threat to impose tariffs could raise prices for consumers, colliding with promise for reliefSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.
Record Profits and Expansion! Foxconn’s Global Manufacturing BoomATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey gambling regulators have handed out $40,000 in fines to two sportsbooks and a tech company for violations that included taking bets on unauthorized events, and on games that had already ended. In information made public Monday, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement fined DraftKings $20,000. It also levied $10,000 fines on Rush Street Interactive NJ and the sports betting technology company Kambi. According to documents released by the state, Rush Street accepted 16 bets worth $1,523 in Nov. 2021 on a college basketball game between the University of North Carolina-Asheville and Tennessee Tech University after the game had already concluded with a UNC victory. Kambi told the enforcement division that a trader had failed to manually remove that game from its betting markets, saying it had stopped receiving messages from its own sports data provider due to a network connectivity error. Kambi said it has updated its guidelines and retrained its traders to prevent a recurrence. Kambi, which is based in Malta, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday. Rush Street declined comment, and DraftKings had no immediate comment Monday. DraftKings stopped using Kambi in 2021. In March 2022 Rush Street took seven bets totaling just under $2,900 on three Magic City Jai Alai games after the results were already known. Kambi told the division it experienced a connectivity issue that allowed the bets to be accepted after the games were over. An explanation of what Kambi did to address the situation was blacked out in documents released by the division. A month earlier Rush Street took 13 wagers worth $8,150 with pre-match odds on a Professional Golf Association match after the event had already begun. In this case, Kambi told the division a newly hired trader failed to enter the correct closing time time for bets on the event. The trader and a supervisor underwent retraining. DraftKings was fined for taking bets on unapproved events including Russian basketball for nine months in 2020 and 2021. It eventually voided over $61,000 in bets and returned the money to customers after being directed to do so by the state. In this case, Kambi told the division it misidentified this particular Russian basketball league as one that was approved for wagering in New Jersey. DraftKings told the state it did not catch the error, either. In 2020, DraftKings accepted 484 wagers on unapproved table tennis matches. Kambi incorrectly enabled the events for wagering without conditions required by the state, the division said. In Feb. 2022, the division said DraftKings took pre-season NFL bets involving specific players but did not give the state specific information on what information was to be included in the bets, drawing 182 wagers worth nearly $7,000 that were later voided and refunded to customers. Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
Global-E Online Ltd . GLBE reported better-than-expected third-quarter results and raised its FY24 outlook on Wednesday. Sales grew 32% year over year to $176 million, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $169.16 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $31.1 million from $22.1 million a year ago. The company's operating loss narrowed to $21.0 million from $35.6 million. Loss per share was 13 cents, beating the consensus loss of 15 cents. For the fourth quarter, Global-e Online projects GMV of $1.615 billion – $1.685 billion and revenue of $243 million and $255 million vs. $246.27 million estimate. The company raised its FY24 revenue guidance to $732.9 million – $744.9 million (from $710 million – $750 million), vs. the consensus of $730.72 million. Founder and CEO Amir Schlachet said, "We report today the results of another very strong quarter, with growth of GMV accelerating to 35% year over year and many new merchants going live ahead of the holiday season, including the iconic luxury department store Harrods." Global-E Online shares gained 4% to trade at $49.78 on Thursday. These analysts made changes to their price targets on Global-E Online following earnings announcement. Piper Sandler analyst Brent Bracelin reiterated Global E Online with an Overweight and raised the price target from $44 to $63. JMP Securities analyst Patrick Walravens maintained the stock with a Market Outperform and raised the price target from $46 to $64. Benchmark analyst Mark Zgutowicz maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $45 to $60. Wells Fargo analyst Andrew Bauch maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and increased the price target from $45 to $60. Raymond James analyst Brian Peterson maintained Global E Online with an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $41 to $55. Considering buying GLBE stock? Here’s what analysts think: Read This Next: This Palo Alto Networks Analyst Turns Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Upgrades For Thursday © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Logo. Photo credit: Jingo Logo. Photo credit: Jingo SAN FRANCISCO , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silicon Valley's seasoned veterans in retail and e-commerce are rallying behind Jingo , a bold leap forward in transforming the online shopping experience. By blending personalization with advanced technology, Jingo is rethinking the way shoppers discover products and how brands connect with their audiences. A Powerhouse Backing Founded by e-commerce veterans, Ujjal Pathak and Rohan Bhanot , who bring years of experience building online shopping platforms, Jingo has secured backing from a powerhouse group of investors and advisors with expertise from leading companies such as Pinterest, Walmart, Minted, eBay, Square, Nike, Klarna, and Intuit. Their collective knowledge in e-commerce, retail, and fintech provides the strategic guidance needed to bring Jingo's vision of a smarter, more equitable shopping platform to life. Solving the Real Problem in E-Commerce Amazon has been shaping online shopping for nearly 30 years, while Walmart has stood as a retail giant for over 60. While these platforms revolutionized e-commerce for past generations, Jingo is built from the ground up to meet the needs of today's digitally native consumers. Designed with Gen Z and Millennials in mind, Jingo delivers a shopping experience that feels intuitive, personal, and deeply connected to modern lifestyles. For customers, the challenge isn't simply finding products—it's making better decisions . Endless choices often lead to decision fatigue and frustration. Jingo tackles this by prioritizing relevance over sheer quantity. Using machine learning, the platform curates and presents personalized assortments early in the shopping journey, showing the most relevant products at the right time. This thoughtful approach fosters confidence and transforms decision-making into an enjoyable process. For brands and sellers, major marketplace platforms often tie visibility to significant advertising spend, creating barriers for smaller players. Jingo flips this model by leveraging advanced machine learning to surface products only to customers with genuine interest. This precision eliminates waste, reduces noise, and ensures that every connection between brands and customers feels meaningful. Empowered by tools like real-time insights, predictive analytics, and curated discovery, brands can optimize inventory, anticipate trends, and connect with their ideal audience without relying on costly campaigns or third-party tools. Jingo is creating a marketplace where both customers and sellers thrive, redefining how value is delivered in online shopping. A Transformative Vision for the Future Jingo's ambitions go far beyond optimizing today's online shopping experience. The platform is building toward a future where commerce is redefined through intelligent systems that seamlessly integrate into users' lives. Imagine a world where shopping evolves from a process you initiate to an experience that happens intuitively. Jingo's end-state vision is to create intelligent systems capable of learning, adapting, and acting on behalf of users , delivering personalized, proactive, and effortless commerce. This approach points to a future where products appear at your doorstep before you even think about shopping, making commerce an invisible yet integral part of daily life. By designing systems that dynamically adapt and provide proactive support, Jingo aims to fundamentally change the way consumers and brands interact, setting a new standard for convenience, personalization, and connection. Flipping the Script for Brands and Sellers Beyond offering better targeting, Jingo is reimagining the commission structure to create a fairer and more seller-focused marketplace. For the first 1,000 brands and sellers who join, Jingo introduces a groundbreaking model: These incentives, coupled with Jingo's advanced tools like predictive analytics and real-time insights, empower sellers to focus on delivering quality products while Jingo ensures they reach the right customers. By reducing the noise-to-signal ratio, brands can build lasting, loyalty-driven relationships in a transparent and equitable ecosystem. Brands and sellers interested in being part of this transformative journey can contact the Jingo team at partner@jingo.app A Bold Vision for E-Commerce With the support of Silicon Valley's leading minds, Jingo is setting a new benchmark for what online shopping can achieve. By addressing decision-making challenges for consumers and creating deeper, more equitable connections for brands, Jingo is leading the next wave of e-commerce innovation. To celebrate its launch, Jingo is running a referral campaign from December 6, 2024 , to February 28, 2025 . Participants can earn credits to shop on the platform once it's live, with prizes of $50,000 for the top referrer, $30,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third. Jingo is more than a platform—it's a movement toward smarter, more personalized, and intuitive commerce. By building systems that anticipate, simplify, and deliver, Jingo is shaping the future of shopping for consumers and sellers alike. Get in Touch For PR inquiries, strategic partnerships, or more information, contact contact@jingo.app View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/redefining-the-future-of-shopping-jingo-gains-silicon-valleys-backing-302324337.html SOURCE Jingo Technologies, Inc.
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Company Announcement COPENHAGEN, Denmark; November 21, 2024 – Genmab A/S (Nasdaq: GMAB) announced today that the Board decided to grant 10,273 restricted stock units and 10,853 warrants to employees of the Company and the Company's subsidiaries. Each restricted stock unit is awarded cost-free and provides the owner with a conditional right to receive one share in Genmab A/S of nominally DKK 1. The fair value of each restricted stock unit is equal to the closing market price on the date of grant of one Genmab A/S share, DKK 1,447.50. The restricted stock units will vest on the first banking day of the month following a period of three years from the date of grant. Furthermore, the restricted stock units are subject to vesting conditions set out in the restricted stock unit program adopted by the Board of Directors. Information concerning Genmab’s restricted stock unit program can be found on www.genmab.com under Investors > Governance > Compensation > Restricted Stock Units. The exercise price for each warrant is DKK 1,447.50. Each warrant is awarded cost-free and entitles the owner to subscribe one share of nominally DKK 1 subject to payment of the exercise price. By application of the Black-Scholes formula, the fair value of each warrant can be calculated as DKK 456.73. The warrants vest three years after the grant date, and all warrants expire at the seventh anniversary of the grant date. The new warrants have been granted on the terms and conditions set out in the warrant program adopted by the Board of Directors on February 23, 2021. Information concerning Genmab’s warrant schemes can be found on www.genmab.com under Investors > Governance > Compensation > Warrants. About Genmab Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose of guiding its unstoppable team to strive toward improving the lives of patients with innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics. For 25 years, its passionate, innovative and collaborative team has invented next-generation antibody technology platforms and leveraged translational, quantitative and data sciences, resulting in a proprietary pipeline including bispecific T-cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, next-generation immune checkpoint modulators and effector function-enhanced antibodies. By 2030, Genmab’s vision is to transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases with knock-your-socks-off (KYSO ® ) antibody medicines. Established in 1999, Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with international presence across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit Genmab.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X . Contact: Marisol Peron, Senior Vice President, Global Communications & Corporate Affairs T: +1 609 524 0065; E: mmp@genmab.com Andrew Carlsen, Vice President, Head of Investor Relations T: +45 3377 9558; E: acn@genmab.com This Company Announcement contains forward looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend” and “plan” and similar expressions identify forward looking statements. Actual results or performance may differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such statements. The important factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially include, among others, risks associated with preclinical and clinical development of products, uncertainties related to the outcome and conduct of clinical trials including unforeseen safety issues, uncertainties related to product manufacturing, the lack of market acceptance of our products, our inability to manage growth, the competitive environment in relation to our business area and markets, our inability to attract and retain suitably qualified personnel, the unenforceability or lack of protection of our patents and proprietary rights, our relationships with affiliated entities, changes and developments in technology which may render our products or technologies obsolete, and other factors. For a further discussion of these risks, please refer to the risk management sections in Genmab’s most recent financial reports, which are available on www.genmab.com and the risk factors included in Genmab’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov . Genmab does not undertake any obligation to update or revise forward looking statements in this Company Announcement nor to confirm such statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made or in relation to actual results, unless required by law. Genmab A/S and/or its subsidiaries own the following trademarks: Genmab ® ; the Y-shaped Genmab logo ® ; Genmab in combination with the Y-shaped Genmab logo ® ; HuMax ® ; DuoBody ® ; HexaBody ® ; DuoHexaBody ® , HexElect ® and KYSO ® . Company Announcement no. 61 CVR no. 2102 3884 LEI Code 529900MTJPDPE4MHJ122 Genmab A/S Carl Jacobsens Vej 30 2500 Valby Denmark Attachment 211124_CA61_Warrant and RSU grantThe expanded Big Ten is poised to be a major player in this season's College Football Playoff. The 18-team conference had three of the top-four teams in the AP poll this week — No. 1 Oregon, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Penn State. A one-loss Indiana team is ranked 10th but is still very much a contender to make the playoff, given how many Southeastern Conference teams have three defeats or more. Indiana's rise has been perhaps the Big Ten's biggest story this season. Much of the spotlight was on newcomers Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington, but aside from the top-ranked Ducks, that foursome has struggled to impress. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers won their first 10 games under new coach Curt Cignetti before losing at Ohio State last weekend. Oregon beat Ohio State 32-31 back in October, and if the Buckeyes beat rival Michigan this weekend, they'll earn a rematch with the Ducks for the Big Ten title. And it's entirely possible another matchup between those two teams awaits in the CFP. Dillon Gabriel has quarterbacked Oregon to an unbeaten record, throwing for 3,066 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games. But don't overlook Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and his 21 rushing TDs, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke has been a big part of Indiana's improvement. Penn State's Abdul Carter has eight sacks and two forced fumbles and could be one of the top edge rushers drafted this year. Oregon (11-0, 8-0), Ohio State (10-1, 7-1), Penn State (10-1, 7-1), Indiana (10-1, 7-1), Illinois (8-3, 5-3), Iowa (7-4, 5-3), Michigan (6-5, 4-4), Minnesota (6-5, 4-4), Washington (6-5, 4-4), Southern California (6-5, 4-5), Nebraska (6-5, 3-5) and Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) have already reached the six-win mark for bowl eligibility. Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) and Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5) can join them. There may not be many firings in general at the top level of college football. The prospect of sharing revenue with athletes in the future might lead schools to be more judicious about shedding one coach and hiring a new one. Who should be most worried in the Big Ten? Well, Lincoln Riley is struggling to stay above .500 in his third season at USC. Purdue is 1-10, but coach Ryan Walters is only in his second season. Maryland's Mike Locksley has been there six years and his Terrapins are 4-7, but this was his first real step backward after guiding the team to three straight bowl wins. Cignetti has shown it is possible for a coaching change to push a previously moribund program to some impressive heights in a short amount of time — but the improvement has been more incremental at Michigan State following Jonathan Smith's arrival. Sherrone Moore wasn't a completely unknown commodity at Michigan after he won some massive games in place of a suspended Jim Harbaugh last year. But in his first season completely at the helm, the Wolverines have declined significantly following their national title a season ago. The Big Ten is home to one of the most dynamic freshmen in the country in Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith. He has 52 catches for 899 yards and nine touchdowns. Highly touted quarterback Dylan Raiola has teamed up with fellow freshman Jacory Barney (49 catches) to lead Nebraska to bowl eligibility. Ohio State is on track to land the Big Ten's top class, according to 247 Sports, but the big news recently was quarterback Bryce Underwood flipping from LSU to Michigan. If the Wolverines do in fact keep Underwood in his home state, that would be a big development for Moore. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
TIMMINS - The newly named federal NDP candidate is ready to hit the ground running. Sunday, Nicole Fortier-Levesque was chosen to carry the NDP banner for the new riding of Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk in the next federal election. Fortier-Levesque is excited and ready to take on the challenge. “It took me a while to make the decision to run, but that’s how I am,” she said. “When I get involved in something, I like to do my research and make sure that I can make a difference. I am ready to start working for Canadians, especially for all our residents in our riding. I’m ready for this.” Born in Opasatika, Fortier-Levesque was a teacher at Cité de Jeunes in Kapuskasing for decades. She is also the former mayor of Moonbeam, where she served as a councillor first. Earlier this year, veteran NDP MP Charlie Angus announced his retirement from politics. RELATED: ‘Perfect time to pass the baton’: Charlie Angus not seeking re-election Fortier-Levesque is committed to continuing the work started by Angus and the broader NDP team. “I know I need to continue to work on all the initiatives that the party has been working on. We need to see the end of their hard work. That legacy is what we’ve been working on for many years,” she said. The transition is already in motion, with Fortier-Levesque talking to Angus and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes, who is also leaving politics after this term, after Sunday’s meeting. “When I was talking to Charlie Angus, he said that he’s planning to go meet with Indigenous communities in January. So we are planning to go to Moosonee by train. So things are really rolling right now.” As Christmas approaches, Fortier-Levesque is eager to be present in the community, meet people, and further build trust with voters. “I need to talk to people so they can have confidence in our party again,” she said. “I will be fighting very hard to regain that confidence from the people to make sure they understand what we have to offer.” A significant portion of Fortier-Levesque’s platform is focused on improving conditions for Indigenous communities. “It’s important that Indigenous people receive the same services as everywhere else in the country, such as access to clean water, housing, and safe and reliable infrastructure, as well as quality education and better health care,” she said. “We can’t say that they receive the same services as we do, because it’s not true... We need to defend their fundamental rights by creating a partnership that will be based on the great cognition of our history in order to achieve reconciliation.” She also plans to focus on key issues such as affordability, poverty and homelessness. “I want to ensure that every person has a home, that every child can learn on a full stomach, and to help families make ends meet by creating new jobs with better working conditions and better pay,” she said. The opioid crisis also needs to be addressed, she said, along with the rising costs of rent and groceries, provide better health care and offer better mental mental health services. Fortier-Levesque’s vision for Canada is one where every citizen is valued and no one is left behind. “I am there for them, and I think my way of working will be the hope for change to make sure that families come first and no one is left behind, because everybody deserves the best,” she said. “A Canada where everything is possible, where we stand together, and where everyone is included... It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from. We need to work together, and we need a fairer Canada, a fairer society.” The latest the next federal election will be is October 2025, but the writ could drop any time before then. The local Conservatives named their candidate more than a year ago — retired forestry executive Gaétan Malette. A local Liberal candidate has not been announced yet. The next federal election will also see a new riding locally as new riding boundaries took effect on April 22, 2024.