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betfred lotto HEBBRONVILLE, Texas — In this corner of southern Texas, the plump cacti seem to pop out of arid dust and cracked earth, like magic dumplings. It’s only here and in northern Mexico that the bluish-green peyote plant can be found growing naturally, nestled under thorny mesquite, acacia and blackbrush. For many Native American Church members who call this region the “peyote gardens,” the plant is sacrosanct and an inextricable part of their prayer and ceremony. It’s believed to be a natural healer that Indigenous communities have counted on for their physical and mental health as they’ve dealt with the trauma of colonization, displacement, and erosion of culture, religion and language. The cactus contains a spectrum of psychoactive alkaloids, the primary one being the hallucinogen mescaline, and is coveted for those psychedelic properties. Even though it is a controlled substance under federal law, an exemption afforded by a 1994 amendment to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act made it legal for Native Americans to use, possess and transport peyote for traditional religious purposes. For over two decades, Native American practitioners of peyotism, whose numbers in the U.S. are estimated at 400,000, have raised the alarm about lack of access to peyote, which they reverently call “the medicine.” They say poaching and excessive harvesting of the slow-growing cactus, which flowers and matures over 10 to 30 years, are endangering the species and ruining its delicate habitat. Native American Church members say the situation has worsened with demands from advocates of the psychedelic renaissance seeking to decriminalize peyote and make it more widely available for medical research and treatment of various ailments. Agriculture, housing developments, wind farms in the region and the border wall, are also damaging the habitat, experts say. A vast majority of peyote people agree the plant must be protected and should be out of reach for medical researchers, Silicon Valley investors and other groups advocating peyote decriminalization . But there are diverse opinions within the Native American Church on how to accomplish that goal. While at least one group spearheaded by Native American Church leaders has begun efforts to conserve and propagate peyote naturally in its habitat using philanthropic dollars, others in the church are more suspicious of investors' intentions, saying they fear exploitation and would rather get funding from the U.S. government to protect peyote. Darrell Red Cloud, who is Oglala Lakota, remembers at age 4 using peyote and singing ceremonial songs at all-night peyote ceremonies with his family. Peyote has always been about forging a connection with the Creator, said Red Cloud. He's the vice president of the Native American Church of North America. “Our people were not religious people, we were prayerful people.” Frank Dayish, former vice president of the Navajo Nation and chairperson of the Council of the Peyote Way of Life Coalition, compared peyote to the Eucharist in Catholicism. “Peyote is my religion,” he said. “Everything in my life has been based on prayers through that sacrament.” Adrian Primeaux, who is Yankton Sioux and Apache, says he grew up hearing the story of a malnourished and dehydrated Apache woman who fell behind her group during a forced relocation by the U.S. government in the 1830s. “She was about to give up on life as she lay close to the Earth when she heard a plant speaking to her," Primeaux said. "The peyote was telling her: Eat me and you will be well.” She carried this plant back to Apache medicine men and elders who meditated and prayed with it, said Primeaux. He believes the Native American Church and what would become the Peyote Way of Life was unveiled during that spiritual quest. Peyote is not just a medicinal herb — it is “a spiritual guide and a north star,” said Primeaux, who comes from five generations of peyote people. The plant has been a guiding light amid their traumatic history. “It gave us hope and helped us process our thoughts, emotions and life purpose,” he said. In October 2017, the National Council of Native American Churches purchased 605 acres in Hebbronville, Texas, to establish a peyote preserve and a “spiritual homesite” that is now run by the Indigenous Peyote Conservation Initiative or IPCI. Steven Benally, a Navajo elder from Sweetwater, Ariz., and an IPCI board member, remembers his annual pilgrimages to the peyote gardens with his family. He recalls losing access to the gardens after the “peyotero” system took over, where government-licensed peyoteros harvested the button-like tops of the plant by the thousands and sold them to Native American Church members. This meant Native American people could not freely go onto privately owned ranches and prayerfully harvest peyote as they had done for generations. They lost their sacred connection with the land, Benally said. It wasn’t until he threw open the gate to their sprawling ranch, affectionately called “the 605,” that Benally felt connected once again. He was so overcome by emotion that he placed a sign at the entrance with the words: “This is real.” “It felt like we were finally living what we just dreamed, prayed and talked about,” he said. One of Benally’s favorite spots on the property is a hilltop bench — a tranquil corner where visitors have placed prayer notes, painted rocks and other offerings to a nearby cluster of naturally sprouted peyote. Benally sits on the bench inhaling the gentle breeze and taking in the stillness. “Our belief is that these plants, these animals, these birds are just like us,” he said. “They can hear, they can understand. They have their powers, they have their place, a purpose and a reason — just like us.” The peyote preserve is a conservation site where the plant is not harvested but propagated and replanted naturally in its habitat without chemicals, said Miriam Volat, executive director for the nonprofit that oversees it. Native Americans who can produce their tribal identification cards can camp at the preserve and prayerfully harvest from amiable surrounding ranches, she said. The goal is to restore peyote and its habitat, making it abundant in the region within the next 50 years. Peyote grown in the preserve's nursery is under the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s watchful eye, she said. Licensed to operate, the nonprofit tries to balance being welcoming with satisfying the agency’s requirement to secure the plant behind locked gates and camera monitoring. Those trying to protect peyote disagree on whether it should be grown outside its natural habitat. While scientists and conservationists say it is essential for the protection of the species, many Native American Church members say doing so would dilute its sacred nature. Keeper Trout, a research scientist and co-founder of Texas-based Cactus Conservation Institute, remembers how abundantly peyote grew in the region during the 1970s. It’s all but disappeared. “It was like walking on mattresses,” he said. Trout empathizes with those who object on religious grounds, but he believes people should be able to cultivate and harvest anywhere. With a little help, Trout is confident the resilient plant can survive. But many Native American Church members say where the plant grows matters. The ceremonial protocols were bestowed by the Creator’s grace and preserved through storytelling, said Hershel Clark, secretary for the Teesto chapter of the Azee Bee Nahagha of Diné Nation in Arizona. “This is why we don’t support greenhouses, growing it outside its natural habitat or synthesizing it to make pills," Clark said. Red Cloud fears those changes would harm its sacredness. “Then, it just becomes a drug that people depend on rather than a spiritual medicine,” he said. Funding peyote preservation and conservation efforts has been a challenge as well. The Native American Church of North America is calling on the U.S government to uphold its obligation to protect and preserve peyote in its natural habitat in southern Texas, which includes financial incentives for landowners, said Red Cloud. His organization is asking for a $5 million federal grant to jump-start such a program. IPCI started with seed money from Riverstyx Foundation, which is run by Cody Swift, a psychotherapist and prominent supporter of psychedelic therapy research. The organization continues to seek philanthropic dollars to carry the conservation effort forward and is not opposed to receiving funding from the U.S. government, Volat said. “But, we're not waiting for it,” she said. There is suspicion and skepticism about Swift and other investors’ intentions in some corners of the Native American Church, Clark said. Swift has said in interviews that IPCI’s goal is to preserve peyote in its natural habitat under the leadership and guidance of Native American peyote people, a stance Volat, his co-director at the foundation, also affirms. There is no question that opening peyote up to a broader market will create a supply crisis and increase access to those who have the financial resources, said Kevin Feeney, senior social sciences lecturer at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., who has studied the commodification of peyote. Indigenous people would struggle to access their sacred plant while seeing others use it in a way they deem profane, he said. Peyote supply remains limited for the Native American Church. Today, in southern Texas, only three licensed peyoteros are legally allowed to harvest the plant for sale to church members. Zulema “Julie” Morales, based in Rio Grande City, is one of them. She inherited the business from her father, Mauro Morales , who died two years ago. She has been out in the fields since she was 10. Now 60, she says the peyote habitat is dwindling not because of peyoteros who harvest legally and ethically, but because of illegal poaching. She remembers her father gathering enough peyote to fill a dozen large trays while she can barely fill one. Even though she is Mexican American and a Catholic, Morales, who charges 55 cents a button, considers it a privilege to provide peyote for ceremonial purposes. Her father, who customers called “grandpa,” hosted ceremonies for Native people every year and she has been a keen observer. “As Mexican Americans, we value our traditions,” she said. “This is their tradition and it’s beautiful for us to be a part of that in our own way.” At IPCI, one of the main goals is to teach future generations the value of getting back to their ancestors’ spiritual and healing ways, said Sandor Iron Rope , an Oglala Lakota spiritual leader and president of the Native American Church of South Dakota. At least 200 people gathered on IPCI’s grounds over Thanksgiving week, learning about peyote through panels, discussions, ceremony and prayer. “We’ve put our moccasins and our footprints in this place,” Iron Rope said. “The hope is that these children, the next generation, will see the therapeutic value in getting rid of their phones and learning about what is right in front of them.” Iron Rope says this is how he is fulfilling his responsibility to future generations. “You can pray all you want, but you’re going to have to meet the Creator halfway somewhere,” he said. “You’re going to have to implement that prayer into action. And I see this as prayer in action.”Manmohan Singh, India's reluctant prime minister, diesNEW YORK , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Dentsply Sirona Inc. 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Trump pledges fast permits for $1 billion U.S. investments( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) NextBee & Visionary Philanthropic Consulting LLC unite to boost donor engagement. SAN MATEO, CA, UNITED STATES, December 21, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- NextBee and Visionary Philanthropic Consulting LLC today announced a strategic partnership that combines Visionary's expert philanthropic consulting services with NextBee's innovative donor engagement platform to create a comprehensive solution for nonprofit organizations seeking to maximize their fundraising potential. The partnership brings together Visionary Philanthropy 's pioneering analytics and strategic consulting expertise with NextBee's advanced donor engagement technology. This collaboration offers nonprofits a unique combination of strategic guidance and digital tools designed to transform how organizations connect with and inspire their donors. Through this strategic partnership, organizations will benefit from Visionary's proven methodologies in philanthropic analytics, major donor motivation, and campaign management, while leveraging NextBee's sophisticated donor engagement platform. The platform features personalized donor journeys, real-time impact reporting, gamification elements, and community-building tools that have demonstrated up to 30% increases in donation rates. Key features of the NextBee Visionary Philanthropic Consulting LLC platform include: Personalized donor engagement paths and real-time campaign updates Gamification and donor challenges to increase participation Social sharing and advocacy tools for peer-to-peer fundraising Comprehensive event management and exclusive access features Advanced donor networking and mentorship opportunities Real-time impact reporting and analytics Interactive community building tools The combined solution is available immediately for nonprofit organizations, with particular benefits for educational institutions, healthcare organizations, athletic programs, and social impact initiatives. Organizations implementing this integrated approach can expect enhanced donor retention rates of up to 25% while gaining valuable data-driven insights for strategic decision-making. About NextBee NextBee Corporation, based in San Mateo, CA, is a leading provider of engagement solutions that help organizations drive meaningful participation in key initiatives. Through innovative technology and proven engagement strategies, NextBee helps organizations achieve their strategic goals while building stronger relationships with their donors. About Visionary Philanthropic Consulting LLC Visionary Philanthropic Consulting LLC, with offices across the United States, is a pioneer in philanthropic analytics and consulting. Since 2001, they have led the industry in wealth screening data for campaign forecasting and have developed proprietary algorithms to help organizations better understand their philanthropic market and create actionable, attainable growth strategies. Media Contact: Rohit Singh ... NextBee 1668 Yorktown Road, San Mateo, CA, 94402 Rohit Singh NextBee +1 800-547-1618 ... Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN21122024003118003196ID1109020092 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

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LIVERPOOL: Curtis Jones fired Liverpool seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as the title favourites survived a scare in their 3-1 win against struggling Leicester on Thursday (Dec 26). Arne Slot's side were shocked by Jordan Ayew's early strike at Anfield, but the leaders recovered their composure to equalise just before the interval through Cody Gakpo. England midfielder Jones marked his 100th top-flight appearance with the second goal soon after half-time. Mohamed Salah's 19th goal this term wrapped up Liverpool's 11th win in their last 13 games in all competitions. Liverpool's comeback lifted them well clear of second-placed Chelsea, who were beaten 2-1 by Fulham earlier in the day. "Because we went 1-0 down it was a game before we made it 3-1 and then I think you saw how good we really are," Slot said. The rampant Reds, who hold a game in hand on Chelsea, have been beaten just once in 17 league matches this season. They have won 22 of their 26 games in all competitions in a remarkable run since Slot arrived from Feyenoord in the close-season to replace Jurgen Klopp. Klopp led Liverpool to their last Premier League title in 2020 and Slot has them perfectly positioned to emulate that feat in the second half of the season. "It's bit of a boring answer, but as a manager you go game by game because you know how many you still have to play," Slot said of Liverpool's title bid. "You see especially in the Premier League results that you didn't expect because teams have so much quality. "Maybe if it was the Eredivisie it would feel like this but not in this competition." Also through to the League Cup semi-finals and top of the Champions League, Liverpool, who travel to West Ham for their last match of the year on Sunday, will go into 2025 in contention of an unprecedented quadruple. Third-bottom Leicester are one point from safety after a third consecutive defeat. Salah nearly gave Liverpool the perfect start as his close-range effort smacked the post. But on a night when Anfield was surrounded by a murky mist, Liverpool's defence was lost in the fog in the sixth minute. RELENTLESS PRESSURE Stephy Mavididi surged away down the left wing and whipped in a low cross which Ayew controlled adroitly before spinning to smash a low shot past Alisson Becker at his near post. Liverpool's defence was unusually lax in the early stages and Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss was left unmarked for a volley that whistled over. But the tide soon turned and Darwin Nunez met Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross with a header that was deflected behind before Salah's chipped effort looped onto the roof of the net. Andrew Robertson was inches away from equalising when the Liverpool defender's header cannoned off the post. Slot's men were pouring forward in waves and Salah's curler ricocheted off the crossbar just before half-time. Gakpo ensured Liverpool would be rewarded for their relentless pressure on the stroke of half-time as the Dutch forward stroked a superb strike into the top corner from the edge of the area. Gakpo's 10th goal in all competitions this season was a familiar sight for Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy, who coached him during their time at PSV Eindhoven. Leicester haven't won at Anfield in the Premier League since 2000 and their hopes of a historic victory were in tatters just four minutes into the second half. Sweeping into the Leicester area in a blur of pace and movement, Salah and Alexis Mac Allister teed up Jones to slot home from close range, with the goal surviving a lengthy VAR check for potential offside. Salah put the final flourish on Liverpool's stirring fightback, cutting in from the right flank to guide a fine finish into the far corner in the 82nd minute.

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President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Trump, once a crypto skeptic, had pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. Money has poured into crypto assets since he won . Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, is now above $95,000. And shares in crypto platform Coinbase have surged more than 70% since the election. Paul Grewal, chief legal officer of Coinbase, congratulated Atkins in a post on X. “We appreciate his commitment to balance in regulating U.S. securities markets and look forward to his fresh leadership at (the SEC),” Grewal wrote. “It’s sorely needed and cannot come a day too soon.” Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. His work as an SEC commissioner started in 2002, a time when the fallout from corporate scandals at Enron and WorldCom had turned up the heat on Wall Street and its government regulators. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative member of the SEC during his tenure at the agency and known to have a strong free-market bent. As a commissioner, he called for greater transparency in and analysis of the costs and benefits of new SEC rules. He also emphasized investor education and increased enforcement efforts against those who steal from investors over the internet, manipulate markets, engage in Ponzi schemes and other types of fraud. At the same time, Atkins objected to stiff penalties imposed on companies accused of fraudulent conduct, contending that they did not deter crime. He caused a stir in the summer of 2006 when he said the practice of granting stock options to executives before the disclosure of news that was certain to increase the share price did not constitute insider trading. U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, said Atkins has the experience needed to “restore faith in the SEC.” “I’m confident his leadership will lead to clarity for the digital asset ecosystem and ensure U.S. capital markets remain the envy of the world,” McHenry posted on X. Atkins already has some experience working for Trump. During Trump's first term, Atkins was a member of the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum , an advisory group of more than a dozen CEOs and business leaders who offered input on how to create jobs and speed economic growth. In 2017, Atkins joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization. Crypto industry players welcomed Trump’s victory in the hopes that he would push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for. Trump himself has launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies.DAISO NEW STORE OPENING IN VISTA, CALIFORNIAFuelPositive Announces Strategic Private Placement Investment, Debt Settlement and Progress in Manitoba

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Joe Biden Appears to Fall Asleep at Summit in AngolaTUCSON, Ariz. , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AudioEye, Inc. ("AudioEye" or the "Company") AEYE , the industry-leading digital accessibility company, today announced the launch of an underwritten secondary offering of shares of its common stock to be sold by certain selling stockholders. The selling stockholders also expect to grant to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days, to purchase additional shares of the Company's common stock from the selling stockholders at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. Needham & Company will act as Sole Book-Runner, and Roth Capital Partners will act as Lead Manager for the offering. The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the proposed offering. The Company will not sell any shares of its common stock in the proposed offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of the Company's stock in the offering. This offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-276937) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and declared effective on February 13, 2024 . The offering of the shares of common stock will be made by means of a prospectus, including a prospectus supplement, forming a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectuses relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC, and will be available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or when available, may be obtained by contacting: Needham & Company, LLC, 250 Park Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10177, Attn: Prospectus Department, by telephone at (800) 903-3268 or by e-mail at prospectus@needhamco.com , with a copy to Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 888 San Clemente, Suite 400, Newport Beach, CA 92660, Attn: Equity Capital Markets, by telephone at (800) 678-9147 or by e-mail at rothecm@roth.com . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About AudioEye AudioEye exists to ensure the digital future we build is inclusive. By combining the latest AI automation technology with guidance from certified experts and direct input from the disability community, AudioEye helps ensure businesses of all sizes — including over 126,000 customers like Samsung, Calvin Klein , and Samsonite — are accessible and usable. Holding 23 US patents, AudioEye helps companies solve every aspect of digital accessibility with flexible approaches that best meet their needs. The comprehensive solution includes 24/7 accessibility monitoring, automated accessibility fixes, expert testing, developer tools, and industry-leading legal protection. Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "projects," "would," and "future," or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect AudioEye's current beliefs and expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to statements relating to the offering, its size and expected closing date. Each of these forward-looking statements involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: the uncertain market acceptance of our existing and future products; our need for, and the availability of, additional capital in the future to fund our operations and the development of new products; the success, timing and financial consequences of new strategic relationships or licensing agreements we may enter into; rapid changes in Internet-based applications that may affect the utility and commercial viability of our products; the timing and magnitude of expenditures we may incur in connection with our ongoing product development activities; judicial applications of accessibility laws to the internet; the level of competition from our existing competitors and from new competitors in our marketplace; and the regulatory environment for our products and services. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Investor Contact Tom Colton Gateway Group, Inc. AEYE@gateway-grp.com 949-574-3860 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audioeye-announces-launch-of-secondary-offering-of-common-stock-by-selling-stockholders-302323068.html SOURCE AudioEye, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.