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No. 25 Illinois stuns Rutgers 38-31 on Pat Bryant’s 40-yard TD reception with 4 seconds leftCatherine McKenney announced as Ontario NDP candidate in Ottawa-CentreA polar plunge became a polar spray down. A few minutes before the start of Saturday’s 15th annual Town of Brookhaven Polar Plunge, the hundreds of daredevils at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai prepared for an audible. Officials determined the whipping wind, producing gusts of 32 mph out of the northwest, created choppy conditions in Long Island Sound too dangerous for swimming — even if some only planned to dip a toe. In place of the traditional plunge, participants huddled in groups on the beach as a Mount Sinai firefighter chilled them with water sprayed from a hose. Town of Brookhaven Polar Plunge participants get sprayed with water at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai on Saturday. Credit: Morgan Campbell “It wasn’t as cold, but it was still exciting,” said Abby Streek, a Sayville High School senior participating in her fourth plunge. “The hose would come around, you’d get splashed and pelted with water.” The biggest news, politics and crime stories in Suffolk County, in your inbox every Friday at noon. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Streek was one of about 20 students in the school’s Athletes Helping Others club who raised just under $4,000 for Special Olympics New York, the event’s host. Stella O’Shea, a Sayville junior, has raised more than $1,000 in each of the past three years. “This is just such an awesome day,” said O’Shea, who hopes to become a special-education teacher. Special Olympics New York hosts the plunge to raise funds and awareness for its athletes. The Cedar Beach event is held annually the weekend before Thanksgiving. Alexis Dawson, the organization’s director of development, said Saturday’s event, featuring more than 500 participants, raised about $135,000. "I think people enjoy the tailgating atmosphere, but more than anything I think people enjoy raising money and spreading awareness for our athletes," she said. Diane Colonna, the vice president of downstate operations, said the Cedar Beach plunge "has a community vibe to it." “The same people have come year after year," she said. "But they’re all here for our athletes.” On average it can cost $500 for a single athlete to compete in Special Olympics competitions each year, Dawson said. There are more than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes on Long Island. Most participants joined teams that raised money together. The top honor went to Team Sachem, a group of teachers, staff members, students and community members, who raised about $31,000. Three additional teams surpassed $10,000. Emily Frosina, a special-education teacher in the Sachem school district, started the team 10 years ago with just a handful of people and it has now grown to more than 50 participants. The wind chill Saturday made the "feel like" temperature 28 degrees and longtime participants said this year was the coldest in memory. Cassandra Scala, a special-education teacher assistant at Sachem, brought along a pair of dancers she coaches to plunge with her for the first time. “We’re doing the coldest one and it can only get better from here,” Scala said. Jocelynn Stone, who works with Frosina, said she had helped fundraise for the team in past years and decided to take the plunge for the first time. “I’m going to do it! I’m excited,” she said before plans shifted to the spray down. As the second group of plungers steadied themselves on the beach in front of the firefighter's hose, Trey’von Holland stood at the front of the pack alongside fellow Bellport High School football players who are part of the school's Athletes Helping Others club. Holland, a senior, embraced the chill as he stood shirtless with water raining down from above. He said he had looked forward to swimming in his first plunge, but the hose splashdown “was amazing, too.” Joe Werkmeister covers the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
When Tony Clark first visited Chicago 11 years ago, he said he saw homeless people experience “a different kind of horror.” Winters here, the Australian said, are on another level. “I had never seen horizontal ice,” he says. Clark was in Chicago then, in 2013, to accept an award for the “backpack bed” he co-designed with his wife for the unhoused. The idea, which he said came to him in church, was to give people “warmth, comfort and dignity.” He helped distribute about 150 of his backpacks that convert into tents to homeless people across the city then. Now, Clark has returned to Chicago with the goal of handing out many more of the backpack beds. The goal is 1,632, to be exact. That’s the number of people estimated to be living on the streets according to the city’s last Point in Time survey. Clark says he thinks that count is probably low. But he says it’s a starting point. On a wet Friday morning, Clark demonstrated the backpack tent in Union Park, crawling into one himself. He was flanked by representatives from four homeless advocacy groups that will distribute the tents once they raise funds for the $200,000 price tag. That roughly covers the tent price of $124 for every person living on the street according to the latest survey, Clark