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Samuel Musgrave and an unknown accomplice were captured on CCTV as they entered Out Out on Hartlepool Marina and stole £8,000 worth of goods. Teesside Crown Court heard how the 49-year-old was out looking for scrap metal when he carried out the opportunistic burglary on June 13. Nicci Horton, prosecuting, said the defendant stole a glass washing machine, pizza oven, slushie machine, a large screen projector and some stock. She said the defendant claimed that he believed the business had been abandoned and helped himself to the goods but ‘that was clearly not true’ as the bar was still up and running. Out Out in Hartlepool (Image: Google) Musgrave, of Kirkdale Street, Hetton-le-Hole, pleaded guilty to the burglary. Michael Cahill, mitigating, said his client had been working as a site manager but was now the carer for his elderly father. U8He said: “He was out looking for scrap and the temptation got the better of him when he saw the open door. “He went in with another person and he accepts that they stole those items together.” See more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here Don’t miss out on our biggest sale of the year! Get a full year of the Northern Ech o for only £25 or try 6 months for just £6 . Click here for details. Judge Timothy Stead sentenced Musgrave to eight months in custody suspended for 18 months. He added: “You have your father to care for, a 17-year-old daughter and a wife – it’s time to avoid this sort of temptation. “I’m not going to deprive you of your liberty today, there’s no point filling up prisons with sentences of this kind although if you do it again in the near future it will be different. Musgrave was also ordered to attend 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. People are also reading... Trump, Musk can learn from North Carolina, Raleigh writer says Statesville native Tomlin leads Delaware State to MEAC volleyball title, NCAA berth Top vote-getter Houpe: Why am I not chairman of Iredell board of commissioners? Letter to the editor: Charging kids to play baseball at Jennings Park is poor idea Iredell-Statesville Schools closed Tuesday due to snow, ice Iredell-Statesville Schools nutrition department receives award 'The Message' religious sect sprouts destructive groups across globe North Dakota man brings shed-building expertise to Troutman 4 pounds of marijuana, gun seized by Mooresville police officers Tiny, 4 more dogs seeking homes at Iredell County Animal Services New school chairman rules 2 fellow board members out of order in Iredell Lake Norman residents voice concerns with Marshall Steam Station changes 3 Eagle Scouts and 1 grateful Iredell County resident Women report widespread misogyny in churches tied to religious group 'The Message' Iredell County woman celebrates $100,000 scratch-off win The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Have you heard the one about the Colorado School of Mines mechanical engineer who’s going to play football at mighty Alabama? Standby. It’s a good one. “I mean, it didn’t feel real at first,” Blake Doud is telling me of his commitment to play for the Crimson Tide. “It kind of still doesn’t feel real.” Oh, it’s real alright. Really wild. Really cool. See, Doud last week became the first Mines player to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the portal era — and the first Oredigger to make the leap to a Power 4 program. Even that part is wild; it was Mines coaches, specifically punting guru Scott Groner, who encouraged him to go. “Blake would be the first to admit he didn’t want to leave Mines,” Groner tells me. It’s true. He didn’t. Mines football players don’t leave Mines football. They love Mines football. “Coming to school here was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Doud says. But that’s the thing about Mines. You opt into long study hours and brutal exam weeks to jump start your life — whether that’s building rockets or bridges as an engineer... or chasing an NFL dream with your lead foot. “At the end of the day it’s our duty to send these guys off and better their lives,” Groner says. “If he can play in front of those SEC crowds and get three meals a day and work with an SEC strength program, I truly felt that could be the edge that would allow him an NFL opportunity.” Friggin’ Alabama was never a thought in Doud’s mind. Shoot, punting wasn’t much of one, either. Mines was the only program to recruit Doud as a punter instead of a wide receiver, where he excelled at Legend High in Parker. So he chose Mines to punt balls and “hopefully build some stuff, because I’ve always liked building stuff,” he says. “It’s not easy here (at Mines),” says Doud, who will dual-enroll at Mines and Alabama next semester to complete his engineering degree. “But this place has truly shaped who I am.” Doud redshirted his first year at the Division II powerhouse. He didn’t appear in a single game in his second season. He exploded in 2023 and 2024, winning RMAC Special Teams Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors. He led Division II last season at 46.1 yards per punt. “I saw it straight away,” says Groner, a former All-American punter, who spent eight years working with the Kansas City Chiefs and now works part-time with the Broncos equipment team. “I saw his 6-foot-5 frame. Being 6-foot-5 as a punter is kind of a cheat code — long levers, powering through the football, good hang time. Then his coach-ability took over.” It’s rare a single punt turns heads in college ball. But in Week 1 this season Doud launched an 80-yard boomer that went viral with over 2 million views on social media. A couple Power 4 assistants even asked me if he would consider transferring to play Division I ball for a year. Doubt it, I said. Mines football players don’t leave Mines. They love Mines. “Blake kind of came out of nowhere a little bit. He was this scrawny 6-foot-5 kid,” Groner says. “But he’s extremely coachable, which most Mines kids are. Everything I’d say, he would’t question it. He’d try it, then come back at me if something didn’t feel right. Those are the best kinds of kids to work with. And I can tell he’s really invested and driven and wants to be great. That makes it fun as a coach.” Then came the transfer portal. “I know the portal is frowned upon in college football,” Groner says. “But this is different. This is potentially life-changing.” Groner’s first call went to Dustin Colquitt, a close friend from their time with the Chiefs, who works with specialists at the University of Tennessee. The Vols didn’t need a punter. The University of Texas-El Paso was Doud’s first scholarship offer in the portal. Then the University of Missouri. Once Missouri offered, Alabama special teams analyst Jay Nunez called Doud with a scholarship offer. Roll Tide. He’s moving to Tuscaloosa in early January. “Alabama, they were always No. 1 when I was growing up,” he says. “Always in big games.” “Building stuff” is still on the table. But career plans have changed. Doud studies Los Angeles Rams punter Ethan Evans, who played at Wingate University, another Division II program. A man named Lloyd Madden was the last Mines player to play in a regular-season NFL game, the school said. That was in the 1940s. I asked Groner, who knows NFL punters: Is Blake one? “He is,” Groner says. “He has the body and he’s only getting stronger. If he doesn’t have the NFL leg now, he will. The hard work is there. The desire is there. And he’s a gamer. He is.” Before he left the Mines campus, the Orediggers had one request for their All-American punter. “When you’re playing on Monday Night Football,” Groner says, “you have to say, ‘Blake Doud, Colorado School of Mines.’” Roll Mines.
People who own a home in the US may live longer, research published Wednesday said. For American men in early adulthood who were born in the early twentieth century – from the first years of the 1900s – four months were added to their life expectancy. Oxford University said this was likely owing to positive factors tied to homeownership, including accumulation of wealth, stronger social ties, better living conditions, and mental health benefits. “My study finds homeownership has a meaningful positive impact on life expectancy,” Casey Breen, a senior postdoctoral research fellow at Oxford, said in a statement . “These results suggest that social policies that equitably expand homeownership opportunities for Black Americans may help narrow the gap between Black and white male life expectancy in the US.” Breen’s work was published Wednesday in the journal Demography . While physicians have said mortality rates between Black and white Americans have have narrowed in recent years, there are still discrepancies. “These varied outcomes in life expectancy raise significant questions. Why is life expectancy worse for some and better for others?” Dr. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, said in a statement in 2022. He noted that systemic historical issues have played a role. There were even fewer opportunities for Black Americans to own their own homes in 1940. That year, fewer than 10 percent between the age of 18 and 25 were homeowners and only 40 percent over the age of 65 owned their homes. Whereas, white Americans were nearly twice as likely to own a house as Black Americans. Breen also found that owning a home was associated with 0.36 years of additional life expectancy for Black American men who were born during that time, and 0.42 years for white men. To reach these conclusions, he used data from 1920 and 1940 census records, including social security death records, and a sibling-based identification strategy. They looked at life expectancy outcomes for American men who were between the ages of 24 and 35 and owned a home. Controlling for factors like education, race, income, marital status, and family background, the study found that property value had very little impact on life expectancy. Although, Oxford noted that the data of people used was restricted in terms of gender, ethnicity, nationality, and historical context. “This study also shows that there is a meaningful, statistically significant difference in life expectancy between Americans owning their home and those who rent, with homeowners in early adulthood living approximately six months longer at age 65 than those who rent,” Breen added. The study said that, going forward, expanding homeownership opportunities for minorities could be helpful in mitigating racial disparities in mortality in the US. Although, there are multiple factors complicating home ownership these days, like the economy and climate change . Decades later, the gaps remain. The homeownership rate in the US is nearly 66 percent , according to financial services company Bankrate . Bankrate said that it increased by just over 10 million from 2010 to 2020: a smaller increase than in any other decade between 1950 and 2010. Among young adults, it said homeownership had declined from 45 percent in 1990 to 39 percent. Agency Simply Insurance said that while 74 percent of white Americans own their home, only 47 percent of Black Americans are homeowners. A National Association of Realtors report from last year said that the gap between Black and white Americans was the largest in a decade, and Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found that Black, Hispanic, and Native American households were less likely to be homeowners in every US state but Hawaii. More single women own homes than men, but the Pew Research Center said in 2023 that the edge was narrowing. Single women owned 58 percent of the nearly 35.2 million homes owned by unmarried Americans, while single men owned 42 percent. Among households headed by an unmarried person ages 65 and older, about 6 million more were headed by women: which could be because women live longer than men. A LendingTree analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data said single women own 2.71 million more homes than single men. Breen told The Independent that the data were limited to men because women often change their names during marriage, and he plans to investigate the link between homeownership on life expectancy for women in a follow-up study. “I anticipate I’ll find similar mortality benefits for women, but of course I won’t know until I have completed the follow-up study,” he said via email.Marshall's 17 lead Albany over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 93-50
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. “The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more,” Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. “There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie,” said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction.” In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation , did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the “no-fault findings,” as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report , Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist “saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities.” But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's “decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable.” A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug “then entered the market through illegal channels,” he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles,” Li said. “The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice.” This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. “Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated,” he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. “It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. “Which clearly it has not.” AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-gamesIn recent years, the audio industry has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity and influence, driven by the increasing demand for high-quality audio content across various platforms. The success of podcasting, audiobooks, music streaming services, and other audio-related mediums has demonstrated the enormous potential and profitability of the audio market.
NEW YORK, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monteverde & Associates PC (the “M&A Class Action Firm”), has recovered millions of dollars for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm by ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are investigating: Aerovate Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVTE ) , relating to a proposed merger with Jade Biosciences. Under the terms of the agreement, pre-merger Aerovate stockholders are expected to own approximately 1.6% of the combined company, while pre-merger Jade stockholders are expected to own approximately 98.4% of the combined entity. Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/aerovate-therapeutics-inc-avte/ . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV ) , relating to the proposed merger with Bending Spoons. Under the terms of the agreement, Brightcove shareholders will receive $4.45 per share in cash for each share of Brightcove common stock that they own. Click here for more https://monteverdelaw.com/case/brightcove-inc-bcov/ . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. AlloVir, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALVR ) , relating to its proposed merger with Kalaris Therapeutics. Under the terms of the agreement, AlloVir will acquire 100% of the outstanding equity interest of Kalaris. Upon completion of the Merger, pre-Merger AlloVir stockholders are expected to own approximately 25.05% of the combined company and pre-Merger Kalaris stockholders are expected to own approximately 74.95% of the combined company. Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/allovir-inc-alvr/ . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AE ) , relating to the proposed merger with an affiliate of Tres Energy LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, Adams stockholders will receive $38.00 per share in cash for each share of Adams common stock they own. Click here for more information https://monteverdelaw.com/case/adams-resources-energy-inc-ae/ . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you. NOT ALL LAW FIRMS ARE THE SAME. Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask: Do you file class actions and go to Court? When was the last time you recovered money for shareholders? What cases did you recover money in and how much? About Monteverde & Associates PC Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholders...and we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341. Contact: Juan Monteverde, Esq. MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC The Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740 New York, NY 10118 United States of America jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com Tel: (212) 971-1341 Attorney Advertising. (C) 2024 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk's son, X Æ A-Xii, has publicly stated that his father should step up to "save America" amidst the current political and social unrest in the country. The statement made by the young Musk has sparked attention and raised questions about the dynamics of their relationship and the role of influential figures in shaping the future of a nation.In conclusion, the partnership between Gaode Maps and Lenovo Baiyin exemplifies a commitment to customer-centric innovation and excellence in service delivery. The introduction of the one-click direct feature not only simplifies the process of accessing professional computer services but also underscores the value of leveraging technology to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, collaborations like these pave the way for a more connected and convenient experience for users in the digital age.
TCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss rest of season after breaking left footRivada brushes off regulatory setback for proposed broadband constellationThe extent of Zhong Moyan's corruption has sent shockwaves through the school community, with many parents and teachers expressing outrage and disappointment. The principal, who was once seen as a respected and trusted leader, has now become the face of dishonesty and greed.
Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.The saga encapsulated the complexities of modern football transfers, where financial considerations, player contracts, and registration issues intertwine to shape the narrative. Neymar's decision not to join Barcelona was a reflection of his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and avoiding potential complications that could disrupt his career trajectory.In conclusion, the case of Zhong Moyan and his 9.49 million yuan bribe scandal is a stark reminder of the dangers of corruption and the importance of upholding integrity in all aspects of society. It is a wake-up call for all educators and school leaders to lead by example and demonstrate the highest standards of ethical behavior. Only by working together to combat corruption can we build a better and more trustworthy education system for future generations.
The Three Major Indexes Opened High Together, ChiNext Index Rose 4.88%, A-shares SoaredBy MIKE CATALINI CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Related Articles National News | FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.
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