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U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, said on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 he would not run for any elective office in the near future. In this file photo Graves tours part of the Comite River Diversion Canal project where stone has been laid down along the canal on June 29, 2023 in Zachary. STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, center, sits next to Eric Beightel, left center, executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, and State Senator(District B) Patrick Connick, far left, as they watch a television showing two guest speakers, first U.S. Congressman Garret Graves and then U.S. Congressman Troy Carter, during the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion groundbreaking ceremony south of Belle Chasse, Louisiana on Thursday, August 10, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com ) Staff photo by Chris Granger NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON – While U.S. Rep. Garret Graves may not have been selected to head the transportation department by President-elect Donald Trump, his name is being bandied about as a possible head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Baton Rouge Republican, who is leaving Congress at the end of year, wouldn’t comment. But his chief of staff, Paul Sawyer, noted that Graves has advised the Trump campaign and transition team on transportation, infrastructure, energy and resiliency policy. Graves chaired the aviation subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and was named by several national news sources as a possible contender for secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation – a cabinet position. Trump instead tapped Fox Business host Sean Duffy as transportation secretary. A former chair of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Graves has deep knowledge about energy policy, coastal restoration and how the flood insurance program operates. He has been critical of FEMA for years. Politico Pro E&E News reported Tuesday that Graves could be a Trump appointee to run FEMA. Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment. But the political trade publication quoted several sources at FEMA and around Congress saying Graves was knowledgeable and would be a good pick. Graves has been talking to the Trump team about pulling FEMA from under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security to recreate the disaster-recovery bureaucracy as independent agency, as it was before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, according to sources. Graves has talked for years about the idea to FEMA as an independent agency. He also has said the civil works function from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees construction of levees and other flood mitigation projects, should be included under FEMA.HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work and wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory claiming all birds are actually government surveillance drones. Peters said she and some other former employees are upset and think the relaunch was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, 74, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. But Sherron Watkins, Enron’s former vice president of corporate development and the main whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal, said she didn’t have a problem with the joke because comedy “usually helps us focus on an uncomfortable historical event that we’d rather ignore.” “I think we use prior scandals to try to teach new generations what can go wrong with big companies,” said Watkins, who still speaks at colleges and conferences about the Enron scandal. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70gbet7 。

Volkswagen's connected services finally arriving in AustraliaIsrael threatens to expand war if Hezbollah truce collapsesWho are the favorites to win Golden Globes? | Streamed & Screened podcastORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Stacey Allaster , the U.S. Open's first female tournament director, will step down from that post after the 2025 edition of the Grand Slam event and shift from her job as the U.S. Tennis Association's chief executive of professional tennis to an advisory role with the organization. The USTA announced Allaster's job changes Wednesday and said she will help pick her successor as tournament director after the U.S. Open ends next September. Allaster became the U.S. Open tournament director in 2020, the first woman to hold that position in the history of a tournament first held in 1881. She has worked at the USTA since 2016 and before that was the chairman and CEO of the WTA women's professional tennis tour. “It's hard to put into words the impact Stacey has made on our sport,” seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams posted on social media. “She’s been a true champion for the game, and has paved the way for more women in leadership. We’re all inspired by you and grateful to call you a friend. Excited to see you continue striving forward. Congratulations Stacey.” USTA CEO and executive director Lew Sherr called Allaster “a tireless advocate for gender equality, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations in our sport.” AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has advised that after consultation with key stakeholders, a decision was taken to adjust the dates for the administration of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Six exam. This is due to the recent disruptions caused by the inclement weather conditions that Jamaica has been experiencing, and to provide additional preparation time to students who have been impacted. The revised dates for administration of the tests are: Ability Test, Thursday, February 20, 2025; Performance Task Tests - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 (Language Arts), and Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Mathematics); Curriculum-Based Tests - Wednesday, April 30, 2025 (Language Arts and Science), and Thursday, May 1, 2025 (Mathematics and Social Studies). The Ministry, in a bulletin, said it recognises the challenges faced by students, educators and parents during these trying times, and has, therefore, taken proactive measures to facilitate the best possible outcomes for the learners. School administrators are being urged to encourage teachers and parents to maximise the additional time given to ensure adequate preparation of the students for this assessment. The Ministry has given its commitment to provide the support necessary to ensure the best performance by all students. We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStarSailing vessel INSV Tarini embarks on second leg of expedition to New Zealand

GARDENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 11, 2024-- Best Contracting Services, the southern California leader in commercial roofing services, has officially broken ground on a 264kW microgrid at its corporate headquarters in Gardena, California. This state-of-the-art project not only showcases the Company’s commitment to sustainability and energy innovation but also includes the installation of 19 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations powered by clean energy from the microgrid. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211101741/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The microgrid, powered by advanced solar technology and integrated energy storage systems, will provide clean, reliable energy for Best Contracting Services’ operations while supporting California’s transition to a greener future. Designed to operate independently during outages, the microgrid ensures energy resilience while reducing the company’s reliance on the traditional utility grid. "This project reflects our vision for a sustainable, resilient future," said CEO Sean Taba. "By integrating renewable energy with EV infrastructure, we are not only lowering our carbon footprint but also supporting the growing need for clean transportation solutions in our community." Project Highlights: The EV charging stations will help advance the state’s efforts to encourage widespread EV adoption, providing convenient, sustainable charging options for Best Contracting Services employees and visitors. This initiative aligns with California’s goal of reaching 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. The construction phase of the microgrid and EV charging network is expected to be completed by first quarter 2025. "This microgrid and EV infrastructure represent a significant step forward for our company," said Executive Vice President Kayhan Fatemi. "By combining renewable energy with sustainable transportation, we’re demonstrating what’s possible for businesses committed to reducing their environmental impact." About Best Contracting Services BEST Contracting Services, Inc. has been providing services to the construction industry since 1982. We deliver full building envelope services with the knowledge, capability and years of experience in roofing, waterproofing, sheet metal and glazing to ensure that our clients have the confidence in us to guarantee full satisfaction for their building needs. Headquartered in Gardena, CA, with full service facilities in Union City, CA. For more information about the microgrid and EV charging network project or to schedule an interview, please contact Jesse Torres at jtorres@bestcontracting.com . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211101741/en/ CONTACT: Jesse Torres jtorres@bestcontracting.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENVIRONMENT COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE OTHER TRANSPORT CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY URBAN PLANNING TRANSPORT UTILITIES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GREEN TECHNOLOGY ENERGY SOURCE: BEST Contracting Services, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/11/2024 02:58 PM/DISC: 12/11/2024 02:56 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211101741/enLOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul has a negative 39-49% favorability rating, up slightly from 36-51% in October (then among likely voters), and her job approval rating also got a bump to 46-49%, up from 41-51%, according to a Siena College poll of New York State registered voters.When asked if they would vote to re-elect [...]Former Colorado Democratic Party chair’s consultant deal violated state ethics law, commission finds