After closing the books on a banner year for US stocks, investors expect to ride seasonal momentum into mid-January when a slew of economic data and a transition of power in Washington could send markets moving. The S&P 500 rose almost 27% in 2024 through Dec. 26, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite index, which surpassed 20,000 for the first time in December, is up 33.4%. November through January is traditionally a strong period in the market, said Michael Rosen, chief investment officer at Angeles Investments. Additionally, stocks tend to do well in the last five trading days of December and into the first two days of January, a phenomenon dubbed the Santa Claus rally, which has driven S&P gains of an average of 1.3% since 1969, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac. For the last four trading sessions, the S&P rose 2.91%, while the Nasdaq is up 3.3%, lifting hopes for a repeat. "The underlying data suggests that that's likely to continue," Rosen said. Just how long that momentum lasts will depend on several forces that could help drive markets in 2025. Monthly US employment data on Jan. 10 should give investors a fresh view into the health and strength of the US economy. Job growth rebounded in November following hurricane- and strike-related setbacks earlier in the year. The market's strength will be tested again shortly after, when US companies start reporting fourth-quarter earnings. Investors anticipate a 10.6% earnings per share growth in 2025, versus a 12.16% expected rise in 2024, according to LSEG data, although excitement over President-elect Donald Trump's policies is expected to boost the outlook for some sectors, like banks, energy and crypto. "There's the hope that taxes and regulations will be lowered or reduced next year, that will help support corporate profits, which are what drive the market in the first place," said Rosen. Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 could also throw the markets some curve balls. He is expected to release at least 25 executive orders in his first day on a range of issues from immigration to energy and crypto policy. Trump has also threatened tariffs on goods from China and levies on products from both Mexico and Canada, as well as to crack down on immigration, creating costs that companies could ultimately pass on to consumers. Helen Given, associate director of trading at Monex USA, said a new administration always brings with it a large degree of uncertainty. There is also a good chance the impact of the Trump administration's expected trade policies is far from fully priced into global currency markets, she added. "We're looking ahead to see which of those proposed policies actually are enacted, which might be further down the pipeline," Given said, adding she expected a big impact on the euro, Mexican peso, the Canadian dollar, and the Chinese yuan. The conclusion of the Federal Reserve's first monetary policy meeting of the year in late January could also present a challenge to the US stocks rally. Stocks tumbled on December 18 when the Fed implemented its third interest-rate cut for the year and signalled fewer cuts in 2025 because of an uncertain inflation outlook, disappointing investors who had expected lower rates to boost corporate profits and valuations. Still, that could be good for alternative assets like cryptocurrencies. The incoming crypto-friendly Trump administration is adding to a number of catalysts that are boosting crypto investors' confidence, said Damon Polistina, head of research at investment platform Eaglebrook Advisors. Bitcoin surged above $107,000 this month on hopes of friendlier Trump policies. "Crypto is viewed broadly as a kind of risk on assets. So, any Fed cutting rates is a positive... Any positive economic data in early January will help maintain the momentum that we're seeing," Polistina added.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift, and his presidential transition team did not respond to a message seeking comment. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.
OTTAWA — Zayne Parekh lived a strange week earlier this month. The Calgary Flames prospect was crushed after being left off Canada's list of selection camp hopefuls for the upcoming world junior hockey championship. A chance to pull on the red Maple Leaf was a dream. At age 18, there would still be next year. Not seeing his name alongside the rest of the country's marquee under-20 talent still stung. Some five days later, however, the defenceman from Nobleton, Ont., selected ninth overall at June's NHL draft, was making travel plans for the nation's capital — handed an unexpected lifeline that kept his tournament quest alive. "A lot of motivation came from finding out that I wasn't on the team," said Parekh, who replaced the injured Harrison Brunicke last Friday. "A bit devastated because every kid wants to represent their country on the highest stage. "Glad I got a second opportunity." Oshawa Generals winger Beckett Sennecke, meanwhile, waited until Monday for his tap on the shoulder with Easton Cowan being held out of action this week as a precaution. The No. 3 pick in 2024 wants to do everything he can to ensure it doesn't get slammed shut a second time. "It's tough to not see your (name) on there," said 18-year-old, who like Parekh has another year of world junior eligibility. "Getting the call a couple days later was extremely exciting. "I have certain qualities that they like. I'm trying to display those." Parekh and Sennecke were last to enter the building. That doesn't mean they'll be the first two out. "You've got to cut the number off at some point," said Hockey Canada's Peter Anholt, who heads the organization's under-20 program. "They're here now to show us what they can do and see if they can cut out a niche." Parehk and Sennecke took part in Thursday's exhibition game against a team of university all-stars at TD Place that saw Canada register a 5-2 victory. Sennecke picked up two assists. The Canadians face the U Sports squad again Friday before the national program's brain trust trims its roster. Parekh had an admittedly slow start to his Ontario Hockey League campaign with the Saginaw Spirit after winning last season's Memorial Cup, going through the draft process and taking part in Calgary's training camp. "They know I'm capable of playing with the puck," the six-foot, 180-pound defender with 34 points across 25 games said of Canada's management group. "You've got to step on the ice with a purpose and compete as hard as you can. I'm going to try and leave a good impression on all the staff." Sennecke is in a similar boat. The six-foot-four, 195-pound forward needs to show he can play a 200-foot game to have a chance of sticking with Canada — a powerhouse aiming to rebound off a disastrous fifth-place finish 12 months ago in Sweden — for the annual showcase set to open Dec. 26 in Ottawa. "Size, speed, direct game, a heavy game," Sennecke said of his attributes. "Going to continue to do what I do." The Toronto native has 44 points in 26 contests with Oshawa, including six goals and eight assists in three appearances after initially being told he hadn't been invited to try out at TD Place. "Hockey gods kind of rewarding me," he said with a smile. "A couple good games where everything went in." After bitter disappointment followed by excitement, both Parekh and Sennecke still cling to a world junior dream. "You watch it every Christmas," Sennecke said. "The staple of a Canadian hockey family." "It definitely got taken away from me," Parekh added. "But I'm grateful to be here ... I have a pretty good feeling." NHL PEDIGREE Canada doesn't expect any of its three eligible NHLers — Chicago's Connor Bedard, San Jose's Macklin Celebrini or Buffalo's Zach Benson — to be made available for the tournament, but there will still pro experience in the fold. Oshawa centre Calum Ritchie played seven games with Colorado in the fall, while Guelph Storm counterpart Jett Luchanko suited up four times with Philadelphia. Carolina prospect Bradly Nadeau has already been confirmed on Canada's final roster — he will join up following selection camp — after playing once in the NHL last season before suiting up for the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves in 2024-25. SECOND CHANCE Tanner Molendyk made Canada's roster last year only to break his wrist in pre-tournament play. The Nashville Predators defence prospect is back with unfinished business. "I flew home Christmas Eve and then watched Boxing Day," said Molendyk, who figures to have a big role this time around. "It was tough, didn't get the results they wanted. Hopefully this year we can change that around and flip the script." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian PressAP Business SummaryBrief at 6:08 p.m. EST
PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Defying expectations Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” ‘Country come to town’ Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” A ‘leader of conscience’ on race and class Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn was Carter’s closest advisor Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Reevaluating his legacy Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. Pilgrimages to Plains The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.HMRC say you can pronounce name using ‘aitch’ or ‘haitch’ because it ‘respects diversity’
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A southeast Louisiana official has been accused of committing perjury for failing to disclose information related to a controversial grain terminal in the state's Mississippi River Chemical Corridor in response to a lawsuit brought by a prominent local climate activist. St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard denied in a deposition that she knew her mother-in-law could have benefited financially from parish rezoning plans to make way for a 222-acre (90-hectare) grain export facility along the Mississippi River. Hotard also said in court filings, under oath, that no correspondence existed between her and her mother-in-law about the grain terminal, even though her mother-in-law later turned over numerous text messages where they discussed the grain terminal and a nearby property owned by the mother-in-law's marine transport company, court records show. The text messages were disclosed as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by Joy Banner, who along with her sister, Jo Banner, successfully led efforts to halt the $800 million grain terminal earlier this year. It would have been built within 300 feet (91 meters) of their property and close to historic sites in the predominantly Black community where they grew up. The legal dispute is part of a broader clash playing out in courts and public hearings , pitting officials eager to greenlight economic development against grassroots community groups challenging polluting industrial expansion in the heavily industrialized 85-mile industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans often referred to by environmental activists as “Cancer Alley.” “We are residents that are just trying to protect our homes and just trying to live our lives as we have a right to do,” Banner said in an interview with The Associated Press. The Banner sisters gained national attention after cofounding the Descendants Project, an organization dedicated to historic preservation and racial justice. In the text messages turned over as part of Joy Banner's lawsuit, Hotard, the parish president, says that she wished to “choke” Joy Banner and used profanities to describe her. Hotard also said of the Banner sisters: “I hate these people.” Hotard and her attorney, Ike Spears, did not respond to requests for comment after Tuesday's filing. Richard John Tomeny, the lawyer representing Hotard's mother-in-law, Darla Gaudet, declined to comment. Banner initially sued the parish in federal court in December 2023 after Hotard and another parish councilman, Michael Wright, threatened her with arrest and barred her from speaking during a public comment period at a November 2023 council meeting. “In sum: a white man threatened a Black woman with prosecution and imprisonment for speaking during the public comment period of a public meeting,” Banner's lawsuit says. It accuses the parish of violating Banner's First Amendment rights. Wright and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. Hotard and Wright have disputed Banner's version of events in court filings. At the November 2023 meeting, Banner attempted to highlight Hotard's alleged conflict of interest in approving a zoning change to enable the grain export facility's construction. Banner had also recently filed a complaint to the Louisiana Board of Ethics against Hotard pointing out that her mother-in-law allegedly would benefit financially because she owned and managed a marine transport company that had land “near and within” the area being rezoned. In response to a discovery request, Hotard submitted a court filing saying “no such documents exist” between her and her mother-in-law discussing the property, the grain terminal or Joy Banner, according to the recent motion filed by Banner's attorneys. Hotard also said in her August deposition that she had “no idea” about her mother-in-law's company's land despite text messages showing Hotard and her mother-in-law had discussed this property less than three weeks before Hotard's deposition. Banner's lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial early next year. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Pep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Man City lose to Juventus
BY KEITH LIPPOLDT klippoldt@gbtribune.com Although the 10-day forecast isn’t very promising for precipitation in the Golden Belt, it’s just a matter of time before rain turns to sleet and ice, followed by a layering of snowfall - anywhere from a dusting to a blizzard. But, since this is Kansas, you never know when Mother Nature might try to sneak a winter storm past you. You’ve been taught to carry an emergency driving kit in your vehicle for that ‘just in case’ situation – but have you put one together yet and placed it in your vehicle? Having a kit ensures you’re ready for unexpected situations like getting stuck in the snow. Carrying a winter emergency kit in your vehicle is a wise decision for several reasons – namely safety. If you get stuck or your car breaks down, you may need to wait for help in harsh conditions. A winter kit will help you stay warm and safe until help arrives. Or, the fact you have a well-stocked kit may provide you what you need to get yourself out of a bad situation without having to wait for others. Just as important, if not more so, is the need for tires with good tread and windshield wiper blades that keep your windows clean. With that comes the need for washer fluid and to check the anti-freeze level in your radiator. Your heater and defroster will blow cold air if the coolant level is too low. And always keep your gas tank above half full. Knowing you’re prepared for emergencies can give you confidence and reduce anxiety while driving in wintry conditions. Also, your kit may come in handy if you come across someone else in need of assistance. According to the National Highway Transportation Association, you should check your local weather and traffic reports before heading out on a trip. If the roads are not in good shape, consider postponing non-essential travel until the roads are cleared. If you do have to go out, make sure you are prepared in case you become delayed while traveling. If making a long road trip when winter weather is forecasted, consider leaving early or changing your departure to avoid being on the roads during the worst of the storm. They also suggest you familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you go — even if you use a GPS — and let others know your route and anticipated arrival time. Driving Tips • Allow enough time. Trips can take longer during winter than other times of the year. Get an early start and allow plenty of time to reach your destination. • Keep your gas tank full. It may be necessary to change routes or turn back during a bad storm or you may be caught in a traffic delay. • Keep windshield and windows clear. You may want to stop at a safe turnout to use a snow brush or scraper. Use the car defroster and a clean cloth to keep the windows free of fog. • Slow down. A highway speed of 65 miles per hour may be safe in dry weather, but an invitation for trouble on snow and ice. Snow and ice make stopping distances much longer, so keep your seat belt buckled and leave more distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Bridge decks and shady spots can be icy when other areas are not. Remember to avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes. • Be more observant. Visibility is often limited in winter by weather conditions. Slow down and watch for other vehicles that have flashing lights. Visibility may be so restricted during a storm that it is difficult to see the slow-moving equipment. • When stalled, stay with your vehicle and try to conserve fuel while maintaining warmth. Be alert to any possible exhaust or monoxide problems. • Give snowplows room to work. Stay at least four (4) car lengths back from snowplows and snow removal equipment. • Salt brine trucks as well as sand trucks have signs saying “Stay Back.” This is for your safety since material can be spread/sprayed across multiple lanes. • Equipment operators must focus on snow removal and cannot always watch out for motorists. Refrain from, or use extreme caution, when passing snow removal equipment. SOURCE: dot.ca.gov Winter Emergency Kit Essentials • Warm clothing and blankets: Include gloves, hats, and extra layers to stay warm in case you get stuck. • Food and water: Non-perishable snacks like energy bars, nuts, jerky and bottled water are staples. • Candles and lighter/matches: These provide warmth in your cab and help with seeing your surroundings if at night. Caution: Two windows should be cracked slightly to keep fresh air in the vehicle while the candles are lit. • Flashlight and extra batteries: Helps you see in the dark and may be used as a signal device. • First aid kit: Necessary to treat minor injuries. Should include bandages, pain creams, pin relief tablets (Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen). • Snow shovel and ice scraper: For cleaning ice and snow off your car. • Sand or cat litter: These are used for traction if you should become stuck. • Jumper cables: For use if your battery dies or to help someone else. • Basic tools: This should include wrenches, sockets and screwdrivers for a variety of small repairs. • Road flares or reflective triangles: These will alert other drivers that your vehicle is on the road. • Extra phone charger: Very important to keep your cell phone charged. • Tire chains: Useful if you frequently drive in snowy conditions. • Portable air compressor: Cold weather can reduce the air pressure in your tires. Always drive with properly inflated tires. • Tow rope: In case you, or another vehicle, need to be pulled out of a ditch. SOURCE: NHTSA
Reid Hoffman, co-founder at LinkedIn and Inflection AI, shared his expectations for the incoming Trump administration in an for the Financial Times. And while he appears hopeful that President-Elect Donald Trump could clear the way for more competition and faster innovation in the technology industry, Hoffman also expressed concerns around Trump providing certain individuals and companies with favored status in a way that could harm American innovation. Reid Hoffman, co-founder at LinkedIn and Inflection AI, shared his expectations for the incoming Trump administration in an for the Financial Times. And while he appears hopeful that President-Elect Donald Trump could clear the way for more competition and faster innovation in the technology industry, Hoffman also expressed concerns around Trump providing certain individuals and companies with favored status in a way that could harm American innovation.Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle could be in line for a big game against Carolina's 32nd-ranked run defense
Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Palantir vs. NvidiaMesa, AZ, Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of RVR, Inc., the leading worldwide owner and operator of motor homes, today announced the appointment of Michael A. Bloom, Esquire, The Honorable Ursula Ungaro, and The Honorable Patrick Riley, effective December 9, 2024, as Independent Directors of the Company. They will serve as members of a newly created Special Committee responsible for conducting an independent analysis of legal and other matters related to the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the pending litigation with the U.S. Department of Labor. These appointments increase the size of the Corporation’s Board from seven to ten members. “We are pleased to welcome Michael Bloom, The Honorable Ursula Ungaro, and The Honorable Patrick Riley to our Board of Directors,” said Randall Smalley, Chairman of the Board. “Their combined experience as highly respected and accomplished legal leaders and trusted business advisors will be invaluable to our Board.” About Michael A. Bloom, Esquire Michael A. Bloom served as the long-time General Counsel of the law firm Morgan Lewis, partner in its Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice, and chair its Standing Committees on Conflicts and Professional Responsibility. He co-founded and is a past chair of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference and has taught the corporate bankruptcy seminar at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. A principal draftsperson of Pennsylvania's Rules of Professional Conduct, he is the six-term former chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Committee on Legal Ethics. Mr. Bloom served as chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Commission. He is a recipient of many awards for teaching and legal ethics and received the Equal Justice Award presented by Community Legal Services, Inc. Within the community, he serves currently as Emeritus Trustee of Dickinson College and the Advisory Boards of the Homeless Advocacy Project and the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project. Mr. Bloom also is an active speaker on the topic of conflicts, professional responsibility, and risk management. About The Honorable Ursula Ungaro Hon. Ursula Ungaro is a Partner at the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner and served as a United States District Judge in the Southern District of Florida for 29 years. Her judicial experience also includes five years as a Florida state trial judge. Before becoming a judge, she was a litigator in Miami and a partner in two prestigious law firms, specializing in complex commercial litigation. While a federal judge, Judge Ungaro presided over a significant caseload, including high-profile matters, and served on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals as a visiting judge. She was a member of the Judicial Resources Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, which is responsible for making compensation and other human resource-related recommendations to the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. She also served as Chair of the Southern District of Florida’s Clerks Committee and the Magistrate Judges Committee, as a trial judge on the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida, and on the Florida Supreme Court Race and Bias Commission. Judge Ungaro currently serves on the Family Learning Partnership board and participates in CARE Court, a court-assisted reentry program for moderate- and high-risk offenders recently released from prison. She also serves as a director on the board of a public company, Longeveron. About The Honorable Judge Patrick J. Riley Hon. Patrick J. Riley began his career serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Essex County Superior Courts of Massachusetts, later entering private practice and establishing Riley, Burke & Donahue, LLP, focusing on civil and criminal trials. In 2002, he was appointed as an Associate Justice of the Superior Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with jurisdiction of Civil, Criminal, and Equity matters. Post-retirement, Judge Riley has served as an Independent Trustee/Director, currently serving as Chairman of the Board and Independent Trustee of The SSGA Combined Mutual Fund Board, providing oversight and governance to several ’40 Act registered product lines. He previously served in Dublin, Ireland as the Independent Chairman of the Board and Director of the SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe 1, plc, and SSGA SPDR ETFs Europe II, plc, Dublin, Ireland—a complex of more than 100 ETFs distributed throughout EMEA and the world except the USA; an Independent Director, The State Street Global Advisors Liquidity, plc, Dublin, Ireland; an Independent Director, The State Street Global Advisors Windwise Funds, plc, Dublin, Ireland. The State Street engagements encompassed being an independent director/trustee chairman of boards with oversight, governance, and compliance review for more than 75 Mutual Funds, UCITS, and ETFs in multi-jurisdictional and regulatory environments with more than $500 billion dollars of AUM. ### Randall Smalley Cruise America, Inc. 602-725-0883 rsmalley@cruiseamerica.com
Tennessee (3-12) at Jacksonville (3-12) Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS. BetMGM NFL Odds: Jaguars by 1. Against the spread: Titans 2-13; Jacksonville 7-7-1. Series record: Titans lead 35-25. Last meeting: Jaguars beat the Titans 10-6 in Nashville on Dec. 8. Last week: Titans lost 38-30 at Indianapolis; Jaguars lost 19-14 at Las Vegas. Titans offense: overall (27), rush (21), pass (26), scoring (T25). Titans defense: overall (5), rush (23), pass (1), scoring (31). Jaguars offense: overall (26), rush (26), pass (21), scoring (28). Jaguars defense: overall (32), rush (20), pass (32), scoring (29). Turnover differential: Titans minus-15; Jaguars minus-15. Despite three interceptions last week, the Titans are sticking with QB Mason Rudolph in hopes he will show some improvement as coach Brian Callahan wraps up his first season after being hired specifically for his history with quarterbacks. Rudolph led Tennessee to 23 consecutive points against the Colts — the team's second straight scoring flurry under the veteran — before running out of time. Brian Thomas Jr. now holds every franchise rookie receiving record and is one of Jacksonville's few bright spots in 2024. He's been targeted 49 times the past four games, with fellow receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis out for the season. He has 73 catches for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns. The Titans know Jacksonville will try to run on them early and often after they gave up 335 yards rushing last week to the Colts. It's the most in an NFL game this season and the most for the former AFL franchise since 1961. Tennessee held the Jaguars to 26 yards rushing in their previous meeting. The Titans placed starting LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (wrist) on injured reserve Wednesday. ... K Nick Folk will miss a second straight game with an abdominal injury. That means Matthew Wright, signed Thursday to the practice squad, will be elevated and kick. ... Starting RG Dillon Radunz (shoulder) is out with Daniel Brunskill expected to replace him in the lineup with Corey Levin at C. ... Starting S Amani Hooker (shoulder) is questionable after not practicing all week. ... The Titans should have starting LB Luke Gifford back from the concussion that sidelined him last week. ... The Jaguars will be without LT Walker Little (ankle) for the rest of the season. Cole Van Lanen will start in his place. ... S Darnell Savage (concussion) remains in the league's protocol, thrusting veteran Andrew Wingard into the starting lineup. ... LB Ventrell Miller (ankle) also is out. ... Jacksonville added LB Yasir Abdullah to the injury report Friday as questionable with an illness. This is the second game between these teams in a four-week span. The Jaguars are trying to sweep the season series for the second time in three seasons. They also have won four of the past five between these teams. The Titans won the 2023 regular-season finale in coach Mike Vrabel's last game before he was fired two days later. The Titans can finish with a .500 record inside the AFC South if they win their final two games. ... The Titans have scored TDs on seven straight trips inside the opponent's 20 over the past two games. ... The Titans have had at least one interception in five straight games. S Amani Hooker set a career high with his fifth of the season last week, which leads Tennessee. ... Folk has made an NFL-record 85 consecutive field goals on attempts from less than 40 yards. Folk also has 403 field goals, putting him 14th in NFL history. ... The Jaguars are 2-9 in one-score games. ... Thomas is the first rookie in franchise history and the 25th in league history to top 1,000 yards receiving. He needs seven receptions to become the seventh player in team history with at least 80 catches in a season. ... DE Josh Hines-Allen needs 3 1/2 sacks to set the franchise record held by Tony Brackens (55). ... DE Travon Walker needs one sack to move into the top 10 in franchise history. ... RB Travis Etienne needs 21 yards rushing to pass Leonard Fournette (2,631) for fourth in franchise history. ... PK Cam Little needs 14 points to break Fred Taylor's franchise record (102) for most by a rookie. Titans WR Calvin Ridley returns to Jacksonville for the first time since playing for the Jaguars in 2023. Ridley caught seven passes for 59 yards in the teams' first meeting. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". "We also have reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces, likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they're captured," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". North Korean state media said Friday that Putin sent a New Year's message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying: "The bilateral ties between our two countries have been elevated after our talks in June in Pyongyang." Seoul's military believes that North Korea was seeking to modernise its conventional warfare capabilities through combat experience gained in the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that Pyongyang is reportedly "preparing for the rotation or additional deployment of soldiers" and supplying "240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery" to the Russian army. Pyongyang's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine had prompted warnings from Seoul. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently suspended, said in November that Seoul was "not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons" to Kyiv, which would mark a major shift to a long-standing policy barring the sale of weapons to countries in active conflict. hs/bjt/mlm/gv/rlp
NEW YORK — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. "We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that's possibly why he targeted that company," Kenny said. People are also reading... UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he had yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested on December 9, 2024, after a six-day manhunt and charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His arrest has sparked a viral social media movement, with many hailing him as a symbol of resistance against systemic healthcare failures. The #FreeLuigi movement gained significant traction, with his social media profiles amassing over 100,000 new followers before being suspended. Despite this, the movement continues to trend, highlighting public discontent with the U.S. healthcare system. Some social media users argue that Mangione's radicalization stemmed from the struggles faced by millions in obtaining necessary healthcare, and not from his university education. Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona led to the seizure of a "ghost gun," a suppressor, fake IDs, and a manifesto criticizing the healthcare system. While the manifesto seems to admit guilt, some users question Mangione's responsibility, pointing out discrepancies in surveillance photos. The fascination with Mangione has only intensified, with discussions about his attractiveness and comparisons to characters in Ryan Murphy's productions. The phenomenon is reminiscent of society's long-standing obsession with infamous criminals, blurring lines between horror and hero worship. Former FBI agent Rob D’Amico noted that Mangione is seen by some as a "Robin Hood" figure fighting against corporate greed, which complicates the investigation. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing was scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a " ghost gun " matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Luigi Mangione was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what law enforcement has called a "targeted attack." Mangione is from a prominent Maryland family with extensive business interests. The Mangione family is known for developing real estate and running businesses. Relatives expressed shock over the arrest and offered condolences to Thompson’s family. Mangione faces multiple charges, including murder, firearm possession, and forgery, in New York and Pennsylvania. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation was a success and that his pain improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?
A rash of unexplained drone sightings in the skies above New Jersey has left locals rattled and sent US officials scrambling for answers. Breathless local news reports have amplified the anxious sky-gazing and wild speculation -- interspersing blurry, dark clips from social media with irate locals calling for action. For weeks now, the distinctive blinking lights and whirling rotors of large unmanned aerial vehicles have been spotted across the state west of New York. But military brass, elected representatives and investigators have been unable to explain the recurring UFO phenomenon. Sam Lugo, 23, who works in the Club Studio gym in New Jersey's Bergen county, one of the corners of the state that has seen several drone sightings, called the reports "crazy." "It's pretty concerning they were sighted... without explanation. It can be alarming," he said. Officials including the governor have called on people not to be alarmed, but have not yet offered an explanation for the aerial activity. The clamor for transparency intensified on Thursday when the four senators for New Jersey and New York called on the FBI, Department of Transportation and Homeland Security (DHS) to brief them on how the agencies were working to "identify and address the source of these incursions." The White House said the sightings featured in a briefing received by President Joe Biden, while National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there was "no evidence" of a threat -- and that they may be manned aircraft. "There's just no indication that this is some sort of foreign, malign activity -- or, in fact, even criminal," Kirby said. He also called on lawmakers to expand legislation clamping down on drone operations near airports and other high-risk sites. Later, the FBI and DHS said in a statement that "upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space." But social media users have been adamant they have seen outsized drones. "I've seen them every night since Thanksgiving, they're smaller than my Jeep," wrote X user Gus Seretis. "They hover just about tree height or a little higher," he added, describing them as like aircraft too small for a pilot and vowing to "shoot at one if it comes low enough." New Jersey congressman Chris Smith wrote to the Pentagon on Tuesday demanding answers. "There have been numerous instances of unmanned aerial systems flying over New Jersey, including in close proximity to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure, to include military installations located in my district," he wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Smith said he had been told that more than a dozen drones pursued a coastguard lifeboat over the weekend. The lawmaker then spent "hours" monitoring the night sky with the sheriff of Ocean County, the location of a number of sightings, according to his office. The Pentagon, the nerve center of the US military, insists the objects are not "US military drones." "Our initial assessment is that this is not the work of a foreign adversary or a foreign entity," said deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh. Singh also rejected claims by Republican lawmaker Jeff Van Drew on Fox News that Washington's foe Tehran was behind the spate of sightings. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States," she said. New Jersey native Joseph Boutros, 21, said he had seen the reports of drone activity on social media. "But I've not seen them myself," he said. "It's not something that worries me as long as they aren't carrying weapons," said the suited local as he collected takeout from a Bergen county strip mall as night fell. In the cloudy skies above, the only aerial vehicles with flashing lights were passenger jets on approach to New Jersey's Newark airport. The FBI told AFP it was aware of the sightings "in multiple locations over the past several weeks" and said it was working with other agencies on the issue. But the agency would not confirm reports of a crisis meeting between various government departments over the mounting concern. Drones are permitted for both business applications and recreational use but are regulated by Federal Aviation Administration rules. Witnesses stress that the unexplained aerial objects are larger than those commonly used by drone enthusiasts. "I don't want to get abducted or anything like that," said Lugo with a smile. gw-wd/stTraffic police taking steps to curb rising mishaps