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Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order 7956 Thursday, which approves a 20-year withdrawal of mineral exploration and drilling in the Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed. The order followed a request from the U.S. Forest Service to close 20,510 acres of National Forest System land to sale or exchange and mineral entry and leasing for a 20-year period. Non-federal lands and minerals are not subject to the withdrawal and the order doesn't override valid existing rights. The mineral withdrawal proceedings began in early 2023 and included multiple public comment sessions, including a public meeting attended by hundreds of local residents at the Ramkota in Rapid City. The nearly two-year time since then included a moratorium on new mining claims in the area. People wait in line to give comments at the USFS/BLM public meeting about the proposed Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal project on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff The catalyst for the withdrawal was Minnesota-based F3 Gold's Jenny Gulch project , which aroused concerns during the objection period around cultural and natural resources in the area. Concerns spread far enough the Rapid City Council even took up legislation opposing the project . With 14 miles of shoreline and depths of 150 feet, Pactola Reservoir is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills National Forest. The visitor's center sees upwards of 50,000 visitors each year alone. "The Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed is a treasured landscape, valued for its clean air and water, abundant recreation and ecological benefits, and sacred to multiple Tribes who call the area home,” Haaland said Thursday. “I’m proud to take action today to withdraw this area for the next 20 years, to help protect clean drinking water and ensure this special place is protected for future generations.” “We’re grateful to Secretary Haaland for her decision to withdraw these lands to protect their many invaluable resources,” added Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Pactola Reservoir–Rapid Creek Watershed provides so many benefits to the people and communities we serve, from clean water to world-class recreation, from livestock grazing to the spaces our Tribal communities consider sacred, this withdrawal will safeguard this space for decades.” The scenic Pactola Reservoir–Rapid Creek Watershed is home to world class fishing and hunting, cross-country skiing and a broad range of year-round activities like hiking, camping and boating. Local ranchers also rely on Pactola for summer grazing, and it is the primary source of water for Rapid City and the surrounding communities. The area is considered a sacred landscape and traditional spiritual homeland by the Oceti Sakowin, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Arikara, Hidatsa, Mandan and Crow Tribes. The Black Hills, including the lands of the withdrawn area, contain sites sacred to these Tribes as well as areas they consider traditional cultural properties, important landscapes and areas where the Tribes pick medicine, hold spiritual ceremonies and gather sacred foods. Attendees raise their hands in support of comments made in favor of a potential mining withdrawal in the Black Hills. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff The withdrawal is made pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw federal lands aggregating 5,000 acres or more for a maximum of 20 years, subject to renewal. Only Congress can legislate a permanent withdrawal of this type. The U.S. Forest Service initiated the proposal in March 2023, when the Bureau of Land Management published the application for withdrawal, opening a 90-day public comment period and noticing public meetings. The Forest Service and BLM also conducted two Tribal consultations in 2023, according to a press release from the department. Nearly 2,000 people wrote in comments to the Forest Service regarding the withdrawal. Dr. Lilias Jarding, executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, wrote in a statement Thursday, “This shows that individuals can make a difference, and the withdrawal is a clear reflection of the will of the people of the Black Hills region. This is an important first step in protecting Black Hills water and cultural resources from new large-scale mining.” Black Hills Clean Water Alliance board member Bruce Ellison added while they're happy with the approval, it only protects around 10% of the watershed and more needs to be done. Jacqueline Buchanan, USFS deputy regional forester for the Rocky Mountain Region, headed a 2023 meeting along with Kim Prill, BLM deputy state director for energy, minerals and realty, Montana/Dakotas region. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff Residents in the area are no strangers to mining activity. The Wharf Mine near Lead is a large-scale gold mine currently in operation; Coeur Wharf got approval from Lawrence County for a 47-acre expansion early last year. Multiple companies have active claims or permits in-progress in the area, including Solitario's Golden Crest gold exploration project outside of Spearfish Canyon and SDO's intent to search for lithium-bearing minerals near Keystone . Residents in Fall River County successfully drove away a potential uranium mine in recent years after declaring such activities as a nuisance ; they're still battling the Dewey-Burdock Project northwest of Edgemont. A sign marks the entrance to the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund site, a roughly 360-acre area located about six-and-a-half miles east of Lead. Darsha Dodge And a Canadian company looking at the viability of remining Gilt Edge — an EPA Superfund site in Lawrence County — decided not to pursue the project earlier this year, saying the site didn't meet their economic threshold for development. The South Dakota Mineral Industries Association told the Journal Thursday the decision was rushed, and that the withdrawal fails to follow FSM guidelines, conflicts with mineral policy/laws set by Congress, executive orders from the current administration and also fails to recognize the significance of critical minerals, including antimony (banned by China) that occur within the proposed withdrawal area. SDMIA also criticized the decision by saying the department failed to mention this withdrawal overlaps two existing 5,000-acre withdrawals encompassing the recreational areas around and within the Pactola Reservoir/Rapid Creek Watershed. Pactola Reservoir, the largest and deepest of its kind in the Black Hills National Forest, has 15 miles of shoreline and 800 acres of open water. Darsha Dodge, Journal staff "SDMIA feels strongly that this action is federal overreach and fails to uphold a number of congressional directives related to mineral development or multiple use on public lands," said South Dakota Mineral Industries President Kwinn Neff. "When it takes over two years to complete an EA on a project that affects less than 5 acres of public land, it is interesting how an EA can be completed in less time that affects over 20,000 acres of public lands." Gold has been mined in the Black Hills since the 1870s. The Homestake mine near Lead was once one of the largest and deepest gold mines in North America before it closed in 2002. Gold and silver are still being mined at the Coeur Wharf mine near Lead , using open-pit mining techniques and heap-leaching with a cyanide solution. Keystone is the site of the former Etta Mine, the largest source of lithium in the United States for decades, according to Midwest Lithium . The largest spodumene crystal ever found was at the Etta site, which began as a mica mine in the early 1880s and continued operation until 1886. It reopened as a spodumene mine in 1898. Work at the site continued with interludes until 1968.
DALLAS — This is the moment Mets fans have been waiting for. No offense to the Collin Cowgills and Shaun Marcums of the world, or any of the other relatively forgettable offseason acquisitions of years past. David Wright signing his $138 million extension or Yoenis Cespedes signed his own $110 million contract cannot begin to compare. Juan Soto choosing the Mets over the Yankees legitimizes the team in an entirely different way. The momentous acquisitions of the Wilpon years pale in comparison to Soto agreeing with the Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract. Make no mistake, the Mets are now the big brother and the Yankees are the little ones. The 27 banners might fly up in the Bronx but over in Queens, the prevailing thought is that if they get even one with Soto, the money will be worth it. But Cohen wants more than one. The Yankees came close, reportedly offering an extra year but only $5 million less. However, it’s unclear exactly how that contract was structured. This contract has no deferred money, an opportunity for him to opt out at age 31 and a $75 million signing bonus. It’s a double-edged sword , as all long-term pacts are because you pay for the prime and accept the decline. But all things considered, it’s a good deal for both parties. If Soto wants to try free agency again after five seasons, the Mets can override his opt out by adding an additional $4 million per season to the final 10 years of his contract. News broke Sunday night, one night before the winter meetings at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. As baseball staffers, agents and media members alike started to congregate around the hotel’s central bar, the conversation, predictably, was dominated by Soto. A narrative soon took hold: Cohen was holding up a proverbial middle finger to the Yankees. Maybe there is some truth to it and maybe there isn’t, but no one can question the fact that Cohen wants to turn the Mets into a juggernaut. The hedge fund billionaire and lifelong Mets fan wants to win championships and has already shown that he isn’t afraid to make bold moves in pursuit of that goal. The Wilpon family tried for years to take the spotlight off the Yankees, and yet the headlines they generated were due mostly to their own mismanagement. Even once Steve Cohen bought the team following the 2020 season, the Mets stayed the Mets, with off-field bungles and on-field foibles, and sometimes a mix of both. They