top646 slot Submitted photo. Osagie "Leo" Ekhaguere of Lions Security gives a gift card to a homeless person along Central Avenue on Christmas Eve. A local Prince Albert business was spreading some holiday cheer on Christmas Eve. Members of Lions Security Incorporated were giving away gift cards along Central Avenue and in the Cornerstone shopping area at McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s. Gift cards were given out to the homeless along Central Avenue and to elderly people in Cornerstone. Osagie “Leo” Ekhaguere is the president of Lions Security. He says that they wanted to help those who are less fortunate. “We have observed that the vulnerable people, this time of festival, we should share time with them, because some people are actually going through a lot of situations that they cannot tell some people about and that alone brings a lot of depression. We want to make people feel comfortable, feel that kind of liveliness in this kind of season. Let’s engage with them, let’s share the moment with them. It’s a time to share love, it’s a time to share that kind of beautiful things that we have, that they don’t have.” With each gift card given out to an elderly person, Lions also handed out information pamphlets on how to prevent being scammed online. According to Ekhauguere, scams have cost Canadians upwards of 500 million dollars in 2024. He says older people are more likely to be scammed then younger people. “If you look at the people that are mostly affected, they are the elderly people because they are not very used to technology. You have to explain over and again to them that this is what you should avoid. Don’t click these and don’t give us this information. You have to continuously tell them and you repeatedly say this to them until they get it. If you’re not there to continually tell them, they’re going to just forget and when they forget, anything could happen. Before you know it, most of them have lost money. Once money is lost, to get it back is always very, very difficult.” The pamphlet contained seven bullet points which read: Recognize Common Scams, Protect your Personal Information, Stay Vigilant Online, Spot the Red Flags, Verify Before You Trust, Use Reliable Resources and Trust Your Instincts editorial@paherald.sk.ca -Advertisement-

In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s to claw back money that — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Eighteen member Presidential Task Force to implement “Clean Sri Lanka” Programme

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LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford speaks about it often this time of year. The beauty of meaningful football in December. How invigorating it is. How it can’t be taken for granted. If anyone would know, it would be Stafford. Prior to his trade to the Rams before the 2021 season, Stafford’s teams didn’t often have things at stake by the time the calendar turned to the 12th month. He made the playoffs three times in 12 years with the Detroit Lions, and in the down years his team often wasn’t even in the hunt. But in the thick of his third December with the Rams – he missed the final month of 2022 with injuries – Stafford has continued to thrive as the weather gets colder. With four straight wins to start the month, Stafford has improved to 12-1 in December during his Rams tenure, with the chance to improve on that in Saturday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. “It’s nice to be on a little bit of a run right now. The cool thing about this group is we know that we earn every single bit of it,” Stafford said. “We don’t win the next game because we’ve won however many times before it. You don’t lose the next game because you had a hiccup the week before, whatever it is. You have to go out there and earn it every single week.” Stafford has completed 67% of his 100 passes this month for 773 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. That improves his overall December stats with the Rams (9-6) to a 66.8% completion rate for 3,272 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The only December loss for Stafford with the Rams came last season in a road game against the Baltimore Ravens that went to overtime and ended with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown . Aside from that fluky result, a clean record. “He’s just clutch,” head coach Sean McVay said. “The best part about Matthew Stafford is he’s got all these amazing numbers and stats that he’s put up and he’s this special quarterback; he wants to win. And I think he understands what it takes, especially in that month when that’s such a critical time to be able to peak at the right time if you’re gonna get an opportunity to get into the tournament.” A moment that stood out to McVay this month came during the Rams’ final drive in a Week 15 win at San Francisco . After the two-minute warning and in 49er territory, leading by three and trying to add more to the scoreboard, Stafford stood in the shotgun formation with an empty backfield. He sent receiver Cooper Kupp in motion, which pulled defensive backs Talanoa Hufanga and Deommodore Lenoir across the field and away from tight end Colby Parkinson. The play wasn’t designed to go to Parkinson, but Stafford recognized the open man and found Parkinson on a seam route for a 14-yard gain. The play got the Rams a fresh set of downs to burn the 49ers’ timeouts and some clock, too, and put the team comfortably into Joshua Karty’s field goal range to add three extra points. Related Articles “We’ve done a really nice job, especially as of late, just understanding that it’s really more about us than anything else,” Stafford said. “We go out there, we play the way we know how to play, do the things that we’re supposed to do and know how to play the game of football. It’s just whoever’s next up just happens to be. We’ve taken that approach as of late and it’s been a really good outcome for us.” Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein typically gets a veteran rest day on Fridays at this point in the season, or in this case with a Saturday game, on Thursday. But after injuring his shoulder in practice on Wednesday, Havenstein wouldn’t have been able to practice Thursday if he wanted to, McVay said. Asked if Havenstein will be able to play on Saturday, McVay said, “I’m hopeful. We’ll see.” But if Havenstein isn’t able to play, the Rams will turn to Joe Noteboom to fill in over second-year tackle Warren McClendon Jr.

TORONTO — Record bookings, new tours and destinations, successful fams and sold-out conferences — tour operators have plenty to be proud of in 2024. With the pandemic fully behind them, tour operators approached the year with gusto, intent on offering new and creative travel options for Canadians – and relying on travel advisors to spread the word. Together, 2024 was a massive success on all fronts, building on the post-pandemic momentum that has led many tour operators to reach, if not surpass, pre-Covid numbers. With 2025 just around the corner, we asked several top tour operators to reflect on this past year and how travel agents played a role in their success. AAT KINGS GROUP Benn Hall, CEO Standout moments : “In 2024, Inspiring Journeys had standout moments with the launch of its new offerings, including Tasting Tasmania and Flinders Island , South Australia Murray Cruise & Wine , and Kimberley Gorges & Gibb River Road. Additionally, our brands – AAT Kings and Inspiring Journeys – both excelled in delivering exceptional service, reflected in a year-over-year increase in our service metrics.” Shoutout to agents : “Travel advisors play an integral role in the success of AAA Kings Group. We were thrilled to host both our local and international advisors recently on a Tasmania fam trip to not only thank them for their support but also showcase firsthand our outstanding experiences and the many benefits of group touring.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “As the leading tour operator in Australia and New Zealand, we cannot wait to welcome more guests in 2025 and show them incredible immersive experiences that highlight all that our region has to offer, from Indigenous cultures to breathtaking nature and unique wildlife.” AFRICAN TRAVEL, INC. Sherwin Banda, President Standout moments : “We now have a full suite of offerings that advisors can sell or promote to their clients, which is truly exciting. As we conclude the year with the rollout of our Concierge Collection , we continue to focus predominantly on Luxury FITs. Although we’ve had some small group departures, man advisors have expressed the need for an escorted offering from us. Also this year, we hosted over 100 travel advisors on educational trips as we continue to invest in our partnership with travel advisors. We also introduced exciting advisor incentives throughout the year; on top of our standard 15% commission, advisors earned $100 per client in 2024, and $300 per couple for our Concierge Collection. And we continuously enhance our tools and resources for advisors, who now have access to a wide range of brochures, including our tailor-made Classic Collection and the new Concierge Collection.” Shoutout to agents : “At African Travel, Inc., 92% of our business comes from travel advisors. These relationships are the most cherished and protected source of our business, and we are committed to them every day. This commitment is why we invest in educational experiences. As part of our successful educational program, we invite advisors to travel with a companion of their choice. We believe that sharing these experiences with loved ones is more meaningful than just travelling with fellow advisors. This approach allows them to sell those experiences based on their own lived encounters in various destinations.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “I am particularly excited about our new Concierge Collection gaining momentum and expanding beyond 2025. I am also thrilled to see the growing interest in Africa, as people are looking for alternative travel destinations. We are also really excited about the opportunity to offer Canadian dollar pricing starting in 2025. We know that Canadian travellers would prefer this option, and we are glad to make it available across all of our programs moving forward into 2025.” CIE TOURS Rosanne Zusman, Chief Commercial Officer Standout moments : “Rather than a single standout moment, 2024 was filled with countless remarkable ones as we helped over 35,000 guests enjoy unforgettable adventures – often the trip of a lifetime. These moments of joy and discovery define our success and inspire us to continually raise the bar. Additionally, we were proud to advance our commitment to responsible tourism by becoming a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration and establishing a Sustainability Action Fund.” Shoutout to agents : “Travel agents remain our most valuable business partners. Their deep understanding of our value proposition and their continuous feedback on our product have been instrumental in connecting us with the right travelers. We greatly value their loyalty and the trust they place in recommending CIE Tours to their clients, knowing we share the same commitment to excellence and guest satisfaction.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “In 2025, we’re looking forward to increasing our outreach in Canada to connect with even more industry partners and travelers. At the same time, we’ll continue delivering excellence in travel, building on our 95% customer satisfaction rating. We’re especially excited to help our guests create unforgettable memories as they explore our new destinations, Spain and Sicily, alongside their perennial favorites. For travel advisors, we’re eager to see how the tools and resources in our new Travel Agent Portal enhance their productivity and efficiency.” COLLETTE Sam LaFrance, Public Relations Specialist Standout moments : “2024 was the biggest year in Collette’s 107-year history. We’re very excited about the continued growth of our small-group Explorations tours. The product line has seen a spike in popularity in recent years. All of that is even more exciting when considering that it all happened during J aclyn Leibl-Cote’s first year as CEO .” Shoutout to agents : “Advisors play a massive role in Collette’s success every year, and 2024 was no different. Because of this, we’re always looking out for them. This year, we launched several initiatives to reward advisors, including EnCompass launch , Collette Connection , Advisor Rewards Program , and our Gift Card Incentive , all of which served as ways for us to say thank you to advisors.