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A bill that would expand Social Security benefits for millions of public sector workers such as teachers and firefighters is making its way to President Joe Biden's desk. For decades, federal policies have limited Social Security payments for many public service workers who also receive pensions. If the bill becomes law, it will expand Social Security benefits for an estimated 3 million Americans. The expansion of benefits comes with a cost of nearly $200 billion, and critics said it could put more of a strain on already limited funds. Firefighters told News 9 that the funds should be better managed. "A lot of us have had different careers and paid into Social Security, so if you paid in your 40 quarters to Social Security, you should be entitled to that benefit," said Manchester fire Lt. Joseph Russo. If signed into law, the expansion would apply to all benefits payable after December 2023.Murray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.winph99 com 。

Irish premier praises Dublin woman who won civil case against Conor McGregorDavid Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by referees’ body PGMOL, the PA news agency understands. Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.

Irish premier praises Dublin woman who won civil case against Conor McGregorDonald Trump has big plans for schools in his second term, which include gutting the Department of Education. His proposals have major implications for public school funding, and you can bet that arts education will be at the top of the list of cuts. Support for the arts is an increasingly partisan issue, with conservatives calling for an end to public funds for the arts. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently slashed millions in state funds for arts institutions, many of which partnered with schools to fill gaps in arts education. In his first term, Trump threatened to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts, the biggest funder for arts and arts education in the U.S., which provides pivotal support for programs in public schools. Chances are that arts education is not going to get support from the top down in Trump’s second term, so it’s up to parents to work from the bottom up. With limited budgets and accountability pressures, time and resources for arts education continue to get squeezed out to make more space for the “basics,” subjects such as math, literacy and science, that predominately show up on standardized tests. But the arts are the basics. And what if parents demanded that they be treated as such? The arts are basic to human needs for expression, connection and understanding. They are so basic, in fact, that policymakers, school leadership, teachers and parents prioritized the arts in response to the mental health crisis during the pandemic. States used federal emergency funds to boost arts education programming. This funding is drying up, despite benefits to social-emotional and academic learning. The implication is that we can again deprioritize mental health and basic human development needs and get back to the learning that fits neatly into the framework of standardized tests. As a professor of international education, I focus on the benefits of arts education globally, not solely for mental health but also how the arts might contribute to more peaceful societies. When I was in Afghanistan in 2015 researching an arts education program run by Bond Street Theatre, I saw firsthand that arts activities could create moments of connection, joy and play among teenagers who were deeply divided across ethnic, religious and tribal lines, even in one of the most challenging settings in the world. The arts connect us to our own humanity and to the humanity of others, providing opportunities to complicate notions of “us” versus “them.” They build skills and behaviors that can equip our kids to challenge the status quo, draw attention to injustice, and imagine a better future in the face of increasing global conflicts, crises and polarization. In times of crisis, conflict or instability, human beings turn to the arts to process experiences that language and logic fail to capture. The arts are a first-line approach to providing protective learning environments for children who have experienced traumatic events and adversity. The World Health Organization recommends using the arts to improve health and well-being, pointing to evidence that artistic media support communication across divides. Research shows that children who receive quality early learning opportunities, which tend to draw heavily on arts activities, do better in the long run. We know that kids who participate in arts education in high school are more engaged in school and more likely to earn a four-year college degree. A recent impact evaluation focusing on kids in elementary and middle school showed that arts education improved writing achievement, reduced disciplinary infractions, and increased empathy and compassion. Understandably, parents want their children to have access to well-paying, stable jobs and push their kids to focus on subjects that they will be tested on for advancement. Literacy, numeracy, and STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — provide vital skills, yet they are not the only skills that matter. Arts education is uniquely adept at building skills that are relevant and needed in response to artificial intelligence, increasing automation and a rapidly changing future. Indeed, the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, arguably the most influential international set of standardized assessments, recently put a spotlight on the importance of teaching and assessing creativity. Now more than ever, employers are seeking out-of-the box creative and critical thinkers. If arts education is good for children’s mental health, well-being, engagement at school, empathy and innovation, why is it perpetually on the chopping block? Public education is constantly struggling for adequate funding, and with a mentality of the arts as a “nice-to-have” among politicians and decision-makers, it is easy to see how arts education gets pushed to the fringes. But parents have a say in the education their children receive. They can put pressure on decision-makers to prioritize arts education through their votes, reaching out to members of Congress and local representatives, getting involved with local school boards and sitting on district committees. Parents can advocate within PTAs for schools to partner with arts organizations that provide unique learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. They can advocate for school plays, dance recitals or art walks, events that generate social connections and celebration, even in divided communities. They can organize art supply donations and distribute them to schools. Parents can also encourage their kids to stay engaged in the arts. As a parent, I want my child to have those experiences that are unique to the arts classroom — to explore ideas outside the box, to put herself in someone else’s shoes, to share her voice in ways that aren’t confined by language or logic. If parents demand that the arts be treated as “basic” to what public education should provide, we can shift the narrative. Perhaps we’ll even equip our children with skills to imagine and create a healthier, more peaceful future in the process.