were behind in areas like player development and technology. They weren’t a marquee destination for marquee free agents, but rather a place to revive your career. But then came Francisco Lindor and his 10-year deal, and the ground began to shift. Hal Steinbrenner had to feel it; his fanbase certainly did. The Mets bulked out their analytics department, made some updates to the facilities and started listening to what players wanted. The upgraded family room has proven popular and players regularly talk about how great the Mets treat them and their families. But for a team to get to a point where it can attract elite talent, it has to win. The Mets believe they have found a winning combination with president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. They have Francisco Lindor contending for MVP awards and Mark Vientos emerging as a slugging star. However, there is still work to do. The team has to figure out what they’re going to do at first base and third base and those are likely long-term moves to get Soto some lineup protection. They’ve fielded calls about third baseman Brett Baty, but it’s not clear as to whether or not they would consider trading him for pitching. Vientos could stay at third where he is a capable defender and the Mets could bring back Pete Alonso at first base. Starling Marte might have to move to DH to accommodate his fellow Dominican next season, likely his last in a Mets uniform. Soto may end up as a DH eventually as well, but if a player making that type of money wants to play in right field, he gets to play in right field. Stearns doesn’t seem to have an appetite for long-term pitching contracts, but Kodai Senga and David Peterson are pretty good foundational pieces. The rotation has some projects this year, with the long-term future of the pitching staff unknown. But these are things the Mets can start to plan for now that the Mets have Soto for at least five years. Every time a generational player emerged, it seemed like it was a foregone conclusion that he would end up in pinstripes. That was the Yankee way, throwing money at every big-name free agent and being unafraid to build the best team money can buy. It’s no longer the Yankee way, but it might soon be the Mets way.Insurer vows audit after report finds it denied 77% of hurricane claims
'Delhi Chalo' March: Samyukta Kisan Morcha Seeks Meeting With President Droupadi Murmu To Discuss Farmers Issues
La Serna, Glendora, Rio Hondo Prep, Pasadena, El Rancho, San Gabriel and Pioneer attend Monday’s championship luncheonDeutsche Bank Appointed as Depositary Bank for the Sponsored American Depositary Receipt Program of Jinxin Technology Holding Company
Click Holdings Limited Reports Strong Growth in the First Half of 2024 Financial ResultsALPINE, Texas (AP) — Three U.S. Army soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, have been arrested on human smuggling charges, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas said Thursday. Soldiers Emilio Mendoza Lopez, Angel Palma, 20, and Enrique Jauregui, 25, were arrested after a vehicle allegedly driven by Palma and carrying Mendoza Lopez, a Mexican national and two Guatemalan nationals was stopped Nov. 27 by law enforcement in Presidio along the border with Mexico, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) southwest of Dallas. Mike Lahrman, a spokesman for Esparza, said he did not know the soldier’s ranks or whether action had been taken against them by the military. A spokesman for Fort Cavazos did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Mendoza Lopez and Palma allegedly traveled from Fort Cavazos to Presidio for the purpose of picking up and transporting undocumented noncitizens,” Esparza said in a statement. “Jauregui is alleged to be the recruiter and facilitator of the human smuggling conspiracy,” according to Esparza. “Data extracted from Palma’s phone through a search warrant revealed messages between the three soldiers indicating collaboration in the smuggling operation.” Related Articles National News | Memphis police use excessive force and discriminate against Black people, Justice Department finds National News | Legendary Medellin cartel drug lord released from US prison after serving 25 years National News | Two children wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California school National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says Mendoza Lopez was arrested at the scene of the Nov. 27 traffic stop while Palma, who prosecutors said fled the scene of the traffic stop, and Jauregui were arrested Tuesday at Fort Cavazos, about 125 miles (201 kilometers) south of Dallas, Lahrman said. Mendoza Lopez’s attorney, Shane Chriesman, said he is awaiting more information, known as discovery, from prosecutors on the charge. “Once I get discovery and have a chance to assess the case we’ll develop a plan of attack” and will try to get a bond set for Mendoza Lopez, who is currently jailed without bail, Chriesman said. No attorneys are listed in jail records who could speak for for Palma and Jauregui, who are awaiting their first court appearance on Friday, according to Esparza.
Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.
Dusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. ArkansasLINCOLN — Republican Gov. Jim Pillen plans to toss his party’s right flank some red meat next year before addressing the harder politics of closing Nebraska’s projected $432 million budget shortfall. One reason could be the potential of Pillen facing Republican primary challengers in 2026. Those could include his top 2022 GOP primary opponent, Charles Herbster. Pillen denied “political” motivations for picking any of his top legislative priorities for the 2025 legislative session, which he announced last week and detailed in an interview Friday. But all four policies are likely to be popular with the GOP base that typically decides races for Nebraska governor. Echoing themes from his 2022 campaign and speeches around the state, he said his four goals for the session would benefit Nebraska’s “kids, taxes, agriculture and values.” “Those four words, there’s a lot of opportunity to make a difference along,” Pillen said of the upcoming session, set to start on Jan. 8. “That’s what guides ’25.” He outlined those goals in a Dec. 1 statement and clarified them during the pre-session sit-down. Some highlights: Missing from the priorities was closing the state’s projected $432 million budget gap, which was largely driven by Pillen’s previous tax-cut and tax-relief changes. Another contributing factor is more spending than the governor’s budget shows, an Examiner analysis indicates. Pillen highlights his first two years of spending increases as being fiscally conservative. He cites budget documents listing the increases at 3.9% in fiscal year 2023 and 1.9% in fiscal year 2024. But a review of two decades of state budgets shows Pillen’s team kept the spending figures lower than his predecessors’ budgets, partly by classifying some significant expenditures as budget transfers rather than direct spending. This affects the numbers because money that is moved between funds, such as moving it from the general fund or the rainy day fund to the state’s new Education Future Fund, is classified as a transfer and not as spending, even if the money is being moved to spend on a specific purpose. A key example is how Pillen’s administration lists a $1 billion investment in the Education Future Fund and follow-up investments in the fund as transfers. The fund is intended to cover special education costs and create a new baseline of K-12 public school aid, which Pillen has said would reduce some of the reliance on local property taxes. Pillen’s budget numbers show that the general fund in fiscal year 2023 increased from $5.15 billion to $5.35 billion. If he had included the $1 billion in Education Future Fund spending, the general fund budget would have jumped to $6.35 billion. If Pillen had classified the fund the same way other governors have done with similar investments, it would push the general fund annual spending increase to 23.5% in Pillen’s first year as governor. His combined two-year spending increase would be 22.5%, instead of the listed 5.9%. By contrast, spending increased a combined 8.9% in the first two years of Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts’ administration. Previous Gov. Dave Heineman, also a Republican, increased spending a combined 9.6% in his first two years, an Examiner analysis found. “The Education Future Fund is an investment in our kids,” Pillen said. “If somebody wants to call that spending, I don’t care. It doesn’t matter to me, but I believe in investing in our kids.” Pillen also signed income tax rate cuts into law in 2023 that were projected to reduce revenues by $3.3 billion from 2024-2029. He and State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha have called the cuts needed to compete better with neighboring states. Those cuts phased in a reduction of the top income tax rate from 6.84% to 3.99% by 2027 and lowered corporate taxes. The governor’s critics say those changes risk the structural balance of future budgets. Some have questioned whether the state can afford the school spending changes Pillen wants. On sports and spaces, the governor said he wants to see the next Legislature revisit the core of Legislative Bill 575, known as the Sports and Spaces Act, which fell to a filibuster in 2024. Pillen said Nebraskans are right to want to “protect their kids” and act on their “values.” He repeated his stance that he has no ill will toward transgender kids or adults. He said he thinks they should have the right to be who they want to be once they are old enough to understand the ramifications of their actions and mature enough to decide for themselves. But he wants specific legislation to protect women’s sports. His issue, he said, is having a student with male characteristics playing against girls or “showering with your daughter and granddaughter.” “That’s not going to happen if I can do anything about it,” he said. He said he has less of a problem with women competing against men, because there is no “competitive advantage.” He wants a new law to require separate locker rooms, though. “If there’s two young girls that are really good at wrestling and there’s not enough to have women’s wrestling, hey, it’s great to wrestle boys,” Pillen said. “That’s not a problem.” The Nebraska School Activities Association, which governs middle and high school sports, has had a policy addressing locker rooms and sports eligibility of trans student-athletes since 2016. In response to a question, Pillen said he didn’t have any concerns about a sports and spaces ban potentially impacting Nebraska’s longstanding relationship with the NCAA, which oversees college sports. The NCAA, which has specific guidelines for each sport to allow trans athletes to participate, signs contracts that let Omaha host the College World Series and NCAA tournament games, including volleyball and basketball. Pillen, who played defensive back for Nebraska football, said he does not think the organization would change where it holds one of its signature championships “over a state doing what’s right.” “All due respect, the NCAA has failed college athletics miserably for the last 20 years,” Pillen said. “Whatever their opinion is, from my seat it really doesn’t hold any water.” The author of LB 575, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, said she appreciates that Pillen remains committed to protecting “opportunities, safety and privacy” for women and girls. “I am grateful he is willing to make this issue a priority,” she said. Kauth has not yet shared a new version of her proposal or said how or whether her approach might change to secure more legislative votes. She has said she wants a proposal to include collegiate athletics . Critics of the sports and spaces restrictions have said LB 575 and similar measures needlessly attack a tiny minority of children who are transgender and already at higher risk of self-harm. Advocates for LGBTQ kids have said the governor and supporters of similar policies in this and other states risk creating a public panic that leads to increases in bullying or worse. State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha, who helped filibuster the bill, said it was “embarrassing” but not surprising to see Pillen prioritize cultural issues instead of kitchen-table economics. “I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to address the budget deficit, child care, affordable housing, and other priorities for our state,” Hunt said. Pillen said he understands the challenge of pushing for changes to the state aid formula for K-12 education because legislative support often comes down to the impact on schools in senators’ legislative districts. He said his focus remains reducing the property tax burden. He has been sharing tax rankings that he says hurt the state when he is trying to recruit new businesses and residents. He says lawmakers hear demands for change from their constituents. He repeated many of the arguments he made last year when pushing for broader property tax reform: including that the state leans too heavily on property taxpayers to pay for schooling. He said he still wants to broaden the sales tax base to ease the burden of property taxes. This year, he is focused on adapting sales taxes to the modern service economy. He said he expects pushback from people who don’t want to pay more for haircuts, massages and lawn care but said he would focus on taxing services people could do for themselves. “Most of us agree we have a property tax crisis, so how do we come up with the fairest way?” Pillen asked. “If all of us are unhappy, then that’s going to be pretty good policy.” He believes the state should fund the cost of operations — the costs of teachers, staff and classroom learning. He said local property taxpayers should fund the cost of school buildings, athletic facilities, and school grounds and maintenance. He said buildings and maintenance would represent about $650 million of the $3.1 billion in property taxes spent each year on K-12 education in Nebraska. “The school districts, the school boards, the communities, they decide what kind of buildings they want to have their kids in, and that stays on the property tax,” Pillen said. “If you want to build a Taj Mahal, good for you. Your people pay for it.” He said he wants to fund education and work with school district leaders to spend less money on things that don’t help educate kids — the middle managers, administrators and “checkers of the checkers” who distract teachers from teaching. Pillen says he is focused on finding government efficiencies. He says his team is working with school superintendents, the Legislature and the Nebraska Department of Education to reduce the number of costly state mandates on schools. Legislation meant to curb unfunded mandates has stalled for years in the Legislature. His goal is “decrease the administrative bloat“ and get more money back into classrooms. The next version of the state aid formula should build off the idea that it costs a certain amount to educate each child, he said. He says he is hearing from lawmakers and people in education about the need to make sure that any formula accounts for fast-growing districts and that rearranging aid per student will make that easier. Some school leaders have publicly supported the idea of shifting more school funding to the state. Others have questioned whether the state will be able to meet its K-12 commitments when the farm economy sours or when state receipts drop. “I think running state government is just like life,” Pillen said. “It’s priorities. Education’s a top priority. We’re always going to find the money there.” Pillen wants Nebraska to join Florida and Alabama in banning the sale of meat alternatives, or if sales of some products that cannot be stopped to no longer be labeled as meat, which he said was misleading. He called it “bioreactor meat.” He considers the proposal part of his years-long effort to fight against animal-rights activists and others who have tried to demonize production agriculture and animal agriculture, which is personal for him as an owner of a Columbus-based hog operation. He said he hears from dairy producers dealing with labeling like almond milk, which he calls “almond nut juice.” He said companies shouldn’t be able to confuse potential consumers about what they’re buying. He said he knows some Nebraskans might want to purchase lab-grown meat, but they “ain’t gonna buy it in Nebraska.” Lab meat defenders say they reduce greenhouse emissions, cut down on the use of antibiotics and reduce cruelty to animals. “Cattle is king,” Pillen said. “We can’t stand back and reactive. We need to be proactive. So our policies are going to be aggressive ... so we lead and create the dust, not eat the dust.” Pillen also wants to make 2024 the last time Democrats can win a “blue dot” in the Omaha area’s 2nd Congressional District from a Republican candidate. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb has said Republicans would rather change the rules than continue to compete. Pillen says he wants to make Nebraska like 48 other states. Nebraska and Maine are the only states that award Electoral College votes to candidates for president by congressional district, in addition to giving two votes to the winner statewide. Pillen pressed the Legislature to make the change in time for the 2024 general election but fell short of votes when State Sen. Mike McDonnell, a former Democrat-turned-Republican, said he wouldn’t back it. He needed 33 votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster from senators in the Omaha area. One reason supporters like the current practice is seeing tens of millions of dollars being spent every four years on political ads and campaigns. Many of those senators also like the boost to Democratic voter turnout in the 1st and 2nd Districts. Nebraska Republicans have wanted to make the change for decades. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the state more than 2-to-1 by registration, though nonpartisan and third-party registrants make up about a fourth of the state’s registered voters. President-elect Donald Trump tried to persuade Nebraska senators to make the change earlier this year . Trump praised Pillen publicly for trying, but if Pillen can finish the job it could help him if he faces another run against Herbster, a multi-state businessman and top Trump donor whom Trump endorsed in 2022. Pillen on Friday said there are 33 Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature and noted that McDonnell leaves office in January. “My belief is that it was a mistake 30 years ago (to stop using winner-take-all),” Pillen said. “If it was such a great policy ... we’d have a lot of other states that have the same policy.” He said he wants all states to play by the same rules when electing a president. He said he doesn’t believe the outside political money coming into Omaha is helpful. He does not see the change as a means of voter suppression and said people shouldn’t need the extra motivation of a competitive presidential race to choose to vote. “This is Nebraska,” he said. “This should be decided by Nebraskans, not lots of other people’s money. ... Democracy is way more important. Our values are way more important.”How to combat toxic bosses: Social media and flexible work can save careers, new research shows
Cowardice is the only word to describe Justin Trudeau’s failure to truly confront the crisis of antisemitism and violence in our streets. There have been bomb threats against synagogues, bullets fired at Jewish schools, and brazen Nazi salutes. If none of those can drive this Liberal government to rise to the occasion and behave like leaders, it is terrifying to think what will. Social media posts dribbling the same lines about how antisemitic terror is “unacceptable,” “not who we are,” and “has no place in Canada” are the best we can expect at this point. When Trudeau was filmed attending the Taylor Swift concert in Toronto on Friday, he obviously did not plan for it to coincide with the anti-NATO and anti-Israel riots that same night. That is still beside the point. He and his government are petrified by the necessity of growing a backbone and properly calling out these antisemitic radicals as they bend and break the law to terrorize the Jewish community. It was only a few short years ago that the prime minister chose a side during the pandemic and came out swinging against the unvaccinated at rallies and in Parliament. Trudeau staked out the battle lines between those who took the jab and those who did not, and fought an entire election on it. “Do we tolerate these people?” were his words when it came to the unvaccinated. Trudeau went so far as to invoke the Emergencies Act when the Freedom Convoy came to occupy Ottawa. The convoy was rowdy and disruptive, but they did not set fire to synagogues or fired bullets at Jewish schools. The Friday riot in Montreal was just one in a series of coordinated actions designed to rile up fear and intimidation. No matter how you feel about the Freedom Convoy, they never went as far as the anti-Israel mobs have, as they throw up the Nazi salute and parade through Jewish neighbourhoods. Fortunately, not every part of the government has been idle during this time. Suspects from other incidents, such as the man who threatened to kill a counter-demonstrator at an anti-Israel protest in Toronto last year, were taken into custody. A few months ago, the police detained a suspect in Quebec who was allegedly planning to travel to New York City and murder scores of Jewish people on the anniversary of 9/11. With this murderous intent plain for all to see, why are the Liberals so afraid of publicly taking an unambiguous stand against the anti-Israel mob? Nobody has to love Israel to understand why it is wrong to only do the bare minimum to condemn antisemitism at these demonstrations and those who go further with violence. Trudeau’s failure to even try and rally Canadians against it is equal parts bewildering, infuriating, and suspect. Perhaps Trudeau’s own cabinet can provide a clue for their cravenness. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is as large a liability as can be found in the entire government. Joly is an utterly inept minister who has proven herself an equally careless politician. Former NDP leader Thomas Mulcair wrote last month that Joly had explicitly alluded to the “ demographics ” of her Montreal riding when it came to navigating Middle Eastern foreign policy. The phrase “demographics is destiny” is beloved among the alt-right, especially in online platforms like Reddit and 4Chan. In real life, in the House of Commons, however, it would seem that the Liberals believe in that phrase more fervently than anyone else. If cabinet ministers like Joly show us anything, it’s that the Liberals value getting re-elected over taking a risk to set a brave example. There is management, and then there is leadership. Trudeau has opted for the former. By not rocking the boat and overtly enraging the anti-Israel forces, Trudeau is content to be a manager. Can he truly be that checked out? A true leader would have stood with his back straight and made it clear at rallies and in Parliament that his government is unambiguously hostile to the radicals who smashed up Montreal over the weekend. That may not move CSIS or the RCMP any faster, but it would show Canadians that their prime minister is a moral leader, not a caretaker. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made Trudeau look like a reprobate when he released a long statement condemning the prime minister’s leadership following the riot. Poilievre excoriated the prime minister for opening Canada’s borders to terrorists, dividing Canadians by race, and turning the country into a “playground” for foreign interference. All of it rang true. Poilievre’s words channelled the rage and frustration that Canadians feel after seeing their country transformed into what it is today. One hundred and fifty-seven years on from Confederation, Canada is at risk of permanently becoming a husk of a nation where religious and ethnic minorities are terrorized and all the government can do is try and manage the situation, because, in their eyes, those threatened are the wrong kind of minority in 2024. There must be values that go beyond diversity and leadership that exists beyond social media. Say what you will about Pierre Trudeau, but at least he had guts and was not afraid to confront the terrorists of the Front de libération du Québec when they kidnapped and murdered politicians in the 1970s. So the question should be, to quote the younger Trudeau, do we tolerate these people? It should not take a murder or a kidnapping for this government to bring its full moral and political weight down on the radicals, but their weak-kneed decisions thus far have inspired no confidence that they would even then. This country is broken, no matter what the Liberals and their remaining loyalists spew to try and justify this failed government’s continued life. Canada can still be repaired, not remade, and be the country most of us still love and remember. That hopeful country where people could co-exist and communities thrive without fear is still within Canada’s grasp, but never under the leadership of a coward. National Post
Joe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for 'Peach' and 'Blossom' WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Later Monday, first lady Jill Biden will receive delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens will travel to New York to help serve a holiday meal at a Coast Guard station. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes. New Zealanders save more than 30 stranded whales by lifting them on sheets WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — More than 30 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a beach in New Zealand have been safely returned to the ocean after conservation workers and residents helped to refloat them by lifting them on sheets. New Zealand’s conservation agency said four whales died. New Zealand is a whale stranding hotspot and pilot whales are especially prolific stranders. The agency praised as “incredible” the efforts made by hundreds of people to help save the foundering pod. A Māori cultural ceremony for the three adult whales and one calf that died in the stranding took place Monday. Rainbow-clad revelers hit Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s pride parade RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of revelers have gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual gay pride parade, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young revelers, who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTQ+ deaths and violence in Brazil. Stolen shoe mystery solved at Japanese kindergarten when security camera catches weasel in the act TOKYO (AP) — Police thought a shoe thief was on the loose at a kindergarten in southwestern Japan, until a security camera caught the furry culprit in action. A weasel with a tiny shoe in its mouth was spotted on the video footage after police installed three cameras in the school in the prefecture of Fukuoka. “It’s great it turned out not to be a human being,” said Deputy Police Chief Hiroaki Inada. Teachers and parents had feared it could be a disturbed person with a shoe fetish. Japanese customarily take their shoes off before entering homes. The vanished shoes were all slip-ons the children wore indoors, stored in cubbyholes near the door. Social media sites call for Australia to delay its ban on children younger than 16 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An advocate for major social media platforms has told Australia's Parliament that a plan to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed rather than being rushed to approval this week. Sunita Bose is managing director of Digital Industry Group Inc. which is an advocate for the digital industry in Australia including X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. She was answering questions on Monday at a single-day Senate committee hearing into world-first legislation that was introduced into the Parliament last week. Bose said the Parliament should wait until the government-commissioned evaluation of age assurance technologies is completed next year.
