0bets.io token

0bets.io token Merrimack Valley High School senior Keighen Duppong knows attending the University of New Hampshire would likely cost thousands of dollars less per year than most of the schools on his college list. Duppong, who plans to study applied physics, has sent in his application to UNH but doesn’t expect to enroll there. His top choices are public universities hundreds of miles away. “I would love to stay local if we had a tech school that was comparable to something like Georgia Tech and their program or the University of Michigan, which is currently number one in the country for nuclear fission,” Duppong said. “These colleges have the resources, while UNH is lacking in that regard.” Duppong’s good friend, Gage Caswell, is also a high-achieving student who plans to pursue a college degree in a STEM field. He too anticipates he’ll be in another state next year. “I want to say that I’m considering UNH pretty heavily because it is a really good school,” said Caswell, who hopes to major in applied mathematics. “But honestly I think I would go somewhere like Clarkson University because New Hampshire really isn’t a state designed for young people. It’s just not that appealing.” For Caswell, the choice is also financial: Many of the elite private schools he is applying to, including several in the Ivy League, guarantee full financial aid to those in his family’s income bracket. His mother is also an employee at Southern New Hampshire University, which gives Caswell the opportunity for free tuition through an exchange program at several schools on his list, including Boston University and Tulane University. Duppong and Caswell, who met as second graders at Penacook Elementary School, share the views of many New Hampshire high school students contemplating where they will go to college. The state trails only Vermont in the percentage of students who leave their home state for higher education. In 2020, 57% of college freshmen from New Hampshire left the state to enroll elsewhere. That’s more than double the national average of 26% of students who leave their home state to attend college, according to the National Center for Education Statistics data from 2020, the most recent year for which the numbers were available. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess The reasons are multi-faceted, but primarily economic. In a survey of 1,000 recent college enrollees conducted by BestColleges in 2023, affordability was considered the most important factor in making a college decision. Professional outcomes, which is a prime factor in Duppong’s decision, came in second. The student life factors that Caswell mentioned were further down the list. New Hampshire ranks last in the country in the amount of per-pupil funding for higher education, according to a study conducted by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute last year that relied on data from 2021-22. That year, New Hampshire’s in-state tuition was the second highest, trailing only Vermont’s, according to Forbes . Geography also plays a role: New Hampshire is a relatively small state in close proximity to a number of universities across state lines. The state’s public university system – comprised of UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State – has in recent years attempted to make inroads. The Granite Guarantee program, which began in 2018, covers the full cost of tuition at state universities for students who are Pell Grant-eligible, a threshold that varies by family and is calculated via a complex formula. Kim DeRego, UNH’s vice president of enrollment management, said in an interview that the state’s flagship is considering transitioning to a set income threshold instead of employing Pell Granite eligibility to offer families more clarity earlier in the financial aid process. UNH also touts its Hamel Scholars program, which provides merit-based scholarships and special access to faculty to New Hampshire students. In addition, UNH and Plymouth State are also piloting a direct admission program this year, which allows students who meet certain qualifications to be automatically accepted without having to submit a formal application. DeRego said that prospective students sometimes underestimate what UNH has to offer. “Unfortunately, I think people don’t realize what an excellent school UNH is,” DeRego said, citing UNH’s status as the “top value” public university in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report , among other accolades . Though applications to New Hampshire’s flagship university have increased in recent years, undergraduate enrollment has dropped about 8%, from 12,313 in 2019 to 11,365 this year – a trend reflected in declining college enrollment nationally. At an event last month hosted at Merrimack Valley High School’s library by the non-profit higher education and career support organization Granite Edvance, only one student out of six who spoke with the Monitor said she was planning to attend a university in-state. The student, Hannah Walden of Loudon, grew up attending hockey games at UNH in part because her father is an alumnus. “It just feels like home to me,” said Walden, who hopes to head to Durham next fall to study nursing. The event that Walden was at, called ApplyNH, gives students the opportunity to apply to any school in New Hampshire without having to pay the application fee. About 80 high schools across the state held similar days this fall, according to Christiana Thornton, the president and CEO of Granite Edvance. Thornton said the program, which has been ongoing since at least 2014, is not specifically designed to encourage students to stay in New Hampshire. “Our goal really is to provide support to students to pursue either college or career pathways – really just ensuring that they have educational opportunities,” Thornton said. “And whether that’s in-state or out-of-state, you know, we really think it’s an individual choice.” Shanyn Grenier, the college and career counselor at Merrimack Valley High School, said multiple factors – with cost being a primary one – explain why so many students leave New Hampshire for school. “Unless I qualify for a Pell Grant and can get my tuition free, for some kids if they do their research and they’re a little bit adventurous ... they can find deals in other places,” Grenier said. Somewhat counter-intuitively, the deal-searching process has led Caswell – whose family has a lower income – to private schools, and Duppong – whose family won’t qualify for significant need-based aid – to public schools in other states. Though elite private schools generally have the highest sticker price, in recent years some of them have offered free tuition to families who have incomes as high as $140,000. “That was my ethos going into this process: to limit my tuition as much as I can because I don’t want to be a burden to my parents financially,” Caswell said. Duppong’s family will not qualify for those need-based thresholds, he said, so he is targeting merit-based aid at public universities. He estimates that they will cost about one-third more than UNH but he feels that is a worthwhile investment – in part because of the physical amenities, such as nuclear reactors and quantum computers, that they have, and in part because of the people. “If you attend one of these colleges that has a network, then you have far more opportunities,” Duppong said. “You will have a greater chance of getting a job in a field like physics, so I would say that’s worth the extra cost.” Grenier said that Caswell and Duppong have targeted their college lists to their families’ specific financial situations more than most students, but that it makes sense for some students to do so. “What those two children are trying to do is a great example of how to try and make the system that’s kind of gotten out of control work the best for their individual circumstances,” said Grenier, whose own daughter chose to attend a public university in the South this year in part because the merit aid she received made it about as expensive as UNH. Newly-elected state Rep. Sanjeev Manohar, a Nashua Democrat, believes it is time to address that system to incentivize talented students to stay in the state. Manohar, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, said he noticed that many of his students were coming from just across the border in Nashua. “Families are moving here, while our students are moving out,” he said in an interview. “It’s kind of weird.” Manohar has filed a legislative service request that he hopes could help. The bill he has proposed would create a monetary incentive of between $500 and $750 for students to attend college in New Hampshire, as well as a monetary incentive for businesses to hire in-state residents after they graduate. “I see this as not political at all,” Manohar said. “I think both parties can benefit from a program like this.” Manohar has a vision that southern New Hampshire – from Concord to Nashua – can ultimately become a biotech corridor for the region. “The attraction of Massachusetts and Connecticut will be diminished a little bit if we become the tech hub ourselves,” he said. Jeremy Margolis can be contacted at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.Movie Production Market to grow by USD 56.11 Billion (2024-2028), fueled by global box office popularity, Report highlights how AI is redefining the landscape - Technavio

Kay Patterson, who rose from janitor at segregated South Carolina capitol to state senator, diesNone

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trae Young might be the NBA’s biggest enigma. Young’s fans can point to numbers and say he’s an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say he’s overrated. Both arguments have validity. To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they’re infuriating. This can’t be argued: He’s helping Atlanta author one of the season’s surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play Milwaukee on Saturday before the other semifinal between Oklahoma City and Houston. The title game is Tuesday night. “When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He’s been an important part of our young guys’ growth and being able to elevate them.” The Hawks haven’t had a ton of big moments in Young’s seven seasons. But he has shown a propensity for rising to the occasion: ousting New York in the 2021 playoffs, ousting the Knicks from the quarterfinals of this tournament to get to Las Vegas — and now comes another chance on national TV on Saturday, facing the Bucks with a chance to play for a trophy. “I feel like this team has been embracing the challenge each and every night from the beginning of the season,” Young said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead in any moment. We’re just taking it day by day. Even though early on in the season we may have had some struggles and some bumps in the road and some guys out, we stuck with the process and focus on each day.” RELATED COVERAGE Miles Bridges returns to Hornets’ lineup for game against Bulls Heat agree to trade Thomas Bryant to Pacers for swap of 2nd-round picks, AP source says NBA Cup semifinal matchups in Las Vegas: Thunder-Rockets, Bucks-Hawks Here’s part of the pro-Young argument: He’s averaging 21 points and 12 assists something that only Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done over a full season, and he’s on pace to lead the league in assist average for the first time. Here’s part of the anti-Young argument: Among the 220 players with at least 50 3-point attempts this season he ranks 189th at 30.8%, and of the 248 players with at least 100 field goal attempts this season he ranks 231st at 38.4%. Choose your side. They’re both valid. But it’s clear that Young — who made no secret that he was upset over not being picked for the team that won gold for USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics this past summer — is growing and maturing. “He’s doing a better job on both ends of the floor,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Defensively he’s figured out a way of keeping himself out of actions. I know that sounds easy. That’s hard to do, and he’s brilliant at it, he really is. ... He must be really studying the game on both ends of the floor, and you can see that in his play. And he’s earned the trust of his players. This team likes playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn’t say that in the past, but now they love playing with him.” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson doesn’t deny that point. “He’s so good, man,” Johnson said. “It’s crazy, like just seeing it in person and on TV prior to me playing with the Hawks and getting drafted by the Hawks, it was crazy just watching it. A guy that’s undersized, being able to score at will, being able to make any pass at will. And then next thing you know you’re his teammate and you’re on the receiving end of those passes. “Watching those clutch late game buckets, it’s a joy to watch. It’s a gift that he has that’s very special and not many people have had it at that elite of a level. It’s been great being his teammate. It’s been a blessing.” Saturday is an opportunity. The semifinals are the only games on the NBA calendar for that day; the title game Tuesday — which doesn’t count in the standings — is the only game on the NBA slate that night as well. Young will have tons of eyeballs on him Saturday and would have tons more on him Tuesday if the Hawks find a way to win another big game against the Bucks. They’re 3-1 against Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland and Boston already this season, 1-0 against Milwaukee. The potential is clear for the Hawks. The potential for Young has always been clear as well. Only now, it’s starting to be realized. “The narrative about me not being able to do certain things or being too mad or frustrated about certain things is — I mean, just aren’t true,” Young said. “I think you’re just now being able to see like with the young team we have, just some of the different things we’ve been doing this year, I think just now you’re starting to kind of see it because the results are showing and we’re winning now. We’re here in this final four of the Cup, and it’s a big deal.” ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAGlobal Launch of "Chinese Visual Key Input Method" Successfully Held in Dubai 12-13-2024 11:00 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Press Release Agency On December 12, 2024, the global launch event of the "Chinese Visual Key Input Method" and the China-UAE Cultural Creativity Cooperation Forum took place successfully at the CCPIT(UAE) Cultural and Creative Exhibition in Dubai. Director of the Cultural China International Cultural Exchange Center, chaired the launch event, which focused on the theme of "Bringing Chinese to the World, Helping the World Understand China." Over 60 participants, including education experts, cultural scholars, and representatives from schools and enterprises from China and the UAE, attended the event. Image: https://www.wdwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-10-1024x769.png Dr. John Chu is introducing technology Dr. John Chu, inventor and founder of the "Chinese Visual Key Input Method," introduced the groundbreaking technology during the event. The system uses an innovative framework coordinate algorithm to transform Chinese characters into color and position modules, combined with AI, to achieve a seamless transition from "recognizing shapes" to "inputting text." This enables beginners to master Chinese typing within three minutes through an intuitive and straightforward process. Beyond its technical prowess, the method serves as a cultural mission, revitalizing the charm of Chinese characters and making Chinese culture more accessible. Professor Zhang Xiping, Distinguished Professor at Beijing Language and Culture University and a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, highlighted that traditional Chinese teaching methods, which emphasize pinyin, grammar, and memorization, are often time-consuming and less effective for many learners. The Chinese Visual Key Input Method integrates technology with education to offer a systematic solution, marking a revolutionary step in Chinese character teaching. Zhang described it as the most significant advancement in Chinese character research since the ancient text Shuowen Jiezi , surpassing the phonetic teaching methods introduced by missionaries over 400 years ago. Dr. Tariq Alqahtani, President of Al Haraka Al Awla Company in Saudi Arabia, praised the technology for transforming language learning, especially for Chinese. He noted that the method offers new opportunities for students and professionals in Saudi Arabia and worldwide, making Chinese learning faster, easier, and more engaging. Professor Pan Wenguo of East China Normal University, Editor-in-Chief of Global Chinese Development Research, lauded the Chinese Visual Key Input Method as a groundbreaking contribution to global Chinese education. By lowering the barriers to Chinese character input, it significantly promotes the global dissemination of the language. Developed over 16 years by Dr. Chu's team, the method combines visual perception, tactile principles, and framework coordinate algorithms to reconstruct Chinese characters, overcoming the limitations of pinyin and Wubi input methods. Supporting over 80,000 characters in simplified, traditional, and variant forms, it embodies the principle of "what you see is what you get." Professor Bai Zhimin from Universite de La Rochelle in France commended the modular approach of the system, which simplifies complex Chinese characters into visual elements. This not only reduces learning difficulty but also boosts classroom efficiency, helping learners overcome the fear of Chinese characters and fostering confidence in their studies. Dr. Yu Zhong, an expert at Tsinghua University's Institute for International AI Governance, described the "Chinese Visual Key Input Method" as a transformative AI innovation. Dubbed the "Key to Chinese," it redefines language processing through modularization and intuitive input, marking a milestone in the fusion of AI and linguistics. With applications spanning education, business, and cultural exchange, the method bridges cultural divides and underscores the global significance of the Chinese language. Image: https://www.wdwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-12-1024x682.png 2024 International Chinese Communication Forum The subsequent forum featured high praise from international organizations and enterprises, including the UAE China-Arab Business Association, for the technological breakthrough and its role in Sino-Arab cultural exchanges. The intuitive nature of the input method lowers learning barriers, fostering global Chinese language development. Image: https://www.wdwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-13-1024x572.png Strategic Collaboration Signing The event also included the signing ceremony for the "Key to Chinese" strategic partnership. Dr. John Chu and Dr. Tariq Alqahtani formalized their collaboration, while other dignitaries-including Prof. Zhang Xiping, Zhang Li, Zeng Ping, and Lv Xiaoguang-jointly launched the China-UAE Chinese Cultural Communication Centre. This initiative aims to deepen educational and cultural cooperation between China and the UAE. Image: https://www.wdwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-14-1024x576.png Driving China-UAE Chinese Cultural Communication Centre Currently, Chinese has been incorporated into the national education systems of 85 countries, with over 200 million learners and users worldwide. In the UAE alone, 171 schools offer Chinese courses to 71,000 students. The launch of the Chinese Visual Key Input Method injects fresh vitality into China-UAE cultural exchanges and contributes to the advancement of global language education and cultural diversity. Media Contact Company Name: Global News Online Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=global-launch-of-chinese-visual-key-input-method-successfully-held-in-dubai ] City: NY Country: United States Website: http://www.globalnewsonline.info This release was published on openPR.NEW YORK – There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. Recommended Videos That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. DO assess honestly where you are with it all For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” DON’T miss the bigger picture of what the holiday is all about Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. DO set boundaries If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” DON’T take the bait Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. DO think about what will happen after the holiday If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” DON'T feel you have to be there uninterrupted Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"Special counsel moves to dismiss election interference and classified documents cases against Trump

Trae Young, Hawks hoping to win big in Vegas at the NBA Cup semifinalsBP spins off its windfarm business into joint venture with Japanese rival as it moves back to fossil fuels

LEDUC COUNTY, ALTA. - Alberta’s government says it will invest up to $50 million to support the creation of a first-in-Canada drilling test site to support technology development in the oil, gas, geothermal and lithium industries. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is intended to be an open-access, industry-led site where companies can test drilling technologies at deep depths, high temperatures and varying rock types. A location for the hub site has yet to be determined. While no binding contracts have been signed, the province says several companies have expressed strong interest in serving as anchor tenants, including Calgary-based geothermal company Eavor Technologies, Tourmaline Oil Corp. and international oilfield service supermajor Halliburton. The money the province is providing will come from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program, which Alberta’s heavy emitters are required to pay into as part of the province’s industrial carbon pricing system. The provincial government says the Alberta Drilling Accelerator could start drilling in 2026. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:TOU)

Looking Into Shineco's Recent Short InterestThe will face the Seagulls in the Premier League in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash between two sides that look to play an exciting brand of football. But with weather warnings in place for wind and rain, their plans may be scuppered by less-than-ideal conditions. Previewing the game, Iraola told the Daily Echo that both sides will look to play ‘in a dynamic way’. “We go to press very high, sometimes we take some risks with our defensive line,” he explained. “Probably there will be a space behind our defenders but it's going to be a challenge where we play, we will want to play in their half, they will want to play in our half the game and control the game. “And it's going to be for me a nice game to watch from the outside but a difficult one to play and to beat them.” The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for both rain and wind due to Storm Bert, with gusts of up to 60mph possible along the southern coast. Asked how this will affect his side’s preparations, Iraola said: “It depends. “I've loved this week for example, it has been very, very cold but has been quite sunny, you know, and clean days and even if you feel the cold, I like these days. “It's true that tomorrow they say it's going to be raining. Probably not a lot, but I think it affects a little bit, I don't care. “The thing I wouldn't like is the wind. Therefore, I always say the worst thing to play football in is the wind. “I accept the snow, the water. The wind, I remember last season we played here against Liverpool, and it affects all the game. “If you play one half or the other, it's basically you control the game or you cannot do a lot, so I hope it’s not very windy.” Iraola said he likes what he has seen from the Seagulls so far this season, under new boss Fabian Hurzeler. He said the Cherries will need to be at their very best to get the better of the Sussex side, who have an incredible squad depth and have a lot in common with the top sides in the league, like Arsenal and Manchester City. The Cherries could rise to seventh in the Premier League with three points, should results go their way, while Brighton, who are currently sixth, could lift them as high as third.Todd Grantham is leaving the staff of the NFL's Saints to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, New Orleans interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday. Grantham has been defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and for Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida at the college level. “He made the decision he wanted to get back into the college game," Rizzi said. “He’s obviously been a coordinator before at a couple of really good college programs. (Oklahoma State coach) Mike Gundy’s getting a great coach, and congratulations to Todd.” An Oklahoma State spokesperson would not comment on the situation. Grantham started this season as a defensive line coach for the Saints. After Rizzi took over following the firing of Dennis Allen, who’d previously overseen the defense, Grantham was moved into the role of senior defensive advisor so he could assist coordinator Joe Woods with the defensive game plan. “He’s done a heck of a job here behind scenes here with the defensive staff,” Rizzi said. “But it’s certainly a great opportunity for him.” Grantham will replace Bryan Nardo and take over a unit that gave up a Big 12-worst 500.6 yards per contest during a 3-9 season. AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trae Young might be the NBA's biggest enigma. Young's fans can point to numbers and say he's an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say he's overrated. Both arguments have validity. To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they're infuriating. This can't be argued: He's helping Atlanta author one of the season's surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play Milwaukee on Saturday before the other semifinal between Oklahoma City and Houston. The title game is Tuesday night. “When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He's been an important part of our young guys' growth and being able to elevate them.” The Hawks haven't had a ton of big moments in Young's seven seasons. But he has shown a propensity for rising to the occasion: ousting New York in the 2021 playoffs, ousting the Knicks from the quarterfinals of this tournament to get to Las Vegas — and now comes another chance on national TV on Saturday, facing the Bucks with a chance to play for a trophy. “I feel like this team has been embracing the challenge each and every night from the beginning of the season,” Young said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead in any moment. We’re just taking it day by day. Even though early on in the season we may have had some struggles and some bumps in the road and some guys out, we stuck with the process and focus on each day." Here's part of the pro-Young argument: He's averaging 21 points and 12 assists something that only Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done over a full season, and he's on pace to lead the league in assist average for the first time. Here's part of the anti-Young argument: Among the 220 players with at least 50 3-point attempts this season he ranks 189th at 30.8%, and of the 248 players with at least 100 field goal attempts this season he ranks 231st at 38.4%. Choose your side. They're both valid. But it's clear that Young — who made no secret that he was upset over not being picked for the team that won gold for USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics this past summer — is growing and maturing. “He’s doing a better job on both ends of the floor,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Defensively he’s figured out a way of keeping himself out of actions. I know that sounds easy. That’s hard to do, and he’s brilliant at it, he really is. ... He must be really studying the game on both ends of the floor, and you can see that in his play. And he’s earned the trust of his players. This team likes playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn’t say that in the past, but now they love playing with him.” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson doesn't deny that point. “He’s so good, man,” Johnson said. "It’s crazy, like just seeing it in person and on TV prior to me playing with the Hawks and getting drafted by the Hawks, it was crazy just watching it. A guy that’s undersized, being able to score at will, being able to make any pass at will. And then next thing you know you’re his teammate and you’re on the receiving end of those passes. “Watching those clutch late game buckets, it’s a joy to watch. It’s a gift that he has that’s very special and not many people have had it at that elite of a level. It’s been great being his teammate. It’s been a blessing.” Saturday is an opportunity. The semifinals are the only games on the NBA calendar for that day; the title game Tuesday — which doesn't count in the standings — is the only game on the NBA slate that night as well. Young will have tons of eyeballs on him Saturday and would have tons more on him Tuesday if the Hawks find a way to win another big game against the Bucks. They're 3-1 against Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland and Boston already this season, 1-0 against Milwaukee. The potential is clear for the Hawks. The potential for Young has always been clear as well. Only now, it's starting to be realized. “The narrative about me not being able to do certain things or being too mad or frustrated about certain things is — I mean, just aren’t true,” Young said. "I think you’re just now being able to see like with the young team we have, just some of the different things we’ve been doing this year, I think just now you’re starting to kind of see it because the results are showing and we’re winning now. We’re here in this final four of the Cup, and it’s a big deal.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBATCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss rest of season after breaking left footB.C. NDP government, Greens forge confidence agreement with 'shared priorities'

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia's decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different — and the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. The award — and the glitzy festival itself — is a sign of Saudi Arabia's commitment to shaping a new film industry. “My heart is attached to cinema and art; I have always dreamed of a moment like this,” Dakheelallah, who still works a 9-5 job, told The Associated Press before the awards ceremony. “I used to work in voluntary films and help my friends in the field, but this is my first big role in a film.” The reopening of cinemas in 2018 marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy that had instituted the ban 35 years before, under the influence of ultraconservative religious authorities. It has since invested heavily in a native film industry by building theaters and launching programs to support local filmmakers through grants and training. The Red Sea International Film Festival was launched just a year later, part of an attempt to expand Saudi influence into films, gaming, sports and other cultural fields. Activists have decried the investments as whitewashing the kingdom’s human rights record as it tightly controls speech and remains one of the world’s top executioners. With FIFA awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia this week, Lina al-Hathloul, a Saudi activist with the London-based rights group ALQST, said Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “has really managed to create this bubble where people only see entertainment and they don’t see the reality on the ground.” These efforts are part of Vision 2030, an ambitious reform plan unveiled in 2016 to ease the economy's dependence on oil. As part of it, Saudi Arabia plans to construct 350 cinemas with over 2,500 movie screens — by this past April, across 22 cities, it already had 66 cinemas showing movies from the local film industry, as well as Hollywood and Bollywood. (The Red Sea International Film Festival attracts a host of talent from the latter industries, with Viola Davis and Priyanka Chopra Jonas also picking up awards Thursday.) The country's General Entertainment Authority last month opened Al Hisn Studios on the outskirts of Riyadh. As one of the largest such production hubs in the Middle East, it not only includes several film studios but also a production village with workshops for carpentry, blacksmithing and fashion tailoring. “These facilities, when they exist, will stimulate filmmakers,” said Saudi actor Mohammed Elshehri. “Today, no writer or director has an excuse to imagine and say, ‘I cannot implement my imagination.’” The facilities are one part of the equation — the content itself is another. One of the major players in transforming Saudi filmmaking has been Telfaz11, a media company founded in 2011 that began as a YouTube channel and quickly became a trailblazer. Producing high-quality digital content such as short films, comedy sketches and series, Telfaz11 offered fresh perspectives on Saudi and regional issues. In 2020, Telfaz11 signed a partnership with Netflix to produce original content for the streaming giant. The result has been movies that demonstrate an evolution on the storytelling level, tackling topics that were once off-limits and sensitive to the public like secret nightlife in “Mandoob” (“Night Courier”) and changing social norms in “Naga.” “I think we tell our stories in a very simple way, and that’s what reaches the world,” Elshehri says of the changing shift. “When you tell your story in a natural way without any affectation, it will reach every person.” But the films were not without their critics, drawing mixed reaction. Social media discoursed ranged from pleasure that Saudi film were tackling such topics to anger over how the films reflected conservative society. As Hana Al-Omair, a Saudi writer and director, points out, there are still many stories left untold. “We certainly have a long time ahead of us before we can tell the Saudi narrative as it should be,” she said, acknowledging that there are still barriers and rampant censorship. “The Goat Life,” a Malayalam-language movie about an Indian man forced to work without pay in Saudi Arabia, is not available on Netflix's platform in the country. Movies that explore political topics or LGBTQ+ stories are essentially out of the question. Even “My Driver and I,” featured at the Red Sea festival alongside 11 other Saudi feature-length films, was initially too controversial. It centers on a Sudanese man in Jeddah, living away from his own daughter, who feels responsible for the girl he drives as her parents are absent. It was initially blocked from being made because of the relationship between the girl and the driver, filmmaker Ahd Kamel has said, even though it's not a romantic relationship. Now in 2024, the film is a success story — a symbol of the Saudi film industry's evolution as well as the growing role of women like Kamel behind the camera and Dakheelallah in front of it. “I see the change in Saudi cinema, a very beautiful change and it is moving at a wonderful speed. In my opinion, we do not need to rush,” Dakheelallah said. “We need to guide the truth of the artistic movement that is happening in Saudi Arabia.” Baraa Anwer, The Associated PressTCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss rest of season after breaking left foot

No. 16 Cincinnati tests efficient offense vs. Alabama StateVANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIREWEED METALS CORP. (“Fireweed” or the “Company”) (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF) is pleased to announce it has been awarded US$15.8 M (~C$22.5 M) from the U.S. Department of Defense and up to C$12.9 M from the Government of Canada in support of its critical minerals projects at Macmillan Pass, Yukon Territory. Highlights Fireweed has been awarded US$15.8M (~C$22.5 M) from the U.S. Department of Defense under Title III of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (“DPA Title III”) to advance its 100%-owned Mactung tungsten project toward a final investment decision. Fireweed will also receive up to C$12.9 M from the Government of Canada, pending final due diligence, through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (“CMIF”) to lead planning for road and power infrastructure supporting Fireweed’s critical mineral assets at Macmillan Pass, Yukon Territory. With this funding, Fireweed’s team will advance its Mactung tungsten project to a final investment decision, while concurrently leading the planning for improvements to regional infrastructure (road and power) that serve the entire critical mineral district at Macmillan Pass. CEO Statement Peter Hemstead, President and CEO, commented: “The coordinated investments by the United States and Canadian governments underscore the critical importance and strategic value of Fireweed’s mineral assets at Macmillan Pass. This joint announcement is a testament to the determination of both governments to unlock this new critical minerals district in Canada. In the coming months and years, our team will work to ensure our projects and the enabling infrastructure move forward in a way that respects rights-holders, provides benefits to communities in the region, and demonstrates how critical minerals can be developed responsibly.” Adam Lundin Statement Adam Lundin, Fireweed’s Strategic Advisor, stated: “The emerging critical minerals district at Macmillan Pass is a profound opportunity to address key supply chain vulnerabilities of the North American industrial base. These investments are significant milestones on the path to advancing both Macpass and Mactung projects toward development.” Statement from the Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources The Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, stated: “Canada is positioning itself as a global supplier of responsibly sourced critical minerals, which are increasingly in demand for the clean and digital economy as well as for defence applications. The Fireweed project will develop the necessary energy infrastructure to power multiple critical minerals mines and communities with clean energy. These investments by Canada and the United States build on our long history of friendship and collaboration, complement the region’s deep expertise in mining, create good jobs in the Yukon and advance economic growth, now and into the future.” A Critical Minerals District at Macmillan Pass Macmillan Pass is an emerging critical minerals district (the “Macpass District”), with two immediately-adjacent, best-in-class critical mineral projects being advanced by Fireweed. The Macpass Project (“Macpass”) is a district-scale collection of high-grade zinc deposits, forming one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources globally, while also containing the world's largest known accumulation of germanium and gallium 1,2 . The Mactung Project (“Mactung”) is the world’s largest, high-grade tungsten deposit 1 ,3 , with sufficient mineral resources to potentially supply North America’s expected tungsten demand for decades. Macmillan Pass and the North Canol Road (the district’s primary overland access) are located within Kaska Nation Traditional Territory and the Traditional Territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyӓk Dun. The Mactung access road passes through the Sahtú Settlement Area (Tulı́tʼa District in the Northwest Territories), which include both First Nations and Métis communities. US Government Funding to Advance the Mactung Tungsten Project Fireweed has been awarded US$15.8 M (~C$22.5 M) by the U.S. Department of Defense under DPA Title III to advance its 100%-owned Mactung tungsten project toward a final investment decision. The objective of the DPA Title III funding is to progress Mactung to a final investment decision, a precursor to project construction and subsequent production of domestic tungsten concentrates for the North American industrial base. The award will support an expansive, Fireweed team-led program that includes mine design optimization, geotechnical investigations, and metallurgical test programs, culminating in the development of a new feasibility study. A range of environmental studies will be undertaken, supporting the pursuit of licenses and permits necessary to construct Mactung. The program builds on extensive past drilling at Mactung and an updated 2023 mineral resource estimate that supersedes a historical 2009 Feasibility Study. The project also benefits from a positive environmental assessment decision issued in 2014 by Yukon and Canadian Federal regulators. The DPA Title III award is non-dilutive to Fireweed shareholders and no commercial covenants are included in the award conditions that would impair Fireweed’s current business nor its future sale of tungsten concentrates to the industrial base. Fireweed’s own management team will lead the work and periodically report progress to administrators of the award. Canadian Government Funding to Advance the “North Canol Infrastructure Improvement Project” Fireweed will also receive up to C$12.9 M, pending final due diligence, from the Government of Canada through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund (“CMIF”) to lead planning efforts for infrastructure improvements that would serve the critical minerals district at Macmillan Pass. The CMIF funding will support Fireweed’s implementation of the first phase (Phase I) of the “North Canol Infrastructure Improvement Project” (“NCIIP”), which includes developing preliminary designs for approximately 250 kilometers of road improvements, as well as upgrades to an existing transmission line between Faro and Ross River, and the construction of a new transmission line from Ross River to Macmillan Pass. The effort also includes seeking the consent of local Indigenous groups, completing necessary environmental assessment processes and facilitating multi-party project agreements necessary to advance NCIIP toward construction (Phase II). Fireweed anticipates NCIIP Phase II to be advanced through a collaboration of government, Indigenous groups and industry. Funding sources for NCIIP construction have yet to be determined but will likely involve ‘stacking’ a range of new and existing funding sources, potentially including previously announced Yukon Resource Gateway funding. Qualified Person Statement Technical information in this news release has been approved by Fireweed Metals VP Geology, Jack Milton, Ph.D., P.Geo. (BC), a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Milton is not independent of Fireweed for purposes of NI 43-101. About Fireweed Metals Corp. (TSXV: FWZ; OTCQX: FWEDF; FSE:M0G): Fireweed Metals Corp. is an exploration company unlocking significant value in a new critical metals district located in the Yukon, Canada. Fireweed is 100% owner of the Macpass District, a large and highly prospective 977 km 2 land package. The Macpass District includes the Macpass zinc-lead-silver (germanium-gallium) project and the Mactung tungsten project, both characterized by meaningful size, grade and opportunity. At Macpass, Fireweed owns one of the largest undeveloped zinc resources worldwide 1 , 2 , in a region with enormous exploration upside potential. The Mactung project is a strategic critical metals asset that hosts the world’s largest high-grade tungsten resource 1, 3 – a potential long-term supply of tungsten for North America. A Lundin Group company, Fireweed is strongly positioned to create meaningful value. In Canada, Fireweed (TSXV: FWZ) trades on the TSX Venture Exchange. In the USA, Fireweed (OTCQX: FWEDF) trades on the OTCQX Best Market for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies and is DTC eligible for enhanced electronic clearing and settlement. Investors can find Real-Time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com. In Europe, Fireweed (FSE: M0G) trades on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Additional information about Fireweed and its projects can be found on the Company’s website at FireweedMetals.com and at www.sedarplus.com . ON BEHALF OF FIREWEED METALS CORP. “ Peter Hemstead ” President & CEO, and Director Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Forward Looking Statements This news release contains “forward-looking” statements and information (“forward-looking statements”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein, including, without limitation, statements relating to receipt of the DPA Title III award, use of proceeds of the DPA Title III award, receipt of CMIF award and the actual amount thereof, the use of proceeds of the CMIF award (including leading planning efforts relating to road improvements and transmission line construction and upgrades), pursuit of necessary licencing and permits and/or environmental assessment processes, seeking the consent of local Indigenous groups, the making of a final investment decision with respect to Mactung, interpretation of drill results, targets for exploration, potential extensions of mineralized zones, future work plans, and the potential of the Company’s projects, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “potential”, “possible”, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results “will”, “may”, “could”, or “should” occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Company management and reflect the beliefs, opinions, and projections on the date the statements are made. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include but are not limited to, exploration and development risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, expenditure and financing requirements, general economic conditions, changes in financial markets, changes in the Company’s work programs, the ability to properly and efficiently staff the Company’s operations, the sufficiency of working capital and funding for continued operations, title matters, First Nations and local Indigenous group relations, operating hazards, political and economic factors, competitive factors, metal prices, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulations and oversight, permitting, seasonality and weather, present and future infrastructure capacities, technological change, industry practices, uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and laboratory tests, and one-time events. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward ‐ looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections or other factors, except as required by law. Footnotes and References 1 References to relative size, grade, and metal content of the Mactung resources and Macpass resources in comparison to other tungsten, zinc, gallium, and germanium deposits elsewhere in the world, respectively, are based on review of the Standard & Poor’s Global Market Intelligence Capital IQ database. 2 For Tom, Jason, End Zone, and Boundary Zone Mineral Resources, see the technical report filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ October 18, 2024, entitled “Technical Report for NI 43-101, Macpass Project, Yukon, Canada”. The effective date of the Mineral Resource is September 4, 2024. SLR Managing Principal Resource Geologist, Pierre Landry, P.Geo. (BC) is a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under NI 43-101. Mr. Landry is considered to be “independent” of the Company for purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Landry, of SLR, is responsible for the Macpass Mineral Resource Estimate. 3 For Mactung Mineral Resources, see Fireweed news release dated June 13, 2023 “Fireweed Metals Announces Mineral Resources for the Mactung Project: the Largest High-Grade Tungsten Deposit in the World” and the technical report entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mactung Project, Yukon Territory, Canada,” with effective date July 28, 2023 filed on https://www.sedarplus.ca/ . Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. is considered independent of the Company, and a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined under NI 43-101. Garth Kirkham, of Kirkham Geosystems Limited., is responsible for the Mactung Mineral Resource Estimate. Contact: Peter Hemstead Phone: +1 (604) 689-7842 Email: info@fireweedmetals.com

According to the Indiana Department of Revenue, residents of Floyd, Gibson, Jay, Monroe, Rush and Switzerland counties will see more money taken out of their paychecks to cover the cost of county government services in the new year. The new local income tax rates in those counties are Floyd 1.89%, up from 1.39%; Gibson 1.3%, up from 0.9%; Jay 2.5%, up from 2.45%; Monroe 2.14%, up from 2.035%; Rush 2.15%, up from 2.1%; and Switzerland 1.45%, up from 1.25%. Records show three additional Indiana counties already hiked their income tax rate on Oct. 1: Fayette 2.82%, up from 2.57%; Fulton 2.88%, up from 2.68%; and Henry 2.02%, up from 1.8%. No changes are slated for the local income tax rates in Northwest Indiana that currently stand at 1.5% in Lake County, 0.5% in Porter County, 1.45% in LaPorte County, 1% in Newton County, and 2.864% in Jasper County. But those rates, and local income tax rates across Indiana, might be headed dramatically higher if Republican Gov.-elect Mike Braun succeeds next year in enacting his property tax reduction plan at the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Braun has proposed reverting residential property tax bills to their 2021 amount, regardless of any subsequent increase in the assessed value of the home, as well as increasing the value of residential property tax deductions and capping future property tax revenue growth. Those changes likely will result in a shift of the property tax burden onto rental, business, industrial and agricultural property owners, or higher local income tax rates if counties look to other ways of replacing the lost property tax revenue from owner-occupied homes. Though any local income tax increases will be partially offset by continuing reductions in the state's 3.05% income tax rate that's set to fall to 3% on Jan. 1, 2025, to 2.95% on Jan. 1, 2026, and to 2.9% on Jan. 1, 2027, according to House Enrolled Act 1001 (2023) . The rate cut means a Hoosier worker earning $50,000 a year will pay $1,500 in state income tax next year, instead of $1,525 — a savings of $25, or about $1 per biweekly paycheck. Hiking that same worker's county income rate by 1% would take an extra $500 a year out of the worker's wages, or about $20 from each check. Illinois has a 4.95% state income tax rate and no local income taxes. The combination of the two in Indiana means most Hoosiers are paying more of their earnings in state and local income tax than Illinois residents do.BCS legislators call on Baja California to reject copper mining mega-project