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Republicans in the North Carolina House pushed through a measure restricting the powers of the incoming governor and other Democrats, overriding outgoing Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto. The bill passed with 72 members voting for the override and 46 against. Three House Republicans who opposed the measure last month over its limited disaster relief funding in response to Hurricane Helene, which caused massive flooding in their western North Carolina districts earlier this year, voted with their party. The vote comes after Republicans lost their supermajority in last month’s elections, making this their last chance to limit the power of newly elected Democratic leaders before the next legislative session in January. The state Senate voted to override the governor’s veto last week. Republicans emphasized the disaster relief provisions of the bill, but the majority of the legislation deals with changes to the authority of elected officials in the state. Under the bill, the incoming Democratic governor, Josh Stein , would be stripped of appointments to key state boards and control of the State Board of Elections will be transferred to the state auditor, a Republican. The legislation also shifts power away from the incoming lieutenant governor, attorney general and superintendent of public instruction, all Democrats. During Wednesday’s debate over the veto override, Republican state Rep. Destin Hall argued the legislation had become a “political football.” “The reality is, in this state, the Constitution gives this body the ability to make certain decisions, and the folks elected this body – just as they did the governor or governor-elect Stein coming in – and that’s what we’ve done in this bill,” Hall said. In his veto message last month, Cooper called the bill a “sham” that “shuffles money from one fund to another.” Billed as disaster relief funding following massive flooding in western North Carolina caused by Hurricane Helene earlier this year, the legislation transfers $227 million from a state savings fund to a Helene fund. The funds cannot be spent until appropriated by the legislature. Democrats from hard hit western North Carolina called on the legislature to do more to provide aid, and criticized the lack of appropriated funding in the legislation. “This bill just doesn’t meet the moment, and it doesn’t meet North Carolina’s values,” said Democratic state Rep. Eric Ager, who represents Asheville’s Buncombe County. “This bill just seems to do something to help, it doesn’t actually do it.” Republican state Rep. Mark Pless, one of the Republicans who initially voted against the bill, said he supported the veto override after receiving reassurances that disaster relief for Helene victims would be a top priority when the legislature meets next year. “I have discussed the needs with numerous elected leaders,” Pless said in a statement to CNN. “I am convinced there is a path forward and money will be available.” Stein, the governor-elect, blasted the legislation as a “power grab” during a briefing with reporters last week. “It’s petty and wrong-headed, it’s contrary to what the voters of North Carolina have just done in this election and who they elected,” Stein said. After the veto override passed, North Carolina Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton said in a statement that Republicans had “put their desire to strip political power away from recently elected Democrats ahead of the aid and relief their communities need.” Democrats have also balked at the effort to strip power from incoming statewide Democratic officials, particularly transferring control of the State Board of Elections. “It is just purely a partisan move, overturning decades of tradition in North Carolina that has worked well,” said Democratic state Sen. Julie Mayfield. “It has worked well under Republican governors. It has worked well under Democratic governors. They just don’t like it.” Republicans have argued the power shifting provisions were meant to increase bipartisanship. Matt Mercer, the communications director of the North Carolina Republican Party, framed the election provisions as a response to a governor who has “had this thumb on the scale” with appointments to election boards. “I think this is the legislature asserting that they still have power, too,” Mercer said. “ This is just a way that we can continue to have a balanced government in North Carolina.” The new law marks the latest chapter in the Republican-led legislature’s efforts to reshape the balance of power, particularly when it comes to control over elections. In 2016, outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory signed legislation that gave the legislature more influence over election board appointments. Cooper sued, and the state Supreme Court ruled in his favor . Voters rejected a 2018 proposed constitutional amendment backed by Republicans in the General Assembly to allow House and Senate leaders to appoint all members of the State Election Board. Earlier this year state court judges blocked another effort by the legislature to strip the governor of his ability to appoint election board members. This story has been updated with additional details.LSU star Flau’jae Johnson believes head coach Kim Mulkey will “hit a ref one day” as a result of her passionate on-court actions. On Thursday night, Mulkey’s LSU sealed a 94-88 victory over Stanford. Mikaylah Williams was the star of the show for LSU, tallying 32 points and nine rebounds as the Tigers continued their unbeaten star t to the 2024-25 season. With two minutes remaining in overtime, guard Kailyn Gilbert - who finished with 25 points - rose up and knocked down a clutch jump shot. The play extended LSU’s lead to six points, and the Tigers held on to clinch the win. South Carolina star has perfect response after being told she made 'worst decision of her life' Kim Mulkey makes her feelings perfectly clear on LSU fans leaving early As the ball found the bottom of the net, Mulkey was seen frantically reacting to the play. She swung her arms in delight while screaming to the crowd. It was a unique and passionate sequence even for Mulkey, who is known to gesticulate during games. As a result, Johnson said: “Mulkey gone hit a ref one day.” Johnson contributed heavily to the win. The guard, who became the second college athlete to sign an NIL deal with the new professional women's 3-on-3 Unrivaled basketball league after Paige Bueckers , contributed tremendously to the victory, tallying 21 points and six assists. Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news But it was Gilbert’s incredible shot that sparked the celebration out of Mulkey. During her postgame press conference, the 62-year-old heaped praise on her and said: “KG just - she’s deceptively quick. She looks like sometimes she’s not playing hard or going faster or as fast as she can, and then all of a sudden she’s got that little explosive step to get in the paint and make things happen. I thought, again, her on-ball defense was good.” Mulkey added: “We are certainly happy she’s at LSU. I say that every press conference.” On the campaign, Gilbert is averaging 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and two steals. If she can keep her play consistent, she will likely feature more prominently as the 2023 NCAA champions search for more silverware. Victory over Stanford took LSU to 10-0. Mulkey’s unbeaten team is next in action against 2-6 Grambling State on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves says he will continue to inflict pain 'legally'
Today inour Daily Dose of Social Media, we review the most significant activities andEntertainment from ATP and WTA players. Iga Swiatek shared photos of her time at the Billie Jean King Cup after a historic performance for Poland, reaching the semifinals before losing to Italy, who were crowned champions on Wednesday. Jannik Sinner and Chris Evert were among those offering congratulations for Italy's title on social media. The elimination of the USA in the Davis Cup marked the day, and Nicole Melichar launched strong criticism against Bob Bryan for including Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul in the doubles. Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal was seen happy reuniting with his family shortly after his retirement and elimination in the Davis Cup. Evertand Sinner praised Italy's Billie Jean King Cup triumph Chris Evertand Jannik Sinner praised Italy's victory in the Billie Jean King Cup final.The former World No. 1 congratulated the European team for securing their fifthtitle in the most prestigious tournament in women’s team tennis. Led by JasminePaolini, the Italian team defeated surprise finalists Slovakia following winsby World No. 4 Paolini against Rebecca Šramková and Lucia Bronzetti overViktória Hrunčáková. The men’sWorld No. 1, Jannik Sinner, shared an Instagram story featuring a post by theItalian Tennis Federation celebrating the victory, including photos of theentire team: Paolini, Bronzetti, Sara Errani , Martina Trevisan , ElisabettaCocciaretto, and captain Tathiana Garbin. The 18-timeGrand Slam champion Evert reposted a message on X (formerly Twitter) wherePaolini celebrated the title and took the opportunity to praise the whole team.The Italians avenged their 2023 final loss to Canada, adding another crown totheir titles in 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2013. “Congratulations to Team Italy!Look at those smiles... What a year! You all exude so much spirit and joy andfun..... Great messaging and role models for the sport! ,” Chris Evert wrote. Congratulations to Team Italy! Look at those smiles...What a year! You all exude so much spirit and joy and fun ..... Great messaging and role models for the sport! https://t.co/Zdf598tqGE Forza Jannik via IG pic.twitter.com/PquTCEsIux Messi, Maradonaand the Pope: The unique banner from Argentina at the Davis Cup Argentinefans travelled to Malaga to support their country in the Davis Cup, bringingalong a particularly eye-catching banner. The team returned to the Finals aftermissing out in 2023 and faced favourites Italy, led by Sebastián Báez andFrancisco Cerúndolo. Images fromthe stadium, shared by the official Davis Cup account, showcased a massivebanner from Argentina. It featured iconic footballers Diego Maradona and LionelMessi, highlighting the World Cups and Copa América titles won by the SouthAmerican nation. The banner also included a photo of Pope Francis, with thecaption: "With the Hand of God, the Messiah, and the Pope, we're going foranother World Cup." Unfortunately for the Argentinians, they won't have another day to display the eye-catching banner, as they were eliminated by the defending champions. Despite an early win by Cerundolo over Musetti, Sinner later had no trouble against Báez and sent it to doubles. In the decisive match, Matteo Berrettini teamed up with Sinner to defeat the specialists Máximo González and Andrés Molteni, advancing to the semifinals where they will face Australia. Siempre por más, Argentina #CopaDavis I @AATenis pic.twitter.com/zXEVuuFTId USA's doubles snub? Melichar-Martinez calls out Bryan's faith in Shelton and Paul NicoleMelichar-Martinez criticises Bob Bryan's decision to field Ben Shelton andTommy Paul in Davis Cup doubles. USA Captain Bob Bryan made a last-minutechange in the Davis Cup series against Australia, opting to replace doublesspecialists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram—both former world No. 1s and silvermedallists in Paris 2024—with Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul for the decisivematch. Thedecision raised eyebrows, especially given Bryan's legacy with his brother Mikeas the most decorated doubles duo in tennis history. Despite his expertise,Bryan chose not to rely on his doubles players, and Shelton and Paul weredefeated in straight sets by Jordan Thompson and Matthew Ebden (4-6, 4-6). Formerdoubles world No. 6 Nicole Melichar-Martinez shared her disagreement on socialmedia, criticising the exclusion of Ram and Krajicek. "Very curious as to why @RajeevRam and @AustinKrajicek aren’t playing the doubles tie right now @usta@DavisCup#watchmoredoubles" “Doubles players are'specialists' for a reason... they’re good at what they do. Why not trust inthem??," she added later. Especially when you have 2 former #1s...” wrote the 31-year-old American,who recently reached the WTA Finals semifinals alongside Australian EllenPerez. Very curious as to why @RajeevRam and @AustinKrajicek aren’t playing the doubles tie right now @usta @DavisCup #watchmoredoubles Doubles players are “specialists” for a reason... they’re good at what they do. Why not trust in them?? Especially when you have 2 former #1s ... ‘Thank you’: Swiatek shares appreciation for Team Poland Iga Swiatek shared photos on Instagram from her time at the Billie Jean King Cup, where Team Poland achieved their best-ever result by reaching the semifinals, with the 5-time Grand Slam champion leading the charge. Swiatek claimed victories over Paula Badosa and Linda Niskova in singles and partnered with Katarzyna Kawa to defeat Bouzkova and Siniakova in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, they faced Italy, who went on to become champions of the tournament. Despite Swiatek's singles win over Paolini, Italy secured the victory in the decisive doubles match, with Paolini and Sara Errani sending Italy to the final. Nonetheless, the 4-time French Open champion expressed her gratitude for representing Poland in the competition and shared a heartfelt message on social media for her team: “Thank you ❤️,” she posted alongside photos of the team celebrating their quarterfinal win over Czechia. Una publicación compartida de Iga Świątek (@iga.swiatek) First images of Rafael Nadal with his son after retirement surface The 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, was seen for the first time with his son following his retirement. Nadal played his last match against Botic Van de Zandschulp in the Davis Cup, losing 4-6, 4-6. Later, Spain was eliminated after Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers lost in doubles to Wesley Kolhoff and Van de Zandschulp. The retirement was somewhat overshadowed by the elimination of the European team and the absence of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. However, Nadal was seen smiling off the court, particularly when reunited with his son Rafa and wife Xisca Perello. In the video, the legendary tennis player is seen greeting and hugging his family at the Martin Caperra Arena in Malaga after the on-court tribute concluded. pic.twitter.com/3BGacUFyJw https://t.co/jDkE9x6YpQ This article first appeared on TennisUpToDate.com and was syndicated with permission.Elon Musk calls Trudeau 'insufferable' after remark on Kamala Harris defeat
Right now, Amazon is offering a major price reduction on the Shark FlexStyle Limited Edition Teal Gift Set 5-in-1 Air Styler , bringing it down from £319.99 to £226.75. With a close to £100 saving, shoppers are snapping up the styler as a Christmas gift, saying it rivals the popular Dyson Airwrap. The Air Styler allows you to both dry and style your hair at the same time and has five attachments: auto-wrap curlers, a frizz fighter, a finishing tool, an oval brush and a concentrator. The brand proudly advertise the Air Styler as suitable for 'any skill set' and for 'all hairkind'. Boasting minimal heat damage thanks to consistent air temperatures and 'no extreme heat', the end result should be smooth, frizz-free styles that last. From 551 global ratings, the five in one styler has earned 4.4 out of five stars overall. READ MORE: Sky's new £15 TV and Netflix bundle is the cheapest price ever and better than Black Friday READ MORE: Debenhams shoppers snapping up 'gorgeous' £15 makeup case that was £80 One user shared their experience and said: "I'm so happy with this. I rarely used to blow dry my hair because it always felt so dry afterwards. The air this produces is something else!! So glad I took the leap and ordered this over the Dyson one. Such better value !" They continued: "I love all the attachments too and the curling tongs are epic! I actually can't wait to use them more when I cut my hair above shoulder height because I feel I'll get the most out of it then!" A second shared: "The Shark FlexStyle Limited Edition Teal Gift Set is an absolute game-changer for anyone who loves experimenting with hairstyles but wants to avoid heat damage. I bought this for my wife, and she’s been raving about it ever since!" They continued: "This 5-in-1 tool is incredibly versatile. The auto-wrap curlers are a standout — they create bouncy, long-lasting curls with minimal effort. My wife loves how easy it is to switch between tools, from the oval brush for volume to the concentrator for sleek straight styles. The FrizzFighter finishing tool really lives up to its name, leaving her hair smooth and shiny every time." "The adjustable heat and airflow settings make it suitable for all hair types, and the no-heat-damage technology ensures her hair feels healthier even with regular use. The teal finish looks stunning, and the included clips and storage bag keep everything organised and ready to use." However, this customer didn't have such a positive experience, they said: "I initially loved this and couldn’t believe how beautiful my hair was. Unfortunately within five minutes my curls had gone. I’ve tried it with dry hair, damp hair, used the cold setting to set the curl, every type of product, to no avail." READ MORE: Jones Road's The Face Pencil 'conceals in seconds' and 'like an eraser' for imperfections READ MORE: Amazon's Christmas shop has everything you need from records, to pasta machines, headphones and more They continued: "It’s a fantastic hair dryer, but I could have done without spending 250 quid on a hair dryer. My hair is poker straight so not the easiest to curl, but expected more from something with this price tag." If you don't mind the price, the Dyson Airwrap in Strawberry Bronze/Blush Pink is currently on sale for £399.99 from £479.99 direct from Dyson or from Boots. Or, for something a little more wallet-friendly, Boots has slashed £30 off the REVLON One-StepTM Blow-Dry Multi Air Styler 5-in-1 , bringing it down to £49.99 from £79.99.Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff