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Gov. Newsom Addresses Economic Concerns, Unveils $120 Million Jobs PlanLamar defeats Ragin' Cajuns 74-45JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Robert McCray scored 22 points as Jacksonville beat East Tennessee State 60-52 on Saturday. McCray added five rebounds, five steals, and four blocks for the Dolphins (6-5). Zimi Nwokeji scored 15 points while going 5 of 6 (4 for 5 from 3-point range) and added five rebounds. Kendall Munson shot 3 of 4 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to finish with eight points. The Buccaneers (6-5) were led by John Buggs III, who recorded 15 points. East Tennessee State also got 13 points and five assists from Quimari Peterson. Jaden Seymour also put up nine points and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has agreed with US representatives to deepen cooperation between the countries in the area of cybersecurity, including increased investment in Ukrainian innovations, strengthening of digital infrastructure and introduction of the latest technologies. Source : Umierov, quoted by the Defence Ministry Details : The minister said that on 14 December he met with a US delegation led by Ambassador-at-Large Nathaniel Fick. The discussion was also joined by Doug Beck, Director of the US Defense Innovation Unit, and Bridget Brink, US Ambassador to Ukraine. The key focus of the meeting was cybersecurity, where Ukraine seeks to learn from the US experience in countering digital threats. The Ukrainian team presented to the American delegation the Ministry of Defence's digital solutions, including the Army+ and Reserve+ applications, the DELTA situational awareness system, as well as the creation of the Cyber Incident Response Centre, which should become an important element in countering the Russians on the digital battlefield. Quote from Umierov : "We agreed with Nathaniel Fick and Doug Beck to further deepen cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of cybersecurity. The priorities are to increase investment in our innovations, strengthen digital infrastructure that is invulnerable to aggressor attacks, and introduce the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence." Support UP or become our patron !

BRIGHTON – Killing penalties is Nikita Zadorov ‘s business. And business is good. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenseman got to show off his special team’s side, Thursday night at TD Garden. The rugged Russian put his formidable frame to good use, dishing out four hits, while supplying vital special teams play, as the Bruins shutout the Utah Hockey Club, 1-0. It was a must-win game for Boston, who were still reeling after a sluggish 8-9-3 start, which forced a coaching change. Jim Montgomery was fired on Tuesday, with longtime assistant coach Joe Sacco taking over. the team responded and are now lookign to take that all important next step in their on-ice progression. “Our team had a good game,” said Zadorov. “I thought we came in hot with passion. I think that’s what we’ve been missing the first 20 games. We played a really strict defensive game, and didn’t give up much. We really didn’t have much, but our power play stepped in big, got a big goal for us and we got a W.” One thing is for sure, Zadorov is relishing his new role on the special team’s unit. The blueliner is filling in for Hampus Lindholm, who was sidelined with a lower body injury two weeks ago. The added responsibility has given him an added incentive to excel. “I love killing.” said Zadorov. “I think that’s really important. It gets me going. It’s a pleasure when you see the trust of the coaches in that particular (area). We did a pretty good job (Thursday) against two skilled units. Obviously, there were a lot of bounces going against us in the past, on the PK especially. It’s important to be good in that during the game, because it gives you a chance to win some hockey games.” Zadorov maintained a highly physical presence throughout Thursday’s contest. He registered a game-high five hits, blocking a shot and covering 19:51 of ice time. He tied Elias Lindholm for second in penalty killing time at 6:46. Only defenseman Charlie McAvoy logged more minutes. In his first 21 games with the Bruins this season, the big defenseman has no goal and five assists. He’s currently third on the team with 60 hits, trailing only Mark Kastelic and Trent Frederic, while leading the team with 46 penalty minutes. “He was physical,” said Sacco. “I thought his PK was good last night. He’s been paired on the top pair with Brandon (Carlo) with Hampus out. I thought his reads were good on the kill. He had a good stick and brought a physical presence to the game. That’s what we’re looking for. Someone to step up physically and open the back end. He was one of those guys, (Kastelic) was the other.” The win was an all important first step in rebuilding the team’s confidence. Something they hope to build on as they travel to Detroit for a Saturday showdown with the Red Wings. “Same mentality, same mindset,” said Zadorov. “Go up there, work hard, help each other, stay connected. There’s been a lot of talk the past 48 hours. I thought we responded well. We can only improve from that.” Montgomery’s sudden dismissal put the team on notice. The big defenseman hopes to be part of the solution as they move forward. “At the end of the day it’s a business,” said Zadorov. “The team wasn’t playing well. We weren’t where we were supposed to be. Something had to change. It’s where we’re at right now.” Looking back on the team’s lackluster start, the defenseman feels they need to reestablish themselves. “I thought we were playing soft the first 20 games,” said Zadorov. “I don’t think that’s Boston Bruins hockey. That’s not what the fans expect from us. We’ve got to look at our fans. They respect hard work and toughness. That’s the message I got and the guys as well, to bring it on a nightly basis. If we do that we’re going to become a hard team to play against. Good things will happen.” Zadorov is no stranger to Sacco. He first played under him as assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres in 2012-13, before reuniting as associate coach with the Bruins this season. “An assistant coach and head coach is two different jobs,” said Zadorov. “An assistant is a little more polite, a bit more on the player’s side. As the head coach, sometimes you have to be direct, be hard. He’s respectful. He’s been in the organization for 10 years. It’s a pleasure to play for him for sure.” Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round (16 th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Zadorov is entering his 12 th NHL season. His previous stops included Colorado, Chicago, Calgary and Vancouver. He was one of Bruin general manager Don Sweeney’s big free agent signings, inking the defenseman to a six-year $30 million contract. As the season started, Zadorov endured his ups and downs. At his best, the hulking blueliner could be an intimidating presence the hits like a fright train. His reputation preceded him, with officials handing him an inordinate number of penalties. “It always happens at the start of the year,” said Zadorov. “The referees have long summers, we have long summers... The penalties weren’t great, but I think we’ve been pretty good in the past 10 games. We try to stay out of the box. Just taking necessary penalties where we can. Sometimes games go that way. That’s why we have special teams to do their jobs.” If anything, the bruising Bruins blueliner is doing his best to play with a level of controlled chaos. He’s hoping to fire up his team in his own unique way. “I’m an emotional guy,” said Zadorov. “I’m trying to keep things loose in the room all the time. But when I do that too much before the game it affects my performance. I get too excited and lose my focus from my personal game. I just have to find that balance to be a voice in the room and help the team, especially as a new guy here. I’m getting settled. Getting to know the guys, getting them to know me, so they can take it the right way. I’m a pretty direct person. Sometimes it takes time to understand me. I just want to find that middle (ground), bring joy to the room and the excitement to go compete and try to win hockey games.” This article first appeared on Boston Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.TWO educational institutions, Mandaue City College (MCC) and Benedicto College (BC), are setting benchmarks in fostering safer and more inclusive learning environments through their anti-bullying campaigns and mental health programs. MCC and BC’s comprehensive approaches focus on education, support systems, and community collaboration, ensuring the well-being of its students and its personnel. MCC has implemented innovative strategies to address bullying and mental health concerns. In line with Mental Health Month, the institution hosted seminars and workshops featuring experts from Cebu Technological University CTU, City Health Office, and the Mandaue City Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Office (SAMHSO). Guidance Counselor Cheryl O. Repique said the school’s proactive measures include seminars on bullying policies, stress management, and healthy diets. MCC also introduced bibliotherapy and a wellness room equipped with board games and free food to promote a sense of community. Last October, weekly zumba sessions were held every Friday to maintain physical and mental wellness among the students. Ashley Dave Almario, a second-year Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) student, shared how the school’s initiatives helped him overcome bullying as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. “I received negative comments about my appearance and actions, but the seminars and inclusivity campaigns helped me regain confidence,” Almario said. Teachers at MCC have also been instrumental in the institution’s efforts by participating in training programs that recognize the warning signs of mental health issues and emphasize suicide prevention. BC, meanwhile, takes a community-driven approach to combat bullying and promote mental health. Anti-bullying policies are integrated into the school’s manual, and awareness campaigns are introduced even before the school year begins. BC Director for Academic Affairs Dr. Ranulfo Visaya underscored the importance of addressing bullying as a societal issue. Angelito B. Magnanao, a third-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) student, shared how the mental health programs have helped him after facing bullying due to his skin condition. BC also coordinates with government agencies to host seminars on bullying prevention and mental health awareness. “By understanding the root causes of bullying and providing support, we aim to create an inclusive and safe learning environment,” said Visaya. MCC and BC’s initiatives underscore their shared commitment to creating supportive environments where students can thrive emotionally, mentally, and socially. By combining education, collaboration, and innovation, these institutions are fostering communities that prioritize well-being, inclusivity, and resilience of its students and workforce. by: Trixcy Shien M. Cobarde & Bejay Chen B. Tabayag, Jamaica B. Bregente & Yvon Maratas /Benedicto College

'It's a big thrill': Campbell Love to play for Victoria Country at carnivalWhen President Donald Trump first considered Pete Hegseth for a Cabinet position in 2017 and 2018, he marveled at a soldier who seemed straight out of central casting. The telegenic Fox News host, a decorated combat veteran with a chiseled jaw who spoke forcefully about standing up for his fellow servicemembers, appealed to Trump as he searched for his next secretary of veterans affairs. But behind his public facade, Hegseth’s life at the time was in turmoil. He had recently left leadership of a nonprofit advocating for veterans amid allegations that he mismanaged funds and was regularly intoxicated at work events. He was going through an acrimonious divorce with his second wife after having an affair and a child with a Fox News co-worker. And a woman accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Republican conference where he spoke, an allegation he denied and authorities declined to bring charges on. Hegseth’s personal troubles barely made the news at the time. Even after Trump went with other candidates for VA secretary, Hegseth stayed close to the president, dining at the White House and discussing military issues with him. Since Trump announced Hegseth as a surprise pick for secretary of defense in his second term last month, however, those troubles have broken out into public view. Now, concerns about Hegseth’s treatment of women and use of alcohol are threatening to derail his spot in the Cabinet. While Hegseth has attacked the criticism he’s faced as unfounded, Trump is already mulling other candidates to replace him as defense secretary. A CNN review of court records, Hegseth’s writings and public statements, and interviews with people close to him show how the tumultuous period of late 2015 through 2017, when Hegseth’s public profile was reaching new heights, set the stage for his struggles over the last few weeks. Hegseth’s attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told CNN that the allegations his client has faced about his personal life are “not accurate” and “all fairly ancient history.” In comments to reporters Thursday between meetings with the senators who will vote on his confirmation, Hegseth said he was “a different man than I was years ago, and that’s a redemption story that I think a lot of Americans appreciate.” But several key Republican senators have still declined to endorse Hegseth’s nomination, including Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, a veteran who’s spoken publicly about being a survivor of sexual assault. “I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared,” Ernst told Fox News on Thursday. “And that’s why we have to have a very thorough vetting.” Shaped by military service Hegseth grew up in a Minneapolis suburb, where he was a star athlete and high school valedictorian. Growing up in a conservative Christian household, Hegseth wrote in his first book, “I made sure to zealously avoid all forms of sin—especially sex, alcohol, and cursing.” But that wouldn’t stick. He went to college at Princeton University and, after working briefly on Wall Street, served in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He was deployed to the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then volunteered for a deployment to Baghdad and Samarra, Iraq, where he saw combat while serving as an infantry platoon leader. One of Hegseth’s military superiors in Iraq, who asked not to be named to speak candidly about him, said that “before Pete arrived, we all thought, just what we need, a Princeton smart mouth who’s never served in combat.” But Hegseth was impressive, showing strong leadership and staying deliberate even as he faced dozens of memorial services for his fellow troops over the course of a few months. “Pete was quick on his feet, and he always put his soldiers first,” the former colleague said. After he returned from his time in Iraq, Hegseth wrote in his 2016 book, he dropped that “pious caricature I had carefully crafted” in his earlier years. Now, “I barely trust someone who doesn’t enjoy a few drinks and won’t drop a well-placed F-bomb,” Hegseth wrote. “Not because I think drinking and swearing are good things—but because I think moral lines are better served elsewhere.” Those moral lines around drinking – as well as his treatment of women – seemed to trip Hegseth up over the years. His first wife, his high school sweetheart, filed for divorce in 2008, and court records show that a judge wrote he had been unfaithful to her. He has also acknowledged that he struggled with the transition from military to civilian life, and that he was drinking heavily in the years after he returned from his deployments. “It was a couple weeks between being in combat to sitting in a Manhattan apartment with my cat,” Hegseth said in a 2021 appearance on “The Will Cain Show.” “I’d look around at 10 o’clock and be like, ‘what am I going to do today, how about I drink some beers. How about I go have lunch and have some beers. How about I meet my one or two buddies and have some beers.’ And one beer leads to many.” Looking for a renewed sense of purpose, Hegseth joined a nonprofit group, Vets for Freedom, where he has said he got “an absolute baptism in advocacy.” During the 2008 election, the group spent millions on ads attacking then-presidential candidate Barack Obama over his policy on the Iraq War. But the campaign fell flat, and the organization ended that year in debt, according to tax records. Margaret Hoover, a Republican political consultant and CNN commentator who was an adviser to Vets for Freedom between 2008 and 2010, said Hegseth’s leadership of the small nonprofit makes her doubt his ability to manage the far larger budget and staff of the Pentagon. “He mismanaged funds and was not fully transparent about it,” Hoover said. Others have defended Hegseth’s role with Vets for Freedom. David Bellavia, co-founder of the nonprofit, called the notion that Hegseth mismanaged funds “absurd” and told CNN the group spent money heavily and strategically to try to sway public thinking. The organization eventually merged with another group, and Hegseth moved on. He briefly ran for Minnesota’s US Senate seat in 2012, before dropping out after a rival candidate won the Republican Party’s nomination. He also volunteered for another deployment to Afghanistan, where he worked to train Afghan security forces. He was awarded a second Bronze Star Medal in 2012, after earning his first for his service in Iraq. Hegseth’s experiences serving abroad shaped him more than anything, he said in his Will Cain interview. “Nothing has left a bigger imprint on my heart or on my life or on my perspective of humanity than strapping on boots and walking out the gates with guys you love who you know are just as human as you,” Hegseth said. “It teaches you a lot about yourself.” A growing public profile Hegseth’s public profile grew in 2014, when he was hired as a Fox News contributor. He was also leading another nonprofit, Concerned Veterans for America, that advocated for changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs amid criticism over its mismanagement of health care for servicemembers returning from the Middle East. Some employees of the group questioned Hegseth’s financial management. Tax records show that while Hegseth oversaw a rise in the nonprofit’s annual revenue from just over $1 million to nearly $16 million, the group spent more than it received in three of the five years in which he served as CEO. In the fiscal year ending September 2016, Hegseth’s last in leadership, the group took in about $437,000 less than it spent and ended up about $37,500 in debt. Under Hegseth, CVA also hired his younger brother, Philip, straight out of college, and paid him a total of more than $125,000 between 2014 and 2017, according to tax records. An executive for the organization told American Public Media in 2018 that the younger Hegseth did not report directly to his brother, and that he was “an outstanding employee who made significant contributions” to the group. During his leadership, some employees of the group voiced concern about what they described as Hegseth’s excessive drinking and misbehavior as CEO, The New Yorker reported this week . Several employees wrote a memo to another CVA executive laying out multiple examples of Hegseth becoming so intoxicated that he had to be carried away from events and accusing him of overlooking at least one allegation of sexual misconduct by another staff member, according to the magazine. CNN has not reviewed the memo. In another letter, the magazine reported, an employee said that Hegseth had drunkenly chanted “Kill all Muslims!” multiple times at an Ohio bar while on a bus tour for the group in 2015. Hegseth has denied the allegations, with his lawyer saying they are “outlandish claims” pushed by “a petty and jealous disgruntled former associate of Mr. Hegseth’s.” Other coworkers at the group remembered Hegseth as a strong leader. Brandon Davis, who worked as an operations analyst at CVA, said Hegseth was always willing to “go to bat” for his employees and would listen to everyone. Davis said that he hadn’t seen Hegseth drink excessively or act inappropriately toward anyone. “He would attend after-parties with us, but he wasn’t out as late as some of us,” Davis told CNN. “He maintained his professionalism.” Hegseth left the group in January 2016. The New Yorker reported that he resigned under pressure, although a letter from the group’s trustee said Hegseth voluntarily resigned his position and “provided strong leadership” to the group. Hegseth received a $156,000 severance payment between October 2016 and September 2017 and total compensation of more than $172,000 over that period, according to the tax documents, even though he had left the organization months before. Allegations of alcohol abuse and assault In December 2016, as Trump prepared to enter the White House, he first considered Hegseth for secretary of veterans affairs. While Hegseth was one of the finalists for the position, some veterans’ groups opposed his candidacy due to his advocacy for allowing vets to seek health care in the private sector, and Trump eventually went with David Shulkin, an under-secretary under Obama. But even being considered helped boost Hegseth’s profile. And Trump, an avid Fox News viewer, continued to call Hegseth personally to discuss military issues and goings-on at the network. At Fox, Hegseth was receiving more airtime, and was months away from being promoted to co-host of the weekend “Fox & Friends” show. But his behavior was also raising some red flags. Hegseth caused a disturbance at Fox’s Christmas party in 2016, which led to a discussion with the network’s human resources department, a person with knowledge of the incident said on condition of anonymity. The disturbance was rooted in the fact that Hegseth, who was married to his second wife, was having an affair with Fox executive producer Jennifer Rauchet, who was also married. The New York Times was first to report on Hegseth’s discussion with HR. “We all knew about it, and we all knew we just couldn’t say anything about it,” one of Hegseth’s former fellow Fox hosts told CNN about the affair. Parlatore, Hegseth’s attorney, told CNN that an attendee reported Hegseth being “handsy” with Rauchet at the party, and that their interaction was consensual. At the time, Fox sources said, Rauchet showed favoritism toward Hegseth, much to the chagrin of other personalities at the network. “She kept putting Pete on TV,” an executive said. After Rauchet got pregnant with Hegseth’s child, the couple disclosed their relationship to Fox management, and Rauchet was moved to a different show. She later left Fox altogether. In an interview during Trump’s first term in office, years before Hegseth became Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon, one longtime Fox News producer told CNN that Hegseth also had a drinking habit that was an “open secret” on the set of “Fox & Friends.” The producer said he sometimes noticed beer cans in the trash can inside Hegseth’s office, and once asked his boss, “Does Pete drink before he goes on the air every day?” In another interview several years ago, Hegseth’s former fellow host described him as “the life of the party at Fox,” noting that people swarmed around him at company gatherings and female staffers sometimes flirted with him. Parlatore denied that Hegseth had any drinking problem at Fox, pointing to public statements from his colleagues supporting him. Rauchet gave birth to Hegseth’s baby in August 2017, which appeared to be the last straw for his second wife, Samantha. She filed for divorce a month later. Records from the divorce case in Minnesota show the couple accused each other of saying hurtful things to their children about the other parent. A court-appointed parenting consultant chastised Hegseth in one letter for his conduct around his sons, writing that he had shown “hostile and degrading communication” toward Samantha. In another filing, Samantha claimed that Hegseth had called her a “f***ing b****” in front of their sons. She said they told her Hegseth had them miss their “first day of online school” for something related to Fox News, which led one of the boys to have an anxiety attack. Hegseth stated in a court filing that he thought the court-appointed consultant’s letter was “heavy handed,” though he committed to learning from his mistakes. Parlatore said that the proceedings were typical for divorce cases, noting that Hegseth has a great relationship with his kids and adding that “this is why people get divorced – because they fight.” As the acrimonious divorce proceedings went on, Hegseth traveled to Monterey, California, in October 2017 to speak at the convention of a decades-old Republican women’s group. After his speech, he was seen drinking in a hotel bar with a woman associated with the group. That woman later told police that Hegseth sexually assaulted her in his hotel room, recounting that she remembered “saying ‘no’ a lot” and seeing his dog tags “hovering over her face,” according to a police report . She said she had only hazy memories of the alleged attack, and told a hospital nurse that she thought someone might have put something in her drink. Hegseth strongly denied assaulting her, saying the encounter was fully consensual. The local district attorney declined to file charges. Still, Hegseth later came to a financial settlement with his accuser that included a confidentiality clause, which his lawyer has said was due to fears he would be fired from Fox News amid the #MeToo movement. Just two weeks after the alleged assault, Hegseth attended a small private dinner with Trump in the White House’s East Wing along with Rauchet, the mother of his baby, according to a social media photo . It’s unclear whether the president had any idea what was going on in Hegseth’s personal life at the time. In March 2018, as Trump planned to remove Shulkin as VA secretary, he again considered Hegseth for the job. He eventually went with Robert Wilkie, a Defense Department official in his administration. Around the same time, Hegseth’s mother wrote him an email accusing him of mistreating Samantha and other women, The New York Times reported . She said that she regretted sending the letter, arguing this week that her son is a changed man. By 2019, Hegseth appeared to be putting the turmoil in his life behind him: The Monterey case was closed, he had finalized his divorce with Samantha, and he married Rauchet in August 2019 in a ceremony at a Trump golf club in New Jersey. Hegseth has described his latest marriage as transformative. He said in an interview with journalist Megyn Kelly this week that he could have previously been characterized as a serial cheater but that he “truly was changed by Jen and my lord and savior Jesus Christ, and I mean that.” He added, “Do I regret those things? Yes. But is it who I am today? No.” Cabinet nomination in limbo While Hegseth had avoided the skeletons in his closet spilling into public view during his first two rounds being considered for Trump’s Cabinet, that didn’t hold true after Trump announced him as his pick for secretary of defense last month. Within days, CNN and other news outlets reported on the Monterey sexual assault allegation. Reports from The New Yorker , The New York Times , Vanity Fair and other outlets detailed the claims about his abuse of alcohol, financial mismanagement, and bitter divorces. As he’s crisscrossed the Senate over the last two weeks holding meetings with the senators who will decide the fate of his nomination, Hegseth has faced a barrage of questions over the controversies. In recent days, he’s broken his public silence to mount a more forceful defense of his record, telling Kelly that “we’re not backing down one bit.” But while Hegseth said Wednesday that Trump had voiced support for him in their conversations, the president-elect has already been considering other candidates to replace Hegseth, potentially including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or Ernst, the Iowa senator – either of whom would likely have a far easier time in the Senate. If Hegseth holds on, he will face a bruising confirmation hearing that could include testimony from women in his past, disapproving colleagues from his nonprofits, or other critics. In a gambit to save his nomination, Hegseth has told senators that he would avoid alcohol if he became defense secretary. While he maintained that he had never had a drinking problem, Hegseth said in his interview with Kelly that “this is the biggest deployment of my life, and there won’t be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I’m doing it.” That commitment echoed the promise made by John Tower, President George H. W. Bush’s nominee for the job, in 1989, who also faced criticism over his drinking and treatment of women. Tower was rejected by the Senate – a major surprise, considering he himself had served as a senator from Texas for more than two decades. James Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University who has written about the Tower nomination, said that Tower’s personal struggles undermined his chances to join the Cabinet even though he had a decadeslong record overseeing military policy. That’s in contrast to Hegseth, someone who has “no experience in the Pentagon, no experience in major-level policy-making for the Defense Department,” he said. Hegseth’s nomination, Riddlesperger said, is “only conceivable in a presidency of Donald Trump.” CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Andrew Kaczynski, Sara Murray, Jim Sciutto, and Em Steck contributed to this report.Call to exempt listed firms from tax on mergers

Tech billionaire Elon Musk and conservative activist Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday began in-person discussions with congressional Republicans about ways they could slash federal spending and regulations once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has tasked Musk and Ramaswamy with issuing recommendations to overhaul the federal budget and bureaucracy — a goal that many Republicans say they agree with, but also one that presidents and Congresses under both parties, as well as divided governments, have repeatedly failed to deliver on. Musk and Ramaswamy traveled to Capitol Hill for a series of meetings with House and Senate members. It was their first such trip since their appointment by Trump as outside advisers , heading up a commission called the Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE is also the name of an internet meme and a cryptocurrency . “This is a brainstorming session,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters between meetings. He said the talks are “laying the groundwork” for what lawmakers will do next year. They have their work cut out for them. Trump oversaw an increase in deficits during his first term, even before the Covid-19 pandemic. In his 2024 campaign, he promised to preserve two of the most expensive parts of the budget — Social Security and Medicare — beyond “ cutting waste and fraud .” He also called for trillions of dollars in additional tax breaks on tips and overtime, in addition to extending his 2017 tax cuts, which would all add to the debt. And most congressional Republicans are determined to continue increasing military spending, another large slice of the pie.Musk, one of the world’s wealthiest people, has potential leverage over congressional Republicans because of his willingness to spend some of his vast fortune on politics, and his recent proximity to Trump. As recently as Sunday, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has repeatedly warned Republicans to get in line behind Trump’s priorities or else face a primary challenge in 2026. Great @DOGE meeting with @elonmusk , @VivekGRamaswamy , @SpeakerJohnson , and X-Æ-12 pic.twitter.com/WRXQoz7MGY Officially, though, the roles for Musk and Ramaswamy are only advisory. They won’t be in the government and instead will be sending recommendations to the Trump White House, with a deadline of July 4, 2026.Musk’s newfound political influence follows his campaigning for Trump over the summer and fall. His super PAC, America PAC, spent more than $152 million to boost Trump and other Republicans, with much of the money coming from Musk and his friends, according to disclosure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Musk also held events for Trump in swing state Pennsylvania and turned X, which he owns, into a megaphone for pro-Trump views . Ramaswamy, a former biotech executive, ran in the Republican primary for president and lost to Trump before later endorsing him. Musk has repeatedly faced questions about potential conflicts of interest in advising on the federal budget. SpaceX is a major federal contractor, including with the Defense Department and NASA. And, according to Ramaswamy, one of their potential targets is a $6.6 billion loan to electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive, a competitor to Tesla. Musk has not said how or if he plans to resolve those conflicts. One lawmaker, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said Thursday it was too early to anticipate the priorities for cuts but that loosening regulation by administrative action and through Congress would be a good place to start. “There are tens of billions of dollars in regulatory relief that are on the table now,” Tillis said. The U.S. budget was $6.1 trillion in fiscal year 2023, according to the Peterson Foundation. Still, Tillis called the Thursday conversation an “organizational meeting” — akin to “an engagement meeting I’d have with a client.” Speaking to reporters in between meetings, Musk reiterated his support for ending tax credits to encourage electric vehicle sales, aligning with Republicans who are eying cuts to clean energy funding . “I think we should get rid of all credits,” he said in response to a reporter’s question about tax credits for electric vehicles. (Musk has previously said that EV credits help Tesla’s competitors .) Musk said little else as he walked through the Capitol’s corridors with one of his children. The billionaire was followed so closely by Capitol Hill reporters, he said, “It’s like there’s ambient press.” Once DOGE is established, Musk and Ramaswamy will have a small office of 10 to 12 staffers under the executive office of the president who will work closely with the Office of Management and Budget, a source involved in the effort told NBC News. They will also have individuals within each federal department and agency who operate as DOGE liaisons, the source said. Musk and Ramaswamy are seeking individuals with business backgrounds with an interest in “gutting bureaucracy” to fill those roles. “A lot of these folks will be lawyers or have previous experience at that agency,” the source said. Musk has shown a willingness to consider cuts to some of the federal government’s most popular programs including Social Security. On Monday, he shared a post on X from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, advocating an overhaul of Social Security into something like individual retirement accounts. “Interesting thread,” Musk wrote. Thursday morning, Musk met with incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., while Ramaswamy met separately behind closed doors with a group of 15 Senate Republicans for a little over an hour. In the afternoon, they met with a larger group of House and Senate members. Leaving the meeting with Ramaswamy, senators told NBC News that it was a positive conversation and consisted of an “exchanging of ideas,” as Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., put it. But they would not divulge specific policies discussed inside. A source familiar with the private meeting in the afternoon told NBC News that the gathering turned into an “open mic session” featuring “an airing of grievances from House members who want Elon and Vivek to solve all their problems.” Some Democrats have expressed interest in working with Musk and Ramaswamy to reduce spending and regulations. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., posted on X on Thursday that Congress should model its efforts on a World War II-era committee led by then-Sen. Harry Truman . “Let’s look to the Truman Committee and ensure Americans get their money’s worth with DOD spending,” he wrote. While GOP efforts to reduce the size of the federal government and end wasteful spending are not new, senators did not offer much in terms of how this effort would be different or possibly more successful. “You’re way too ahead,” Tillis said when asked about budget deficits. Leaving the meeting, Ramaswamy also declined to answer reporters’ questions. In the 2024 election, Republicans won a 53-vote Senate majority and a paper-thin House majority of 220-215 . Those slim margins could give Democrats some influence over the outcome, and some of them mock the new Musk-led effort as a punchline. “DOGE is not real. Just because someone says there is now a department of so and so does not mean the actual department now exists,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the ranking member of the Budget Committee. “Republicans are total hypocrites when it comes to deficit and debt. ... Trump added more to the national debt than any president in American history,” Boyle continued. “So I have seen this movie before. I have absolutely no doubt that if Trump is able to ram through a second round of his tax cuts, then it will explode the national debt.” Veterans of past failed debt-reform efforts, including the Obama-era bipartisan “super committee” of 2011, doubt the DOGE will be more successful unless it’s willing to take on sacred cows. “If past is prologue, the DOGE faces an uphill climb. It’s not yet clear what authority or reach the DOGE has, but managing the federal budget cannot be done through talking points,” said Zach Mallove, a lobbyist who worked as a policy aide to Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., when she co-chaired the super committee. Mallove said lawmakers will have to accept some “political pain” for it to be meaningful. “In the end, the math just doesn’t add up: with a $1.7 trillion annual discretionary budget, you cannot cut $2 trillion without tapping into the country’s social safety net.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:

In Huntsville elementary schools, boys are struggling with regulating emotions and girls are battling body-image issues. This, according to facilitators at YWCA Muskoka, is why community funding for youth programs is so crucial. Amy Jones, director of youth services at YWCA Muskoka, spoke at the Dec. 11 general committee meeting to share how the organization used Huntsville’s contribution of $8,000. “It’s incredible the amount of things that you do ... I applaud the work that YWCA has been doing and thank you for coming and giving us an update,” Coun. Helena Renwick said. In November 2023, Huntsville council approved directing $8,000 to YWCA Muskoka to use for youth programs in 2024. This helped fund two programs for 16 students at Spruce Glen Public School and V.K. Greer Memorial Public School. Eight students in Girlz Unplugged learned about healthy relationships, using technology safely and building confidence. The Quest program taught eight boys about gender stereotypes, navigating emotions and healthy relationships. All students in the programs spent 11 out of 12 sessions learning about violence prevention, and 9 out of 12 learning about mental health and well-being. A facilitator, giving feedback for the Girlz Unplugged program about how the students struggled with body image, said, “The girls had a hard time grasping the fact that they are beautiful. They know it, but they have a hard time believing it.” A facilitator said boys in the Quest program “opened up about how it is a struggle to control anger and how they do not know how to cope with feeling sadness.” Breakdown of $8,000: In addition to the $8,000 from the Town of Huntsville, local service clubs and community groups gave $2,000 for programming. Outside of Huntsville: For the entire region, YWCA Muskoka also receives funding from other donors, third-party fundraisers, the YWCA legacy fund, sponsorships and more. Read more about programs and ways to give on the website. Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for MuskokaRegion.com . The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.Low-valuation stocks attractive, market turmoil looms for Korea: Goldman SachsPLANO, Texas — A non-profit in Plano is celebrating one very "good" success story and positioning itself to write many, many more. Like the story of a woman named Sara Lee. "For about 10 years I had been on the street, homeless," she said. At the age of 70, she found herself trapped in an abusive relationship and living with another person in a car. "The best way I can describe it is a kept woman," she said. But one day she was able to walk away and seek the help of a Plano police officer. "So from then on I made plans to get away," Lee explained. "But I didn't know how it was going to work." It worked with a referral to Emily's Place , a shelter dedicated to helping women escape domestic violence. Next, they sent her to another non-profit with a very self-explanatory name: the Local Good Center. "It's a bright light," said Local Good Center program Director Maya Quinn. "It's a lot of hope. And that's really the story here is a story of hope." Two years ago, LGC launched a partnership with Emily's Place to provide holistic care and transformation to domestic violence survivors. As one of the first success stories of that program, Sara Lee attended job readiness, mental health, and wellness classes at LGC. After a year and a half of support, she is employed, bought her own car, and reconnected with her adult children. She now lives with a daughter in Colorado. "They've provided the classes and the rungs of the ladder to make that happen," Lee said. "And it's just, you know it's really awesome!" "We were able to coach her and encourage her and just see her blossom. It was really amazing," said Maya Quinn. "It's just wonderful to have that opportunity and those things given to you, you know, while you're getting on your feet. And it just means a whole lot," added Sara Lee. "Not everybody is a success story," said Maya Quinn. "And that's why this is such a hard population. So that's why we celebrate Sara Lee being on the other side. It is hard work, but when you see the impact, it just fuels us. Because of places like this there's a lot of hope." Local Good Center, launched by Chase Oaks Church, offers ESL and citizenship classes and is part of the Local Good Collective, made up of non-profit and social enterprise organizations, including the Local Good Center, the Local Good Pantry, the Local Good Coffee Co. and the Local Good Resale which is scheduled to open in early 2025. The effort also runs on the kindness of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, you can find additional information here.

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