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YMCA Winter ActivitiesSOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Carl Ribaudo, domestic tourism expert and author of “Strategy and Creativity Matter; Notes from the Road: Experiences, Insights, and Perspectives from Along the Way,” offers his take on the post-election travel forecast, economic impacts/drivers as well as trends for 2025. “We know that after an election regardless of which party secures office, more and more travelers select destinations that align with their political beliefs and vote with their dollars. Now more than ever, and given some of the pricing challenges we will see this with travelers staying closer to home in their drive markets, and a shorter booking window. “The travel industry under a Trump administration in 2025 could experience both opportunities through domestic tourism initiatives and infrastructure investment, while potential trade restrictions and fiscal policies could present challenges, depending on the administration’s direction with global partners and economic stability,” Ribaudo said. “Tax cuts and deregulation could stimulate travel spending, but also raise inflation concerns, while stricter immigration policies could impact inbound tourism from other countries.” Ribaudo’s recently published book is available now in paperback via Amazon . Going beyond the surface-level aspects of tourism consulting, Ribaudo delves into the deeper nuances, challenges, and lessons through engaging anecdotes and reflections. Drawing from an extensive career, the author shares insights from over 70 U.S. destinations, offering practical advice to understanding the industry and sharpening critical thinking strategies. Ribaudo, a thought leader and innovator in the tourism industry, creates scenario planning and economic modeling for destination marketing organizations. Additionally, he is involved in various services, including marketing research (as a partner in the Travel Analytics Group), strategy and planning, tourism economic analysis, and measurement. His interests include destination competitiveness, organizational change, and destination and organizational strategy design. Ribaudo is a trusted advisor to many CEOs and senior executives throughout the industry working with destinations like Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Discover Vail and Travel Nevada. Designed to provide tourism executives with new ways of thinking competitively and challenge the status quo, Ribaudo’s “Notes from the Road” offers insight into why strategic plans often fail, developing strategy for a technology world, and managing the uncertain nature of tourism. Ribaudo also has a variety of published articles/whitepapers available on his website, ( https://www.smgonline.net/blog ) including: Topography’s Role in Shaping Destination Culture, Appeal, and Strategy. A Contrast between South Lake Tahoe and Carmel, CA Why Do Most Tourism Strategic Plans Fall Short? The Downside of Being Data Driven The Politics of Tourism, A Strategic Approach for DMOs For more details, or to schedule a speaking engagement, contact: Carl@smgonline.net .RFK Jr. Working With Lawyer Who Pushed FDA To Revoke Polio Vaccine
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Buying a house in 2025: your how-to guideJAMESTOWN, N.D. — The District 12 delegation plans to introduce the Chinese Divestment Act in the North Dakota Legislature, which will require the State Investment Board to divest all its North Dakota Legacy Fund investments in China. Rep. Bernie Satrom, R-Jamestown, said the bill is with the Legislative Council. ADVERTISEMENT If the legislation becomes law, North Dakota will join six other states that have recently pulled their investments in China — Kansas, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida and Texas. “Divesting our Legacy Fund holdings in China is long overdue,” the District 12 delegation said in a news release. “We have been voicing our concerns for years about our investments in Chinese-controlled companies involved in espionage, fentanyl, pornography, banking and real estate. But it looks like it will take legislation to get the State Investment Board to finally act on those concerns.” Two major entities have joined the growing trend to divest from China — the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which is the main U.S. federal government pension fund, and the state of Texas — in just the last few weeks, the District 12 delegation said in the news release. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a “stark directive” ordering all state investing agencies to halt Chinese investments and liquidate existing holdings, the delegation said. Unless amended, the Chinese Divestment Act will apply only to Chinese holdings in the Legacy Fund — not the state’s pension funds — but will include any “underlying” investments in China that the SIB may hold in “commingled” funds. Investments in those commingled funds are being covered up by the State Investment Board, according to the delegation. Jan Murtha, executive director of the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office, wrote in a response to Sen. Cole Conley, R-Jamestown, who requested records about Legacy Fund investments, that her office would not be able to provide him with the “holding level information” for 11 commingled funds. Holding level data refers to stocks and bonds the Legacy Fund owns. A commingled fund is a holding in a