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A majority on the Republican-dominated State Board of Education said Thursday that it wanted more control over whether school library books are considered sexually explicit or not. Ten members on the board responsible for determining what Texas' 5.5 million public schoolchildren learn in the classroom voted to call on the Texas Legislature, which convenes in January, to pass a state law granting them authority to determine what books are appropriate for school-age children. Local school districts currently manage that process. Republican members said granting the board control would alleviate the state's more than 1,200 public school districts of the burdensome task. They also said it could offer a solution to a recent court ruling stopping Texas from fully enforcing a state law requiring booksellers to rate their materials for appropriateness - based on books' depictions or references to sex - before selling them to school libraries. "This board knows how to vet material. We have processes. We know how to do that. We can create a transparent process to do that work," Florence Republican board member Tom Maynard said. "We'd get lots more emails, I know, but I think it's work that ... really needs to be done." The board, which has shifted further to the political right in recent years, will formally ask the Legislature to grant it "discretion to create rules, procedures and timelines" for the book review process and amend current state law, known as House Bill 900, to streamline the process, according to the recommendation proposed on Thursday. The proposal received immediate pushback from some of the board's Democrats, who argued that the process should remain under the purview of local school districts. "They better understand their communities and know what their constituencies need and want rather than the State Board of Education," said San Antonio Democrat Marisa B. Pérez-Diaz. "I think we've got a lot of bigger fish to fry." Rebecca Bell-Metereau, a Democrat from San Marcos, questioned whether the board could handle what she considers "a Herculean task to read and rate all of these books." "That seems just insane to me, even if we were paid - and we're not," Bell-Metereau said. Republican Aaron Kinsey, chair of the board, said the book review process could mirror how the body oversees instructional materials, an undertaking that includes using outside reviewers to help sort through school lessons. Evelyn Brooks, a Frisco Republican, said she supports establishing uniform guidelines for all school districts to follow when selecting books for their libraries. "They could have their own communities involved in what they want in their libraries, but the standard has been set to alleviate confusion," Brooks said. "There is a lot of confusion at the board meetings, even though the law is very straightforward. It's just been a very muddy area." Under House Bill 900, books are considered "sexually relevant" if the material describes or portrays sexual activity and is part of the required school curriculum. Books are considered "sexually explicit" if the material describing or portraying sexual behavior is not part of the required curriculum and is portrayed in a "patently offensive way," defined by the state as going against "current community standards of decency." Schools are required to remove "sexually explicit" books from library shelves, while students seeking to check out books with a "sexually relevant" rating require parental consent. Earlier this year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative in the nation, blocked Texas from requiring booksellers to rate their materials. The court agreed, in part, that complying with the law would pose an undue economic burden on the vendors. The enforceable part of the law, however, still prohibits school libraries from acquiring or keeping "sexually explicit" materials on their bookshelves. But conservative advocates have still shown up to State Board of Education meetings in recent months to raise complaints about the presence of such materials in their school libraries and what they describe as inaction by local school districts. The discussion over what entities should control the book review process comes as Texas officials have sought to exert more control over what materials children are exposed to in public schools. The state has passed legislation limiting how schools can talk about America's history of racism and its diversity while proposing other bills to ban classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity. Ahead of the legislative session, Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco has already filed House Bill 183 , a bill that would grant the State Board of Education its wish by giving the curriculum-setting body the authority to prohibit school districts from using library materials it considers "inappropriate" or "sexually explicit." Texas banned 538 books during the 2023-24 school year, according to PEN America , an organization tracking bans throughout the country. More than half of the books outlawed across the U.S. included sex or sex-related topics and content, while 44% included characters or people of color. Thirty-nine percent included LGBTQ+ characters or people. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans - and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government, and statewide issues.Ethan Taylor scores 21 as Air Force takes down Mercyhurst 82-48
CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE 89, UTAH TECH 79
Andrej Stojakovic made 11 free throws to help craft a team-high 20 points, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson had his second consecutive big game off the bench and Cal ran its winning streak to three with an 83-77 nonconference victory over Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. Wilkinson finished with 16 points and Rytis Petraitis 13 for the Golden Bears (5-1), whose only loss this season was at Vanderbilt. Jacob Holt went for a season-high 25 points for the Hornets (1-4), who dropped their fourth straight after a season-opening win over Cal State Maritime. Seeking a fourth straight home win, Cal led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 40-33 at halftime before Sacramento State rallied. The Hornets used a 14-5 burst out of the gate following the intermission to grab a 47-45 lead. Julian Vaughns had a 3-pointer and three-point play in the run. But Cal dominated pretty much the rest of the game, taking the lead for good on a Petraitis 3-pointer with 14:50 remaining. Stojakovic, a transfer from rival Stanford, went 11-for-15 at the foul line en route to his third 20-point game of the young season. Cal outscored Sacramento State 26-17 on free throws to more than account for the margin of victory. Coming off a 23-point explosion in his first extended action of the season, Wilkinson hit five of his 10 shots Sunday. The Golden Bears outshot the Hornets 47.2 percent to 43.1 percent. Joshua Ola-Joseph contributed 10 points and six rebounds, Mady Sissoko also had 10 points and Petraitis found time for a team-high five assists. Holt complemented his 25 points with a game-high eight rebounds. He made four 3-pointers, as did Vaughns en route to 18 points, helping Sacramento State outscore Cal 30-21 from beyond the arc. EJ Neal added 16 points for the Hornets, while Emil Skytta tied for game-high assist honors with five to go with seven points. --Field Level MediaMinister defends decision to accept Taylor Swift tickets from B.C. Crown corporation
It has become one of only about 20 companies floated on the stock exchange so far in 2024, but hopes are rising that a three-year drought in initial public offerings is finally nearing an end as the Australian market rides the wave of a strong Wall Street and awaits cuts to the cash rate next year. "For us, listing was about growth, it was about legacy and creating something that we never want to lose," Bartolo says. "Being listed lets us continue on that journey, continue to grow and outlive us." Symal began trading on the ASX on Thursday, under the SYL ticket, with a $437 million market capitalisation, after raising $136 million from institutional and retail... Sumeyya Ilanbey
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Minister defends decision to accept Taylor Swift tickets from B.C. Crown corporationOn Thursday night an AFC North showdown will kick off from Cleveland as the Browns prepare for their rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Veteran play-by-play man Al Michaels will be on the call with analyst Kirk Herbstreit and sideline reporter Kaylee Hartung. The pre-game show is hosted by former sideline reporter turned host Charissa Thompson, who shared a fun moment with friend Erin Andrews over the weekend. While hosting the NFL on Fox show, Thompson had a cut-in segment with her podcast partner - which led to her petitioning the network to let the two work together more often. "Dear Fox," she said, "please allow Erin and I to be on TV more often together. We understand, that maybe we don't need to do the whole show. But maybe a segment here and there would be awesome. If you guys would not mind, going to 10201 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles, California, and holding a poster board, asking to speak to the executives-that-be." Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Andrews seconded that request. "This, I will get on my female high horse," Andrews said. "You and I talking about being on a segment together? Guys, this just in: Women like sports! Women like to watch other women in sports. (That's) why, because I wear one friggin' jacket and my social media blows up." The friends won't be together on tonight's show, but Thompson is still ready for the game. Before kickoff she shared a video from a previous Steelers win where they talked postgame with star pass rusher TJ Watt. "Last time we caught up postgame with TJ Watt, talked about his love for Mike Tomlin," Thompson said in a message on her Instagram story before delivering her message. "Join us tonight: Steelers vs. Browns." Cleveland and Pittsburgh kick off tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET. Related: Charissa Thompson Said What Everyone Was Thinking About Erin Andrews
Saints hope to ride the Rizzi factor back to relevance after their bye week
Murder Shockwaves: UAE and Israel Unites Against AntisemitismJOHN MACLEOD: When it comes to modern art, I'm with Miss Jean Brodie: 'For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like' Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By JOHN MACLEOD FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 21:24 GMT, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 21:36 GMT, 4 December 2024 e-mail View comments Jasleen Kaur, a 38 year-old Glaswegian, is this year’s winner of the Turner Prize, Britain’s foremost – and absurdly hyped – prize for modern art. It’s difficult to do justice to Kaur’s creation, drawing on her Sikh heritage – and on account of which she has just trousered £25,000 - because it is not so much something you look at, or even an ‘installation,’ as a space you step into. Most press images centre on the red, Mk II Ford Escort draped in a vast doily, but there is far more to Alter Altar than that. ‘The display,’ pants one London paper, ‘features a series of installations exploring religious identities, politics and history, makes heavy use of different sounds, embedded into the exhibition by way of bells, Sufi Islamic music, Indian harmonium, and pop music.’ And the Escort and doily are ‘reference to her father’s first car in the UK and the Indian population who migrated to this country to work in textile factories.’ On Tuesday night, too, there was much posturing mention of Palestine . Not for the first time, one wonders why this sort of luvvie-land competition never seems to be won by anyone who might conceivably have voted for Margaret Thatcher . This is not the cue for a modern-art-trash-the-lot-of-it diatribe. There is good modern art and bad modern art. As a small boy on his first outing to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, I was instantly enchanted by Salvador Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross. Much of its power rests in that the face of Jesus is not actually seen. And it is often forgotten that the Corporation’s purchase of the painting, in 1952 and for £8,200, was highly controversial. Jasleen Kaur won the Turner Prize with her doily-covered Ford Escort Critics slammed so traditional a painting by a notorious Surrealist as a ‘stunt,’ students at Glasgow School of Art got up a petition against its acquisition, there were assorted howls of ‘no Popery’ and in 1961 the painting was physically attacked by a stone-wielding nutter. Yet, in 2006, Christ of St John of the Cross topped a Glasgow newspaper poll as the most popular painting in Scotland. The late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was, unexpectedly, a keen collector of modern art – another Glasgow lass, Alison Watt, was but 24 when commissioned for a notable 1989 portrait of the grand old lady – and in 1952, newly widowed, unveiled what is still arguably Scotland’s best-loved sculpture, Scott Sutherland’s compelling Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge. It broke with the bland, hung-headed conventions of this monumental genre: these are robust and rugged men of striking modernity, eying the great Highland hills about them as their officer clutches his binoculars. The Turner Prize is best viewed with a wry cynicism. Too often it has been presented as a sort of Lifetime Achievement award – the late Lucian Freud was nominated twice – while the odd national treasure, like David Hockney, has been conspicuously overlooked. And, now and again, it has felt like one great public leg-pull. Contrary to generally held myth, Tracy Emin did not win the Turner Prize in 1999 for her faintly disgusting unmade bed – she was merely the runner-up that year – but Damien Hirst did lift it in 1995 for Mother and Child Divided – a very dead, bisected cow and calf in different vitrines. ‘It’s amazing what you can do with an E in A-level art, a twisted imagination and a chainsaw,’ crowed the cheeky-faced 30 year-old, best noted for assorted animal carcasses pickled in formaldehyde and pretentiously titled. The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living was bestowed on an unhappy-looking tiger shark; though even that is topped by the name of his ooh-look-at-me 1997 book, I want to Spend the Rest of my Life Everywhere, with Everyone, One-to-one, Always, Forever, Now. Glasgow artist Jasleen Kaur In fact, Hirst spent years of it with the vastly rich Charles Saatchi – until, in 2003, the pair fell out. ‘But after a while,’ as Hirst has mockingly put it, ‘you can get away with things.’ It is difficult not to wonder if, in recent years, art in its broadest sense in Britain has grown decadent. Not in the sense of dribbling depravity: just in the sense of being tired and naff. There has been some stunning modern architecture, like Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall (1990) but also some major fails, like the National Museum of Scotland (1998) or the grotesque and dehumanising Scottish Parliament (2004.) It took the French but half a decade to restore Notre Dame after the dreadful 2019 fire ; Glasgow School of Art – whose overlords managed to burn it down not just once, but twice – is still a burnt-out shell. Not that a single head has rolled over this cultural and civic disaster. And the likes of J K Rowling or Alexander McCall Smith have made a mint out of lightweight fiction which, once perused, you never want to open again. Indeed, as the literary careers of Dan Brown or Peter May attest, you can run all the way to the bank even when writing very badly indeed. By contrast, you can visit and revisit great fiction – Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited comes at once to mind; Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is another – time and again over the decades, and find something new at every reading. It is not all gloom or pretension. We still have figures of serious achievement. Scotland’s greatest living composer, many would argue, is Judith Weir, commissioned time and again for new Christmas works for the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. We have a pretty impressive canon, from Norman McCaig through Iain Crichton Smith and Edwin Morgan, of post-war poetry; Jackie Kay is arguably our greatest living master of verse. Douglas Gordon – who lifted the Turner Prize in 1996 – is a highly respected Scottish artist whose work, centred on memory and repetition, always makes you think and, earlier this year in Stornoway, we enjoyed an exhibition or works by Ken Currie, whose Three Oncologists – on display at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery – is one of our most consequential modern paintings. Not that it is for me to mock Jasleen Kaur’s achievement. 'For those who like that sort of thing,' said Miss Brodie in her best Edinburgh voice, 'That is the sort of thing they like...'. Share or comment on this article: JOHN MACLEOD: When it comes to modern art, I'm with Miss Jean Brodie: 'For those who like that sort of thing, that is the sort of thing they like' e-mail Add comment
Oklahoma sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold will enter the transfer portal, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. A five-star recruit in 2023 out of Denton, Texas, Arnold began this season as the starter, lost his spot and later regained it as the Sooners went 6-6. Monday is the first day that underclassmen can transfer during the winter portal window. Arnold completed 154 of 246 passes (62.6 percent) for 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games. He also ran the ball 150 times for 444 yards and three TDs, including 25 attempts for 131 yards in the Sooners' 24-3 win over Alabama on Nov. 23. As a freshman last season playing behind Dillon Gabriel, Arnold appeared in seven games and was 44 of 69 (63.8 percent) for 563 yards, four TDs and three picks. A former Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Arnold started for Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl last December, when the Sooners lost 38-24 to Arizona. He was QB1 for the 2024 campaign, but three early turnovers caused him to be pulled in a 25-15 defeat to Tennessee on Sept. 21 and replaced by true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. Arnold came off the bench to replace Hawkins in a 35-9 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 19, and head coach Brent Venables afterward fired offensive coordinator Seth Littrell. Co-offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley became the interim play-caller. Venables filled the position permanently on Monday by hiring Washington State OC Ben Arbuckle, who could bring Cougars QB John Mateer with him to Norman, Okla. --Field Level MediaPrime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on Wednesday of being unable to put partisanship aside in the face of Donald Trump's tariff threat. Trudeau flew to Florida last week to meet with the U.S. president-elect after Trump threatened to slap 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico unless both countries stop what he called an "invasion" of drugs, "in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens" into the U.S. The prime minister met with Poilievre and the other opposition leaders on Tuesday to brief them on his visit to Florida. Trump's quip about Canada becoming 51st state was a joke, says minister who was there Poilievre pushes Freeland to present fall economic statement to give Canadians a look at the books Ontario launches multimillion-dollar U.S. ad campaign amid Trump's tariff threat Despite all party leaders agreeing that the tariffs would be disastrous for both the Canadian and U.S. economies, Tuesday's meeting doesn't appear to have forged a united front among the parties. Speaking to reporters on his way into question period on Wednesday, Trudeau said Poilievre was failing to put politics on the backburner in the face of Trump's threat. "There is a tradition in Canada that when times are tough, when there's a moment of crisis or when we're threatened, Canadians pull together. We step up, we go across partisan lines and we defend Canada," Trudeau said. "It seems increasingly clear that is not something Pierre Poilievre is able to do." WATCH | Trudeau criticizes Poilievre for partisanship in face of Trump tariff threat: Trudeau criticizes Poilievre for partisanship in face of Trump tariff threat 3 hours ago Duration 0:20 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that when Canada is in crisis or threatened regardless of partisan stripes Canadians come together, but added that it is ‘increasingly clear that is not something Pierre Poilievre is able to do.’ Poilievre has criticized the government's border policies over the past few days, saying that the Liberals have "lost control of the border." Those comments come after Trudeau reportedly asked opposition leaders not to feed into Trump's claim that the Canada-U.S. border is somehow being overrun by migrants and drug trafficking. While the flow of migrants and illegal drugs over the northern border is a fraction of what crosses over from Mexico , Trump is still concerned about what's coming from Canada — just as Canadian officials are alarmed by drugs and guns flowing north. Analysis Trump's tariff threat is testing both Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre How Canada can hit the U.S. where it hurts in fight against Trump's tariffs Analysis Rattled by Trump's tariff threat, Canada's leaders point fingers at each other Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said after Tuesday's meeting that Trudeau asked the other leaders to present a united front against American broadsides. "We were reminded, please, don't say things that aren't true, don't play into Trump's narrative," she said. The leaders were told "it would be helpful in the coming weeks and months if we don't in any way amplify the kind of messaging and language the Trump administration is using to attack Canada," she said. But Poilievre came out of Tuesday's meeting and told reporters the border is "broken." "The prime minister has broken our immigration system, broken our banks, broken our border. We need to fix those things and put Canada first," he said. WATCH | Poilievre says Trump's proposed tariffs would hurt the U.S. as well: Poilievre says Trump’s proposed tariffs would hurt the U.S. as well 1 day ago Duration 1:56 Following a meeting with all party leaders about the prime minister’s dinner meeting in Florida with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre discussed how Trump's threatened tariffs would be damaging to both the U.S. and Canada. Poilievre has continued that line of attack in question period, saying Wednesday that "this weak prime minister has lost control of everything. He's lost control of the borders, lost control of immigration." After meeting with representatives of a number of Canadian and American law enforcement agencies, Quebec's Public Security Minister François Bonnardel said Tuesday that the number of irregular crossings from Canada to the U.S. has jumped significantly in the last three years . Of the 25,000 irregular crossings into the U.S. from Canada this year, 19,000 happened between Cornwall, Ont., and Sherbrooke, Que., he said. He said there were 600 irregular crossings from Quebec in 2022 and 7,000 in 2023. "We are in a situation that we can consider stable at the border," Bonnardel said. "This situation is maybe more complicated on the other side." Quebec sees spike in irregular crossings to U.S., public security minister says The takeaway from Trudeau's trip to Mar-a-Lago: For Trump, fentanyl is priority No. 1 Canada to buy helicopters, drones to meet Trump's demand for tighter border security The Liberals have said they are starting to take measures to address some of Trump's concerns and are planning to buy helicopters and drones to improve monitoring at the border. Following Tuesday's meeting, Poilievre told reporters that he urged the prime minister to remind the Trump administration of just how damaging tariffs would be for both Canadian and American businesses and workers. He said it should be "easy" for Canada to avoid tariffs if the Americans understand they could deliver a hit to their own economy.
By AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden has been briefed on the findings and that the White House “has made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington on Tuesday rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages on Wednesday. Associated Press writer David Klepper contributed reporting.The members of the National Association of Innovators and Rationalizers (ANIR) put their hands, intelligence and hearts into the recovery of the economy and the actions to restore normality in the areas affected by the meteorological phenomena. Its contribution exceeds 1.2 billion pesos this year. For Lidier Águila Machado, president of the organization in the country, «this figure represents the result of the calculation of the economic effect which is a financial expression of savings or profits, so I value more, among the contributions of the Aniristas, the multiple solutions to boost production, services, teaching, research, defense and social tasks». -However, in certain entities they are aware of so much effort and dividends, but they do not encourage the protagonists. «The fact that in some workplaces the authors of innovations are not remunerated according to the established legal norm is precisely a concern that requires a different view, even in companies with economic losses, not to criticize, but with the aim of persuading that it is possible to stimulate those who have contributed with their ingenuity to reduce the effects of such financial situation». -In addition to moral and material stimulation, in what other aspects will far-reaching changes and strategies be proposed during and after the current process of the III ANIR National Conference? «Together with the identification and subsequent recognition of the best talents between 2020 and 2024, which is done through our structures at the worksites, we intend to increase the participation of the innovators at the planning of the budget for science, technology and innovation. «It is also important to contribute to the efficiency of the units, the generalization of inventions, the use of the fund as a source of financing for innovation projects and the operation of the collective agreement. – How can the conference be successful in an extensive process leading up to its final sessions in October 2025? «We are now in the first stage, which has as its main activities the assets and meetings in the union sections, the study of the rules of the organization and the elections of the pre-candidates for delegates to the conferences. «The analysis will focus on the contributions in terms of integration, planning, generalization of results and stimulation, through an internal debate to evaluate the functioning of our association in a critical, transparent and proactive manner». That to innovate is to grow refers to the slogan of the great meeting of Cuban innovators, but its resounding success will depend on an effective linkage and support to ANIR by union leaders at all levels, employers and decision-makers. Licenciado en Comunicación Social. Economista y periodista. Escribe sobre asuntos económicos, agropecuarios, de la construcción y la cultura. Multipremiado en concursos de periodismo, festivales de la radio y otros eventos. Atesora las distinciones Félix Elmuza y Raúl Gomez García, los sellos Laureado y 50 aniversario del periódico Trabajadores, y la Moneda Conmemorativa 60 aniversario de la UPEC.
A Republican senator has warned his colleagues must “step up” to appoint Donald Trump’s cabinet picks or face recess appointments. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee was on ABC’s This Week that the idea of recess appointments “is and should be on the table”, adding that previous presidents in modern history including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton had utilized the constitutional clause allowing appointments when the Senate is not in session. The process would likely set up court battles and fray Trump’s relationship with GOP leaders — all while allowing him to confirm controversial choices despite concerns. “This is a constitutionally available tool,” Hagerty told Jon Karl. “What we want to see is the Democrats co-operate with us. But if the resistance movement gets as heavy as it was... I’ve been through the confirmation process myself. I turned in my paperwork on the 21st of January, I didn’t get confirmed until July.” But when Karl pointed out that Republican votes were the issue, and asked if the president-elect would use recess appointments to force through major positions, Hagerty reiterated his point with a message to other GOP senators. “What he [Trump] wants to do is see these appointments made quickly,” Hagerty replied. “I think everything should be on the table. I think if my colleagues understand that they will know they need to step up and move expeditiously to get these cabinet members confirmed.” The concept of recess appointments is a controversial one, and comes with restrictions: the appointments are temporary, and only last until the end of the applicable calendar year. They would also require the Senate to not be in session — something that members of the upper chamber of Congress could resist. The Senate has never triggered a recess simply for the purpose of allowing a president to make such appointments. But it still leaves open the possibility that Trump could make recess Cabinet appointments during one of the Senate’s scheduled breaks, including the August recess later in 2025. And the president-elect himself has made clear that he plans to utilize the tactic. “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner,” he wrote on Truth Social. Republican Senator John Thune was chosen to be the GOP’s new majority leader when the Senate convenes in January. An ally of Mitch McConnell, Thune is an institutionalist and is not likely to wield the power of the Senate to suit Trump’s whims. On policy matters and most votes, however, he’s expected to toe the White House line. The Senate is set to be held by a solid GOP majority come next year; the president’s control is not absolute, however, and he has already seen his pick for attorney general go down in flames. The chamber won’t vote on his picks until next year, but resistance from almost a half-dozen Republicans sunk the bid of Matt Gaetz to lead the Justice Department. None of Trump’s other nominees have withdrawn yet, though a number of Republican senators appear publicly skeptical towards the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence (DNI). Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense, is also coming under increased scrutiny as new revelations have come out surrounding a sexual assault case he was involved in. Hegseth has denied that the encounter described in the allegations was nonconsensual. On the right, Trump is also taking flack from traditional conservatives over his nomination of a candidate for secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemerm, who supported the Pro Act — a piece of pro-union legislation that failed to pass Congress under Joe Biden’s presidency.Mr Biden told African leaders the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long”. “But not anymore,” Mr Biden added. “Africa is the future.” Mr Biden used the third and final day of a visit to Angola – his long-awaited, first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president – to travel to the coastal city of Lobito and tour an Atlantic port terminal that’s part of the Lobito Corridor railway redevelopment. Mr Biden described it as the largest US investment in a train project outside America. The US and allies are investing heavily in the project that will refurbish nearly 1,200 miles of train lines connecting to the mineral-rich areas of Congo and Zambia in central Africa. The corridor, which likely will take years to complete, gives the US better access to cobalt, copper and other critical minerals in Congo and Zambia that are used in batteries for electric vehicles, electronic devices and clean energy technologies that Mr Biden said would power the future. China is dominant in mining in Congo and Zambia. The US investment has strategic implications for US-China economic competition, which went up a notch this week as they traded blows over access to key materials and technologies. The African leaders who met with Mr Biden on Wednesday said the railway corridor offered their countries a much faster route for minerals and goods – and a convenient outlet to Western markets. “This is a project that is full of hope for our countries and our region,” said Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, whose country has more than 70% of the word’s cobalt. “This is not just a logistical project. It is a driving force for economic and social transformation for millions of our people.” The leaders said the corridor should spur private-sector investment and improve a myriad of related areas like roads, communication networks, agriculture and clean energy technologies. For the African countries, it could create a wave of new jobs for a burgeoning young population. Cargo that once took 45 days to get to the US – usually involving trucks via South Africa – would now take around 45 hours, Mr Biden said. He predicted the project could transform the region from a food importer to exporter. It’s “something that if done right will outlast all of us and keep delivering for our people for generations to come,” he said. The announcement of an additional $600 million took the U.S.’s investment in the Lobito Corridor to 4.0 billion dollars (£3.15 billion).
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Ethan Taylor's 21 points helped Air Force defeat Mercyhurst 82-48 on Sunday night. Taylor added 10 rebounds for the Falcons (2-4). Wesley Celichowski scored 14 points, going 6 of 11 and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line. Luke Kearney had 12 points and shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get the latest sports news delivered right to your inbox six days a week.
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. AAOI (" AOI ," " we ," " us " or " our ") announced today that it has closed its exchange with holders (the " Noteholders ") of its 5.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the " 2026 Notes ") of approximately $76.7 million principal amount of the 2026 Notes for (i) $125 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2030 (the " 2030 Notes "), (ii) 1,487,874 shares of our common stock (the " Exchange Shares ") and (iii) approximately $89.6 thousand in cash representing accrued interest on the 2026 Notes and the value of fractional shares (such transactions, collectively, the " Exchanges "). The 2030 Notes are our senior, unsecured obligations and are equal in right of payment with our existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the 2030 Notes and effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness. The 2030 Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2025. The 2030 Notes will mature on January 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The 2030 Notes are convertible at the option of holders of the 2030 Notes under certain specified circumstances, as set forth in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes. We will settle conversions by paying or delivering, as applicable, cash, shares of our common stock or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, at our election, based on the applicable conversion rate. The initial conversion rate is approximately 23.0884 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of 2030 Notes, representing an initial conversion price of approximately $43.31 per share of our common stock, an approximately 27.50% premium to the closing price of our common stock on December 18, 2024. If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) occurs, and in connection with certain other conversions, we will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate for a specified period of time. Except in connection with the completion of the Specified Divestiture (as described below), we may not redeem the 2030 Notes prior to January 15, 2027. On or after January 15, 2027, and on or before the 40 th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, we may redeem all or part of the 2030 Notes for cash if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date we send the related redemption notice; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date we send such redemption notice, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. Holders may require us to repurchase their 2030 Notes upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) at a cash purchase price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. In addition, the 2030 Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any time, and from time to time, on or before the 40 th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the 2030 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date, if the "Specified Divestiture" (as defined in the indenture governing the 2030 Notes) is completed. If the Specified Divestiture is completed, each holder will have the right to require us to repurchase its 2030 Notes for cash at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such 2030 Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date. The issuance of the 2030 Notes, the Exchange Shares and the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the 2030 Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " Securities Act "), and the 2030 Notes, the Exchange Shares and such shares issuable upon conversion of the 2030 Notes may not be offered or sold without registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state or other jurisdictions' securities laws, or in transactions not subject to those registration requirements. Concurrently with the Exchanges, AOI issued an aggregate of 1,036,458 shares of common stock, at a purchase price of $33.97 per share, in a registered direct offering (the " Registered Direct Offering "). Estimated net proceeds from the Registered Direct Offering are approximately $33.7 million after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses incurred by us. We intend to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, capital expenditures and working capital. We may also use such proceeds to fund acquisitions of businesses, technologies or product lines that complement our current business; however, we have no present plans, agreements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition. Stefan Murry, AOI's Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, stated that "AOI expects to benefit from the convertible debt exchange transactions and the concurrent registered direct offering by, among other things, extending our convertible debt from 2026 to 2030, reducing our existing interest expense and strengthening the cash position of our balance sheet by approximately $30.2 million through the registered direct offering. In addition, the convertible debt exchange transactions increase our financial flexibility by removing certain existing restrictive covenants in our 2026 Notes. We were able to execute these transactions with minimal additional dilution of approximately 0.5%, compared to the implied dilution of the shares underlying the 2026 Notes." The Registered Direct Offering was made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration File No. 333-283905), which was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC ") on December 18, 2024, and became effective immediately upon filing, including the prospectus contained therein, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated December 18, 2024 filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on December 20, 2024. The prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the Registered Direct Offering are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Raymond James & Associates, Inc. acted as AOI's exclusive financial advisor in connection with the Exchanges and acted as the sole placement agent in connection with the Registered Direct Offering. Haynes Boone LLP acted as legal advisor to AOI and Mayer Brown LLP acted as legal advisor to Raymond James & Associates, Inc., in connection with the Exchanges and the Registered Direct Offering. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "believe," "may," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "should," "could," "would," "target," "seek," "aim," "predicts," "think," "objectives," "optimistic," "new," "goal," "strategy," "potential," "is likely," "will," "expect," "plan" "project," "permit" or by other similar expressions that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such forward-looking statements reflect the views of management at the time such statements are made. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions and current expectations, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: reduction in the size or quantity of customer orders; change in demand for our products due to industry conditions; changes in manufacturing operations; volatility in manufacturing costs; delays in shipments of products; disruptions in the supply chain; change in the rate of design wins or the rate of customer acceptance of new products; our reliance on a small number of customers for a substantial portion of its revenues; potential pricing pressure; a decline in demand for our customers' products or their rate of deployment of their products; general conditions in the internet datacenter, cable television (CATV) broadband, telecom, or fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) markets; changes in the world economy (particularly in the United States and China); changes in the regulation and taxation of international trade, including the imposition of tariffs; changes in currency exchange rates; the negative effects of seasonality; the impact of any pandemics or similar events on our business and financial results; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024. More information about these and other risks that may impact our business are set forth in the "Risk Factors" section of our quarterly and annual reports on file with the SEC. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof, and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. About Applied Optoelectronics Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical products, including components, modules and equipment. AOI's products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the CATV broadband, internet datacenter, telecom and FTTH markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all four of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. Investor Relations Contacts: The Blueshirt Group, Investor Relations Monica Gould +1-212-871-3927 ir@ao-inc.com Cassidy Fuller +1-415-217-4968 ir@ao-inc.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.After 10 straight wins, Lions face Packers with much to accomplish
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Taylor Swift once raved about the sweet potato casserole served at a New York City restaurant and now that recipe pops up every now and again at Thanksgiving. The holidays encourage many of us to try new recipes. Social media right now is flooded with recipes for appetizers, side dishes and desserts. Anyone making that cornbread casserole from TikTok? While we might not get to share a Thanksgiving feast with Swift — is your name Blake Lively? — or other celebrities beloved by Kansas City, we can eat like them. So here’s the recipe for that casserole Swift loved so much, and favorite family side dish recipes from Donna Kelce and Eric Stonestreet. Enjoy. 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Transportation Commission approves Bell Crossing speed limit reduction Suspect charged in grisly Moose Creek killing of camper Dustin Kjersem Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, seen here last year at her son's music festival, dined on a cheesesteak made by actor Bradley Cooper at QVC festivities in Las Vegas this week. (Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/TNS) Emily Curiel//Kansas City Star/TNS If we tried to guess how many holiday dinner rolls Travis Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce, have scarfed over the years, would it be in the hundreds? Thousands? Their mom has spoken often about the batches of holiday crescent rolls she has baked over the years. Based on the recipe that won the 1969 Pillsbury Bake-Off, Pillsbury’s Magic Marshmallow Crescent Puffs, they’re now known as Mama Kelce’s Dinner Rolls. They blend the crescent roll pastry with marshmallows, cinnamon and sugar. Dinner roll or dessert? We bet they didn’t last long enough in front of Travis and Jason for that debate. Ingredients Rolls •1/4 cup granulated sugar •2 tablespoons Pillsbury Best all-purpose flour •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •2 (8-ounce) cans refrigerated Pillsbury Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count) •16 large marshmallows •1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted Glaze •1/2 cup powdered sugar •1/2 teaspoon vanilla •2-3 teaspoons milk •1/4 cup chopped nuts Directions Make the rolls 1.Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 16 medium muffin cups with nonstick baking spray. 2.In a small bowl, mix the granulated sugar, flour and cinnamon. 3.Separate the dough into 16 triangles. For each roll, dip 1 marshmallow into melted butter; roll in the sugar mixture. Place marshmallow on the shortest side of a triangle. Roll up, starting at shortest side and rolling to opposite point. Completely cover the marshmallow with the dough; firmly pinch edges to seal. Dip 1 end in remaining butter; place butter side down in muffin cup. 4.Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. 5.When done, remove from the oven and let the puffs cool in the pan for 1 minute. Remove rolls from muffin cups; place on cooling racks set over waxed paper. Make the glaze and assemble In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, vanilla and enough milk for desired drizzling consistency. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls. Sprinkle with nuts. Serve warm. Eric Stonestreet attends 'Eric Stonestreet visits The SiriusXM Hollywood Studios in Los Angeles' at SiriusXM Studios on Oct. 8, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM/TNS) Emma McIntyre/Getty Images North America/TNS Thanksgiving is one of the “Modern Family” star’s favorite holidays. Three years ago, as part of a campaign honoring hometown heroes, he shared one of his favorite recipe with McCormick Spices: Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Butternut Squash. This recipe serves eight. Ingredients •1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved •1 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into bite-size cubes •1 tablespoon olive oil •1/2 teaspoon garlic powder •1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves •1/2 teaspoon salt •1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper •5 slices bacon, chopped •1 shallot, finely chopped •1/2 cup dried cranberries •1/4 cup balsamic vinegar •1 teaspoon whole grain mustard •1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) •1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese, (optional) Directions 1. Preheat oven to 475°F. Spray large shallow baking pan with no stick cooking spray; set aside. Place Brussels sprouts and squash in large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, thyme, salt and pepper; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on prepared pan. 2. Roast 16 to 18 minutes or until tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through cooking. 3. Meanwhile, cook bacon in medium skillet on medium heat about 6 minutes or until crispy. Remove using slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Add shallot to same skillet; cook and stir 2 minutes until softened and lightly browned. Stir in cranberries, vinegar and mustard until well blended. Transfer mixture to small bowl; set aside. 4. Arrange roasted Brussels sprouts and squash on serving platter. Drizzle with cranberry balsamic glaze and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with cooked bacon, toasted pecans, and crumbled blue cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. Donna Kelce, left, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce watched the game with pop superstar Taylor Swift, center, during the first-half on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. (Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS) Tammy Ljungblad/Kansas City Star/TNS Swift gushed about the sweet potato casserole served at Del Frisco’s Grille in New York City, a dish crowned with a crunchy candied pecan and oatmeal crumble. “I’ve never enjoyed anything with the word casserole in it ever before, but it’s basically sweet potatoes with this brown sugary crust,” she told InStyle. ”Oh my God, it’s amazing.” The media rushed to find the recipe, which Parade has published this Thanksgiving season. “Similar to T. Swift herself, we think this recipe is a mastermind, especially if you’ve been asked to bring the sweet potato side dish to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. It seriously begs the question: who needs pumpkin pie?” the magazine writes. Ingredients •4 lbs sweet potatoes •1⁄3 cup oats •12 oz unsalted butter, divided •1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar •1⁄2 cup toasted pecans •1⁄2 cup granulated sugar •1 tsp kosher salt •2 tsp vanilla extract •4 large eggs, beaten Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. 1. Scrub sweet potatoes. Pierce each several times with a fork and wrap tightly in foil. Place on a sheet pan. Bake 90 minutes or until tender. Set aside until cool enough to handle. 2. Meanwhile, place oats in a food processor; process 1 minute. Add 4 oz butter, brown sugar and pecans; pulse five times to combine. Spread mixture on a baking sheet; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven, crumble. Bake 5 minutes or until golden brown. 3. Melt remaining 8 oz butter. Remove skin from cooled sweet potatoes. In a large bowl, whisk sweet potatoes, melted butter, granulated sugar and remaining ingredients until slightly lumpy. Transfer to a greased baking dish, smoothing surface evenly. Top with oat mixture. Bake 12 minutes or until heated through. Make-ahead tips •Sweet potato filling can be made up to 2 days in advance. Prepare the sweet potato filling, cool, place in a casserole dish and keep refrigerated. •Oat-pecan crust can also be made up to 2 days ahead. Make the crust according to recipe directions, cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature. Sprinkle over the sweet potato filling just before baking. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News Meredith Deeds, The Minnesota Star Tribune Nicole Hvidsten, The Minnesota Star TribuneRegistration Opens For Marmi Festival Championships