says. He is asking people to donate at GoodnightChicago.org . When the money is raised, the beds can be shipped to Chicago in late December or early January, he said. The beds can be distributed by the participating homeless organizations, which currently include Inner Voice, Street Samaritans, Our Moms Mission, Franciscan Outreach. Clark, a former IT entrepreneur who speaks with the enthusiasm of a television pitchman, explained the benefits of such a small tent. The 6-pound tent rolls out from its backpack into something that resembles a sleeping bag. But, unlike a sleeping bag, the tent is hardened for tough weather, including snow, rain and even fire. The bags are made of a fire-retardant material that resists burning, he says. When the tent is rolled up into its backpack, the bag still has unused space for belongings. Each tent includes a clear window and two vents, and sports a small Australian flag. This collapsible tent is designed to avoid the pitfalls of other more permanent camping tents that draw the ire of the community, avoiding what Clark said is an “us versus them” dynamic. Dr. Diane Washington, a retired behavioral health psychiatrist at Cook County Health, has been advocating for emergency room doctors to distribute the backpack bed to homeless people they discharge. The tents are especially needed for surviving the winter months. “The No. 1 problem is frostbite,” she said. She’s seen homeless people suffer amputations during the winter from frostbite. Shelter, including a tent like this backpack, would address that issue. Two years ago she and a philanthropic partner distributed 40 of the backpack beds. Jackie Edens, CEO of Inner Voice, says the tents are needed at a time when the city lacks the funding to meaningfully address homelessness. Last spring, voters shot down Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Bring Chicago Home ballot measure, which would have increased the property transfer tax for $1 million-plus to boost funding for homeless services. “There needs to be political will” to address the problem, said Edens, who was commissioner of former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Office of Workforce Development. Clark speaks of a “philanthropic return on investment” that the tents provide, beyond the sticker price. He points to one estimate that each $124 tent produces $3,319 in “community impact,” when you consider the prevented emergency room visits and potential for employment. Washington said, based on her health care experience, the savings from each prevented ER visits is more likely over $20,000. “The cost of the bed outweighs any of that,” she says. Clark’s nonprofit has expanded since he last visited Chicago over a decade ago. He now sells around 7,000 beds to over 1,000 homeless organization in Australia alone. He says he is connected with 65 groups in the U.S. and hopes to expand to more. “Dignity is the first step to getting people off the streets,” Clark says.AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:06 p.m. EST
BROOKLYN, N.Y. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year's Eve, elevate your celebrations with the world's most luxurious cookie cake: The Dank Decadence Cookie Cake , by Laced Bakes , the innovative infusion bakery redefining indulgence. Designed for the adventurous palate, this decadent treat pairs rich chocolate flavors with customizable terpenes, offering a curated experience to elevate your mood, focus, or relaxation. Available in 250mg ($145) , 500mg ($275) , and 1000mg ($550) doses, the Dank Decadence Cookie Cake is crafted for enthusiasts who demand both flavor and function. Unlike overpriced and underwhelming competitors, this cookie cake doesn't just sit pretty—it delivers tangible effects tailored to you. Customize Your Experience: Sativa (Limonene): Uplifting and energizing for creativity and focus. Hybrid (Pinene): Balanced clarity for smooth energy. Indica (Myrcene): Relaxing and stress-relieving. Hybrid (Beta-Caryophyllene): Eases discomfort while calming. Indica (Linalool): Soothing tranquility for unwinding. "Why settle for empty luxury when you can have indulgence that actually does something?" says Crystal Grant , founder of Laced Bakes. "We wanted to create a cookie that doesn't just taste amazing but elevates your entire experience—whether it's a party or a quiet night in." Pre-Order Now: Pick up your Dank Decadence Cookie Cake on December 30th and 31st to kickstart your New Year's celebration on the perfect high note. Quantities are limited—don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind treat. Coming Soon: Stay tuned for the grand opening of Laced Bakes' members-only lounge in Brooklyn , offering exclusive events, infused menu items, and a community space for food and cannabis enthusiasts alike. For more details, visit www.lacedbakes.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @laced.bakes | TikTok: @lacedbakes | Facebook: Laced Bakes | X: @lacedbakes | Discord: @lacedbakes Elevate your indulgence with Laced Bakes. Contact: Crystal Grant , Founder of Laced Bakes, press@lacedbakes.com Location : 1096 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221 Website : www.LacedBakes.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laced-bakes-launches-the-dank-decadence-cookie-cake-the-ultimate-luxury-treat-that-delivers-302339021.html SOURCE Laced Bakes
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers returned to the state Capitol on Monday to begin a special session to protect the state's progressive policies ahead of another Trump presidency. The Democratic governor, a fierce critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is positioning California to once again be the center of a resistance effort against the conservative agenda. He is asking his Democratic allies in the Legislature, who hold supermajorities in both chambers, to approve additional funding to the attorney general's office to prepare for a robust legal fight against anticipated federal challenges. Democratic Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel on Monday introduced legislation to set aside $25 million for legal fees to respond to potential attacks by the Trump administration on state policies regarding civil rights, climate change, immigration and abortion access. “While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming Trump Administration,” Gabriel said in a statement. California sued the first Trump administration more than 120 times to various levels of success. “We’re not going to be caught flat-footed,” Newsom said at a recent news conference. Trump often depicts California as representing all he sees wrong in America. Democrats, which hold every statewide office in California and have commanding margins in the Legislature and congressional delegation, outnumber registered Republicans by nearly 2-to-1 statewide. Trump called the Democratic governor “Newscum” during a campaign stop in Southern California and has relentlessly lambasted the Democratic stronghold over its large number of immigrants in the U.S. illegally, homeless population and thicket of regulations. Trump also waded into a water rights battle over the endangered delta smelt , a tiny fish that has pitted environmentalists against farmers and threatened to withhold federal aid to a state increasingly under threat from wildfires. He also vowed to follow through with his campaign promise of carrying out the mass deportation of immigrants without legal status and prosecuting his political enemies. Before the special session began, state lawmakers swore in more than two dozen new members and elect leaders for the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers voted to convene the special session largely along party lines. “This special session is about sticking up for Californians and for California values,” said state Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco. “It is about ensuring that the president of the United States and his administration actually follow the law.” Hundreds of people also demonstrated around the Capitol on Monday to urge the Legislature to try to stop Trump's mass deportation plans . They carried banners that said “Not one cent for mass deportation” and “MAGA out of California.” “With the results of the presidential election, we need our state elected officials to use every tool and every resource they have available to them to protect our immigrant Californians,” protester Deborah Lee said. State Attorney General Rob Bonta said his office will protect the state’s immigration population, while Newsom last week unveiled a proposal to revive a rebate program for electric vehicle purchases if the incoming Trump administration eliminates a federal tax credit for people who buy electric cars. Newsom is also considering creating a backup disaster relief fund for the wildfire-prone state after Trump’s threats. Bonta announced legislation Monday aimed at bolstering reproductive rights in the state, including by allowing the attorney general to seek monetary penalties against local governments that infringe on those rights. The proposals are part of the state's efforts to safeguard against threats to abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . Republican lawmakers blasted Newsom and his Democratic allies over the special session. State Sen. Kelly Seyarto, a Republican representing Murrieta in Southern California, said the special session proposal would make California have a more adversarial relationship with the federal government. “What we’re doing today is sending that exact message — that we are going to fight tooth and nail for everything. And you know what? That means they’re going to fight us tooth and nail for everything,” Seyarto said of the incoming Trump administration if the legislation gets approved. Legislators also are expected to spend the year discussing ways to protect dozens of laws expected to be targeted by the Trump administration, including one that has made the state a sanctuary for people seeking abortions who live in states where such practices have been severely limited. California, the nation’s most populous state, was the first to mandate that by 2035 all new cars , pickup trucks and SUVs sold in California be electric, hydrogen-powered or plug-in hybrids. The state also extends state-funded health care to all low-income residents regardless of their immigration status. Newsom hasn't provided details about what actions the lawmakers will consider but said he wanted funding in place before Trump's inauguration day, Jan. 20. The state spent roughly $42 million in litigation costs during the first Trump administration, officials said. California is projected to face a $2 billion budget deficit next year, with bigger shortfalls ahead. Gabriel, who sued the first Trump administration in 2017 when it tried to end a program to shield young immigrants from being deported, said lining up the funding now is “a wise investment." California successfully clawed back $57 million between 2017 and 2018 after prevailing in a lawsuit to block the Trump administration from putting immigration enforcement conditions on certain federal law enforcement grants. Another legal victory over the citizenship question in the 2020 census forced the federal government to return $850,000 to the state, according to the attorney general's office. During Trump’s first presidency, Democratic attorneys general banded together to file lawsuits over immigration, Trump’s travel ban for residents of Muslim countries, the environment, immigration and other topics. But Trump has one possible advantage this time around: He was aggressive in nominating conservative jurists to federal courts at all levels, including the Supreme Court. Associated Press journalists Haven Daley and Sophie Austin contributed to this report.
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NEW YORK (AP) — Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner has been fined $2,000 for embellishment during a recent game against the New York Rangers, the NHL said Monday. Skinner was issued a warning after a diving/embellishment incident in an Oct. 22 game against the Carolina Hurricanes, the league said. His second citation, which triggered the fine, came in the second period of a 6-2 victory over the Rangers on Nov. 23. Skinner was being followed by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller as he had the puck along the boards in the New York zone. Skinner lost his footing and the puck despite minimal contact from Miller. The Oilers forward looked toward the referee as he got up but no penalty call was made on the play. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Democracy is a system of government where people control the agenda and hold decision-makers accountable. It gives every person the power and freedom to help choose the path for their society and to take action to improve their lives. It is the only political system that can force governments to work for their citizens, not against them. The most important element of democracy is a vibrant citizenry that actively participates in society and in their government – through voting, protesting, running for office, or other ways to engage in democratic politics. Without this engagement, democracy will fail. Democracy also requires respect for human rights and the rule of law. Democracies should ensure that all persons can take part in the governance of their country through freely chosen representatives, with periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage. They should respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and guarantee access to information and transparency. In turn, these rights create an environment that facilitates democracy and enables it to realize its potential as a mechanism for the protection and realization of human rights. As different as all nations and societies are, modern democracy consists of the same essential components: a people-controlled constitution; elected leaders at the national and local levels who listen to their constituents and respond to their concerns; free, fair and professional elections that allow all political parties and candidates to present their views to voters, both directly and through mass media; independent courts that uphold and enforce the laws without fear or favor; and the ability to hold elected leaders accountable for their actions. A strong democracy includes a loyal opposition that passionately advocates for its policy interests, but does not resort to violence against the democratic process or its opponents. It also includes a commitment to a free press and other mechanisms that promote a culture of tolerance, openness and pluralism. While there is a debate over what is included in a definition of democracy, most include electoral procedures, participation and accountability as core elements. Some go even further by including economic or administrative efficiency in their indices of democracy. Some argue that democratic values and principles are being undermined by the rise of populist demagogues in many parts of the world. However, a democracy that is not reliant on its own popularity can endure challenges and thrive over time. It is worth remembering that democracies exist all around the globe, with each one having its own unique characteristics and needs. Over the course of history, they have survived civil wars; racial and ethnic cleansing; famines; devastating natural disasters; economic expansions and depressions; and social, demographic, and technological change. They have also brought women, minorities and indigenous peoples closer to full equality; and reduced inequality in all its forms. It is our responsibility to defend democracy, and to educate each generation about its value. Only then can it be a force that can resist the siren call of autocratic leaders and sustain a peaceful coexistence of diverse peoples and cultures.
Ireland AM fave, TV chef, ‘gangster’s moll’, ex-teacher & another Olympian sign up for DWTS before final name confirmed