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best slot game Gaetz’ Bad Boy image finally catches up with himSince their NWSL title-winning season in 2021, it’s been a bumpy road for the franchise, missing out on the playoffs in back-to-back seasons while compiling a 10-19-18 record overall. “Back then, it clearly wasn’t sustainable because after ’21, we kind of tanked,” goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury said. Change was certainly needed, but over the course of those two seasons, the foundation for future success under current team owner Michele Kang was placed. Those building blocks came in waves, from homegrown talent like Trinity Rodman and Tara McKeown to international signings like Leicy Santos and Esme Morgan. Saturday was a massive step in this rebuild as Washington returned to the NWSL Championship with an unforgettable semifinal win over NJ/NY Gotham FC. “Insane,” defender/midfielder Gabrielle Carle said. “It’s so insane to play in an environment like this.” Deafening is the only way to truly explain what it was like once Kingsbury saved her third and final penalty as 120 minutes of soccer wasn’t enough to decide a winner. Penalties were needed and the longtime keeper for the Spirit, someone who’s seen first-hand the highs and lows of the club, stood on her head to save all three Gotham penalties. “Going into that, I wasn’t nervous at all,” Kingsbury said. “It’s just like another day at training. I’ve made those saves many times, so I think that helped prepare me emotionally for those big moments.” Audi Field was literally shaking from the jumps of elation from more than 19,000 fans, who packed in for Washington’s third sellout of the season. They were treated to an instant classic, a match that saw everyone on the edge of their seats. “That was one of the most electric games I’ve ever played in,” defender Casey Krueger said. “The fans were just unreal.” Those clamoring for a big moment, especially after Gotham took a 1-0 lead off an Esther González header in the 56th minute, got just that from a pair of homegrown talents, part of this youth revolution happening with the Spirit. Clemson teammates and 2024 rookies Makenna Morris and Hal Hershfelt connected on a goal in the third minute of added time in the second half to level the score at 1-1. “It went over my head and then it was almost slow-motion,” defender Esme Morgan said. “I just saw her come from nowhere and then I actually watched it go into the top corner. It was amazing.” Hershfelt’s presence on the team only happened because Ashley Sanchez, one of the league’s best midfielders, was shockingly traded to North Carolina for the fifth overall pick in the NWSL Draft. The move sent ripples throughout the league, but already, Washington’s return in that move has produced an iconic moment in club history. “It’s not a coincidence,” head coach Jonatan Giráldez said. “It’s everything what she’s doing in the training session, in the way she believes in the training, how she develops her skills in the training and everything, what she’s doing.” Two weeks ago, another homegrown talent, defender Tara McKeown, made her mark in the quarterfinals, scoring her first goal of the season in the 86th minute, the equalizer against Bay FC in an eventual 2-1 win for Washington. Both were named to the NWSL Best XI second team this season, a deserving recognition for two shining examples of the now fortified foundation of this club. Last weekend, the Spirit got a glimpse of the summit and now, they have a chance to reach it, taking on the Orlando Pride on Saturday in Kansas City. “There’s just this belief that we’re never out of it, that whatever you throw at us, we’re going to find a way to win,” Kingsbury said. “... We just got one more to go.”

What does a baby know about right and wrong? A foundational finding in moral psychology suggested that even infants have a moral sense, preferring “helpers” over “hinderers” before uttering their first word. Now, nearly 20 years later, a study that tried to replicate these findings calls this result into question. In the original study , Kiley Hamlin and her colleagues showed a puppet show to six- and ten-month-old babies. During the show, the babies would see a character — which was really just a shape with googly eyes — struggling to reach the top of a hill. Next, a new character would either help the struggling individual reach the top (acting as a “helper”) or push the character back down to the bottom of the hill (acting as a “hinderer”). By gauging babies’ behaviour — specifically, watching how their eyes moved during the show and whether they preferred to hold a specific character after the show ended — it seemed that the infants had basic moral preferences. Indeed, in the first study, 88% of the ten-month-olds – and 100% of the six-month-olds – chose to reach for the helper. Kiley Hamlin explains the helper-hinderer experiment. But psychology, and developmental psychology, in particular, is no stranger to replicability concerns (when it is difficult or impossible to reproduce the results of a scientific study). After all, the original study sampled only a few dozen infants. This isn’t the fault of the researchers; it’s just really hard to collect data from babies. But what if it was possible to run the same study again — with say, hundreds or even thousands of babies? Would researchers find the same result? This is the chief aim of ManyBabies, a consortium of developmental psychologists spread around the world. By combining resources across individual research labs, ManyBabies can robustly test findings in developmental science, like Hamlin’s original “helper-hinderer” effect. And as of last month, the results are in. With a final sample of 567 babies, tested in 37 research labs across five continents, babies did not show evidence of an early-emerging moral sense. Across the ages tested, babies showed no preference for the helpful character. Blank slate? John Locke, an English philosopher argued that the human mind is a “tabula rasa” or “blank slate”. Everything that we, as humans, know comes from our experiences in the world. So should people take the most recent ManyBabies result as evidence of this? My answer, however underwhelming, is “perhaps”. This is not the first attempted replication of the helper-hinderer effect (nor is it the first “failure to replicate”). In fact, there have been a number of successful replications . It can be hard to know what underlies differences in results. For example, a previous “failure” seemed to come from the characters’ “googly eyes” not being oriented the right way. The ManyBabies experiment also had an important change in how the “show” was presented to infants. Rather than a puppet show performed live to baby participants, researchers instead presented a video with digital versions of the characters. This approach has its strengths. For example, ensuring that the exact same presentation occurs across every trial, in every lab. But it could also shift how babies engage with the show and its characters. I appreciated the recent remarks made by Michael Frank, founder of the ManyBabies consortium, on social network BlueSky: “Some people will jump to the interpretation that [the results of ManyBabies] shows that the original finding was incorrect (and hence that the other replications were incorrect as well, and the earlier non-replications were right). This [is] one possibility – but we shouldn’t be so quick to jump to conclusions.” Rather, we can take this finding for exactly what it is: a well-executed large investigation (senior-authored by Kiley Hamlin herself) of the hypothesis that infants prefer helpers over hinderers. In this instance, the hypothesis was not supported. This could be because, underneath it all, Locke was right. Perhaps the babies tested hadn’t had enough time in the world to learn “right from wrong”, so they wouldn’t make any distinction between a helpful character and a harmful one. Or perhaps there’s something more complicated going on. Only more science, with many, many more babies, will tell us. At the very least, a question mark now hangs over one of the most famous experiments in developmental psychology. Madeline G. Reinecke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.Stojakovic, Wilkinson lead short-handed Cal past Sacramento State, 83-77 in Cal Classic

NoneWesley Learns Book Drive: Bridging Financial Literacy Gaps 12-03-2024 10:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Titans Image: https://www.getnews.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/1733251785.jpg Denver, Colorado - December 3, 2024 - The Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) has announced Denver Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez as the inaugural sponsor of the 2025 Annual Wesley Learns Book Drive. This initiative, led by GCFLF co-founders Chadrick Davis and Prince Dykes, aims to empower underserved communities through financial education and first-time stock ownership opportunities. The Wesley Learns Book Drive is more than a campaign-it's a movement to address critical gaps in financial education. This initiative will impact five major U.S. cities: Denver, Atlanta, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Denver will proudly kick off the campaign in April 2025 during Financial Literacy Month, setting the stage for transformative community involvement. Why Financial Literacy Matters: Councilwoman Flor Alvidrez, a passionate advocate for financial literacy and member of Denver's Budget & Policy Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for the program:"As a proud sponsor of the Global Children's Financial Literacy Foundation, I am thrilled to support a program helping shape the future of Denver's youth. Financial literacy is the key to success, and I hear directly from young people in our city-they want to understand money and how to save, invest, and plan for their dreams. This program not only makes learning about finances fun and accessible but also encourages Denver families to come together and have important conversations about a topic that can sometimes feel uncomfortable. We're building a stronger, more empowered Denver for future generations by fostering informed decision-making and strengthening family bonds." Image: https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe9n00lRfzKfy2zON-lyZJ-KhM3z3D0rForhRqDM8tcTJdEr88ETYModKaImvEXfX7maOWfU2XcJuMuQoGkIjAn85cicUHGS13cnitSobvnP0Ftk3o8iHi0Jccm_cACrkEwZIqB?key=Nd4HPBmNVJ1n2fHaexOk_lwo Photo Courtesy: Chadrick Davis & Prince Dyke / Flor Alvidrez This partnership aims to: * Donate financial literacy books to underserved children. * Create first-time shareholders, empowering young people to take their first steps into financial independence. Councilwoman Alvidrez's leadership amplifies the importance of bridging financial education gaps and ensuring all children, regardless of their background, have the tools to succeed. Wesley Learns Book Drive: Transforming Education Into Action The Wesley Learns Book Drive combines education and real-world application, providing children with engaging financial literacy resources like the Wesley Learns book series, authored by GCFLF Co-Founder Prince Dykes. Featuring iconic figures like NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, the series simplifies complex financial concepts, making them accessible and inspiring for young readers. The campaign's timeline spans from October 15, 2024, to March 31, 2025, culminating with a kickoff event in Denver in April 2025. This event will spotlight community involvement and showcase the collective effort to empower the next generation through financial literacy. A National Movement with Local Impact The Wesley Learns Book Drive will reach five U.S. cities through partnerships with local city councils and community leaders. Each city will tailor the program to address its unique challenges, creating a nationwide ripple effect of empowerment and inclusion. Chadrick Davis, GCFLF Co-Founder, emphasized the campaign's importance:"This initiative is about more than books. It's about sparking conversations, building confidence, and fostering inclusion. Financial literacy is the foundation for success, and by investing in our children today, we're creating a better tomorrow for everyone." Support the 2025 Wesley Learns Book Drive The success of the 2025 Wesley Learns Book Drive relies on community support. GCFLF invites individuals, families, educators, and organizations to participate by: * Visiting the website: Visit their website to contribute to this life-changing initiative. * Volunteering: Partner with local events or sponsor a drive in your community. * Raising Awareness: Share the message through social media and community networks. About Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF): The Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) is committed to empowering underserved communities through innovative financial education programs and first-time stock ownership opportunities. Co-founded by Chadrick Davis and Prince Dykes, the foundation bridges the gap in financial literacy by offering engaging resources and real-world applications for young people. Through initiatives like the Wesley Learns Book Drive, GCFLF fosters inclusion, confidence, and informed decision-making to build a better tomorrow for all. Stay informed about the initiative by following their updates on Facebook [ https://www.facebook.com/gcflf/ ], Instagram [ https://www.instagram.com/childrenfinancialliteracy/?hl=en ], and LinkedIn [ https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-children-financial-literacy-foundation/?viewAsMember=true ]. Media Contact Company Name: Global Children Financial Literacy Foundation (GCFLF) Contact Person: Chadrick & Prince Dykes Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=wesley-learns-book-drive-bridging-financial-literacy-gaps ] Phone: 240608-2647 Country: United States Website: http://www.gcflf.org This release was published on openPR.

Vegas Golden Knights (13-6-2, in the Pacific Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (9-10-2, in the Metropolitan Division) Philadelphia; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Flyers host the Vegas Golden Knights after the Flyers took down the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime. Philadelphia has a 5-6-0 record in home games and a 9-10-2 record overall. The Flyers are fourth in NHL play with 92 total penalties (averaging 4.4 per game). Vegas has a 5-4-2 record in road games and a 13-6-2 record overall. The Golden Knights have a 13-2-2 record in games they score at least three goals. Monday's game is the first time these teams meet this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Travis Konecny has 11 goals and 14 assists for the Flyers. Matvei Michkov has scored goals over the last 10 games. Pavel Dorofeyev has 10 goals and three assists for the Golden Knights. Alexander Holtz has scored goals over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Flyers: 5-4-1, averaging 2.7 goals, five assists, 3.7 penalties and eight penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Golden Knights: 6-3-1, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.4 assists, 2.8 penalties and seven penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. INJURIES: Flyers: None listed. Golden Knights: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Broncos cornerback Riley Moss is set to return after missing a month with knee injury17 Capital Partners LLC Increases Position in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Stock market today: Wall Street gains ground as it notches a winning week and another Dow record