portfolio, Murtha wrote. “In a commingled fund, an investment is the pooling of assets from multiple investors into a single account, while the commingled fund holding is the result of that pooling,” she wrote. “The commingled fund must comply with all applicable laws and will not invest in securities sanctioned by the US Treasury. When the Legacy fund is invested in different types of commingled funds, the Legacy fund owns a proportional share of that fund. The Legacy fund does not directly own the underlying securities in the fund’s portfolio.” ADVERTISEMENT In 2010, North Dakota voters approved a measure that created the Legacy Fund, which is a perpetual source of state revenue from the finite national resources of oil and natural gas, according to the Office of State Treasurer’s website. Thirty percent of the taxes on petroleum produced and extracted in North Dakota are transferred to the Legacy Fund monthly, according to the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office’s website. The Legacy Fund has almost $11.5 billion as of Oct. 31. Satrom said the Legacy Fund is or has been invested in Chinese companies that have been flagged by the U.S. government for assisting the Chinese military-industrial complex and helping with the distribution and financing of the fentanyl drug trade. He said the Legacy Fund is currently or has invested nearly $230 million in 89 companies in China in the past four years. He said the 89 companies are only what has been disclosed in a few open records requests between 2021 and 2024. Satrom said the Legacy Fund is or has been invested in the following Chinese companies among others with these concerns: Satrom also noted the Legacy Fund is or has been invested in companies that compete with North Dakota’s oil and gas industry. “We have problems getting capital coming, having people come here to invest, and then we’re shipping all this money, not only outside of North Dakota, but outside of our country,” he said. “So we’re investing in everybody else’s future but our own.” ADVERTISEMENT Satrom previously said the Legacy Fund is or has been used to invest in banks that have joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance. The Net Zero Banking Alliance is a United Nations-backed group of leading global banks committed to aligning their lending, investment and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Programme’s website. State Treasurer Thomas Beadle, a member of the State Investment Board, said investments are in accordance with U.S. State Department and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission guidelines and requirements. “There’s a healthy list of those from a number of areas, anything that is on these bad actor lists by the U.S. State Department or the SEC or any of the federal guidelines, that’s the direction that our fund managers have been given to look towards and make sure that they’re not investing in any of those companies because those companies would be ones that the federal government has identified as being a bad faith actor that could be involved in espionage, spying, etc.,” he said. “We are very clear with our fund managers not to invest in any companies along those lines.” Beadle said there are investments with exposure to companies that operate in China. “We primarily have that exposure through index funds, where we buy shares within an index and then that index happens to have holdings from different companies and different funds,” he said. “So that’s where our primary exposure is into really all emerging markets, China included. Our exposure is more like 1.9% of our international fund, whereas the markets might say it should be more like 4 1/2% for the index.” Beadle said he doesn’t have a problem with divesting Legacy Fund investments from Chinese-owned companies. “But we need to also recognize what is the scope of that,” he said. “Is it just divesting from Chinese-owned companies or is it from companies like Apple where 95% of iPhones are still manufactured in China.” ADVERTISEMENT The District 12 delegation also plans to introduce the Legacy Fund Transparency Act during the next legislative session which will require the State Investment Board to publish every investment in the Legacy Fund. Satrom said the delegation is waiting for the draft of the bill. Satrom said there are more investments in categories — $800 million worth — such as “global region,” “international region” and “emerging markets region” where specific investments are hidden from public view. Satrom said a total of $3.1 billion in 24 funds is being invested from the Legacy Fund where the underlying investments are hidden from public view. He said the District 12 delegation has been denied information regarding those investments and contracts the State Investment Board has signed with over 30 out-of-state money managers. “Our constituents are demanding more accountability when it comes to how their Legacy Fund is being invested all around the world,” Conley said. “And they get particularly upset when they hear that investing in China and Russia is more important to the State Investment Board than investing in North Dakota.” Satrom said he’s not sure who’s even allowed to see the contracts the State Investment Board has with the out-of-state money managers. He also he’s been told that the attorney general has reviewed the contracts. “I’m sure they’re just reviewing to make sure ... that the format is proper and legal, and that it’s a binding contract,” he said. “I’m sure that’s their concern. It’s not the content. I’m concerned about the content.” Beadle said he is not familiar with the denial of the District 12 delegation’s request. But he said the information is being withheld if it is commercial confidential information when the request is for a fund manager. ADVERTISEMENT “If they want to see all of the holdings by fund manager A, we can’t specifically give them that if it’s under commercial confidential information for a private equity fund or a private fund manager because that gives away kind of their secret sauce blend,” he said.( MENAFN - PR Newswire) Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $50,000 In Xiao-I To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $50,000 in Xiao-I as a result of purchasing (a) Xiao-I American depository shares (ADSs) issued in connection with the Company's initial public offering on or about March 9, 2023 and/or (b) Xiao-I securities between March 9, 2023 and July 12, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Xiao-I Corporation ("Xiao-I" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AIXI ) and reminds investors of the December 16, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that (1) Defendants had downplayed the true scope and severity of risks that Xiao-I faced due to certain of its Chinese shareholders' non-compliance with Circular 37 Registration, including the Company's inability to use Offering proceeds for intended business purposes; (2) Xiao-I failed to comply with GAAP in preparing its financial statements; (3) Defendants overstated Xiao-I's efforts to remediate material weaknesses in the Company's financial controls; (4) Xiao-I was forced to incur significant R&D expenses to effectively compete in the AI industry; (5) Xiao-I downplayed the significant negative impact that such expenses would have on the Company's business and financial results; (6) accordingly, Xiao-I overstated its AI capabilities, R&D resources, and overall ability to compete in the AI market; (7) as a result of all the foregoing, there was a substantial likelihood that Xiao-I would fail to comply with the NASDAQ's Minimum Bid Price Requirement; and (8) as a result, the Offering Documents and Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. On or around March 8, 2023, Xiao-I launched its initial public offering (IPO), selling 5.7 million American depositary shares (ADSs) at $6.80 each. Since the IPO, the price of Xiao-I's ADSs has dropped significantly, causing losses for investors. On August 10, 2023, Xiao-I Corporation filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission its amended annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022 on Form 10-K/A. In the amended annual report, Xiao-I disclosed that "However, should there be any changes to PRC laws and regulations or internal control policies of Bank of Ningbo in the future, [Zhizhen Artificial Technology (Shanghai) Company Limited, a Company subsidiary] then may be restricted from transferring funds from overseas to its capital account with Bank of Ningbo as a result." On this news, the price of Xiao-I American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") fell $0.93 per ADS, or 11.56%, to close at $7.11 on August 11, 2023. On July 15, 2024, Xiao-I issued a press release announcing "that it received a notification letter dated July 11, 2024 (the 'Deficiency Letter') from the Listing Qualifications Department of [t]he [NASDAQ], indicating that the Company is no longer in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) as the Company's closing bid price per [ADS] . . . has been below $1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days." On this news, Xiao-I's ADS price fell 2.28% to close at approximately $0.67 per ADS on July 15, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Xiao-I's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Xiao-I Corporation class action, go to /AIXI or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP MENAFN30112024003732001241ID1108941531 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Freiburg survives late onslaught to beat Wolfsburg in Bundesliga thrillerA rocket scientist from the University of Oxford has invented a new type of cast iron pan using thermodynamics that could persuade home cooks away from their Le Creuset. The enamelled cast iron Dutch oven with fins around the outside was inspired by heat transfer methods of jet engines and rocket design and leads to quicker cooking. The fins around the pans are designed to improve heat distribution and improve efficiency. Heat that would otherwise be lost around the outside of a pan can be captured and used to create an “oven-like” effect. The pan is produced by FireUp – a company that received £10,000 from the ’s Innovation incubator programme which gives funding to entrepreneurs in exchange for a percentage of royalties. Raghav Agarwal, the chief executive of FireUp, told The Telegraph: “The patent underpinning this unique finned design was developed by Professor Thomas Povey, who applied his research into high-efficiency cooling systems for next-generation jet engines to an everyday object that transfers heat: domestic cookware.” FireUp is a clear competitor in the cast iron market, which has long been dominated by French giant Le Creuset. , the prestige French cookware brand which turns 100 next year, is famed for its colours, quality and lifetime warranty. The company, based in Fresnoy-le-Grand in northern France, manufactures pots which cost up to £600 and come in a range of colours. A recent Le Creuset warehouse sale in Hampshire was so popular that people from across the UK to get bargain prices, with police called in to help cope with all the extra traffic. FireUp makes its products in France, has an eye-catching design, and offers a lifetime warranty at a similar price point – £250 for a five-litre pan – but Mr Agarwal rejects any comparisons to . “Respectfully, we don’t think we are competing with legacy brands,” he said. “For context, our innovation design bears similarity to how Apple disrupted Nokia and Blackberry with their iPhone touchscreen innovation.” He added: “The product is not positioned to compete with existing large legacy companies. We believe that there has been zero innovation in cookware design, for almost a hundred years. “The market offers nothing more than the same product in different colours and sizes, hyper-marketed to appear innovative, but in reality, it’s just lazy rebranding of the same product. “Most importantly, no new product focuses on improving the design or scientifically enhancing efficiency, to save both gas and time in everyday cooking.” According to Prof Povey in his patent, the fin technology of the FireUp pans “provides a heat transfer structure in good thermal contact with the side wall of the vessel”. “Heated air and any flame which travels up the side of the vessel can be captured by the heat transfer structure and the heat conducted into the walls of the vessel. “The increased heat energy available for hearing the contents of the verses thus greatly increases the efficiency of the heating process.” It is claimed that on a gas hob, the FireUp pan technology increases heating efficiency to 80 per cent from 30 per cent. The benefit is most noticeable on a gas hob, the patent states, as it can maximise the heat plume that the burner sends around and above the pan. Mr Agarwal said: “Our signature fin technology was developed based on heat exchange theory used in rocket design. “It allows more even heat distribution and superior efficiency by guiding the flame around the pan and into the fins. “The carefully designed fins also retain heat and create an oven-like even cooking experience. They also make the pan look unique and beautiful on your table.” An Oxford University Innovation spokesperson said: “The FireUp cookware technology is an example of how universities can support technologies to reach the market through programmes such as Oxford University Innovation’s Student Entrepreneurship Programme (StEP). “By providing support to entrepreneurs and access to innovative technologies and world-class expertise, we try and ensure that the outputs of Oxford’s research can make an impact both economically and socially.”Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. ( NYSE:SSD – Free Report ) by 4.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 46,119 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,783 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc.’s holdings in Simpson Manufacturing were worth $8,821,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SSD. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its position in Simpson Manufacturing by 17.6% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,950 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $947,000 after purchasing an additional 742 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Simpson Manufacturing by 1.4% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 487,118 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $93,171,000 after buying an additional 6,585 shares during the last quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Simpson Manufacturing by 0.8% during the third quarter. Moran Wealth Management LLC now owns 29,827 shares of the construction company’s stock worth $5,705,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the period. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Simpson Manufacturing during the third quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AG acquired a new position in shares of Simpson Manufacturing in the 3rd quarter valued at $2,061,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.68% of the company’s stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on Simpson Manufacturing from $202.00 to $218.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Simpson Manufacturing Price Performance Shares of NYSE:SSD opened at $188.25 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.53, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $157.42 and a twelve month high of $218.38. The company’s 50 day moving average is $186.55 and its 200 day moving average is $178.69. The company has a market cap of $7.94 billion, a PE ratio of 24.87 and a beta of 1.32. Simpson Manufacturing ( NYSE:SSD – Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 21st. The construction company reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.40 by ($0.19). Simpson Manufacturing had a return on equity of 18.29% and a net margin of 14.51%. The business had revenue of $587.15 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $589.00 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.43 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. will post 7.55 EPS for the current year. Simpson Manufacturing Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. Simpson