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “2025 is shaping up to be a great year for Collette. We’re excited toa dd 15 new tours to our catalogue, with new destinations in Quebec, South Korea, Albania and more.” EXODUS TRAVELS Sasha Andrews, Director of Industry Sales, North America Standout moments : “2024 was a milestone year for us as we celebrated our 50th anniversary with our first-ever Mega FAM event. We had the privilege of hosting 50 travel agents from the UK, Canada, and the USA on four concurrent itineraries in Morocco, all culminating in a grand gala celebration in Marrakech. As part of this incredible event, the Exodus Travels Foundation made a £5,000 donation on behalf of our Mega FAM attendees to support solar panel and irrigation projects in Morocco through our partners at Baraka Community Projects. It was a smashing success, combining celebration with meaningful impact.” Shoutout to agents : “Travel agents have always been a cornerstone of our success in North America, and 2024 was no exception. We were thrilled to strengthen our partnerships with agents through dedicated support and by establishing exciting new collaborations. Their expertise and passion were pivotal in helping us reach new milestones, and we can’t wait to continue building on this momentum together in 2025.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “We’re eager to connect with our agent partners face-to-face in 2025. The year ahead is packed with exciting developments: a fabulous lineup of new trips, innovative marketing tools, and cutting-edge technology to enhance our partnerships. And, of course, more FAM trips to deepen our relationships and share unforgettable experiences.” G ADVENTURES David Green, VP Customer & Sales Operations and Managing Director for Canada Standout moments : “2024 was a banner year for us. We held our second annual GX World Community Tourism Summit in India where we brought together hundreds of travel industry professionals, travellers and thought leaders to celebrate the power of community within the travel industry. We also launched two new travel styles this year: Geluxe and Solo-ish , both of which have been incredibly successful. And we can’t forget our massively successful ‘ You Belong With G ’ advisor incentive, where we brought more than 15 of Canada’s top-selling agents to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Toronto last month!” Shoutout to agents : “Agents are the backbone of our business and we could not do what we do without them. We had our biggest year ever with our agency partners, thanks to their hard work and passion. We continued to grow our popular ‘In The Loop’ monthly webinar series that provides agents with both education and the chance to win big. We also launched our first ‘Evening with G and Friends’ events in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary where we honoured and celebrated our top achievers, and are looking forward to doing the same in 2025.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “We have ambitious plans for 2025. For one, GX 2025 will be held in Jordan and will be our biggest and most impactful World Tourism Community Summit to date. We’re also just about to kick off our annual four-month-long G-Normous agent incentive where agents will compete to win up to $40k in prizes. It all starts on Jan. 1, so stay tuned and check our Agents of Change Facebook page for all the details. We are also incredibly excited about several new itineraries and community projects that we will unveil next year, which will be great examples of our commitment to using travel as a force for good globally.” GLOBUS FAMILY OF BRANDS Steve Born, Chief Marketing Officer Standout moments : “From classic tours to undiscovered journeys, we have 12 unique touring styles designed very thoughtfully and intentionally to deliver more ‘wow’ in the world with no planning, no hassles – just ease. And that’s a unique offering for our travel advisor partners. To celebrate, we unveiled some great Globus marketing materials, including a new series of videos to help showcase the benefits of touring the globe with Globus. We also announced that we’re extending our tour styles even further with the introduction of 50 Small Group Discovery tours across the globe. These all-new tours were built from the ground-up, specifically for small groups, with unique accommodations, exclusive excursions and special access throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the South Pacific. And we also unveiled a new trade brand and promise for travel advisors this year with our “We’ve Got U” campaign. Part of that push included unveiling an entirely new travel advisor portal, dedicated trade-facing Facebook page and GFOB University / training program.” Shoutout to agents : “Simply put, travel advisors are the reason for our success this year. In 2024, they drove Avalon to a record year and helped river cruisers understand that there is a difference between the traditional and an elevated cruise experience through Avalon. And for touring, they have embraced our new style, Small Group Discovery tours, and are bringing new customers into the category.