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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.”49jili slot 。

By DEVNA BOSE One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used “physician work time values,” which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it’s unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . Related Articles National News | The next census will gather more racial, ethnic information National News | As data centers proliferate, conflict with local communities follows National News | NASA’s stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go National News | Imprisoned Proud Boys leader balks at answering a prosecutor’s questions about Capitol attack National News | 7.0 earthquake off Northern California prompts brief tsunami warning People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. “If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn’t affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City.

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By JILL COLVIN NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act , had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. Related Articles National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game National Politics | About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll “Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets

Students were recognised for their achievements in the Maruawai college 2024 prizegiving. Maruawai college 2204 Dux Lucy Harrex. Year 9 Tex Andrews (academic excellence, 9p 1st in science, 9p 1st in health and physical education, 1st= in year 9 technology metal); Livy Barnett (1st= in year 9 drama, trophy for year 9 most promising netball player); Marie Blondell (1st= in year 9 technology – food); Alexi Brunton (9p principals prize for all round personal excellence); Bayley Campion (1st in year 9 digital technologies); Phoebe Carson (academic excellence, 9i 1st in science, 9i 1st in social studies, 1st= in year 9 technology fabric, 9i 1st= in health and physical education); Elsie Connorton (9u 1st in English, 9u 1st in science); Cael Galog (academic excellence, 9t 1st in English, 9t 1st in maths, 9t 1st in science, 1st in year 9 music, u14 rugby most improved player); Meka Gilder (1st= in year 9 technology – fabric); Katelyn Horrell (academic excellence, 9i 1st in English, 1st in year 9 design and visual communication, 1st in year 9 exercise and training, 9i 1st= in health and physical education); Isabella Houghton (most valuable junior girls’ cricket player); Leida Joostens (9i principals prize for all round personal excellence, 1st in year 9 visual arts); Kyro Kihau (u14 boys' athletics champion); Eden Knapp (9u 1st in maths); Elaina Macbeth (1st= in year 9 agriculture); Mason McDowell (junior boys' cross-country, most promising player in u14 rugby); Addison McGarry (9t 1st in social studies, u14 girls’ athletics champion, junior girls' cross-country, gore high school hockey club’s junior girl who best epitomises ‘no reward without effort"); Willem Meijers (junior boys' swimming champion); Mackenzie Mott (academic excellence, 9p 1st in English , 9p 1st in maths, 9p 1st in social studies); Georgie Nicholls (1st= in year 9 technology – food, 1st= in year 9 agriculture); Milla Nicholson (9t principals prize for all round personal excellence, 9t 1st in health and physical education); Emily Watt (academic excellence, 9u 1st in social studies, 9u 1st in health and physical education, 1st in year 9 Te Reo Maori, 1st= in year 9 drama); Corban Williams (u14 rugby most valuable player); Larry Williamson (1st= in year 9 technology – metal); Ryan Wing,9i 1st in maths, 1st in year 9 technology – wood). Year 10 Raihanah Abdul Halim (10u principals prize for all round personal excellence, 1st in year 10 visual arts); Austin Aitken (10h 1st in maths, u15 boys' athletics, u15 junior boys' jumping); Tess Blondell (10w 1st in English); Haedin Broekhoff (10w principals prize for all round personal excellence); Cassandra Callick (academic excellence, 10e 1st in science, 10e 1st in social studies); Casey Campbell (10u 1st in health and physical education, girls' tennis); Matthew Clinton (academic excellence,10u 1st in English, 10u 1st in maths, 10u 1st in science, 1st in year 10 digital technologies, 1st in year 10 music); Clint Collins (10e principals prize for all round personal excellence, 1st= in year 10 Te Reo Maori); Dylan Cross (10w 1st in science); Liam Evans (most improved boys’ basketball player); James Grant (best achiever u16 rugby); Addison Grant (1st in year 10 agriculture, 10u 1st in social studies); Kyle Greenfield (10h principals prize for all round personal excellence); Otis Hare (cup for diligence and application); Wyatt Jamieson (academic excellence,10t 1st in science, 10t 1st in health and physical education); Brodie Johnston (10e 1st in health and physical education, contribution to boys’ basketball); Sela Kaufusi (1st= in year 10 Te Reo Maori); Sophie Mantell (10w 1st in social studies); Caedyn McAllister (most valuable junior boys’ cricket player); George McFadzien (most improved trapshooter); Max McGregor (academic excellence, 10t 1st in social studies, 10t 1st in English, intermediate boys' u16 cross-country); Bella McKenzie (10e 1st in English, 1st= in year 10 drama, junior oratory cup); Rex McWilliam (trophy for commitment and dedication to rugby); Hosea Pasco (academic excellence, 10w 1st in health and physical education); Charli Pearce (10t principals prize for all round personal excellence, 1st in year 10 technology – fabric); Cooper Petterson (10e 1st in maths, 1st in year 10 technology – wood); Joecie Radrovi (year 10 leadership in the outdoors); Denan Sheppard (10t 1st in maths, hockey club’s junior player of the year); Charlie Sprenger (1st in year 10 technology – metal); Alex Stevenson (most improved boys' hockey player); Kayden Todd (1st in year 10 design and visual communication); Daniel Udy (junior instrumentalist prize); Annalise Weir (10h 1st in English, 10h 1st in social studies); Sophie Winkel (academic excellence, 10h 1st in science, 10h 1st in health and physical education, 1st in year 10 technology – food, 1st= in year 10 drama, contribution to girls' basketball); Ava Wornall (10w 1st in maths, most promising player in the junior a netball team). Year 11 Sione Afu (most improved player in the 1st xv trophy); Sara Aynsley (academic excellence, u15 girls' athletics cup, most valuable senior girl player cup, intermediate girls' u16 cross-country cup); Abigail Barr (1st in year 11 culinary design); Quinn Campbell (trophy for rugby player with the most club points); Fynn Chalmers (year 11 principals prize for all round personal excellence, most promising boys' football player); Gemma Coulman (shield for 1st in year 11 technology fabric); Ashley Craig (u16 most improved rugby player); Brooke Crampton (year 11 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Johnny Galog (academic excellence, 1st in year 11 physical education, 1st= in year 11 history); Keesha Gardyne (1st in year 11 agriculture trade academy); Mary Hayward (year 11 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Miley Karena (most promising female rugby player); Charlie Lawrence (1st in year 11 technology metal); Dylan Marshall (1st in year 11 literacy); Christopher McBain (1st in year 11 agriculture, 1st in year 11 technology wood); Alexiss McDowell (u16 girls' intermediate athletics champion, most improved girls’ basketball player, senior girls' swimming cup); Dean McKay (u16 rugby most valuable player); Jess Miller (1st in year 11 visual arts); Rebecca Napier (academic excellence, 1st in year 11 English , 1st in year 11 mathematics, 1st in year 11 digital technology, 1st in year 11 science, 1st in year 11 commerce, 1st= in year 11 history); Sophie Newby (1st= in year 11 Te Reo Maori); Clayton Ngaronga (1st= in year 11 Te Reo Maori); Isobel Pollard (1st in year 11 design and visual communication, 1st in year 11 mathematics and statistics); Ivy Solis (1st in year 11 health); Ellie Stewart (year 11 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Riley Wilson (academic excellence, 1st in year 11 geography, u16 boys' athletics cup); Adam Wing (year 11 principals prize for all round personal excellence). Year 12 Tom Abernethy (leadership in the outdoors award); Anna Aynsley (trophy for service to girls’ hockey); Lily Beattie (1st in year 12 agriculture trade academy); Ella Broekhoff (memorial trophy for contribution to netball); Tayla Buchanan (1st in year 12 technology fabric); Tegan Cleaver (year 12 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Layla Connorton (academic excellence, 1st in year 12 mathematics and statistics, memorial prize for 1st in year 12 geography, 1st= in year 12 english); Sam Copland (academic excellence, 1st in year 12 chemistry, 1st in year 12 mathematics, 1st in year 12 physics, trophu for services to boys' hockey); Seba Gerbore (year 12 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Tayla Glover (1st in year 12 te reo maori, trophy for public speaking); Heidi Goatley (1st in year 12 agriculture, 1st in year 12 agribusiness); Rithvy Goundar (year 12 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Georgia Grumball (1st in year 12 economics, netball trophy - most improved senior player); Tegan Harris (1st in year 12 visual arts photography); Geoff Ishizuka (1st in year 12 gateway); Thomas Jones (trophy for marksmanship); Rya Kennedy (1st in year 12 physical education); Philippa le Roux (1st in year 12 drama, 1st= in year 12 english, memorial award for contribution to the performing arts); Sofiya Martyn (1st in year 12 visual arts painting); Kaitlyn Moss (year 12 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Cynthia Mwangi (1st in year 12 accounting, 1st= in year 12 history); Brea Nicholson (1st in year 12 music); Samson Pasco (year 12 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Jai Pearce (1st in year 12 tourism, 1st in year 12 outdoor recreation); Maddie Sanson (trophy for xi hockey best and fairest); Hannah Sutton (academic excellence, 1st in year 12 biology, 1st= in year 12 history); Eli Willetts (academic excellence, 1st in year 12 technology metal); Bryher Wilson (academic excellence, prize for performance in music, 1st in year 12 hospitality); Hunter Wornall (1st in year 12 technology wood). Year 13 Chonelle Ayson (1st in year 13 visual arts); Ellie Bedwell (1st= in year 13 hospitality and service industry, trophy for contribution to school netball); Jayden Broome (trophy for best player in the 1st xv, contribution to kapa haka - joint recipient); Oliver Carson (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence, football best team player, prize for personal integrity); Chloe Coxshall (1st in year 13 Te Reo Maori, contribution to kapa haka - joint recipient); Emma Dickson (1st= in year 13 hospitality and service industry); Esther Gardyne (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Connie Golvin (1st in year 13 history); Sarena Haar (1st in year 13 photography); Lucas Hadfield (academic excellence, senior instrumentalist trophy, 1st in year 13 music, 1st year 13 english, 1st= in year 13 mathematics with calculus); Lucy Harrex (academic excellence, 1st in year 13 chemistry, 1st in year 13 economics, 1st in year 13 geography, 1st= in year 13 mathematics with calculus, senior girls' athletics trophy); Mac Heaps (contribution to school football trophy); Clark Jamieson (senior boys' swimming trophy); Manmeet Kaur (memorial trophy for 1st in year 13 drama); Bishal Khatri (academic excellence); Nicole McBain (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence, prize); Jessie McFadzien (academic excellence, 1st in year 13 biology, 1st in year 13 statistics and modelling, 1st in year 13 agriculture, 1st in year 13 accounting, senior girls' cross-country cup, service to netball cup); Noah McGarry (senior boys’ best cricketer of the year trophy; hockey trophy most valuable 1st xi boys’ player); Ethan Mackay (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Oliver McKenzie (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence, 1st in year 13 agribusiness, senior boys' cross-country cup); Tom Murray (1st in year 13 technology hard materials, 1st in year 13 physical education, trophy for most dedicated to the 1st xv); Max Philpott (year 13 principals prize for all round personal excellence); Benjamin Ure (academic excellence,1st in year 13 physics, prize for maths and physics in year 13, service award for the top volunteer); Matthew Winkel (football player of the season trophy). Memorial prizes Jessie McFadzien (memorial prize for agriculture); Geoff Ishizuka (memorial trophy for excellence in guitar); Aimin Abdul Halim (memorial trophy for excellence in craftsmanship in woodwork). Sportspersons of the year Teleri McKenzie (junior all round sportsperson – joint recipient); Max McGregor (junior all round sportsperson – joint recipient); Alexiss McDowell (best all round girl); Jayden Broome (best all round sportsman trophy); Jayden Broome (special merit award contribution to rugby). Academic scholarships Bishal Khatri (memorial scholarship); Ellie Bedwell (bursary for excellence in and out of classroom); Layla Connorton (year 12 excellence across the sciences). House shield Mataura house Gore High School foundation scholarships Katelyn Horrell (year 9); Charlie Sprenger (year 10); Sara Aynsley (year 11); Matthew Christie (year 12); Chonelle Ayson (year 13). Leadership prizes Bishal Khatri; Manmeet Kaur; Tom Murray; Jessie McFadzien 2025 house leaders Brea Nicholson (Hokonui); Johnny Galog (Hokonui); Gemma Coulman (Waimeha); Samson Pasco (Waimeha); Riley Wilson (Tuturau); Charlie Lawrence (Tuturau); Sara Aynsley (Mataura); Mikaela Morrison (Mataura) 2025 prefects Tegan Harris (kaitautoko rangitahi); Philippa le Roux (environmental prefect); Kazia Grant (sports prefect); Thomas Jones (community prefect); Anna Aynsley (well-being prefect); Rya Kennedy (junior prefect); Tegan Cleaver (academic prefect); Jake Holland (arts and culture prefect) 2025 head prefects Bryher Wilson (head girl); Hunter Wornall (head boy); Cynthia Mwangi (deputy head girl); Eli Willetts (deputy head boy). Proxime accessit award Lucas Hadfield Dux award Lucy HarrexApple Cash: How to use it to send and receive money

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- On December 10, 2024, Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (the “Company”) received a letter from the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American” or the “Exchange”) stating that the staff of NYSE Regulation has determined to commence proceedings to delist the Company’s class A common stock, units, and redeemable warrants (collectively, the “Company Securities”), pursuant to Sections 119(b) and 119(f) of the NYSE American Company Guide because the Company failed to consummate a business combination within 36 months of the effectiveness of its initial public offering registration statement, or such shorter period that the Company specified in its registration statement. As a result of the determination, trading of the Company Securities on NYSE American has been suspended. As indicated in the letter from NYSE American, the Company has a right to a review of the delisting determination by the Listings Qualifications Panel of the Committee for Review of the Board of Directors of the Exchange, provided that the Company submits a written request for such review no later than December 17, 2024. The Company is working towards consummating its previously announced business combination with Ace Green Recycling, Inc. If the Company Securities are delisted from NYSE American, the Company intends to seek a listing of the Company Securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC in connection with the consummation of the Company’s proposed initial business combination. About Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE American: ATEK.U, ATEK, ATEK WS), incorporated in Delaware, is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. ATEK is the third SPAC founded by Isabelle Freidheim, who also serves as its Chief Executive Officer, with Kirthiga Reddy as President and Jennifer Calabrese as Chief Financial Officer. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made in this press release are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “intend,” or continue or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These statements are based on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s ability to consummate its previously announced business combination and to list the Company Securities on Nasdaq in connection with the consummation of the proposed business combination. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions; the number of redemption requests made by the Company’s stockholders in connection with a potential business combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company; the risk that the approval of the Company’s stockholders for a potential transaction is not obtained; expectations related to the timing of a potential business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of a business combination; the risk that a business combination may not be completed by the Company’s business combination deadline; costs related to a business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on September 27, 2024 and in subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. And while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that the results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213050198/en/ CONTACT: Bevel PR Athena@bevelpr.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 03:56 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 03:57 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213050198/enNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) declared a dividend of $0.47 per share of class A common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. This dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. About Blackstone Mortgage Trust Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT) is a real estate finance company that originates senior loans collateralized by commercial real estate in North America, Europe, and Australia. Our investment objective is to preserve and protect shareholder capital while producing attractive risk-adjusted returns primarily through dividends generated from current income from our loan portfolio. Our portfolio is composed primarily of loans secured by high-quality, institutional assets in major markets, sponsored by experienced, well-capitalized real estate investment owners and operators. These senior loans are capitalized by accessing a variety of financing options, depending on our view of the most prudent strategy available for each of our investments. We are externally managed by BXMT Advisors L.L.C., a subsidiary of Blackstone. About Blackstone Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which we invest. Our more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) , and Instagram . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect BXMT’s current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance, its business plans and the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, including interest rate changes. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “objective,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. BXMT believes these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the filings. BXMT assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Blackstone +1 (888) 756-8443 BlackstoneShareholderRelations@Blackstone.comPublic Affairs Blackstone +1 (212) 583-5263 PressInquiries@Blackstone.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SOURCE: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en