Hyderabad: Muslim students across Telangana have expressed concerns following the release of the schedule for the SSC annual exams, which clash with Ramzan. The exams are set to be conducted from March 21, 2025, to April 4, 2025, coinciding with the latter part of Ramzan, which is tentatively observed from February 28 to March 29. Concerns have been raised particularly regarding the timing of the exams during significant occasions in Ramzan, such as Shab-e-Qadr (the Night of Power) and Jumatul Vida (the last Friday of Ramzan). Several students are urging the Telangana education department to reconsider the timetable and make necessary adjustments to accommodate these important religious observances. “These examinations are very essential, and so are the last 10 days of Ramzan for Muslims. Preparations while fasting and adhering to religion obligations would impact both aspects,” said a Class 10 student, Misbah. The Board of Secondary Education has announced that the SSC examinations will cover SSC, OSSC, and vocational courses, commencing at 9:30 am and concluding at 12:30 pm each day. All candidates are advised to arrive at their respective exam centres on time.Moving beyond military solutions

KATY, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (the "Company” or "Academy”) (Nasdaq: ASO) announced today that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $700 million of its outstanding common stock. This new share repurchase program replaces the preceding share repurchase program, of which $423 million remained at the time this new program was approved, and is effective as of December 4, 2024, for a period of three years. The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors approved the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend with respect to the fiscal quarter ended November 2, 2024, of $0.11 per share of the Company's common stock. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 18, 2024. About Academy Sports + Outdoors Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 298 stores across 19 states. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All” and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, sports & recreation and footwear through both leading national brands and a portfolio of private label brands. For more information, visit www.academy.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and are not guarantees of future performance. The forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the payment of the dividend, including the timing and amount thereof, share repurchases by the Company, the Company's expectations regarding its future performance, and the Company's future financial condition to support future dividend and share repurchase program growth, and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to factors that are set forth in Academy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

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Sarjis Alam, seneral secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation, today said Sheikh Hasina and her associates have no rights to engage in politics until they face trial for all the crimes they committed. "How can we console the parents, brothers and sisters of the martyred families of my brother and sister who were martyred? The murderer Hasina has always tried to consolidate power by telling stories of 1975," he said. He reaffirmed his commitment to justice for the victims of the July martyrs while talking to journalists at the Barishal District Shilpakala Academy auditorium today, while inquiring about the family members of the martyrs of Barisal division during the movement. He condemned those advocating for the political rehabilitation of Sheikh Hasina and her associates, describing them as accomplices of fascists. "We will not let this happen even at the cost of our lives," he said. "How did she kill 2,000 people? If she understands compassion, how can she commit these murders? They have no right to live in Bangladesh with the political platform they have in mind," Sarjis said. He gave financial assistance of Tk 5 lakh to 79 martyr families of Barishal division from the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Civil Surgeon Dr Maria Hasan, Additional Superintendent of Police Alaul Hasan, Chief Executive Officer of July Shaheed Smriti Foundation Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdha, Central Coordinator Mahin Sarkar, and family members of those killed and injured in July-August were present the programme.Apple faces calls to remove new AI notification feature on iPhones after it generated inaccurate news summariesROCHESTER — Minnesota’s public schools receive millions of dollars in federal funding, and state education leaders are uncertain what to expect in light of President-elect Donald Trump’s indications that he would eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel said it’s too early to plan the district’s operations around what may or may not happen under the new administration, but that it’s hard to imagine the federal department going away completely. ADVERTISEMENT “If it didn’t exist, you would largely have to reinvent it,” Pekel said about the Department of Education. “You would have to put the functions in other agencies because I think very few Americans would want to see them go away altogether.” He went on to highlight the federal department’s role in administering student loans, undertaking education-focused research, and providing funding for special education. Minnesota leaders are also unsure what education could look like under a new administration. Minnesota Department of Education Communications Director Sam Snuggerud said it's too early to comment about what may be ahead for the state-level department in light of speculation about its federal counterpart. “MDE remains committed to ensuring every student receives a world-class education from qualified teachers in a safe, nurturing school environment, regardless of who is elected in Washington, D.C., or St. Paul,” Snuggerud said via email following the election. On Thursday, Nov. 21, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, introduced a bill to eliminate the Department of Education. Under the proposed bill, DOE duties would be redistributed to other federal departments. "Local school boards and state departments of education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.," Rounds said in a statement. “For years, I’ve worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. I’m pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I’m excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically re-homing these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year.” Chris Williams, press secretary for the statewide teachers union Education Minnesota, also said it’s too early to say anything definitive about how the new presidential administration may impact Minnesota’s schools. ADVERTISEMENT It was not all that long ago in the grand scheme of history that the federal department was created in its current form. It came to be under the administration of Jimmy Carter in 1979 through the Department of Education Organization Act. However, according to a history on the department's website, there was an “office of Education” as far back as 1868. The history on the department’s website goes on to say that “over the years, the office remained relatively small, operating under different titles and housed in various agencies.” In the 1950s, the federal government started dedicating more funding to science-based education programs in the wake of the space race with the Soviet Union. The federal government continued expanding its educational priorities up until the creation of the Department itself. “This expansion continued in the 1970s with national efforts to help racial minorities, women, people with disabilities and non-English-speaking students gain equal access to education,” the Department’s history reads. Despite the Department of Education's role in funding schools, the actual policies, curriculum and standards — the core of the education itself — is delegated to the individual states. There has been speculation swirling about the Department of Education’s future since long before Election Day. Beyond Trump’s own indications, the possibility of downscaling the department was also a component of Project 2025, a political playbook drafted by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which isn’t officially affiliated with the presidential administration. According to neaToday, a publication of the National Education Association, Project 2025’s “overall goal is to strip the federal role in education down to ‘that of a statistics-gathering agency that disseminates information to the states.’” ADVERTISEMENT The NEA went on to say Project 2025 would put more stress on “already tight education budgets," and that it would undermine “the academic outcomes of 2.8 million of the nation’s most vulnerable students.” Even though state governments control most aspects of how public schools operate, the federal department still plays a role. In Rochester, federal funding makes up 4% of the school district’s 2024-25 budget, amounting to more than $17 million. Not unlike the attention to science education in the 1950s in the lead-up to the Department's creation, today’s students are entering a world of constant technological change. Pekel said it’s hard to see how the elimination of the federal department would be helpful. “No high-performing system would do this; no high-performing company would say ‘let’s get rid of the strategy at the central level,'” Pekel said. “I think we’ve learned that anything’s possible.”December 4, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Indiana University Although many tech companies and start-ups have touted the potential of automated fact-checking services powered by artificial intelligence to stem the rising tide of online misinformation, a new study led by researchers at Indiana University has found that AI-fact checking can, in some cases, actually increase belief in false headlines whose veracity the AI was unsure about, as well as decrease belief in true headlines mislabeled as false. The work also found that participants given the option to view headlines fact checked by large language model-powered AI were significantly more likely to share both true and false news—but only more likely to believe false headlines, not true headlines. The study, "Fact-checking information from large language models can decrease headline discernment," was published Dec. 4 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The first author is Matthew DeVerna, a Ph.D. student at the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering in Bloomington. The senior author is Filippo Menczer, IU Luddy Distinguished Professor and director of IU's Observatory on Social Media. "There is a lot of excitement about leveraging AI to scale up applications like fact-checking, as human fact-checkers cannot keep up with the volume of false or misleading claims spreading on social media, including content generated by AI," DeVerna said. "However, our study highlights that when people interact with AI, unintended consequences can arise, highlighting how important it is to carefully consider how these tools are deployed." In the study, IU scientists specifically investigated the impact of fact-checking information generated by a popular large language model on belief in, and sharing intent of, political news headlines in a pre-registered randomized control experiment. Although the model accurately identified 90% of false headlines, the researchers found that this did not significantly improve participants' ability to distinguish between true and false headlines, on average. In contrast, the researchers found the use of human-generated fact checks did enhance users' discernment of true headlines. "Our findings highlight an important source of potential harm stemming from AI applications and underscore the critical need for policies to prevent or mitigate such unintended consequences," said Menczer. "More research is needed to improve the accuracy of AI fact-checking as well as understand the interactions between humans and AI better." Additional contributors to the paper were Kai-Cheng Yang of Northeastern University and Harry Yaojun Yan of the Stanford Social Media Lab. More information: Matthew R. DeVerna et al, Fact-checking information from large language models can decrease headline discernment, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322823121 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Provided by Indiana University

Hyderabad: Actor Allu Arjun, producers and director of ‘ Pushpa 2: The Rule ‘ have announced Rs 2 crore for the family of 35-year-old Revathi who was killed and her son who was critically injured during the premiere show of the movie at Sandhya Theatre on December 4. Allu Arjun’s father and well-known producer Allu Arvind made the announcement on Wednesday, December 25, after meeting Sri Teja, who is undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital. Speaking to media, Allu Arvind told media that the cheque was handed over to Dil Raju, chairman, Telangana State Film Development Corporation. Allu Arvind said to support the boy and his family, the film unit decided to give financial assistance of Rs 2 crore. While Allu Arjun has given Rs 1 crore, Mythri Movies, the producers of the movie have extended assistance of Rs 50 lakh. Film’s director Sukumar has also given Rs 50 lakh to the family. Allu Arvind said they spoke to doctors and were happy to know that he is recovering. Allu Arjun had announced Rs 25 lakh for the family two days after the incident. He had also assured all support to the family including treatment expenses of the boy. Sri Tej’s father Bhaskar had said on Tuesday that he received a demand draft of Rs 10 lakh from Allu Arjun. Bhaskar said that the actor’s manager is also in regular touch with the family to get updates on the boy’s condition. The family is receiving support from both the Telangana government and Allu Arjun. Bhaskar said state minister for roads and buildings and cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy gave them a cheque of Rs 25 lakh. The boy’s father said after 20 days, they noticed some body movement. “He also opened his eyes but did not recognise any of us,” he said. A woman named Revathi died and her son Sri Tej was critically injured in the stampede at Sandhya Theatre. Allu Arjun was arrested in the case on December 13 and was released on interim bail the next day. The Chikkadpally Police, which registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, interrogated Allu Arjun for more than three hours on Tuesday.Downing throws for 2 TDs, runs for another, Elon tops North Carolina A&T 31-21

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said the state, which has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May last year, needs immediate peace and appealed to two communities to reach an understanding. Speaking at the Good Governance Day programme at the state BJP headquarters here, Singh asserted that the saffron party can save the northeastern state as it believes in the idea of living together. ET Year-end Special Reads It's all Gucci for Indians' luxury craving even as economy shows wrinkles Investing in 2025: Will domestic funds continue to counter FPI sell-offs amid rising valuations? 2024 exposed the underbelly of India's Silicon Valley "What is happening in Manipur today has many reasons. Today, those who have been trying to divide the state are asking what the government is doing...they are hungry for power," Singh said. The chief minister said several initiatives such as 'Meeyamgi Numit' (People's Day), which aims at bringing the people and officials closer, have been rolled out. "We are not against any particular community. The stand of the BJP is clear. We believe in the idea of living together. We have already started to build relations between the police and the people," he said. 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View Program MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT Singh said the state government is working hard to meet the requirements of internally displaced people by making committees at several layers of the administration. He also claimed that the administration is providing immediate solutions to the displaced people in education and agriculture. "We have never committed any wrong. We only wanted to save future generations. The two communities need to be calm. Instead of looking at the past, we need to focus on the upcoming NRC process, capturing biometrics and 1961 as the base year of the Inner Line Permit. "We will continue our work democratically and constitutionally. This will take time. What we need now is immediate peace and reach an understanding between the two communities which have misunderstood each other," Singh said. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year. "Only BJP can save Manipur...BJP leaders have a high sense of nationalism and social justice. They do reality-based politics in the interests of the nation....if I am not given a ticket by the BJP, I will remain with the party," Singh added. He also mentioned a few unity-themed projects of the BJP government, and said, "The Unity Mall will include stalls of all the ethnics of the state and will be built at the cost of more than Rs 140 crores". (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE), the trend-right, high-quality extreme-value retailer for teens and pre-teens, today announced the appointment of Winnie Park as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of its Board of Directors, effective December 16, 2024. An accomplished retail executive with a career spanning more than three decades, Ms. Park has extensive experience in driving customer-centric business strategies, merchandising and brand building across a broad spectrum of specialty and value retail. In her new role, she will partner closely with Kenneth Bull, who will continue as Five Below’s Chief Operating Officer. In addition, Thomas Vellios, Co-founder, will continue as Executive Chairman, working alongside Ms. Park, Mr. Bull and the rest of the leadership team to drive the Company’s strategic priorities. Ms. Park will be based in Philadelphia. “Winnie is a passionate retail visionary with a deep understanding of the consumer and the power at the intersection of trend and value,” Mr. Vellios said. “The breadth of her leadership experience, especially her merchandising expertise, customer acumen, strong global background, and importantly, how she values people and champions organizational culture all make her uniquely suited for the role. Combined with Ken’s expertise and deep knowledge of our business, I’m confident that together we will unlock tremendous potential for our customers and shareholders by delivering amazing product at exceptional value in a fun store experience.” Ms. Park served as Chief Executive Officer of Forever 21 since January 2022, leading a transformational brand refresh for the fast-fashion company focused on younger consumers with a social-media-first approach to engaging with customers. Under Ms. Park’s leadership, the brand launched its omnichannel capabilities, social commerce and an award-winning metaverse partnership with Roblox. She also expanded categories beyond women’s apparel to include kid’s, gift, beauty and accessories. Prior to Forever 21, Ms. Park was the CEO of Paper Source, where she drove the business from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer to an omnichannel lifestyle brand. Under her leadership, Paper Source developed a robust digital presence, encompassing social media, digital content, online subscriptions and affiliate partnerships. Prior to Paper Source, Ms. Park served as Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and eCommerce, and Global VP, GMM, Merchandising, at Hong Kong-based international retail leader Duty Free Shoppers, a division of LVMH. At DFS, Ms. Park launched the company’s first global eCommerce site, serving customers across China, Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the United States. Ms. Park has also led Women’s Merchandising for Dockers at Levi Strauss & Co. and worked at McKinsey in fashion retail and consumer digital. Ms. Park served on the board of Dollar Tree from 2020 to 2024. She earned a BA from Princeton University and an MBA from Northwestern University. “I’m a huge fan of the Five Below brand and its unique ability to connect with and empower teens and pre-teens through an amazing assortment of extreme-value items in a fun shopping environment,” said Ms. Park. “There is enormous opportunity to build on the exciting initiatives that are already underway as we elevate our product, value and experience. I am excited to be a part of the continued growth of the brand and to be partnering with Tom, Ken and the rest of the talented team as we execute on the long runway for growth ahead.” Mr. Vellios continued, “I would like to extend a deep appreciation to Ken for his support as interim CEO over the past several months. His contributions have been critical in helping us refocus and create momentum in the business. I’m delighted that Ken is continuing in his role as COO, and on behalf of the board and the entire Five Below team, I want to thank him.” Mr. Bull said, “I’ve been honored to call Five Below my home since 2005 and am thrilled to welcome Winnie to the team. Her experience, leadership style and deep focus on people – both customers and crew – make her a great fit. I am excited about the possibilities ahead and look forward to partnering with Winnie to unlock our full potential and drive the next phase of Five Below’s growth.” Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which reflect management's current views and estimates regarding the Company's industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning its market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, store count potential and other financial and operating information. Investors can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future" and similar terms and phrases. The Company cannot assure investors that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it has anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks related to disruption to the global supply chain, risks related to the Company's strategy and expansion plans, risks related to our ability to attract, retain, and integrate qualified executive talent, risks related to disruptions in our information technology systems and our ability to maintain and upgrade those systems, risks related to the inability to successfully implement our online retail operations, risks related to cyberattacks or other cyber incidents, risks related to increased usage of machine learning and other types of artificial intelligence in our business, and challenges with properly managing its use; risks related to our ability to select, obtain, distribute and market merchandise profitably, risks related to our reliance on merchandise manufactured outside of the United States, the availability of suitable new store locations and the dependence on the volume of traffic to our stores, risks related to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions, risks related to increased operating costs, including wage rates, risks related to inflation and increasing commodity prices, risks related to potential systematic failure of the banking system in the United States or globally, risks related to extreme weather, pandemic outbreaks, global political events, war, terrorism or civil unrest (including any resulting store closures, damage, or loss of inventory), risks related to leasing, owning or building distribution centers, risks related to our ability to successfully manage inventory balance and inventory shrinkage, quality or safety concerns about the Company's merchandise, increased competition from other retailers including online retailers, risks related to the seasonality of our business, risks related to our ability to protect our brand name and other intellectual property, risks related to customers' payment methods, risks related to domestic and foreign trade restrictions including duties and tariffs affecting our domestic and foreign suppliers and increasing our costs, including, among others, the direct and indirect impact of current and potential tariffs imposed and proposed by the United States on foreign imports, risks associated with the restrictions imposed by our indebtedness on our current and future operations, the impact of changes in tax legislation and accounting standards and risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space. For further details and a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the Company's periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov . If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this news release speaks only as of the date on which the Company makes it. Factors or events that could cause the Company's actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws. About Five Below Five Below is a leading high-growth value retailer offering trend-right, high-quality products loved by teens and pre-teens. We believe life is better when customers are free to "let go & have fun" in an amazing experience filled with unlimited possibilities. With most items priced between $1 and $5, and some extreme value items priced beyond $5 in our incredible Five Beyond Shop, Five Below makes it easy to say YES! to the newest, coolest stuff across eight awesome Five Below worlds: Style, Room, Sports, Tech, Create, Party, Candy and New & Now. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below today has over 1,750 stores in 44 states. For more information, please visit www.fivebelow.com or find Five Below on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @FiveBelow. Investor Contact Christiane Pelz Vice President, Investor Relations Five Below, Inc. Investorrelations@fivebelow.com Media Contact Jessica Liddell Partner, ICR FiveBelowPR@icrinc.comWashington man charged in 1997 cold case killings of mom and daughterCOLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score, and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. NO. 25 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31: Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending Illinois to a wild road victory over Rutgers. People are also reading... Illinois (8-3, 5-3) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. IOWA 29, MARYLAND 13: Kaleb Johnson rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 35 carries, and Kamari Moulton scored on a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter to help Iowa outlast Maryland in College Park. Johnson scored from 2 yards out in the second quarter for his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, and the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3) rebounded from their loss to UCLA in their previous game. Maryland (4-7, 1-7) needed to win its final two regular-season games to reach six wins and bowl eligibility, but the Terrapins were dominated in the first half and eventually fell behind 16-0. Drew Stevens made five field goals for Iowa, including kicks from 54 yards in the second quarter, then 50 and 49 in the third. LATE FRIDAY MICHIGAN STATE 24, PURDUE 17: Aidan Chiles threw for two scores in the first half to build a three-touchdown lead and Michigan State (5-6, 3-5) held on to beat Purdue (1-10, 0-8) at home. The Spartans are a win away from being eligible for a bowl with first-year coach Jonathan Smith and they play Rutgers at home in the final regular-season game. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

The Vietnam Coast Guard Ship CSB 8005 departed Kochi on Friday, after a successful visit strengthening the partnership between the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG), according to ICG officials. The four-day visit was aimed to enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two maritime forces, they added. The centerpiece of the visit was a comprehensive sea exercise code named Sahayog Hop Tac off Kochi, a press release issued by Coast Guard said. This exercise was focused on critical maritime security issues and included a variety of scenarios, including Pollution Response Demonstration, in which Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft showcased their expertise in responding to oil spills and other environmental hazards at sea, it stated. The exercise also simulated Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Operations for inspecting vessels suspected of illegal activity and for counter drugs interdiction, it added. During this exercise, Indian Coast Guard helicopter and Dornier aircraft conducted Search and Rescue drills, Pollution Response demonstrations, External Fire Fighting simulation and Medical Evacuation by helicopter, showcasing ICG ability to undertake various missions, the release said. Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. 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During the exercise, members from both the maritime agencies, embarked other country ship as observers. This provided the crews with the opportunity to observe operations from a varied perspective and imbibe best practice, the release said. The joint exercises proved valuable for both the Coast Guards allowing them to hone their skills and enhance their professional outlook, it added. The visit of the VCG CSB 8005 to Kochi serves as a powerful symbol of the growing partnership between the VCG and Indian Coast Guard through collaborative efforts, both nations are working towards a safer and secure maritime environment, the release said. "On 19 Dec 24, @IndiaCoastGuard warmly welcomed the crew of #VietnamCoastGuard Ship #CSB 8005 onboard #ICG Ship Saksham at #Kochi," Coast Guard PRO posted on 'X'. "Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, PTM, TM, #COMCG (West) hosted #VCG Senior Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh, Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Region 3. Further, #ICG & #VCG conducted the joint exercise SAHYOG HOP TAC off #Kochi today, strengthening professional exchanges in MPR, MSAR & Law Enforcement," the post added. The VCG Ship CSB 8005 arrived Kochi on December 16 as a part of its ongoing overseas deployment to India. The four-day visit was marked by a series of engaging harbour activities to foster collaboration, the release said. The activities included cross-visits, where crew members from both the VCG and ICG had the opportunity to embark ships, gaining valuable insights into their capabilities and procedures, the release said. A beach cleanship drive at Fort Kochi and friendly volleyball match were also organised, which provided a lighthearted opportunity for crews to interact and build camaraderie, outside the professional setting, it added. On completion of the sea exercise, the Indian Coast Guard bid ceremonial farewell as per the Maritime Customs and traditions to the visiting VCG ship and escorted the vessel till territorial waters, the release added. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )After the recent correction in Indian equity markets, investors should expect "some undercurrent back in the market", given BJP's lead in Maharashtra and Haryana elections, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. said. The brokerage expects the election outcome to start a mini-risk-on rally with Maharashtra, one of the most important states politically and economically, being comfortably won by BJP, it said. A risk-on rally is when investors have a high-risk appetite and commonly drive up some asset prices. In this environment, stocks outperform bonds. With elections now behind and BJP getting a strong boost from Haryana and Maharashtra elections, both capex and consumption could see a bounce-back, according to Motilal Oswal. While midcaps and smallcaps are still trading at expensive valuations, according to the brokerage firm, it said given the recent correction, valuations for large-caps are quite reasonable now. The brokerage's preferred sectors include Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (private as well as PSU and non-lending NBFCs), capital goods, real estate, manufacturing, consumer discretionary, IT and healthcare. Among large caps stocks the brokerage likes Mahindra & Mahindra, State Bank of India, Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Indian Hotels Co., ABB, Dixon Technologies Ltd., Bharti Airtel Ltd., Trent Ltd., Hindalco Industries Ltd., Titan Co., and HCL Technologies Ltd. The brokerage also listed its midcap ideas in its note, which included Angel One Ltd., BSE Ltd., Amber Enterprises Ltd., Ipca Labs, Cummins India, Page Industries Ltd., Godrej Properties Ltd., Coforge Ltd., JSW Energy Ltd., and Gravita India Ltd. Motilal expects the government to spring into action and start the spending (1H FY25 government spending is flat YoY and is down 17% for Capex spending). "This, coupled with recovery in rural spending (on the back of good monsoon and expected strong Kharip output), should improve the demand narrative at the margin," it said. "Wedding season in the 2HFY25 (30% higher weddings YoY) could also provide a fillip to demand." The last two months of correction in the market, with Nifty, Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 correcting by ~10%, is on the back of moderate corporate earnings in 1HFY25, relentless FII selling since October (FII’s have sold $17 billion since October), fragile geopolitical backdrop and strengthening dollar index post the victory of Donald Trump in US, according to Motilal Oswal. Anxiety around Maharashtra elections had further muddied the waters, it said. Last five years in Maharashtra were characterised by political instability, the brokerage said. "With this verdict, the chronic instability is over in one of the most industrialised and economically the most important state of India."A few months earlier, the landmark Climate and Equitable Jobs Act created a rebate program offering $4,000 to residents who purchase all-electric, non-gas guzzling vehicles, making them a pillar of the state’s efforts to fight climate change as well. These measures helped set the table for Illinois to take advantage of billions of dollars worth of private investment by EV manufacturers, battery makers and parts suppliers spurred by signature policies of President Joe Biden’s administration that incentivized the transportation sector’s shift toward electric power. But with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration in January, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the nascent industry. Illinois lawmakers and environmental advocates are already expressing concern that Trump will follow through on his promise to gut programs aimed at boosting it, such as a popular nationwide consumer tax credit program for electric vehicle purchases. Top Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, as part of their Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting commission, have promised to scrutinize and potentially claw back spending approved by the Biden Administration during the lame duck period. That includes a $6.6 billion federal loan to Rivian Automotive, which makes all of its vehicles in Normal and is among the rivals to Musk’s Tesla. Plans recommended by Trump’s transition team, first reported this week by Reuters , would impose major changes cutting off support for electric vehicles and charging stations. The president-elect’s advisers also reportedly want to strengthen measures blocking cars, components and battery materials from China, where the heavily subsidized EV industry is growing. EV manufacturers and state policymakers remain in a holding pattern. Most said, however, that the transition to EVs is far enough down the road that a speed bump from the incoming administration would only slow progress, not halt it. “We’re all in a little bit of a limbo right now,” said Lisa Clemmons Stott, the electric mobility director for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. “The industry is in a limbo. State governments are in a bit of a limbo waiting to see what they’ll do. “But in Illinois, we’ve made sure that our foundation is so solid that we believe that we can keep the industry moving forward, whether they have that support at the federal level or not.” Federal tax credit at risk Of most consequence is the status of a $7,500 federal tax credit for those who purchase electric vehicles, which are often sold at a higher price point than their gas-guzzling counterparts. The credit, a key factor in Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, applies to all-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric vehicles purchased new in 2023 or later. Pre-owned vehicles purchased in 2023 or later are eligible for a tax credit of up to $4,000, according to the IRS. Other requirements include a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 14,000 pounds; the price can’t exceed $80,000 for vans, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks or $55,000 for other vehicles. The credit is not available for individuals making over $150,000 or married couples making more than $300,000 a year. According to an academic study published last month by professors Hunt Allcott of Stanford, Joseph Shapiro of the University of California, Berkeley and Felix Tintelnot of Duke University, the elimination of the tax credit would decrease electric vehicle registrations — projected near 1.2 million this year — by 27%, or about 317,000, annually. Most of the impact would be felt by American carmakers, according to the findings. “Many industry analysts predict that eventually the EV market share will be 100%,” Shapiro told Lee Enterprises in an interview. “And based on that estimate, you might think it doesn’t really matter if we adopt earlier or later — eventually we’re gonna get there. “But, certainly, the atmosphere matters, because if EV adoption happens in a half-century versus in a half-decade, there are hundreds of millions or billions of tons of carbon that are going to be pumped into the atmosphere, and they will remain in the atmosphere for centuries and affect the climate for centuries,” he said. Eliminating the tax credit program has been strongly considered by Trump’s transition committee and supported by many of his backers, including Musk, the CEO of Tesla. He said back in July that axing the subsidy would hurt Tesla competitors like General Motors and Ford more than his company. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents automakers like GM, Toyota Motor Corp and Volkswagen, has urged the president-elect to keep the tax credits. Groups like the Zero Emission Transportation Association — which includes members like Tesla, Lucid and Rivian — have said the tax credits have driven substantial job growth throughout the country. Killing the program would hurt newer job growth, they said. ZETA executive director Albert Gore III told Lee Enterprises that Biden’s support had the unintended consequence of opening the EV industry up to negative political attacks. He said there’s now an opportunity to take a “clear-eyed, dispassionate look at what the current set of policies are doing” and have “that honest conversation about what is happening in places like Illinois,” but also Republican-led states that have seen industry investment, like Georgia and Tennessee. “If you take (the credit) away, it’s unclear exactly what happens to all of that economic activity,” said Gore, a former Tesla public policy employee and son of former Vice President Al Gore. “But it certainly puts it at risk. “And putting that at risk is really not a good outcome because, in general, the commodity market for minerals that are important for the battery manufacturing sector is subject to heavy influence, some would say strategic manipulation, by China.” The tax credits were born from the premise that new technologies are usually more expensive to manufacture, said John Walton, chair of the Illinois Alliance for Clean Transportation. They were designed to help sell vehicles at a time before the technology has been widely adopted. “There were credits for natural gas vehicles and propane vehicles back in the ‘90s that also went away, so going away isn’t anything unusual,” Walton said. “When we had the initial tax credit, it was working its purpose and vehicles were starting to come down in price, and the tax credit was dropped. Then Biden put in this new tax credit a few years ago, and the vehicles didn’t drop at the same rate as prices stayed.” Walton said early innovations and start-ups with new technology often cost more for early adopters. Prices tend to come down as time goes on and the manufacturing process becomes more cost-effective. Advocates also point to a need for more investment in charging stations to alleviate another consumer hang-up: “range anxiety,” the fear that an EV will run out of power before reaching its destination. “We need to be able to increase the consumer confidence in that network so that become a non-issue, because it is still a significant barrier for a lot of potential consumers,” said Michael Brown, executive director of the Ecology Action Center, a nonprofit environmental sustainability agency based in Normal. Brown said the potential elimination of the nationwide tax credit is unfortunate, but he noted that state tax credits remain for Illinoisans. Indeed, “as other states scramble to implement EV tax programs, Illinois already has in place a state-funded rebate program that isn’t impacted by any potential changes to the federal EV tax program,” said Kim Biggs, public information officer at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, in a statement. Residents that purchase a new or used all-electric vehicle from an Illinois licensed dealer may be eligible for a $4,000 rebate for an all-electric vehicle or a $1,500 rebate for an all-electric motorcycle, according to the agency. The incentive is meant to help Illinois reach its goal of a million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. It’s a wildly optimistic target. According to data from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, just under 120,000 electric vehicles were registered in the state as of Nov. 15. Funding for the rebate is subject to the whims of the Illinois General Assembly and has fluctuated every year, starting with $20 million in 2023, dipping to $12 million in 2024 and rising slightly to $14 million in 2025. The program has proved to be oversubscribed with funds drying up quickly after an application cycle opens. In 2023, for example, just 63% of nearly 7,700 applicants were awarded the state’s rebate. In 2024, only 3,000 of the nearly 5,600 who applied, about 54%, were given the rebate. Some states like California have committed to filling in the void if Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress decide to eliminate the $7,500 federal credit. State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, who sponsored the REV Act in 2021, said that Illinois similarly “might have to beef up our credit a little bit.” But with state policymakers staring down a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year, a more generous electric vehicle rebate appears unlikely. Vella said other ideas to support EV ownership could be considered, but no legislative proposals are expected during lawmakers’ lame duck session early next month. “Donald Trump says a lot of things,” Vella said. “Sometimes he backs them up. Sometimes it’s just for effect. So until I find out what is real and what is for effect, I don’t know what to do.” Rivian, EV makers face challenges Less than two years after Pritzker and both Illinois senators celebrated the opening of a Lion Electric plant in Joliet, the company announced earlier this month that it would suspend operations there. The Quebec-based company also said would temporarily lay off 400 workers in the U.S. and Canada. The news was a blow for what state leaders touted as the first new vehicle assembly plant to open in the Chicago area since 1965. The electric school bus manufacturer said it has struggled in part due to a lag in the delivery of federal subsidies. Pritzker, a second-term Chicago Democrat who has been heavily critical of Trump, said the incoming administration is unlikely to help matters. “There’s an awful lot of pressure that’s been put on electric vehicle companies as a result of Donald Trump’s rhetoric and promises that he’s made to kind of tear down electric vehicle industry development,” Pritzker said, responding to a question about Lion Electric at an unrelated press conference earlier this month. Though Pritzker said he was disappointed in Lion’s progress, he also highlighted the “massive growth” of Rivian. Since 2021, the startup has made all of its electric SUVs, pickup trucks and commercial delivery vans in Normal. While the Central Illinois workforce now reaches over 8,000 and plant expansion work is underway, the company has also faced challenges. Last month, Rivian reported third-quarter revenue of about $874 million , blaming supply chain issues and softer demand for the 35% decrease from the same time last year. Still, the California-based automaker is investing heavily in its future, aided in part by both the state and federal governments — at least for now. The U.S. Department of Energy announced last month that it would loan Rivian $6.6 billion to build a factory in Georgia, where the company initially planned to build its new, more affordable R2 midsize SUVs. Construction of the long-planned facility has been stalled since March to speed up production and save money. Rivian instead announced this year that the R2 would be built in Normal, where it started work on a 1.3 million-square-foot expansion east of the southeast corner of the existing plant . The company also started construction on the $200 million development of new parts and component distribution facilities , with plans approved by the Normal Town Council. “Startup companies like this face these kinds of issues all the time,” said Normal Mayor Chris Koos, referring to Rivian’s recent challenges. “And it has been more with the resilience of a company to respond to these changes because it’s really out of their control.” Normal’s government has supported Rivian’s efforts since 2016, when the town government approved an economic incentive agreement that included temporary property tax reductions as long as the company met certain hiring and investment goals. The final property tax abatement came in May 2022. Later that year, council members approved purchase of an R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV to join the town’s fleet of vehicles. “I see it as the coming technology for automobiles in this country and throughout the world,” Koos said. “It’s not just because Rivian is in our community. I’ve always thought it was the next logical step with advances in technology.” In June, Rivian announced a $5 billion partnership with German automaker Volkswagen that includes an initial $1 billion investment followed by the remaining investments through 2026. News of that deal came one month after Pritzker announced that Rivian would receive an $827 million state incentive package, allowing it to expand the facility in Normal. At the time, the company said it would invest $1.5 billion to create 550 full-time jobs within the next five years. A Rivian spokesperson said the company would not comment on the potential elimination of the federal tax credit. But if Musk and Ramaswamy have their way, Rivian could face the wrath of the Trump administration over the $6.6 billion loan. Ramasawamy wrote on X last month that the loan agreement came across as “a political shot” at Musk. He later told CNN that the loan was “high on the list of items” he would seek to claw back. Tesla, owned by Musk, received a similar $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2010. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, in a statement earlier this month, decried the “rich” irony of the situation. “Bottom line is Elon Musk’s record is clear — his vast business empire has benefitted from government assistance in the past,” Durbin said. “He’s in a delicate position with many potential conflicts of interest. I hope there will be some second thoughts to his ideas and the ideas of his DOGE partner.” ‘Market conditions’ delay progress Rivian isn’t the only automaker in line to receive federal assistance. Earlier this year, the Department of Energy announced that Stellantis would receive a $334 million federal grant to retrofit its idled Belvidere plant for electric vehicle manufacturing. The company had agreed to reopen the facility and build an adjacent battery factory as part of a deal that ended the 2023 United Auto Workers strike. It had closed earlier that year after decades producing Chryslers, Dodges and Jeeps. However, the company paused those plans in August. Stellantis spokeswoman Jodi Tinson confirmed to Lee Enterprises that the company believed “current market conditions indicate that delaying — not canceling — our plans would be in the best interests of our employees and the community.” Tinson declined comment on the status of the yet-to-be finalized federal grant or whether the project would remain feasible without government help. Vella, the state representative whose district includes the Belvidere plant, said it’s his “strong belief that” the grant agreement “will get done before the inauguration,” acknowledging that it “could be an issue” if it doesn’t. Stott, the state’s point person on electric vehicle policy, said that “the goal is to get that done in this administration.” At that point, the state can begin to work on a REV incentive package to reopen the complex, which could put thousands back on the assembly line. “I’m sure the Biden administration is moving forward as fast as they can on that one, and also on Rivian’s,” Stott said. “I’m confident that it will be able to meet any scrutiny that the next administration has for it.” Where Illinois’ EV ecosystem stands Early returns suggest that Illinois’ cultivation of the EV market has paid off. Though not quite the “Silicon Valley of EVs” as some had predicted, the state has attracted more than $8.5 billion in private investment for clean energy and technology manufacturing since 2021, according to the Clean Economy Tracker, a tool from Atlas Public Policy that tracks investments in the clean economy. The vast majority came from EV and battery companies. And the REV program Pritzker created in 2021 has been fruitful, with 17 agreements inked to provide more than $1.1 billion in state tax credits to EV producers and suppliers investing in the state. The deals could result in the retention of more than 8,000 existing jobs and the creation of 5,000 new ones, according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Regardless of policy changes at the federal level, Illinois is going to stay the course on electric vehicle policy, said Deputy Gov. Andy Manar. “Circumstances are going to be a little bit different come 2025,” Manar said. “But we’re going to continue to focus on making sure that that pipeline of projects keeps flowing. It has been consistent. There have been large projects. There have been very important smaller projects.” Economic development officials acknowledged that the state hasn’t seen the same number of large projects in 2024 as it did in the two prior years. Manar suggested that may be indicative of smaller companies within the EV supply chain following larger companies that have already invested in Illinois. Most automobile industry experts believe the transition to electric vehicles, even if delayed, is inevitable. As such, many Illinois policymakers believe the state should continue to back the evolving technology. “I think the idea is, if the Trump administration wants to shut down or slow down the EV thing, and we know that in the future the market is going to go there, I think the smart move for us is to double down and really get into the manufacturing space,” Vella said. “So when it ramps back up, which it inevitably will, we’ll be there.”