qbet casino
The 26-year-old man had a gun believed to be the one used in the killing and writings suggesting his anger with corporate America, police officials said. He was taken into custody after police got a tip that he was eating at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. Police identified the suspect as Luigi Mangione. Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address is in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Here's the latest: What police say they found in Mangione’s backpack After Mangione provided his real name and birth date, he was taken into custody on charges of forgery and false identification to law enforcement, court documents say. In his backpack, police found a black, 3D-printed pistol and a 3D-printed black silencer, the papers say. The pistol had a metal slide and plastic handle with a metal threaded barrel. It had one loaded Glock magazine with six 9 mm full metal jacket rounds and one loose 9 mm hollow-point round. Court docs describe the moment police saw Mangione in the McDonald’s According to court documents, Mangione was sitting at a table in the rear of the McDonalds wearing a blue medical mask and looking at a silver laptop computer and had a backpack on the floor. When he pulled down his mask, Altoona police officers “immediately recognized him as the suspect” in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the documents say. Asked for identification, Mangione provided officers with a fake ID — a New Jersey driver’s license bearing another name and the incorrect date of birth. Mangione began shaking when police asked if he had been in New York recently, court papers say When an officer asked Mangione if he’d been to New York recently, he “became quiet and started to shake,” the court documents say. Mangione is charged with weapons, forgery and other charges in Pennsylvania A police criminal complaint charged him with forgery, carrying firearms without a license, tampering with records or identification, possessing an instrument of crime and providing false identification to law enforcement. Mangione arrives at court Video posted on the social platform X shows a handcuffed Mangione arriving at the Blair County Courthouse in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Recent cases su ggest that it could be a while before Mangione is returned to New York For example, it took about 10 months to extradite a man charged with stabbing two workers at the Museum of Modern Art in 2022. The suspect, Gary Cabana, was also arrested in Pennsylvania, where he was charged with setting his Philadelphia hotel room on fire. Cabana was sent back to New York after he pleaded guilty to an arson charge in Pennsylvania. Manhattan prosecutors could seek to expedite the process by indicting Mangione for Thompson’s killing while he’s still in custody of Pennsylvania authorities. They could then obtain what’s known as a supreme court warrant or fugitive warrant to get him back to New York. Former classmate of Mangione says 'he had everything going for him’ Freddie Leatherbury hasn’t spoken to Mangione since they graduated in 2016 from Gilman School in Maryland. He said Mangione was a smart, friendly and athletic student who came from a wealthy family, even by the private school’s standards. “Quite honestly, he had everything going for him,” Leatherbury said. Leatherbury said he was stunned when a friend shared the news of their former classmate’s arrest. “He does not seem like the kind of guy to do this based on everything I’d known about him in high school,” Leatherbury said. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family One of his cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesperson for the delegate’s office confirmed Monday. Luigi Mangione is one of 37 grandchildren of Nick Mangione Sr., according to a 2008 obituary. Mangione Sr. grew up poor in Baltimore’s Little Italy and rose after his World War II naval service to become a millionaire real estate developer and philanthropist, according to a 1995 profile by the Baltimore Sun. He and his wife Mary Cuba Mangione, who died in 2023, directed their philanthropy through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating her death. They donated to a variety of causes, ranging from Catholic organizations to higher education to the arts. A man who answered the door to the office of the Mangione Family Foundation declined to comment Monday evening. Mangione Sr. was known for Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione Sr. prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday afternoon, Baltimore County police officers had blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. A swarm of reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. UnitedHealth Group comments on the arrest “Our hope is that today’s apprehension brings some relief to Brian’s family, friends, colleagues and the many others affected by this unspeakable tragedy,” a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group said Monday. “We thank law enforcement and will continue to work with them on this investigation. We ask that everyone respect the family’s privacy as they mourn.” Baltimore’s Gilman School sends an email about Luigi Mangione’s arrest In an email to parents and alumni, Gilman headmaster Henry P.A. Smyth said it “recently” learned that Mangione, a 2016 graduate, was arrested in the CEO’s killing. “We do not have any information other than what is being reported in the news,” Smyth wrote. “This is deeply distressing news on top of an already awful situation. Our hearts go out to everyone affected.” Mangione earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Pennsylvania Mangione, a high school valedictorian from a Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. He had learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His posts also suggest that he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, the New Jersey shore and other destinations. What is a ghost gun? Police said the suspect arrested Monday had a ghost gun , a type of weapon that can be assembled at home from parts without a serial number, making them difficult to trace. The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what’s known as the lower receiver. Some are sold in do-it-yourself kits and the receivers are typically made from metal or polymer. Altoona police describe how they arrested the suspect Altoona police say officers were dispatched to a McDonald’s on Monday morning in response to reports of a male matching the description of the man wanted in connection with the United Healthcare CEO’s killing in New York City. In a news release, police say officers made contact with the man, who was then arrested on unrelated charges. The Altoona Police Department says it’s cooperating with local, state, and federal agencies. Police are investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania “This just happened this morning. We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Suspect will face gun charges in Altoona, Pennsylvania, police say “And at some point we’ll work out through extradition to bring him back to New York to face charges here, working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Suspect had a ‘ghost gun,’ police say “As of right now, the information we’re getting from Altoona is that the gun appears to be a ghost gun that may have been made on a 3D printer, capable of firing a 9 mm round,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. Suspect had handwritten document that ‘speaks to both his motivation and mindset,’ police commissioner says The document suggested the suspect had “ill will toward corporate America,” police added. Police identify the suspect as Luigi Mangione Mangione, 26, was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco, and his last known address in Honolulu, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news briefing. 26-year-old arrested with weapon ‘consistent with’ the gun used in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Police have arrested a 26-year-old with a weapon “consistent with” the gun used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , New York City’s police commissioner says. Thompson , 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at Manhattan hotel. Thompson had traveled from Minnesota for the event. Man questioned in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing had writings critical of the industry, source says A man being questioned Monday in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson had writings that appeared to be critical of the health insurance industry, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man also had a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing, the official said. Police apprehended the man after receiving a tip that he had been spotted at a McDonald’s near Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, said the official, who wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. Along with the gun, police found a silencer and fake IDs, according to the official. — Michael R. Sisak Along with the gun, police found a silencer, fake IDs and writings apparently critical of the health insurance industry That’s also according to the law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak Police took the man into custody after getting a tip that he’d been spotted at a McDonald’s That’s according to a law enforcement official. — Michael R. Sisak The NYPD is sending detectives to Pennsylvania to question the person taken into custody New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to address this development at a previously scheduled afternoon news briefing in Manhattan. What type of rewards are there for information on the police’s suspect? While still looking to identify the suspect, the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction. That’s on top of a $10,000 reward offered by the NYPD. In the days since the shooting, police turned to the public for help by releasing photos and video That included footage of the attack, as well as images of someone at a Starbucks beforehand. Photos taken in the lobby of a hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side showed the person grinning after removing his mask, police said. NYPD returns to search Central Park NYPD dogs and divers returned to New York’s Central Park today while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. Investigators have been combing the park since the Wednesday shooting and searching at least one of its ponds for three days, looking for evidence that may have been thrown into it. What type of gun did the shooter use? Police say the shooter used a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. Police said they had not yet found the gun itself. Ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics . Police question man with gun thought to be similar to one used in killing of UnitedHeathcare CEO A man with a gun thought to be similar to the one used in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was taken into police custody Monday for questioning in Pennsylvania, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The man is being held in the area of Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 233 miles (375 kilometers) west of New York City, the official said. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The development came as dogs and divers returned Monday to New York’s Central Park while the dragnet for Thompson’s killer stretched into a sixth day. — Michael R. SisakUNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Five-time Olympian and Kookaburras great Eddie Ockenden has retired from international hockey. Ockenden, 37, made 451 appearances for Australia in a decorated 18-year international career. “It feels like my whole career has gone by in a flash,” he said. “There are so many great memories with good friends, and I just feel like I’ve been really lucky to be able to do what I love for so long.” Ockenden’s honours include a silver and two bronze Olympic medals and four Commonwealth Games gold medals, He will also retire from Kookaburras duty as a seven-time Champions Trophy winner. “There’s always a lot of ups and downs in professional sport, and when I reflect on my career it’s the overarching love for the sport which I realise is what kept me going,” Ockenden said. “I learnt to love the difficult parts and to enjoy everything about it, including tough days at training, because it’s not all just winning. “Success on the last game of the final day is rare and difficult to do. I just loved playing hockey and being a part of the Kookaburras, and I feel lucky I was able to do it at all really.” Ockenden also had the honour of being Tasmania’s first Olympic Games Opening Ceremony flag bearer in Paris this year. “There was a lot to like about 2024,” he said. “I still can’t wrap my head around carrying the flag for Australia in Paris and at my fifth Olympic Games. “Being able to represent the community and the sport that I love so much was a proud moment.” Ockenden will now return home to live in Hobart with his partner Lou and their three sons. “I’ve always wanted to move back to Tasmania, and the kids are at a good age to move right now. We just knew it was time to move home,” he said.BRUSSELS (AP) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Uruguay Thursday for the final stages in to clinch a trade deal between the 27-nation EU and the South American Mercosur trade bloc that would create a trans-Atlantic market of some 700 million people. “The finish line of the EU-Mercosur agreement is in sight. Let’s work, let’s cross it,” von der Leyen said Thursday, sidestepping objections from some EU member states like France and protests by farmers across the bloc. French President Emmanuel Macron, mindful of his country’s vocal and politically powerful farming community, has described what was on the table as “unacceptable.” If the deal with the South American bloc — comprising of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia — goes ahead, EU producers would have to compete with South American agricultural exports such as beef, poultry and sugar. “We will continue to steadfastly defend our agricultural independence,” Macron said Thursday. Because the EU Commission negotiates trade agreements for all 27 member states, von der Leyen could go ahead with a provisional deal this weekend at the Mercosur summit in Uruguay, only to see it flounder because one or more members states refuse to sign up to it. A draft deal was , but disagreements over environmental, economic and political issues have delaying its final approval until now. If the final differences are bridged, the EU-Mercosur deal would encompass an economic area covering almost a quarter of global GDP. It would center on reducing tariffs and trade barriers and make it easier for businesses on both sides to export goods. Germany, with its huge car industry, is a big proponent of the deal since it would make it much easier and cheaper for Volkswagens, Audis and BMWs to be sold in Latin America. Von der Leyen’s trip suggested that technical issues between the EU and the South American bloc were settled and the road was open for “the top political level to make the final compromises to try to get a deal over the line,” said Commission spokesman Olof Gill. protest movement last year sent warning shots to negotiators and on Thursday, protests from Belgian farmers added their voice by blocking border crossings. They say Mercosur producers would be allowed to flood the market with produce than do not have to meet the strict EU environmental and animal protection standards they have to abide by, thus unfairly undercutting the market. On top of that, they say South American producers benefit from lower labor costs and larger farms. If von der Leyen clinches a deal, the Commission would still have to pour it into legal text and only at that stage would it become clear if certain or all parts need to be approved by unanimity or whether a special majority among EU nations would suffice to make the deal final. ___ Tom Nouvian contributed from Paris Raf Casert, The Associated Press
The Cincinnati Bengals are about to take the field for one last primetime game of the season. Let's see who will NOT suit up for Cincinnati tonight against the Dallas Cowboys. Here are the Bengals' Week 14 inactives S Daijahn Anthony OT Orlando Brown Jr. WR Charlie Jones TE Tanner McLachlan DT Sheldon Rankinss Brown and Rankins were declared out on Saturday . Brown attempted to play through his fibula injury last Sunday and had a rough game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He missed all of practice this past week. Rankins has not practiced since the days leading up Cincinnati's Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers due to his illness. Jones was limited in practice all last week and was officially questionable to make his return from a groin injury. He will now miss his fifth consecutive game. He last played in Week 7 when he ran in his first career kickoff return touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. Rookies Jermaine Bruton and Isaiah Williams will continue in Jones' roles as kickoff returner and punt returner, respectively. Anthony and McLachlan, both rookies, are healthy scratches. McLachlan has yet to be active for a regular season game despite being on the roster for the entire year. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.by Dr Neals J Chitan Grenada is frequently thought of as a leader in the Caribbean region when it comes to revolutions, and I am proud to join the list of greats who had the courage to start revolutionary movements here in Grenada, and in other nations of the region. However, this one is not an armed confrontational coup that topples governments and changes the trajectory of politics, but indeed, one that topples the people’s aggression, anger and revenge factors and breathes respect across our nation. With our return to the Caribbean as international crime reduction interventionists, our work has had a profound impact on thousands of lives in 10 island nations. From Jamaica in the north to Trinidad and Tobago in the south, we have created a behavioural revolution in the minds of thousands of students, youth, adults and prisoners over the past 5 years, and we thank the Cabinet of Grenada for the opportunity and mandate to create that same revolution here at home. Although we were set to join local crime-fighting stakeholders in St Lucia on 15 May 2024 and again respond with the second phase of “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK,” with Grenada in the pangs of gun violence, we were sought by Minister Gloria Thomas and then Permanent Secretary Naomi Jeremiah of Ministry of Social and Community Development to engage our Canadian copyrighted flagship crime reduction programme “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” as an antidote. On 27 May 2024, the Cabinet of Grenada considered and ratified their decision through Cabinet Conclusion #354 to roll out a “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” community intervention programme across 7 communities on mainland Grenada with immediate effect. Unfortunately, although our high winds of social change began blowing across 8 communities in June 2024 preparing for a 1 July 2024 launch, Hurricane Beryl chose that exact date to blow her devastating winds across the northern parts of Grenada, devastating up to 95% of the sister isles of Carriacou and Petite Martinique. As Behaviour Modification Specialists our focus was immediately changed from crime fighting to trauma intervention joining the ministry’s psychosocial team to support our people of the sister isles in July and August. As a result, “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” (PSAT) Crime Reduction Train made its first stop in the community of Telescope, St Andrew on Sunday, 1 September 2024, starting a weekly community cycle of crime reduction and community empowerment for the next 3 months. On Mondays, we headed to River Sallee, St Patrick, on Tuesdays into Gouyave, St John, on Wednesdays to Victoria, St Mark, on Thursdays to Carenage and Four Roads, on Fridays to Corinth, St David with our final stop on Saturdays at Mont Tout, St George. This exciting weekly journey saw 247 individuals attending our PSAT programme as they were immersed in a 3-dimensional life-changing experience. Beginning with the first four high-impact sessions of our copyrighted pedagogical social skill curriculum, we led participants through Self-Discovery and Self-Affirmation. Then moving on to the second 4 sessions we continued the journey taking them to Self-Control and Self-Regulation and finally ended with the last four powerful sessions of Self-Achievement and Self-Motivation, a journey embellished by laughter, excitement but deep soul-searching and life-changing concepts. Indeed, on Sunday, 1 December 2024, hurricane winds of social change came blowing across Grenada, igniting a social revolution as 201 “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK 2024” graduates (75% males) walked across the elegant halls of the Grenada Olympic House, to receive their Canadian Social Skill and Crime Reduction Certificates, thus creating revolutionary history once again in the Spice Isle!! We commend those who came out to celebrate and bring congratulatory remarks and encouragement to our PSAT Graduates. Among these were Minister Gloria Thomas, PS Petal Rush, Chief Magistrate Francine Foster, Magistrate Sabina Gibbs, QC Ruggles Ferguson of the Grenada Bar Association, ASP Richards-Coordinator of Community Policing (RGPF), Keynote Speaker Pastor Dave King, and Dale Neptune (NEWLO). However, the most impactful response was done by a self-proclaimed gunman Stephen (Shorty) Cyrus of the Carenage (the uncle of the late Wangy) who took to the microphone dressed in his official STOP & THINK T-Shirt, and for over 15 minutes spoke of the impact of the sessions on his life and his passionate plea to the young men graduating to STOP and THINK before killing or be killed, while causing grief and hurt to their moms and communities. In a voice impact message sent to me, Cyrus (Shorty) commented “Doc, you are excellent in changing the mind, and you are starting a revolution of good men across Grenada.” Yep!! That’s what it is!! A REVOLUTION OF GOOD MEN!! I am blessed to be the leader of the ‘Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” REVOLUTION in Grenada for 2024 and look forward to doing it bigger and better in 2025. As we say goodbye to 2024 and celebrate the joy and peace that the first Christmas was meant to bring to our world, I too want to STOP and THINK and say thanks to the Bryden & Minors and the National Lotteries Authority for partnering with “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK 2024” and look forward to more corporate citizens coming on board ‘Project STOP ‘n’ THINK-2025” God bless Grenada and Merry Christmas to all!! Dr Neals Chitan is an International Social Skill Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist who holds a PhD in Social and Behavioural Sciences and currently works in Grenada. He is the President/Founder of Motiv-8 For Change International a Toronto-based Social Skill Agency and can be reached from North America at 647-692-6330 and locally 473-416-8377 or at [email protected]Dean McCullough ‘looks fuming’ as Ant McPartlin takes another swipe at him after fans spot I’m A Celeb feud
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index edged higher in trading on Wednesday, helped by strength in the technology sector, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 5.45 points at 25,641.18. The index took a “breather” Wednesday ahead of key labour market indicators set to be released both in Canada and the U.S. this week, said Angelo Kourkafas, senior investment strategist at Edward Jones. Statistics Canada will report the latest data from the national labour force survey on Friday, the same day the November jobs report is due in the U.S. “That's the last important data point for the Bank of Canada before they meet next week,” said Kourkafas. November was a strong month for equities, he said, so it isn't surprising that investors are digesting the gains while they await new data. He said it’s expected that Statistics Canada will report an acceleration of job gains after last month brought a “relatively weak reading,” with job gains at about half of what analysts were expecting. While Canada’s central bank is expected to cut its key interest rate a fifth straight time on Dec. 11, the size of the cut could depend on that jobs data, he said. “We're now looking at a rebound, but as the Bank of Canada deliberates between a quarter point cut versus half a percentage point cut, I think what we are going to see in terms of unemployment rate and the base of job gains is going to have a say into that,” said Kourkafas, adding that wage growth is another important metric to watch. “If we see steady job growth and slowing wages, that can potentially tilt the Bank of Canada towards a larger cut.” In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 308.51 points at 45,014.04. The S&P 500 index was up 36.61 points at 6,086.49, while the Nasdaq composite was up 254.21 points at 19,735.12. U.S. markets were propelled by strength in the technology sector, said Kourkafas, highlighting strong results in quarterly earnings released this week by Salesforce Inc. and Marvell Technology Inc. “I think today's results highlight that there is still a long runway and still enthusiasm, excitement about artificial intelligence and kind of that multi-year adoption cycle,” he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.09 cents US compared with 71.14 cents US on Tuesday. The January crude oil contract was down US$1.40 at US$68.54 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$3.04 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$8.30 at US$2,676.20 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.20 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Sammy Hudes, The Canadian Press
Bob Saget's widow Kelly Rizzo kisses boyfriend Breckin Meyer during LA outing Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By EVE BUCKLAND and CHRISTINE RENDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:47 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:57 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail View comments Bob Saget 's widow Kelly Rizzo shared a sweet kiss with boyfriend Breckin Meyer during an LA outing on Monday. Rizzo, 45, who previously revealed how Meyer had supported her during the grieving process, looked loved-up as she embraced her partner as they headed for coffee. Rizzo wore a black vest top and leggings, paired with shades for her date. Clueless star Breckin wore a grey top and joggers as he chatted with his girlfriend. Saget passed at age 65 in January 2022 and earlier this year Rizzo debuted her romance with Meyer. 'He's just been so supportive,' Rizzo told E! News . 'Since day one, that's just been such a big thing with him. He knew what I went through, and he appreciated it and accepted it—and always likes to talk about Bob.' Bob Saget's widow Kelly Rizzo shared a sweet kiss with boyfriend Breckin Meyer during an LA outing on Monday Rizzo, 45, who previously revealed how Meyer had supported her during the grieving process, looked loved-up as she embraced her partner as they headed for coffee 'It's never like, "Oh, I don't wanna mention Bob. I don't want Breckin to feel bad about that,"' she continued. 'He's just always been so kind about it. It's been really special. It's really nice that I've been able to move forward with him,' she continued. The star described just how appreciative she was to 'have this really special relationship now' on top of treasuring 'all the wonderful parts of Bob in my life.' Breckin has also met the three daughters Saget had with his ex-wife Sherri Kramer - Aubrey, 37, Lara, 35, and Jennifer, 31. 'He's met Bob's girls multiple times,' Rizzo said. 'We've had dinners together. They adore him. He adores them. It's been really, really nice. They've kind of welcomed him.' Kelly also believes her new boyfriend is the perhaps the only person Saget 'would be OK' about her beginning a relationship with after his death. She humorously remarked, 'He's like, "Alright, I'm not thrilled about any of this, but it's got to be somebody, let it be Breckin."' Rizzo debuted her romance with Breckin earlier this year at a Grammys party. The duo shared a hug as they stepped out Saget died in his sleep aged 65 on January 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, after accidentally sustaining blunt head trauma; Rizzo and Saget pictured 2018 She was married to Saget for four years up until his death in 2022. They met and 2015 and tied the knot in 2018. Rizzo initially faced backlash from social media users who believed she began a relationship with Meyer too soon after Saget's death. But she pushed back against those telling her how to live her life. 'The vast, vast, vast majority of all of the comments and feedback and support and everything I've gotten since Bob passed, 99 percent has been positive and lovely and wonderful,' she said. 'But there are some people who just LOVE to talk when it comes to dating after your spouse passes away.' 'I'll start by saying, unless you are a widow or a widower, you truly have absolutely no place and no right to comment on this because you do not know what it's like.' The travel host said it took her more than a year after The Full House star passed away to feel comfortable with the idea of dating and she didn't begin seeing other people until 18 months after her husband's death, but needed support to make the next step. 'In my situation, it was Bob’s daughters, Bob’s friends,' she explained. 'They were saying, "It’s OK." So I’m like, "OK, it must be OK."' She also opened up about her relationship with Meyer. 'I was concerned about how I could move on and find someone who appreciates what I went through and understands that Bob is always going to be a part of my life,' she explained. Rizzo went public with Meyer at a Grammys party earlier this year Although she did not mention Meyer by name, she said 'I'm very fortunate that I was able to find someone who holds space for that and appreciates it and gets it and is strong enough and confident enough to know that Bob's always going to be a part of my life'. She said the Happily actor, a divorced dad of two adult daughters, 'always asks questions about [Saget] and keeps him part of the conversation, and that means so much to me, because I knew I was going to have to find somebody who just got it.' Saget died in his sleep aged 65 on January 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, after accidentally sustaining blunt head trauma. Saget was found dead in his hotel room bed in Orlando around 4pm EST on January 9, 2022 after performing a stand-up gig in Jacksonville the previous night, sources close to the investigation informed TMZ . The police saw no sign of drugs or foul play and it was initially suspected that he succumbed to either a stroke or a heart attack. However, the following month, his family announced that medical examiners had ruled head trauma to be the cause of death. 'They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep,' said the family's statement. Florida medical examiner Joshua Stephany, MD confirmed to People magazine that Saget's death was 'the result of blunt head trauma.' Blunt head trauma can cause death via brain bleed, bruising to the brain or asphyxiation while unconscious. Kelly Rizzo Bob Saget Share or comment on this article: Bob Saget's widow Kelly Rizzo kisses boyfriend Breckin Meyer during LA outing e-mail Add comment
Brainy, 'normal guy': the suspect in US insurance CEO's slaying
Is a liberal arts degree useless if you want to succeed in life? Not at all.Shares of IonQ ( IONQ 7.57% ) stock popped 142.8% in November, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence . The start-up is trying to revolutionize the quantum computing market and bring this nascent technology into commercial hands. With investors eating up growth and deep technology stocks at the moment, it is no surprise to see IonQ crushing the market in 2024. Shares are up close to 200% year to date (YTD) as of this writing on Dec. 5, 2024. Here's why IonQ stock was up more than 100% in November. Commercializing quantum computing Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics to solve complex problems much faster than traditional computing methods. The problem is that building and maintaining these computers is extremely tricky and requires intensely stable operating environments. IonQ is working to solve these issues and help scale quantum computing, now selling its services on the three big cloud providers: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. The idea is to use these rapid computing methods to solve problems with high computational intensity. Applications of quantum computing could include self-driving cars, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and supply chain management. The possibilities are endless. For example, IonQ just partnered with advanced computer design simulation company Ansys to utilize quantum computing to perform faster and more advanced simulations for commercial design customers. So far, it looks like companies are lining up to spend money with IonQ. Last quarter, revenue grew over 100% year over year to $12.4 million. Perhaps more importantly, IonQ booked $63.8 million in new orders just in the third quarter. Investors likely celebrated these results, shooting up IonQ's stock after the earnings were released. There is clearly a ton of potential for these products. Should you buy IonQ stock? IonQ is clearly an exciting company. Personally, I hope they succeed and commercialize quantum computing, as it would be a phenomenal development that would further increase human prosperity. I don't think the stock is a buy at these prices, though. At a market cap of $8 billion, IonQ trades at a price-to-sales ( P/S ) ratio of 200. This is an absurd valuation that makes it extremely unlikely IonQ will ever generate positive returns for shareholders. The expectations embedded into the stock price are just too high. IonQ will be a fun company to watch, but don't go chasing the stock after its monster November returns.
Lara Trump will step down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee as she considers a number of potential options with her father-in-law, President-elect Donald Trump , set to return to the White House. Among those possibilities is replacing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump tapped to be the next secretary of state. If Rubio is confirmed, his replacement — who would be chosen by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — would serve for two years until the next regularly scheduled election in 2026, at which point the seat would be up for election again. “It is something I would seriously consider,” Lara Trump told The Associated Press in an interview. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t know exactly what that would look like. And I certainly want to get all of the information possible if that is something that’s real for me. But yeah, I would 100% consider it.” Elected as RNC co-chair in March, Lara Trump was a key player in the Republicans retaking the White House and control of the Senate while maintaining a narrow House majority. What she does next could shape Republican politics, given her elevated political profile and her ties to the incoming president. The idea of placing a Trump family member in the Senate has been lauded in some Republican circles. Among the people pushing for her to replace Rubio is Maye Musk, mother of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk . “The Senate is an old man’s club. We desperately need a smart, young, outspoken woman who will reveal their secrets,” she posted on X. Lara Trump is 42. Elon Musk, who was with Lara Trump on election night at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, responded to his mother’s post: “Lara Trump is genuinely great.” Led by chairman Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, the RNC invested heavily in recruiting roughly 230,000 volunteers and an army of lawyers for what it called its “election integrity” effort, four years after Donald Trump lost his reelection bid to Democrat Joe Biden, citing false or unproven theories about voter fraud. Outside groups such as Turning Point Action and Musk’s America PAC took a greater responsibility for advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts. While Whatley will remain RNC chairman, Lara Trump said she felt she had accomplished her goals in the co-chair role. “With that big win, I kind of feel like my time is up,” she said. “What I intended to do has been done.” President-elect Donald Trump endorsed RNC Treasurer KC Crosbie to replace Lara Trump as co-chair of the committee on Monday. Story continues below video “As Treasurer, she helped the RNC smash every fundraising record in History, and fortified our Party’s financial foundation. KC has been with me from the very beginning, helping REAL Republicans get elected across the Country, and would be a tremendous Co-Chair of the RNC!” President-elect Trump wrote on Truth Social. Lara Trump praised Musk’s new endeavor, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE , a nongovernmental task force headed by Musk and and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy . They’ve been tapped to fire federal workers , cut programs and slash federal regulations as part of Trump’s “Save America” agenda for his second term. “I really don’t think we’ve seen movement like this in our federal government since our country’s founding in many ways,” she said. “And I think if they are successful in what they plan to do, I think it is going to be transformative to America in a great way.” She said she expects a different presidency this time, beginning with the structure of the administration: While Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner served as White House advisers in his last administration, Lara Trump said she doesn’t see any family member taking any position in the White House this time around with her father-in-law. “He really wants to get in there and do a good job for the four years, and that’s all he wants to serve,” she said. “Four years, and he’s out.” Lara Trump also says she expects the Republican Party to be more unified than it has ever been. When she became co-chair in May, the Trump campaign and the RNC merged, with staffers fired and positions restructured. She said the result could spell trouble for GOP lawmakers who do not agree with Trump’s agenda. “The whole party has totally shifted and totally changed,” she said. “I think people are feeling a little more bold in coming out with their political views.” This story has been corrected to clarify that Rubio’s Senate seat would be filled until 2026 when an election would be held for the seat. Linderman reported from Baltimore and Mendoza from Santa Cruz, California.
Friedman Institute Releases Report on " Analysis on Libyan Oil and Gas Supply - Italy's Strategic Role in Mediterranean Energy "
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have signed closer Jordan Romano to a one-year contract, making a short-term bet that the right-hander can return to form following a right elbow injury. The Phillies announced the deal on Monday. They did not provide the terms of the agreement, but it is reportedly worth $8.5 million. An All-Star in 2022 and 2023, Romano spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Toronto Blue Jays. He has 105 career saves and a 2.90 ERA in 231 relief appearances. Of the 17 pitchers in the majors with at least 100 save opportunities since 2019, Romano’s 88.98% save percentage ranks second, trailing only Josh Hader (187 for 210, 89.04%). Among all pitchers in baseball since 2019, Romano’s 105 saves rank ninth. The 31-year-old Romano was limited to just eight saves in 15 games last season. He had arthroscopic surgery on his elbow in July. Romano's arrival could lead to the departures of one or both of Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman from Philadelphia. The former All-Star relievers both closed games for the Phillies last season but each suffered epic meltdowns in the postseason. Both pitchers are free agents. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbNetanyahu to take the stand in his corruption trial for the first timePlayoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHub
4 Nations brings Wild locker room a friendly Sweden-U.S. rivalry: 'I would love to score on him'It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. “We’ve seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year,” Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. “I think the sky’s the limit," Elway said, “and that’s just going to continue to get better and better.” In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos’ GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. “You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don’t and it’s so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean’s really good at that,” Elway said. “I think the combination of Bo’s maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. “But also Vance Joseph’s done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure’s not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time.” Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix’s repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for “what they’re doing offensively and how they’re breaking Bo into the NFL because it’s a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks.” Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. “He’s a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It’s just awesome that I’m even in that situation.” Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called “way, way overdue.” Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders “both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: “He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he’ll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was “I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football."
NoneNEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. People are also reading... The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Be the first to know
Indiana vs. Notre Dame College Football Playoff tickets are a hot commodityPresident-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that former Sen. David Perdue , R-Ga., had agreed to be nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to China . “As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the U.S. Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform , noting that Perdue has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong and spent much of his career working in China and elsewhere in Asia. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 “He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump said. Perdue's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. The bilateral relationship between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, is often described as the most important in the world. Ties reached their lowest point in decades in recent years, but both President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been taking steps to improve them despite continuing disputes over trade, technology, human rights and the status of Beijing-claimed Taiwan. Trump, who takes office in January, started a trade war with China during his first term as president and has vowed to impose tariffs of 60% or more on all Chinese goods imported in his next one. Last week, he said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing does more to stop the international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl. Perdue, who visited China as part of a congressional delegation in 2018, said in a Fox News commentary written with other senators after the trip that the U.S. needs to “wake up and do a better job competing with China.” “America’s outdated view of China could result in lost opportunities, or even worse, dangerous miscalculations or complacency,” the senators wrote. “We must have a long-term plan to compete and deal with China’s rising economic and geopolitical influence.” Perdue, 74, a former management consultant, was a Republican senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. He served on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees. He lost to Democrat Jon Ossoff in a runoff after the 2020 general election. In 2022, he ran for governor after Trump recruited him to challenge Republican Gov. Brian Kemp , who refused to help Trump overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020, when the state voted for Biden. Perdue lost to Kemp in the Republican primary by more than 50 percentage points. “David has been a loyal supporter and friend, and I look forward to working with him in his new role!” Trump said Thursday. Before he entered the Senate, Perdue had a long corporate career, including as president and CEO of Reebok and CEO of Dollar General and the North Carolina textile company PillowTex. The current U.S. ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns , told NBC News in October that U.S.-China competition would continue “into the next decade.” “It’s a very challenging relationship,” he said. “But it’s without any question the most consequential relationship that we Americans have with any other country.” Xi told Biden last month that he would work with the Trump administration and that “China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:
vipbet88