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jili 10 I’M A Celeb’s Alan Halsall has revealed he sobbed uncontrollably while speaking to his daughter for the first time in four weeks after his jungle eviction. The Corrie actor could not hold back the tears when he video-called 11-year-old Sienna as soon as he left camp on Friday night. Alan, 42, had sent a signal to his girl everyday to let her know he was thinking of her ­— by forming a heart-shaped symbol with his hands during votes. He opened up about his unbreakable bond with Sienna in an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday hours after leaving the Aussie camp , where he was met by brother Stephen. Man United fan Alan also told us he would love to go for a beer with Wayne Rooney after befriending the ex-player’s wife Coleen — whom he reckons would make a good Corrie actress. Speaking about his call with Sienna, Alan said: “As soon as we got in the car, my brother had his phone out and we FaceTimed. “The first ten minutes of the phone call was not much but tears, to be honest — on both sides. "She’d cry and I’d be crying. “She said that she’s missed me, she loves me, she’s proud of me. “When she says that she’s proud of me, it could literally make your heart burst. "That was a super, super-emotional phone call.” Before he left England for Oz on November 9, Sienna gave Alan a friendship bracelet to wear and a coin which said: “Remember I love you, Dad.” Single dad Alan said: “It just put her first and foremost in my mind, you see, and she always is.” Referring to his heart symbol, Alan said he initially could not do it how Sienna had told him to — but he added: “I was under strict instructions that it had to be all fingers together. “I just wanted her to know that she was always on my mind.” Alan shares Sienna with his actress ex-wife Lucy-Jo Hudson, 41 — whom he met while they were both in the Corrie cast. And he went on: “Because you’ve got time on your hands, no distractions, no phones, no televisions, your mind wanders to those that you love. "And, of course, my mind just immediately went to Sienna everyday. “Once I woke up, I spent about half an hour, maybe 40 minutes, in bed. "That was the time where I’d be like, ‘Wow, I miss Sienna’. “But it was more, ‘I wonder what she’s up to today. "I wonder if she’s at school today, or has she been watching the show? "Is she happy seeing Daddy do these silly things?’ “Just knowing that she’s happy and proud of Dad, that was the biggest thing for me, for sure.” Mancunian Alan, who plays Corronation Street’s Tyrone Dobbs, became good pals with Coleen, 38, while in camp. In one moment in last Monday’s show, the pair bagged ten stars in a grim Bushtucker Trial — but fibbed to their campmates and told them they had won only two. They then kept up the charade all day, right up until they were about to get their food bag for their dinner. Prankster Alan came up with the idea and was then impressed by Coleen’s acting skills , saying: “I mentioned it to Coleen and I was a bit unsure if she would want to do that. "And she was like, let’s do it. “She walked in and she was like, ‘We only got two’. "And I was like, ‘Hey, I’m the actor here!’. i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz, Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street, was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women. She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher. Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan. It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth." “We managed to drag it out. Coleen was fantastic, a proper leading actress. "I believed Coleen — and I was in on the joke. “She was absolutely fantastic as an actress. "I said, ‘I think she could be a barmaid of the Rovers Return’. "She was absolutely brilliant.” Alan said he would be staying in touch with all 11 of his new celeb pals, including Coleen, who revealed she and Wayne, 39, had “ a few bars ” at their £20million Cheshire mansion . Would he like to hit up one of their boozers with Coleen and her Red Devils hero hubby? She said that she’s missed me, she loves me, she’s proud of me “Listen, if Wayne fancies a beer, I’ll go and have a beer, no problem,” Alan said. “Wherever we’re going to meet up, we’re going to have fun and we’ll reminisce about an experience that we’ve all shared together. "I’ll look forward to that from now on.” Despite his love for Wazza, Alan said he never once asked Coleen about him — instead chatting away over parenthood and their children . Alan, the joker of the jungle, was in good form when we met him yesterday in Surfers Paradise, Australia. He was chirpy as he reeled off stories from his time Down Under — including how he saved the camp from flooding by using his handyman skills which his campmates loved him for. The camp has been battered by relentless storms in what has been the wettest I’m a Celeb in the ITV1 show’s 22-year history. Last weekend, the weather got so bad that bosses drew up emergency plans to evacuate the camp if the weather worsened. But Alan said: “So I just kind of dug out a trench to re-divert the water so it didn’t put out the fire.” Sun columnist Jane Moore, 62, and former world champion boxer Barry McGuigan, 63, both praised Alan for his handyman skills after they were evicted. When he leaves behind the 30C Australian sunshine for the colder climes of Manchester, Alan will be putting on his Christmas PJs and putting up a tree with Sienna. But before then, he has got some golf to play and some celebrating to do — both for his jungle stint and signing a Corrie contract extension taking him through his 27th year on the cobbles. He said: “I’ll maybe have a couple of pints of Guinness to toast it.” ALAN Halsall has spoken of his new Coronation Street contract — after bosses offered him the deal before he went into the I’m A Celebrity jungle. The star, who plays Tyrone Dobbs on the ITV soap, said: “I’ve spoken a lot in camp of how humbling it is to be a very small part of Coronation Street. “I’m thrilled. That’s the job I love, so long may it continue. "I’ll maybe have a couple of pints of Guinness to toast it.”Freeman has 26 in Bethune-Cookman's 79-67 victory over North Dakota

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley wanted to be a student in team history before he had a chance to make some with the Eagles. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley wanted to be a student in team history before he had a chance to make some with the Eagles. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley wanted to be a student in team history before he had a chance to make some with the Eagles. The running back who had just signed with Philadelphia for $26 million guaranteed took a deep dive on some of the franchise’s greats out of the backfield. He learned about Wilbert Montgomery. Brushed up on LeSean McCoy. Barkley then put them in his sights — and this week against Carolina, he could become the top single-season rusher in Eagles history. Get past those two Eagles Hall of Famers and the target narrows: McCoy has a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing mark of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. “That’s your goal,” Barkley said. “You want to come in here, you want to leave a legacy on a place, on a franchise.” Here’s where things stand with Barkley in his pursuit of records: — Barkley has an NFL-best 1,499 yards rushing through 12 games, an average of 124.9 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would surpass the NFL mark that’s stood for 40 years. — Barkley needs to run for 108 yards against the Panthers to break McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 yards set in 2013. Montgomery ran for 1,512 yards in 1978. “I’m aware of the things I can accomplish,” Barkley said. “The way I accomplish that is sticking to the script.” The Eagles (10-2) have won eight straight to take control of the NFC East and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Barkley — with a little help from Jalen Hurts — has largely led the way and moved into MVP consideration. The former New York Giant also ranks third in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns. It’s reasonable to expect Barkley to pile on the yards against Carolina (3-9). The Panthers are 32nd in the league against the run and just allowed Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving to run for a career-high 152 yards last week (he had never broken 100). “It’s incredible what he is doing. The record has stood up for a while. I mean 17 games or 14 games, it’s ridiculous,” Panthers defensive lineman Shy Tuttle said. “It’s a record that has been held for a long time and whoever breaks it, Saquon or someone else, it’s an incredible achievement.” Barkley leads the NFL with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards this season and tied Montgomery for the most 100-yards games in an Eagles season with eight. “You get to see the player on Sundays. We get to see the person every other day during the week,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “He’s special. At the end of the day, he’s a special teammate, special person. The way he connects with everyone, rallies everyone together. He’s one of the best.” Putting last week behind him Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard is eager to get back on the field and put last week behind him. Carolina’s leading rusher had a costly fumble in overtime last Sunday against Tampa Bay as the Panthers were driving for a potential game-winning field goal, resulting in a 26-23 loss to division rival Tampa Bay. A dejected Hubbard remained on the bench for several minutes after the loss. “You definitely use it as motivation,” Hubbard said. “I have come a long way and I know what it’s like to play great football. That was a big mistake on my end, but I don’t just lose all of the work I have put in because of that one mistake.” Get down, Young man Bryce Young is beginning to show he can be a factor with his legs, scoring on a 10-yard run last week against the Buccaneers. However, Young still receives plenty of good-natured ribbing from his teammates when it comes to his sliding ability, which the QB has previously admitted is limited because he wasn’t much of a baseball player. “He definitely has to work on his slide,” Hubbard said. “He has been making people miss so he hasn’t had to slide like that a lot. I mean I’m not trying to hate on my dog’s slide but it’s just a work in progress. He will be all right.” Oh, those Philly fans Panthers guard Robert Hunt said it’s always interesting playing in Philadelphia because of the team’s passionate fan base. Last year, while Hunt was playing for the Dolphins, he said an Eagles fan attempted to board the Miami team bus. “They have some characters there — some people who don’t really give a damn,” Hunt said. “He was trying to trash-talk us. But he was confident and that is what makes them them.” Hunt said the fan never made it on the bus. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “Aw hell no, we would have stomped that boy,” Hunt said with a laugh. “He tried. He was talking his noise. Good for him. I don’t want to say you want a fan base like that, but you want a fan base that cares about the team.” ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Advertisement Advertisement

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal. The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Thursday after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from Villa head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal. However, Villa said Friday night that its bid was unsuccessful and the forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct. “Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Duran’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected," a statement on Villa’s official X account read. "The player will now miss our next three matches.” Duran will miss Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester, followed by Villa's FA Cup third-round match with West Ham on Jan. 10. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Davion Bailey had 19 points in Incarnate Word's 65-53 win against East Texas A&M on Saturday. Bailey had four steals for the Cardinals (5-4, 1-1 Southland Conference). Dylan Hayman went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to add 11 points. Jalin Anderson had nine points and shot 2 of 9 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line. The Lions (1-9, 0-2) were led in scoring by Scooter Williams Jr., who finished with 10 points. Mykol Sanchez-Vega added nine points for East Texas A&M. Josh Taylor finished with eight points. The Lions prolonged their losing streak to six in a row. NEXT UP Incarnate Word next plays Tuesday against Duke on the road, and East Texas A&M hosts South Alabama on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .SAN DIEGO , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BSD Builders, Inc. today announced it has received seismic certification from California's OSHPD/HCAi for its state-of-the-art Microgrid Solutions. Developed in partnership with 2G Energy Inc., the BSD Special Seismically Certified (SSC) Microgrid product is set to revolutionize energy resilience and efficiency for all types of buildings. The BSD SSC Microgrid system, consisting of a cogeneration power plant and fuel storage, was initially designed to support California skilled nursing facilities' compliance with California Assembly Bill 2511, which California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on September 29, 2022 . This bill requires these facilities to have an alternative power source to protect resident health and safety for at least 96 hours during any type of power outage. This microgrid power solution is a self-contained electrical system that can operate independently from the main power grid. With the seismic certification, it is now available for any type of building that needs uninterruptable power. "At BSD Builders, we're passionate about creating solutions that make a difference in people's lives. We have developed a proprietary solution that not only meets but exceeds California's stringent seismic requirements while providing a reliable and efficient source of power, especially during unexpected power loss or natural disasters," said Jeff Blair , CEO of BSD Builders, Inc. "This solution offers long-term benefits not only by lowering utility costs, it can also help to improve the stability of the regional electric grid and reduce carbon emissions." Key features of the BSD SSC Microgrid Solution include: "2G Energy is proud to partner with BSD on the BSD SSC Microgrid System designing it for a wide range of applications, providing a reliable and cost-effective energy solution for skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, data centers, pharmaceutical labs, research facilities, cold storage units, data centers, and more," stated Darren Jamison , Managing Director of 2G Energy North America. "The design utilizes proprietary technologies to offer clients reduced utility costs and increased reliability. It is designed for continuous parallel operation with the utility as well as stand-alone island mode," concluded Jamison. For more information about the BSD SSC Microgrid System or to schedule a consultation, please visit bsdbuilders.com . About BSD Builders, Inc . - BSD Builders, Inc. is a leading general contractor specializing in the healthcare industry. Focusing on exceeding industry standards and delivering exceptional value to clients, BSD Builders, Inc. continues to set the benchmark for excellence in the construction and energy sectors. About 2G Energy – 2G Energy is a globally recognized leader in the development and production of combined heat and power (CHP) systems. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, 2G Energy provides cutting-edge solutions that optimize energy efficiency and environmental performance. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bsd-builders-inc-advanced-microgrid-solutions-receives-california-seismic-certification-for-uninterruptible-power-supply-302324334.html SOURCE BSD Builders, Inc.JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — After taking over as governor amid a scandal in 2018, Republican Mike Parson hoped to bring stability to a state that had just watched the unsettling resignation of his predecessor. But, in an expansive interview as he prepares to leave office, Missouri’s 57th chief executive said he remains in awe of how multiple crises unfolded during his tenure as chief executive. Within weeks of taking over for scandal-plagued Republican Eric Greitens, the former state lawmaker and county sheriff raced to Branson in the aftermath of the sinking of a duck boat ride at Table Rock Lake that killed 17 tourists. There was a flood, a drought , a crisis in the St. Louis prosecutor’s office and the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was so much turmoil when I first walked in these doors. The first big challenge was, ‘How do you stabilize that?’” Parson said. “I think at the end of the day, we did.” Parson will leave the warren of offices overlooking the Missouri River on the Capitol’s second floor on Jan. 13, handing the keys to Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, a fellow Republican who has signaled he too wants relative continuity in 2025 by retaining a number of Parson holdovers to serve in his Cabinet. In a wide-ranging conversation with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Parson said there were many incidents that no governor could have been prepared to face, including a respiratory virus that infected a third of all residents and killed 22,000 Missourians. Like other governors, Parson faced evolving and often conflicting health advice, as well as members of the public split on masks, vaccines and school and business closures. “It was one of the most difficult times I had,” Parson said. “It was just unprecedented.” The governmental response to the virus wasn’t just a fight between a more relaxed approach in rural Missouri versus heightened health concerns in more populous urban areas, Parson said. “Some people wanted mandates, some people didn’t and that was all over the state,” said Parson, pointing to examples that came from friends in his hometown of Bolivar. “I remember people down home talking about churches, for example. I remember people calling me and saying you need to shut the churches down,” Parson said. “And that was people back home. You had that kind of pressure every day.” The COVID-19 shutdowns sent Missouri’s unemployment rate skyrocketing, pushing beyond the 12% level in April 2020. But, through a combination of vaccines and businesses opening, the rate was down to 6.8% by July 2020 and 4.2% a year later. “The whole time you’re fighting the virus you’re trying to keep the economy going,” he said. Parson said his decision to not shut down the state was based largely on his experience of owning a Polk County gas station in his younger days. Small business owners need to pay loans, mortgages and employees. “We made it possible for people to stay open,” Parson said. “I think looking back on it we did the right thing.” It wasn’t smooth sailing. In July 2020, Parson downplayed the risk of children contracting the coronavirus during school reopenings, insisting “they’re going to get over it.” “These kids have got to get back to school,” he said at the time. “They’re at the lowest risk possible. And if they do get COVID-19, which they will — and they will when they go to school — they’re not going to the hospitals. They’re not going to have to sit in doctor’s offices. They’re going to go home and they’re going to get over it.” “We gotta move on,” he continued. “We can’t just let this thing stop us in our tracks.” The blowback was harsh. Some health officials expressed concern about returning to schools because students could carry the virus home to older relatives. “I probably didn’t do it as tactfully as I should have,” Parson now acknowledges. “It was pretty brutal. People came after me with both barrels.” The governor’s approach to COVID-19 was similar to how he addressed other issues. Often out of sync Parson governed as a staunch Republican, eagerly taking up GOP talking points on guns, immigration and cultural issues. He signed a strict abortion ban in 2019 that went into effect in 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. He won legislative support to give the nation’s lowest-paid state workers raises topping 25% to address an ongoing labor shortage in his administration, but he refused to sign any state worker employee union contracts during his entire tenure. Long waiting times for residents seeking state benefits were a frustrating feature of the Parson era. Missouri voters also sent Parson and his fellow Republicans multiple reminders that Missouri is not a wholly red state when it comes to social service issues. In 2020, for example, Missouri voters approved an expansion of Medicaid coverage after years of Republican opposition to President Barack Obama’s signature achievement of trying to fix the nation’s health care system. Parson opposed the expansion as a dangerous drain on tax revenues. The administration slow-walked the voter-approved rollout until the Supreme Court of Missouri held the expansion amendment to be constitutional. People began enrolling in October 2021, nearly a year after the matter was approved at the ballot box. Expansion has proven popular. As of Dec. 6, more than 316,000 adults were enrolled to get health coverage. In all, there are nearly 1.3 million Missourians receiving health insurance through Obamacare. In response to the Medicaid vote and other citizen-led petition drives, Parson says lawmakers must make it harder for residents to amend the state’s constitution. Republicans who control the Legislature were unable to raise the threshold for passage during a contentious spring legislative session and, by the fall, voters overturned the ban on abortion through an initiative petition. Although Parson favors toughening the standards for passage of amendments, he also urged the Legislature to resolve problems before residents feel the need to make changes themselves at the ballot box. “If you don’t take action ... people are going to go to the initiative petition process because they get frustrated because nothing ever happens here and nobody is willing to come to a compromise,” Parson said. The state budget also grew exponentially during his tenure, some of that due to an influx of billions of dollars in federal funds. As he leaves office, Parson contends that a series of income tax cuts also helped boost the bottom line. “Yes, the budget has ballooned during this administration. There’s no doubt about it,” he said. “It’s because revenues went up. If you put money back in people’s pockets, the general revenue and the economy grows.” Picking the ‘right people’ Parson’s relationship with the Democrat-controlled St. Louis region was sometimes testy over Republican opposition to tightening the state’s loose gun laws and ongoing threats to put the city’s police department under state control. “I set out early on to make sure the people of St. Louis realize I just wasn’t some old country boy from southwest Missouri and I was just going to take care of things back home,” Parson said. “For the state of Missouri to do well, St. Louis must do well.” “You’ve got to be part of finding solutions. Sometimes when you get involved it becomes controversial,” he said. Parson said he never imagined he would be in the middle of a fight over the St. Louis city prosecutor’s office when he was first sworn in. “I didn’t even know it was my job to pick the circuit attorney of St. Louis,” Parson said. In 2023, Parson appointed Gabe Gore , a civil attorney, to rebuild the city prosecutor’s office following the abrupt resignation of beleaguered Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner. Gore, then a partner at the high-powered and politically connected Dowd Bennett law firm, served on the Ferguson Commission following protests over the 2014 death of Michael Brown and worked as an assistant U.S. attorney prosecutor in the 1990s. “That was a big selection. You could tell he cared about the city,” Parson said of Gore. Parson also had the unprecedented opportunity to appoint four people to statewide office to fill vacancies when the officeholder ran for higher office and left the post open. He elevated state treasurer Eric Schmitt to attorney general to succeed Josh Hawley. Hawley and Schmitt are now both U.S. senators. Parson named Scott Fitzpatrick, a state representative, to succeed Schmitt as treasurer. Fitzpatrick is now state auditor. The governor named his general counsel Andrew Bailey to succeed Schmitt as attorney general and lawyer Vivek Malek to succeed Fitzpatrick as treasurer. “I really tried to pick people who were good for the jobs,” he said. All four ran for election after their appointments and voters gave them easy wins on Election Day — a result Parson says means that he chose the right people. “I think the people of the state said, ‘You did a pretty good job,’” Parson said. There also were controversies inside the Capitol and outside. At the height of the pandemic, amid concerns about the ongoing spread of the virus, former House Speaker Rob Vescovo informed Parson’s office that he would have to deliver the annual State of the State speech to an empty House chamber. An enraged Parson received permission to give his speech in the Senate chamber. Two days later, a fuming Parson fired off a letter accusing Vescovo of engaging in a “purposeful and disgusting scheme to embarrass” him. “Instead, Wednesday became an insider stunt and petty show of arrogance and political power,” Parson wrote. Dealing with the media In 2021, Parson accused the Post-Dispatch of hacking into a state website despite evidence that his own administration’s computer shortcomings had left personal information about Missouri teachers available within a few mouse clicks on a state-run website. He never apologized for the accusation after prosecutors declined to press charges. Parson also raised eyebrows for pardoning Central West End attorney Mark McCloskey and his wife, Patricia, in 2021 for brandishing guns at protesters who were moving through the neighborhood. He also was criticized in 2024 for pardoning Britt Reid, the son of Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid, who had been in prison for a drunken driving crash that seriously injured a 5-year-old girl. His decision this month to commute the prison sentence of former police detective Eric DeValkenaere , the first Kansas City officer ever convicted of killing a Black man, was, as expected, highly controversial. But Parson also was widely praised for granting clemency to Patty Prewitt , who had spent 40 years behind bars for her husband’s 1984 murder. “It wasn’t like we liked all the stories anyone wrote, but you’re not in the business of writing everything I like,” Parson said. “You have to learn to deal with the media. From Day One, we tried to establish a role with the media. And for the most part we were able to do that,” he said. Parson said Kehoe will hit the ground running next month. He hopes the former senator and Jefferson City businessman will address the state’s child care industry, which has not recovered from the pandemic. A key to solving the problems lies with Kehoe navigating divisiveness among Republicans, who have been unable to overcome differences in the state Senate, leading to a record-low number of non-budget bills going to Parson’s desk. “I think he’s got a really good foundation to build on,” Parson said. “If there is one thing on the table that I didn’t get done ... you’ve got to do something about the day care situation in the state.” “It is a huge issue for everyday people out there. There’s just a lack of it,” Parson said. As he heads back to Bolivar, a city of 11,300 people, his small cattle operation and home to Southwest Baptist University, Parson said the last six years were more intense than many can imagine. “The worst part of the job is time. You just have very little time,” Parson said. “I missed my family. I missed a lot of ball games. It is a pressure cooker every day and it just never stops.” But, he said, “We got about everything done that we started out to do. I’m looking forward to going home.” ©2024 STLtoday.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Auto-emptying cordless vacuums are one of the biggest trends on the cleaning scene, but they tend to be quite large and visually cumbersome. If you want the convenience of a self-emptying vacuum but don't want an unsightly base in your living space, the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI strikes the right balance of function and aesthetics. This high-end cordless stick vacuum isn't just powerful — it's also surprisingly sleek, with a stylish base that won't be an eyesore in your home. The addition of the base also very much limits how often you come into contact with any debris. However, this top-of-the-line vacuum isn't cheap, and I tested it for a month in my multi-pet home to see how it compares against the best cordless vacuums . Its overall cleaning performance was impressive — as was its appearance — but there are a few critiques you should know about before you splurge. The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Cordless Stick has a sleek design with an auto-emptying base that minimizes contact with dust, and its five suction settings make it a powerful cleaning tool for your home. Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Sleek Design with auto-empty dock Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Five suction settings Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Telescoping wand Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Digital display with battery life timer con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Awkwardly designed base with no storage for attachments con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Long hair wraps around brushroll con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Short warranty, for the price Specifics Dustbin: 0.5 liters (vacuum); 2 liters (base) Weight: 6.3 pounds Battery: Up to 100 minutes Brush length: 9.8 inches Filtration: Five-stage HEPA Warranty: 1 year Extras: All-in-one clean station, Pet Tool+, combination tool, crevice tool, seven dust bags Setup and Design The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Cordless Stick Vacuum is designed with aesthetics in mind. It has a sleek round base with a fluted exterior and satin finish, and it could pass as a piece of contemporary decor. The vacuum has a matching finish, creating a seamless appearance when it's docked. It's definitely one of the most stylish vacuums I've seen, and I wouldn't mind having it out in the open in one of my main living spaces. However, I didn't get off to the best start with this vacuum. Despite having assembled dozens of cordless vacuums in my career, I had a surprisingly hard time setting it up. After unboxing all the pieces, I was able to put the vacuum itself together with no problem, but the design of the base wasn't intuitive. The side that I expected to be the back of the base was actually the front, which means you have to place the vacuum onto the back of the dock. It's a strange design choice that prioritizes aesthetics over function, and if you place the base too close to the wall, you'll end up banging the vacuum against it every time you put it away. The other thing that had me scratching my head was that there are three accessories — a powered pet tool, combination tool, and crevice tool — yet there's nowhere to store them. I spent longer than I care to admit prying at different panels on the base, trying to find a compartment where I could put the accessories. (I also read through the manual, which offered no insights.) It turns out that there's just not any storage for these pieces, which is a big negative if you ask me. What's the point of having a big, stylish base that's meant to be displayed in your home if you then have to keep the attachments separately in a closet somewhere? Our review of the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Stick vacuum To see how the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI stacks up against other cordless vacuums, I tested it in my home for around a month. I predominantly used it to vacuum the main floor of my home, which is around 1,000 square feet and features hardwood and linoleum floors, as well as several area rugs. Because I share my home with two long-hair dogs, as well as a short-haired cat, there's no shortage of dirt, dust, and pet hair, so I was able to put the vacuum through its paces to find out where it excelled — and where it fell short. This cordless vacuum is fairly lightweight at just over six pounds, and I found that it was very easy to carry around. It has an on/off switch on the top of the vacuum, as well as buttons to increase or decrease suction and a fancy digital display screen. When I turned the vacuum on for the first time, it even asked me to select my preferred language. I also love that it has a telescoping wand, which allows you to adjust its height. This makes it much more ergonomic to use, especially if you're a taller individual. When you're done cleaning, you simply dock this vacuum back on its base, which then automatically empties the dust bin. The dock also makes sure the vacuum is fully charged and ready to go the next time you need it. One of my favorite aspects of the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is that it has five different cleaning settings — Min, AI, Mid, Max, and Jet — with a maximum suction power of 280 air watts. Most cordless vacuums only have three settings, and I've found that "eco" modes are often too weak to be useful, and "max" modes drain the battery way too quickly. For this reason, I appreciate having more suction levels in between to find the right balance of performance and battery life. When you turn this vacuum on, it defaults to AI mode, which automatically adjusts its suction based on the floor type to maximize battery life — it functions similarly to the "Auto" mode you'll find on cordless vacuums from Shark, Dyson, and Tineco. This setting worked surprisingly well, increasing suction as soon as I moved onto carpeting and dropping it back down when it sensed hard floors, It also boosted suction when I drove it through a large amount of dirt or debris. I used the Bespoke Jet AI vacuum for everyday cleaning around my house, and I also put it through a series of tests, using it to suck up debris like uncooked rice, coffee grounds, and baby powder off different types of flooring. Because it offers more settings than your average vacuum, I was able to dial in the suction to the task at hand, and it did a (mostly) great job on both hard floors and carpeting thanks to its dual brushrolls. However, it struggled with larger debris like cereal and rice on hardwoods — the floorhead is too low and struggled to suck up the large pieces, often just pushing them around the floor instead. Another area where this vacuum struggled was cleaning up pet hair — long pet hair, in particular. After cleaning the main floor of my home, where my two golden retrievers spend most of their time, I noticed that there was a lot of hair wrapped around the vacuum's brushroll, and I had to use scissors to cut it off. I was surprised that such an expensive vacuum doesn't have any sort of anti-tangle technology, and as such, I can't recommend it for households with long-haired pets. You'll just end up having to clean off the brushroll again and again. The crevice and combo tools are fairly standard in terms of attachments, but I did like the Pet Tool+. Thanks to its rubber fins, it did a great job picking up pet hair off my furniture, and unlike the floorhead, it doesn't get wrapped up in long strands of hair. The tool pivots slightly, making it easy to hold it at a comfortable angle as you clean. As with most cordless vacuums, Samsung's battery life varies greatly depending on what mode you're using. I generally used the AI mode for everyday cleaning, and on hard floors, the vacuum offers around 60 minutes of runtime, which is impressive. However, if you move over to carpeting, the suction increases, and the runtime drops down to around 30 minutes. On Mid mode, you generally get around 30 to 40 minutes of battery life, and runtime drops to 20 minutes on Max and just 12 minutes on Jet. However, I seldom turned this vacuum to anything higher than Mid for more than a few minutes at a time, so I think it's safe to say you'll get at least 30 minutes of use out of it in most instances. I love that you can monitor the exact amount of runtime you have left on the unit's digital display. The display has a countdown timer that adjusts based on the settings you use. The only other vacuum I've tested with this feature is the Dyson Gen5detect , which is similarly expensive. This vacuum can hold 0.5 liters of debris in its onboard dust bin, which is fairly standard. However, the real selling point is its auto-emptying base. Not only does the vacuum's dock look sleek, but it also makes emptying the vacuum a hands-off task. Every time you dock the vacuum, the base automatically opens the bottom of the vacuum's dust bin and uses powerful suction to pull out all the debris, which is then trapped in a 2-liter vacuum bag in the base. (There's also a button labeled Start/Stop that lets you manually run the self-emptying cycle.) The process is much more sanitary than banging a dustbin over the trash can, which often ends up spewing dust all over the room, and it's equally mess-free to change the inner bag, which is accessible through the front panel of the base. I've also noticed that this feature helps to keep the on-board dustbin cleaner. The auto-emptying feature works with or without the vacuum's wand attached — convenient when you're using a hand tool like the pet brush — but I did run into issues one time when I overfilled the on-board dustbin. I wasn't paying attention while cleaning and let the debris surpass the max fill line. When I put the vacuum on the dock, a large clump of pet hair got stuck toward the top of the dust cup. I ran the self-emptying cycle twice, but it wasn't able to dislodge the clump. I ended up manually digging out the debris over the trash can. This was the only time I ran into a problem with the base, and ultimately, it was my fault for not paying attention to how much debris I was picking up. There are a few things you'll need to do regularly to keep this vacuum working properly. When the button on the top of the dock turns red, that means it's time to replace the vacuum bag. The manual indicates that the bag generally needs to be emptied every one or two months — after using the vacuum for around a month, my bag was still only half full. The vacuum comes with six replacement bags , which is nice, and when you need to purchase more, they cost $40 for a pack of five. This vacuum also has three filters, all of which are washable, and the brand recommends cleaning them once a month. Because this vacuum often gets long hair wrapped around its brushroll, you'll want to check its floorhead periodically and cut off hair as needed. The brushroll can also be removed from the floorhead for more thorough cleaning. Cons to consider My biggest complaint about the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is the design of the base. While it is attractive, I found it frustrating that it needs to be placed so far away from a wall, or else it's very hard to get the vacuum into the dock, as you have to place it in from the back. I also dislike that there's nowhere to store the vacuum's three accessories. The other major downside is that this vacuum quickly gets tangled with long strands of hair. If you have long-haired pets, you'll likely find yourself cutting hair off the brushroll frequently to keep it working properly. It's worth mentioning that despite its high price point, this vacuum only comes with a one-year warranty. (For comparison, Dyson vacuums come with a two-year warranty, and Shark offers a five-year warranty.) If you buy directly from the brand, you have the option to purchase Samsung Care+ , which offers three years of protection against mechanical and electrical problems, but it costs an extra $134.99. What are your alternatives? There are several versions of the Samsung Jet that you may want to consider — especially if you're hoping to spend a bit less. The next step down is the regular Bespoke Jet , which has a virtually identical design, including a self-emptying base and the same multi-level filtration. The regular Jet lacks AI mode and has a max runtime of 60 minutes, and it also has slightly less suction power than the AI model. However, it's a fair bit cheaper, retailing at $699.99, so it's a good option if you want a similar design at a lower price. If you want something even more affordable, the Samsung Jet 75 costs $400 and has fewer bells and whistles (i.e. forgoes the clean station but is compatible with one). There are several other auto-emptying models among the best cordless vacuums that we've tested that you may want to consider, as well. The LG CordZero All-in-One is a (slightly) less-expensive option, retailing for around $750, and it has a better self-emptying base that has hidden storage for all its attachments. This cordless vacuum is powerful and works well across both hard floors and carpeting, and it also has a spray mop attachment. The Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System is another self-emptying option that automatically detects dirt and floor type, and while it's not as sleek as the Samsung Bespoke Jet, it's more budget-friendly at around $450. The bottom line The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Cordless Vacuum has a lot going for it — it's powerful, low-maintenance, and versatile, and more than anything, it's surprisingly attractive for a vacuum. However, it's also very expensive at $1,000 and has some quirks, such as its awkward base and lack of accessory storage. If you're looking for something aesthetically pleasing, it might be worth the splurge, but in terms of cleaning performance, there are comparable (if not better) options that will cost significantly less.

Market Surprises! Tech Stocks Soar Amid Economic ShiftsOTTAWA — Parents of children who died because of online sexual extortion are urging MPs to act on online harms legislation. The online harms bill is among the legislation that’s been blocked from moving forward for months due to a parliamentary privilege debate raging between the Liberals and Conservatives. The bill targets seven categories of online behaviour, from the non-consensual sharing of intimate images to content that can be used to bully a child, and would create a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada. Justice Minister Arif Virani announced plans to split the bill into two parts this week, heeding calls from critics to separate the more controversial hate speech provisions from the child exploitation components. But the bill still can’t move forward until the privilege filibuster is over. Barbie Lavers, whose teenage son died by suicide after being extorted online over intimate images, told a House of Commons committee Thursday that she supports the online harms legislation. Lavers asked politicians from all parties to come to a temporary alliance and stop using children as political pawns to show “one party is more correct than the other.” “The longer Bill C-63 remains a political issue, the more children we will lose. We beg you to please stop wasting time and do something to help save our children,” she said. Carol Todd, whose daughter Amanda died by suicide due to online sextortion, told MPs it is hurtful to watch political arguments after waiting 12 years for legislation. The Conservatives say they won’t end the filibuster until either the Liberals hand over unredacted documents related to misspending at a now-defunct green technology fund to the RCMP, or the NDP agrees to bring down the government. The Liberals need the support of an opposition party to end or pause the privilege debate, which the NDP did last week when it allowed the government to pass legislation to enact a temporary federal sales tax holiday. But the New Democrats say they, too, want the documents handed over and will not agree to end the debate entirely. Virani said the goal of breaking the legislation into two was “to find consensus amongst parliamentarians on the things that we can agree to immediately.” Conservative justice critic Larry Brock called for Virani to “give up” on the bill and instead adopt a Conservative private member’s bill tackling online harms. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who introduced that bill, repeatedly put it forward as a superior alternative to the government’s proposed legislation while questioning the witnesses at committee Thursday. Rempel Garner said her concern with the government bill is that it puts the social media platforms’ responsibilities “into a regulator that hasn’t been built and it gives online platforms the ability to wiggle out of this two, three, four years in the future.” “I would direct your attention to C-412,” she told Todd. The first part of the government bill, which Virani plans to prioritize, would create a new regulator to compel social media companies to outline how they plan to reduce the risks their platforms pose to users, particularly minors. It would also update rules around mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse material by internet service providers and some online services. Rempel Garner’s bill would include measures modernizing the existing law against criminal harassment so a victim can ask a judge to force social media companies to identify someone who has repeatedly harassed them online. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press

NoneRunning back Jace Clarizio flipped his commitment from his local team, Michigan State, to Alabama. The decision, announced by Clarizio on social media Tuesday, comes after the East Lansing (Mich.) High standout visited head coach Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide on Nov. 16. "Great program," Clarizio told On3. "Playing on the biggest level. ... All the people and coaches I met and interacted with were all great people. The atmosphere was crazy." The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder is ranked as the No. 33 running back by On3 and tabbed No. 35 in their industry ranking. In May, he had verbally committed to the Spartans, where his father, Craig Johnson, was a running back and defensive back who was a member of the 1987 Rose Bowl-winning squad under coach George Perles. --Field Level Media