Manufacturing’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.80%. About Simpson Manufacturing ( Free Report ) Simpson Manufacturing Co, Inc, through its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells structural solutions for wood, concrete, and steel connections. The company offers wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shearwalls, and pre-fabricated lateral systems for use in light-frame construction; and concrete construction products comprising adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder actuated tools, fiber-reinforced materials, and other repair products for use in concrete, masonry, and steel construction, as well as grouts, coatings, sealers, mortars, fiberglass and fiber-reinforced polymer systems, and asphalt products for use in concrete construction repair, and strengthening and protection products. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SSD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc. ( NYSE:SSD – Free Report ). 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The unusual drone activity in New Jersey roused a lot of citizen interest in potential national security threats attributed by an official to a new Federal Aviation Agency rule. Dozens of people reported seeing drones in New Jersey in the last few weeks, as well as in other states, leaving Americans terrified of a major security threat. Federal officials said they "simply don't know" the truth about the objects that are flying across the sky which has led to a rise of conspiracy theories on social media, including President-elect Donald Trump and his MAGA allies blaming the government. Pilots ready to 'take action' against 'dangerous' drone hunters 'Evidence of ancient nuclear war' found in 4,000-year-old city The FAA has strict regulations on nighttime operations. Most drones are not permitted to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights with a visibility of at least 3 miles. However, there have been over 1 million drone violations in 2024 alone, according to Dedrone, a company that leads the airspace security industry. "Most people didn't really think about it until two weeks ago but drone violations happen every single day. Not just one, thousands of them every day," said Mary-Lou Smulders, the Chief Marketing Officer at Dedrone. Generally, a drone cannot be flown within a controlled airspace around an airport without FAA authorization, over national security sensitive facilities and military bases, national landmarks as well as over airspace covered by Temporary Flight Restrictions that are imposed by the FAA in the wake of safety or security concerns. Following the mystery drone sightings, the FAA has imposed a ban on drone flights over a New Jersey golf course in Bedminster that is owned by Trump as well as over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base. "We should have a safe and efficient North American airspace," Smulders said, insisting that drones, also called uncrewed aircraft are "amazing tools" that can revolutionize the airspace industry. "We don't want to say drones can't fly. That would put us a step back from the rest of the world. What we need to do is enable state and local law enforcement to use tools that exist today," she said, adding that the problem lies in people using drones "willy-nilly" and law enforcement officials being unable to do anything to stop them. When laws were written to govern aircraft, an uncrewed aircraft or drone was not considered a possibility, making the protections imposed on a drone similar to an aircraft full of humans. "It's a classic situation where the technology has gotten ahead of the legislation, making our laws today antiquated with respect to the technology," she said. At Dedrone, they have developed the technology to allow law enforcement officials to do two things that are used by other countries in conflict zones and can interfere with bad drone activity. The advanced detection methodologies provide law enforcement officials with the owner's information under remote ID regulations. "Remote ID is like the license plate of the drone world," Smulders explained. The technology also offers a jammer which looks like a gun but instead of shooting bullets, it simply cuts off the connection between the drone and the remote, forcing the drone to naturally go back to their takeoff location. The jammer also prevents the drone from being used again. Using this technology can not only help law enforcement take appropriate actions against bad drone activity but also monitor national security threats or terrorism threats that might harm the larger community. Although the compliance laws went into effect despite years of back and forth and several grandfather clauses, "compliance is shockingly low," she said. To get rid of this issue, the solution is twofold. "It's partially ignorance of the law. So there's an education program that needs to happen," Smulders said, adding, "Lack of enforceability by state and local laws. You simply put thoughtful, practical laws in place and you give law enforcement the opportunity to enforce them." While the drone sightings in New Jersey have stirred conversation, Smulders said she hopes people do not forget about this and can keep the conversation about drone security ongoing. The Department of Defense released a joint statement with the DHS, the FBI, and the FAA on Tuesday regarding the situation. The FBI has reportedly received more than 5,000 drone sighting tips over the last few weeks with approximately 100 leads. "Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones," the statement read. "We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast," the statement added. They urged Congress to "enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes that would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge."Buying a house in 2025: your how-to guide
Patrick Mahomes threw a walk-off pass to win the Super Bowl. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win a World Series game. Stephen Curry said “nuit, nuit” to win an Olympic basketball title in Paris. Noah Lyles won 100-meter gold by about the smallest margin possible. And Sabrina Ionescu won a WNBA Finals game with a 30-foot heave. Depending on who you rooted for, some made you cheer, some left you crushed. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a good way: Shohei Ohtani, on the night he started baseball’s 50-50 club, drove in 10 runs in a performance for the ages. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a jarring way: Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, got arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship and taken away in handcuffs to jail — where he had a sandwich and started warming up for the tee time he ended up making. And maybe the best way to describe what we had, when all these things happened, are the words Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi used after his team beat the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary pass: “Front-row seats,” Cosmi said, “to something amazing.” Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ superstar sharpshooter, made his Olympic debut one to remember and saved his best for last. He hit four 3-pointers in the final minutes, each shot more dramatic than the last, to seal the U.S. win over host France for gold. Curry’s signature celebration is the “night night,” where he puts his hands together at the side of his face, as if it’s time to go to sleep. In Paris, he brought shirts that made it perfectly clear to the French what that meant — yes, the message written on the shirts was “nuit nuit.” Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes did something no one has ever done: He threw a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the title game. San Francisco kicked a field goal to open overtime of Super Bowl 58, and Mahomes had 75 yards to go to try and answer. He scrambled for eight yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive — a huge play that probably very few remember. He went 8 for 8 on passes in overtime, engineering a perfect drive. The finale: a 3-yard toss to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs were back-to-back champions. OK, technically, the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team won the Olympic bronze medal with a kick (a conversion, they call it). But the real moment was Alex Sedrick, running the length of the field and into history. Sedrick got the ball with about 8 seconds left, ran through three Australia defenders and took it all the way down the field for a try that tied the game at 12-12 with no time left. Her kick won bronze for the Americans, a result that made star Ilona Maher — the undisputed face of the sport in the U.S. — an even bigger name, and breathed new life into the sport in a country where it still has tons of room to grow. In this case, let’s make three games — Iowa vs. UConn, South Carolina vs. N.C. State, then South Carolina vs. Iowa for the title — one moment. Maybe a movement is the better word. Caitlin Clark’s record-setting year, South Carolina’s undefeated run to the national title, UConn’s return to the Final Four, they were all part of a scintillating year for women’s basketball. The WNBA saw enormous growth — Clark, its rookie of the year, helped fuel that in a big way — and more eyeballs were on the game than ever before. Everything at an Olympics is a moment for someone; a lifetime of work typically coming down to a few seconds. But in Paris, a few stood out more than others. Start with Sifan Hassan, trading elbows in the stretch of the marathon to win her third distance medal — this one gold. Or Cole Hocker, looking like Forrest Gump in coming from nowhere to beat the two favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter run. The highlight, of course, was Noah Lyles’ .005-second victory in the 100-meter dash. He ran the fastest time of his life and didn’t take the lead until the absolute last instant, a finish that even had commentators guessing wrong about who actually prevailed. Of the 346,000 swings taken by batters in Major League Baseball this year, three probably jumped out more than the rest. There was Freddie Freeman, hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to move the Los Angeles Dodgers a step closer to beating the New York Yankees and winning the title. There was Pete Alonso, saving the season for the New York Mets with a home run to lift them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the deciding game of an NL wild-card series. And then there was Shohei Ohtani, a night like none other in a season like none other. On the night in Miami when he joined — created, really — baseball’s 50-homer, 50-steal club, he hit three home runs, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs on a 6-for-6 night. Cleveland’s Max Strus lived every kid’s hoop-in-the-driveway fantasy ... down by one, time running out, let-it-fly ... a 