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “Italy is going to be big for us – and for travellers – in 2025. In the year of the Jubilee, we’ve got 33 Italy itineraries and nine travel styles – from independent city tours and off-season Escapes to Small Group Discovery and Undiscovered tours. We’re also excited to place an even bigger spotlight on ‘tour-ific’ destinations across the globe, those, epic and hard-to-navigate places that are perfect for touring. From Japan to Croatia, Armenia to Scandinavia and Peru to SE Asia, the world is full of places that are best seen and experienced on a Globus tour.” GOWAY Mitchell Fawcett, VP Marketing Standout moments : “This was a huge year for us as we became ‘ The New Goway ’ . We launched our first rebrand in our 54-year history, a new million-dollar website, a new reservations systems and enhanced incentive and education programs for travel advisors.” Shoutout to agents : “Travel advisors are the key to Goway’s success, and they helped make 2024 a record-breaking sales year for Goway. We also had a major increase in advisors who qualified for our Passport to a Free Fam program , and reached the milestone of 8,000 advisors enrolled in the GowayPro Travel Academy . Advisors are not just helping us win on the FIT front – we’ve also had our biggest year ever in Goway GroupsOnly , moving over 600 tailor-made groups.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “It will be our 55 th anniversary! Our 50 th plans were interrupted by Covid so we are going big. You can look forward to elite agent fams, a four-city roadshow in Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Los Angeles. In the New Year you can also expect an exciting announcement about our Micro Film Festival.” INTREPID Christian Wolters, President of Canada and Genreal Manager, North America Marketing Standout moments : “We had our biggest sales month in our history just last month, and in the summer we launched our biggest-ever global marketing campaign, ‘Only Intrepid,’ with the brand coming to live in some of the world’s biggest stages like Madison Square Garden. In 2024, we also made the pledge to match all public contributions to our nonprofit arm, The Intrepid Foundation, which donates to local organizations in the destinations our travellers visit. And here in Toronto, a real highlight for me was seeing a group of our local team members rally together to ‘dip for dollars.’ We polar plunged into the freezing waters of Lake Ontario all to raise money for Water First, an organization that supports Indigenous communities as they secure clean water for future generations.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “The team is truly ambitious and we’re eager to grow into the world’s first $1 billion adventure travel company within five years. As we look ahead to the future, we’re more excited than ever about the journey we’re on. With an ambitious vision for the years to come and a strong, passionate team driving us forward, there’s no limit to what we can achieve together.” SUNWING VACATIONS GROUP Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer and Andrew Dawson, President Standout moments : “We’ve had many standout moments over this past year, thanks to our incredible team at Sunwing Vacations and the continued partnership of our valued travel advisors. We’ve had many notable events and launches, from the launch of WestJet Vacations Québec in May to the introduction of Sunwing’s Flynancial Advisor campaign celebrating advisors from coast to coast (the real flynancial advisors) who are at the heart of Sunwing’s value proposition, and the successful launch of our 2024-2025 winter season, plus an incredibly successful Black Friday. All of these moments were made possible in large part due to the unwavering dedication and contributions of the travel advisor community.” ( Taylor ) Shoutout to agents : “Travel advisors contribute immensely to our success every single day. They are often the first point of contact with our mutual customers, providing invaluable guidance on the destinations and resorts we offer – it is this firsthand knowledge and experience that helps customers make an informed decision on which Sunwing vacation to book. We are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership and dedication to making clients’ vacation dreams come true.” ( Taylor ) “In addition, we’ve been listening to travel advisors on areas we can hone in on more and are proud of accomplishments in each of these areas. Firstly, Groups, where we’ve focused on enhancing service and collaboration, and investing in more automation, along with Customer Relations, where we’ve similarly invested over the past year based on feedback from advisors and further enhanced our customer service offering, including adding more automation where possible, for a more streamlined experience for advisors and our mutual clients.” ( Dawson ) Looking ahead to 2025 : “We are looking forward to making 2025 our best year yet, growing our relationship with the travel advisor community to bring even more accessible vacations to more Canadians from coast to coast. We are also excited to continue growing in Québec. This is an incredibly important market for Sunwing Vacations and one where we have a longstanding presence, and we know that travel advisors are key to helping us further extend our reach within the province.” ( Taylor ) TRANSAT Marie-Eve Vaillières, Senior Advisor, PR and Content Standout moments : “One of our key commercial actions in 2024 was to restructure our Canadian tour operator activities. As part of these changes, Renée Boisvert has transitioned from Vice President, Products to Vice President Tour Operator, Products & Sales, while Julie Sareault is now our Commercial Director for all of Canada. With this new leadership, we’ve set the stage for continued growth and a sharper focus on serving our partners and customers. Shoutout to agents : “Travel agents were once again instrumental to our success and performance in 2024, as they have been for the past 37 years. In these challenging economic times, travel agents acted as beacons of trust, guiding travellers with their unparalleled expertise and ensuring confidence in every booking. Whether it was a long-awaited annual getaway to the South, a special anniversary celebration or a heartfelt family reunion, they made sure our passengers felt secure and excited about their journeys with us.” Looking ahead to 2025 : “Air Transat recently announced a new nonstop Montreal-Valencia route for next summer (with easy connecting flights from several Canadian gateways), making us the only airline in the Americas to connect travellers to this incredible destination. This brings our total number of nonstop European destinations from Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City to a whopping 26. That’s because we’ve seen steadily growing interest in Europe travel. Our packages and tours are thriving as travellers of all ages increasingly look for curated, transformative, thoughtful experiences that offer great value for money. This expansion, along with the breadth of our winter and summer 2025 transatlantic and South networks , highlights our trailblazing expertise. With increased frequencies on key routes like Toronto-Amsterdam, Toronto-Montego Bay, and Toronto-Varadero, 2025 is shaping up to be just as exciting, building on our 2024 launches of Marrakesh and Lima.”President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House on Jan. 20, as President Joe Biden moves out, with the White House set to revert to how it was four years ago in more ways than one. Trump's famous Diet Coke button will be one of the things returning, according to a report from the Daily Mail. The red button, which was on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, summoned a butler to bring Trump his favorite drink when pressed. Trump's Diet Coke button was removed by Biden shortly after taking office in 2021. Other previous arrangements of furniture and portraits will also return to how they were under Trump's first administration, the outlet reported. The quick transition will mark a tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, which holds less fanfare than the inauguration ceremony on the west front of the Capitol Building. Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump made their mark on the White House in 2020 with various renovations, including to the Rose Garden. Once the turnover happens on Jan. 20, 2025, the White House will look similar to how it previously appeared and will be staffed with many of the same people as his first term. Non-political White House staff largely remains the same throughout the different presidents. During the transition from Trump to Biden four years ago, the Trump White House team prepared to leave the executive mansion even as the then-president continued to contest his election loss. In the weeks before Trump's Jan. 20, 2021, exit, White House staff moved things out of the office buildings and residential parts of the mansion. By the time Biden arrived at the White House after being sworn in, much of his stuff was being moved into the executive mansion. The move-out process for the outgoing president concludes when he is out of office, and the move-in process begins for the newly sworn-in president at 12:01 p.m. when his items are unpacked from moving vehicles and put in their place. A 2021 report from the New York Times says the process of moving out one president, deep cleaning the residence, and moving in another president takes roughly five hours. The White House staff of roughly 90 people packed and unpacked the president's belongings and stock and rearranged the White House to the incoming president's liking. Previous transitions between administrations at the White House have had oddities. When President Bill Clinton moved out of the White House in January 2001, newly inaugurated President George W. Bush and his staff were greeted with an executive mansion with roughly $15,000 in damage , according to a General Accounting Office report. The incoming Bush administration accused the outgoing Clinton administration of vandalizing offices in the White House, among other damage to the executive mansion. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The transitions from Bush to President Barack Obama and from Obama to Trump were less controversial than the Clinton to Bush changeover. Biden's exit from the White House will also likely come with additional scrutiny after the outgoing president and the incoming president's records with the handling of classified documents after leaving office came under scrutiny in recent years.

By Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children’s toys and hair accessories. The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were “an order of magnitude lower” than the EPA’s thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it’s actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren’t enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn’t be in these products in the first place. “The math error does not impact the study’s findings, conclusions or recommendations,” said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they’re heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you’re wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It’s nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That’s because these products that include recycled e-waste don’t disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it’s also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study “had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them,” she said. Anytime you’re looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you’re going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn’t a definitively timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was it would settle their kicking position for years to come. A shaky second half to Moody's second season with San Francisco has put that into question headed to the offseason. Moody missed his sixth field goal in the past seven games last week, leading to questions about whether the 49ers will need to replace him or at least bring in competition for next season. Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in Moody on Thursday, attributing some of the struggles to a high ankle sprain he suffered in his kicking leg earlier in the season. “I still feel the same about him, that I believe he is going to be our guy," Shanahan said. “Everyone has got to perform and do things like that and I think he has had a tough year. ... I thought he was doing really well and then had a high ankle sprain to his kicking foot. Since he’s come back, he hasn’t been as consistent, obviously. But I think a lot of that probably has to do with that, just common-sense wise.” Moody got off to a strong start this season, making all six field goals he attempted in the season opener and going 13 for 14 before injuring his ankle while attempting to make a tackle on a kickoff return in Week 5. He missed three games and has struggled since he returned. He missed three field goals in first first game back at Tampa Bay, two more in the snow at Buffalo in Week 13 and then a 41-yarder last week against the Dolphins. “That’s the great thing about kicking is, you can be as talented as whoever and you can struggle,” Moody said. “I feel like this year, I’ve struggled. It doesn’t really waver my confidence or anything. I feel like, throughout my entire life, I’ve gone through struggles, I’ve gone through high points. The biggest thing is to just stay consistent, not change anything.” Moody had an up-and-down rookie season, making 21 of 25 field goals in the regular season and missing only one extra point. But he missed a potential game-winning kick in a loss at Cleveland and missed field goals in playoff wins against Green Bay and Detroit. Moody then made three field goals in the Super Bowl with two coming from more than 50 yards, including a go-ahead 53-yard kick late in the fourth quarter against Kansas City. But Moody also had an extra point blocked in that game. “I believe we’ve got the right guy and I think that eventually, I think he has shown that at times,” Shanahan said. "I thought he showed that at times his rookie year. I thought he showed that big time being 12 out of 13 to start this year. And I think he’ll show us all that in the future.” NOTES: The Niners placed LT Trent Williams on IR after his ankle injury hasn't healed as quickly as hoped. Shanahan didn't think there were any long-term issues. ... LB Dre Greenlaw (calf) will be shut down for the rest of the season after playing parts of two games in his return from a torn left Achilles tendon. ... OL Spencer Burford (calf) didn't practice but might be able to play this week. ... San Francisco has signed two OL this week, adding Matt Hennessy and Charlie Heck. ... RB Isaac Guerendo (hamstring, foot) was limited but appears on track to play this week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Josh Dubow, The Associated Press

On New Year’s Day, millions of Americans will see their prescription drug costs capped at $2,000 per year—and it’s thanks to the actions of President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress. Under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act , federal law prohibits out-of-pocket prescription drug costs from exceeding $2,000 for many Medicare beneficiaries. The AARP estimates that about 3.2 million Americans will save money on prescription medications in 2025, which will increase to more than 4 million people by 2029. But, of course, Republicans didn’t support the law that made this happen. In both the House and Senate, Republicans stood together and opposed the Inflation Reduction Act. The bill only received votes from the Democratic caucus before being signed into law by Biden. The Inflation Reduction Act combined several provisions to cut health care costs—including an insulin benefit for which Donald Trump falsely claimed credit —along with incentives for companies and organizations to use clean energy technologies. Since the law hit the books, the GOP has tried to undermine it with 54 unsuccessful votes led by Republicans in Congress to repeal portions if not all of the law. While Trump has not specifically addressed the Medicare cap, he has expressed anger at the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy credits and has made clear his interest in reversing those measures. During the election, Trump claimed that he would not cut safety net programs like Medicare, but during an interview with CNBC in March he said that “there is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements in terms of cutting.” Under the guise of “government efficiency,” Trump nominated billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as co-chairs of the Department of Government Efficiency to rail against purported government waste and abuse. Musk has already been exercising his power, leading Republican opposition to a bill that funded pediatric cancer research and services for 9/11 first responders. Similarly, Trump nominated quack television doctor Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oz and Trump have advocated for transferring people to Medicare Advantage, which is a scheme to privatize many of the services that Medicare currently offers. Project 2025 , a far-right initiative written by several Trump-affiliated individuals, has put Medicare squarely within its sights by backing Medicare Advantage, which would significantly limit millions of enrollees’ choices of doctors and specialists. Trump also chose one of the key architects of Project 2025, Russell Vought, to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Similarly, Trump is directly connected to one of the most visible attacks on health care benefits: the push to repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Trump campaigned heavily on the issue during his 2016 election campaign, and as president he tried to restrict the program from offering health care coverage to millions of Americans. In 2017, Republicans came extremely close to repealing the entire program, which would have upended health insurance for millions of people. Despite Republican opposition, Democrats were able to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which is helping millions of Americans. But the incoming president has a history of attacking health care benefits, and the prescription drug price cap could be his next casualty.SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was it would settle their kicking position for years to come. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was it would settle their kicking position for years to come. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick to draft Jake Moody last year, the hope was it would settle their kicking position for years to come. A shaky second half to Moody’s second season with San Francisco has put that into question headed to the offseason. Moody missed his sixth field goal in the past seven games last week, leading to questions about whether the 49ers will need to replace him or at least bring in competition for next season. Coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in Moody on Thursday, attributing some of the struggles to a high ankle sprain he suffered in his kicking leg earlier in the season. “I still feel the same about him, that I believe he is going to be our guy,” Shanahan said. “Everyone has got to perform and do things like that and I think he has had a tough year. ... I thought he was doing really well and then had a high ankle sprain to his kicking foot. Since he’s come back, he hasn’t been as consistent, obviously. But I think a lot of that probably has to do with that, just common-sense wise.” Moody got off to a strong start this season, making all six field goals he attempted in the season opener and going 13 for 14 before injuring his ankle while attempting to make a tackle on a kickoff return in Week 5. He missed three games and has struggled since he returned. He missed three field goals in first first game back at Tampa Bay, two more in the snow at Buffalo in Week 13 and then a 41-yarder last week against the Dolphins. “That’s the great thing about kicking is, you can be as talented as whoever and you can struggle,” Moody said. “I feel like this year, I’ve struggled. It doesn’t really waver my confidence or anything. I feel like, throughout my entire life, I’ve gone through struggles, I’ve gone through high points. The biggest thing is to just stay consistent, not change anything.” Moody had an up-and-down rookie season, making 21 of 25 field goals in the regular season and missing only one extra point. But he missed a potential game-winning kick in a loss at Cleveland and missed field goals in playoff wins against Green Bay and Detroit. 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. Moody then made three field goals in the Super Bowl with two coming from more than 50 yards, including a go-ahead 53-yard kick late in the fourth quarter against Kansas City. But Moody also had an extra point blocked in that game. “I believe we’ve got the right guy and I think that eventually, I think he has shown that at times,” Shanahan said. “I thought he showed that at times his rookie year. I thought he showed that big time being 12 out of 13 to start this year. And I think he’ll show us all that in the future.” NOTES: The Niners placed LT Trent Williams on IR after his ankle injury hasn’t healed as quickly as hoped. Shanahan didn’t think there were any long-term issues. ... LB Dre Greenlaw (calf) will be shut down for the rest of the season after playing parts of two games in his return from a torn left Achilles tendon. ... OL Spencer Burford (calf) didn’t practice but might be able to play this week. ... San Francisco has signed two OL this week, adding Matt Hennessy and Charlie Heck. ... RB Isaac Guerendo (hamstring, foot) was limited but appears on track to play this week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementNone