APC's RETM Sustainable Packaging Portfolio Expands with Another Designed for Recycle Technology COLUMBUS, Wis. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Packaging Corporation (APC), a leader in flexible packaging solutions, announced another expansion of APC's RETM Sustainable Packaging portfolio, with the addition of new high performance, paper-based packaging technologies that are targeted for curbside recyclability, while providing excellent product protection levels that extend shelf life, protect product flavor, and maintain product freshness. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Deficit soars as Biden heads out the doorBy LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump attorney Alina Habba, a Lehigh University grad, to serve as counselor to the president But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
⚫ World leader, soon-to-be U.S. president push to do more ⚫ Hear from prisoner ⚫ Happening within days of latest Hamas prisoner video New Jersey native Edan Alexander’s name is back in the headlines since being featured over the weekend in the Hamas terror organization’s latest hostage video. The 20-year-old Israeli American remains held by Hamas in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Alexander’s family in Jerusalem yesterday, according to The Times of Israel. Netanyahu vocalized to the family his commitment to “working around the clock” to free their loved one and the other hostages, according to the outlet. President-elect Donald Trump also chimed in on Monday on Truth Social and gave a stark warning if Alexander and the others aren’t released before he takes office. “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America,” Trump said on social media. Netanyahu reacted on Tuesday to Trump’s Monday post prior to the Jerusalem meeting, praising Trump for his stance and delivery. SEE ALSO: Have you seen this teen in NJ? She’s been missing for almost a month "I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday about the need for Hamas to release the hostages, the responsibility of Hamas and this adds another force to our continued effort to release all the hostages,” Netanyahu said in a video featured on his official Facebook account. Alexander’s message The Nov. 30 video shared by Hamas features a headshot of Alexander with an English translation. As seen on the Bring Them Home Now Facebook page, Alexander stated his name and how long he has been a prisoner. He had a message for Netanyahu, given under coercion: “The prime minister is supposed to protect his citizens and soldiers and you neglected us... The fear is at its peak and we are dying a thousand times every day.” Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom The 10 Biggest Problems NJ Faces, According to Reddit Users Reddit users named these the biggest problems that New Jersey Faces. Do you agree? Gallery Credit: Diana TylerElection chaos is engulfing Romania and no one saw it coming
REFORM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge ruled that the family of former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr., who died in law enforcement custody in Alabama, can pursue a lawsuit alleging his death was the result of excessive force. Foster, a former New Orleans Saints defensive end, died on Dec. 6, 2021, three days after being arrested and taken to jail in rural Pickens County for alleged speeding and attempting to elude police. A judge ordered Foster taken to a medical facility in Tuscaloosa for a mental evaluation. Foster was found unresponsive in the back of a law enforcement vehicle when he arrived at the facility. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. His widow, Pamela Foster, filed a lawsuit against officers at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and jail saying Foster had been beaten, shocked with a Taser and strangled while at the jail. The defendants then asked a federal judge to dismiss the case. U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon ruled Thursday refused to dismiss allegations of excessive force and failure to intervene. Axon dismissed other portions of the lawsuit. The ruling came a day before the third anniversary of Foster’s death. Foster appeared in 17 games for the Saints in 2013 and 2014.
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Deficit soars as Biden heads out the doorThe proposed auto-enrolment pensions plan has been labelled a "waste of resources" by a former actuary. The Department of Social Protection' retirement savings scheme for employees is set to be implemented on September 30th next year. Under auto- enrolment , all employed workers who are not already in a pension scheme will be automa tically enrolled in the new national scheme. Employees, employers and the State will all pay a certain amount into an employee's pension fund. A new public body - the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority - will oversee the administration of the new scheme. Employees can opt out of the scheme after six months if they wish. Former actuary and past president of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland Colm Fagan, however, has described the pensions plan as a "waste of resources". On The Pat Kenny Show , Mr Fagan claimed two aspects of the plan would be very costly to the State. "One is the total contributions being paid by employees, employers and the State," he said. "That would be €20 billion in the first 10 years of the scheme and then it would be €4 billion a year after that." "It’s incomprehensible that they’ve agreed to go into this without any consideration of whether they’re getting good value for money ." Mr Fagan said Ireland's auto-enrolment plan is modelled off the UK's National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) scheme. "I n the NEST scheme, there is between a quarter and a third of the people who leave every year. "If we have the same experience as the NEST scheme, of the 80 0,000 people who join, only 30,000 of them will still be there after 10 years." Mr Fagan is calling for the Economic Social Research Institute (ESRI) to assess Ireland's proposed auto-enrolment scheme before it is enacted next year. "All I'm saying is we should have the ESRI go through it with a fine-tooth comb," he said. You can listen back here: Feature image: Bank notes, coins and a calculator are laid out on a surface, Alamy.
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Fort Worth ISD director shares tips on how to complete this year’s FAFSA formVirginia Beach has agreed to give Something in the Water up to $500,000 for next year’s festival, but only if organizers meet specific goals and are transparent in the planning. Details of a contract signed last week were released Tuesday after The Virginian-Pilot/Daily Press filed a Freedom of Information Act request for specifics. The contract gives an initial $100,000 to the festival, which was started by native son and music mogul Pharrell Williams. To receive the next $200,000 the festival must give the city a lineup list by Dec. 31, then complete a “promoter’s special event permit application” for the final $200,000 installment. The city will give the festival five days’ notice if there is a breach of contract and festival organizers must remedy the problem within five days or forfeit the money. The contract aims to ensure transparency. In September, Williams postponed the festival from October until 2025 within hours of tickets going on sale. City leaders were blindsided as was a local business community that had banked on projected revenue related to the event. The new agreement spells out issues concerning copyrights, public safety and inclement weather procedures after weeks of delays and negotiations that frustrated city leadership. The contract — signed last Friday by festival-authorized signatory Penni Thow and Deputy City Manager Amanda Jarratt — finalized the festival’s dates as April 26-27. Organizers also agreed to “increase its efforts to reasonably collaborate” with City Council liaisons and staff to produce a festival “that highlights the City of Virginia Beach.” The city agrees to provide financial sponsorship equal to tax revenue generated by the event within its “official festival grounds” at the Oceanfront, between 2nd Street and the Virginia Beach Fish Pier. The local admissions tax is 10% for concert tickets, 5.5% tax on prepared foods and drinks, and 1% of the 6% sales tax will go to the city. The final amount of the sponsorship will be determined after the event’s conclusion. The contract states the city has the right to audit books and records related to the agreement including those of the festival, its employees and agents. While the contract does not obligate the music festival remain in Virginia Beach, it does state that organizers must include event dates and try to provide timelines for ticket sales and artist lineups in any future agreements such as 2026 and 2027 festivals. Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8139, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.comNone
NoneTexas Sen. Ted Cruz discussed with ABC News President-elect Donald Trump's selections for his administration's Cabinet, the ongoing border crisis and President Biden's decision to pardon his son, Hunter. Cruz, a Republican, stated on Tuesday that following a conference with his fellow Senate Republicans, all of Trump's nominees for federal government positions will be confirmed. ABC News spoke with Cruz about Trump's controversial Cabinet picks. MORE: Trump's controversial Cabinet picks raise questions about lower ethical standards ABC NEWS: We're joined now by Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz. He's also the incoming chair of the Commerce Committee. Senator, thank you so much for your time tonight. CRUZ: Linsey, great to be with you. Thank you for having me. ABC NEWS: You've said that you expect all of President-elect Trump's picks to get confirmed. With regard to Pete Hegseth, in particular, the nominee for secretary of defense. Just today, as you know, multiple sources told ABC News that Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about the secretary of defense job amid the allegations swirling around him. Does that give you pause that Hegseth may not ultimately be confirmed? CRUZ: Well, listen, that'll be a decision ultimately that President Trump has to make. I will say Pete Hegseth, he's a decorated combat veteran. He served our nation. He's been deployed multiple times. He spent a lifetime fighting for our servicemen and women, fighting to defend our veterans. And I do think he has a clear vision for bringing the Defense Department back to its core mission, for bringing it back to supporting the war fighters, for focusing on preparing and being ready to defeat the enemy if necessary, and for moving in a way from a political agenda that detracts from its core mission. I think all of that is critical. I think that's, all of that is a priority for President Trump, and I think it's a priority for this country. Ultimately, President Trump's going to make the decision as to which nominees he puts forward. ABC NEWS: Let's talk about Kash Patel, of course, Trump's pick for FBI director. You've called him a very strong nominee. When Trump talked about making him deputy director in 2020, then-Attorney General Bill Barr opposed the move so much he said it would only happen, quote, "over my dead body." Patel has talked positively about the QAnon conspiracy theory. In the past, you said that he would shut down FBI headquarters. In his book, you made a list of members of the Deep State he wants to go after. Do any of these things concern you at all? CRUZ: Well, listen, I'll say a couple of things. No. 1, if you look at Kash Patel's background, he's been a senior intelligence staffer on Capitol Hill. He's been a senior intelligence staffer in the White House. He has been the chief of staff at the Department of Defense. He's been the deputy director of national intelligence. He's someone with deep background, in addition to being a federal public defender and also a prosecutor. So he brings a deep background to the job. But secondly, I will say the world and, in particular, the FBI and the Department of Justice are very, very different today than they were back in 2020 when Bill Barr was attorney general. And what we've seen for four years, tragically, has been the politicization and the weaponization of the Department of Justice and the FBI. And much of the criticism that is being directed at Kash Patel, it is not that he's not qualified for the job, but rather exactly the opposite, is that his detractors are afraid he will actually do what he is committed to doing, which is to clean out the political corruption that sadly has done real damage to the FBI. ABC NEWS: On your podcast, "The Verdict with Ted Cruz," you called the Hunter Biden pardon an absolute abuse of power. [President Joe] Biden, of course, had repeatedly said that he would not pardon Hunter Biden. Then he did exactly that. On the other hand, Trump pardoned his son-in-law's father, Charles Kushner, his former chief of staff, Steve Bannon, among others. He's also implied he may pardon Jan. 6 defendants. Of course, presidents have long had this right. But in your estimation, at what point does a pardon become an absolute abuse of power, as you call it? CRUZ: Well, listen, one of the clear ways it becomes an abuse of power where as here Joe Biden and the White House lied about it for a year. Joe Biden repeatedly looked in TV cameras and said, I will not pardon Hunter Biden. No, no, no. Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, repeatedly said, no, no, no, zero chance of this happening. And as you noted on my podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," I predicted a year ago, in January of this year, I said in December of 2024, Joe Biden is going to pardon Hunter Biden. I put the odds of that happening at 100%. And I said then and I still believe now Joe Biden was lying when he said that, Karine Jean-Pierre was lying when they said that. They knew they were lying and everyone listening to them knew they were lying. And I think that is a real problem when you are lying to the American people. In my view, this pardon for Hunter Biden, of course, it is a father caring for his son. But I think at its heart it is about Joe Biden protecting Joe Biden and not wanting investigation into influence peddling and selling favors that that Joe Biden and his family have made tens of millions of dollars over the years doing exactly that. ABC NEWS: Let's turn to an issue that many have called a crisis at the southern border. You yourself are from an immigrant family. You spent a lot of time looking at this issue, which, as you know, has plagued our country for decades. Americans have spoken loud and clear. They want the current system to be fixed. Why do we have so many people trying to enter the southern border? And what's your solution on Day One to help solve this crisis? CRUZ: Well, I think you're exactly right that this election, I don't think there was a single issue that was more important in this election than securing our border. Should we have a mandate from the voters to secure the border? Now, you asked, how do we do that? Here's the good news: We know how to do it because we did it before. When President Trump was president before I worked hand in hand with him to secure the border. And we achieved incredible successes in the final year of Trump's presidency. We achieved the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years. We have done it before. We'll do it again. How did this crisis happen? This crisis was deliberate. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris caused the border crisis by three decisions they made the very first week in office. No. 1, they immediately halted construction of the border wall. No. 2, they reinstated the disastrous policy of catch and release. And No. 3, they pulled out of the incredibly successful Remain in Mexico agreement. And the result was we instantly went from the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years to the highest rate in the history of our country. Twelve million people have come in illegally under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Here's the good news, Linsey. Everything done through unilateral executive action can be undone through unilateral executive action. So I believe on Day One, on Jan. 20 of next year, President Trump will reverse those three decisions. He will resume construction of the border wall. He will end catch and release. And he will move to reinstate the Remain in Mexico agreement. And here's my prediction: We will see the numbers plummet and it won't take a year. It won't take six months. The numbers will plummet by January and February of next year. And then Congress will follow it up by legislating and providing serious funding to secure the border and to keep our community safe. ABC NEWS: Sen. Ted Cruz, have a lot more questions for you, but we're out of time. I hope you come back on the show with us. CRUZ: I look forward to it. ABC NEWS: Thank you.