59-footer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over Dallas. But the buzzer-beater of the year: Take a bow, Sabrina Ionescu. From just inside of the logo, her 3-pointer with 1 second left gave the New York Liberty a win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals — and the Liberty would win the title in five games. World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had a year of moments — most of them great (nine wins worldwide), one of them bizarre (the arrest at the PGA Championship). But the signature moment of 2024 for Scheffler might have been weeping as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in honor of his Olympic golf gold medal in Paris. He rallied from six shots back with a final-round 62 to win the gold. On the way to winning the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a save he’ll never forget. Bobrovsky — out of “desperation,” he’d say later — dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Tampa Bay’s Matt Dumba’s shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley used a spin move — and a leap — on the same play. The 180-degree hurdle was one of the signature moves of 2024 in the NFL. It made a 14-yard reception unforgettable. “Best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. They call it a “Hail Mary” in football, the desperation pass into the end zone with no time left to try and win a game. The Washington Commanders pulled it off against the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels’ throw going into team lore. And Virginia Tech thought it had pulled one off against Miami, only to have officials — who originally said the Hokies won — overrule the call after replay review, sealing a win for the Hurricanes. Get local news delivered to your inbox!McGill runs for 2TDs and North Texas becomes bowl eligible by beating Temple 24-17
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A new department for Rock Island County will be moving into a former automotive repair shop. The newly created Fleet Management Department will be based in the building that housed the Ace Muffler Clinic for 55 years, a news release said. Ace Muffler closed in July of 2023. The county purchased the building for $550,000 in July of 2024, according to the Rock Island County assessor's website . Located at 1429 Fourth Ave., the building sits at the foot of the Centennial Bridge and across the street from the Rock Island County office building. The Fleet Service Center will provide maintenance oversight and routine service of the county's 175 vehicles from numerous offices and departments. Routine maintenance will include oil changes, tire rotation and replacement, alignment and brakes. People are also reading... "Centralized fleet management will ensure that county vehicles are routinely maintained, providing for efficiencies and longevity of the fleet," County Administrator Jim Grafton said. A fleet manager has been hired and additional personnel is expected to be hired in the next few weeks, the release said. Vehicle service is planned to start in January. The former Ace Muffler Clinic in Rock Island will house the Rock Island County Fleet Management Department. Hutchinson Engineering was hired to assist in establishing the new department. Hutchinson has consulted with other local governments, such as Scott County and the city of East Moline, to establish their own fleet management programs. "As we continuously seek ways to improve, Rock Island County is embracing a recognized best practice for local governments — consolidated fleet management," County Board Chairman Richard "Quijas" Brunk said. Drivers have been warned that they could risk serious engine damage if they fail to check their antifreeze levels during winter. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms unveils the plaque signifying the rededication of Rock Island City Hall on Monday after the completion of a $2.25 million renovation project that included a complete remodel of city council chambers. While taking up carpets during the renovation, workers found terrazzo marble that was kept in place for the flooring to preserve the history of the building. In the city council chambers, a drop ceiling that kept hidden the original 1940s art deco ceiling and the original light fixtures was removed. The original ceiling was painted, and the original light fixtures now use LED lights which brightens the chambers. From left to right are Andrew Dasso, owner of Streamline Architects; Second Ward Ald. Randy Hurt; First Ward Ald. Moses Robinson Jr.; Fourth Ward Ald. Jenni Swanson; Adam Hass, vice president of Valley Construction; Craig DeVrieze, executive director of Illowa Construction Labor & Management Council; Mayor Mike Thoms; former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert; Fifth Ward Ald. Dylan Parker; Sixth Ward Ald. Mark Poulos; Seventh Ward Ald. Bill Healy. The renovations were paid for with $2 million in ARPA funds and $250,000 from a surplus in the city's general fund. The offices of Community and Economic Development were part of the 2.25 million renovations of Rock Island City Hall. The terrazzo marble floors had been covered by carpet. To preserve the history of the building the floors were kept. Rock Island City Hall was built in 1940. This was the first renovation of the building in more than 84 years. Photos of the mayors of Rock Island hang on the wall inside Rock Island City Hall. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, left, and architect Andrew Dasso, right, show the new board room that sits behind city council chambers during an open house on Monday. The chambers had enough space for the builders to make a board room while at the same time only slightly lessening the city council chambers space. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. This one is of the Rock Island County Courthouse. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. This one is of the Centennial Bridge, known early on as the Galbraith Bridge, and now call the Stanley Talbot Memorial (Centennial) Bridge. Tim Bain, Rock Island Information Technology Director, works with Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Poulos in the renovated city council chambers on Monday. The city held an open house for people to see the $2.25 million renovations done for the first time since the building opened in 1940. Current Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms greets former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert during the open house held Monday for the public to see the $2.25 million renovations done to city hall. Schwiebert served as Mayor of Rock Island from 1989 to 2009. Renovated Rock Island City Council chambers. The 1940s art deco ceiling was hidden for many years by a drop ceiling. When workers took that ceiling down, they found the original ceiling and the original light fixtures. The original ceiling and original lights were kept in order to preserve the history of Rock Island City Hall. Photos: Rock Island shows off City Hall renovations Rock Island held an open house Monday so the public could view the $2.25 million in renovations to City Hall, which was built in 1940. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms unveils the plaque signifying the rededication of Rock Island City Hall on Monday after the completion of a $2.25 million renovation project that included a complete remodel of city council chambers. While taking up carpets during the renovation, workers found terrazzo marble that was kept in place for the flooring to preserve the history of the building. In the city council chambers, a drop ceiling that kept hidden the original 1940s art deco ceiling and the original light fixtures was removed. The original ceiling was painted, and the original light fixtures now use LED lights which brightens the chambers. From left to right are Andrew Dasso, owner of Streamline Architects; Second Ward Ald. Randy Hurt; First Ward Ald. Moses Robinson Jr.; Fourth Ward Ald. Jenni Swanson; Adam Hass, vice president of Valley Construction; Craig DeVrieze, executive director of Illowa Construction Labor & Management Council; Mayor Mike Thoms; former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert; Fifth Ward Ald. Dylan Parker; Sixth Ward Ald. Mark Poulos; Seventh Ward Ald. Bill Healy. The renovations were paid for with $2 million in ARPA funds and $250,000 from a surplus in the city's general fund. The offices of Community and Economic Development were part of the 2.25 million renovations of Rock Island City Hall. The terrazzo marble floors had been covered by carpet. To preserve the history of the building the floors were kept. Rock Island City Hall was built in 1940. This was the first renovation of the building in more than 84 years. Photos of the mayors of Rock Island hang on the wall inside Rock Island City Hall. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, left, and architect Andrew Dasso, right, show the new board room that sits behind city council chambers during an open house on Monday. The chambers had enough space for the builders to make a board room while at the same time only slightly lessening the city council chambers space. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. This one is of the Rock Island County Courthouse. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. Old photos found around Rock Island City Hall are used to decorate the new board room that now sits behind city council chambers. This one is of the Centennial Bridge, known early on as the Galbraith Bridge, and now call the Stanley Talbot Memorial (Centennial) Bridge. Tim Bain, Rock Island Information Technology Director, works with Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Poulos in the renovated city council chambers on Monday. The city held an open house for people to see the $2.25 million renovations done for the first time since the building opened in 1940. Current Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms greets former Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert during the open house held Monday for the public to see the $2.25 million renovations done to city hall. Schwiebert served as Mayor of Rock Island from 1989 to 2009. Renovated Rock Island City Council chambers. The 1940s art deco ceiling was hidden for many years by a drop ceiling. When workers took that ceiling down, they found the original ceiling and the original light fixtures. The original ceiling and original lights were kept in order to preserve the history of Rock Island City Hall. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! 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Philadelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry's 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn't accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia's pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they'll find ways to produce. AP NFL:
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