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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's Republican-controlled Legislature approved a constitutional amendment on Friday that would allow them to expand the number of crimes in which juveniles between 14 and 16 years old could be tried as adults. The state's constitution currently outlines 15 violent juvenile offenses, such as rape, murder and armed robbery, which prosecutors can handle in adult courts. Any changes to that list of crimes must be approved by voters. But the constitutional amendment sponsored by Republican Sen. Heather Cloud — which require voter approval in March 29 elections to take effect — would allow legislators the power by a two-thirds vote to decide what juvenile crimes can be transferred to adult courts. It's part of a wider push in Louisiana, which already has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country behind Mississippi, to implement tough-on-crime policies under Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Since taking office in January, Landry has passed laws to treat 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, largely eliminate parole and allow surgical castration as punishment for certain sex crimes against children. Supporters of the measure to make it easier to expand prosecution of juveniles as adults — backed only by Republican legislators — say it will grant lawmakers more flexibility to give prosecutors the tools they need to increase public safety. Vesting authority in the constitution "has hamstringed Louisiana from being able to address changes in an ever-changing juvenile crime landscape,” Cloud said on the Senate floor on Nov. 14. Opponents, including Democrats, social workers and criminal justice reform advocates, said specific offenses routing juveniles to adult courts should remain part of the constitution to keep this power in the hands of voters. “We’re taking the people’s voice away over how children should be treated in this state,” Democratic Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews said. Critics also argue the changes fail to confront the root causes of juvenile crime, namely poverty and underinvestment in education. Transferring juveniles into adult court would also prevent them from accessing age-appropriate rehabilitative services, criminal justice reform advocates and social workers testified during the legislative session. “I can view this in no other way than just giving up on children,” Democratic Sen. Royce Duplessis said on the Senate floor. “We’re going to say we’re just going to treat them all as adults, and we’re not going to do our part as a society, as policymakers, to address what’s really failing — this is not going to do a single thing to deter crime." Some lawmakers said that juveniles committing violent crimes had been deprived of care from a young age and were past the point of rehabilitation, blaming their families as opposed to societal factors. “Some of these kids are already lost when they’re 2 years old,” said Republican Rep. Tony Bacala in a House committee hearing. Unless they are transferred to an adult court, young people tried in juvenile court can only be imprisoned until age 21 according to state law. The effect of the proposed constitutional change will be to open the door for Republican lawmakers to give prosecutors the power to hand down lengthy prison sentences to 14- to 16-year-olds, including for less severe crimes, said Bruce Reilly, deputy director of the Louisiana-based criminal justice reform advocacy group Voice of the Experienced. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association said they supported the measure. But New Orleans Sheriff Susan Hutson said she was concerned the measure would “almost certainly further strain our already short staff” in the jail system. Federal law still considers 17-year-olds and younger as juveniles and requires them to be kept separate from adult inmates. District Attorney Tony Clayton, who represents West Baton Rouge and two other parishes, said he would not try a juvenile as an adult for having “marijuana in his wallet,” but for violent crimes. Violent crimes are on the decline nationwide according to the latest data from FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. Since mid-2023, most violent crime has also been down in New Orleans, which in 2022 had the highest homicide rate among large cities nationwide. Conservative lawmakers argued this was the result of tough-on-crime penalties passed this year and Republican Gov. Jeff Landry's decision to send state troops to New Orleans. Lawmakers supporting the amendment have focused on high-profile violent crimes by juveniles, such as a deadly New Orleans carjacking case committed by teenagers — who were charged as adults — in which an elderly woman was beaten and dragged to her death. Louisiana is one of five states that classifies 17-year-olds as adults in the criminal justice system, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLNEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”YourUpdateTV Speaks with Mia Syn, MS, Registered Dietician Nutritionist, about the Many Ways to Give the Gifts of Winter Wellness, Health & Entertaining This Holiday Season

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The entrance to the Ministry of Education is pictured in an undated photograph.Photo: Yang Mien-chieh, Taipei Times FALLING ENROLLMENT RATES:The Year of the Dragon did not bring a baby boom as in previous years, and population count has dropped for the ninth month in a row / Staff writer, with CNA 請繼續往下閱讀... A drop in school enrollment caused by low birthrates led to the closure of 14 educational institutions in Taiwan this year, statistics released by the Ministry of Education showed. The ministry said that the closed down institutions consisted of nine elementary schools, a junior-high school and four higher-learning schools. Of the elementary schools, four were in Taoyuan, one in Kaohsiung, one in Nantou County and three in Pingtung County. The ministry also cited the building of the Taoyuan Aerotropolis as another reason the four elementary schools in the city closed. The only junior-high school to close its doors this year was a school in Penghu County. Meanwhile, the four institutions of higher learning that shut down were Kaohsiung’s Tung Fang Design University, Changhua County’s MingDao University, Chiayi City’s Tatung Institute of Commerce and Technology, and Yunlin County’s TransWorld University. The four schools ceased taking in new admissions last year, in accordance with the Act Governing the Closure of Private Educational Institutions at Senior Secondary or Higher Level (私立高級中等以上學校退場條例), the ministry said. At the time of the schools’ enrollment suspension, the universities together employed 428 faculty and staff to service 673 students, it added. Aside from I-Kuan Tao College in Kaohsiung, no higher-education school is at risk of closure from next year to 2026, the ministry said, adding that the college had applied to close by next year, but the request would still need to be deliberated before it is approved. Eight high schools stopped accepting admissions this year, so they are likely to close in the a few years, the ministry said. Data from the Ministry of the Interior in October showed that the nation’s population was 23,404,138 as of September, down 2,470 from August, the ninth consecutive month this year that the nation has reported a drop. There were 11,792 births in September, or 3.7 births per day, up 149 from August, it said, adding that the monthly birthrate was 6.15 per 1,000 people. The jurisdictions with the highest birthrates were Yunlin County at 14.62 per 1,000 people, Penghu County at 8.61 per 1,000 and Taoyuan at 7.74 per 1,000, the interior ministry said. The jurisdictions with the lowest birthrates were Keelung at 3.17 per 1,000, New Taipei City at 3.95 per 1,000 and Chiayi City at 4.13 per 1,000, it added. There were 97,733 births from January to last month, down from 99,652 in the same period last year, showing that the Year of the Dragon this year has not sparked a baby boom as it has previously, the ministry said. There were 15,563 deaths in September, or a mortality rate of 8.11 per 1,000 people, it added. 新聞來源: TAIPEI TIMES 不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法Hugh Jackman may spend some of the Christmas holidays either without his two children or his rumored new girlfriend, Sutton Foster, because his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness isn’t ready to created a “blended,” “modern-family” dynamic with all of them celebrating together. The 56-year-old Jackman reportedly wanted to introduce Foster, 49, to his adult children, Oscar, 24, and Ava,19, but Furness is not “keen” on the idea, Woman’s Day reported. “It’s going to take more time for loved ones to adjust to the new normal and so that means Hugh and Sutton are bracing themselves for way less time together than they’d like during the holidays,” an insider told Woman’s Day. Even without saying anything publicly, Furness, 68, has reportedly made it clear that she’s not happy with how her marriage ended. A report last month said she appeared to confirm a social media post that said that Jackman’s alleged backstage affair with Foster , his co-star in the hit Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” is the reason behind their divorce after 27 years of marriage. For that reason, Furness feels like Jackman is “moving on quickly” even after she “gave so much of herself to their marriage,” the Woman’s Day source said. She definitely doesn’t want a “blended” Christmas, in which she’d presumably include Foster and even her 7-year-old daughter in their family celebrations. “Hugh and Sutton would love to get together with their kids for the holidays, but it’s still awkward, and Hugh is conscious of respecting Deb’s feelings,” the source said. Tensions are “still simmering,” according to Woman’s Day. “Deb feels like Hugh hasn’t properly acknowledged the hurt he caused by moving on so quickly,” the insider also said. Jackman and Furness shocked fans when they announced their separation in September 2023. One of a few Hollywood couples known for a long and seemingly happy marriage, they issued a statement that sounded polite and amicable, saying that their journey together was “shifting,” and they had “decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” But then came reports in October, saying that Jackman had developed a “close relationship” with Sutton when they starred together in “The Music Man,” which ran from late 2021 to January 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Manhattan. At the time, both were married to other people. The reports about a rumored affair began as soon as the Tony Award-winning Foster filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin after 10 years of marriage. A source close to Foster told Us Weekly: “Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb (separated).” In October, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig also said that Furness was “blindsided” by her husband’s romance with his co-star, even after she had given her “whole life and career to him,” Us Weekly also reported. Lustig said that the Broadway stars were planning to “soft launch” their relationship publicly. But even if Furness was “blindsided” by her husband’s alleged romance, she had concerns about him working with Foster, the Daily Mail reported . A source told the Daily Mail that the relationship was “not a secret to her.” The relationship also was “not a secret” among the New York theater community. It was in fact an “open secret” in Broadway circles, multiple reports said. The romance allegedly developed while Jackman and Foster were working together on the classic musical comedy, which is set in small-town America at the turn of the 20th century. His conman and her librarian fall in love through a series of music and dance numbers. As Jackman and Foster promoted the show, they didn’t hide their regard for each other. During a 2022 interview on “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Foster admitted that she and Jackman developed a very close bond and explained how they started a pre-performance ritual that took place when they were alone in her dressing room. “We call it carpet chat,” Foster revealed in the interview. Woman’s Day reported that Jackman and Furness’s children are handling the upheaval with “remarkable maturity.” The source said, “They just want peace and happiness for their parents. But they’re definitely aware of the tension.” Meanwhile, Jackman and Foster are “shocked by the backlash,” another insider told Woman’s Day. With a blended family Christmas off the table, the new couple are reportedly planning a romantic getaway in the New Year. “They’re determined to make it work, but for now, they’re trying to keep things as low-key as possible out of respect for everyone involved,” the source said.

Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in Miami

Tesla shares rose to a historic high on Wednesday, beating the electric car maker’s previous record from 2021, which was set after the post-election rush and renewed Wall Street enthusiasm for Elon Musk’s electric vehicle empire. This is due to the fact that stock hit a closing price of $424.77 more than doubling its previous peak of $409.97 on November 4, 2021. The electric car company’s 71% gain this year has been propelled more by the optimism generated with Donald Trump’s victory during the elections than its early performance woes. Record-Breaking Stock Surge For Tesla Tesla’s stock price rallied 38% in November, the best monthly performance since January 2023 and its 10th best month on record. The surge in Tesla’s market capitalization was fueled by investor optimism over Trump’s victory early last month, which has dramatically influenced the trajectory of the company’s stock. This increase in share value has surprised investors, especially since Tesla was off to a rocky start for the year. With a 29% loss in the first quarter of 2024, Tesla’s shares have bounced back considerably, recovering from their worst performance in over a year. The rise in Tesla’s shares has been termed as the “Trump bump” by many analysts. As Craig Irwin, an analyst of Roth MKM, had commented on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, that “Musk’s genuine backing for Trump likely doubled the pool of enthusiasts and heightened credibility for an inflection in demand.” Irwin raised his price target of Tesla to $380 versus $85, after winning the election by Trump. Musk’s active involvement in Trump’s campaign and post-election strategies has further solidified the link between the two figures. In the lead-up to the election, Musk reportedly invested $277 million into pro-Trump efforts, focusing on swing-state operations aimed at voter registration. Additionally, Musk’s social media platform, X, became a vehicle for promoting Trump’s candidacy and further galvanizing Tesla’s support base. Musk’s Expanding Influence And Role Of AI Elon Musk ‘s influence does not seem to be dissipating anytime soon, especially after President Trump’s election win and his appointment as an adviser in the new administration. “Department of Government Efficiency,” led by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, will supposedly be headed by Musk himself. This influential position is likely to give Musk leeway to oversee federal agency budgets, staffing, as well as push for the end of regulations that would really hinder Tesla’s growth. Musk’s position may affect Tesla significantly, especially on the technological advancement of its autonomous vehicles. A long-time advocate for autonomous driving, Musk shared in a Tesla earnings call last October his plan to use his political power to “get federal approval process for autonomous vehicles” and bypassing the state-by-state level approval system. Wall Street’s Brighter Future Ahead For Tesla Analysts have been growing more bullish on the prospects of Tesla as it continues its upward trajectory. Goldman Sachs upgraded its price target for Tesla, and the list of financial institutions that have upgraded their outlook on the stock continues to grow. In its report, Goldman analysts cited the market’s forward-looking approach towards Tesla, particularly with regard to its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. Other investment firms such as Morgan Stanley and Bank of America also released positive reports about Tesla, noting the company’s ability to cash in on newer technologies such as AI and autonomous driving. These positive reports have been strengthening investor sentiment, further fueling a price hike of the stock. Despite the dismal first half of 2024, Tesla’s third-quarter earnings report in October reported that revenue was up 8% year-over-year, narrowly missing analysts’ expectations, but the company did blow past profit estimates. Even more encouraging was Musk’s forecast for 2025: a 20% to 30% rate of vehicle growth, underpinned by “lower-cost vehicles” and the start of autonomy. Musk’s forecast was more positive than analysts had expected, which reflects a level of confidence in Tesla’s ability to adapt and thrive in an increasingly competitive market. As Tesla continues its journey in the electric vehicle sector, it will be interesting to see how the company will leverage its recent stock surge and the growing interest in emerging automotive technologies. ALSO READ | Donald Trump Earns Time’s ‘Person Of The Year’ Honor For Second Time: ReportsThe attack on Enugu Rangers in Jos

With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen, who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.”

HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accorded late former Vice President Phekelezela Mphoko national hero status, as he penned a moving eulogy of a politician he once shared the post of Vice President with. Mphoko, Zimbabwe’s co-vice president from 10 June 2014 to November 2017, died aged 84 on Friday after a long illness. Leading the tributes was Mnangagwa who said Mphoko is one of the country’s biggest luminaries of the liberation struggle. In a statement to bestow the former nationalist with the highest honour of the land, Mnangagwa dedicated generous amounts of praise for Mphoko. He concluded in his statement, “In recognition of his meritorious role of service to his country, both before and after Independence, the Zanu PF Politburo has unanimously decided and agreed to celebrate and immortalize his life of sacrifice by according him the Status of National Hero.” READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW: I learnt this afternoon with a deep sense of grief and sadness of the passing on of our former Vice President, Ambassador Report Phelekezela Mphoko, after a long illness. A veteran of our Liberation Struggle, Cde Mphoko’s political and military history coincides with the early days of militant nationalism against white settler colonialism which later morphed into the armed Liberation Struggle of which he was among its early architects, brave fighters and crop of formative and outstanding commanders. With his sad departure, our Nation has lost yet another stalwart of the Liberation Struggle whose contribution to our hard-won Independence can hardly be overstated. Trained in many countries, including in the then Soviet Union, Cde Mphoko specialized in logistics, an onerous and sensitive responsibility which ensured huge consignments of assortments of arms of war were moved to different bases in the rear, and to the war front inside the country, in order to maintain the momentum of the Armed Liberation Struggle and to exert ever mounting pressure on the settler regime until final victory. A versatile cadre, Cde Mphoko would later join ZAPU’s liaison department, a role which took him to Maputo, Mozambique, where the then ZANU was headquartered. We worked very closely with him, in the process laying groundwork and anticipating the eventual convergence of the two liberation movements into the Patriotic Front. It was this early exposure to diplomacy, moulded in the crucible of the Liberation Struggle which prepared him for his long career in the diplomatic service after our Independence. It was an illustrious career which peaked with his appointment as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to various key countries, including the Russian Federation. His appointment as Vice President of our Nation was both deserved and consistent with his sacrifice and long service to his people who today grieve and mourn his untimely departure. After his service in Government, he continued to work with the Party, including lending his unqualified support to our most recent Harmonised, Elections held in 2023. On behalf of the Party ZANU PF, Government, my Family and on my behalf, I wish to express my deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Mphoko Family, especially to Mrs Mphoko and the children, on this their saddest loss. As they go through the motions of grief, may they derive solace from the knowledge that we mourn and stand with them in this darkest hour, always recalling with awe and admiration the huge and selfless contribution which Cde Mphoko made towards Zimbabwe’s Independence and subsequent development after 1980. In recognition of his meritorious role of service to his country, both before and after Independence, the Zanu PF Politburo has unanimously decided and agreed to celebrate and immortalize his life of sacrifice by according him the Status of National Hero. May his dear Soul rest in eternal peace.

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The ongoing Canada Post strike has reached the three-week mark as the two sides continue to trade proposals through a government-appointed mediator. The work stoppage centres around a variety of issues, including disputes over wages and weekend delivery. Here's a snapshot of the issues underpinning the standoff between the Crown corporation and union. Wage increases The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents 55,000 Canada Post workers, said at the start of the strike that wage increases must be kept in line with inflation, with cost-of-living adjustment payments rolled into the basic wage rate. The union initially called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years. CUPW negotiator Jim Gallant said that figure has moved since the start of negotiations, but declined to comment on the union's latest proposal. "We have just lived through the worst cost of living crisis in a generation," the union's national president Jan Simpson said in a post on Tuesday. Canada Post says it has offered what it calls "competitive" wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and more paid leave. It notes labour costs rose by $242 million in 2023, or about 6.5 per cent, compared with 2022. The organization declined to comment on Thursday. Weekend delivery One of the main snags in negotiations has been a push to expand delivery to the weekend, but the two sides are at odds over how to staff the expansion. Canada Post has pitched seven-day-a-week delivery as a way to boost revenue and "secure the future of the company" as it struggles to compete with other delivery companies. The Crown corporation says it would staff weekend delivery shifts with a mix of new permanent part-time positions and some full-time, which would "create flexibility while not adding significant long-term fixed costs." But the union characterizes Canada Post's proposals as "attacks on full-time work," accusing the Crown corporation of wanting to increase the part-time mix to more than 50 per cent of the workforce. It says it is concerned some part-timers could be scheduled for as few as eight hours per week and wouldn’t be eligible for benefits until they reach 1,000 hours. "Canada Post has every ability today to deliver parcels on the weekend, inside our collective agreement at straight time," Gallant said in an interview. "We think it can be done with full-timers ... We're just saying, 'Instead of hiring 10 part-timers, you can hire three full time." Job security and retirement The union has highlighted a number of its demands for better job security, including a request for "improved protections against technological change." Gallant said Canada Post is "always looking for new technology" that could threaten workers' duties. "This loading and unloading of trucks by robots is one that they're really, really looking at (and) forklifts that drive themselves through a plant," he said. "We're always afraid." When it comes to retirement, CUPW says Canada Post wants new workers to accept a defined contribution pension plan, even though its defined benefit pension plan is overfunded by 140 per cent. "All workers deserve the right to retire with dignity, and for us, that means postal workers — present and future — maintain their defined benefit pension plan," Simpson said. Canada Post says its proposals are "focused on protecting and enhancing what’s important to current employees ... while protecting the defined benefit pension and their job security." Rural service The union has said it wants job security rights for rural and suburban mail carriers in line with those granted to urban postal workers. It has outlined a number of issues affecting its Rural Suburban Mail Carrier bargaining unit, saying it wants an hourly rate system with appropriate time values, union involvement and "safeguards against (Canada Post's) unilateral change." The union says Canada Post must maximize and maintain eight-hour routes for rural workers, grant improved rights for on-call relief employees, and uphold paid meal and rest period rights. It says the Crown corporation must also ensure the bargaining unit's involvement in service expansion projects. Earlier this week, Simpson called on Canada Post to commit to working with the union "to expand services at the post office including postal banking and electric vehicle charging stations." Safer working conditions The union has demanded the full elimination of Canada Post's "separate sort from delivery" system, which entails certain employees spending the entirety of their shifts sorting mail for letter carriers to go out and deliver — as opposed to carriers performing both tasks. It says this system overburdens carriers, who as a result spend more time outdoors and potentially exposed to extreme weather events. "Postal workers suffer the second highest rate of disabling injury among workers under federal jurisdiction, behind only the road transportation sector," Simpson said. "Growing neighbourhood mail volumes and changing work methods like separate sort-from-delivery are only making things worse." The union has also proposed increases to short-term disability program payments and injury on duty payments, along with more paid medical days. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Sammy Hudes, The Canadian PressCLEVELAND (AP) — The NFL has closed an investigation into sexual assault allegations against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is ending the season on injured reserve for the second year in a row. The league has been reviewing the case for months , trying to determine whether Watson should be punished. “The matter is closed,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said Friday in an email to The Associated Press. “There was insufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy.” Watson, who served an 11-game suspension in 2022, was accused of assault in Texas by a woman in September. She was seeking more than $1 million in damages before the sides reached a confidential settlement. Watson strongly denied the allegations through his attorney, Rusty Hardin. The 29-year-old Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in October. He's been rehabbing the injury in hopes of returning next season. The Browns still owe Watson $46 million in each of the next two seasons after they traded three first-round picks to Houston and signed him to a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract that has backfired. Watson has only played in 19 games over three seasons due to the suspension and injuries. He was acquired by the Browns, who were comfortable with his character despite Watson being accused of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. While he's in the clear with the league, Watson's future with Cleveland isn't so certain. His massive contract — and its salary-cap ramifications — has put the Browns in a bind in terms of trying to improve their roster. Cleveland has had a disappointing season after making the playoffs a year ago and could move on from Watson, but the cost would be exorbitant if the team just releases him. The Browns signed Jameis Winston for one season to be Watson's backup. Winston has gone 2-3 as a starter since taking over and he's put some life into Cleveland's offense, which didn't score 20 points or gain 300 yards with Watson before his injury. His 2023 season was ended by a broken bone in his shoulder, requiring surgery. Winston has indicated he would come back, and he could be a viable option as a starter even if the Browns draft a young QB. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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