LEE COUNTY – Most of us have a to-do list of some sorts – for the day, the week – but Emily Benjamin’s list spans five years, like from 2025 to 2029. The new CEO and President of Lee County Economic Development Group (LCEDG) says that list is called “Connect Lee County” and is being launched right after the entity’s busiest season. “Starting in September we started working with a nonprofit, capital fundraising group called Conversion Nonprofit Solutions. You’re sitting on top of a Conversion Nonprofit Solutions project. They were instrumental in getting the funding for the marina project,” Benjamin told Fort Madison Rotarians at their meeting Tuesday at the marina’s Turnwater Bar & Grill. With respect to the LCEDG, the fundraising nonprofit helped raise money to implement Connect Lee County and other initatives. In preparation, Nonprofit Solutions had LCEDG entities map our their accomplishments of the last five years as well as their goals for the next five years. During this process, Benjamin said the consultant interviewed community stakeholders. “Sometimes people will say meaner things to the consultant than to me or to Dennis (Fraise, the former retired CEO/President), so we like the unvarnished treatment that we get out of that feasibility study,” she said. She said Lee County does have some significant “head winds,” or challenges, but that in the end, her group needs to focus on three main areas – people, business, and quality of life. Benjamin said these areas have to be addressed from two angles – attracting the new and engaging or enhancing what is already in place. “We need to look at attracting new residents, new businesses, new quality of life amenities, and we also have to look at engaging the residents that already here, the businesses that are already here, and making sure we are fully utilizing the quality of life amenities that are here.” Under the “people” category,” Benjamin said the goal it build a strong, skilled workforce. She said they will do this in a variety of ways, including an Iowa Economic Development Authority pilot program for attracting talent by partnering with state colleges and those majoring in specific study areas. “We can then reach out to them and say ‘Hey, you have a mechanical engineering degree. Have you ever thought of moving back to your home community – I see you’re from Fort Madison, Iowa and there are three positions available in Lee County.” She said LCEDG can also help existing businesses recruit talent by cutting through some of the corporate red tape and representing them and the area at career fairs and by contacting college offices. She said there is also a community concierge piece to focusing on people and attracting new residents to the area. “It doesn’t do us a lot of good to bring people into the community and not connect them to that community.” Benjamin said this means reaching out to others in the community to show visitors the sights, the amenities, and to help sell them on the idea of relocating to the area. “Find out if they have kids, are interested in schools. Find out things about them and then also try to connect them with more fabrics of our community.” A third goal is to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem that provides support and resources for small business owners. “Anybody here that has been a small business owner knows it can be kind of a lonely island to own a small business. We want to make sure we are utilizing the program we already have, but also build a new one so that people feel like they have a support network.” Last, but not least, the Career Advantage Center that offers vocational and business training to local high school students in cooperation with area industries, will come into play. The center was five years in the making, under Fraise’s leadership, and is now governed by its own nonprofit board, which includes LCEDG representation. Benjamin said a large part of Connect Lee County is a unified approach with one entity representing the interests of all cities within the area, rather than having Fort Madison and Keokuk working independently. She said one site selector scouting the area said he does select a site, rather he goes out and disqualifies sites. “He said ‘if I have to call three different people to find out who the right person is to talk to, I’m going to eliminate your community because I assume there is bad politics. I assume there’s bad blood or some sort of contention where you guys can’t work together.’” In the area of business, Benjamin said they not only want to be chosen by site selectors for new industry, but they also want to work with existing industry so that if that company’s corporate officials are looking to relocate a division of manufacturing that Lee County is a contender. “We know that about 80 percent of future growth will come from these existing businesses.” She said Lee County currently has 4,500 manufacturing jobs that contributes $250 million to the economy, but that agricultural sector is also prominent and in need of more attention and support. “We have a goal in our five-year plan to focus on building relationships with that ag community.“ She said the more difficult part of her job is that “you win some, and you lose some.” For example, corporate officials decided to close Fort Madison Independent Can manufacturing plant and move its operations to another existing plant – leaving the county with one less industry, but with a marketable building for a new one. “We know that if we get everything right, we’re still going to lose some, so we have to continue to attach new industries to the area. We have to continue to be really proactive about getting these. A lot of times, when we get a lead, we get a spread sheet and we have 24 hours to turn it around.” She said she is often reminded of Derry Brothers’ “push, pull or drag” promotion where the Burlington car dealership vowed to pay for any trade-in vehicle that would be pushed, pulled or dragged to their premises. “Sometimes doing economic development in a rural community feels a little like a push, pull or drag sale. We don’t care who you are. We don’t care what you want to make. If you’ll consider Lee County, we want you here and we’re going to try to get you here.” The third piece of the five-year plan consists of quality of life – amenities and lifestyle benefits to living in the area. Existing amenities include the Fort Madison marina, the recreational trails, the schools and community college, the Baxter Sport Complex, pickle ball courts, the YMCA, events, historical landmarks, the Mississippi River, the many trains passing through the communities, the scenic parks and more. “Whether it is in Keokuk, in Fort Madison, whether it is in Montrose, what is our next big-slash impact that we can make?” But quality life can also be a lifestyle that may attract newcomers. “The one thing that I personally sell is that I have a job that I love. It’s a job that demands a lot of my time and a lot of my attention, but I don’t miss my kids’ baseball games. I can do my job. I can work really hard and still be the kind of present parent, engaged community member, and active volunteer that I want to be.”
By Patricia Zengerle (Reuters) -The United States will send Ukraine $725 million of missiles, ammunition, anti-personnel mines and other weapons, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday, as President Joe Biden's outgoing administration seeks to bolster Kyiv in its war with Russian invaders before leaving office in January. The assistance will include Stinger missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), drones and land mines, among other items, Blinken said in a statement. Reuters reported last week that the Biden administration planned to provide the equipment, much of it anti-tank weapons, to ward off Russia's attacking forces. Moscow's troops have been capturing village after village in Ukraine's east, part of a drive to seize the industrial Donbas region, while Russian airstrikes target a hobbled Ukrainian energy grid as winter sets in. "The United States and more than 50 nations stand united to ensure Ukraine has the capabilities it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression," Blinken's statement said. The announcement marks a steep uptick in size from Biden's recent use of so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which allows the U.S. to draw from current weapons stocks to help allies in an emergency. Recent PDA announcements have typically ranged from $125 million to $250 million. Biden has an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion in PDA already authorized by Congress that he is expected to use for Ukraine before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. WAITING FOR TRUMP Trump is widely expected to change U.S. strategy on Ukraine, after he criticized the scale of Biden's support for Kyiv and made quickly winding down the war a central campaign promise. Last week, he picked Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who presented him with a plan to end the war, to serve as special envoy for the conflict. Kellogg's plan for ending the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukrainian sovereign territory, involves freezing the battle lines at their prevailing locations and forcing both Kyiv and Moscow to the negotiating table, Reuters reported in June. The tranche of weapons represents the first time in decades that the United States has exported land mines, the use of which is controversial because of the potential harm to civilians. Although more than 160 countries have signed a treaty banning their use, Kyiv has been asking for them since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in early 2022, and Russian forces have used them on the front lines. The land mines that would be sent to Ukraine are "non-persistent," with a power system that lasts for just a short time, leaving the devices non-lethal. This means that - unlike older landmines - they would not threaten civilians indefinitely. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; additional reporting by Rami Ayyub; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Stephen Coates)
Large political rallies, both for and against Yoon, expected today in run-up to impeachment vote
President Bola Tinubu weekend commended the Guards Brigade of the for checkmating all forms of security threats in the nation’s seat of power as well as his personal security. Represented by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the president gave the commendation at the elite guards’ West Africa Social Activities on Saturday in Abuja. He said the presidential guard had during the year displayed exceptional commitment towards securing the seat of government, the Federal Capital Territory, and its environs. “I also appreciate the efforts of the commander, officers, and men of Guards Brigade for always willing to sacrifice an extra hour of hard work of planning and coordinating the presidential security duties. “The ceremonial parade and operational endeavours are very much appreciated. “Your style in managing the security threat in the FCT has ensured the safety of not only the president, but that of other citizens, visitors, and diplomats. “I, therefore, urge you to continue to be extraordinarily compassionate and empathetic in the conduct of your operations and to always strive for excellence in discharging your responsibilities. “I say thank you for your dedication and commitment to security and securing lives and properties, and for sacrificing your today for our tomorrow,’’ he said. The president also extended his appreciation to the personnel’s families for their overbearing support and understanding that made it possible for them to dedicate time required to perform various duties. He expressed confidence that the brigade would always rise to the challenges of its duties and keep the flag of the Nigerian Army flying at all times. He said the diversity of experience, skill, and talent of officers and soldiers of the Brigade is an asset to the Nigerian Army and indeed the nation. “I believe that your dedication to duty will encourage and motivate other soldiers elsewhere to emulate your exemplary effort. “I also thank you all not just for your service to this great nation, but for reminding us why Nigeria will always be a great nation,” he added. Tinubu lauded the brigade for organising the WASA event, adding that the traditional dance and local dishes on display would no doubt allow them to appreciate their culture better. He said the event would also help them to preserve their cultural heritage and distinct identity. “Today’s WASA is not just about our culture and traditions alone, but also a celebration of our collective spirit that falls on Guards. (NAN)
A reported stabbing early Monday morning has resulted in charges being laid in Owen Sound. Police say the incident happened just before 5 a.m. at an apartment complex in the 800-block of 2nd Avenue East. According to police, two people were hurt. The victims, two males, were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Officers were able to locate and arrest the suspect soon after, police say. A 23-year-old man from Owen Sound has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, and one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Police say the people involved do know each other and there are no public safety concerns. The accused is in custody pending his bail hearing. The investigation is ongoing. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Two people stabbed in Owen Sound, police arrest suspect Arrest and charges after suspicious fire on Wortley Road Farmers 'Field of Dreams' delivers on doctor recruitment Sarnia man charged in stabbing death of another man TVDSB makes decision to close schools due to weather CTVNews.ca Top Stories Alleged gang member driving from U.S. arrested at Canadian border after making wrong turn An alleged gang member coming from the United States was arrested at the Canadian border after reportedly making a wrong turn onto the Peace Bridge border crossing. Negotiations between Canada Post, union still on hold Canada Post says it's waiting for a response from the union representing some 55,000 striking workers after it offered a new framework for negotiations over the weekend. 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City of Ottawa's auditor general finds kickback scheme involving city employee and local landlords The City of Ottawa's auditor general has found that a city employee was engaged in a kickback scheme with a group of four local landlords, collecting thousands of dollars in payments in exchange for more favourable rental rates under specific housing benefit programs administered by the city. Toronto Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster tenders resignation after 7 years Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster is stepping down. Verster tendered his resignation on Monday, as he accepts a new role starting on Dec. 16. Crews partially reopen highway north of Toronto after major snowstorm hits cottage country Crews have partially reopened Highway 11 north of Toronto this afternoon after parts of Ontario’s cottage country were hit with upwards of 140 centimetres of snowfall over the weekend. Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down. Montreal New poll suggests Legault even less popular than Justin Trudeau A prominent polling analyst says Quebec's governing party could be reduced to fewer than 10 seats in the provincial legislature if an election were held today, based on current poll numbers. Montreal's Metro will have extended service hours on New Year’s Eve To help Montrealers celebrate the holidays safely, the Metro will run later than usual on New Year’s Eve. Montreal homeless encampment dismantled to move '50 metres farther' Yellow bulldozers, police officers and workers in orange vests dismantled a homeless encampment along Notre-Dame Street East in Montreal’s Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough. 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Northwestern Ontario town fined $10K for refusing to celebrate Pride Month An Ontario town and its mayor have been fined a total of $15,000 for refusing to celebrate Pride Month. Calgary Yellowknife man charged in connection with fatal assault outside Calgary hookah lounge A 46-year-old man from Yellowknife, N.W.T., has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal attack outside the Portico Lounge three months ago. What we know about Calgary's unsolved murders of 2024 Less than half of the homicides in Calgary this year remain unsolved. Apartment in downtown Calgary highrise significantly damaged in fire Calgary fire crews are investigating a blaze that significantly damaged an apartment in a downtown highrise on Monday morning. Edmonton Alberta reannounces plans to reduce the number of photo radar sites in the province Alberta reannounced plans to reduce photo radar sites in the province on Monday. Northern Alta. house explosion likely caused by gas leak: RCMP Northern Alberta Mounties are investigating a house explosion in Swan Hills early Monday morning. School bus hit in multi-vehicle crash after vehicle runs red light: EPS A school bus full of children was hit in west Edmonton during the morning rush hour on Monday. Regina Manz found guilty of one charge of sexual assault, acquitted on five others after 57 hours of deliberations After being sequestered for more than 57 hours, a 12-person jury has found Regina chiropractor Ruben Manz guilty of one count of sexual assault. Blockbuster WHL trade sees Warriors move captain Brayden Yager to Hurricanes The Western Hockey League's (WHL) Moose Jaw Warriors traded captain Brayden Yager to the Lethbridge Hurricanes Monday. Shannon's Pub bringing a piece of Ireland to Regina this December In the middle of Regina's Cathedral neighbourhood, Shannon's Pub is hoping to bring a little taste of Ireland to Saskatchewan this holiday season. Saskatoon Family of Sask. man who died following a violent arrest still pushing for answers Friends and family of Boden Umpherville may be closer to finding answers on the circumstances surrounding his death. 'The best start': Saskatoon begins 2025 budget talks with proposed cut to property taxes In an unusual twist, the latest City of Saskatoon budget deliberations began with positive financial news. Saskatoon's Midtown projects sales increase, more stores to open in 2025 While the Christmas shopping season still has a few weeks to go, Saskatchewan’s largest shopping mall is projecting an increase in sales this year, and more stores opening in 2025. Vancouver ‘A piece of our hearts missing:’ B.C. family announces tragic end to search for missing man with dementia A 64-year-old man who went missing from his Saanich long-term care home last month has been found deceased on the Westshore – with his wallet and Cleveland Browns trading cards, according to family. Canada Post strike costs small businesses $76 million per day, association says The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the dispute has cost small-and-medium-sized businesses more than three quarters of $1 billion. Stolen North Vancouver firefighter uniforms returned, investigation ongoing Several firefighter uniforms have been returned to the police after they were stolen from a dry cleaners in North Vancouver. Vancouver Island ‘A piece of our hearts missing:’ B.C. family announces tragic end to search for missing man with dementia A 64-year-old man who went missing from his Saanich long-term care home last month has been found deceased on the Westshore – with his wallet and Cleveland Browns trading cards, according to family. Fraudulent B.C. crypto platform fined $18.4M by securities regulator The British Columbia Securities Commission has fined a cryptocurrency trading platform and its director more than $18 million after finding the company lied to its customers by diverting nearly $13 million of their investments into gambling websites and personal accounts. Canada Post strike costs small businesses $76 million per day, association says The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says the dispute has cost small-and-medium-sized businesses more than three quarters of $1 billion. Stay ConnectedDallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott recently and wholeheartedly endorsed head coach Mike McCarthy, whose future is uncertain as he guides his 5-7 team in the final year of his contract. When asked about Prescott's remarks on 105.3 The Fan , Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said the "whole team" endorses McCarthy, mentioning his resume (which includes a Super Bowl XLV win) and saying that he "knows what it takes to win in this league." McCarthy is in his fifth year as the Cowboys' head coach. He's led the team to the playoffs after 12-win campaigns each of the past three seasons, but that's only resulted in one postseason victory and zero NFC Championship Game appearances. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .Trump's strategy is to create economic uncertainty in other countries: Freeland
Hey there, welcome to our latest edition of . This is a chance for you to see what the various members of the Pocket Gamer team are planning to play over this weekend and will, hopefully, give you an idea of some of the weird and wonderful things we get up to when we’re not keeping you up to speed with the latest news and tips. Heck, you might even find a new game to play. This week brought the new summon banners to , which would usually be a day for joy. I, however, am a bit grumpy over it as I almost managed to get Danjin to max Resonance Chain with the previous banner. She is currently sitting just one summon away from perfection, so this weekend I will be in mourning. On the other hand, launched recently and I have had much of an opportunity to get into it. My first impression is that the runs of each character are a little short, I was hoping for something like Digimon World with a longer time together. Hopefully I will be proven wrong. Oh gosh, I have not been mobile gaming much this week. I feel like December is so full of Christmas Activities that there just isn’t any time for anything else. I am hoping to do some of the Raid Day that Pokemon Go is hosting this weekend. Until this weekend, Necrozma could only be grabbed twice. Now, with the Raid Weekend, we can pick up as many as we can raid - and I hope to have a bunch! As we dive deeper into the chaos that is December, I’ve been prepping more stories to go with our , which means I’ve got a nice little list of regional launches and early access games lined up in the next few weeks. There’s a meditative puzzler about helping lost souls ascend without being able to ascend yourself because you’re stuck in a time loop (that got dark fast), a survival auto-shooter where you’re angry at the moon (I am vengeance), and an adorable match-3 time-waster where you combine oddly happy blobs to earn oddly happy pets (sign me up). Let’s goooo! One of my biggest blindspots with mobile gaming is the Monument Valley series. I know of its legacy, of course, but I've never found the time to play it. That changes this weekend. Following of the third instalment and being a Netflix subscriber despite making little use of it, I'm going to try it. The art style is absolutely stunning, and I'm in the mood for some puzzling, so it seems the perfect choice. This weekend is looking to be incredibly busy for me, and I suspect that a lot of my spare time (hah) will be spent doing admin for my various side-projects and hobbies. If I do, somehow manage to invest time into something new (because we all know I’m going to keep opening packs in Pokemon TCG Pocket, and going to keep plodding on with Monster Hunter Now & Pokemon Go) then it’ll be diving into Suzerain’s Kingdom of Rizia content as it’s all just had a little relaunch, . Suzerain, alongside the Six Ages/King of Dragon Pass and Hundred Days rounds out my holy trilogy of ‘ ’ series. There’s not much to say this weekend considering I’m nursing a bit of a cold. But I think that if there’s anything I’ll probably be doing, it might be jumping back into given its recent wins from a variety of awards shows (including us). I’ve found it difficult to really crack it despite some good runs, but given the critical acclaim I think it’s only fair I give it another proper go. It's been like a week since Path of Exile 2 came out and I still haven't tried it. I've only watched some streams, and the game looks amazing. The only reason why I haven't so far is because I'm afraid I might like it a little bit too much. I have thousands of hours on Steam in PoE, 1 so... yeah. Anyway, another title that I'm going to try out is Mu Origin 3: Demon Swordmaster. I've already put a few hours into Mu: Dark Epoch, and I just want to see how these titles compare to each other. That's all when it comes to gaming. I might go touch some grass over the weekend, actually. Over the past week, I’ve had a couple of chats with two of our colleagues about Path of Exile 2. I’ve already mentioned it in my past Wrapps, but haven’t really had the time to enjoy it. I really hope this weekend will allow me some time (and by that, I mean a few good hours) so I can really enjoy it. Other than Path of Exile 2, I hope I’ll have time to play this little new mobile game called The Tower. I’ve had it downloaded for some time now, but my spare time never quite fell right to commit to playing something new. I’ve read a little about another game called Frog's Kitchen, which is a cute restaurant managing sim, and if I won’t have time to dive into PoE2, I hope I’ll at least have some time to play this one! It's actually starting to get cold in my area so I can finally pull out all the blankets and bulky sweaters that sit around for times like this. Although I can always find professional and casual reasons to play games, the cold weather is a strong argument and has pushed me to look into more genres. I'm not sure if I'll be looking for more cosy games or just games that make me feel warmer. This may be the right time to revisit . But, maybe it's the gameplay that can make me feel warmer even if there is no fire or warm beverages onscreen. I just need to sit in my bundle and browse for titles that'll go well with my soothing cup of coffee. Maybe this change of weather will lead me to a candidate for the best game ever.
A SECOND top Nat has been caught up in another freebies row — after he was chauffeured to the Scottish Open in a government limo. Tories blasted Dr Alasdair Allan’s trip to watch home golfing hero Robert MacIntyre’s victory, insisting it had nothing to do with his role as Climate Change Minister. 3 It comes weeks after Health Secretary Neil Gray was forced to explain his limo trips Credit: Alamy 3 The minister attended the event where Scot Robert MacIntyre triumphed Credit: Getty Our revelation comes weeks after Health Secretary Neil Gray faced calls to explain trips to Aberdeen matches in ministerial motors . Scots Tories’ deputy leader Rachael Hamilton hit out: “It looks like Neil Gray’s got company when it comes to taking the public for a ride. “Alasdair Allan must explain why he thought he could charge taxpayers for a jolly which is completely outwith his job description. “If he wanted to watch the world’s leading golfers, he should have paid for it out of his own pocket.” Read More Scpttish Politics LAW VOW SNP government will 'consider' creating new offence for non-fatal strangulation CON THE BUS SNP ministers 'quietly ditch' bus pledge as funding cut by 98 per cent We can reveal papers show the MSP was driven to the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, East Lothian, on July 14 — the last day of the £7million PGA Tour showdown. His trip was listed as an official ministerial visit to a “major event”. But no press releases were issued about the jaunt to the tournament, won by MacIntyre, from Oban, Argyll . There was also no official justification for the visit or how it fell under his remit. Most read in The Scottish Sun LOCKED DOWN Police & paramedics swarm busy Glasgow retail park as they seal off areaa lew's new love Lewis Capaldi grows close to influencer as they party with Noel Gallagher STRIP SEARCH Gers ‘to ditch Castore for major kit brand' next season but there’s a catch CRYSTAL BALL Celtic vs Rangers score predictions as SunSport writers have their say And questions were asked about the lack of official pictures that are typically issued of ministers at high-profile outings. It has also emerged Sports Minister Maree Todd enjoyed a two-night trip to Wimbledon at taxpayers’ expense in July, with a hotel costing £213 and a return train ticket an extra £194. EXPLAINED: Scottish Budget 2024, what do the SNP's spending plans mean for you? We told last month how Dons-supporting Mr Gray admitted he’d appeared to act “more as a fan and less as a minister” after taking official limos to nine football games. Minutes and guest lists from the trips were released earlier this week. But there were no official notes for several of the matches. Mr Gray was also blasted for going to the premiere of Saoirse Ronan movie The Outrun in Edinburgh . Last night the Scottish Government said Dr Allan had been invited by Scottish Open chiefs who saw “sustainability” as a “key consideration”. A spokesman added: “He met with stakeholders, including the GEO Foundation — an international not-for-profit organisation that supports and rewards sustainability action. 3 Dr Alasdair Allan took a limo trip to watch home golf hero Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open Credit: Alamy “He also toured the site to learn more about sustainability initiatives. Read more on the Scottish Sun BATTY WEATHER Record-breaking snow & temps on the way for Scotland as expert issues warning GER KIDDING Tottenham fans blast ex-Spurs star as he's spotted wildly celebrating Gers goal Ministers attending events in a ministerial capacity are entitled to use government transport . All costs are in accordance with travel and subsistence policies.”
Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes , two of the greatest global actors of their generation or any, stage an “English Patient” reunion with Uberto Pasolini’s stately and somber “The Return.” The epic film , shot in Greece and Italy last year, retells Homer’s classic and oft-recycled epic “Odyssey” through a stripped-down lens that frames the story of Odysseus (Fiennes), Penelope (Binoche), and their son Telemachus (Charlie Plummer) as a tale without gods and monsters and instead more of a dysfunctional family narrative. What’s lost is the heat and swashbuckling adventure of the original tale, a humanist turn that finds Odysseus at the end of his mortal coil, Fiennes at first haggard, awash naked on the shores of Ithaca after a shipwreck has left him unmoored and divorced from his former kingdom. The actors are prime, but the movie is a solemn affair that could use more grandeur. When Odysseus awakens on the beaches of Ithaca, guilt-ridden knowing that none of his arsenal of companions on a military ship survived the Trojan War overseas, he’s back on home soil to worse revelations. His kingdom has fallen apart, his wife Penelope is being arranged for new marriage, and his son Telemachus is surely going to be killed by one of her new suitors. There is a lot of pain and hurry-up-and-wait as Ithaca falls apart without him. He’s forced to watch from afar, in caves and other underlit locales, as Penelope and his son fend off as best they can an occupation and prepare for a new father figure to step in. Much of the film finds Binoche pensively working a loom, weaving a wedding gown for the next nuptials she’s in no rush for. By night, she’s unraveling the garment to buy more time for Odysseus to come home. Her worrying, working pain is compelling to watch. No surprise from the actress who astounded us all in movies like Michael Haneke’s “Cache” and Krzysztof Kieślowski’s “Blue,” movies that deal with grief in their way, too, and buoyed on courageous acting . Binoche is typically strong in a performance that relies on a series of fixed gazes of grim determination — much like Plummer as Telemachus, who starts the movie off by gazing out into the sea, awaiting the return of his father. The script, written by Edward Bond, John Collee, and Pasolini, gives her little in the way of dialogue, but she’s a memorable force. Fiennes, similarly, playing a role that’s been inhabited by the likes of Kirk Douglas in 1955’s “Ulysses” or much more comically in the Coens’ “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” by George Clooney, is strong and silent, his physique jacked. And this is in a movie that certainly ladles on the homoeroticism, male nudity abounding as is understood for the overflowing Grecian sensuality of the time and this one. Penelope is hounded by muscular new suitors awaiting the throne, while Odysseus isn’t recognized anymore due to the scars of war, though Fiennes is in top physical shape. Some questions hover, though, as to why would Penelope not remember that this man is also the father of her child. Telemachus is also on the chopping block as a takeover of Ithaca looms. Plummer, an extremely gifted actor with a face of stone and hurt in films ranging from “Lean on Pete” to the queer rodeo story “National Anthem” earlier this year, cuts a haunting silhouette as a son caught in a political battle. But Pasolini, choosing to remove the more grotesque monstrous figures from Homer’s original story, lets his actors hang in the balance in often airless scenes that lack drama or movement. Cinematographer Marius Panduru shoots the film with a fairly elementary, straightforward grammar, the lush environs of the Aegean sea minimized by what becomes a stately drama where shots feel more like coverage than thoughtful. The film is after all only focused on the latter entries of Homer’s “Odyssey,” meaning we miss a lot of the mythological hugeness of the material that’s been sliced and diced before by other (and surely less capable) filmmakers. If you’re familiar at all with the original text, you might miss the sea monsters and sirens that paint its stormy and mythologically over-the-top narrative. Pasolini’s commitment to realism here — despite as ever magnetic performances from his actors — fails to get at the violent, dark heart of the classic story. But if Binoche and Fiennes staring into the void is your thing, “The Return” will bring plenty for you. “The Return” is in theaters from Bleecker Street on Friday, December 6. Want to stay up to date on IndieWire’s film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best reviews, streaming picks, and offers some new musings, all only available to subscribers.
The judge ruling over Elon Musk’s ~$55 billion CEO pay package, which some Tesla shareholders claimed was obtained without following proper governance rules, has decided to reject Tesla’s attempt to reinstate it with a shareholder vote. Delaware Supreme Court could be next. In 2018, Tesla shareholders voted for Elon Musk to get a historic new CEO compensation package that could be worth $55 billion for the executive if Tesla achieved remarkable growth in valuation and profits, which it did. However, some shareholders argued that Musk unfairly secured this extremely generous compensation plan by misleading shareholders about the fact that the plan was being put together by an independent board and negotiated in good faith. They filed a complaint in court in Delaware. The case went to trial in 2022, but it took a long time for the judge to give her decision. Earlier this year, Delaware Chancery Court Chief Judge Kathleen St. J. McCormick sided with the shareholders after testimonies from everyone involved in the pay package negotiations, or lack of negotiations, and a thorough investigation of how it came about. She determined that Musk was in control of the board during the time it granted him the pay package while the board members who approved the package were also granted historically large compensations, which they ended up partly reimbursing as part of . McCormick found many governance irregularities, including the fact that the board members who supposedly negotiated the package were not independent of Musk, and even his personal lead on the compensation was his own divorce lawyer, who he had recently hired to be general counsel at Tesla. The judge rescinded the compensation package, which included over $50 billion worth of Tesla stock options that the CEO had yet to exercise. She asked Tesla to go back to the drawing board, renegotiate the pay package in good faith, and present it properly to shareholders. Instead, Tesla disagreed with the judge’s findings around governance issues and decided to present the same package while including the judge’s decision in the updated proposal and having Tesla’s shareholders vote on it again. In June, Tesla shareholders voted to reapprove the package, albeit at a lower percentage than the original vote. Tesla’s legal team believed the vote would “ratify” the compensation package and force the judge to vacate her decision to void the pay package. However, both Tesla’s lawyers and most corporate law scholars agreed that this would require a completely new way to address ratification. McCormick listened to both sides this August, and we were awaiting her decision by the end of the year. Today, the judge released her decision and she sided against Tesla’s argument again: “The large and talented group of defense firms got creative with the ratification argument, but their unprecedented theories go against multiple strains of settled law.” Beyond the ratification problem, the judge also said that she believes Tesla again misrepresented the situation to shareholders in the statements made around the new vote: “Even if a stockholder vote could have a ratifying effect, it could not do so here due to multiple, material misstatements in the proxy statement.” On top of her ruling on the compensation, she also ruled against the lawyers for the shareholders, who were asking for a ridiculous $5 billion in Tesla stock as their legal fee. Instead, she awarded them $345 million. Tesla is likely to contest the ruling, which could move the case to the Delaware Supreme Court. As I wrote last summer, . Even if you believe Musk deserves this package, Tesla’s approach to reinstating it was boneheaded and didn’t follow the law as I, and seemingly the judge and most Delaware corporate law experts, understand it. Tesla, and more specifically Elon Musk, it’s hard to differentiate the two lately, which is part of the problem, are showing no intention to address their governance issues. Let’s be clear: Elon could get paid somewhat easily here. Even as much or close to this amount. However, it needs to do it through the proper governance and respect the process. Instead, Elon prefers to lie to shareholders and present the situation as politically motivated lawfare. It’s nonsense. and subscribe to the . Tesla is a transportation and energy company. It... Fred is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at Electrek. You can send tips on Twitter (DMs open) or via email: fred@9to5mac.com Through Zalkon.com, you can check out Fred’s portfolio and get monthly green stock investment ideas. Get interesting investment ideas by Fred Lambert ChargePoint Home WiFi Enabled Electric Vehicle (EV) ChargerMichelle Keegan's blunt response to pregnancy questions before baby announcementLOS ANGELES (AP) — After struggling to run the ball consistently all season, the Los Angeles Rams finally made some progress on the ground in New Orleans. Kyren Williams and rookie Blake Corum carried the Rams (6-6) to a 21-14 win that kept them squarely in the playoff race for another week. Los Angeles racked up a season-high 156 yards rushing against the Saints, with Williams going for 104 yards and a touchdown while Corum added 42 yards on a season high-tying eight carries. The game was the inverse of most afternoons this season for the Rams, who came into the week averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The running game was sturdy and productive, while Matthew Stafford and his receivers struggled to get into a rhythm at the Superdome. Coach Sean McVay always prefers to use his run game to set up the pass, and it finally worked for once this season. “I thought Kyren ran really well," McVay said. “I thought Corum ran really well. I thought our offensive line set the line of scrimmage in the run game. We really started slow in the pass game, but I thought Matthew was excellent in the second half. We were able to get some different things off of those run actions going, and that ended up being the difference in the game.” Not coincidentally, the Rams' running game worked well on the Sunday when the offensive line finally had a starting five uncompromised by injuries or suspension for the first time all season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury, making the group whole around rookie center Beaux Limmer, who has beaten out high-priced free agent Jonah Jackson for a starting job. The Rams still had yet another slow start in a season full of them. They ran only three plays in the entire first quarter, and they were held scoreless in the first half when their other two drives resulted in a turnover on downs and a punt. But Los Angeles rebounded with an 11-play scoring drive to open the second half featuring seven runs by Williams. He eventually moved up to fifth in the NFL with 926 yards rushing despite averaging just 4.2 yards per carry — nearly a yard less than he had last season, and the lowest average among the league's top 10 rushers this season. The Rams have thrived without a strong rushing attack before: They averaged just 99.0 yards per game on the ground, ranking 25th in the NFL, during their Super Bowl championship season in 2021-22. But McVay prefers his first option to be a strong running attack, which he had during his first three seasons in charge with Todd Gurley in the backfield and Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. “Anytime the guys up front are moving them, and (Williams) is making great reads and moves on the second level, then that is a fun feeling for the offense," Stafford said. “It’s great when you can hand the ball off and get big creases. We converted when we needed to in short-yardage stuff. I thought our guys did a really great job up front, and Kyren ran it great.” The Rams have struggled in the red zone all season, but they scored touchdowns on all three trips in New Orleans. They did it by committing to the run game up the middle, setting up TD passes on the outside to Demarcus Robinson and Puka Nacua. Alvin Kamara racked up 112 yards rushing in the latest strong game by an opposing running back. Los Angeles is 28th in the league against the run, allowing 144.2 yards rushing per game — including 194 per game over the past three weeks. Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse had another outstanding game, racking up five tackles, three quarterback hits and numerous big plays that don't show up on stat sheets. He capped the performance by hitting Derek Carr from behind and forcing an incompletion from the Los Angeles 9 on New Orleans' final play. Cornerback Darious Williams gave up a touchdown pass to Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass to Dante Pettis early in the fourth quarter, capping a second straight rough week for the free-agent signee. Williams is the Rams' best cornerback, but they haven't had an above-average shutdown pass defender since trading Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles added cornerback depth Monday, claiming 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington. Robinson injured his hand during the game, and Stafford incurred a lateral ankle sprain. McVay said he doesn't expect either injury to affect the veterans' preparations this week. 17 — Cooper Kupp's yards receiving. That's his lowest total in a game in which he didn't get injured since Oct. 18, 2020. Kupp had only six targets, few downfield routes and curiously scant chances to make big plays. The Rams are home underdogs this week against powerhouse Buffalo, followed by a Thursday night game at San Francisco. Getting even one win out of these two matchups will be difficult, but probably necessary to keep pace with Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) A uthors: Nicole Hassoun , Binghamton University, State University of New York The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has set off soul-searching among many Americans. Part of that reflection is about the public reaction to Thompson’s death and the sympathy the suspect received online, with some people critical of the insurance industry celebrating the assailant as a sort of folk hero . As many observers have pointed out , frustrations are no excuse for murder. But it has become a moment of wider reflection on health care in America, and why so many patients feel the system is broken . Philosopher Nicole Hassoun researches health care and human rights. The Conversation U.S. spoke with her about the deeper questions Americans should be asking when they discuss health care reform. We’re seeing an outpouring of anger about health care in the United States. Your work deals with global health inequality and access – can you help put the U.S. system in perspective? If we compare ourselves to other rich countries, we don’t do very well. We spend much more money – about double per patient, on average, compared with other OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries – and get much less in return. In a study of 10 wealthy nations, including New Zealand, Sweden and Canada, The Commonwealth Fund – a private foundation for health care research – ranks the U.S. last overall. About 90% of Americans have some kind of health insurance . Still, 10% lack insurance entirely, and even some of those who are insured can’t afford the co-pays or medication costs . And there is a great deal of inequality in the U.S.: both disparities in access to health care and disparities in outcomes. Black infants die at a rate nearly 2.5 times higher than white babies do, for example, and diabetes rates are 30% higher among Native Americans and Latinos than white Americans. People of color tend to have lower rates of coverage as well. Before the Affordable Care Act, the situation was really dire. It’s likely many of us will get some terrible health condition like cancer during our lifetime, even when we’re relatively young. And what that meant before the ACA was that, if you got sick enough to lose your job – and so, your health insurance – new insurers could charge high rates because of your “preexisting condition.” You’ve argued there’s a universal right to health. What does that mean, and what would it look like? I think that people everywhere should have a legally enforced right to health – and in many countries, such as Germany and Norway , they do. In about half the world’s countries, that right is spelled out in the constitution . But the United States has not ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights , which includes a right to health. Morally, I think that the U.S. ought to have signed on to that. People should be able to live minimally good lives , and health is really important to do that. Countries should protect their citizens’ human rights, and health is fundamental to other human rights, like the right to life. When I say people have a right to health , I mean they have a right to the socially controllable determinants of health. This includes a clean and safe environment, health care and adequate food, water and social support. I am not saying that they have a right to be healthy, because you can’t guarantee that for anybody. What I mean is that society should do what it can so that everybody has health care at a reasonable cost. Good governments and their social support systems help everyone secure the health they need to contribute to society. The alternative is costly for everybody, not just people who are sick. Nearly half of the health problems in the U.S. stem from preventable diseases . As a wealthy country, we should have the resources to address those problems – including steps as simple as making sure people have high blood-pressure medicine, or regular primary-care visits . Everybody should be getting that kind of care, because otherwise, people certainly end up in the emergency room. Even ER visits that do not result in hospitalization cost an immense amount of money , ratcheting up the costs for everyone in the system, and often patients still don’t get the care that they need . According to a 2020 study published in The Lancet , a single-payer system could save the U.S. 13% savings in health care spending or US$450 billion each year. It’s a matter of how we want to be as a country. We can make health a right, but that is a decision that the American population has to make. We’re all in this together. We’re all trying to make this country work. And it’s a lot harder to do that when you’re sick. You mentioned an interesting phrase: the idea of the “minimally good life.” I just wrote a book on the minimally good life, and the main question it grapples with is this: What do we owe each other as a basic minimum? What kind of social safety net will suffice for everyone? I argue that respect for humanity requires people to help others live “minimally good lives” when that help does not sacrifice our own reasonably good quality of life. But how should we define that minimum? How should the country decide what kind of social welfare system to have? The basic idea is this: Put yourself in other people’s shoes and think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” What would I need to live a good-enough life as that person? What would I need if I were them? Maybe you don’t have cancer right now, or heart disease, or anything else. But someday you might. Empathy lets us think about how we can create the kind of security that will help us all flourish and live good lives. It’s also part of being a good-enough person. I think we live better lives when we help each other. When we think about what we want, what policies and laws we want to vote for, we have to put ourselves in others’ shoes and consider what would be good enough for all of us. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-moral-dimension-to-americas-flawed-health-care-system-245971 . More from PennLive Opinion Liz Cheney is obsessed with Donald Trump, not vice versa | PennLive letters The story of a con man, scapegoats, and a resistance have to say about our future | Column Nixon’s official acts against his enemies list led to a bipartisan impeachment effort | Opinion Retailers that make it harder to return stuff face backlash from their customers | Opinion