The highly anticipated Peaky Blinders film “won’t be the end” of the popular gangster series, creator Steven Knight has said. Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy is reprising his role as Birmingham gangster Tommy Shelby for the film, which is set following the events of the original BBC drama which ran for six series from 2013 to 2022. Following the film wrapping production, Knight has revealed that it will be around a year before the project is released. Speaking to Times Radio about a future release date, Knight said: “It’s a bit too soon for that, but you know, you can sort of work out that it will be about a year.” Asked if there are any more plans for Peaky Blinders beyond the film, he replied: “It’s interesting you should ask that question because the film is coming out and that won’t be the end.” The screenwriter was questioned if that meant fans could expect more series in the future, but he refused to provide more details. The film is believed to be titled The Immortal Man and has been teased to involve new conflicts for the Shelby family set during the Second World War. Saltburn and The Banshees Of Inisherin star Barry Keoghan will join fellow Irish actor Murphy in the new film. Earlier this month a photo was shared by Netflix of the pair looking jubilant while wearing flat caps and suits as the streamer confirmed filming had wrapped on the project. Other returning cast members include British actors Stephen Graham as union organiser Hayden Stagg and Sophie Rundle as Ada Shelby, while Dune actress Rebecca Ferguson and Pulp Fiction actor Tim Roth have also joined the project. Tom Harper, who previously directed episodes in the first season in 2013, will return to helm the film. Knight previously told Netflix’s Tudum site: “It will be an explosive chapter in the Peaky Blinders story. No holds barred. Full-on Peaky Blinders at war.” When the series came to an end in 2022 after nine years, Tommy appeared to put his criminal past behind him. Across the six series, the show tackled the rise of fascism, Irish republican politics and communist activities throughout the period after the First World War – along with Tommy’s ambitions in politics. Knight later created a stage adaptation of the show for a limited-run production, titled The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby, which featured performances from Rambert’s dancers and a soundtrack from a live on-stage band.BRUSSELS: EU rules requiring all new smartphones, tablets and cameras to use the same charger came into force on Saturday, in a change Brussels said will cut costs and waste. Manufacturers are now obliged to fit devices sold in the 27-nation bloc with a USB-C, the port chosen by the European Union as the common standard for charging electronic tools. “Starting today, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards and many other electronics sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port,” the EU Parliament wrote on social media X. The EU has said the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans and slash costs for consumers. By allowing consumers to purchase a new device without a new charger, it will also reduce the mountain of obsolete chargers, the bloc has argued. The law was first approved in 2022 following a tussle with US tech giant Apple. It allowed companies until December 28 this year to adapt. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit. Most devices already use these cables, but Apple was more than a little reluctant. The firm said in 2021 that such regulation “stifles innovation”, but by September last year it had begun shipping phones with the new port. Makers of electronic consumer items in Europe had agreed on a single charging norm from dozens on the market a decade ago under a voluntary agreement with the European Commission. But Apple, the world’s biggest seller of smartphones, refused to abide by it and ditch its Lightning ports. Other manufacturers kept their alternative cables going, meaning there were about half a dozen types knocking around, creating a jumble of cables for consumers. USB-C ports can charge at up to 100 Watts, transfer data up to 40 gigabits per second, and can serve to hook up to external displays. At the time of its approval, the commission said the law was expected to save at least 200 million euros ($208 million) pr year and cut more than a thousand tons of EU electronic waste every year. “It’s time for THE charger,” the European Commission wrote on X on Saturday. “It means better-charging technology, reduced e-waste, and less fuss to find the chargers you need.” – AFPjilisakto casino 。

Jordan Jones scores 18 to lead Central Connecticut over Johnson & Wales (RI) 100-51

The 25-year-old Sweden international took his goal tally for the season to 12 in the 3-0 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa at St James’ Park, 10 of them in his last 10 Premier League games, after a challenging start to the new campaign. Isak managed 25 goals in a black and white shirt last season to further justify the club record £63million the club paid to bring him to Tyneside from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022, but as delighted as he is with his big-money signing, head coach Howe is confident there is even more to come. Murph 🔗 Alex Isak Different game. Same link up. 💪 pic.twitter.com/OMhZf7dtKZ — Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 27, 2024 Asked where the former AIK Solna frontman currently ranks in world football, he said: “My biggest thing with Alex is I am evaluating his game on a daily and weekly basis and I just want to try to push him for more. “Everyone else can say where he is in the pecking order of world football. His game is in a good place at the moment. “My job is to not sit back and appreciate that, my job is to try and find areas he can improve, push him towards that and never stop pushing him. He has all the ingredients in there. Football never stops evolving and changing and he has to evolve with it. “There is a lot more to come from him. Our job is to help him deliver that. “Of course the main responsibility is for Alex to keep his focus, ignore the plaudits and keep helping the team, not be selfish. It is about Newcastle and he plays his part.” It is no coincidence that Newcastle have prospered as Isak has rediscovered his best form, and they will head for Manchester United – where they have won only once in the top flight since 1972 – on Monday evening looking for a fifth successive win in all competitions. He has scored in each of the last five league games having grown into the mantle of the Magpies’ main man, a role performed with such distinction in the past by the likes of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer, and he has done so with the minimum of fuss. Asked about his character, Howe said: “He is calm, cool – he is what you see on the pitch. “He doesn’t get overly emotional, which for a striker is a great quality because that coolness you see and calmness in front of goal is part of his personality, part of what he is. He seems to have an extra half a second when other players don’t. “With Alex, the beauty of his attitude is that he wants to improve. We give him information and he is responsive. He is not a closed shop. “He is in no way thinking he has arrived at a certain place. He knows he has to keep adding to his game. The challenge is great for him to keep scoring freely as he is now.”There's no denying that ( ) shares have been a great place to put your money this year. Since the start of 2024, the big four bank has risen almost 40%. This is despite almost all analysts calling its shares overvalued a year ago. While there's nothing to say that CBA shares won't be market-beaters again next year, one thing that is almost certain is that they won't provide income investors with an overly attractive . For example, the consensus estimate is for the bank to pay a fully franked dividend of approximately $4.73 per share in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $156.21, this equates to a 3% dividend yield. This is lower than what you can get on one of CBA's term deposits. In light of this, if you are looking for ASX 200 dividend shares to buy in 2025, it might be best to look beyond CBA. But which dividend shares could be good alternatives? Let's take a look at two that analysts rate as buys: ( ) Goldman Sachs thinks that IPH could be an ASX 200 dividend share to buy. It is a global intellectual property (IP) services company. The broker believes that IPH "is well-placed to deliver consistent and defensive earnings with modest overall organic growth." It expects this to underpin fully franked dividends of 36 cents per share in FY 2025 and then 39 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the current IPH share price of $5.01 this represents yields of 7.2% and 7.8%, respectively. Goldman has a buy rating and $7.50 price target on its shares. ( ) Another ASX 200 dividend share that could be a buy according to analysts is Transurban. It is a toll road operator that owns 22 roads across both Australia and North America. This includes CityLink in Melbourne and the Cross City Tunnel in Sydney, as well as 95 Express Lanes in Greater Washington and the A25 in Montreal. Transurban also has three major projects that are expected to open by 2026. The team at UBS is positive on the company and has a buy rating and $14.75 price target on its shares. As for income, the broker is forecasting dividends per share of 65 cents in FY 2025 and then 69 cents in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $13.82, this equates to dividend yields of 4.7% and 5%, respectively.

LEO MCKINSTRY: It is frankly impossible for council employees to show the same commitment to their position when they are thousands of miles away sipping a pina colada

J.K. Rowling: There Is No Such Thing as a Transgender Kid

Reports: Bill Belichick interviews for North Carolina job

Confronting The Power Of Rumours

Driving Innovation: Best Bitcoin- and Crypto-Oriented Gambling Sites in 2024Trump Picks Andrew Ferguson to Lead Federal Trade CommissionSouth Korea Service Sector Output dipped from previous 0.3% to -0.2% in November

Joe Burrow’s home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionAirport surfaces most likely to have a deadly virus lurking on them

In one of their most dovish statements in more than a decade, Chinese leaders signalled on Mondaythey are ready to deploy whatever stimulus is needed to counter the impact of expected U.S. trade tariffs on next year’s economic growth. After a meeting of top Communist Party officials, the Politburo, officials said they would switch to an “appropriately loose” monetary policy stance, and “more proactive” fiscal levers. The previous “prudent” stance that the central bank had held for the past 14 years coincided with overalldebt – including that of governments, households and companies – jumping more than 5 times. Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded roughly three times over the same period. The Politburo rarely details policy plans, but the shift in its message shows China is willing to go even deeper into debt, prioritising, at least in the near term, growth over financial risks. “From prudent to moderately loose is a big change,” said Shuang Ding, chief economist for Greater China and North Asia at Standard Chartered. “It leaves a lot of room for imagination.” Tang Yao, associate professor of applied economics at Peking University, says this policy reset is needed, because slower growth would make debt even more difficult to service. “They’ve by-and-large made peace with the fact that the debt-to-GDP ratio is going to rise further,” said Christopher Beddor, deputy China research director at Gavekal Dragonomics, adding that this was no longer “a binding constraint.” It’s unclear how much monetary easing the central bank could deploy and how much more debt the finance ministry could issue next year. But analysts say that works in Beijing’s favour. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January, having threatened tariffs in excess of 60% on U.S. imports of Chinese goods. The timing and the ultimate level of the levies, which a Reuters poll last month predicted at nearly 40% initially, will determine Beijing’s response. “They are willing to do ‘whatever it takes’ to achieve the GDP target,” said Larry Hu, chief China economist at Macquarie. “But they will do so in a reactive way,” Hu said. “How much they will do in 2025 will depend on two things: their GDP target and the new U.S. tariffs.” Next year’s 2025 growth, budget deficit and other targets will be discussed – but not announced – in coming days at an annual meeting of Communist Party leaders, known as the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC). Reuters reported last month that most government advisers recommend that Beijing should maintain a growth target of around 5%, even though that pace seemed difficult to reach throughout this year. The tone of the Politburo statement suggests that China won’t lower its growth ambitions for 2025, says Zong Liang, chief researcher at state-owned Bank of China. But it also suggests that China is likely to set an initial budget deficit target of around 4%, its highest ever. “Beijing may want to use the ‘around 5.0%’ growth target to show that it won’t cave to Trump’s threatened 60% tariff and other restrictive measures imposed on China,” said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, who also expects a 4% fiscal deficit, up from 3% in 2024. A one percentage point increase in the deficit amounts to additional stimulus of about 1.3 trillion yuan ($179.4 billion), but China can add to that if needed by issuing off-budget special bonds or allowing local governments to do so. Beijing is expected to gradually take on greater fiscal responsibility as local municipalities are too deep in debt. China is facing strong deflationary pressures as consumers feel less wealthy due to a prolonged property crisis and minimal social welfare. Low household demand is a key risk to growth. In an apparent nod to this risk, the Politburo pledged “unconventional counter-cyclical adjustments” and to “greatly boost consumption.” The new wording suggests the composition of stimulus “will likely differ substantially from past cycles, with more focus on consumption, high-tech manufacturing, and risk containment rather than traditional infrastructure and property investment,” Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note. Morgan Stanley also read the statement as suggesting that elevating consumption will be “the No.1 key task for 2025,” but warned that “implementation remains uncertain.” China has issued increasingly forceful statements on boosting consumption throughout the year, but it has offered little in terms of policies apart from a subsidy scheme for purchases of cars, appliances and a few other goods. What else Beijing is prepared to do to boost consumption is another unknown. But demand-focused measures are key to improve the effectiveness of monetary policy easing in an economy that for decades has put production at its core. “Monetary easing in China is far less potent than it used to be,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, an analyst at Capital Economics. “There is now limited appetite among households and large parts of the private sector to take on more debt, even at lower rates.” Source: Reuters (Graphics by Kripa Jayaram; writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Kim Coghill)

They are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.

Ukraine Warns Russia of 1200-Mile Strike Range of Attack DronesGlobal Launch of JETOUR T2 i-DM: Reshaping the Hybrid SUV MarketPeaky Blinders creator teases the upcoming film ‘won’t be the end’ for the drama

ROME: Atalanta kept hold of top spot in Serie A on Saturday after escaping Lazio with a 1-1 draw which kept Inter Milan at bay but ended their club-record league winning streak at 11 matches. Marco Brescianini tapped home into an open goal with two minutes remaining to snatch a point from the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where a passionate crowd thought a big win was coming their way. Instead Atalanta will end a historic year a point ahead of Inter, who have a game in hand, after the champions briefly drew level on points with a 3-0 win earlier at Cagliari. Europa League holders Atalanta will lead the league even if Napoli beat Venezia on Sunday and draw level on 41 points with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side who have a significantly better goal difference than the 2023 champions. Should two teams finish level at the top of Serie A come the end of the season they will face off in a single match to decide the destination of the Scudetto, which Atalanta have never won. “We struggled for long periods in the first half, but we were much better in the second,” said Atalanta coach Gasperini. “This year has been the best year in Atalanta’s history, let’s hope we can make 2025 the same.” Atalanta showed great character to battle back from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s 27th-minute goal which came in an intense opening period from Lazio. The away side were initially blitzed by Lazio, with Marco Carnesecchi making two sensational stops before Matteo Guendouzi curled a great strike off the post in the 11th minute. But as the match wore on, Atalanta, who were without injured star striker Mateo Retegui, grew into the game and deservedly drew level in front of a boisterous and hostile crowd in the Italian capital. Brescianini netted his third goal of the season thanks largely to Ademola Lookman, who made up for earlier missing from yards out by beating Lazio’s offside trap, meeting Nicolo Zaniolo’s hooked pass and rolling across to his teammate to salvage a precious point. Next up, Atalanta travel to play the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, where they will face Inter on Thursday. Lautaro Martinez ended an eight-match scoring drought at Cagliari, netting the second in an engaging contest in Sardinia which Inter won with second-half goals from the Argentina striker, Alessandro Bastoni and Hakan Calhanoglu. Inter have won their last five in Italy’s top flight, scoring 19 and conceding just once, a burst in form which has re-established Inter as favorites to retain the Scudetto. The only thing missing for Inter were goals from captain Martinez, who hadn’t scored since November 3 before he prodded home Nicolo Barella’s cross in the 71st minute on Saturday. “The most important thing is that Inter win. If I get a goal too, then that’s a bonus,” said Martinez. “We work hard every day to win trophies and anyone who sets foot on the pitch will give their all for the team. We’ve just got to keep going and make 2025 like this year.” Inter could have won by an even more convincing margin had captain Martinez not wasted great chances in each half and Cagliari goalkeeper Simone Scuffet not pulled off superb saves to deny Marcus Thuram and Barella. But Martinez did net his seventh goal this season in all competitions and seven minutes later Calhanoglu made absolutely sure of the points from the penalty spot. Cagliari are just inside the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat for Davide Nicola’s side, a point behind Verona and Como who both play on Monday.PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nationally recognized law firm Berger Montague PC informs investors that a lawsuit was filed against Paragon 28, Inc. ("Paragon 28" or the "Company") FNA on behalf of purchasers of Paragon 28 securities between May 5, 2023 and September 20, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period") . Investors that suffered losses from PARAGON 28 FNA investments can follow the link below for more information regarding the lawsuit: CLICK HERE to learn more about the lawsuit. Investors who purchased or acquired PARAGON 28 securities during the Class Period may, no later than NOVEMBER 29, 2024 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. According to the lawsuit, Defendants misled investors throughout the Class Period as to the fact that: (i) Paragon 28's financial statements were misstated; and (ii) Paragon 28 lacked adequate internal controls and at times understated the extent of the issues with Paragon 28's internal controls. Investors began to learn the truth on July 30, 2024, when Paragon 28 disclosed that its "previously issued audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 . . . and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained within the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, and March 31, 2024 should no longer be relied upon due to errors in such financial statements , and therefore a restatement of these prior financial statements is required." On this news, the price of Paragon 28 shares fell 13% to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024. The complaint further alleges that on August 8, 2024, Paragon 28 filed an amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023 that included restated 2023 figures for inventories, net and cost of goods sold. On this news, the price of Paragon 28 common stock fell more than 20% to close at $6.64 per share on August 9, 2024. Finally, on September 20, 2024, Paragon disclosed that Chief Accounting Officer Erik Mickelson was abruptly leaving the Company. On this news, Paragon shares declined $0.30 per share, or 4.3%, to close at $6.57 per share on September 23, 2024. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation, please contact Berger Montague: Andrew Abramowitz at aabramowitz@bm.net or (215) 875-3015, or Peter Hamner at phamner@bm.net or (215) 875-3048, or CLICK HERE . A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Communicating with any counsel is not necessary to participate or share in any recovery achieved in this case. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of his/her choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member. Berger Montague , with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contacts: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 aabramowitz@bm.net Peter Hamner Berger Montague PC (215) 875-3048 phamner@bm.net © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Thursday. He was 76. Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. “Dick was an American original, a colossus bestriding the worlds of business, media, culture, philanthropy, and beyond,” Ronald Lauder said in a statement on behalf of the Lauder family. David Zaslav, the CEO of Time Warner successor Warner Bros. Discovery, hailed Parsons as a “great mentor and friend” and a “tough and brilliant negotiator, always looking to create something where both sides win.” “All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness,” Zaslav said, calling him “one of the great problem solvers this industry has ever seen.” Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, built a track record of steering big companies through tough times. He returned Citigroup to profitability after turmoil from the global financial crisis and helped restore Time Warner after its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, whose love of jazz led to co-owning a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family. This obituary was primarily written by the late Associated Press reporter Anick Jesdanun, who died in 2020 .Female Indiana school bus driver, 38, is arrested for ridiculous act By SONYA GUGLIARA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 01:40, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 02:01, 30 December 2024 e-mail View comments An Indiana school bus driver accused of drunk-driving a bus of 32 children has been charged with two felonies. Kayla Pier, 38, turned herself in to police on Friday after authorities issued a warrant for her arrest, according to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office. On September 20, the reckless driver took students from La Porte Middle School to Riley Elementary School. But the students on the bus realized something was wrong as soon as she started driving. Police said that the students noticed Pier acting strangely and began reporting her out of the ordinary 'driving behaviors and mannerisms,' police said in a statement. 'The courageous students aboard the bus who reported the behaviors of the accused are publicly commended,' LPCSC Captain Derek Allen wrote in a press release. 'Their attention to detail and prompt actions may have prevented a tragedy from occurring.' The school district's transportation director met the bus at Riley Elementary School. Pier was taken off the vehicle and the school district started investigating the situation. Kayla Pier, 38, turned herself in to police on Friday after authorities issued a warrant for her arrest after allegedly drunk-driving a school bus According to police, 32 students were onboard the school bus, driving from La Porte Middle School to Riley Elementary School (stock image) Pier quit her job later that day. The school district brought the incident to the attention of the sheriff's office on October 21, when toxicology results confirmed that Pier was still intoxicated. 'Thank you to the school corporation administrators for their assistance and cooperation throughout the investigation. Our partnership is committed to student safety, both on and off of every campus,' Allen said. Authorities then launched an official investigation into Pier's actions, collecting videos and conducting interviews to get to the bottom of what transpired that day. On December 19, Deputy Brian Crail - who led the investigation - submitted a Probable Cause affidavit to the county's Prosecuting Attorney's office for evaluation. La Porte County Circuit Court agreed that there was probable cause the next day and issued an arrest warrant. Pier turned herself in a week later and was charged with Operating While Intoxicated and Neglect of a Dependent. She was taken to La Porte County Jail, but was released after her bond was posted. The La Porte Community School Corporation addressed Pier's arrest in a social media post, outlining what had transpired. The statement reads: 'Earlier this Fall, students aboard one of our buses demonstrated exceptional judgment and courage by reporting concerning behavior from their driver to school administrators. 'We are incredibly proud of our students, who recognized something was wrong and reported their concerns responsibly. Their actions exemplify the "see something, say something" principles we teach in our schools. 'Our district maintains rigorous standards for all transportation employees, including mandatory random drug and alcohol testing, regular credential verification, and ongoing safety training.' On social media, concerned parents have expressed their outrage with Pier and how the incident was handled. One woman wrote under the LPCSO's Facebook post about the situation: 'Why did the school deal with this internally? Pier was allegedly drunk-driving a bus that left from La Porte Middle School (pictured). Students started reporting her while she was driving 'This was a crime that should have been reported immediately like any other. This is disgusting and disturbing. Another example of poor leadership and a failure to protect our children.' Another user added: 'This should have been reported to the police when it happened! Very concerning it was not reported for a month. '[Pier should be charged with ] 32 counts neglect. 32 counts child endangerment.' 'Police should have met her at the school along with the superintendent! Baffling they didn't call the police right away! She had children on the bus! Even the children knew something was wrong!' someone else said. Indiana Share or comment on this article: Female Indiana school bus driver, 38, is arrested for ridiculous act e-mail Add commentVictor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. And this wasn’t on a whim: He knows how to play and even brought his own chess set. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. People began showing up almost immediately. Washington Square Park is a known spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer among others have famously played there, and it’s been used for multiple movie scenes featuring the game. Wembanyama was there for an hour in the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He played four games, winning two and losing two — he told Bleacher Report afterward that both of the losses were to professional chess players — before departing to catch the Spurs’ flight. Wembanyama had been trying to get somewhere to play chess for the bulk of the team’s time in New York — the Spurs played the Knicks on Christmas and won at Brooklyn on Friday night. The schedule never aligned, until Saturday morning. And even with bad weather, he bundled up to make it happen. RELATED COVERAGE Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says Morant’s right shoulder is bothering him again after a hard collision ends his night in New Orleans Clippers hang on to beat slumping Curry-less Warriors 102-92 with 6 players in double figures He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA’s biggest stars. “We need an NBA players only Chess tournament, proceeds go to the charity of choice of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess trip was over. Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second in the NBA after winning rookie of the year last season. The Spurs play at Minnesota on Sunday. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA