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how to register nuebe gaming Walmart employees now wearing body cameras in some storesClimate-risk atlas, district-level data collection: NHRC core advisory group suggestionsVictor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards will play Christmas Day games for the first time on Wednesday as the NBA delivers its 77th year of contests on the holiday. French centre Wembanyama, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, will lead the San Antonio Spurs into New York to face the Knicks, who have the league's longest holiday history. The Knicks have played the most Christmas games of any NBA club at 56 entering this year, the first coming in 1947, the year the first NBA Christmas game was played. Wembanyama, a 20-year-old who stands 7-foot-3 (2.21m), averages 24.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.0 blocked shots a game for the Spurs, who return to the Christmas lineup for the first time in eight years. "Very excited just about spending Christmas in New York," Wembanyama said. "Going to be like the movies I hope, maybe get a little snow. "I'll approach it just like any other game. We've got to learn about their team, scout them and apply it for sure. I'm sure it's going to be special. I'm sure the league is going to make it something special that we're going to be able to feel." Edwards, a two-time NBA All-Star guard who helped the United States capture gold at the Paris Olympics, will try to spark the Minnesota Timberwolves on a holiday road trip to Dallas in a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals. "Ant-Man" leads the T-Wolves with 25.3 points a game and also has 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals a contest this season. The league's past three champions will also take the court on Wednesday with the defending champion Boston Celtics playing host to Philadelphia, the 2022 trophy-lifting Golden State Warriors playing host to the Los Angeles Lakers and the 2023 winner Denver Nuggets on the road at Phoenix. Lakers star LeBron James, who turns 40 next Monday, is the NBA career leader in points on Christmas with 476 in a record 18 games on December 25. He and former Miami teammate Dwyane Wade share the lead in wins by a player on Christmas with 10. The Lakers and Knicks share the NBA record for Christmas wins by a team with 24 for each. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Bernard King scoring 60 points, the highest NBA total on Christmas Day. Three other players -- Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain and Slovenian Luka Doncic -- have scored 50 or more in a game on the holiday. Dallas guard Doncic joined the club with a 50-point effort last year. The Lakers (16-13) and Golden State (15-13) are fighting for seventh in the Western Conference just ahead of San Antonio (15-14) and Minnesota and Phoenix, both 14-14. Dallas is fourth in the West at 19-10, just ahead of Denver 16-11. The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference at 22-7, ahead of New York (19-10) while Philadelphia has struggled to a 10-17 start, 12th in the East. js/pb

Reiterates Commitment to Investing in America to Lower Grocery Prices, Raise Associate Wages, and Support Local Communities Highlights Resilience of Value Creation Model and Strong Momentum to Drive Long-term, Sustainable Growth Board of Directors Authorizes $7.5B Share Repurchase Program including $5B Accelerated Share Repurchase CINCINNATI , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today terminated its merger agreement with Albertsons after the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon granted the Federal Trade Commission's request for a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger. After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger. "Kroger is moving forward from a position of strength. Our go-to-market strategy provides exceptional value and unique omnichannel experiences to our customers which powers our value creation model. We look forward to accelerating our flywheel to grow our alternative profit businesses and generate increased cash flows. The strength of our balance sheet and sustainability of our model allows us to pursue a variety of growth opportunities, including further investment in our store network through new stores and remodels, which will be an important part of our 8 – 11% TSR model over time," said Rodney McMullen , Kroger's Chairman and CEO. America's Grocer is Committed to Lowering Grocery Prices & Investing in Associates "Kroger has an extraordinary track record of investing in America," said McMullen. "We are at our best when we serve others – our customers, associates, and communities – and we take seriously our responsibility to provide great value by consistently lowering prices and offering more choices. When we do this, more customers shop with us and buy more groceries, which allows us to reinvest in even lower prices, a better shopping experience and higher wages. We know this model works because we've been doing it successfully for many years, and this is exactly what we will continue to do." Kroger's ongoing investments in America include: "I appreciate our associates who remained focused on taking care of our customers, communities and each other throughout the merger process," added McMullen. Share Repurchase Program Including Accelerated Share Repurchases Now that Kroger has terminated the merger agreement, the company is ready to deploy its capacity. With its strengthened balance sheet, Kroger will resume share repurchases after a more than two-year pause. Since announcing the merger, Kroger used its strong free cash flow and debt financing to build meaningful balance sheet capacity while maintaining its investment-grade rating. Kroger's Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $7.5 billion of common stock. The new repurchase authorization replaces Kroger's existing $1 billion authorization which was approved in September 2022 . Kroger intends to enter an accelerated share repurchase ("ASR") agreement for the repurchase of approximately $5 billion of common stock. "Our strong balance sheet and free cash flows position us to deliver on our commitment to grow the business and return capital to shareholders, maintaining capacity to invest in lower prices and higher associate wages," McMullen said. Kroger expects to continue to generate strong free cash flow and remains committed to its capital allocation priorities including maintaining its current investment grade debt rating, investing in the business to drive long-term sustainable net earnings growth, and returning excess free cash flow to shareholders via share repurchases and a growing dividend over time, subject to board approval. Looking forward, Kroger plans to host an Investor Day event in late spring of 2025 to share an update on its strategic priorities, future growth prospects and long-term financial outlook. Merger Debt Redemption In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger will begin the process of redeeming the $4.7 billion of its senior notes issued on August 27, 2024 , that include a special mandatory redemption provision in accordance with their terms. The notes will be redeemed at a redemption price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the special mandatory redemption date. Termination of Exchange Offers In connection with the termination of the merger agreement, Kroger has also elected to terminate its previously announced offers to exchange (collectively, the "Exchange Offers") any and all outstanding notes (the "ACI Notes") issued by Albertsons Companies, Inc., New Albertsons, L.P., Safeway Inc., Albertson's LLC, Albertsons Safeway LLC and American Stores Company, LLC (collectively, the "ACI Issuing Entities"), for up to $7,441,608,000 aggregate principal amount of new notes to be issued by Kroger and cash. Kroger has also elected to terminate the related solicitation of consents (the "Consent Solicitation" and, together with the Exchange Offer, the "Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation") on behalf of the ACI Issuing Entities to adopt certain proposed amendments to the indentures governing the ACI Notes (the "ACI Indentures"). As a result of the Exchange Offer being terminated, the total consideration, including any consent fee, will not be paid or become payable to holders of the ACI Notes who have validly tendered and not validly withdrawn their ACI Notes for exchange in the Exchange Offer, and the ACI Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be promptly returned to the tendering holders. As a result of the Consent Solicitation being terminated, the proposed amendments to the ACI Indentures and the supplemental indentures previously entered into reflecting such proposed amendments will not become operative. About the Exchange Offers Global Bondholder Services Corporation served as exchange agent and information agent for the now terminated Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation. You should direct questions and requests for assistance to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers), or by email at contact@gbsc-usa.com . About Kroger At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are dedicated to our Purpose: to Feed the Human SpiritTM. We are, across our family of companies nearly 414,000 associates who serve over eleven million customers daily through a seamless digital shopping experience and retail food stores under a variety of banner names , serving America through food inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" about Kroger's financial position and the future performance of the company. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "achieve," "committed," "confidence," "continue," "deliver," "expect," "future," "guidance," "model," "outlook," "strategy," "target," "trends," "well-positioned," and variations of such words and similar phrases. Various uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings, as well as the following: Kroger's ability to achieve sales, earnings, incremental FIFO operating profit, and adjusted free cash flow goals may be affected by: the termination of the merger agreement and our proposed transaction with Albertsons and related divestiture plan; labor negotiations; potential work stoppages; changes in the unemployment rate; pressures in the labor market; changes in government-funded benefit programs; changes in the types and numbers of businesses that compete with Kroger; pricing and promotional activities of existing and new competitors, and the aggressiveness of that competition; Kroger's response to these actions; the state of the economy, including interest rates, the inflationary, disinflationary and/or deflationary trends and such trends in certain commodities, products and/or operating costs; the geopolitical environment including wars and conflicts; unstable political situations and social unrest; changes in tariffs; the effect that fuel costs have on consumer spending; volatility of fuel margins; manufacturing commodity costs; supply constraints; diesel fuel costs related to Kroger's logistics operations; trends in consumer spending; the extent to which Kroger's customers exercise caution in their purchasing in response to economic conditions; the uncertainty of economic growth or recession; stock repurchases; changes in the regulatory environment in which Kroger operates, along with changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies; Kroger's ability to retain pharmacy sales from third party payors; consolidation in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers; Kroger's ability to negotiate modifications to multi-employer pension plans; natural disasters or adverse weather conditions; the effect of public health crises or other significant catastrophic events; the potential costs and risks associated with potential cyber-attacks or data security breaches; the success of Kroger's future growth plans; the ability to execute our growth strategy and value creation model, including continued cost savings, growth of our alternative profit businesses, and our ability to better serve our customers and to generate customer loyalty and sustainable growth through our strategic pillars of fresh, our brands, personalization, and seamless; the successful integration of merged companies and new strategic collaborations; and the risks relating to or arising from our proposed nationwide opioid litigation settlement, including our ability to finalize and effectuate the settlement, the scope and coverage of the ultimate settlement and the expected financial or other impacts that could result from the settlement. Our ability to achieve these goals may also be affected by our ability to manage the factors identified above. Our ability to execute our financial strategy may be affected by our ability to generate cash flow. Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-reiterates-its-commitment-to-lower-prices-and-initiates-new-7-5b-share-buyback-program-302329493.html SOURCE The Kroger Co.SANTA CLARA, Calif. — At this point the past two seasons, the San Francisco 49ers were fighting for playoff positioning rather than their playoff lives. After snapping a three-game losing streak with a lopsided win last week against Chicago, the Niners head into a Thursday night division showdown against the Los Angeles Rams hoping to play with the same kind of desperation in a game they almost certainly need to win to get to the postseason. "I think just across the board as a team, everybody had just a bit more of sense of urgency and I think we executed and played together as a team, and we didn't let off," quarterback Brock Purdy said. "Really liked that. But, that was last week so now it's on to this week and how can we do that again?" After getting outscored by 53 points in losses at Green Bay and Buffalo, the 49ers (6-7) played their most complete game of the season to keep their playoff hopes alive. While some credited a feeling of desperation or speeches from players such as Purdy and Deommodore Lenoir for the turnaround, linebacker Fred Warner said it was more about execution than anything else. "We didn't go out there in Green Bay, we didn't go out there in Buffalo saying, 'Let's just hope that we win.' Trust me, I felt desperate as hell going into both those games," he said. "It just didn't work out. ... It didn't happen because last week we decided we wanted to. This was weeks in the making." Whatever the reason, the results were obvious to anyone watching, including the Rams (7-6), who had their own signature performance to boost their playoff chances. Los Angeles held off Buffalo 44-42 to remain one game behind Seattle in the NFC West race and a game ahead of the 49ers and Arizona in the tightly packed division. Coach Sean McVay knows his team will need a similar performance to beat San Francisco and earn a season sweep. "I saw they certainly had a very dominant performance," he said. "If there's anything that you do know, it's a week-to-week league. Humility is only a week away. They have excellent coaches, excellent personnel and really good schemes. No matter what's really happened in terms of the trajectory of the injuries, they're going to be ready to go." Puka Nacua is in dominant form with 33 catches for 458 yards and three TDs in the Rams' past four games, highlighted by a 162-yard performance last week against Buffalo in which he also scored his first rushing TD. Nacua was injured for these clubs' first meeting this season — but last year, he broke the NFL's single-game rookie receptions record with 15 in his first game against San Francisco, and he set the NFL rookie season records for catches and yards receiving during his visit to Santa Clara last January. "He's a tough football player," 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said. "Some guys are just competitive. He's got size, he doesn't go down easy. Some things you can't measure and he's just got it." The least productive four-game stretch of Deebo Samuel's career sent the frustrated wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers to social media. In a now-deleted post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Samuel said the reason he gained only 97 yards from scrimmage the past four games was not that he was struggling but that he wasn't getting the ball. His teammates and coaches believe he will get back to his All-Pro form soon. "I want to get Deebo the ball every play if I could," Purdy said. "I want to have him break all the records as best as possible. I want Deebo to do Deebo things." The Rams defense got shredded twice in the past three weeks by Saquon Barkley's Eagles and Josh Allen's Bills, dropping the unit to 27th in total defense. LA's vaunted young pass rush led by rookie Jared Verse has no sacks in its past two games and just three in the past four games. Considering Purdy drove the Niners to 425 yards in the teams' first meeting this season without Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle or Samuel, the Rams' offense might need yet another prolific game to overcome its defense's weaknesses. With Nick Bosa sidelined the past three games, the 49ers have had to generate pass rushes from different sources. They had a season-high seven sacks last week with Yetur Gross-Matos getting three and Leonard Floyd two. The 32-year-old Floyd has 5 1/2 sacks in his past four games. "Leonard's just an Energizer bunny," Shanahan said. "It's crazy with him being one of the older guys and stuff and how many different teams he's been to, but I've played against him enough and felt that." Bosa has a chance to return this week and is listed as questionable. AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles contributed to this report Get local news delivered to your inbox!

North Dakota regulators OK underground storage for proposed Midwest carbon dioxide pipelineCLEVLEAND — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. A two-time All-Star, Bieber was named MVP of the midsummer event in 2019 when it was held in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't show any issues before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. DALLAS — Pitchers again dominated the big league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings, comprising 11 of the 15 unprotected players who were picked Wednesday. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox had the first pick and selected 24-year-old right-hander Shane Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Smith was an undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest when he was signed by Milwaukee in July 2021. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder has gone 13-7 with a 2.69 ERA and 203 strikeouts over 157 innings in 19 starts and 54 relief appearances over three minor league seasons. There were 14 teams who made picks in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft of players left off 40-man rosters after several minor league seasons. Only Atlanta made two selections, after making none since 2017. Atlanta chose right-hander Anderson Pilar from the Miami Marlins with the 11th pick, and then took infielder Christian Cairo from the Cleveland Guardians with the 15th and final pick in the MLB portion. The 26-year-old Pilar was original signed by Colorado as a minor league free agent in 2015 and has pitched in 213 minor league games that included 17 starts. He is 28-20 with a 2.86 ERA. Teams pay $100,000 to take a player in the major league portion. The players must stay on the big league roster all of next season or clear waivers and be offered back to their original organization for $50,000. Six of the 10 players selected during the Rule 5 draft last December — five of them right-handed pitchers — remained last season with organization that selected them. Two of the four position players taken Wednesday by other teams came from the Detroit Tigers organization: catcher Liam Hicks and third baseman Gage Workman. Miami drafted second after Colorado passed making a selection, and took Hicks. Workman was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 10th pick. Baltimore lost two right-handed pitchers on back-to-back picks, Juan Nunez to San Diego with the 12th pick before Connor Thomas went to Milwaukee. DALLAS — Tom Hamilton, who has called Cleveland games on the radio for 35 seasons, won the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting on Wednesday. Hamilton, 70, joined the team's broadcast in 1990, when he was with Herb Score in the booth and part of the coverage of their World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. Hamilton became the voice of the franchise when Score retired after that second World Series. Hamilton will be honored during the Hall of Fame’s induction weekend from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, New York. He was selected the hall's Frick Award 16-member committee as the 49th winner. There were 10 finalists on this year's ballot, whose main contributions came as local and national voices and whose careers began after, or extended into, the Wild Card era. The other nine were Skip Caray, Rene Cardenas, Gary Cohen, Jacques Doucet, Ernie Johnson Sr., Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Sims and John Sterling. DALLAS — The Texas Rangers acquired slugging corner infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins on Wednesday in a trade for three minor league players. Burger hit .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs in 137 games for the Marlins last season, with 150 strikeouts in 535 at-bats with 31 walks. He started 59 games at third base and made 50 starts at first. Five days of service time short of being eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, he will be eligible next winter and can become a free agent after the 2028 World Series. Miami got infielders Max Acosta and Echedry Vargas and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza. The acquisition of Burger comes about a month after the Rangers hired former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a senior adviser for baseball operations. Luis Urueta, Miami's bench coach the past two seasons, also was added recently to manager Bruce Bochy's on-field coaching staff for 2025. BRIEFLY WHITE SOX: Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago. The White Sox announced a $1.95 million, one-year contract for the outfielder. Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Illinois, about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs. TRADE: All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery are headed to Chicago. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Only about 2 in 10 Americans approve of Biden's pardon of his son Hunter, poll finds

Republicans Gabe Evans and Dan Woog won key races in Congress and the Colorado House of Representatives by razor thin margins in November. U.S. Rep.-elect Gabe Evans speaks during a news conference after defeating Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo in the 8th Congressional District race in Thornton, Colorado, on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) Evans, a state lawmaker, unseated incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo by less than 2,500 votes to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. The district includes sections of Adams, Larimer and Weld counties and played a pivotal role in the partisan battle over control of the House of Representatives. The flipped seat will split Colorado’s congressional delegation between four Democrats and four Republicans, despite the state’s distinctly blue shift in recent elections. It also will give Republicans a slight buffer in Washington, D.C., where the party will enter the next term with a 220-215 seat majority in Congress. In state House District 19, the race was so close it required a recount, but Woog prevailed over Democrat Jillaire McMillan by 110 votes. McMillan conceded the race to Woog in mid-November, but because Woog won by less than 0.5% of the total votes, an automatic recount of the results was triggered. House District 19 was one of three statehouse districts that flipped from blue to red this year and brought the Democratic majority in the house down to 43-22, one seat shy of a two-thirds supermajority. When Democrats had a supermajority, they could override governor vetoes and put constitutional amendments before voters without Republican support. The district encompasses Dacono, Erie, Frederick, Firestone, east Longmont and surrounding areas, and it includes parts of both Boulder and Weld counties. The Denver Post contributed to this report. The Times-Call is counting down the top 10 stories of the year as voted on by editors. No. 10 – State pauses progress on Draco Pad No. 9 – Wind storm triggers preemptive outage from Xcel, prompting outrage No. 8 – Winchell’s still not open No. 7 – Evans, Woog win key races in Congress, state houseHistorian says Midwest played a crucial role in Black freedom movements worldwideAnimation Guild board defends contract deal as some members critique AI terms

Impact on U.S. domestic natural gas prices—among the lowest in the world—would remain negligible WASHINGTON , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On their current trajectory, growing exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) would support nearly half a million domestic jobs annually and contribute $1.3 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product through 2040 while having a negligible impact on domestic gas prices, according to a new comprehensive study by S&P Global. The study projects U.S. LNG export capacity to double over the next five years under a Base Case that takes into account current conditions, including impacts from the 2024 pause of pending decisions on exports of LNG to non-free trade agreement countries. In addition to the projected sizeable jobs and GDP gains, future export activity is anticipated to generate more than $2.5 trillion in total revenues for U.S. businesses, $166 billion in federal and state tax revenues and more than $500 billion in labor income. "The emergence of the U.S. LNG industry has placed the United States in the pole position with global demand for gas expected to grow through 2040 alongside the rapid growth of renewables," said Daniel Yergin , Vice Chairman, S&P Global. "Continued growth in U.S. LNG capacity would have outsized impact in terms of jobs, GDP and labor income. In addition to domestic economic benefits, being the world's leading LNG supplier adds a new dimension to U.S. influence abroad. It was U.S. LNG that replaced nearly half of Russia gas supply to Europe after the outbreak of war in Ukraine ." The study, Major New U.S. Industry at a Crossroads: A U.S. LNG Impact Study leverages the combined expertise of the S&P Global Commodity Insights and S&P Global Market Intelligence divisions to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking assessment of the projected impacts of LNG exports on the U.S. economy. It compares Base Case findings—utilizing S&P Global's proprietary "Inflections" scenario—to those under an Extended Halt Scenario where no new or currently paused U.S. LNG capacity comes online. The study is the first in a two-part series. A future companion study will conduct a global greenhouse gas emissions impact analysis (including methane) to quantify expected emissions under the two study scenarios and will expand the economic analysis to include regional and supply chain impacts. LNG has emerged as a major U.S. industry in less than a decade and made the United States the world's leading supplier. Exports of LNG already support more than 270,000 U.S. jobs annually and have generated more than $400 Billion in GDP and more than $800 billion in total revenues for domestic businesses since exports began in 2016. Export revenues from U.S. LNG already exceed those of U.S. soybeans, are twice that of the nation's movie and television exports and half those of U.S semiconductors. At the same time, most of the U.S. gas supply—nearly 90%—remains available for domestic consumption and natural gas prices for U.S. households continue to be among the lowest in the world. "U.S. gas production has more than tripled compared to the amount of LNG that the country exports," said Eric Eyberg , Vice President, Gas and Power Consulting, S&P Global Commodity Insights. "That abundant supply has allowed LNG exports to support more than 270,000 jobs annually and contribute more than $400 Billion to GDP to date with no major impact to domestic prices." However, if new or currently halted LNG capacity does not come online, the repercussions would be substantial, the study finds. Under the study's Extended Halt Scenario: An annual average of 100,000+ jobs would be at risk $250+ billion contributions to GDP would go unrealized $491 billion in lost revenues for U.S. businesses $110 billion in lost labor income $34 billion forgone federal and state tax revenues Restricting future LNG capacity would have little to no benefit in terms of U.S. natural gas prices either, the study finds. The difference between the two study scenarios in terms of average annual gas costs for U.S. households (2025-2040) would be less than 1%. If future U.S. capacity were not to materialize, other countries would seek to fill the gap, the study says. Qatar , Canada and Mozambique would be expected to accelerate their own projects to claim market share. Other countries, including Russia , would likely add capacity as well. In total, the study estimates that 85% of the supply deficit under the Extended Halt Scenario would be made up by fossil fuels from non-U.S. sources. "The economic consequences to ceding the U.S. position in LNG would be stark, but it goes far beyond that," said Carlos Pascual , Senior Vice President for Global Energy and International Affairs, S&P Global Commodity Insights. "Such a move would diminish U.S. geopolitical influence as a reliable and affordable energy supplier to allies and trading partners, as a key source for expanding energy access in developing countries and—by providing a replacement for coal in baseload power generation—an important catalyst to global decarbonization efforts." About the Study: Major New U.S. Industry at a Crossroads: A U.S. LNG Impact Study is available at: https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/special-reports/major-new-us-industry-at-a-crossroads-us-lng-impact-study-phase-1 This study offers an independent and objective assessment of the economic, market and global impact of the U.S. LNG Industry built from a detailed bottom-up approach, at the asset and market level, technology by technology. It represents the collaboration of S&P Global Commodity Insights and the Global Intelligence and Analytics unit within S&P Global Market Intelligence supported by the world's largest expert team of more than 1,400 energy research analysts and consultants continuously monitoring, modelling and evaluating markets and assets. The analysis and metrics developed during the course of this research represent the independent analysis and views of S&P Global. The study makes no policy recommendations. This research was supported by the US Chamber of Commerce. S&P Global is exclusively responsible for all of the analysis, content and conclusions of the study. Media Contacts: Jeff Marn +1-202-463-8213, Jeff.marn@spglobal.com About S&P Global S&P Global SPGI provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/expected-growth-of-us-lng-exports-to-support-nearly-500-000-jobs-annually-and-add-1-3-trillion-to-united-states-gross-domestic-product-through-2040--new-sp-global-study-finds-302334107.html SOURCE S&P Global © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. March “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. April Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. May It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” August This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. October “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... December “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go.Members of the House Intelligence Committee left a classified briefing on Tuesday largely satisfied that there was nothing nefarious behind the recent uptick in alleged drone sightings over New Jersey that have sparked concerns and speculation from the press, social media users, Congress and the president-elect in recent weeks. Committee ranking member Jim Himes, D-Conn., told reporters following the briefing that there was zero evidence of any laws being broken by the alleged drones, and that government officials assured lawmakers there were no federal operations taking place over the New Jersey area. “There are 800,000 registered drones in this country, and then millions and millions of unregistered drones. And so some combination of those things, and stars and Starlink satellites probably account for the vast majority of what people are seeing,” Himes said. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said the briefing gave members a full sense that there was no threat to public safety. The three-hour briefing, led by 28 officials who represented the departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security, the FBI and the intelligence community, was the latest in a monthlong saga that has stumped local law enforcement and prompted lawmakers to call for more transparency and to introduce legislation. On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump hinted that the government may know more about the station than officials were letting on. “The government knows what is happening,” Trump said during a news conference. “For some reason, they don’t want to comment. And I think they’d be better off saying what it is our military knows and our president knows.” White House officials have maintained there is no national security threat stemming from the alleged drones, and that most of the sightings can be explained by manned aircraft, hobbyist drones, satellites and stars, among other common phenomena. Emerging from the briefing, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., who is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, panned some of her fellow lawmakers and the media for “scaring the public” by furthering the drone story, but also said that the incident was an opportunity for Congress to renew legislation that would help address such situations in the future. “We have some work to be done to make sure that people have the authorities and the technologies to be able to respond to this. There’s only going to be more drones in our airspace this Christmas. There will be more drones under people’s trees — but once we have the permissions that different organizations need, hopefully we’ll be able to have less of a worry concerning this,” Houlahan said. On Monday, Houlahan and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., pressing for the inclusion of bicameral counter-drone legislation in the continuing resolution. The language would reauthorize existing DOJ and DHS permissions to detect and mitigate drone threats — including threats to so-called critical infrastructure like airports and stadiums. It would also allow a select number of state and local law enforcement to mitigate drone threats.

B.C. Premier David Eby said B.C. will slay its record-setting deficit of $9 billion through growth and sound fiscal planning, not "harsh austerity cuts" or "under-funding services" as he reached out to business leaders to make a case for investment in physical and social infrastructure. Eby made these comments while speaking in Vancouver Tuesday, (Dec. 10), at an event hosted by the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, which has previously raised concerns about B.C.'s fiscal direction. That tension surfaced during the opening of the informal question-and-answer session between Eby and Fiona Famulak, chamber president and chief executive officer. "We don't always agree, but we can always have — and we always do have — candid and frank conversations, and I know you are always up for tough questions, because you always answer them," Famulak said. "What you have just said minutes ago, a lot of good things have been said." Eby acknowledged relations could be better. "So my commitment is that you will find a government that is hoping, with your support, to hit reset on this relationship, to move forward with the tariff threat that we are facing in a unified way, with the massive opportunity in this province to deliver it for British Columbians and that four years from now...we can look back and go, 'man, we did a lot of good work together.'" Eby's prepared remarks touched on a range of subjects, including tomorrow's meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as provincial and territorial leaders to discuss threatened tariffs of 25 per cent on all Canadian goods by incoming-president U.S. Donald Trump. But if a singular theme ran through Eby's speech, it was his promise to reform permitting for natural resource projects. He pointed to yesterday's announcement that his government would free nine new wind energy projects from the required environmental assessments. He then added that those projects would go through a singular rather multiple permitting windows. Eby said these changes will help get these projects off the ground three to five years faster than otherwise in framing them as the first of many changes to speed up permitting in various areas. One of the central sectors concerned about permitting is the mining sector. More to come...NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HEALWELL AI Inc. (“ HEALWELL ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX: AIDX) (OTCQX:HWAIF), a data science and AI company focused on preventative care, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an amended agreement pursuant to which Eight Capital and Scotiabank, as lead underwriters and joint bookrunners, together with a syndicate of underwriters (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), will purchase, by way of a private placement on a “bought deal” basis (i) 12,500,000 subscription receipts of the Company (the “ Subscription Receipts ”),at a price of $2.00 per Subscription Receipt (the “ Subscription Receipt Issue Price ”); and (ii) 31,250 convertible debentures of the Company (the “ Convertible Debentures ”) at a price per Convertible Debenture of $960, for aggregate gross proceeds of $55,000,000. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions (as defined below), for no additional consideration, one unit of the Company consisting of one Class A Subordinate Voting Share (each, a “ Share ”) and one-half of one Share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable at a price of $2.50 for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering. The gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt portion of the Offering, less 50% of the Underwriters’ cash commission and certain expenses of the Underwriters, will be deposited in escrow on closing of the Offering until the satisfaction of certain release conditions, including that all conditions precedent to the Transaction (as defined below) have been met (the “ Release Conditions ”). In the event that the Release Conditions have not been satisfied prior to 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver Time) on June 30, 2025, or the Company advises the Underwriters or announces to the public that it does not intend to satisfy the Release Conditions or that the Transaction has been terminated, the aggregate issue price of the Subscription Receipts (plus any interest earned thereon) shall be returned to the applicable holders of the Subscription Receipts, and such Subscription Receipts shall be automatically cancelled and be of no further force and effect. The Convertible Debentures will be issued with a 4% original issue discount and will be convertible into Shares at a price of $2.40 per Share. The Company may force the conversion of all of the principal amount of the then outstanding Convertible Debentures at a price of $2.40 per Share on not less than 30 days’ notice should, at any time following the date that is 4 months and 1 day following the issue date, the daily volume weighted average trading price of the Shares be greater than $3.85 for any 10 consecutive trading days. The Convertible Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 30 and December 31 of each year, beginning on June 30, 2025. The Convertible Debentures will mature on December 31, 2029, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed, or converted in accordance with their terms. The Convertible Debentures will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to December 31, 2027. On or after January 1, 2028, the Convertible Debentures will be redeemable at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 110% of the principal amount of the Convertible Debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Company has granted the Underwriters an option to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Subscription Receipts, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of up to 48 hours prior to the closing date. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to partially fund the cash portion of the purchase price for the Company’s acquisition of Orion Health Holdings Limited (the “ Transaction ”), as described in greater detail in the Company’s press release dated December 16, 2024. Completion of the Offering will be subject to various conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. As the number of Shares to be issued in the Transaction and the Offering will exceed 25% of the number of HEALWELL’s current issued and outstanding Shares, HEALWELL is required to obtain shareholder approval from shareholders holding at least a majority of the voting power of the Company. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about January 7, 2025. Dr. Alexander Dobranowski Chief Executive Officer HEALWELL AI Inc. About HEALWELL HEALWELL is a healthcare artificial intelligence company focused preventative care. Its mission is to improve healthcare and save lives through early identification and detection of disease. Using its own proprietary technology, the Company is developing and commercializing advanced clinical decision support systems that can help healthcare providers detect rare and chronic diseases, improve efficiency of their practice and ultimately help improve patient health outcomes. HEALWELL is executing a strategy centered around developing and acquiring technology and clinical sciences capabilities that complement the Company’s road map. HEALWELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “AIDX” and on the OTC Exchange under the symbol “HWAIF”. To learn more about HEALWELL, please visit https://healwell.ai/ . About ORION HEALTH Orion Health is a global healthcare technology company focused on reimagining healthcare for all. Orion Health is leading the change in digital health with health and care organizations to improve the wellbeing of every individual with our world leading Unified Healthcare Platform. Made up of a Virtuoso digital front door, Amadeus digital care record, and Orchestral health intelligence platform - each underpinned by extensive health and social data sets, machine learning, and 30 years of innovation focused purely on improving global well-being. www.orionhealth.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward looking statements" (collectively, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and are based on assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements with respect to, among other things, the closing of the Transaction and the Offering and the terms on which each of them are expected to be completed. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as “in the event”, “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "can" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon management’s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by HEALWELL as of the date of such statements, are outside of HEALWELL's control and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in the forward-looking statements ultimately being entirely or partially incorrect or untrue. Forward looking statements contained in this press release are based on various assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following: the parties’ ability to satisfy any conditions precedent to completion of the Transaction and the Offering, including receipt of all shareholder, regulatory and TSX approvals; HEALWELL’s ability to complete the Transaction and the Offering or to complete them on the terms described above; HEALWELL’s ability to access sources of debt and equity financing to complete the acquisition and the terms on which such financing may be provided; the stability of general economic and market conditions; HEALWELL's ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; HEALWELL's continued compliance with third party intellectual property rights; and that the risk factors noted below, collectively, do not have a material impact on HEALWELL's business, operations, revenues and/or results. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. Known and unknown risk factors, many of which are beyond the control of HEALWELL, could cause the actual results of HEALWELL to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements, or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include but are not limited to those factors which are discussed under the section entitled "Risk Factors" in HEALWELL's most recent annual information form dated April 1, 2024, which is available under HEALWELL's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. The risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect HEALWELL and the reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management’s expectations and plans relating to the future. HEALWELL disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. All of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. For more information: Pardeep S. Sangha Investor Relations, HEALWELL AI Inc. Phone: 604-572-6392 ir@healwell.ai

Gov. Tim Walz called Thursday for Minnesota to increase criminal penalties for Medicaid fraud in response to the FBI’s investigation into autism service providers. The FBI searched at least two Minnesota autism centers Thursday as it investigated “substantial evidence” of fraudulent Medicaid claims made by many companies participating in the state program. The state-funded Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which serves people under 21 with autism spectrum disorder, has experienced exponential growth in Medicaid billing. Reimbursement claims soared from $1.7 million in 2017, the first year of the program, to nearly $400 million last year and again this year. Federal law enforcement suspects many autism centers are billing for services not actually provided. “This pisses me off unlike anything else,” Walz told the Star Tribune in an interview Thursday afternoon. “They’re stealing from us ... You’ve got to increase the penalty on these crimes. These are crimes against children, in my opinion.” “We’re catching these people; they’re going to prison,” Walz said. “I don’t think they’re going long enough.” The DFL governor said he’s fed up with fraudsters who are bilking programs meant to serve children in need. In another major Minnesota fraud case, Feeding Our Future and other organizations stole $250 million during the pandemic from a federal program to provide meals to low-income children after school and during the summer. Some people involved in the Feeding Our Future scheme owned or were associated with autism centers , according to the federal officials. Minnesota House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth issued a statement Thursday calling on Walz to “order state agencies to immediately pause payments to anyone or any entity that is suspected or convicted of fraud in other state programs.” “State agencies must do more to stop criminal activity before even more taxpayer dollars are lost to bad actors,” Demuth said. Walz said it’s not always possible to pause payments. Even if agencies suspect possible fraudulent activity, he said the law doesn’t always allow them to immediately act. “When we’re pretty certain someone’s involved in this, sometimes we don’t have the legal authority to cut them off until the conviction goes through,” Walz said. “That’s one of the problems.” Walz said he’d like to see the state use predictive artificial intelligence to flag possible fraudsters more quickly. He said he plans to propose a “pretty significant package” of fraud prevention measures ahead of next year’s legislative session, which starts Jan. 14. Republicans in the state House and Senate have called for more action to reduce government fraud and waste. Walz said he welcomes their suggestions. “If they have good ideas, we’re going to work with them,” he said.Ann Arbor, MI, Dec. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has released a white paper on NCMS initiatives that successfully utilize AI to improve supply chain resilience. Presenting two case studies of straightforward, inexpensive, high-value solutions that can be adapted by small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs), the white paper aims to assist SMMs in harnessing the power of AI to improve their operations by preventing supply chain disruptions. “Resilient supply chains are necessary for a strong American manufacturing sector and many other sectors that are essential to our prosperity and national security,” said NCMS President and CEO Lisa Strama. “NCMS is strongly committed to advancing AI in manufacturing.” Featuring the most up-to-date research on the secure and effective implementation of AI throughout the manufacturing sector, the white paper focuses on recent federal AI initiatives, including advancements in the Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center, as well as AI standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Specifically, the white paper details how two NCMS initiatives have contributed to solutions for three issues impeding more widespread adoption of AI in the manufacturing sector: (1) preserving data privacy, (2) creating a standard and secure way to selectively share data in useful forms to different organizations, and (3) helping SMMs see the benefits of using their manufacturing operational and product data to fuel AI models, and sharing this data with public-private partnerships that can contribute demonstrations of scalable AI solutions for a wide range of manufacturing problems. “Currently, multiple federal organizations are emphasizing the need to expand public-private partnerships to accelerate AI for supply chain resilience,” said Strama. “NCMS strongly supports public-private partnerships that promote the secure use of AI across the manufacturing sector.” To read and download the white paper, visit: https://ncms.org/news/ai-white-paper . About NCMS NCMS is a cross-industry technology development consortium dedicated to improving the competitiveness and strength of the US industrial base. NCMS leverages a network of industry, government, and university partners to develop, demonstrate, and transition innovative technologies efficiently, with less risk and lower cost. NCMS enables world-class companies to work effectively with other members on new opportunities—matching highly capable companies with the providers and end users who need their innovations and technology solutions. The NCMS network benefits from an accelerated progression of idea creation through execution. Learn more at www.ncms.org , at NCMS's LinkedIn , and at @ ncmsmfg . Attachment Latest White Paper from NCMS

2024 Was the Year We Learned to Fear Nuclear Weapons AgainThe Freedom Fighter. Meet Harriet Tubman and learn about this leader's attributes in this Civilization 7 trailer for the upcoming turn-based strategy game. Sid Meier's Civilization 7 will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam (which also supports Mac and Linux) and the Epic Games Store on February 11, 2025. Cross-play multiplayer is fully supported. In Civilization 7, your strategic decisions shape the unique cultural lineage of your evolving empire. Rule as one of many legendary leaders from throughout history and steer the course of your story by choosing a new civilization to represent your empire in each Age of human advancement. Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world. Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.Researchers, advocacy group team up to map Surrey's toxic drug crisis

I've been building technology companies for over two decades. But my journey begins far from the glitzy headquarters and investment offices of Silicon Valley, in the fields of rural China. My early life gave few indications of the journey of discovery that lay ahead. It was simple, fraught with challenges—and perhaps counterintuitively, it planted the seeds of curiosity and boundary-pushing that have driven me right down to the present day. My family and I scratched out a living by farming rice, corn, wheat and vegetables; meat was rationed by the government. Life in the village was straightforward but challenging, and opportunities were limited. For children, there were two possible paths. Do well academically and you might leave for the university; otherwise, you would lead the same rural life as so many generations had before. The starkness of the choice sharpened my focus, and I developed an unshakable work ethic and a hunger for exploration that has fueled my journey ever since. Education became my way out. I endured the monotony of endless exams and rote lessons, ultimately earning a spot at Sichuan University to study electrical engineering. Later on, I was accepted to the graduate school at Tsinghua University, often dubbed the "MIT of China." The experience was intense but gratifying—a world where talent and hard work converged. College was my first glimpse of freedom, the first time I experienced the joy of camaraderie and exploration. It was there that I began to understand the transformative power of technology and to see learning not just as a means to escape my own poverty but as a world of possibilities in its own right. Taking the Leap And as it turned out, everything up to that point was prologue. That's because after graduation I took the great leap across the ocean to the United States. At the University of Florida, I completed my Ph.D. in computer engineering—just as the dot-com bubble was bursting. Graduating into a challenging job market, I moved to Texas to work at Verizon while pursuing an MBA at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. This period fundamentally reshaped how I viewed leadership. I had always approached team building with a technical mindset. I thought of people as fungible components of a system, resources to be optimized. The MBA experience opened my eyes to the importance of understanding people as individuals with unique motivations and potential to unlock. That paradigm shift became a cornerstone of my leadership style, influencing how I work to empower teams to achieve their best work. From Texas, I moved to Minnesota. Its people are famously friendly, but the local culture is full of nuances that can be challenging for an immigrant like me to grasp. Meetings could be minefields of cultural references I didn't understand. This experience deepened my empathy and gave me new insight I still use in motivating teams today, striving to ensure that everyone feels seen and heard. In 2008, I moved to California and joined Google . For the first time since arriving in the U.S., I felt a deep sense of belonging. Silicon Valley's culture of inclusivity and openness allowed me to thrive as a unique individual; my peers encouraged me to think big and tackle challenges others thought impossible. One of my proudest achievements was leading the engineering of Google Fi, a virtual mobile service provider that redefined the telecom industry. We dreamed of switching between networks seamlessly, auto-connecting to open WiFi with VPN enabled, and eliminating the complexities of international roaming for users altogether. Experts said our vision was impossible, both technically and commercially. But with relentless focus, we succeeded. To this day, I'm still a proud Google Fi user, and meeting others who use the service gives me a unique sense of joy and accomplishment. Not every project succeeded, though, and one of the most valuable lessons came from failure. With Google Offers, we scaled too quickly, building a large team before we had achieved product-market fit. Our core experience relied on mobile location accuracy, which wasn't reliable enough on Android or iOS in 2013. It was a costly mistake, but it taught me the importance of timing and focus. My time at Google was transformative. It wasn't just a place where I built innovative projects—it was where I built the confidence to lead, to learn from failure and to share my vision with others. Becoming a Founder I ultimately left to co-found Leap.ai, a company focused on using machine learning to match people with jobs, which was acquired by Facebook . Co-founding a successful startup gave me confidence in my leadership abilities and skills as an entrepreneur, as well as a hunger to do more. After Facebook, I joined a fintech company, Earnin, as chief technology officer. Millions of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and Earnin allowed users to access their wages before payday without predatory fees. The company's innovative model, which relied on voluntary tips, resonated deeply with me. At Earnin, I also saw the limitations of traditional finance. Despite the company's success, it struggled to access debt facilities required to scale its operations from traditional banks. This challenge planted a seed in my mind. I decided to work to transform payment financing using blockchain technologies. This vision is grounded in fairness and efficiency, inspired by both my personal journey and my professional growth. Looking Back, Pushing Ahead Blockchain represents more than just a technological breakthrough—it's a rethinking of value and ownership that in many ways ties together the different threads of my journey. In traditional tech, early users help refine algorithms and shape platforms but rarely share in the wealth they create. Web3 changes that, enabling communities to co-create and co-own the value they generate. It's not just a technological shift; it's an opportunity to build fairer systems. I knew my next step was to help develop these powerful innovations. Today, at the latest stage of my journey, I'm committed to building technology that empowers individuals and redistributes opportunity in a way that genuinely reflects the value of the contributions of the community. My journey from farm boy to founder has instilled a belief that technology is our best hope for a better future. I'm working hard to deliver that future—for everyone. Richard Liu is co-founder and co-CEO of Huma Finance, the first PayFi network, which powers financing of global payments with instant access to liquidity anywhere, anytime.NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

In his home studio in Alameda, composer Brian Baumbusch creates and records music that a friend says is like a diamond because each composition’s structure is so strong it can’t crumble, even when listened to 10 times or more. Related Articles “I write music that’s not difficult on the ear, music that’s pleasing on the surface and internally, inconspicuously complex,” Baumbusch says of his recent album, “Polytempo Music” ( ). “The average person can listen to the music, and it’s stimulating and beautiful. You don’t have to understand it’s harmonic lineage to want to hear it again and again.” Baumbusch, like his music, has a complex, poly-influenced lineage ( ). He grew up in a Washington, D.C., suburb in a family whose members include an architect, tax lawyer, fine art painter, polymaths and musicians. His parents were supportive of science, technology and the arts and took their three sons to operas and symphonies but also emphasized academics. Baumbusch says that, playing in the family’s Presbyterian church bell choir, he discovered at a young age that music came easily to him. “I always had music running in my mind — any ear worm on the radio,” he says. “I took piano, then merged to a drum set, then trumpet, violin, viola, clarinet and finally landed on guitar when I was 12. I was also into sports, was captain of the basketball team and played football. After I injured my shoulder my freshman year, I shifted my attention to music.” Baumbusch attended and finished high school at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Interlochen, Michigan, earned an undergraduate degree in music composition from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, completed his master’s degree at Oakland’s Mills College and received a doctorate in musical arts from UC Santa Cruz. His eclectic interests have drawn him in multiple directions: from the extended tracks of REM, Pearl Jam, Sublime and the Grateful Dead to Claude Debussy’s piano music, minimalist and electronic music, Balinese gamelan and other non-Western music. Asymmetrical rhythms, poly-tempos, time-expanded harmonic phases, variable tunings and other features in his work mingle to leave an impression of listening to multiple sound worlds simultaneously. “When I was 15, I heard the album ‘Buena Vista Social Club.’ That broke open the musical world for me. There’s rhythmic complexity, different structure than Western-based music. It was rebellion in me that made me realize what I’d been taught left out microtonality, alternative tuning theory, anti-academic music from around the world.” He says a particular interest in the perception of time that began when he was a kid also captivates him and that he could sense exactly when pasta cooking on the stovetop was about to boil over or how long he had been outdoors without timers or clocks. “I found there is catharsis in music when I tapped into bending time. I make music that shapes time. It’s music you can extend, hear over and over and never exhaust the interest and complexity.” Another avenue of thought, audience experience and interaction with music, led Baumbusch to consider the visual element of listening. He taught himself software coding, put on a virtual reality headset, linked into the open-source game development program Unity and explored the ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot, pairing different instrumental lines with individual colors and movements. Baumbusch says the screen-based software he developed lets a “player” wearing a headset move within his new album and customize the listening experience. “If you look at a cellist in an orchestra, it aids your ear in hearing that line within a dense texture. Bringing complex music’s visual side into the recorded sphere, I’m helping (listeners) discern all the threads in a way they might not without the visual.” The interactive spatial opportunity invites the endless revisiting Baumbusch desires for his music. Instead of a fixed situation, a musical work can sonically change as people decide proximity to certain instruments, which instruments are played and other elements. The 12 instruments on “Polytempo Music,” each with their line swirling and morphing in individual colors, can be isolated or recombined. The tracks were recorded separately by members of the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and later synchronized by Baumbusch. “You can’t change the timeline or notes, but you can listen to just the oboe the whole time if you want,” he says. “I’d say you’re the orchestrator. You have creative license for what to emphasize.” He likes the term “liquid architecture” that’s associated with American animator and inventor John Whitney, referring to music as a malleable shape that moves through time. “We want to visualize music through dance, graphic scores and other means. Finding this medium where I could move sound around in space — it connected for me.” For audiences he says the interactive technology demonstrates the full power of music. “We can revisit a piece of music that connected to emotional peaks and troughs,” he says. “It allows you to take ownership of that and how you want to shape your experience in the future. “Music that’s fixed to a time period is more limited, like if there’s a singer in the foreground and lyrics that are specific. With other music, there are a lot of types that can not only be a single message but become an experience that can go with you and resonate throughout your life.” Baumbusch says he has launched a new label, Holography Records, that offers other artists a chance to learn and record their music using the audiovisual technology. Asked if there are musical genres that might be difficult or even impossible to use effectively with the technology, Baumbusch says he is still experimenting. He mentions a recent demo he made with traditional Iranian music that does have a singer and a band but notes that the compositional architecture is complex and every musical element has unique features that can be manipulated to endlessly create new sound worlds. “I’m working to figure out what music works because this is becoming my business model — making music you can interact with and move around. Music like Taylor Swift’s, with a lead singer and other things that subjugate around that voice: Would it benefit? I’m not sure, but that’s the learning part of this new record label, so who knows?” For more information, visit online.ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia scored a major win in its campaign to attract major sports events to the kingdom when it was formally appointed as the 2034 World Cup host on Wednesday. Still, many questions remain about the tournament as well as the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with three games in South America. Here are some of the key issues that need to be answered over the next decade: Saudi Arabia proposes 15 stadiums — eight still on paper — in five cities: Eight in the capital Riyadh, four in the Red Sea port city Jeddah, and one each in Abha, Al Khobar and Neom, the planned futuristic mega-project. Each would have at least 40,000 seats for World Cup games. The opening game and final are set for a 92,000-seat venue planned in Riyadh. Some designs are vivid . In Neom, the stadium is planned 350 meters (yards) above street level and one near Riyadh is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff with a retractable wall of LED screens. Saudi Arabia aims to host all 104 games, though there has been speculation that some games could be played in neighboring or nearby countries. Surely not in the traditional World Cup period of June-July, when temperatures in Saudi Arabia routinely exceed 40 Celsius (104 degrees). FIFA moved the Qatar-hosted World Cup to November-December 2022, though those dates were not loved by most European clubs and leagues whose seasons were interrupted. Also, that slot is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. January 2034 could be a possibility even though that would be just before the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The International Olympic Committee has signaled it won’t be opposed to back-to-back major events. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Saudi World Cup bid official Hammad Albalawi said the precise dates of the tournament are up the world soccer body. “That’s a decision by FIFA. We stand ready to be part of this conversation. But ultimately it’s a FIFA decision together with the confederations,” Albalawi said. Giving more rights and freedoms to women in a traditionally conservative society is fundamental to Saudi messaging around the modernization program known as Vision 2030. The kingdom decided in 2017 to let women attend sports events, initially in major cities and in family zones separate from men-only sections. By 2034, at the promised pace of social reforms, female fans should not be restricted. Saudi Arabia launched a women’s professional soccer league in 2022 with players joining from clubs in Europe. They face no restrictions playing in shorts and with hair uncovered. The Saudi prohibition of alcohol is clear and understood before FIFA signs any sponsor deals for 2034. But will there be any exceptions? The alcohol issue was problematic for the World Cup in Qatar because the expectation was created that beer sales would be allowed at stadiums even before Qatar won its bid in 2010. One year later, FIFA extended a long-time deal to have Budweiser as the official World Cup beer through 2022. Qatar then backtracked on that promise three days before the first game, causing confusion and the sense of a promise broken. In Qatar, alcohol was served only at luxury suites at the stadiums. Visitors could also have a drink in some hotel bars. But Saudi Arabia has even stricter rules on alcohol — and there is no indication that will change. Albalawi noted that Saudi Arabia has successfully hosted dozens of sports events where alcohol wasn't served. “We’re creating a safe and secure family environment for fans to bring their families into our stadiums,” he said. Saudi promises to reform and enforce labor laws, and fully respect migrant workers, have been accepted by FIFA but face broad skepticism from rights groups and trade unions. A formal complaint is being investigated by the U.N.-backed International Labor Organization. Protecting the migrant workers needed to build stadiums and other tournament projects — a decade after it was a defining issue for Qatar — looms as a signature challenge for Saudi Arabia. Saudi-Israeli relations had been improving when FIFA all but gave the 2034 World Cup to the kingdom on Oct. 4 last year. Three days later Hamas attacked Israel and diplomacy got more complicated. Any soccer federation bidding to host a FIFA tournament accepts a basic principle that whichever team qualifies is welcome. That did not stop Indonesia putting up barriers last year to Israel coming for the men’s Under-20 World Cup. Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel which had qualified through a European tournament nine months before the issue flared. FIFA moved the entire tournament to Argentina and the Israeli team reached the semifinals. Israel played at the 1970 World Cup but has never advanced through qualifying in Europe, where it has been a member of UEFA for 30 years. Europe should have 16 places in the 48-team World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Most of the attention at the FIFA Congress on Wednesday was on the Saudi decision, but the soccer body and its members also formally approved the hosts of the 2030 World Cup — the most spread out and longest ever. One game each in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the original host in 1930, will be played from June 8-9. The tournament resumes four days later for the other 101 games shared between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Six countries, three continents, multiple languages and currencies. Fans traveling on planes, trains, automobiles and boats across about 14 kilometers (10 miles) of water between Spain and Morocco. The final is due on July 21, 2030 and a decision on where it will be played could cause some tension between the host countries. Morocco wants it in the world’s biggest soccer venue — the planned 115,000-seat King Hassan II Stadium in Casablanca. Spain, meanwhile, has proposed to host the final in either of the remodeled home stadiums of club giants Real Madrid or Barcelona. Associated Press writer Baraa Anwer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report.

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Kroger Reiterates Its Commitment to Lower Prices and Initiates New $7.5B Share Buyback ProgramWith technical prowess and considerable style, Marta danced around two sliding defenders, outwitted a goalkeeper and calmly scored as another player rushed forward in desperation to stop her. It was more Marta Magic. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get any of our free email newsletters — news headlines, obituaries, sports, and more.

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