Pune, Dec 26 (IANS): Ayan Lohchab scored 10 points in the decisive Eliminator 2 clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 as Patna Pirates demonstrated their championship pedigree with a convincing 31-23 win over U Mumba at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex here on Thursday night. Securing the last remaining spot in the semifinals, they were led by the exceptional performance of Lohchab scored eight raid points in his total of 10, while Gurdeep scored a High 5, keeping their opponents quiet throughout the whole game. The win set up an exciting clash in semifinal 2, against the in-form Dabang Delhi K.C. An All Out inflicted upon U Mumba eight and a half minutes into the match gave the Patna Pirates a very strong start as the three-time PKL Champions. This came after Devank Dalal was off the mat at the start of the match, but Ayan Lohchab stepped to the fore. He was well supported by his defenders, as the likes of Ajit Chouhan and Rohit Raghav were kept quiet throughout the first phase of the clash. U Mumba upped the ante in the second phase of the game in a bid to equal the score but to no avail. Ajit Chouhan was kept in check by the likes of Gurdeep and Ankit, while Ayan carried the Patna Pirates' attacking unit. A second All Out was forced upon U Mumba, hampering their hard work with two minutes left to the end of the first half. The score eventually read 17-11 at the half-time stage. As the second half commenced, Ayan continued his attacking forays. But this was not Ayan's only contribution for Patna Pirates, as he executed a crucial Super Tackle with a perfectly timed knee hold that pinned Ajit Chouhan to the mat. While Amirmohammad Zafardanesh managed to claw back a point for U Mumba with a swift hand touch on the left corner, the match remained finely balanced as the teams headed into the second timeout. In a crucial do-or-die raid, Devank, despite his limited involvement throughout the match, proved his mettle by successfully evading Rinku's challenge against a three-man U Mumba defence. Although substitute raider M Dhanasekar managed to secure two points for U Mumba, the Patna Pirates' tactical decision to run down the clock proved effective, leaving U Mumba struggling to accumulate points at the necessary pace to mount a comeback, as the three-time champions confirmed their place in semi-final 2, where they will face Dabang Delhi K.C.
Through their Instagram stories, Flavia Laos shared content from December 24 and 25, of his memorable memories from Courchevel, a luxurious town in the French Alps. In the most striking images, the Peruvian influencer is seen posing in front of a mirror, while Robert Dorfmann the young man who accompanies her, hugs her waist. The images and videos published by Flavia Laos reveal a remarkable connection between her and Dr. Robert Dorfmann especially within the framework of an exclusive celebration in a luxurious cabin located at the top of the mountain range. The attendance of this young man, a prominent plastic surgeon in the United States, has fueled speculation on social networks about a possible romance between the two. Who is Robert Dorfman? Robert Dorfmann, 29 years old, is enjoying a Christmas vacation in the French Alps with Flavia Laos. This young American plastic surgeon has gained recognition for his successful career in the field of aesthetic medicine, standing out for his professionalism and skills in his specialty. Robert Dorfman, plastic surgeon, would be Flavia Laos’ new partner. Photo: diffusion It is known that Robert Dorfmann, who graduated from Northwestern University’s renowned Combined Honors Program in Medical Education, complemented his academic training with a master’s degree in the History of Medicine at the University of Oxford. Subsequently, Robert Dorfmann He continued his training at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he completed his internship and residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His outstanding career has established him as one of the most promising young talents in this specialty, achieving significant recognition in both the academic and professional fields. Robert Dorfman, plastic surgeon, would be Flavia Laos’ new partner. Photo: Instagram It has been made known that Robert Dorfmann He is running his private clinic, ‘Done by Dorfman’, located in Beverly Hills, where he provides specialized services in hair restoration, anti-aging treatments and regenerative medicine. Did Flavia Laos fall in love again? Apparently, Flavia Laos He has found love again after an extensive period of singleness. The actress and singer would have confirmed her new relationship through a romantic image during the Christmas festivities, surprising her Instagram followers. During Christmas, the content creator moved to France to enjoy unforgettable moments with her new partner, the surgeon Robert Dorfmann . Through his Instagram stories, he shared several fragments of his trip. Flavia Laos and Robert Dorfman. Photo: Instagram In one of the snapshots, the influencer Flavia Laos She appears embraced by the doctor, who holds her waist, while both are reflected in a mirror, creating an atmosphere of tenderness and complicity. In addition, the Peruvian celebrity published other images where she is seen enjoying herself to the fullest with Dorfman at an exclusive party in the French Alps, specifically in the luxurious area of Courchevel. Join our entertainment channel