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PONTE VEDRA, Fla., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. ("Treace” or the "Company”) (NasdaqGS: TMCI), a medical technology company driving a fundamental shift in the surgical treatment of bunions and related midfoot deformities through its flagship Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® Procedures, today announced the successful completion of the first cases combining IntelliGuideTM PSI technology with the Adductoplasty® System for a CT-based, patient specific correction personalized to the patient's unique midfoot deformity. IntelliGuideTM PSI, incorporating RedPointTM technology, is the first and only patient-specific cut guide system available for correction of bunion and/or midfoot deformities in the U.S. IntelliGuideTM PSI provides an AI-enabled software approach to convert a patient's CT-scan to a pre-operative surgical plan and produce a 3D-printed cut guide specific to the patient's deformity for efficient and personalized intra-operative guidance. It is estimated that midfoot deformities, such as metatarsus adductus, may occur in up to 30% of bunion patients. 1,2 Treace has now initiated a limited market release of IntelliGuideTM PSI for the Adductoplasty® Procedure and plans to expand surgeon access of IntelliGuideTM for both the Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® procedures progressively over the coming months with full market release expected within the first half of 2025. "IntelliGuideTM PSI further advances our market leadership position in the surgical management of bunion and midfoot deformities, extending the established benefits of PSI personalized approaches to our Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® Procedures,” said John T. Treace, CEO, Founder and Board Member of Treace. "We look forward to further building out our ecosystem of enabling digital technologies as part of our strategy to provide a comprehensive portfolio of bunion and related midfoot solutions to address the evolving needs of our surgeon customers and patients.” Eric Kuhlman, DPM of Center for Spine & Orthopedics in Denver, who performed an initial IntelliGuideTM Adductoplasty® case commented, "This technology is going to revolutionize the way that I approach treating patients with bunion and related midfoot deformities. The virtual planning process helped me fully visualize the complex three-dimensional metatarsus adductus midfoot correction before stepping foot in the OR and the 3D-printed cut guides added a new level of intra-operative precision, efficiency, and confidence to the procedure. Just as PSI has advanced other areas of orthopedics, I expect IntelliGuideTM PSI to rapidly expand our understanding and treatment of these common, yet challenging foot deformities.” Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's expectations of innovation, product commercialization, market performance, and growth. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company's business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and actual results and other events may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Factors that could cause actual results or other events to differ materially from those contemplated in this press release can be found in the Risk Factors section of Treace's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2024, and its subsequent SEC filings. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements speak only as of their date and, except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, whether as a result of any new information, future developments or otherwise. Internet Posting of Information Treace routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investor Relations” section of its website at www.treace.com . The Company encourages investors and potential investors to consult the Treace website regularly for important information about Treace. About Treace Medical Concepts Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. is a medical technology company with the goal of advancing the standard of care for the surgical management of bunion and related midfoot deformities. Bunions are complex 3-dimensional deformities that originate from an unstable joint in the middle of the foot and affect approximately 67 million Americans, of which Treace estimates 1.1 million are annual surgical candidates. Treace has pioneered and patented the Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® System - a combination of instruments, implants, and surgical methods designed to surgically correct all three planes of the bunion deformity and secure the unstable joint, addressing the root cause of the bunion and helping patients get back to their active lifestyles. To further support the needs of bunion patients, Treace has introduced its Adductoplasty® Midfoot Correction System, designed for reproducible surgical correction of midfoot deformities. The Company continues to expand its footprint in the foot and ankle market with the introduction of its SpeedPlateTM Rapid Compression Implants, an innovative fixation platform with broad versatility across Lapiplasty® and Adductoplasty® procedures, as well as other common bone fusion procedures of the foot. For more information, please visit www.treace.com . To learn more about Treace, connect with us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram . 1. Aiyer AA, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2014; 35:1292-1297. 2. Gribbin CK, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2017; 38:14-19. Contacts : Treace Medical Concepts Mark L. Hair Chief Financial Officer [email protected] (904) 373-5940 Investors : Gilmartin Group Vivian Cervantes [email protected]By Elizabeth Ayoola, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. Kids are often pretty good at being consumers. If you’re a parent with a small business, you have the opportunity to show your kids firsthand what it means to be a producer. Small Business Saturday, which takes place on Nov. 30 this year, may be a great time to do just that. Small Business Saturday was established by American Express in 2010 and encourages consumers to patronize their local stores as a way to keep dollars circulating within their community. Here are three reasons you should consider getting your kids involved in Small Business Saturday, according to two mompreneurs. Ronne Brown is the owner of HERLISTIC, a plant-derived beauty and feminine care brand in Washington, D.C. She’s been participating in Small Business Saturday since she established her business in 2020. The entrepreneur gets her kids (ages 24, 18 and 12), plus her bonus daughter, 10, to help out on Small Business Saturday and beyond. Brown’s kids help with customer service, shipping and fulfillment tasks. That could include counting inventory, quality control or packaging boxes. Other times, help looks like Brown’s 12-year-old daughter keeping her up-to-date with TikTok trends and influencers in the beauty field. “I just want them to understand the price and the value of a dollar and what it actually costs to make it,” Brown says. The mompreneur also hopes her kids learn the benefits of commitment and hard work. “What I want to show them is that you have to work hard every day. And there are gonna be moments where you’re gonna be tired, you’re gonna be exhausted, and you’re not gonna want to do things, and you’re going to have to push through,” she says. Hiring your kids to do legitimate work during Small Business Saturday provides a chance for them to learn pillars needed for a strong financial foundation: earning money , saving money and investing. That said, before hiring kids, it’s critical to understand the child labor laws for your state in addition to the IRS’ rules around hiring kids. Brown says she pays all of her children, including her 24-year-old son who is on payroll. Additionally, she teaches them about investing in the stock market. “I want them to understand the importance of making money, but also investing the money that they’re making,” she says. “Because when I pay them, I always ask them, ‘so what are you gonna do to double this money?’” If you hire your minor kids, they could get a headstart on investing by putting some of their income into a custodial Roth IRA , which requires earned income to open. You could also open them a custodial brokerage account. Another perk of your kids earning income by working for you is that they may be exempt from paying federal income taxes if they earn less than the standard deduction . In 2024, that threshold is $14,600. Having your kids add helping hands, whether it be doing administrative tasks or helping customers, can ensure you keep up with a potential increase in sales. A 2024 NerdWallet holiday spending report found that 16% of 2024 holiday shoppers plan to shop on Small Business Saturday this year. Lisset Tresvant, owner of Glow Esthetics Spa in Hollywood, Florida, has been participating in Small Business Saturday since the genesis of her business in 2019. “I do tend to sell more because people are usually more inclined to purchase because of the sales, and it gives them a reason to support us,” she says. To help with the demand, Tresvant’s daughter, 12, and son, 9, fill her skincare products, add labels and help prep items for shipping. Tresvant says she decided to let her kids get involved in her business so they have a better understanding of what she does. Looking beyond Small Business Saturday, hiring your child can also help with succession planning , which is about planning for your departure from your business. Tresvant hopes to pass hers down to her kids one day. “They understand that I’m building this legacy just for not myself, but for them as well,” says Tresvant. More From NerdWallet Elizabeth Ayoola writes for NerdWallet. Email: eayoola@nerdwallet.com. The article 3 Reasons to Involve Your Kids in Small Business Saturday originally appeared on NerdWallet .

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439 Shares in Vanguard Communication Services ETF (NYSEARCA:VOX) Acquired by Larson Financial Group LLCIf they aren’t the respective biggest and smallest offensive skill-position players in the NFL, each is close to it. The long and the short of it is Darnell Washington and Calvin Austin III are evolving into significant pieces of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. After relatively little usage in the passing game in 2023 while each was playing in the NFL for the first time, Washington and Austin are increasingly favored targets — particularly since Russell Wilson took over as quarterback six weeks ago. Over the past five games, the diminutive but speedy Austin and the towering, imposing Washington have combined for 21 catches on 34 targets, 314 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. While those statistics aren’t necessarily eye-popping, they do correlate with the Nos. 3-4 receiving options for a team that has known quantities in WR1 George Pickens and a bona fide No. 1 tight end in Pat Freiermuth but has been struggling to find other weapons. Washington and Austin were just behind Pickens and Freiermuth (four receptions each) with three receptions apiece during the Steelers’ most recent outing, a 24-19 defeat at the Cleveland Browns. Austin led the team in receiving yards (78), including a 46-yard third-down play and a 23-yard touchdown catch that gave the Steelers a fourth-quarter lead. “He just did a great job of getting open,” Wilson said of the 46-yard catch after the game. “He did a great job of just really making a play. Then I think the one for the touchdown, I knew how to get the ball off. They were about to hit me, and I just had to let it go down the middle to Calvin. He did a great job and just threw it and anticipated where he was going to be. He made a heck of a catch, heck of a route, and that was awesome.” Over the past five games — the Steelers won four — Austin leads the team in touchdowns with three. Though that includes a 73-yard punt-return TD against the New York Giants, Austin’s two receiving touchdowns are tied with Pickens for the most over that stretch. For the season — including a 55-yard touchdown from Justin Fields in Week 4 — Austin’s three receiving touchdowns are tied with Freiermuth for most on the team. “Coach (Mike) Tomlin always talks about guys who can create space in a non-vertical area,” wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said recently. “Who is that player on every team? And (Austin) is our guy that way. He does a great job of that. That’s his gift, that’s what he was blessed with, that twitch and that awareness on how to work individuals.” Generously listed at 5-foot-9, 162 pounds, Austin requires gifts such as quickness and special awareness. But if Austin creates space (as Azzanni calls it) “non-vertically,” Washington has a rare ability to create space vertically — as in, literally so. His official listing of 6-7, 264 pounds probably doesn’t do him justice. Steelers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts recently was speaking about Washington when he said, “You don’t expect a guy who is 6-7 and 300-plus — uh oh ... I said that out loud?” No joke — it would almost take two Austins to make for the mass of one Washington. “He’s a big man, and yet he’s shown (receiving ability) in practice, he’s shown it in training camp that he can be consistent in the passing game,” Roberts said. “So it makes it easy for the play-caller to get it off the call sheet. He’s done it early in games, and he’s rewarded us with some big plays.” Nicknamed “Mount,” Washington had his first career touchdown earlier this season in Denver, and he’s recorded a pair of receptions of at least 25 yards while making 11 catches in five games with Wilson throwing. Consider that Washington had only seven receptions last year as a rookie. Austin, in his first pro season on the field (2022 was spent on injured reserve), had only 12 catches. He and Washington each already have blown past career highs in catches and yards. Each a mid-round draft pick, Austin and Washington entered the league with unique skill sets (speed and size, respectively), but observers wondered if Austin was too small and Washington, well, too big to be viable receiving threats. The contrast between them couldn’t be greater — and perhaps that’s part of what Wilson and coordinator Arthur Smith are leveraging in deploying Washington and Austin more often. “It builds my confidence getting the ball in my hands and getting more comfortable with it,” Washington said. “Because at this level I didn’t really have that many opportunities, so I feel like each catch it keeps building my confidence as a person with the ball in my hands and run after.”

The U.S. fiscal outlook has dramatically deteriorated since the last time we ran a surplus in 2001, and President Joe Biden — like Democratic and Republican presidents before him — shares some responsibility for our high and rising debt. But it’s not too late to start turning things around. During his time in office, Biden approved more than $4 trillion of new 10-year borrowing, debt-financing everything from COVID relief to infrastructure spending to student debt cancellation. This borrowing helped lift inflation to a 40-year high and push interest rates well above recent levels. It also added to an already high and rising national debt. As a result of borrowing approved by the last four administrations, along with the built-in growth of our health and retirement programs, the national debt will soon approach record levels as a share of the economy. So too will the cost of interest paid by taxpayers on the national debt, which already exceeds spending on Medicare or national defense. And deficits will total about $2 trillion per year . But Biden’s fiscal record isn’t all bad. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, he oversaw a tremendous economic recovery, which has helped limit growth in the ratio of debt to gross domestic product. The president also negotiated and signed into law the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, which restored appropriations caps and is projected to save $1.5 trillion over a decade. And the Inflation Reduction Act, though a mixed fiscal bag overall, included important reforms to lower Medicare drug prices and improve tax enforcement. Now, with just under two months left in his term, Biden has the opportunity to build on these fiscal successes and make right some of these fiscal failures. That starts with protecting his legacy on tax compliance. Every year, households and businesses underpay their taxes by $600 billion. The combination of tax cheating and honest mistakes adds tremendously to our debt. Every president from Reagan through Trump proposed to increase funding to the Internal Revenue Service to reduce this “tax gap.” Biden actually succeeded, persuading Congress to appropriate $80 billion to the IRS to upgrade its information technology, improve its customer service and strengthen its enforcement. Unfortunately, this funding is under threat. Congress has already rescinded more than a quarter of the funds to pay for other spending, and an end-of-year appropriations deal could go further. Another $20 billion of cuts from the IRS would reduce tax revenue by more than $65 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Biden should insist against this, threatening to veto any effort to reduce IRS funding, which only encourages further tax cheating. He should also work with Congress to address excessive payments under the pandemic-era employee retention credit, which has cost many times more than intended and turned into a lightning rod for fraud. Beyond the IRS funding, Biden should insist appropriations levels stick to the caps that he negotiated on a bipartisan basis. There will be tremendous pressure from both parties to spend more. Republicans will want to increase funding on defense, Democrats will want to increase nondefense funding, and both will insist that these incremental changes will have little effect on the fiscal outlook. No question, this country has many unmet needs — both when it comes to national security and to our domestic priorities. But Congress should fund those priorities by cutting spending elsewhere. There is tremendous room to cut waste, improve efficiency, and scale back or eliminate projects and programs that aren’t worth their costs or aren’t working. Failing to abide by spending caps this year would make any future enforcement harder and would send the signal that Congress can spend without restraint. Biden should put his foot down. There’s also much that the president can do through executive action. He could start by withdrawing his various student debt cancellation schemes. These policies are costly, inflationary and poorly targeted — most of the benefit will go to those with graduate degrees and very high lifetime earnings. Student debt cancellation is also likely to boost tuitions and reduce the quality of higher education, as schools will be able to charge more and deliver less if potential students know they are unlikely to be responsible for much of the cost. These executive actions also clearly go beyond the powers intended for the president, which the Supreme Court and other courts have recognized by declaring some of these schemes illegal and putting holds on others. On the other hand, this administration has appropriately and intelligently used its clearly defined authority to begin to tackle fraud and other excesses in the Medicare Advantage program. Biden officials should do more here where possible and work in the transition to help the incoming Trump administration understand the importance of a well-run and cost-effective Medicare Advantage program. Most important, Biden should use the presidential bully pulpit to make the case for paying for new priorities, reducing our debt and securing federal trust funds. Social Security is only nine years away from insolvency, while Medicare is only 12 years away. We cannot afford for future administrations to ignore these challenges and continue the cycle of borrowing for everything. We need leaders to level with the American people about the challenges ahead — challenges Biden understands well. And it is not too late.A US judge has dismissed the federal criminal case accusing Donald Trump of attempting to overturn his 2020 election defeat after prosecutors moved to drop that prosecution and a second case against the president-elect, citing Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Login or signup to continue reading The order on Monda from US District Judge Tanya Chutkan puts an end to the federal effort to hold Trump criminally responsible for his attempts to hold onto power after losing the 2020 election, culminating in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters. The move came after Special Counsel Jack Smith, the lead prosecutor overseeing both cases, moved to dismiss the election case and end his attempt to revive a separate case accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified documents when he left office in 2021 after his first term as president. It represents a big legal victory for the Republican president-elect, who won the November 5 US election and is set to return to office on January 20. The Justice Department policy that the prosecutors cited dates back to the 1970s. It holds that a criminal prosecution of a sitting president would violate the US Constitution by undermining the ability of the country's chief executive to function. Courts will still have to approve both requests from prosecutors. The prosecutors in a filing in the election subversion case said the department's policy requires the case to be dismissed before Trump returns to the White House. "This outcome is not based on the merits or strength of the case against the defendant," prosecutors wrote in the filing. Prosecutors in the documents case signalled they will still ask a federal appeals court to bring back the case against two Trump associates who had been accused of obstructing that investigation. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung hailed what he called "a major victory for the rule of law." Trump had faced criminal charges in four cases - the two brought by Smith and two in state courts in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in the New York case while the Georgia case, which also relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is in limbo. In a post on social media, Trump railed on Monday against the legal cases as a "low point in the History of our Country." The moves by Smith, who was appointed in 2022 by US Attorney-General Merrick Garland, represents a remarkable shift from the special prosecutor who obtained indictments against Trump in two separate cases accusing him of crimes that threatened US election integrity and national security. Prosecutors acknowledged that the election of a president who faced ongoing criminal cases created an unprecedented predicament for the Justice Department. Chutkan left open the possibility that prosecutors could seek to charge Trump again after he leaves office, but prosecutors would likely face challenges bringing a case so long after conduct involved in the case happened. Trump pleaded not guilty in August 2023 to four federal charges accusing him of conspiring to obstruct the collection and certification of votes following his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump, who as president will again oversee the Justice Department, was expected to order an end to the federal 2020 election case and to Smith's appeal in the documents case. Florida-based Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the federal bench, had dismissed the classified documents case in July, ruling that Smith was improperly appointed to his role as special counsel. Smith's office had been appealing that ruling and indicated on Monday that the appeal would continue as it relates to Trump personal aide Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, a manager at his Mar-a-Lago resort, who had been previously charged alongside Trump in the case. Both Nauta and De Oliveria have pleaded not guilty, as did Trump. In the 2020 election case, Trump's lawyers had previously said they would seek to dismiss the charges based on a US Supreme Court ruling in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution over official actions taken while in the White House. Trump denied wrongdoing in all cases and argued that the US legal system had been turned against him to damage his presidential campaign. He vowed during the campaign that he would fire Smith if he returned to the presidency. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!AI is now being tested to protect the UK's endangered red squirrel population. The Squirrel Agent AI, which is being tested around the UK, detects different types of squirrels using their chins, ears and tails, according to Emma Mcclenaghan, chief executive of Genysys Engine, who built the programme. It can tell squirrels apart with 97% accuracy, according to its developers. Although artificial intelligence is being used to spot animals all around the UK, like puffins on Scotland's Isle of May , the Squirrel Agent takes it step further by reacting when it spots different types of squirrels. When greys are spotted, push notifications are sent to conservationists' phones, traps can be triggered, and contraceptives delivered to keep the grey population under control. When the AI spots a red squirrel, it can trigger feeders or deliver medicine. Since grey squirrels were introduced by the Victorians in the 1870s, the UK's red squirrel population has fallen from around 3.5 million to a few hundred thousand, according to the government's Animal and Plant Health Agency. That's compared with an estimated population of 2.7 million grey squirrels, which outcompete their red cousins in size, territory and food. The greys can also carry a disease called squirrelpox, which is deadly to red squirrels. Although the Squirrel Agent is now being used across the UK, Ms Mcclenaghan and her partner originally invented it to increase the local squirrel population for their border collie. "He just loves watching squirrels like all dogs and we wanted eventually, given we have a big window at the back, something for him to watch," she told Sky News. "So it was something we were going to build just for ourselves." Read more from science, climate and technology: COP29 strikes last ditch deal on funding for climate measures Folding clothes and sitting on sofas could give off microplastics Now, five organisations, including Bangor University, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Ulster Wildlife, are testing the AI. Soon, the Squirrel Agent will begin identifying individual squirrels by analysing their whiskers. Follow our channel and never miss an update Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free "The whiskers are like an individual fingerprint," said Ms Mcclenaghan. "So, the idea is to identify each individual squirrel, not just whether it's red, but you could say: 'That is Sally the squirrel and her dad was Ben and she travelled up to Scotland through England'. "So we can just get a bit more conservation data."

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Narin An leads with a 64 in the wind as Nelly Korda struggles in LPGA finaleInformal tallying of votes in count centres for Ireland’s General Election have suggested the potential for new breakthroughs and trouble for some established incumbents, after an exit poll put the three main parties nearly neck and neck. The tallies, carried out by party activists and volunteers as boxes opened at 9am, give a more localised sense of the potential result than Friday night’s exit poll. The largest opposition party Sinn Fein held 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A Exit Poll commissioned by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin. With boxes now open, the votes must first be sorted before counting formally begins in a process which could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. It means the voting slips need to be counted several times, an undertaking which can last days. The inconclusive early indications have turned the focus of speculation to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. First counts which carry the potential for the election of new members of parliament, known as TDs in Ireland, are expected later on Saturday. Most of the leaders of the main parties, including Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald seem set to be reelected. However, Green leader Roderic O’Gorman, who is the head of the junior partner in the outgoing coalition, is in with a fight to hold on to his seat. He has conceded that a number of his colleagues will not retain their seats, amid the broader potential for a wipeout. That would be a repeat of history given the last time the Greens exited a coalition – in 2011, the party lost all six of its TDs. Mr O’Gorman, the outgoing integration minister, said on Saturday: “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day.” Catherine Martin, the Green party’s former deputy leader and outgoing media minister, is also at risk of failing to be reelected. The tallies suggest potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch, who is sitting on fourth in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central after the completion of the unofficial tallies there. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon has appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smallest parties. Leader Holly Cairns announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day. Elsewhere, Labour and Sinn Fein are eyeing potential gains. Despite the apparent rise of the Social Democrats, it initially appeared unlikely that only one smaller party would be needed to act as a kingmaker to seal a majority. It has turned eyes to the possibility that a coalition could potentially be formed with four parties or with the use of independents – considered by some to be a recipe for unstable governance. The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have consistently ruled out entering into a coalition with Sinn Fein, citing substantial differences on policy. As such, the opposition party faces a much more challenging route to forming a government. However, long-held and ostensibly insurmountable political differences have eroded as recently as 2020, when the general election also delivered an inconclusive result. Then, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power for the outgoing coalition, after similar pledges against forming coalitions had been made before the final results. In that election, Sinn Fein won the popular vote but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. Sinn Fein’s director of elections said on Saturday that another Fine Gael and Fianna Fail government would be a “nightmare scenario”. Matt Carthy told RTE: “We will try and do everything in our power to create a government that doesn’t include Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.” The “encouraging” exit poll suggests Fine Gael has “held ground”, according to the party’s general secretary John Carroll. Before voting began, Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers said the race remained “too close to call”. Asked if there is now no difference between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Mr Chambers told RTE radio that the parties had worked well together in government but added: “There were very clear differences in policies (during the campaign).” A key factor in determining the final result of any Irish election is the transfer of votes based on a voter’s preferences, a key part of PR-STV. It is through this system that candidates can still claim a seat after insufficient votes following a first count. More than 3.6 million people were registered to vote in the election to choose their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the country’s housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living, as well as potential future trade shocks. There are a total of 174 seats in the country’s parliament to be filled, more than ever before. As the Ceann Comhairle, the speaker of the house, is automatically returned, 173 seats will be filled in the counting process.City-County councilors to propose public education fund program for Marion County students

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