LARAMIE – Leaders at the University of Wyoming gave themselves another day to deliberate whether they will allow permit holders to carry concealed firearms inside campus facilities. After months of discussion, surveys and public forums, the UW Board of Trustees postponed a scheduled Thursday vote on changing the university’s “ Storing Or Carrying Dangerous Weapons In University Facilities ” policy. Trustee John McKinley, chairman of the board’s legislative committee, told the board that as late as Wednesday night, leaders were discussing amendments to the proposed rule change. Those late changes included prohibiting firearms in the residence halls, Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center, and at the Early Care and Education Center. John McKinley The latest draft rule also was amended to remove a provision for reciprocity to permit holders from other states, so only Wyoming concealed carry permit holders would be allowed to carry firearms into other facilities on campus, including classrooms. McKinley suggested that following additional public comment Thursday morning, the committee should meet one more time, with any final amendments to be ready for a Friday morning vote. Public comment Thursday, made largely by students, faculty and staff, was primarily in opposition of the rule change — amended or not. “An increase in gun ownership and lax concealed carry laws are associated with increased suicides, particularly in emerging adults, also known as college-age adults,” said Hannah Phalen, an assistant professor of psychology. Phalen said data shows that on campuses that allow concealed carry, 42% of successful suicide attempts are conducted with a firearm, compared to only 13% on campuses that do not allow concealed carry. “I was excited to see that the new proposed rule includes (as an exception) residence halls. But I also urge the board to go further and exclude all campus housing from this rule,” Phalen said. Caroline McCracken-Flesher, director of the Center for Global Studies and an English professor, pointed out that the rule change also exempts those who get to vote on it — but not those who do not. “Among the exemptions listed in this document, places of education are conspicuous by their absence,” McCracken-Flesher said, listing protected spaces such as governmental and trustees meetings. “In other words, places frequented by those who vote on this document,” she said. “What is not protected from firearms are classrooms (and) faculty offices. University classrooms and faculty offices are places of ideas. That means they are necessarily places of contention, they are places of great anxiety, they are places of academic rivalry. “They are not places for weapons,” McCracken-Flesher said. A student walks past White Hall on Oct. 19, 2018. One University of Wyoming College of Law student, Brandon Calloway, spoke in favor of the rule change, arguing that it would “close critical safety gaps” on campus, where concealed carry is allowed outside of, but not inside, university facilities. “Here is the stark reality,” Calloway said. “No one knows whether someone is already carrying a concealed firearm inside university facilities.” Under the current policy, he argued, “uncertainty prevails,” and the change would eliminate contradiction. Several students asked university leadership why — at a time when they said on-campus mental health and morale are markedly low — leaders are focusing on concealed carry on campus. “Why? Why is this the main discussion on campus right now?” Elementary Education major Liz Pearson asked. “We have a huge mental health crisis on campus. Why aren’t we talking about that?” UW President Ed Seidel reminded the room that during the 2024 legislative session, both the House and Senate approved House Bill 125 - Repeal gun free zones , which would have permitted anyone with a concealed carry permit to carry weapons into Wyoming’s K-12 public schools, as well as the university. That bill was vetoed by Gov. Mark Gordon, who then directed state agencies to begin developing their own policies. Ed Seidel “A number of you ask — and I understand why you ask — you ask, ‘Why are we here today?’” Seidel said. “As Wyoming’s public university, we do have a responsibility to respond to our state leadership and to reinforce the state’s constitution.” UW Board of Trustees Chairman Kermit Brown urged all those present Thursday to approach the Legislature in 2025, when this same topic comes up again. “There will be a bill, and that bill is going to be an overarching reach that would go over the top of all of the rules the university makes, all the rules anybody makes,” said Brown, who is a former state lawmaker. He continued that the trustees are trying to create a university-only policy that could satisfy lawmakers’ wishes. In the end, though, Brown pointed out that lawmakers have the ability to overrule university leadership. “We are trying to find a position that maybe will be acceptable to the Legislature, but we don’t know whether the Legislature will accept it, or whether it will cast all this aside and do their own thing,” he said. Kermit Brown “So, if you were passionate, and if you were dedicated today to the position you took with this board, you have to understand: You have to go to Cheyenne. When they have those hearings, and they have those meetings, you have to talk to your individual legislators, and you have to go to Cheyenne and make your voice known,” Brown continued. “They hear you when you go over there, and it is important that you go over there and appear in person. Make the same kind of presentation that you did here. And take everybody with you.” Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, sports, arts & entertainment, state legislature, CFD news, and more.

a moving vehicle," according to Jefferson County Coroner Bill Yates. The incident took place on December 19 at approximately 10:45 p.m. local time, and despite being rushed to the hospital, Meek was pronounced dead two days later on December 21 at 7:59 p.m. The Meek family shared their devastation on social media, posting, "Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met." They also revealed that a celebration of life ceremony would be held on December 28, asking for... Gabriella CoxAuthoritative Release of the 2024 Top 10 Rankings in the Construction Machinery Industry: Unveiling the Most Influential Products and Companies 12-24-2024 12:28 AM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: LianPR Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/66026f9db1120dddb5d465b37cdd7f51.jpg Heritage of Excellence, Advancing with Honor. On November 25, the highly anticipated 15th Annual Construction Machinery Brand Ceremony was grandly held in Shanghai. During the event, the 2024 Top 10 Rankings of the Construction Machinery Industry were officially released. This prestigious conference honored the influential brands and outstanding products that emerged over the past year. By setting exemplary benchmarks for the industry, the event aims to promote industrial prosperity, foster innovation, and drive transformative development across the sector. Amid the overlapping trends of a new global energy revolution and deep technological innovation, the construction machinery industry is accelerating its transformation toward high-end, intelligent, and green development. Product lines for primary machinery have become increasingly diverse, with continuous improvements in quality and performance. Guided by industrial policies aimed at supplementing, strengthening, and extending supply chains, significant progress has been made in key core component technologies, providing robust support for collaborative development between primary and supporting enterprises, as well as for the industry's quality improvement and upgrading. At the same time, the vast stock market of existing equipment, combined with the push for large-scale equipment upgrades, has spurred new focus and positioning in aftermarket operations, including equipment leasing, spare parts distribution, maintenance services, and the trading of second-hand equipment. This selection process adhered to principles of rigor, authority, fairness, and objectivity. After three stringent rounds of evaluation-online voting, user scoring, and expert review-a new cohort of outstanding enterprises and products in the fields of machinery, components, and industry user applications emerged. These exemplary winners set a benchmark for the continued growth and innovation of the construction machinery industry. Click the link to view the complete list of award-winning companies. [ https://globalcmi.com/authoritative-release-of-the-2024-top-10-rankings-in-the-construction-machinery-industry-unveiling-the-most-influential-products-and-companies/ ] Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/c1721fd367a86815e87f51bfdd5d78e5.jpg Image: https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeI3wg-s4aSG7e5_SGyreTDiE6qGf438i7y6hbS56k6O5PWlvIz7i_kZbJHMbOEtFsFphwusQ_qUJLX8Gsr7UOaRIvQIo_fl7L-UxAUTcS7Lx91Jw7FV115rRcXAmfGsucM06yYag?key=SGLS3-1haOKoYPVKqrpV1pKy Adhering to the principle of "Building Brands, Strengthening Technology, and Shaping the Power and Value of Enterprises," the Brand Ceremony has been held for 15 consecutive years. It has consistently exerted remarkable influence within the industry, serving as a driving force for its development and earning widespread acclaim and support from industry professionals. Each edition of the Brand Ceremony aligns closely with the pulse of the times, celebrating the spirit of exceptional brands while inspiring numerous enterprises to pursue paths of branding and high-end development. The release of the industry rankings highlights the industry's recognition of companies' core technological capabilities and innovative product strength. This not only empowers enterprises with the "wings to soar" in their brand development but also injects fresh vitality into the sustainable growth of China's construction machinery industry! Media Contact Company Name: Beijing Huicong Broadcast &Education Cloud E-Commerce Co,Ltd. Contact Person: Liangfei Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=authoritative-release-of-the-2024-top-10-rankings-in-the-construction-machinery-industry-unveiling-the-most-influential-products-and-companies ] Country: China Website: https://cm.hczyw.com/ This release was published on openPR.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (WXYZ) — The University of Michigan says offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell has been 'relieved' of his coaching duties. The move was announced by head coach Sherrone Moore announced Tuesday. “After a thorough assessment of our offense, I made the decision to relieve Kirk Campbell of his duties and move in a different direction,” said Moore in a news release. “This was a decision that I felt was in the best interest of our football program. I want to thank Kirk for his hard work and dedication to the university, Michigan Football and our student-athletes. I wish him well in his future coaching endeavors.” According to the school, Tight Ends Coach Steve Casula will serve as the program’s offensive coordinator on an interim basis, and Moore will conduct a national search for a new offensive coordinator. The move comes after the National Champion Wolverines ended a 7-5 season on a high note, beating Ohio State on Sunday. However, the season featured a revolving quarterback lineup, with David Warren, Jack Tuttle, and Alex Orji all lining up under center. The Wolverines are bowl-eligible. They will learn where they are headed after the conference championship games are played this weekend.

California saw its biggest increase in registered lobbyists last session since at least 2011, when a change in the law caused the number to more than double. There was a roughly 10% increase in the number of lobbyists who registered for the 2023-24 session compared to the previous one — for a record of 3,245 people, according to the Secretary of State’s office. What’s behind the jump? Longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli sees it as the result of high turnover in the Legislature — leading to an “exodus of legislative staff” who went into advocacy. In what was dubbed the Great Resignation of 2022, for example, 26 members opted out of seeking re-election , in addition to the seven who reached term limits. Micheli said he has also seen a rise in state agency rule-making, which motivates those in support of or against regulations to lobby: “Some of these regulatory bodies, like the Air Resources Board — the number of regulations that they’re undertaking and their significance has been growing in recent years.” Meanwhile, the number of legislative staff has shifted only slightly since the mid-1990s, according to data from the National Conference of State Legislatures. The staff count can impact how much time members have to write and research legislation. The increase in lobbyists means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every staff member, compared to two staffers per lobbyist back in 1995, the earliest data available from the Secretary of State’s office. “The fact that the number of registered lobbyists has risen so high and outstrips the number of actual staffers that legislators have to help them with people’s work shows how skewed our system has become towards the interests of wealthy interests that also dominate campaign spending, rather than regular people,” emailed Trent Lange, executive director of California Clean Money Campaign — an advocacy group that aims to combat the influence of money on politics. Lobbyists are required to register with the Secretary of State’s office, and report on their activities each quarter. That’s according to the state’s Political Reform Act , which passed in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal in 1974 in an effort to combat political corruption. The law defines lobbyists as those who are paid to influence legislation or regulation through direct communication with lawmakers, outside of public comments. They can be hired as contractors by companies, or work to influence policy as an employee, although those who spend less than one-third of their time lobbying don’t have to register. Lawmakers and those who work for state agencies legally must wait one year after leaving state jobs before working as lobbyists. Legislative staff do not have that requirement. The recent jump in new lobbyists was the highest since 2011 , when a law signed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger went into effect requiring placement agents — financial officers who solicit investments from the state workers’ and teachers’ retirement funds — to register as lobbyists. The law nearly doubled the number of registered lobbyists, from 1,237 for the two-year session ending in 2010 to 2,353 in 2012. The second highest bump came in the session that ended in 2020, with 257 more registered lobbyists compared to the session before, according to the Secretary of State’s office. The rise in the number of lobbyists coincides with an uptick in money spent on lobbying, with industry and advocacy groups spending record amounts each year since 2022 . Spending to lobby California legislators hit nearly $420 million in just the first nine months of 2024, compared to $484 million in all of 2023 and $443 million in the entirety of 2022. Included in the recent boost: a summer lobbying blitz by Google to influence whether it would have to pay news outlets for publishing their content. Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of the good governmental advocacy group California Common Cause, labeled it “absolutely wild” that nearly $1 billion was spent on lobbying last session. “Sometimes people in the capitol community,” he said, “lose sight of how staggering it would be to their constituents if they knew how much money is spent to, in many cases, divert policy decisions away from the reason everyone originally went to Sacramento, which is to serve the public interest without fear or favor.” Jeremia Kimelman contributed to this story. This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

Wait, did Trump endorse San Diego’s safe sleeping sites for homeless people?El Salvador Congress votes to end ban on metal mining