casino fishing online

BOSTON — Boston will have four vending machines and eight indoor kiosks distributing life-saving Narcan and other harm reduction supplies in another step toward preventing overdose deaths, Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission announced. “Unfortunately, many people living with substance use disorder don’t use harm reduction tools, like naloxone and clean syringes, due to stigma, lack of access or unawareness,” said Public Health Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu. “These vending machines and kiosks are a low-cost, compassionate way to destigmatize harm reduction and expand access throughout our city.” Naloxone, known by the brand name Narcan, is a medication used to rapidly reverse opioid overdoses. Other harm reductions supplies intended to keep people safe and alive include safe clean injection kits and fentanyl test strips. The kiosks and public health vending machines are part of an “evidence-based strategy” of expanding access to naloxone to combat the city’s opioid crisis, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) said. The commission cited a 33 percent decrease in overdose deaths to 68 deaths in Boston in the first four months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, noting “promising results” of the strategy. BPHC was using about $7.5 million to expand access to naloxone and other resources as of October 2024. Within the framework of Boston’s federally-funded $2.7 million Overdose Data to Action program, BPHC said they will set up the four public health vending machines at existing harm reduction, homeless services, and medical program facilities. The state purchased a total of 14 of the vending machines. In addition to the naloxone and harm reduction supplies, the organizations at each site may choose to stock the machines with public health necessities like pregnancy tests, socks and PPE, city officials said. The machines will be at BPHC Recovery Services in the Finland Building, Southampton shelter, EnVision Hotel, and North End Waterfront Community Health Center’s Charlestown public housing location. “This work reflects our continued commitment to community health care by increasing access to life saving supplies, inviting individuals into care, and reducing stigmatizing experiences for the Charlestown community,” said David Perry, Director of Substance Use Disorders at North End Waterfront Health, stating they are “proud to partner with BPHC on this initiative.” The naloxone kiosks, funded by Carelon and the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, will likewise go up at eight locations strategically aimed to reach of populations with higher overdose rates, the commission said. The indoor kiosk locations include Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center, Recovery on the Harbor, SPOKE Gallery, Suffolk County Jail and House of Correction, The Phoenix, and Woods Mullen Women’s Shelter. The kiosks, repurposed from old newspaper stands, will also offer connections to support resources like the phone number for the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line, BPHC said, which offers “free clinical assessments, crisis support, and referrals to treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.” Similar to Boston, Massachusetts saw a significant 23 percent drop in overdose deaths in the past year, totaling 2,032 drug overdose deaths in the 12-month period that ended June 30, 2024. In the U.S., overdose deaths decrease about 14 percent in the same period.US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many peopleThe PGA Tour announced its schedule of seven post-season tournaments for the fall of 2025 on Tuesday with no Las Vegas event on the calendar for the first time since 1983. The lineup is one fewer than this year and tees off with the Procore Championship in Napa, California, on September 11-14, two weeks after the 2025 Tour Championship. Absent from the schedule is the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas. After the Ryder Cup next September at Bethpage Black, the PGA Tour events resume with the Sanderson Farms Championship on October 2-5. The PGA Tour's Japan stop, the Baycurrent Classic, will be October 9-12 at Yokohama Country Club followed by the Black Desert Championship on October 23-26 in Utah. The World Wide Technology Championship at Los Cabos, Mexico, will be November 6-9 followed the next week by the Bermuda Championship and the RSM Classic on November 20-23 at Sea Island, Georgia. "With events in four US states, Japan, Mexico and Bermuda, the conclusion to the 2025 golf calendar promises to be exciting for our fans worldwide," said Tyler Dennis, PGA Tour chief competitions officer. Under tighter qualifying rules for the 2026 PGA Tour approved by the Player Advisory Council last month, only the top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings will secure exempt status with the 50 who reach next year's BMW Championship being exempt into signature events for 2026. Those ranked 51st and beyond will take FedEx Cup points into the fall to try and accumulate eligibility points for the 2026 campaign. Three PGA Tour Challenge season events will be played next December -- the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas hosted by Tiger Woods, the LPGA-PGA mixed-team Grant Thornton Invitational and the PNC Championship parent-child event. Tour commissioner Jay Monahan also announced Tuesday that the PGA is searching for a new chief executive officer whose job would be to grow the business side of the operation in light of the $1.5 billion investment in PGA Tour Enterprises by Strategic Sports Group, a set of team sports owners. js/bbThe Friday college basketball slate is stacked and Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB guarantees a 50% deposit bonus up to $1,000 to all new customers. Wager on college basketball props for all available games including: Virginia vs. St. John's - 7 p.m. ET Creighton vs. Nebraska - 8 p.m. ET Tennessee vs. Baylor - 9:30 p.m. ET Arizona vs. Duke - 10:30 p.m. ET Simply register using our Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB , then make an initial deposit. That investment will be matched 50% of the way up to $1,000. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB for college football: $1,000 deposit match for NCAAF player props & more If you seek an alternative to sportsbooks or you aren't in a legal betting state, Underdog is for you. It's widely available and offers the chance to combine multiple Higher or Lower (Over/Under) picks into a single entry, just like a parlay. Underdog also has live props throughout the game. Registering by clicking one of our links or entering Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB while signing up means qualifying for a bonus up to $1,000 once you register and make an initial deposit, which Underdog matches 50% of the way. Note: This Underdog Fantasy bonus is available in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MN, MS, NE, NM, NY, NC, ND, OK, OR, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VT, VA, WI, WY & All Canadian Provinces except ON. READ: DraftKings promo code offers $1,200 in bonuses for college basketball How to register for Underdog Fantasy All new customers can earn up to $1,000 in bonuses to play with at Underdog. Follow the steps listed below to claim the promo: Click on our Underdog Fantasy Promo code link and register, or register by launching the Underdog Fantasy mobile app. Create a new username and password, email address, date of birth, and other required information. Enter the Underdog promo code BETFPB in the promo code box. If you use our link, the code will auto populate for you. Make a deposit into your new account via your preferred payment method, and you will be offered a deposit match of up to $1,000 to use on games at Underdog Fantasy. The bonus will land in your account within 72 hours and must be used within 60 days. This is a great way to test out the platform. Underdog Fantasy is available in over 30 states including many without legal sports betting. If you live in an eligible state, you can take full advantage of the platform and sign up to play fun daily fantasy contests. Underdog Fantasy promo code BETFPB for college basketball on Nov. 22 In the run up to Thanksgiving, the college basketball slate is packed with holiday tournaments and wall-to-wall action. As a result, there are several appetizing games every day and perhaps none more so than No. 17 Arizona vs. No. 12 Duke (10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2). The schedule includes: Virginia vs. St. John's - 7 p.m. ET Creighton vs. Nebraska - 8 p.m. ET Tennessee vs. Baylor - 9:30 p.m. ET Arizona vs. Duke - 10:30 p.m. ET Duke is 3-1 but is playing its first game away from home while Arizona is 2-0 and remains in the friendly confines of the McKale Center for this one. Arizona is a slim 1.5-point favorite with the total at 161 points at DraftKings. Claim $1,000 deposit bonus from Underdog Fantasy Each game houses plenty of college football player props and for each one, bettors must choose Higher or Lower on the total set by Underdog. This includes points, rebounds, assists, stat combinations and more. From there, make between 2 and 8 selections to put into an entry, with the payouts increasing with each added selection. For entries of three selections or more, a 'flex' option is available that will pay out a portion of winnings even if one of your selections falls short. Please note that college football props may be limited to select states, so check your local listings on the Underdog app. Underdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB: How to play Underdog Fantasy There are a variety of contests that users can enter on the Underdog Fantasy platform. These are different game styles that let users test their knowledge in different ways. After you take advantage of the Underdog Fantasy promo bonus using the code BETFPB , you will see all of these different game types offered to you. There are two main contests that are used for contests at Underdog Fantasy. They are the Pick ‘Em contest and the Draft contest. They work as follows. Pick’em : Choose if a player will finish with a higher or lower number in a specific stat. For example, choose if a player will finish over or under their projected yardage total. Draft : This is a more traditional DFS-style game where you draft players against other users and earn points depending on how they perform. You must be over 21 to play. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. 1-800 GAMBLER.

The two reasons Kyle Sandilands has suddenly turned on Anthony Albanese - as he erupts in scathing spray: 'Absolutely useless'Julianne Hough Congratulates Ex-Husband Brooks Laich on Engagement

The world's most climate-imperilled nations stormed out of consultations in protest at the deadlocked UN COP29 conference Saturday, as simmering tensions over a hard-fought finance deal erupted into the open. Diplomats from small island nations threatened by rising seas and impoverished African states angrily filed out of a meeting with summit hosts Azerbaijan over a final deal being thrashed out in a Baku sports stadium. "We've just walked out. We came here to this COP for a fair deal. We feel that we haven't been heard," said Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). An unpublished version of the final text circulating in Baku, and seen by AFP, proposes that rich nations raise to $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change. COP29 hosts Azerbaijan intended to put a final draft before 198 nations for adoption or rejection on Saturday evening, a full day after the marathon summit officially ended. But, in a statement, AOSIS said it had "removed" itself from the climate finance discussions, demanding an "inclusive" process. "If this cannot be the case, it becomes very difficult for us to continue our involvement here at COP29," it said. Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, said the draft was "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world". An earlier offer from rich nations of $250 billion was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, who have demanded much higher sums to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the revised offer of $300 billion was "a significant scaling up" of the existing pledge by developed nations, which also count the United States, European Union and Japan among their ranks. At sunset, a final text still proved elusive, as harried diplomats ran to-and-fro in the stadium near the Caspian Sea searching for common ground. "Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," said US climate envoy John Podesta in the corridors as somebody shouted "shame" in his direction. Earlier, the EU's climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said negotiators were not out of the woods yet. "We're doing everything we can on each of the axes to build bridges and to make this into a success. But it is iffy whether we will succeed," he said. Ali Mohamed, the Kenyan chair of the African Group of Negotiators, told AFP: "No deal is better than a bad deal." South African environment minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." "What we are not up for is going backwards or standing still," he said. "We might as well just have stayed at home then." The revised offer from rich countries came with conditions in other parts of the broader climate deal under discussion in Azerbaijan. The EU in particular wants an annual review on global efforts to phase out fossil fuels, which are the main drivers of global warming. This has run into opposition from Saudi Arabia, which has sought to water down a landmark pledge to transition away from oil, gas and coal made at COP28 last year. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Wealthy nations counter that it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. The US earlier this month elected former president Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. A coalition of more than 300 activist groups accused historic polluters most responsible for climate change of skirting their obligation, and urged developing nations to stand firm. The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. Even $300 billion would be a step up from the $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire. A group of developing countries had demanded at least $500 billion, with some saying that increases were less than met the eye due to inflation. Experts commissioned by the United Nations to assess the needs of developing countries said $250 billion was "too low" and by 2035 rich nations should be providing at least $390 billion. The US and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms. bur-np-sct/lth/givDiscover hidden connections between stocks, cryptocurrencies, and global events-VAIX now available on ProBit Exchange. SAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vectorspace AI X (VAIX) , a trailblazer in AI-driven datasets and graph-based models, is proud to announce its innovative technology that uncovers hidden relationships between stocks, cryptocurrencies, and global events. VAIX empowers investors and researchers with actionable insights, enabling more informed decisions in today's fast-paced financial markets. To access the full potential of VAIX, users can now trade the token on ProBit Exchange , a global platform catering to millions of cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Here's a step-by-step guide to get started with VAIX and unlock its potential for smarter investments. Step 1: Create an Account on ProBit Exchange Getting started is simple: Step 2: Optional Identity Verification (KYC) While optional, completing the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification unlocks additional features such as higher daily withdrawal limits, participation in trading competitions, and Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs). If you prefer, you can skip this step and proceed directly to trading. To trade VAIX, ensure your ProBit account is funded with cryptocurrency, such as USDT (Tether). Step 4: Execute a Trade for VAIX Once your account is funded, trading VAIX is straightforward: Congratulations, you've successfully executed your first trade for VAIX! Step 5: Secure Your VAIX in a Wallet After trading, consider withdrawing your VAIX tokens to a secure wallet for long-term storage. Trusted wallets like MyEtherWallet , Bitpanda , or hardware wallets like Nano Ledger or Trezor are excellent options for added security. Vectorspace AI X: Driving Innovation in AI and Space Exploration Vectorspace AI X is a subsidiary of Vector Space Biosciences (symbol: SBIO ) , a leader in the development of AI models designed for the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and space industries. By leveraging data from space-based biological payloads and AI modeling, VSB aims to create cutting-edge solutions in precision medicine and AI semiconductors. The company's groundbreaking work includes countermeasures against stressors like microgravity and radiation during spaceflight, contributing to advancements in aging, cancer research, and space-grade AI semiconductors. Through its utility token, SBIO , VSB facilitates collaborations across its subsidiaries, driving innovation for the benefit of all mankind. For more information about Vectorspace AI X (VAIX) and its parent company, visit: Vectorspace Biosciences Technology Join the conversation on Telegram: Vectorspace AI X Telegram Group About Vectorspace AI X (VAIX) Vectorspace AI X specializes in AI-driven datasets and graph-based models that unveil hidden connections in financial markets and beyond. With its cutting-edge tools, VAIX is empowering investors, researchers, and organizations to navigate complex data landscapes with confidence and precision. For further details about VAIX, please visit: Vectorspace AI X . Contact: Scott Brady [email protected] Disclaimer: This content is provided by Vectorspace. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1e3ce04f-6cec-4912-9179-fc0f83bc1a93 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1881dfd-7178-41c1-9786-1b99beddb203 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bf49599-1770-4b02-ad76-5be001f970b8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8e34022e-7f50-467f-9c25-e58cd209746aJustin Trudeau taking the time to reflect following Freeland departure

Vertex, Inc. ( NASDAQ:VERX – Get Free Report ) shares hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $53.04 and last traded at $52.98, with a volume of 143372 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $52.31. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have commented on VERX shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Vertex from $42.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Vertex from $42.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. JMP Securities upped their price objective on shares of Vertex from $47.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Vertex from $43.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC increased their price target on shares of Vertex from $45.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vertex presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $52.30. View Our Latest Analysis on VERX Vertex Stock Up 0.7 % Vertex ( NASDAQ:VERX – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 6th. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $170.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $165.70 million. Vertex had a net margin of 4.73% and a return on equity of 24.92%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.06 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Vertex, Inc. will post 0.38 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Vertex In other Vertex news, major shareholder Jeffrey Westphal sold 1,225,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.42, for a total value of $48,289,500.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 7,895 shares in the company, valued at $311,220.90. This trade represents a 99.36 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, major shareholder Item Second Irr. Trust Fbo Kyl sold 158,900 shares of Vertex stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.27, for a total transaction of $5,922,203.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 1,430,100 shares in the company, valued at approximately $53,299,827. This trade represents a 10.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 4,330,722 shares of company stock valued at $197,009,011 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 44.58% of the company’s stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vertex Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Banque Pictet & Cie SA raised its stake in shares of Vertex by 551.9% during the second quarter. Banque Pictet & Cie SA now owns 949,540 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,231,000 after buying an additional 803,881 shares during the last quarter. Driehaus Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Vertex in the second quarter valued at approximately $22,173,000. Brown Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Vertex in the third quarter valued at approximately $20,938,000. Premier Fund Managers Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Vertex by 787.0% in the third quarter. Premier Fund Managers Ltd now owns 524,775 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,280,000 after buying an additional 465,610 shares during the period. Finally, Geneva Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vertex by 40.1% in the third quarter. Geneva Capital Management LLC now owns 1,450,599 shares of the company’s stock valued at $55,863,000 after buying an additional 414,945 shares during the period. 59.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Vertex ( Get Free Report ) Vertex, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides enterprise tax technology solutions for retail trade, wholesale trade, and manufacturing industries in the United States and internationally. The company offers tax determination; compliance and reporting, including workflow management tools, role-based security, and event logging; tax data management; document management; analytics and insights; pre-built integration that includes mapping data fields, and business logic and configurations; industry-specific solutions; and technology specific solutions, such as chain flow accelerator and SAP-specific tools. See Also Five stocks we like better than Vertex What Are the U.K. Market Holidays? How to Invest and Trade Tesla Investors Continue to Profit From the Trump Trade How to Calculate Return on Investment (ROI) MicroStrategy’s Stock Dip vs. Coinbase’s Potential Rally Insider Selling Explained: Can it Inform Your Investing Choices? Netflix Ventures Into Live Sports, Driving Stock Momentum Receive News & Ratings for Vertex Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertex and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Winnipeg Jets (17-3, in the Central Division) vs. Nashville Predators (6-11-3, in the Central Division) Nashville, Tennessee; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Predators -129, Jets +108; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The Winnipeg Jets visit the Nashville Predators for a matchup within the Central Division Saturday. Nashville has a 6-11-3 record overall and a 3-1-1 record in Central Division play. The Predators have conceded 64 goals while scoring 46 for a -18 scoring differential. Winnipeg has gone 17-3 overall with a 6-0-0 record in Central Division play. The Jets have scored 21 power-play goals, which leads the Western Conference. The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. TOP PERFORMERS: Filip Forsberg has eight goals and seven assists for the Predators. Juuso Parssinen has scored goals over the last 10 games. Joshua Morrissey has two goals and 18 assists for the Jets. Cole Perfetti has scored goals over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Predators: 3-5-2, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.4 assists, 4.9 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. Jets: 8-2-0, averaging 3.8 goals, 5.4 assists, 4.1 penalties and 12.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game. INJURIES: Predators: None listed. Jets: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressNASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late MarchD ear Heloise: I wanted to write in concerning not using rugs and towels at animal shelters. I have to wonder what sort of “shelter” is being offered to dogs and cats where it gets so cold and wet that the cloth can freeze. Not to mention the possibility of the poor animal freezing to death! Are they saying these indoor animals are being kept outside? Or are their facilities not being properly heated and dry? This is shocking to me! I hope they can explain themselves. — Frank F., Ventura, California Frank, the letter was referring to feral cats and other outdoor animals. Shelter cats and dogs usually have a better situation than those that are born wild or mistreated by their owners. In my opinion, no animal should be kept outside in the winter if they have owners with a warm house. Sadly, there are too many abandoned cats and dogs that have no one to look after them, making their existence difficult and their lives short. Straw is the best solution to helping these animals stay warm, provided that there is plenty of straw to snuggle in for warmth inside of some type of enclosure. There are a variety of such houses for animals online, and most aren’t expensive. — Heloise Cardboard rolls Dear Heloise: I often use paper-towel rolls and toilet-paper rolls to keep artificial flower stems together. I also cut them lengthwise to put on gift-wrapping paper rolls. If the paper roll is too thin to keep a cardboard roll on, then I use a rubber band to secure the roll. Your readers have given me so much I can use. I thank you and thank them, too. — Jackie, Colorado Springs, Colorado Jackie, I like your cardboard roll ideas. Lately, I’ve received several letters stating that readers use the cardboard roll in paper towels and toilet paper to start a fire in their fireplace. Some also use a toilet roll of cardboard to gather a number of loose cords together. Others use a paper-towel roll to wrap tree lights around when putting them into storage. All of these are great ideas, as well. — Heloise Cleaning glass pie plates Dear Heloise: Our glass pie plates wouldn’t get clean, so my husband had the successful idea to use a ceramic cooktop cleaner! The pie plates are sparkling now! — Connie B., Universal City, Texas Christmas goody boxes Dear Heloise: My mom was never really happy with any gift I gave her. Since she relied on Social Security, money was tight, so I started to give her a goody box. I usually used an empty paper box and filled it with toiletries and products that I knew she used. I also included postage stamps and gift cards for car washes. She would love her goody box and looked forward to it every year. One year, my aunt was visiting from the old country at Christmas, so I made up a smaller box for her. I found out that she loved a certain brand of canned corn, so I included six cans. She was over the moon! It was also easy for me, as I would add things to the box all year long, making it easier on my time and budget. — Liz N., via email Send a money-saving or time-saving hint to Heloise@Heloise.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Brennan Marion becomes Sacramento State’s next head coachCanadian foreign, finance ministers meet Trump's team on tariffs

My contact with Manmohan Singh goes back to the end of the 1960s when both of us were in New York. He was in the United Nations and I was teaching at New York University. Later on, we started working together in the mid-1980s when he was governor of the Reserve Bank of India and I was a deputy governor. If you look at his entire career, three important qualities stand out. One is vision, the other is courage and the third is humility. Ideas are needed to move the system forward, but you must have vision. Adequate vision must be supplemented by courage, which we saw in the early 1990s. The most important aspect of Dr Singh's actions is the exhibition of both ideas and implementation. The reforms introduced in the early 1990s, and the subsequent actions that he took in the period when he was PM, all indicate this combination of ideas and implementation. We worked together and there was an exchange of ideas. Even when we differed, we did so politely. He tried to take everybody along with him, and he gave the freedom to discuss freely. Finally, a conclusion was reached in which everybody agreed. There were occasions when we differed. But that did not come in the way of executing the ideas. There was also the quality of humility in him, which was extraordinary. For a person who held such important positions, he never rode roughshod over anybody. For example, in bringing to an end the system of issuing ad-hoc treasury bills, when I mentioned to him how this system acted a way that it resulted in the automatic monetisation of the fiscal deficit, he heard me out and then agreed, even though I did not expect he would agree to it that quickly. But he did, because when he saw the logic, he tried to follow it and implement whatever suggestion was made. Bringing the issue of these bills to an end could result in the cost of govt borrowing going up. But he was willing to bear it because the underlying principle was correct. Again, when we moved from the system of dual exchange rate to a system in which the market fully determined the exchange rate, there were many arguments against the move. There were suggestions that we move slowly. But when I discussed it with him, we decided that it was better to move in one step. He once again saw the benefit that comes from a particular action and immediately agreed to implement it. What he cared for is the benefit to the nation, benefit to society. If that demanded a particular action, he would take that action immediately. On The 1991 Devaluation: Originally, a decision was taken to devalue the rupee in two stages. I was in charge of announcing the exchange rate and made the first move. Before the second move could be made, there were some concerns whether we should devalue the rupee to such an extent. We had discussed the problem thoroughly and a conclusion had been reached and was also communicated to the President. But then the Prime Minister (PV Narasimha Rao) had some concerns on going ahead with the second step. Dr Singh said he would get in touch with me but then he went on saying that he was not able to reach me. By the time he reached me, I'd already "jumped the step". If he had backed down at that time, it would have reflected badly on India. Our ability to borrow in the market would have been hindered as it would have been seen as our unwillingness to take appropriate action. When the decision to devalue the rupee was taken, Dr Singh wrote a cheque and asked for it to be credited to the PM's Relief Fund. The amount represented difference in rupee value of his assets abroad following the devaluation. That showed how he was not willing to benefit by any decision personally. That shows the man's character, that his integrity was beyond question. He certainly managed the system both as the FM and the PM very well. History will remember him as one of the ablest PMs. Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, India had a growth rate in excess of 9%, which is outstanding. He will be remembered for ushering in efficiency in the system. That is what compelled him to move towards a competitive system. That is an important lesson for a country like India because if we really want to be able to compete in the world, let us say through exports, then efficiency becomes critically important. Without an efficient economic system, we cannot do it. As told to Surojit Gupta Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump promised on Tuesday to “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole, arguing that it was senseless and insulted the families of their victims. Biden said converting their punishments to life imprisonment was consistent with the moratorium imposed on federal executions in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. “Joe Biden just commuted the Death Sentence on 37 of the worst killers in our Country,” he wrote on his social media site. “When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening!” Presidents historically have no involvement in dictating or recommending the punishments that federal prosecutors seek for defendants in criminal cases, though Trump has long sought more direct control over the Justice Department's operations. The president-elect wrote that he would direct the department to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated,” but was vague on what specific actions he may take and said they would be in cases of “violent rapists, murderers, and monsters.” He highlighted the cases of two men who were on federal death row for slaying a woman and a girl, had admitted to killing more and had their sentences commuted by Biden. On the campaign trail, Trump often called for expanding the federal death penalty — including for those who kill police officers, those convicted of drug and human trafficking, and migrants who kill U.S. citizens. “Trump has been fairly consistent in wanting to sort of say that he thinks the death penalty is an important tool and he wants to use it,” said Douglas Berman, an expert on sentencing at Ohio State University’s law school. “But whether practically any of that can happen, either under existing law or other laws, is a heavy lift.” Berman said Trump’s statement at this point seems to be just a response to Biden’s commutation. “I’m inclined to think it’s still in sort of more the rhetoric phase. Just, ‘don’t worry. The new sheriff is coming. I like the death penalty,’” he said. Most Americans have historically supported the death penalty for people convicted of murder, according to decades of annual polling by Gallup, but support has declined over the past few decades. About half of Americans were in favor in an October poll, while roughly 7 in 10 Americans backed capital punishment for murderers in 2007. Before Biden's commutation, there were 40 federal death row inmates compared with more than 2,000 who have been sentenced to death by states. “The reality is all of these crimes are typically handled by the states,” Berman said. A question is whether the Trump administration would try to take over some state murder cases, such as those related to drug trafficking or smuggling. He could also attempt to take cases from states that have abolished the death penalty. Berman said Trump's statement, along with some recent actions by states, may present an effort to get the Supreme Court to reconsider a precedent that considers the death penalty disproportionate punishment for rape. “That would literally take decades to unfold. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight,” Berman said. Before one of Trump's rallies on Aug. 20, his prepared remarks released to the media said he would announce he would ask for the death penalty for child rapists and child traffickers. But Trump never delivered the line. One of the men Trump highlighted on Tuesday was ex-Marine Jorge Avila Torrez, who was sentenced to death for killing a sailor in Virginia and later pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of an 8-year-old and a 9-year-old girl in a suburban Chicago park several years before. The other man, Thomas Steven Sanders, was sentenced to death for the kidnapping and slaying of a 12-year-old girl in Louisiana, days after shooting the girl's mother in a wildlife park in Arizona. Court records show he admitted to both killings. Some families of victims expressed anger with Biden's decision, but the president had faced pressure from advocacy groups urging him to make it more difficult for Trump to increase the use of capital punishment for federal inmates. The ACLU and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were some of the groups that applauded the decision. Biden left three federal inmates to face execution. They are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev ; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. _______ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle L. Price and Eric Tucker contributed to this report.Jackson and Fernandez give Maresca a winning return to Leicester

Coronation of King Charles cost at least £72 millionDeion: Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter insured for bowl game

Senior members of Canada's cabinet held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to lead the departments of commerce and the interior, as Ottawa works to hold off the threat of punishing tariffs. Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/aha

Previous: casino fishin frenzy
Next: casino fishing slot machine