WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after the Jan. 6, 2021 , U.S. Capitol attack, Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department was committed to holding accountable all perpetrators “at any level” for “the assault on our democracy.” That bold declaration won't apply to at least one person: Donald Trump. Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could get a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.Walmart is selling an 'amazing' $150 office chair for only $52 ahead of holiday shoppingEC gives pep talk on PAO elections
Hyun tabbed as DNR secretary
After seeing We Live in Time, social media users filmed themselves sobbing, creating a loop of people seeking an emotional release and then sharing it with the world. When they came across videos on TikTok of people crying after they watched We Live in Time , a new romantic drama starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield that will come to New Zealand cinemas in January, Carmen Wells and her five roommates decided to watch the film. After the screening, “We were the last ones in the movie theatre, sitting on the floor, sobbing,” said Wells, 19, a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Thinking that their reactions were amusing, and wanting to encourage others to see the movie, Wells made her own video. “This is me before We Live in Time ,” Well says in the video, looking composed and casual in a hoodie and glasses. A few seconds later, a shaky hand captures Wells walking on the street, sobbing as she cries out, “He loves her so much!” Another few seconds pass, and Wells is holding the camera again. She turns it toward herself. “This is me,” she says through tears.Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day
Tyrese Hunter tossed in a game-high 26 points to lead Memphis to a 99-97 upset victory over No. 2 UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational in Lahaina, Hawaii. Hunter, who played at Iowa State and Texas before transferring to Memphis, made eight field goals with 7-of-10 3-point shooting. The Tigers (5-0) connected on 12 of their 22 3-point attempts in the win. UConn's Hassan Diarra made a free throw to cut the Memphis lead to 99-97 with 2.2 seconds left. He intentionally missed the second free throw and collected the loose ball, but his desperation shot was off the mark. It was 92-92 when UConn's Liam McNeeley was called for an offensive foul with 40.3 seconds left. UConn coach Dan Hurley received a technical for arguing the foul call, and PJ Carter made all four free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead. Memphis, which squandered a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in regulation, received 22 points from PJ Haggerty, 19 from Colby Rogers and 14 from Dain Dainja. Memphis will play the winner of Monday night's game between Colorado and Michigan State in Tuesday's semifinals. UConn will face the loser of that contest. Tarris Reed Jr. had a team-high 22 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for UConn (4-1) before he fouled out with 3:18 to play. He made 10 of his 13 field goal attempts. Alex Karaban added 19 points for the Huskies. Jaylin Stewart scored a career-high 16 points, Diarra had 12 and McNeeley added 10. UConn trailed 82-79 after Diarra made two free throws with 24.2 seconds to play in regulation. The Huskies then forced a turnover and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Solo Ball with 1.2 on the clock. Although Memphis shot 56.5 percent from the field (13 for 23) and 50 percent from 3-point territory (5 for 10) in the first half, the game was tied 40-40 after 20 minutes. Neither team led by more than six points in the half. UConn received 29 points from its bench in the first half. Reed scored 15 of those points and Stewart supplied the other 14. --Field Level Media
If you were holding out for a new technically-street-legal supercar that would be slightly faster around most race tracks than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, but significantly more expensive, stiffer, and seemingly worse in almost every way to drive on the street, Manthey Racing has the car for you . The new Manthey Kit GT3 RS receives a unique aero kit for more downforce, racetrack-optimized suspension, more aggressive brakes and the rear window is swapped out for a shark fin . None of this is done in the name of subtlety. This is a blunt-edged track weapon that most buyers won’t ever have enough skill to operate properly. If you’re looking for a track-only machine that will improve your skills, you’re definitely better off spending less money to go faster by calling Porsche Motorsport and getting yourself a race-ready GT3 Cup. If, for some reason, you absolutely need to prove your mettle by tracking a street-legal Porsche, then this kind of splits the difference between the GT3 RS and the track-only Cup. You’ll also have to pay around $125,000 above and beyond the standard GT3 RS base price of $241,300. That bonkers price doesn’t include any increase in power, either, as it’s purely aero, suspension and brakes. The stock 518 horsepower flat-six remains unchanged, which coupled with an increase in downforce and aerodynamic drag means you’ll probably lose some top speed. The standard GT3 RS set a Vmax of 183 miles per hour, so you can bet it’ll be a little less than that. It’ll probably be quicker through every corner on the track, though. Manthey says the new car produces 2,200 pounds of downforce at 177 miles per hour, which I would guess is its new top speed. All of the aero flicks, bigger wings, and carbon “aerodisc” wheel inserts account for just 300 pounds of downforce at those speeds. Is it really worth it? Manthey and Porsche have not yet released a Nürburgring lap time for the Manthey-kitted car, but you can bet that the new car will be a bit quicker around the Green Hell. The current non-Manthey GT3 RS ran a 6:44.848 lap time back in 2022, which is a long way off the 6:29.090 that Mercedes-AMG set with its One hypercar earlier this year. Porsche will have to really pull out some magic to get anywhere near that car’s time with half the horsepower. “Over a period of two years, we worked together with Porsche engineers on the new Manthey Kit for the 911 GT3 RS and tested it over several thousand kilometers on European racetracks and on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,” says Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH. “Our data promises a significant improvement in lap times compared to the standard 911 GT3 RS. So far, weather conditions have prevented us from achieving an official lap time on the Nordschleife. We want to make up for this at the next possible opportunity.” “With the Manthey Kit, the 911 GT3 RS has improved significantly on the racetrack, especially on medium-speed corners,” says Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister. “The car dives, pitches and rolls even less, offering a much more stable aerodynamic platform. The high contact pressure therefore remains very constant under all driving conditions.” Ultimately this is a way for people with too much money to spend more than their neighbor to buy a flashy high-tech track machine for Saturday morning cars and coffees. Be careful not to put too many miles on it or you might hurt the car’s long-term value. It’s probably best that you just park this car in your garage and never drive it. Though, if I were buying a car that was going to just sit in my garage, I’d at least want one that looks good.
Governor vows to help promote education PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday lauded the services of Wana Welfare Association for education and welfare of the people and said he would spare no effort to promote education in the remote areas of the province. Rahmatullah Wazir, President Wana Welfare Association, thanked the governor for organizing the ceremony at the Governor’s House. He recounted the services made by the association in Wana and other areas of Waziristan. The association started within limited resources some 20 years ago and later launched schools, orphanages, introduced scholarships and planted olive and other trees on hundreds of acres of land. The governor distributed scholarship awards among the best students on behalf of the association. “The services of Wana Welfare Association are commendable in the fields of education, social welfare and other fields, “ Kundi said. The governor said regional and provincial development can be ensured by making proper use of resources. “Our province has yet to get its share. If proper attention had been given to the provincial water resources, the lands would not have been barren anywhere including Wana,” said Kundi He said political leadership gathered under one roof for the resources and rights of the province including restoration of peace. He said he would play his role for the problems and demands presented regarding South Waziristan including Wana. He said that Angoor Adda border should be kept open for promotion of trade. “Unfortunately, the promises made to people of tribal districts after merger remained unfulfilled. No attention was paid to the development work in merged districts,” he added.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz withdrew Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation's chief federal law enforcement officer. The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matthew Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week that he did not intend to take the oath of office. There are plans for a special election in Florida for his seat. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hopes Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 82, LE MOYNE 61Dallas, TX, USA, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) are thrilled to announce the formation of PPA Asia and MLP Asia – in a significant milestone for the highest level of pickleball on a global scale. Asia joins the roster of regions hosting premier pickleball events and competitions for both professionals and amateurs. CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO (Credit: Carvana PPA Tour) “Asia has a rich tradition of racket sports, and we are excited to contribute to its sports culture with the arrival of pickleball,” said Connor Pardoe, Founder and CEO of the PPA Tour. “With growing enthusiasm for the sport across the region, we see immense potential to bring the world’s premier pickleball brands to Asian audiences through PPA Asia and MLP Asia. This is a massive moment for global pickleball and we’re excited to continue to lead the charge. PPA and MLP Asia will bring their premier brands to major Asian markets, including China, Vietnam, Japan and Singapore. Set to launch in 2025, PPA Tour Asia will feature iconic venues and culminate in an October marquee event, uniting top pros from Asia, the United States and other regions from around the globe. MLP Asia will debut in 2025/2026, bringing franchised team play and establishing domestic leagues that will drive the sport’s local presence and excitement. The new venture will be led by Managing Director Kimberly Koh, the former Partnerships Director at World Table Tennis with 13 years of sports marketing experience in the region. “As an athlete born in Vietnam and achieving success on the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball in the United States, I see the impact these organizations have on growing the game,” said Quang Duong, the highest-ranked Asian-born player on the PPA Tour and MLP. “With the passion for racket sports already established in the region, this is a huge moment for pickleball to explode across Asia and globally.” “Bringing the highest level of professional pickleball to the world’s largest continent is an amazing opportunity to grow both the pro and amateur games,” said PPA Tour World No.1 (Doubles/Mixed) Ben Johns. “I look forward to connecting with fans across Asia and spreading the joy of the sport in the region.” Anna Bright, MVP of MLP and a top-ranked PPA Tour player added, “The growth of pickleball in the United States has been amazing, and now we have the opportunity to bring the top tour and league in the sport to Asia – I know fans and players in the region will love pickleball just as much as we do.” Since its founding in 2019, the PPA Tour has become the ultimate stage for pickleball, securing exclusive contracts with the world’s best players and inviting amateurs to “Play Where the Pros Play” - competing in the same venues. Founded in 2020, MLP offers a unique, exciting, team-based format that has attracted high-profile owners such as LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Jeremy Lin, and Heidi Klum. About PPA Asia and MLP Asia PPA and MLP Asia are dedicated to expanding the highest level of the sport of pickleball across Asia, focusing on developing professional talent and engaging new fans and players. Through world-class events, elite training, and partnerships, the organization aims to position pickleball as a leading sport across the region. For any partnerships or media enquiries, please contact media@upa-asia.com About Carvana PPA Tour: Founded in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is where pickleball’s top athletes go head-to-head to determine the best male and female players in the world. The Carvana PPA Tour organizes and conducts tournaments at world-class facilities across the country, establishes player rankings, and showcases the world’s best pickleball week in and week out. Inviting amateur players to also compete and “play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour offers divisions for every age group and skill level. Characterized by a uniquely festive and fun atmosphere, Carvana PPA Tour events deliver unparalleled experiences for fans on-site, including pro player meet-and-greets, clinics, food, beverages, live entertainment, giveaways, games, shopping, and VIP upgrades. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com , and follow us on social: Twitter/X , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , LinkedIn . About MLP by Margaritaville MLP by Margaritaville (Major League Pickleball) is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring over 100 of the best athletes across 24 teams, a unique coed format, easy to understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport. Founded in 2021, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville in December 2022. For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube . Attachments PPA Asia x MLP Asia Pickleball World Championships 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. As a result, flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% of the airline's 3,901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Nineteen flights were canceled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any “chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day.” He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. On social media, however, customers expressed frustration with delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Bobby Tighe, a real estate agent from Florida, said he will miss a family Christmas Eve party in New York because his American flight was repeatedly delayed. The delays made him miss a connecting flight, leaving him the choice of going to his destination — Westchester, New York — on Christmas Day or taking another flight to Newark, New Jersey, that was scheduled to land Tuesday evening. He chose the latter. “I’m just going to take an Uber or Lyft to the airport I was originally supposed to go to, pick up my rental car and kind of restart everything tomorrow,” Tighe said. He said his girlfriend was “going through the same exact situation” on her way from Dallas to New York. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York’s Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site did not post any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but it showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. ___ Associated Press writers David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report. Matt Ott And Haleluya Hadero, The Associated PressGaetz withdraws as Trump's pick for attorney general, averting confirmation battle in the SenateAP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:51 p.m. ESTThe 110-Year-Old Pecan Pie Recipe That Will Change the Way You Make the Classic Dessert
Intapp's chief marketing officer sells $309,600 in stock
Mountain Wheels: Three-row Audi Q7 can still be outrageous, when promptedBy KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Boston Wood had a secret for Central Valley coach Chip Bartos after his postgame interview. Only there was no secret and it was a ploy to get Bartos off the playing surface and over to the bench. That’s where Wood and other players had readied a Gatorade jug to dump on Bartos. It worked and the celebration of winning the Class D-2 state championship against Riverside 52-12 continued. Bartos was soaked from the neck down as Wood, who stands at 5-feet-6-inches tall, couldn’t get the jug over Bartos’s head. The celebrations started as the game neared the end with Central Valley in the lead 52-12 in the fourth quarter. About midway through the fourth quarter the starters were pulled and the seniors gathered together on the sideline for a photo together. They’d dreamed of this moment, of playing on the biggest stage, and on Monday they put the cherry on top of a season they won’t ever forget. “Eighth grade year – that was when the high school got to the semifinals and we knew that we wanted it. That was a dream come true to play here,” senior Grady Kelly said. The season ended how Kelly wanted, but the regular season didn’t go how he envisioned it. After running for 2,006 yards his junior season, Kelly played just three regular season games. He came back in time for the playoffs. “It really sucked being on the sideline for those couple of games, but I kept cheering my boys on and they stepped up, especially Luke Shoemaker stepped up for me and I was able to come back and very excited about that,” Kelly said. Zaden Wolf stepped up big as the quarterback in his senior season after being the backup last season. He finished the year with 1,480 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions. On the ground, he was even better with 1,574 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns. Wolf, who was honored as one of Believers and Achievers Award winners in the Class A game later in the day, had statement plays in his final game as a Cougar with touchdown runs of 60, 41 and nine yards. “Just amazing with the read-option offense. How he’s able to read the defensive end and read the linebacker in that case and then just make a miss with his speed around the edge,” Bartos said. “That’s pretty special to have power and speed with Luke and Grady and then just have his breakout speed and he can pull away from people when he is keeping the ball around the edge.” Wood had his moment too with a 68-yard return on an interception to put six points on the board. Taesion Soto, another senior and defensive stalwart, helped lead the defense that was too much for Riverside. He had seven solo tackles, two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and three pass breakups. All the seniors had a hand in the win. Taylor Jensen finished with eight total tackles, with three being of the solo variety. There was a student in the makeshift student section with a sign that read “you can’t catch #6 he’s the gingerbread man” in reference to Jensen. A Central Valley fan holds up a sign during the Class D-2 state championship game Monday in Lincoln. The Cougar fans did plenty of cheering during their team’s 52-12 win over Riverside. Jairo Lazos finished with five tackles. Cordell Wagner was a key part of the offensive line. Cooper Perrot and Eli Pedersen each had a tackle and Canon Holley helped defend in the secondary. They balled out on the biggest stage, in the biggest game and in their last game as Central Valley Cougars, just like they drew it up. “It’s incredible. We talked about, if the year was going to be, it would be senior year. And that happened,” Wolf said. Ben Schultz Ben Schultz is a sports writer for the Independent. Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.OTH Network Revolutionizes Influencer Marketing with AI-Powered Platform and Exclusive Black Card 12-24-2024 09:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Asap Digital Marketing OTH Network redefines influencer marketing with its AI-powered platform and exclusive black card, allowing creators to trade social media engagement for real-world rewards. Connecting 3,000+ influencers with top brands, OTH fosters authentic collaborations and organic growth. OTH Network, an innovative influencer-focused fintech platform, is transforming the digital marketing landscape by enabling content creators to exchange social media engagement for real-world products and services. 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Notable partnerships include establishments such as Sushi Bar in Miami, Flowrbombr Skincare in Los Angeles, and Footnanny Nail Spa in Beverly Hills, showcasing the platform's diverse reach across the hospitality, wellness, beauty, and fashion industries. "Our mission at OTH is to create a collaborative ecosystem that drives reach and traffic to all of our members," said the marketing manager of OTH Network. "By leveraging AI technology, we're able to match top-tier businesses with influential content creators, resulting in authentic marketing that resonates with audiences." As the digital marketing landscape evolves, OTH Network stands at the forefront of innovation, offering a scalable solution that redefines the relationship between brands and influencers. For more information or to apply to join the OTH Network, visit www.othnetwork.io [ https://www.othnetwork.io/ ]. 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