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Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant declares for NFL draftAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:56 p.m. ESTquick hit casino slots 。

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Two people were rescued when a California pier partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas off the Pacific Northwest. Residents were warned to stay away from low-lying areas near the beaches around the Santa Cruz Wharf, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service's Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Lifeguards rescued two people from the water and a third person was able to swim to safety, the Santa Cruz Fire Department said on Instagram. Their conditions were unknown. Coastal roads in Santa Cruz were closed following the pier's partial collapse, city officials said. Gov. Gavin Newsom's has been briefed and the state's Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local officials, his office said. Ocean swells along California's central coast could reach 26 feet (8 meters) as the Pacific storm gains strength through Monday, the weather service said. “A rapidly developing storm will bring hurricane force winds to the areas well offshore of the Pacific Northwest tonight,” the weather service's Ocean Prediction Center said on X. Winds off Oregon and Washington could peak near 80 mph (130 kph) and seas will build over 30 feet (9.1 meters), forecasters said. The Santa Cruz Wharf collapse Monday came about a year after the Seacliff State Beach pier just down the coast was battered beyond repair by a heavy winter storm.

What Dabo Swinney said after Clemson’s rivalry game loss to South CarolinaThe Washington Commanders will face the Tennessee Titans at Commanders Field on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. ET. Our computer model projects the Commanders will win — keep scrolling for more information regarding the spread, over/under and final score. Looking for NFL tickets? Head to StubHub today and see your team live. The Commanders sport the 17th-ranked defense this season (23.1 points allowed per game), and they’ve been better on offense, ranking fifth-best with 27.8 points per game. The Titans’ offense has been a bottom-five unit this season, compiling 18.4 points per game, which ranks fifth-worst in the NFL. On defense, they rank 27th with 26.4 points surrendered per contest. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Ready to make your pick? Head to BetMGM using our link and start betting today. Watch this game on Fubo (Regional restrictions may apply) Rep your favorite NFL players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more. Catch every NFL touchdown with NFL RedZone on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

‘You’ll never get in front of it’: Hackers target schools dailyAP Business SummaryBrief at 10:35 a.m. EST

Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant were seen arriving in the family's new luxury MPV, a Lexus LM 350H 4S Hybrid, the most expensive MPV currently available in India. Published: December 21, 2024 9:18 PM IST By The Ambani family, who are famous for the passion of exclusive and expensive cars, including a fleet of custom-built Rolls-Royce SUVs, and other high-end luxury vehicles, have now added another shiny brand to their expansive car collection, a Lexus LM 350H. Recently, Mukesh Ambani– Asia’s richest man– and his daughter-in-law, Radhika Merchant Ambani, who married Anant Ambani, Mukesh’s younger son, earlier this year, were spotted in their new Lexus LM 350H– India’s most expensive Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV), which is priced at a whopping Rs 3 crore. Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant, along with other famous celebrities including Bollywood stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, were spotted outside the Dhirubhai Ambani International School, an elite school run by the Ambanis in Mumbai’s posh Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). Mukesh Ambani and Radhika Merchant were seen arriving in the family’s new luxury MPV, a Lexus LM 350H 4S Hybrid, the most expensive MPV currently available in India. Mukesh Ambani’s Lexus LM 350H 4S Hybrid MPV The Ambani family’s Lexus LM 350H 4S Hybrid MPV is white in colour, featuring a chrome-plated grill, tri-projector headlights and L-shaped taillights. A chrome garnish and 19-inch alloy wheels, coupled with Vertical LED fog lights, sleek LED DRLs, and a LED light bar, add to the luxury car’s stylish appearance. The interior of the Lexus MPV is the best money can buy, boasting leather upholstery, reclining seats and side blasters to ensure a comfortable journey. Featuring a wood inlay dashboard, two large connected screens and ventilated seats with massage facilities, the MPV is also equipped with active noise reduction (ANR) technology, personalized temperature control and ambient lighting. Additionally, for entertainment, the luxury car boasts a Mark Levinson 3D surround system with 23 speakers and a large infotainment screen for the rear passengers. Its also equipped with advanced safety features like the ADAS. About Lexus LM 350H The Lexus LM 350H is powered 2.5 liter 4-cylinder petrol hybrid engine, which is capable of generating 190 hp power and 240 Nm torque. The luxury MPV has a top speed of 190 kmph and can reach 0-100 kmph in a mere 8.7 seconds. Additionally, the Lexus hybrid MPV also gives great mileage, making it a perfect luxury vehicle for India. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on or follow us on and . Read more on Latest on . Topics

Former University of Ruhuna Vice Chancellor Prof. Sujeewa Deshapriya Amarasena has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court, contesting his recent removal from the position. The petition was filed yesterday by the legal counsels representing him. Prof. Amarasena claims his dismissal was politically motivated and marred by procedural irregularities, particularly in the appointment of a Competent Authority to replace him. His petition argues that the removal constitutes an act of political victimisation following the recent Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Prof. Amarasena was first appointed Vice Chancellor in March 2019 after securing 13 out of 26 votes in the selection process. His initial tenure was extended for a further 3 years in March 2022, reflecting the achievements and progress observed at the university under his leadership. During his term, the university underwent a significant transformation, including a 90% increase in student intake and attaining an A grade in the Institutional Review by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Notably, he spearheaded initiatives to combat ragging, introducing stringent measures such as the dismissal and rehabilitation of students involved in such harmful practices. Under his stewardship, ragging was eradicated, fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for students. Beyond addressing ragging, Prof. Amarasena in the petition said he implemented key reforms aimed at promoting transparency and meritocracy within the university system. He ended reliance on predatory publications for academic promotions, ensured fair and transparent recruitment processes, and introduced the video recording of interviews to eliminate favouritism and inbreeding. He also pursued financial accountability, recovering funds owed by individuals who had violated their bond agreements with the university. This included a prominent case involving a former Secretary of the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA), who had evaded repayment for over a decade. Despite these accomplishments, Prof. Amarasena contends his removal is the result of targeted political retaliation. Following the elections in September and November 2024, he faced increasing opposition from the FUTA, trade unions, and politically affiliated student groups. These factions allegedly organised protests and blockaded university operations, preventing him from fulfilling his duties. The petitioner asserts that the UGC, acting under pressure from the ruling Government, sought to undermine his position and replace him with candidates aligned with the current administration’s political interests. Prof. Amarasena notes that such interference was limited to the universities of Ruhuna and Colombo, which, he argues, highlights the selective targeting of his administration. The removal process, as detailed in the petition, was riddled with procedural flaws and violations of his constitutional rights. Prof. Amarasena claims the UGC’s recommendation to appoint a Competent Authority effectively sidelined him without due process or a fair hearing. He argues that his removal lacked a factual or legal basis under the provisions of the Universities Act, rendering it arbitrary and unreasonable. His petition asserts violations of his fundamental rights under the Constitution, including equality before the law, freedom from discrimination based on political opinion, and the right to engage in lawful employment. An Extraordinary Gazette notification was issued in late November appointing Senior Prof. R.M.U.S.K. Rathnayake as the Competent Authority to act in lieu of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ruhuna. The notification, issued by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya in her capacity as the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, at the time said the decision was made after determining that the university’s administration had been negatively impacted and that the authorities had failed to restore normalcy. The Gazette further noted that Senior Prof. Rathnayake would assume all powers, duties, and functions conferred on the Vice Chancellor under the Universities Act and any related regulations, effective from 25 November. This development followed a continuous strike by academic and non-academic trade unions affiliated with the University of Ruhuna, which commenced on 19 November. The unions, supported by the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), had been demanding Prof. Amarasena’s immediate removal. The IUSF had also staged a Satyagraha in front of the Education Ministry, further intensifying the pressure on the administration. Despite the mounting opposition, Prof. Amarasena had categorically denied all allegations levelled against him and refused to resign. He had asserted that the accusations were baseless and part of a coordinated effort to undermine his leadership. Prof. Amarasena is now seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that his removal is null and void, along with compensation for the violation of his fundamental rights. He has also requested interim relief to suspend the appointment of the Competent Authority and prevent further actions against him until the case is resolved. The petition also seeks interim relief to stay the appointment of the new competent authority. It further requests the Court annul the appointment of the new authority. The respondents named in the petition include Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, the UGC, and the FUTA.

Khloe Kardashian reveals ‘embarrassing’ cut-out of cheating ex Tristan Thompson in kitchen and fans are bewildered

Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant declares for NFL draftORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. People are also reading... This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Be the first to know

Ukraine says war has damaged most of its civilian airportsIs our language going down the toilet? My word!Holly Wright Challenges Our Sense of VanitySamsung Galaxy S25 Slim Specs Leak: A Strong Rival to iPhone 17 Air with 200 MP Camera and More The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim's essential details have been leaked, and it looks like the next gadget may teach the rumoured iPhone 17 Air a lot about design and functions. The amazing thinness of the Galaxy S25 Slim was first revealed earlier today by a trustworthy Chinese tipster. Now, another source on X (previously Twitter) has revealed an even more exciting list of specifications. In contrast to the rumoured iPhone 17 Air, which is anticipated to have a more straightforward single-camera configuration, the Galaxy S25 Slim might set the standard for thin smartphones if these prove to be true. Galaxy S25 Slim: Elevated Specifications The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset is said to power the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim, which is expected to have a 6.66-inch display that is the same size as the S25+. There should be enough power for all-day use from the phone's battery, which is expected to have a capacity of 4,700 mAh to 5,000 mAh. The device's back is anticipated to have the most notable features, though. According to predictions, the Galaxy S25 Slim will have a 200 MP primary camera that uses Samsung's ISOCELL HP5 sensor. This will be used in conjunction with a 50 MP telephoto and 50 MP ultra wide camera with a 3.5x optical zoom that both make use of Samsung's ISOCELL JN5 sensor. The device's photography experience will be far better than the competition thanks to this amazing camera configuration, which should provide top-tier photographic skills. When Will We See the Galaxy S25 Slim? As previously rumoured, the Galaxy S25 Slim is not anticipated to debut with the other Galaxy S25 models. Although it may be present during the Samsung Galaxy S25 launch event in late January, the Slim version is expected to hit shops around April or June 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 thin might be among the most cutting-edge and feature-rich thin phones available, rivalling the iPhone 17 Air in terms of both design and performance if these rumours are accurate.

Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said the party could not buck the trend in Ireland of junior coalition partners in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments losing support in subsequent elections. He said they expected to retain two to three seats out of the 12 they had won in the 2020 election on the back of a worldwide “Green wave”. “Undoubtedly it’s a disappointing result for our party today,” Mr O’Gorman told reporters in Ongar, Dublin. “It’s hard for a smaller party in government, that’s long been the tradition, the history in Ireland. We hoped going into the election to buck that but we haven’t been able to buck that today.” Mr O’Gorman, a candidate in Dublin West, is among the outgoing Green Party TDs in a battle to retain their seats. Culture Minister Catherine Martin, who is fighting to remain a Green Party TD for Dublin Rathdown, said it was a “very tight” race in her four-seat constituency. “We go in (to government) not afraid of that because the issue of the climate and biodiversity crisis is (greater) than our survival,” she said on RTE Radio. “I stand over and am proud of our track record of delivery.” Green candidate in Waterford Marc O Cathasaigh said he would not be “in the shake-up” to retain his seat in that constituency, while junior minister Ossian Smyth looks at risk of losing his seat in Dun Laoghaire. Junior minister Joe O’Brien is expected to lose his seat in Dublin Fingal, Neasa Hourigan is at risk in Dublin Central, while Wicklow’s Steven Matthews garnered just 4% of first preferences. Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who announced his retirement from frontline politics in June, said his party had not had a good day. Arriving at the count centre at the RDS in Dublin, the outgoing environment minister told reporters: “If you don’t get elected you accept that, but you come back stronger and you learn lessons, and we’ve done that in the past and we will do that again.” He added: “No matter what the results today there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland, we have deep roots in the community and it’s a very distinct political philosophy and I think there is still space for that in Irish politics, for sure.” Mr Ryan said he did not believe his decision to retire, and the timing of his announcement, had affected the party’s showing. “Unfortunately – and this is just one of those days – we didn’t get the number of votes,” he said. He added: “We’ll look back and see what are the lessons, and what can we learn and what can we do differently. “It’s just one of those days when we didn’t have a good day.NEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. People are also reading... "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Elon Musk blew up a near-complete bipartisan budget deal with an avalanche of tweets contending that it was too costly, luring Donald Trump into demanding that Republicans kill it. But Musk’s real reason— —was that the agreement included painstakingly negotiated limits on American tech investment in China. Had that provision passed, it would have been costly to Musk’s extensive Chinese Tesla operations and future AI plans. Between Tuesday and Thursday, the budget deal collapsed. Trump, following Musk’s lead, threw in a new demand that the deal tackle the debt ceiling, always a politically tricky vote. But neither Democrats nor Republican fiscal hawks would give Trump that. In the end, legislators of both parties wanted to get home for Christmas, and both houses overwhelmingly passed a simple “continuing resolution” keeping the government funded at roughly present levels through March, plus disaster relief and farm aid. Musk succeeded in stripping out the China provision. Collateral damage included the loss of a bipartisan measure constraining abuses by pharmacy benefit managers, another limiting hotel and ticketing junk fees, and about 100 other bipartisan agreements. (Late night, the Senate did manage to pass two bills that were jettisoned from the deal but had already passed the House: one of several provisions funding pediatric cancer research, and another transferring ownership of the derelict RFK Stadium to Washington, D.C.) The mainstream media focused on the tick-tock of whether the government would shut down, on Musk’s surprising influence, and the issue of the debt ceiling—but totally missed the China investment provision that was the real driver of the dispute. Even the exemplary Heather Cox Richardson missed it. Did Trump miss it? Let’s recall that Trump is a ferocious China hawk. Stopping U.S. investment in sensitive technologies that could help China has been a key element of the agenda for serious China experts in both parties. On that issue, Musk won and Trump was rolled. Trump’s own goal in the budget deal, as noted, was the debt ceiling. The failure to get that will come back to haunt him when the nation’s borrowing limit expires next summer. House Republicans privately discussed a deal in a future reconciliation bill to exchange a $1.5 trillion debt ceiling increase for $2.5 trillion in mandatory spending cuts—think Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, and veterans benefits. (By law, Social Security cannot be altered in reconciliation.) That will prove politically toxic, even to Republicans. So Democrats will probably have some future leverage on the debt ceiling. House leader Hakeem Jeffries is already talking about , a good idea that would end future MAGA hostage-taking. In contrast to Trump, Musk played his hand in a way that made sure that he won his objective, and didn’t mind sacrificing Trump’s. In blessing the revised deal, which passed the House late Friday, 366-34, and the Senate, 85-11, Musk disingenuously praised Congress for drastically shrinking the total spending. This was total bullshit, since the budget numbers of the original deal and final one were almost identical. But shrinking spending wasn’t the goal: keeping the government out of his China business was. In short, Musk outplayed Trump. Musk is not the sort of guy you can take to the woodshed. And the Inaugural is still a month away. There will be more conflicts between the goals of President Musk and those of President Trump. Some of the slash-and-burn budget cutting that Musk is proposing—Social Security, Medicare, economic development and small business aid—will enrage Republican legislators and governors, and threaten base Republican constituents, not to mention the deep differences over unfolding China policy. Who will outplay whom then?‘We didn’t have a good day’: Greens set to suffer significant election lossesThere is sometimes good wisdom on the back roads, and Canadian society is learning that change is needed. Cultural appropriation is when members of one culture adopt elements from another culture in a way that's considered inappropriate or unacknowledged. After things occur in history, we often get different interpretations of what it was, sometimes we are misled. Lots of examples of this particularly with the advent of Truth and Reconciliation, it has proven otherwise. We are learning. The other day a young “romantic,” filmmaker Oliver Mecure from near Madoc (Moira River, upstream of Bend Bay) arrived at my Canadian Ecology Centre doorstep to pick my brains on canoeing from Ottawa to Thunder Bay and particularly the La Vase portages in North Bay. It is something I know about, what is termed the Nipissing Passageway often highlighted within my published books and maps. The map link will help to view the approximate historic routes, three are water one is overland.h He is preparing and researching to do an “authentic journey” as a voyageur along the route. I asked him if he was taking toilet paper, a GPS and freeze-dried food. And if he had a little red canoe like Bill Mason. A mirror came to mind, I explained to this younger idealist there were/are several ways to portage your way across the height of land at North Bay to access Lake Nipissing and beyond. Early Indigenous communities utilized these before the arrival of the colonial explorers, missionaries and fur traders. These are called nastwagan. Sharing information is what Back Roads Bill does and I was pleased to do so since I am convalescing with a new right hip highlighted in last week’s story. Oliver’s presence was therapeutic – more Vitamin N. There are several parts to this story - leading us to consider more of what we think we know. If you are driving just east of North Bay on Highway 17 you will see water on both sides of the Trans Canada Highway, that’s Trout Lake on the north side of the height of land marking two very distinct drainage basins. On the south side near the water (called Brandy Lake) is one of those dark blue bronzed historical highway plaques. It says in part: “...the great canoe route via the Ottawa and Mattawa Rivers Lake Nipissing and the French River...which was followed by early explorers and missionaries and fur traders...” It lists “...Among many famous men who passed here...” including Samuel de Champlain in 1615 (probably not). There is no acknowledgement of Indigenous peoples. For years passersby have come to think this was the way the early explorers/voyageurs made their westward across the height of land to Lake Nipissing. Given its contextual location, the La Vase Portages is one of the most historic places in Canada. It is a 14-kilometre section of the historic voyageur canoe route, which connects Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing. The route was used thousands of years ago by First Nations as part of what was termed colonially as the Amerindian trading network before and at the time of European contact. During the age of exploration and then the fur trade, the Nipissing Passageway was soon established as a major artery into the interior of North America as the Mississippi River was too long and Hudson and James Bays were not always ice-free. How do we know this route was utilized? Well, there is archaeological evidence . There was also a public consultation phase, in which I participated, and Indigenous communities were consulted. There are other interesting aspects. When in North Bay (south end) walk 100 m from Lakeshore Drive (golf driving range) on the Kate Pace Way, south to the first pedestrian bridge, you will see the sweeping bend in the river. From this vantage point, look eastward (left) you can see the bend in the river and the field depicted in the painting. If you walk along the edge of the north bank, you will see two locations where rocks were piled for landings. This location is significant. There is no doubt of the existence and location of the upper, middle and lower La Vase Portages. But one of the carry-overs retains two very different pieces of remaining evidence of voyageurs’ impact on the landscape. “These portages were described many times in writing between 1620 and 1845,” says the late local historian Roy Summers, who has unearthed many maps and studied the literature and diaries of those leaving behind records, as well as images of the portages.” I accompanied him on several field excursions. He was a retired civil technician and a local historian. A very thorough researcher and an aficionado of historic maps. Roy was also a member of the Friends of the La Vase Portages . (The group have been working to keep the trail open and protected for future use, further work remains to be done to see the historic route receive more complete and long-term protection and recognition as a heritage canoe route. Good maps under the Routes tab. ) “ I have been able to unearth several very accurate maps done by various government agencies over the period from 1845 to 1970 that define these portages and their precise location, “ Roy recalled. “ Almost all of them have the documentation (maps, field notes and journals) stored in various archives. “ Two of the better and more accessible examples of evidence are found at the lower portage closest to Lake Nipissing, Summers said. At the downstream (west) end, you can recognize the location depicted in the John Elliott Woolford watercolours. These are the 1821 paintings of Major Woolford, who accompanied (as the official draughtsman) Governor General Dalhousie as he travelled up the French River, across Lake Nipissing and up the La Vase River following the voyageur canoe route. Woolford recorded much of what he saw with watercolour over pencil and shared these images of the Canadian frontier with the governments of Canada and Europe. There are two specific La Vase river paintings, Voyageurs portage canoes at bend in narrow river and First Portage on Little River . (You can see these prints at the North Bay Museum .) The second piece of compelling evidence is the proliferation of hawthorn trees all along the bank and there are many lining the bank’s edge. Hawthorns are small sharp-tipped branches that arise either from other branches or from the trunk. “These hawthorn trees are telltales. The hawthorn tree is unmistakable for its long, sharp thorns. The haw berries are important for wildlife in winter, particularly thrushes and waxwings. These birds eat the haws and disperse the seeds in their droppings. Humans consume the berries, as well,” Summers said. “These trees are the leftovers of undigested hawthorn berry seeds from the voyageur’s pemmican.” Indigenous wisdom advised new arrivals to consume hawberries, an insular low bush fruit, to prevent scurvy. Basically, the proof is the “poop” from the regeneration of these trees. If you journey to the west end of the La Vase portage on the shores of Lake Nipissing (Lakeshore Drive to Premier Rd. to the municipal park called Champlain Park) you will find several historic plaques commemorating Samuel de Champlain and the voyageurs (lacking Indigenous content). So, are the monuments commemorating Champlain’s visit in the right location? On July 26th, 2015 it was 400 years since Samuel de Champlain appeared somewhere on the shoreline of Lake Nipissing. Here is the BayToday story of the day the story says: “The celebration will take place on Sunday, July 26th, the exact date of Champlain's passage, at Champlain Park (North Bay).” I then talked about this on the CBC . There is a difference in opinion. There is good evidence the famed French Canadian explorer may not have come this way. Roy Summers thought so. Years of dogged determination helped Roy piece together what was in this area from a geologic and historical perspective. He thought Champlain took the historic portage from Trout Lake to Lake Nipissing was along Ski Club Road, crossing Chippewa Creek and turning southwest towards Timmins St. and the present North Bay waterfront. There is evidence; it is identified as a historic portage on an 1883 survey. (Some think Cassells St. to Trout Lake Rd. may have been the direct route but its roots are later in North Bay’s history; it was the development road to Trout Mills [a working lumber mill] at Armstrong Beach.) Roy unearthed and showed me many, many maps, and studied the literature and diaries of those leaving behind records and images of the Nipissing Passageway, which includes several ways to reach Lake Nipissing. The La Vase portages is a 14 km/8.7 mile trek, in length, with three portages totalling 2.7 km/1.7 miles, it is one of three possible routes. Parks Creek, 10.7 km/6.7 miles, has five portages of 1.9 km/1.2 miles; (known as Ojibwaysippi) via a series of small lakes, (the “Cove” beach/Camelot Lake), is another. And the shorter, but not forgotten North Bay and Trout Lake Rd . (Ski Club Rd.) historic portage, 6 km/3.72 miles with no portages; including Chippewa Creek as another complementary seasonal waterway to Lake Nipissing. Roy said, “These different routes were used by first, the extensive Amerindian trading network and then the French and English explorers and the voyageurs. These routes were described many times in writing between 1620 and 1845. Almost all of them have the documentation (maps, field notes and journals) stored in various archives, but there is no evidence of Champlain using the La Vase portages.” He points to the “league,” a historic unit of measure (which varied in definition) as another piece of evidence for an alternative route. “In many notations where the portage length is in leagues the distance more closely matches the historic portage route along Ski Club Rd. to the waterfront.” The North Bay Board of Trade (now Chamber of Commerce) started promoting Champlain’s arrival through the La Vase portages as early as 1925. That was the year North Bay became a city (2025) an early milestone. The celebration was called “Old Home Week” and the extensive program acknowledged the prestigious explorer’s visit and the La Vase portages. The first commemorative plaque erected in 1925 (and since refurbished) is on Lakeshore Drive near the garden/bait enterprises. The hoopla continued, fast forward to 1961 and the next historic plaque on the east side of Highway 17 at Dugas Bay (there was a roadhouse there at one time, attracting many tourists). Then in 1975, the Chamber published Murray Leatherdale’s ‘ Nipissing form Brule to Booth ,’ a book highlighting the age of exploration and development within the Nipissing Passageway. As noted other plaques and a cairn have been erected at the end of Premier Rd. at Champlain Park. For years, since the early North Bay Board of Trade, through to the present, a variety of community groups have tried to promote, protect and conserve the La Vase portages. In reality, the heyday for the utilization of the La Vase portages was for approximately forty years when the North West Co. (NWC) operated La Ronde House on the small island at the end of Premier Rd., before amalgamating with the Hudson Bay Co. in 1821. It was during the time of Alexander Mackenzie of the NWC, one of Canada’s greatest explorers. He did use the La Vase portages. The fur trading company maintained a water control dam at the upstream end of the third portage to float the large freighter canoes. The post was then transferred to the mouth of the Sturgeon River on the north side of Lake Nipissing. The translated diaries (by H.P. Biggar) of Samuel de Champlain survive in his ‘Voyages,’ a detailed chronological narrative, edited for the French public. (And that is part of the mystery, what is lost in the translation?) In the early 1600s, the ‘Voyages’ were public relations documents aimed at keeping Champlain’s activities in the forefront of French imperialism. The French were actively exploring many other areas of the world and New France was not the most important of their ventures. Champlain does not identify or describe what would have been the La Vase portages. But maybe he didn’t want to, he was tasked to promote the potential riches of the land. The crossing of the muddy portages is an arduous task at the best of times. In Champlain’s Voyages (journals) he says: “We passed through several lakes, where the savages carry their canoes.” Champlain is describing the then 14 portages along the Mattawa River. Upon arrival on the shore of Lake Nipissing, he starts his journal entry with: “Where we rested two days.” There is no mention, other than the distance, of the portages or where he rested. Champlain previously had heard of the Nipissings from one of his guides, Étienne Brulé (1610). This tribe was known by others as the “sorcerers,” and were well known for their supposed magical powers for creating lasting curses. “They gave us a very kind reception and were in goodly number, they are a race who cultivate the soil very little.” He describes the natives’ existence and relationship to the landscape. “During the time I was with them, the chief of these people and others of their head men (medicine men) feasted us on several occasions, according to their custom, and took the trouble to go fishing and hunting in order to entertain us as daintily as they could. There are a great number of very pretty islands (Manitou Islands) and the north side of the lake is very pleasant (Meadowside); there are fair meadows for pasturing cattle and many little streams discharging into the lake (Duchesnay, La Ronde, Little Sturgeon Creeks).” He was definitely not describing the La Vase area there was no mention of the inhospitable mud across the three historic carrying places. Alexander Niven was an all-star surveyor for the Province of Ontario. There is a historic monument dedicated to his achievements just west of Cochrane. His meridians became the legal boundaries for townships in northwestern and northeastern Ontario. He surveyed Widdifield Township (which amalgamated with North Bay and West Ferris in 1968). The Ski Club Rd. historic portage is on his survey. Niven’s biographer, Kim Emerson, was contacted. “Despite the times and rudimentary equipment, his surveys are incredibly accurate. He was a stickler for details and his survey notes prove why he was such a great surveyor.” Niven also identifies the La Vase portages in his West Ferris Township survey. The amount of detail is very evident on the 1883 survey including the precise location of the escarpment and the expansive wetland below that still exists, surrounded by homes, today. Most of these roads do not fit a standard grid pattern and are indicative of what was a trail. Specifically from east to west, in a WNW direction, the historic route reflects the starting point at Armstrong Beach through the pedestrian culvert, it follows Ski Club Rd., through O’Brien St. to the McKeown/Milani extension, where it crosses Chippewa Creek (here it changes direction from NE to SW) at its narrowest and most tranquil location. (As an option, during the spring runoff Chippewa Creek could have been navigated by the smaller canoes of the time; these were not the larger voyageur canoes.) Turn on Mary, Doran and Murphy Streets and the route would have crossed Highway 11/17 onto Highland to Algonquin Ave., turning somewhere onto Vimy St., to Beattie St. through the Bourke Playground where you can see the trail running from NE to SW, on to Bloem where it meets Jane St. (see the steps of the trail). On to Cormack, descending the series of glacial beaches where it meets Main St. W. You are close to the condominiums at the waterfront. Along the shoreline, in front of the condos, you will see a large boulder and a small beach. On land there is a cutaway or dug bank where the trail/tote road emerged; in the water, you will see the natural rock groin, more visible in the spring, ideal for accessing the lower water levels of Lake Nipissing. Because of the upper French River Chaudiere dams, Roy Summers said Lake Nipissing was two metres lower than present-day levels. The beaches closer to the “government dock” would have been expansive and would have been better habitation areas when compared to the surrounding lowlands of the La Vase outflow.” The Nipissings in the area did not summer at the La Vase River, they stayed near the pickerel spawning grounds of Duchesnay Creek and this nearby portage. Historic depictions of Champlain have him looking towards the Manitou Islands in the middle of Lake Nipissing, a better vantage point from the north shore of the lake and the historic overland portage. If you ask any avid canoe trippers whether they would want to unload/load their canoes three times over a longer distance (14 km) where the conditions were “muddy” (French translation for La Vase), get their feet wet because of beaver dams or a route that was high and dry and shorter (6 km) you would not be surprised with the preferred choice. We can say the Nipissing Passageway can be defined as several historic Indigenous routes; there is little doubt about that. The best evidence is that Champlain’s route to Lake Nipissing may not be as portrayed today but he was guided by the First People(s). Anyway, his statue in Orillia has become controversial . It is all interesting conjecture but logical. That’s a lot of colonial history condensed in general terms. Dr. Jonathan Pitt is an Indigenous knowledge keeper and is of Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee heritage. Cultural transmission is part of his research and the courses he teaches at Nipissing University. He also works as an Independent Consultant for post-secondary organizations as an Indigenization Advisor. After the query of making sense of it all, he started off by saying, “This is an important topic, both historically and culturally speaking, there are a number of viewpoints on this, often influenced by monolingualism and other colonial ways of understanding, e.g. that there was only one portage route between Trout Lake to Lake Nipissing and it must’ve been X. In my experience, X never marks the spot.” He said, “We know from various records there were likely multiple routes, i.e. La Vase, current Ski Club Road pathway, as well as possibly what are known today as Chippewa and Parks Creeks. These routes likely depended on `the seasons, e.g. higher water levels in the spring and fall, use of lock systems by companies, etc. “Translations of names of water and land varied based on the language of the colonial interpreter/surveyor. Nastawgan in Anishinabemowin, meaning the routes of the past or the ways for travel through the land (Aki). In academic terms, an understanding of etymology underpins the knowledge today. The origin of the words, along with their historical development or etymologies is often linked to colonialism, such as changes to words in Anishinabemowin, an example being we used to say Nanaboozhoo which is today shortened to Boozhoo (hello) due to colonialism with the Wemitigiizhi (the French) who said Bonjour, and it was shortened to Boozhoo." He explained, “The word Portage derives from the French ‘porter’ to carry. In Anishinabemowin, depending on the dialect, the word Onigam, is a portage. Name places such as Grand Portage or Gichi-Onigaming, such as the great carrying place near Lake Superior." The Onigam of the Nastawgan was used by the Original People and later during the colonial experiment, beginning with the Wemitigiizhi (French), fur traders in this territory used this and other routes. One route was the height of land route which was in proximity to Trout Lake Dreamer’s Rock, roughly along present-day Ski Club Road, as there was swamp in the low-lying area (e.g. where the North Bay Jail is located) across to Lake Nipissing (Nbisiing, the original name of what is known as Lake Nipissing, meaning little water, inland in comparison to the larger Great Lakes). I have seen this route on old maps which belonged to my great-grandfather referring to it as the Indian Trail – this route would have gone along Algonquin and over towards St. Alexander Catholic Elementary School near the old Pinehill Coffee Shop and down to the beach (North Bay waterfront condos.) See the map link again. The Anishinabek used to travel to winter grounds spread out through the area in smaller family units to practice sustainability of harvesting and early forms of self-isolation for illness. In the summer, they came together at larger summer grounds on the shores of Nbisiing. Perhaps this is, in part, why Ferguson (John Ferguson – colonial founder of North Bay) picked the location for settlement in 1882 for present-day North Bay. Dr. Pitt points out it was only a couple of years ago, that Marathon Beach was renamed Shabogesic Beach (Shaabgiizhig Jiigbiik in Nishaabemwin) to honour Chief Shabogesic who was a signatory of the Treaty of 1850, Robinson Huron. Chief Shabogesic signed the Treaty of 1850, Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin (meaning a promise or mutual promises) as the 10th signatory Nation, in that today as Nipissing First Nation No. 10. “In Nishnaabemwin the term Nbisiing Shkongan is used to describe the land base. Shkongan meaning those lands left over from the Nipissing traditional territory and homeland.” He recalls, “I remember back in the 1990s, there was an archeological field school at the La Vase site with Dr. Patrick Julig, which I visited in 1996 in the search for Laronde House (Post/Fort) as there was a great of local interest (e.g. Leatherdale’s book, Woolford painting), where the La Vase empties into Lake Nipissing. This route has received a great deal more attention than the others due to tourism dollars (e.g. like the Dionne quintuplets) historically, and the placement of plaques to contemporary times with the Friends of the La Vase, etc." Later, during this period, the trading post was moved to the mouth of the Sturgeon River at Lake Nipissing. “Often, we see a celebratory narrative in Canadian history of European explorers and the fur trade deeply embedded within the historical, societal and political colonial-nationalism, which is not Reconciliation.” “Jody Wilson-Raybould and Roshan Danesh remind us in their new book Reconciling History: A History of Canada that as Dene leader George Erasmus noted that a 'common memory must be created' – before Reconciliation can begin, the Truth must first be spoken.” This article was not to refute or prove one historic route over another. The story is a simple gesture of respect, it is part of the awareness and change continuum about creating more memories. It is the City of North Bay’s one-hundredth anniversary in 2025, maybe a new legacy plaque or monument? There is a lot to learn on the back roads. Change is within us.

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