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blackjack or baccarat Utah’s liquor commission approved liquor licenses for 10 restaurants Thursday, and also announced early success with its statewide program to support homeless services. Starting Tuesday, state liquor stores began offering customers the option to “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar and donate that money to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account. In Thursday’s meeting, Tiffany Clason, director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS), announced that in the two days the program had been active, liquor stores had already raised $12,631. “We’re obviously very excited to play a small role in what is a really big and really significant effort to provide services to our unhomed population,” Clason said. Utahns can also donate to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account via QR codes in liquor stores, and by visiting jobs.utah.gov/htf/ . The Utah Legislature created the initiative earlier this year, under House Bill 548. The funds are distributed to homeless services providers across Utah to provide unhoused individuals with temporary shelters, case management, meal services and housing, a news release stated. The only bar license awarded Thursday was to the Salt Lake City LGBTQ bar Club Try-Angles , which is surrendering its current bar license. The new license will replace the old license, as the bar goes through a change in ownership. Campfire Lounge — which has been closed since April as the owners remodel it into a tiki bar called Remora — had requested an extended closure until the commission meeting on March 31, 2025. All of the commission members voted to approve the closure, except for commissioner Tara Thue, who said, “I feel like we’re getting to a point where we’re going to run out of licenses again, and we need to be judicious in how we are granting extended closures.” “It’s nothing against the business,” Thue continued. “It’s nothing about the management or progress that has been made or not made. I just think that we are being put in a position where we’re dealing with scarcity, and we need to start considering our options yet again until the quota issue is truly fixed by our legislature.” Snowmobile Pizza , which has been closed since August for a remodel, also requested an extended closure, until the commission’s meeting in January. The commission also approved that closure. After Thursday’s meeting, the commission has four bar licenses available to award (that number will go up to five in December), and 67 full-service restaurant licenses. Restaurants that received liquor licenses • Yoko Taco , 285 W. 800 South, Salt Lake City. This restaurant, which serves Mexican food with an Asian twist, originally got its liquor license in October 2023 . But this year, ownership missed the annual renewal period, so they reapplied for a new license, which was approved at Thursday’s meeting, said DABS spokesperson Michelle Schmitt. • Yoko Ramen , 473 E. 300 South, Salt Lake City. • Main Street Grill , 9027 W. Main St., Magna. • Nacho House , 15 US-89, North Salt Lake (conditional). • The Social , 65 N. University Ave., downstairs Suite 2, Provo (conditional). • Ganesh Indian Cuisine , 1811 Sidewinder Drive, Park City (conditional). • Le Depot , 660 Main St., Park City (conditional) (projected opening Dec. 1). • Squatters Corner Pub , 3555 Constitution Blvd., West Valley City (conditional) (projected opening date Dec. 27). • Hearth and Hill , 2188 Highland Drive, Salt Lake City (conditional) (projected opening date Jan. 14, 2025). • Purple Sky Winery , 2809 N. 1600 West, Pleasant View (conditional) (projected opening date Jan. 15, 2025).

MONTRÉAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / December 20, 2024 / Valsoft Corporation Inc. ("Valsoft") , a Canadian company specializing in the acquisition and development of vertical market software businesses, has solidified its position as a leader in the local government software sector with the acquisitions of Keystone Information Systems ("Keystone") and Cott Systems ("Cott Systems"). These acquisitions mark a significant expansion of Valsoft's portfolio in the local government sector, enabling them to provide enhanced solutions to school boards, local governments, and other public-sector organizations. Founded in 1975, Keystone has earned a reputation as a trusted provider of enterprise-wide ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) applications, for small and mid-sized public sector organizations. The functional depth and integration of its complete product suite simplifies complex tasks and interdepartmental workflows, enabling greater efficiency and productivity. "This acquisition is more than a transaction; it's an investment in Keystone's legacy," said Judson B. Van Dervort, Jr., President and CEO of Keystone Information Systems. "Joining Valsoft provides a secure foundation for Keystone's current and future customers and employees, through continued innovation and growth, ensuring we can exceed customer expectations and continue our positive impact on the communities we serve." Valsoft's acquisition of Keystone expands its growing portfolio in the local government sector, reinforcing its ability to support mission-critical services for public organizations. "We are thrilled to welcome Keystone to the Valsoft family," said Costa Tagalakis, Investment Partner at Valsoft. "Their longstanding reputation for excellence in serving local government and public-school sectors aligns perfectly with our strategy of delivering high-quality, impactful solutions. We're excited to continue supporting Keystone's existing customers while exploring new growth opportunities." Earlier this year, Valsoft also acquired Cott Systems, a leader in public records management with a history spanning over 135 years. Cott Systems provides solutions for managing and digitizing land and court records, enabling local governments to modernize operations while preserving their jurisdictions' historical integrity. Products like Resolution 3, VERDICT, and OIB offer local officials' comprehensive tools to streamline processes and serve their communities more effectively. "This acquisition of Cott Systems represents the next step in our ongoing efforts to innovate and simplify the records management process," said David Scheine, Portfolio Manager at Valsoft. "Cott's customer-centric approach and innovative solutions coupled with Valsoft's support and resources will enable us to accelerate Cott's vision of delivering secure, cloud-based, and user-friendly solutions that empower local government offices to serve their communities better." Both acquisitions position Valsoft as a leader in GovTech software solutions with an established offering to assist the local government and public records management sectors in navigating public sector regulations and compliance. Valsoft remains committed to supporting these businesses as they continue to grow, innovate, and enhance the services they provide to their communities. About Keystone Founded in 1975, Keystone is a trusted provider of enterprise-wide information management solutions for Municipal and County Governments and Public-School Districts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, and Rhode Island. Known for its cost-effective and efficient software, Keystone's user-focused approach helps smaller and mid-sized organizations optimize operations and exceed stakeholder expectations. For more information, visit www.keyinfosys.com . About Cott Systems Cott Systems has been an innovator in public records management since 1888, providing trusted technology solutions that preserve and protect public records while empowering local governments to serve their constituents more effectively. From land record management systems like Resolution 3 to comprehensive criminal and civil court case management tools like VERDICT, to online digitalization products like OIB, Cott Systems' products and services enable local officials to modernize their operations and safeguard their jurisdiction's rich history. For more information: https://cottsystems.com About Valsoft Valsoft acquires and develops vertical market software companies that deliver mission-critical solutions. A key tenet of Valsoft's philosophy is to invest in established businesses and foster an entrepreneurial environment that shapes a company into a leader in its respective industry. Unlike private equity and VC firms, Valsoft does not have a predefined investment horizon and looks to buy, hold, and create value through long-term partnerships with existing management and customers. Learn more at www.valsoftcorp.com For the Keystone Information Systems acquisition, Valsoft was represented internally by David Felicissimo (General Counsel) and Pamela Romero (Senior Corporate Paralegal). Keystone Information Systems was represented by Rosenbloom Law Group LLC. For the Cott Information Systems acquisition, Valsoft was represented internally by David Felicissimo (General Counsel), Ambra Del Busso (Legal Counsel), and Elisa Marcon (Senior Corporate Paralegal). Cott Information Systems was represented by Dinsmore & Shohl LLP. Media contact information: Communications and Public Relations Valsoft Corporation communication@valsoftcorp.com SOURCE: Valsoft Corp View the original on accesswire.com Copyright 2024 ACCESSWIRE. All Rights Reserved.

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When Carl Sagan was five years old, his mother enrolled him at the local library. He would walk there on his own, asking the librarian questions that his parents couldn't answer, such as, “What are stars?” Reflecting on the experience later, he recounted: “I went to the librarian and asked for a book about stars [...] and the answer was stunning. It was that the Sun was a star, but really close. The stars were suns, but so far away they were just little points of light. The scale of the universe suddenly opened up to me. It was a kind of religious experience. There was a magnificence to it, a grandeur, a scale which has never left me. Never ever left me.” This anecdote, shared by Kay Davidson in one of several biographies written about Sagan, illustrates one of his most compelling traits: an insatiable curiosity. Over time, this was complemented by intellectual prowess, skepticism, a passion for teaching and making science accessible to the public, and a notable ego. Together, these qualities made him one of the most influential and fascinating figures in space exploration during the latter half of the 20th century. 4 View gallery An insatiable curiosity. High school student Carl Sagan, 1951 ( Photo: Wikipedia ) "It just grabbed me" Carl Edward Sagan was born on November 9, 1934, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. His father, a textile worker, had immigrated from Ukraine, and his mother, a homemaker, was born in New York. The family lived modestly and later moved to New Jersey due to his father's work. . Carl inherited his mother’s intellectual curiosity and skeptical outlook, while his father instilled in him an immense curiosity and sense of wonder about the world. From a young age, Sagan channeled these traits into a deep passion for science. In a biography by Ray Spangenburg, Sagan described his parents’ influence as follows: "My parents were not scientists. They knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder, they taught me the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are central to the scientific method." Sagan was an outstanding student from a young age. While his teachers recognized his potential and sought to support him, his parents couldn’t afford private education for gifted students. He taught himself many subjects, including chemistry, but his primary scientific focus was space. At age 12, when his grandfather asked what he wanted to do when he grew up, Carl replied, “An astronomer,” to which his grandfather responded, “Fine, but how will you make a living?” Later, upon discovering that astronomers could indeed earn a living doing what they loved, Sagan knew he would pursue the field. ''I didn't make a decision to pursue astronomy,'' he would later say. ''Rather, it just grabbed me, and I had no thought of escaping.'' He graduated from high school at just 16 years old. According to another biographer, William Poundstone, near the end of high school, he entered a competition with an essay speculating on the potential dangers of encountering extraterrestrial life. He speculated that such a meeting could be devastating for humanity, much like the catastrophic effects that the encounter with European civilization brought upon the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. This essay may have been influenced by young Sagan's love for science fiction. Sagan received a full scholarship to the University of Chicago, where he began studying physics in 1951. He went on to earn a master’s degree and later a Ph.D. in astronomy, which he completed in 1960. His doctoral research, supervised by astronomer Gerard Kuiper, focused on the physical properties of planets and moons. At the time, new measurements showed that the surface of Venus was extremely hot, contrary to earlier assumptions that it might have Earth-like temperatures. In his dissertation, Sagan proposed that the greenhouse effect was responsible for Venus’s high temperatures, demonstrating that carbon dioxide and water vapor were the primary culprits. He later published these findings in a significant paper in Science. During his studies, Sagan collaborated with several renowned scientists, including George Gamow, a physicist who was instrumental in developing the Big Bang theory. The origin of life was another topic that had fascinated Sagan since childhood. As a student, he worked with renowned chemist Harold Urey, who led the seminal experiment exploring the chemical origins of life on Earth, and with geneticist Joshua Lederberg, a pioneer of gene therapy. Sagan also spent summers training with Hermann Muller, a geneticist and zoologist at Indiana University, who studied the effects of radiation and strongly opposed nuclear weapons. 4 View gallery These images were captured thanks to Sagan’s efforts to persuade NASA leaders to photograph Earth from afar. The planets of the solar system, photographed by Voyager 1 in 1990 ( Photo: NASA ) At the University of Chicago, Sagan met Lynn Margulis, a brilliant young scientist four years his junior who had entered the university at just 14. They married in 1957 when Margulis was 19. The marriage lasted seven years and produced two children. Margulis went on to have a distinguished scientific career, becoming one of the foremost researchers in evolutionary biology. New frontiers After earning his doctorate, Carl Sagan pursued further training at the University of California, Berkeley, where he chose to study biology to deepen his understanding of topics related to the potential development of life on other planets. At the same time, he joined the scientific team for NASA's Mariner 2 mission, a spacecraft launched to explore Venus. In 1963, Sagan became a researcher at Harvard University, where he continued his studies of the planets of the solar system. Among his accomplishments was developing a model of Mars's atmosphere, which demonstrated that its seasonal changes were driven by dust storms. He also joined the scientific teams for additional space missions, including Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to orbit Mars, whose findings helped validate Sagan’s prediction. 4 View gallery Designed to convey a message from humanity to intelligent extraterrestrials. The plaque sent aboard the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft ( Photo: Wikipedia ) Sagan’s extensive research on the planets and his fascination with origin of life research led him to repeatedly explore whether life could develop elsewhere in the solar system and under what conditions. For example, he explored the possibility for life in Venus’s atmosphere and the formation of relatively complex molecules within the environments of planets like Jupiter. These studies positioned Sagan as a founding figure in two scientific fields that were once peripheral to astronomy: planetary science, which focuses on processes occurring on planets, moons, and other celestial bodies, and exobiology—now commonly known as astrobiology—which focuses on the conditions necessary for life and the potential for its emergence or presence in other planetary systems. In 1966, Sagan co-authored Intelligent Life in the Universe with Soviet astronomer Iosif Shklovsky, earning him public recognition beyond the scientific community. The following year, he published a detailed article on the subject in National Geographic and appeared on several television programs. By this point, it was clear that Sagan aimed for a career that would bring him broad public recognition and allow him to present scientific work to a wider audience. This approach was unconventional in academia at the time, and some of his colleagues at Harvard viewed it as a compromise of scientific integrity in favor of self-promotion and publicity. According to his former student David Morrison, this perception likely contributed to Harvard’s decision not to grant Sagan tenure in 1968, despite his prolific research and reputation as a beloved and respected lecturer. Consequently, Sagan had to seek employment elsewhere. Unlike Harvard, Cornell University in upstate New York was eager to recruit faculty researchers with a potential for stardom. In 1969, Sagan joined Cornell, making it his academic home. A star in the scientific sky Carl Sagan remained a leading figure in planetary science and a regular contributor to solar system exploration missions. Notably, he was part of the scientific team for the Viking Mars landers, playing a crucial role in selecting their landing sites in 1976. He also contributed to the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 missions, which became the first spacecraft to cross the asteroid belt and study Jupiter up close. Sagan further contributed to the Voyager missions, designed to explore the outer planets, and the Galileo mission, which studied Jupiter and its atmosphere. His research drew heavily on data from these missions, including analysis of the geology of Mars at Viking landing sites, studying the composition of Jupiter’s clouds, and investigating the processes of formation of organic compounds in Titan’s atmosphere, Saturn's largest moon. Sagan didn’t just study the possibility of extraterrestrial life—he was also among the first to propose practical methods for communicating with potential alien civilizations. He suggested adding a small metal plaque to the Pioneer spacecraft, featuring a brief description of humanity, illustrations of humans, and a cosmic map indicating Earth’s location. Designed to remain in space long after the spacecraft completed their missions, these plaques were intended to be discovered by intelligent extraterrestrial beings. The artwork for the plaque was created by Sagan’s second wife, artist Linda Salzman, whom he married in 1968. Together, they had one child. During this period, Sagan emerged as an increasingly prominent public figure and a science ambassador in popular media. He achieved this partly through his popular science books. One of his most successful works was The Cosmic Connection, published in 1973, in which he extensively explored the possibility of extraterrestrial life. At the same time, Sagan did not shy away from addressing popular claims made by alien enthusiasts, who asserted that intelligent extraterrestrials frequently visit Earth and that governments are concealing the evidence. Sagan strongly advocated for a scientific approach to evaluating such reports. The success of The Cosmic Connection led to Sagan becoming a regular guest on The Tonight Show, where he often showcased new images from space missions he was involved in. Despite his busy schedule, he always made time to fly to California for interviews with Johnny Carson, whom he referred to as hosting "the largest classroom in history." Sagan’s eloquent media appearances turned him into a true celebrity. His work and image graced the covers of major magazines like Time and Newsweek. His public recognition soared to new heights in 1978 when his next bestseller, The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence, won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction. The cosmos, television, and everything By the late 1970s, following the successful Viking landings on Mars and with the Voyager spacecraft en route to Jupiter, Carl Sagan set out to use television to bring science to the broadest audience possible. He established his own production company, raised approximately a million dollars from investors, and began developing a script for a documentary series about the universe and humanity’s understanding of it. The series, Cosmos, consisted of 13 hour-long episodes and aired in 1980 on the public television channel KCET. It was an enormous success, winning Emmy and Peabody Awards and reaching over 400 million viewers worldwide. The companion book, also titled Cosmos, remained on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year. The success of the series and book officially cemented Sagan’s celebrity status, earned him widespread media attention and brought him significant financial success. This success came at a cost. While working on the series, Sagan neglected his academic responsibilities, canceled courses, and left research students - who had chosen Cornell specifically to work under his guidance - without supervision, forcing them to seek other advisors. This behavior drew significant criticism from colleagues, which escalated as fame brought its drawbacks, including harassing phone calls, death threats, and an influx of fans or eccentrics roaming the university grounds in search of him. While working on the production of Cosmos, Sagan fell deeply in love with Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on its production and writing. Although he was still married at the time, Sagan moved to Los Angeles to live with Druyan during the series' production. In 1981, he divorced his second wife and married Druyan. The couple later had a daughter and a son. They continued to collaborate professionally, including co-authoring several books. Following the success of Cosmos, Sagan received a $2 million advance from the major publisher Simon & Schuster to write a novel about humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial life. The resulting book, Contact, published in 1985, was another major success and was later adapted into a Hollywood film starring Jodie Foster in 1997. A pale blue dot Carl Sagan’s scientific work also explored the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial life. The Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977, carried a more elaborate message about humanity than the Pioneer plaques. Attached to Voyager was a gold-plated copper record—a kind of "time capsule" of life on Earth. The record contained natural sounds such as ocean waves, music from various periods and cultures, voice greetings in dozens of languages, and images of life on Earth, all stored in audio form. Instructions for playing the record were etched onto its cover, based on the assumption that any extraterrestrial beings who might find it would have some ability to perceive and interpret visuals and sounds in ways similar to humans. Sagan chaired the committee that selected the content, with its artistic direction led by his new partner, Ann Druyan. The record also included an audio representation of Druyan's brainwaves. Sagan was also a strong supporter of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), an initiative dedicated to scanning space for radio signals that might indicate the presence of intelligent alien civilizations. He collaborated with his colleague, astronomer Frank Drake, to design the Arecibo message—a radio signal broadcast into space with the aim of reaching extraterrestrial beings and drawing their attention to humanity's existence 4 View gallery Cosmic Love. Sagan with his third wife, Ann Druyan, who collaborated with him on the Cosmos series and co-authored several of his books ( Photo: Peter Morenus/Cornell University, Courtesy of Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc. ) In 1990, after Voyager 1 completed its primary scientific mission in the solar system and began its journey outward into interstellar space, Sagan’s persistent efforts convinced NASA leadership to capture a distant photograph of Earth. The resulting image, taken from about six billion kilometers away, showed Earth as a tiny speck—less than a pixel—against the vast emptiness of space. This iconic image was named Pale Blue Dot by Sagan, a title that also became the theme of his 1994 book Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, in which he reflected on humanity’s place in the cosmos and, above all, our smallness. “Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot,” Sagan said in a lecture at Cornell University. Years of disappointments In the 1980s, under U.S. President Ronald Reagan, the government increased defense spending and promoted the "Star Wars" initiative, a program aimed at deploying defense systems in space. This, along with the Soviet Union’s response, rekindled fears of nuclear war between the superpowers. Sagan, an opponent of nuclear weapons since his student days, co-authored an influential scientific paper with four colleagues on the potential effects of nuclear war. In this paper, they coined the term "nuclear winter," referring to climate changes caused by massive amounts of dust rising into the atmosphere following large-scale nuclear explosions. Sagan went on to co-author two books on the dangers of nuclear weapons and frequently discussed the topic in media interviews. However, unlike his work on space exploration, his stance on the politically sensitive issue of nuclear weapons drew significant opposition. Critics included those who viewed disarmament as a threat to U.S. security, as well as scientists who disputed the nuclear winter theory, arguing that it was an overly pessimistic and insufficiently substantiated prediction. This opposition sometimes manifested in personal attacks on Sagan in the media, a stark contrast to the favorable coverage he had previously enjoyed. Many believe that Sagan's advocacy and his efforts to highlight the dangers of war through the concept of nuclear winter ultimately helped pave the way for the disarmament negotiations and the eventual signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by U.S. and Soviet leaders in 1987. During this period, Sagan also faced challenges from budget cuts to U.S. space exploration, including NASA missions. The Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 marked a low point for the agency and disrupted research-oriented missions. Sagan saw this as an opportunity to promote U.S.-Soviet collaboration on a joint mission to Mars, leveraging the Soviet Union's growing openness to the West. However, these efforts were unsuccessful, and Sagan was forced to abandon the idea after the Soviet Union’s collapse, which left its space program in a state of limbo due to the political upheaval. In 1990, amid stalled space initiatives, Sagan made his most significant scientific misstep. Following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and its threats to ignite oil wells if the West intervened, Sagan feared that such widespread fires could release enough soot to trigger a smaller-scale version of nuclear winter. Despite opposition from three of his four co-authors of the original nuclear winter paper—who did not believe the fires would have a global climatic impact—Sagan published his predictions in articles and TV interviews. In early 1991, Iraqi forces did set Kuwait’s oil wells ablaze, but when the smoke cleared, it became evident that Sagan had been wrong. The fires did not cause global or even local climate changes. This miscalculation drew widespread criticism, and Sagan faced ridicule from his opponents, some of whom used the incident to cast doubt on the entire nuclear winter theory. In 1992, Sagan was nominated for membership in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Despite meeting the accepted criteria for scientific publications, contributions to the scientific community, and his efforts to make science accessible to the public, his nomination received only about half the votes—well below the two-thirds majority required. Two years later, the Academy awarded him its prestigious Public Welfare Medal in recognition of his contributions to popularizing science and explaining complex issues. However, it is unclear whether this honor softened the sting of his earlier rejection. Adding to his disappointment, the 1993 book Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, co-authored with his wife Ann Druyan, did not achieve the success they had hoped for, despite being regarded by some critics as his best work. Billions and billions In 1994, Carl Sagan was diagnosed with cancer and began undergoing treatment. Despite his illness—or perhaps because of it—he did not slow down and continued working on new books. Foremost among them was The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. This book was a passionate defense of science, the scientific method, and rational thinking, countering irrationality and pseudoscience. In the book, Sagan revisits his field of expertise, extraterrestrial communication, and critiques unfounded claims about alien visits to Earth and alleged abductions by extraterrestrial spacecraft. He also equips readers with a "baloney detection kit," a list of logical fallacies typical of pseudoscientific arguments. Additionally, Sagan used the book to publicly acknowledge his earlier error in predicting the catastrophic environmental effects from the burning of oil wells in Kuwait. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv Another book Sagan managed to work on with Druyan was Billions and Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. The title, evoking the vast number of stars in the universe, became synonymous with Sagan since the days of Cosmos. In the book, Sagan and Druyan discuss the application of scientific tools to everyday life and global issues such as climate change and international relations. Sagan also shares his religious perspective, expressing skepticism about the existence of God in the traditional sense, though he refrains from identifying himself as an atheist. Sagan did not live to see the publication of this final book. After undergoing three bone marrow transplants, his condition deteriorated, and he passed away from pneumonia on December 20, 1996, at the age of 62. “Carl Sagan, more than any contemporary scientist I can think of, knew what it takes to stir passion within the public when it comes to the wonder and importance of science,” eulogized Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. “American astronomy lost its clearest and most colorful voice with the death of Carl Sagan,” wrote astronomer Yervant Terzian of Cornell University. Quoting a Washington Post obituary by Joel Aschenbach that stated, “We have needed Sagan since Copernicus removed us from the center of the Universe,” Terzian added, “And the need remains. Carl Sagan received a great many awards during his 62 years, but ‘billions and billions’ would not have been enough to repay what the scientific community owes him.” Content distributed by the Davidson Institute of Science Education . >

ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draft

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — When Dan Quinn left the Dallas Cowboys after three years as their defensive coordinator to coach the Washington Commanders, it looked as if he was leaving a perennial playoff contender for a rebuilding project. Instead, Quinn's Commanders are in the thick of the playoff race even after consecutive losses provided something of a speed bump, while the Cowboys' season has fallen apart . Dallas (3-7) visits Washington (7-4) on Sunday in a franchise role reversal for the NFC East rivals. "For me and for the guys, man, it’s Washington-Dallas Week, let’s get down," Quinn said. “I don’t make one (game) too often bigger than another. I just think they’re all really important, and we absolutely go after it as hard as we can.” Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and a handful of former Dallas players have been part of Washington's turnaround, including pass rusher Dante Fowler, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, center Tyler Biadasz and receiver Noah Brown, who famously caught rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary toss for the game-winning touchdown last month to beat Chicago . Armstrong has followed the Cowboys' downfall since leaving in free agency, saying simply, “It’s not good.” And that was before a piece of their stadium's roof fell Monday night before their fifth consecutive loss , a 34-10 blowout by Houston . Injuries, including starting QB Dak Prescott's torn hamstring that led to season-ending surgery, have been the backdrop for Dallas' forgettable year. Coach Mike McCarthy, who's approaching the end of his contract and possibly his tenure, said he and his staff are “going to stay the course” and play who's available. That means Cooper Rush again getting the nod in place of Prescott, though McCarthy said a package of plays could open up to get 2021 No. 3 pick Trey Lance into the game. “Cooper’s been there for a little minute, so he knows the system really good," said Fowler, who leads the Commanders with 8 1/2 sacks. "Trey Lance is really good with his legs, and he’s a dynamic quarterback, as well. You don’t want to go out there half-stepping against those guys because they do play good football, as well.” The Commanders have played far better football than the Cowboys so far this season, so much that the home team is a 10 1/2-point favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook. Washington has never been more than a nine-point favorite against Dallas in any game going back to at least 2003, according to BetMGM. The Cowboys could get a bit of a spark with the anticipated return of receiver Brandin Cooks, who has seen way too much sorrow around him since he last played in Week 4. “Get guys playing at a high level, playing fun, playing free, and having a great time out there,” Cooks said. “That’s what I’m not seeing right now. I think we can go out there and be more joyful in our process.” There's plenty of joy in Washington, with the playoffs still on the line, unlike Dallas. “It’s definitely cool to be in that type of position rather than being on the other side," Fowler said. “Just cool to see what Coach Quinn has just done since he came here with this team and getting a group of guys to come together and play as one.” A rib injury knocked Daniels out of a rout of Carolina on Oct. 20, and while he did not miss a game, the 23-year-old has not been as dangerous or effective since. The No. 2 pick out of LSU and reigning Heisman Trophy winner has completed 59.5% of his passes the past four games after 75.6% before getting injured, and he has had his average rushing yards cut nearly in half from 53.1 to 27.5. Quinn insists Daniels is not injured and pinned the regression on a lack of practice time in recent weeks. Daniels also said he's good to go after some extra rest following a 26-18 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday, Nov. 14. “The mini bye, I think it just helps everything, just to reset your mind and get ready for the second half of the season,” Daniels said. “I was able to reset and refocus, restart.” The offensive line has been a problem all season for the Cowboys. Now it’s a major injury concern. Perennial All-Pro right guard Zack Martin and promising young left guard Tyler Smith sustained ankle injuries on the same drive in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys against the Texans. Martin, who is also dealing with a shoulder issue, is doubtful. Smith is questionable while also working through a knee injury. T.J. Bass and Brock Hoffman were the replacements at guard against the Texans. The Cowboys could start four linemen 25 or younger, although veteran tackle Chuma Edoga could make his season debut. Edoga was the projected starter at left tackle before injuring a toe in training camp. He is listed as questionable. “With Zack, he’s a keystone for our offensive line," McCarthy said. "That will be a big one. But it’s more opportunity for these young players who haven’t played a lot and are getting a lot of work." McCarthy said the Cowboys “took a step backward, clearly” running the ball against Houston after making progress the previous couple of games. Rico Dowdle, now the clear lead back after ineffectiveness and off-field drama from Ezekiel Elliott, had just 28 yards on 10 carries, and the Cowboys finished with 64 yards. They allowed 141 yards, including 109 and three touchdowns by Joe Mixon, and have the NFL's second-worst rushing defense. Washington's Brian Robinson Jr. has already set a career high with seven TD runs and could be in for a lot of carries. “I look forward to running the ball any time,” Robinson said. “I’m prepared, I’m ready and if it happens like that, I’m ready for it." AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Frisco, Texas, contributed. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

NYC teacher 'Arthur Dent' sexually abused student in ‘escape room’ and home ‘bat cave’Bilawal blasts PML-N over 'unilateral moves'Automatic Partners with MeridianLink to Revolutionize Lender-Dealership Connectivity

Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. This small decline could be due to pandemic-era restrictions easing up and kids having more time to see friends in person, but it’s not enough to be truly meaningful . X saw the biggest decline among teenage users. Only 17% of teenagers said they use X, down from 23% in 2022, the year Elon Musk bought the platform. Reddit held steady at 14%. About 6% of teenagers said they use Threads, Meta’s answer to X that launched in 2023. The report comes as countries around the world are grappling with how to handle the effects of social media on young people’s well-being. Australia recently passed a law banning kids under 16 from social networks, though it’s unclear how it will be able to enforce the age limit — and whether it will come with unintended consequences such as isolating vulnerable kids from their peers. Related Articles National News | Texas sues New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills by telemedicine National News | American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says National News | How to protect your communications through encryption National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp was a rare exception in that it saw the number of teenage users increase, to 23% from 17% in 2022. Pew also asked kids how often they use various online platforms. Small but significant numbers said they are on them “almost constantly.” For YouTube, 15% reported constant use, for TikTok, 16% and for Snapchat, 13%. As in previous surveys, girls were more likely to use TikTok almost constantly while boys gravitated to YouTube. There was no meaningful gender difference in the use of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Roughly a quarter of Black and Hispanic teens said they visit TikTok almost constantly, compared with just 8% of white teenagers. The report was based on a survey of 1,391 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Distraught man tried to get police to shoot him, ultimately leading to shots fired in both directions Distraught man tried to get police to shoot him, ultimately leading to shots fired in both directions Youngkin wants to pull Virginia funding from ‘sanctuary cities’ Youngkin wants to pull Virginia funding from ‘sanctuary cities’ Woman dies, driver injured in James City County crash Woman dies, driver injured in James City County crash Isle of Wight teacher arrested on child porn charges Isle of Wight teacher arrested on child porn charges Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination has echoes across the US Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination has echoes across the US Wrong-way driver on I-64 arrested, charged with driving under the influence Wrong-way driver on I-64 arrested, charged with driving under the influence Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor The Navy’s fighter pilots fly at the extremes. Their brains may suffer. The Navy’s fighter pilots fly at the extremes. Their brains may suffer. David Teel: Pure genius or desperate folly? UNC welcomes Bill Belichick. David Teel: Pure genius or desperate folly? UNC welcomes Bill Belichick. Former NFL player opens Newport News youth empowerment center Former NFL player opens Newport News youth empowerment center Trending Nationally President Joe Biden commutes sentences for two of Chicago area’s most notorious fraudsters Drone sightings reach Pennsylvania; Monroe County officials ask residents to report them to 911 How pythons and other invasive species may have spread farther in Florida due to hurricanes Snowboarder seriously injured in 47-foot fall from chairlift at Keystone Resort ‘Enron CEO’ Connor Gaydos hit in the face with pie in New York CityHealth In Tech, Inc. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here's a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That's false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau's informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day's events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney's office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office's counterterrorism division told the inspector general's office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D'Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report's findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!" reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray's resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray's announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump's 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI's involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.” — Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck .

Politics, like comedy, is about timing. Albanese will be a victim of the liberal era’s fallMAI Capital Management trimmed its holdings in Cardinal Health, Inc. ( NYSE:CAH – Free Report ) by 75.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 4,269 shares of the company’s stock after selling 13,129 shares during the period. MAI Capital Management’s holdings in Cardinal Health were worth $472,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its stake in Cardinal Health by 9.9% in the second quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,099,082 shares of the company’s stock valued at $403,022,000 after purchasing an additional 370,181 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Cardinal Health by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,730,854 shares of the company’s stock valued at $305,584,000 after acquiring an additional 14,030 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC raised its stake in Cardinal Health by 5.1% during the 2nd quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 1,759,299 shares of the company’s stock valued at $172,974,000 after acquiring an additional 85,247 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in Cardinal Health by 7.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,683,447 shares of the company’s stock worth $165,517,000 after acquiring an additional 111,137 shares during the period. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Cardinal Health by 17.7% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,610,968 shares of the company’s stock worth $158,390,000 after acquiring an additional 242,608 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.17% of the company’s stock. Cardinal Health Stock Performance CAH opened at $121.84 on Friday. Cardinal Health, Inc. has a one year low of $93.17 and a one year high of $126.14. The company has a market cap of $29.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.70, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 0.60. The business’s fifty day moving average is $113.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is $105.86. Cardinal Health Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a $0.5056 dividend. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.66%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. Cardinal Health’s payout ratio is currently 39.30%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently commented on CAH. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on Cardinal Health from $130.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Cardinal Health from $111.00 to $123.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Cardinal Health from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Cardinal Health from $119.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Cardinal Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, November 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $123.00. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Cardinal Health Cardinal Health Company Profile ( Free Report ) Cardinal Health, Inc operates as a healthcare services and products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It provides customized solutions for hospitals, healthcare systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and patients in the home. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cardinal Health, Inc. ( NYSE:CAH – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Cardinal Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardinal Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Liberty gains 419 on the ground with 4 touchdowns in a 38-21 victory over Western KentuckyIndia's occupational safety and health (OSH) market is booming, with projections of reaching USD 1 billion in the next five years. OSH India 2024 expo and conference highlighted the growing importance of workplace safety and the role of innovative solutions like AI and sustainable materials. Key factors driving growth include increased awareness, stricter regulations, and a shift towards prioritizing worker safety. Assembly Election Results Election Results 2024 Live Updates Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024 Live Updates Jharkhand Assembly Election Results 2024 Live Updates Challenges such as lack of awareness, enforcement, and quality control need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of the Indian OSH market. “Safety is crucial in all aspects of life, from work to home. Proper PPE, tailored to specific jobs, is essential for worker protection. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has evolved with the times, incorporating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence to provide advanced protection. Investing in safety measures is more cost-effective than dealing with accidents.” said Ram Dahiphale, additional director, directorate of industrial safety & health, Govt. of Maharashtra on the sidelines of OSH India expo and conference organised by Informa Markets in India. The three-day OSH India expo brought together international experts, industry leaders, and over 250 brands to showcase innovations and discuss workplace safety solutions. At the event, Bharat Petroleum’s Executive Director, Sanjeev Raina, stressed integrating safety into core business values, while SAMA President, Mahesh Kudav, discussed India’s potential as a global safety appliance exporter. Maharashtra Jharkhand Maharashtra Alliance View i Party View Seats: 288 L + W Majority: 145 BJP+ 219 MVA 52 OTH 17 Leads + Wins : 288 / 288 BJP+ LEADING Jharkhand Alliance View i Party View Seats: 81 L + W Majority: 41 INDIA 55 NDA 23 OTH 3 Leads + Wins : 81 / 81 INDIA LEADING Source: PValue As the event organiser, Informa Markets in India MD, Yogesh Mudras said “India's growing workforce of 643.3 million necessitates a strong focus on occupational safety. As the country rapidly industrializes, prioritizing workplace safety is crucial for both ethical and strategic reasons, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.”