Volunteers with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana sort through boxes of petitions submitted just before a deadline in 2022 to submit signatures to qualify for the November ballot. July 7, 2022. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office and the Hall County Attorney’s Office are appealing the dismissal of criminal charges against a notary public who notarized medical cannabis petitions for the fall election. Hall County Attorney Marty Klein, Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Assistant Attorney General Michael Jensen filed an appeal Friday to take the case to Hall County District Court against Jacy C. Todd, 54, a notary from York. Mark Porto, Todd’s attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday on the appeal but previously urged prosecutors to “ stop playing political games .” “A series of politically orchestrated (and false) Class II misdemeanors are among the least scary and intimidating things Mr. Todd has ever encountered,” Porto said in a statement last month. Prosecutors to appeal case against Nebraska notary, whose attorney asks ‘to stop playing games’ Prosecutors charged Todd on Oct. 2 with 24 counts of “ official misconduct ” for allegedly notarizing petitions outside the presence of a paid petition circulator — Michael Egbert of Grand — on 24 separate dates. Egbert pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to a Class I misdemeanor for circulator fraud, down from a felony. He testified in court that he used a phone book to illegally add and forge voter signatures. Hall County Judge Alfred Corey dismissed all charges against Todd on Nov. 22, finding that notaries are not public officials and that allegations of notarial “malfeasance” can already be tried administratively. Corey ordered the state to pay associated court costs. “While these duties greatly assist others, notary publics are not public servants who are performing governmental functions,” Corey wrote in a four-page opinion. The prosecutors, in their appeal, argue that Corey erred in finding that a notary was not a public official and said many states recognize notaries public as having governmental power. The prosecutors added that an administrative investigation doesn’t prohibit criminal prosecution. Todd is believed to be the first notary public criminally charged in Nebraska in actions involving allegations of notary malfeasance. Hilgers’ office accused about seven other notaries involved with the medical marijuana ballot initiatives of similar malfeasance by Hilgers’ office in a Lancaster County District Court case against the petitions . None of the seven have been charged in the same manner as Todd. The Lancaster County district judge dismissed the case after rejecting arguments from the AG’s Office, which included accusations of notarial malfeasance. That ruling is also being appealed . SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
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Welcome back to Kotaku ’s Weekend Guide, the post-Game Awards edition! If you missed out on last night’s pretty-darn-good awards show , we have a wrap- up of everything cool we saw, and a summary of all the awards won . But if you’re also looking for some great game recommendations to fill your weekend with, we most certainly have you covered here. This weekend we’ve got a GOTY nominee, some wild fun multiplayer shenanigans, and a super-fun 2D platformer. Let’s dig in! Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Windows (Steam Deck YMMV) Current goal: Reach the Mad Mall The first time I saw Antonblast I thought it was Pizza Tower . The second time I saw Antonblast I thought it was Pizza Tower . And the third time I saw Antonblast I thought it was Pizza Tower , too. I have now played Antonblast and can confirm that while it shares similar Wario Land vibes and ‘90s DNA with last year’s crowd-pleasing, lightning-quick 2D platformer , Antonblast is definitely its own thing. It’s more challenging, even faster, and shares some familiar tropes from the slippy-slidy obstacle course racing of Crash Bandicoot , including stampeding through boxes, hitting a cache of explosives, and dying. The idea is to breeze through levels as quickly as possible, smashing through all kinds of colorful junk littering each stage, and survive the gauntlet of hazards and boss fights placed in your path. It’s loud, chunky, and occasionally gives me a headache with all of the screenshake. It’s also a firehose of satisfying arcade action and chaotic animations. I keep going back for more. — Ethan Gach Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck YMMV) Current goal: Start over! Back in 2015, I had worked my way pretty far into The Witcher 3 , only to find that I was capital-L Lost. I didn’t know what was going on. Barely understood the universe, and that’s to say nothing of my sloppy knowledge of the mechanics. So I restarted the game from the beginning with the intention of going through it nice and slow and, look at that, it became one of my favorite games of the 2010s. Now, on the cusp of 2025, I find myself in a similar situation with GOTY-nominated RPG Metaphor: ReFantazio . Whether it was my diving in while in a, um...high state of mind or simply that the game is so heavy—a little too heavy, in my opinion—on the fantasy political lore, I’m a bit too lost at this point to grasp what’s going on. But I do know that this game has had me intrigued since I decided to temporarily shelve it in favor of Forbidden West and I knew I was going to have to revisit it. So my goal for this weekend is to get a fresh start! I’m really excited to start unpacking Metaphor’s themes of, well, metaphors. I’m particularly intrigued by how the game plays with the ways fiction serves as important inspiration, offering a way to envision a better world. And I’m a sucker for anything with turn-based combat. The game is also visually delightful, so if I still struggle to keep up with the plot, well at least I’ve got something pretty to look at. — Claire Jackson Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck YMMV) Current goal: Turn my brain off I don’t know if it’s just the state of the world or if it’s seasonal depression or what, but I have been feeling really out of it lately. It didn’t feel great to be stuck at home while a lot of folks I know were gathered in Los Angeles for The Game Awards, and with my usual Marvel Rivals teammates MIA, I didn’t even play the games I’d normally play because it just felt bad to solo queue. This weekend, I’m gonna try to fight my inclination to avoid the game and instead play the Not- Overwatch until I pass out. I have to travel next week for the holidays, so getting started on something really involved right now wouldn’t be the best play. Instead, I’m gonna flank randos with Star-Lord’s ultimate until I get a clip. — Kenneth Shepard Play it on: Current goal: Level up my battle pass some more! And so, another weekend in which I’m planning to play more Fortnite is upon us. I’m starting to worry that people reading these every week might assume it’s the only game I play. It’s not! At this point in my life, though, I have to admit that Epic’s free-to-play battle royale is one of my most played games, likely beating out Skyrim, Half-Life 2, and even Halo . The number of hours I’ve put into Fortnite is probably starting to get close to surpassing the time I’ve spent with GTA Online . Scary to think about. Anyway, every few months Fortnite gets some new mode or event and I spend a few bucks to buy a skin or whatever and have a ton of fun playing it with my wife. Yeah, I know gamers playing the same four games and nothing else are slowly eroding the industry and destroying everything, but it’s not my fault that no other game lets me kill Goku while dressed as Spider-Man with Grogu on my back. Come on Ca ll of Duty , are you even trying? — Zack Zwiezen And that wraps our picks for this week! Happy gaming!
EU recalls its envoy from Niger after ruling junta accuses it of mishandling aidThe Advantages of 980nm and 1470nm Diode Laser Technology for Body ContouringEllen DeGeneres is not shying away from experimenting even at 66! The American comedian, actor, writer, producer and talk show host debuted a fresh new look following her reported move to the UK over the U.S. election results. Ellen DeGeneres, who mostly goes by Ellen, was spotted showing off short brunette hair while at UK pub The Farmer's Dog in a video shared to Instagram recently. The 66-year-old smiled as she sat alongside wife Portia de Rossi (51) at Burford, U.K. pub The Farmer’s Dog, owned by U.K. talk show host Jeremy Clarkson. The video, taken by Jeremy’s girlfriend Lisa Hogan, showed Ellen sporting a more natural brown colour without bangs. The clip showed ‘Torn’ singer Natalie Imbruglia, actress Lisa Hogan and friends singing along to the music before it panned to Ellen and Portia who waved to the camera. The new ‘era’ of Ellen: The sighting of Ellen comes amid reports that she, along with wife Portia moved to England from the U.S. following Donald Trump's presidential election win. Though they reportedly purchased their home in the Cotswolds — which is in South West England, about 2 hours from London — prior to the election, it seemed to be a driving force in the move. The former talk show host had been vocal in her support for Vice President Kamala Harris, donating thousands of dollars to her campaign, and endorsing her on social media. Hair transformation throughout years: It’s not the first time the Emmy winner talk show host has spiced up her signature hairstyle. Ellen previously sported a new hairdo in 2020, doing her hair in a slicked back pompadour fashion on an episode of her talk show. A year earlier, she also hosted the show with a noticeably different cut, citing an unexpected hair colouring fiasco. Ellen explained it during an episode of her talk show in 2019, saying, “When you have short hair, you have to colour it often, cause my hair grows really fast. I'm constantly colouring it, so it always looks different when you watch the show. Some days it's a different tone. Today it’s really different.” Ellen explained that she used a different hairstylist than usual, but their efforts to speed up the colouring process backfired—rather badly. Ellen further explained how she went about the hair colours and said, “It was basically many colours, I couldn’t even pinpoint what colour it was. It was like orange and pink and purple... I had the Pride flag on me.” However, the comedian and talk show host admitted that her hair went through sever damage due to the constant chemical treatment. She mentioned, “My hair was falling out. Like literally, I would touch my head and hair was falling out. I think my hair was so embarrassed, it didn't want anything to do with my head and said, ‘I'm getting out of here.’” Fortunately, Ellen revealed that she was able to rectify the issue with an at-home appointment, but she had to take extra caution to prevent further hair damage. Away from the show business: Ellen’s lifestyle change comes two years after ‘ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ’ finale episode that aired in mid 2022. ‘The Ellen Show’ aired for 19 seasons and concluded in May, 2022. The show came to a close following toxic workplace accusations made against the host in 2020. In her July 2024 Netflix comedy special, "Ellen’s Last Stand...Up" tour, the comedian and talk show host addressed the controversy and announced her departure from show business, and said, “Let me catch you up on what’s been going on with me since you last saw me. I got chickens. Oh yeah, and I got kicked out of show business for being mean.” She later announced she would not return to fame, declaring, “This is the last time you’re going to see me. After my Netflix special, I’m done.” TV actress Shweta Tiwari ditches long locks, flaunts new short hairdo
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The Los Angeles Chargers got back in the win column on Sunday just in time to face their rival, the Chiefs, for the second time this season. Below are ways they can hopefully, finally, beat this Chiefs team. Protect Quarterback Justin Herbert Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones really got the best of Herbert in their Week Four matchup as according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) he had two sacks on Herbert along with three hurries and one hit. Jones currently leads the team in sacks at six with Chiefs defensive edge George Karlaftis close behind with five. The increased pressure during that game can be partially blamed on the fact that the offensive line wasn’t at full strength, as both right tackle Joe Alt and left tackle Rashawn Slater were out. Overall the pass blocking has been much improved for the Los Angeles Chargers, so though the pressure will be intense, with the line at full strength and the help of players like tight end Will Dissly and defensive lineman/fullback Scott Matlock, Herbert should be in better shape. According to Fox Sports the Chiefs rank 23rd in passing defense and third in rushing defense, so without running back J.K.Dobbins, Herbert’s arm may be their best bet to win. Contain Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes When watching the Chiefs, even if they’re losing and it’s the last quarter, as long as there is time on the clock and Mahomes is on the field, the game may still go the Chiefs’ way. Because if nothing is working, Mahomes will find a way to escape the pocket and get a first down or get the ball to his playmakers. The Los Angeles Chargers can’t let him be the hero and that’s where their defense comes in. Outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu has played the most pass rush snaps of the Chargers this season with the most sacks to show for it (eight), while outside linebacker Khalil Mack has the second most sacks (five), tied with outside linebacker Bud Dupree. Defensive lineman Poona Ford has also been very consistent in the pass rush. The Chiefs are vulnerable this year as they almost lost to the Panthers in Week 12 and the Raiders last Friday, so the Chargers need to throw everything they can at Mahomes. Don’t Let The Chiefs Offensive Playmakers Cook The Chiefs rank 15th in total offense and 12th in passing offense, and despite some of their close-call games, they still have some playmakers. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may not be playing at the same level of seasons past but his connection with Mahomes is magic, so he can never be counted out. The addition of former Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has added some explosiveness back to the passing game, while Chiefs tight end Noah Gray is having a career-high season in areas like receiving yards ( 373 ) and receiving touchdowns (four). Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy is still finding his rhythm on the team but has had some real bright spots, while the return of running back Isiah Pacheco will add some pep to the step of the Chiefs’ run game. Any of these guys could break this Los Angeles Chargers team if Mahomes has a hot streak, so if Mahomes can’t be stopped, it’s a matter of cutting off his weapons. Cornerback Kristian Fulton has been all over receivers this season, really amping up the aggression, while safety Derwin James Jr. is always up for a Kelce battle. Linebacker Daiyan Henley will be a big help against Pacheco, if he’s able to play on Sunday, as he has the most snaps in run defense this season with the most STOPs ( 41 ) to show for it. The defense will need to turn up the dial just as they did against the Falcons. Los Angeles Chargers Must Create Turnovers The Los Angeles Chargers were able to get four interceptions out of their game against the Falcons, one of which resulted in a pick-six during the third quarter from cornerback Tarheeb Still. Mahomes hasn’t had a huge amount of interceptions this year but just one should be enough to set the tone for the Chargers defense to start to take advantage of any cracks. And if the defense can’t manage to contain Mahomes or his weapons, then creating turnovers is the next best option. Both Still and cornerback Elijah Molden currently lead the Chargers in interceptions with three each, while a handful of others have at least one like defensive lineman Teair Tart. The defense will need to create more opportunities for their offense to get going this coming week, so turnovers are a good first step. Shock Some Life Into The Offense The Los Angeles Chargers offense could not get a lot going on Sunday as there were no passing touchdowns, just one two-point conversion, and only 56 total yards of rushing offense. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey was the savior with 117 receiving yards and was targeted 12 times. McConkey, though, has been dealing with a shoulder injury and injured his knee during the matchup, so it’s unclear if he’ll be healthy for this next game, and without him, the team loses a bit of their explosiveness. Also Read: Los Angeles Chargers Share Injury Update On Ladd McConkey Though I’ve talked a lot about what the Chargers need to do defensively, they cannot beat the Chiefs by solely relying on that unit or their kicker. They need to score touchdowns. This offense needs some life either in the run or passing game, or both, to keep winning. This Chiefs game will be a test as to whether the Los Angeles Chargers will be able to contend with the type of teams they’re bound to encounter if they make the playoffs. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.
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Wikipedia Searches Reveal Differing Styles of CuriosityCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Sen. Kay Patterson, who rose from cleaning offices at the segregated Statehouse to serving as a state legislator for over 30 years died Friday. He was 93. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Patterson's death saying he “left an indelible mark on our state. Senator Patterson commanded everyone’s attention with his wit and wisdom.” The statement did not list a cause of death. Patterson was born in 1931 in Darlington County and raised by his grandmothers. They recalled his hardheaded spirit early, recommending he not take jobs as a golf caddy or shoe shiner because he was likely to mouth off to white people in segregated 1940s South Carolina and get in trouble. Instead, Patterson served in the military and then got his teaching degree through the GI Bill at Allen University. While in college, he cleaned offices at the segregated capitol where he and other Black people couldn't be unless they were working. "When I was a janitor, Black people couldn’t go in the Statehouse," Patterson said in a 2004 interview with the University of South Carolina. “And then one day I came back down here as a member of the House and then in '84, I came back sitting in the Senate as a senator. Now that’s a hell of a long way to come.” Patterson spent 30 years in education and was elected to the South Carolina House in 1974 and the Senate 10 years later after U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn urged him to run for the upper chamber seat. In a statement, Clyburn called Patterson “a trusted leader, a tireless champion for civil rights, and a treasured friend. He was a person of strength, determination, wisdom, and a long proponent of removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse dome .” Patterson was also the first Black person to serve on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees since Reconstruction. Patterson was a key member of both the House and Senate, He served on the budget committees in both chambers and was a major voice in support of civil rights, public education and helping poor people. He adamantly demanded the Confederate flag be removed from atop the Statehouse dome and inside the House and Senate chambers long before they were taken down in 2000. The lifelong Democrat said the final years of his political career were the toughest after Republicans took over state government. His seniority no longer mattered and he felt many newer Republicans were religious hypocrites who claimed to help others but only cared for people just like themselves. A few years before he retired from the Statehouse, Patterson said it was important to respect elders and supervisors, but not be afraid to speak up if bothered or something was on one's mind. “That’s just my hallmark ever since I was a little child. It will get you in trouble now, but you can sleep well at night. And learn to treat everybody as human beings with respect,” Patterson said in the interview with the university's Champions of Civil and Human Rights in South Carolina program. “You can sleep real good at night. Right now, I’m 73 years old and sleep like a log when I go to bed because I know I’ve done no wrong to my fellow man,” Patterson said. Jeffrey Collins, The Associated Press
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Trump To End Daylight Saving Time? Calls It ‘Hassle for the Nation’Tempest Reports Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)NEW YORK and AMSTERDAM , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI"), the world's leading index provider, today announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) rebalancing and reconstitution. The DJSI are float-adjusted market capitalization weighted indices that measure the performance of companies selected using environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. The DJSI, including the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), were launched in 1999 as the pioneering series of global sustainability benchmarks available in the market. The index family is comprised of global, regional and country benchmarks. As a result of this year's review, the following top three largest companies based on free-float market capitalization have been added to and deleted from the DJSI World. All changes are effective on Monday, December 23, 2024 . Additions: Airbus SE, Schlumberger Ltd, BAE Systems Plc Deletions: Alphabet Inc 1 , UnitedHealth Group Inc, ASML Holding NV 2 The full results and list of DJSI constituents will be available as of Monday, December 23 2024 , at https://www.spglobal.com/esg/csa/djsi-annual-review S&P Dow Jones Indices will be renaming a number of its sustainability and ESG-related indices (see Index Announcement ). As part of this update, the family of Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) will be renamed Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices. The changes will become effective on Monday, February 10, 2025 . The S&P Global CSA Scores will continue to be a key factor in selecting constituents for the DJSI when they are renamed Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices in February 2025 . For more information about the DJSI methodology, please visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji . ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji . 1 Still member of DJSI World Enlarged and DJSI North America 2 Still member of DJSI World Enlarged S&P DJI MEDIA CONTACTS: spdji.comms@spglobal.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-dow-jones-indices-announces-dow-jones-sustainability-indices-2024-review-results-302331745.html SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices