NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Kateřina Mrázová added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier’s goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa’s defense neutralized much of New York’s speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York’s Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1. ___ AP hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/hockey
'Unemployment never looked so good': Matt Gaetz's wife speaks after withdrawal from AG, House
World pairs champion Deanna Stellato-Dudek became a Canadian citizen on Wednesday, clearing the way for the American-born figure skater to compete with partner Maxime Deschamps at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The 41-year-old Stellato-Dudek, who was born in Chicago, took the oath of citizenship in Montreal. “Taking the oath of citizenship in Canada is an overwhelming honor and I'm filled with gratitude towards everyone who believed in me and helped me get here,” she said. “I continue to be grateful to compete under the Canadian flag and anthem and can’t wait for my first international event as an official Canadian citizen with my partner Maxime.” The 41-year-old Stellato-Dudek began her career as an accomplished individual skater representing the U.S., finishing second at the world junior championships and winning the junior Grand Prix Final. But after sustaining a series of hip injuries, she decided to retire in 2001, only to make a comeback as a pairs skater with American partner Nathan Bartholomay in 2016. The pair twice finished third at the U.S. championships before splitting in 2019, and that's when Stellato-Dudek teamed up with Deschamps, who had separated from his American partner Sydney Kolodziej the previous year. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps considered skating for the U.S., but they were concerned that he would not be granted American citizenship in time to compete at the 2026 Olympics; the Olympic Charter requires athletes to hold the nationality of the country represented by their National Olympic Committee in order to compete at the Summer or Winter Games. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps instead began to compete for Canada in Grand Prix and other international competitions, where citizenship is not a requirement of the International Skating Union, the world governing body for the sport. Together, the pair have won the past two Canadian pairs titles along with five of their last six Grand Prix events. They won the world title last year in front of a supportive crowd in Montreal, and won the Grand Prix of Finland and Skate Canada this season before withdrawing from last week's Grand Prix Final because of an illness that put Deschamps on the sideline. Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps plan to return for the Canadian championships in Laval in January. They also are expected to be at the world championships, which are taking place in March in Boston. ___ AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsLexus is this year celebrating its 35th anniversary of, as it says, “being a disruptor in the luxury vehicle segment”, and there’s plenty to celebrate from that time. Its history might be short relative to some of its European contemporaries, but there have been a plethora of influential vehicles that have brought the Japanese brand firmly into the luxury segments. There have even been some top-shelf performance vehicles that have elevated the brand’s reputation, while displaying what it and its Toyota parent company could be capable of. Lexus was launched by Toyota at a similar time as other Japanese luxury spinoffs like Acura (Honda) and Infiniti (Nissan), but while those brands have enjoyed success in specific markets like the United States, Lexus has been able to cement itself in a wider range of markets globally. Locally, Lexus Australia celebrated the occasion by hosting a media-only showcase in Melbourne. On display were a handful of its most significant cars, as well as a design concept that hints at what the brand could be producing in the near future. With that in mind, we’ve put together a guide to Lexus that focuses on its movements in Australia. Luckily, it launched in Australia just one year after its first model debuted, which means there aren’t too many differences between Lexus’ history overseas and locally. As it celebrates its 35th birthday, here’s everything you need to know about Lexus. Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Toyota Motor Corporation , and is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Though it officially got its start in 1989 with the launch of the LS400 sedan, the story of Lexus actually began as early as 1983. Then-Toyota Motor Corporation president Eiji Toyoda commissioned the Circle F project in 1983, establishing an intention to build “a car that is better than the best in the world”. What resulted was the assembling of a team of 60 designers, 1400 engineers and 2300 technicians. Titled the Flagship 1, Lexus put 450 prototype vehicles and 973 prototype 4.0-litre quad-cam V8 engines to the test over more than 4.4 million kilometres before the final product was ready to be revealed. Flagship 1 came to life in January 1989, when the brand showed off the LS400 for the first time at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). At the same time, the Lexus name was established. The LS400 launched in North America in the same year, and was quickly followed by the ES250 executive sedan a few months later. Lexus’ Australian adventure started in May 1990, when the LS400 arrived Down Under. More than 250 customers took delivery off the bat, and in the same year it took out Wheels Magazine’s Car of the Year award. It also heralded the beginning of a busy decade for the brand. The same V8 powertrain used in the LS400 was repurposed in the SC400 coupe, which launched in the USA in 1991. Another variant instead fitted with an inline-six engine – the SC300 – was introduced soon after. Australia would have to wait until 1992 before receiving a second Lexus model though, when the Toyota Camry -derived ES300 arrived. 580 examples were delivered in its first year on the market Down Under, and Lexus delivered its 1000th Australian vehicle in the same year. At a similar time the LS400 received a major update, which brought out Lexus’ now-longstanding Takumi craftsmanship philosophy. Takumi is the Japanese name given to master craftspeople who have dedicated their life to their craft. In 1993 the GS300 sports sedan was rolled out, followed by the all-new second-generation LS400 in 1994. Lexus took from Toyota’s successful LandCruiser to reveal the LX450 in 1995, intended to bring “luxury to the rugged SUV segment” when it entered production in 1996. In 1997 Australia received the GS300 for the first time, which arrived in its second-generation guise with a 3.0-litre inline-six engine. For the first time, Lexus also sold more than 1000 vehicles in Australia in a single year. Lexus introduced its first luxury SUV designed and built from the ground up in 1998 – the RX300 . In terms of Australia though, it wouldn’t arrive until its second generation was launched a few years later, which meant the new-generation LX470 of that year was Lexus’ first SUV sold locally. The last brand-new Lexus to arrive in Australia before the end of the century was the compact IS200 sedan, which went on sale in 1999. It featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine with a rear-wheel drive setup, and contributed to Lexus hitting the 10,000 local sales milestone. The third-generation LS went on sale in Australia in November of 2000. Called the LS430, nearly 300 patent applications were filed during its development that eventually brought new suspension, steering, brakes, and a larger 4.3-litre V8 engine. Also launched was the second-generation SC430, offered in both coupe and convertible body styles. It arrived in Australia in 2001, marking the sixth model in Lexus showrooms. The large GX470 SUV appeared in the USA in 2002, but in 2003 Lexus gave its first look at potential future hybrid power in the form of the LF-S at the Tokyo Motor Show. Under the bonnet was a hybrid V8, which previewed a future production powertrain. In that same year the RX330 went on sale in Australia, and Lexus delivered its 20,000th local vehicle. A prototype of the RX400h hybrid SUV was shown at the 2004 NAIAS, which was based on the RX330. In 2005 though, the first LF-A concept headlined at the NAIAS. Intentions were to leverage Toyota’s Formula 1 technology, which would provide a naturally aspirated V10 engine with more than 370kW of power, but a displacement of less than 5.0 litres. The world would have to wait for more on that vehicle, but in the same year the IS250 superseded the IS200 in Australia. In 2006 Lexus brought the LF-S concept into its production form with the LS600hL, powered by a 327kW 5.0-litre hybrid V8 with all-wheel drive – the brand’s most powerful hybrid engine to date. In the same year, Lexus brought its first hybrids to Australia in the form of the GS450h and RX400h. The ‘F’ name for Lexus’ performance cars appeared the year after; the name and logo inspired by Japan’s Fuji Speedway where its cars were tested and developed. Lexus’ first car wearing the badge was the IS F sedan, which boasted a 5.0-litre V8 with 311kW and 505Nm and a spate of handling and suspension enhancements over the standard model. Later in 2007, Lexus delivered its 1000th hybrid vehicle in Australia, followed by its 50,000th vehicle overall in 2008. The third-generation RX – including the RX450h hybrid – arrived the year after, at a similar time to Lexus confirming production of the LFA supercar. Its 412kW/480Nm 4.8-litre V10 engine was co-developed with Yamaha, and while production was limited to 500 units globally, only eight were allocated to Australia. In 2010 Lexus celebrated 20 years in Australia, and the CT200h hybrid compact hatch was shown off overseas for the first time. It arrived in Australia the following year as the most affordable Lexus ever, while the brand showed off its new spindle grille design with a concept of the fourth-generation GS sedan at the NAIAS. In 2011 Lexus was impacted by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which disrupted Japanese production and hindered short-term sales targets. Organisational changes by then-Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda also meant Lexus executives began reporting directly to their parent company’s chairman for the first time ever. Lexus’ new design language would appear again in 2012 with the LF-LC concept, which previewed the LC coupe . The LF-CC concept shown later in the year at the Paris Motor Show also pointed to the rear-wheel drive RC and RC F sports coupes, and Lexus hit the 75,000 sales milestone in Australia. In 2013 the next-generation IS arrived with a hybrid powertrain in local showrooms, while the ES returned for the first time in seven years with its own ES300h hybrid variant. In that year, Lexus Australia reached 10,000 hybrid vehicle deliveries. The RC F coupe became Lexus’ new halo performance car in 2014, and the NX SUV debuted in Australia the same year. The brand’s first hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle appeared in concept form in 2015, dubbed the LF-FC concept. Lexus began exploring other tech like a conceptual “Hoverboard of the Future” at the same time, and also achieved the 100,000 deliveries milestone in Australia. The LC500 entered production in 2016, featuring Lexus’ first 10-speed auto and followed by the LC500h hybrid two months later. More non-car related endeavours began in 2017 when Lexus revealed its Sport Yacht concept (previewing the 2019 LY650), while in Australia the brand’s 20,000th hybrid vehicle was delivered – its most popular hybrid models locally were the RX (7000 units) and the CT200h (6500 units). In 2019 the UX range arrived in Australia, and in 2020 Lexus’ local arm celebrated its 30th anniversary. At the same time, the brand achieved 30,000 local hybrid sales. Lexus’ first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) – the UX300e – arrived in 2021, coinciding with the expansion of the brand’s Encore ownership program that first appeared in 1990. In that year, one-third of all Lexus deliveries in Australia were hybrid vehicles for the first time. In that year, it was also reported Lexus would switch to an electric-only lineup by 2035 . That followed previous 2009 reports that it planned to become hybrid-only in Europe. The brand’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) arrived in the form of the NX450h+ in 2022, alongside the debut of the fifth-generation RX. An RX500h F Sport Performance joined the lineup, featuring Lexus’ first turbo-hybrid powertrain. 46.3 per cent of Lexus’ sales in Australia were recorded as either hybrid, PHEV, or BEV for the first time in that year. 2023 saw the arrival of the RZ450e SUV, which while being the second Lexus EV was the first on the dedicated e-TNGA electric platform later used on the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra . The LM people mover also appeared in 2023, as well as the LF-ZC and LF-ZL concepts at the Tokyo Motor Show – intended to show Lexus’ vision of future EVs. In Australia, Lexus also managed to deliver more than 10,000 vehicles (15,192) in a single year for the first time ever. 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Lexus brand, and the all-new LBX arrived in Australia for the first time. It featured a handful of Lexus-first equipment like a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid engine, with its small SUV stature intended to appeal to a younger demographic. It was followed by the latest GX SUV – which arrived in local showrooms before Toyota’s related 250 Series-generation Prado – built in right-hand drive for the first time, headlined by the rugged Overtrail grade. Lexus also delivered its 50,000th electrified vehicle in Australia this year, with such powertrains accounting for more than 70 per cent of the brand’s Australian sales so far this year. The brand says it’s still committed to its target of selling only electrified vehicles in Australia by 2030. Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus Lexus currently sells 11 distinct models in Australia, with its lineup dominated by SUVs. Note: All prices are before on-road costs. You can click the model names in the table above to be taken to their dedicated CarExpert showrooms. Given the breadth of Lexus’ range in Australia, the below information is intended to give a top-line overview of what each model is about. For further information, we’ll link to each model’s name to its dedicated price and specs article. Lexus’ only two sedans still sold in Australia are the ES and LS, with the LS being the larger of the two. The Camry-based ES uses a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine – with hybrid models adding an electric motor – and is front-wheel drive only. The LS meanwhile utilises a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, with hybrids using a naturally aspirated version mated with an electric motor. They’re rear-wheel drive only and considerably more expensive than the ES. The third and final passenger vehicle in Lexus’ Australian lineup is the LC coupe , which is powered by either a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 or a 3.5-litre V6 petrol-hybrid engine. Drive is sent to the rear-wheels only through either a 10-speed auto or hybrid transmission respectively. Lexus’ most expensive vehicle is currently the LM people mover , which is hybrid-only but with a selection of two different powertrains depending on the variant. It started life as a rebadged Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, but has since become more disconnected. The remainder of Lexus’ model range is entirely SUVs. The smallest of the lot are the LBX and UX, though the two are fairly different. Smaller of the pair is the LBX , which is based on the Toyota Yaris Cross and powered exclusively by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid – though a hotted-up Morizo RR version (similar to the GR Yaris ) is coming next year. The UX , meanwhile, is similar to the Toyota C-HR and comes in petrol-only, hybrid, or fully electric guises depending on variant – the latter of which only appeared in Australian showrooms last year. There are also a greater number of variants compared to the LBX. Moving up in size brings the RAV4 -related NX SUV , which again offers petrol-only, hybrid, and PHEV drivetrains. The NX450h+ PHEV has been hit with supply issues that have meant it hasn’t been available to order in Australia for some time as the brand gets through order backlog. Then there’s the RX SUV , which is either petrol-only or hybrid. It shares a platform with the NX and ES, as well as Toyota’s Kluger , RAV4, and Camry. In contrast, the RZ is electric-only and built on a dedicated EV platform shared with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, as noted earlier. Finally are Lexus’ two largest SUVs. The first is the GX , which shares a platform with the Toyota Prado. Unlike the Prado, there’s no electrification (even mild) for the GX in Australia, which is instead powered solely by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine across the range. The LX is instead based on the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. It commands an expectedly hefty price tag, and is available with either a 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel or a 3.4-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol. Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus Being a luxury brand, Lexus primarily competes with European brands like Mercedes-Benz , BMW , and Audi in Australia. Not all are direct comparisons, but closest against Mercedes-Benz’s E-Class sedan is the Lexus ES, and against the more luxurious S-Class is the LS. In terms of SUVs, the most comparable models are the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class and Lexus UX, as well as GLC-Class and Lexus NX. Both have high-end sports cars too, which means Lexus’ LC can be compared to Mercedes’ SL-Class . There are a fair few comparisons against BMW too. The ES competes with the 3 Series on price but the 5 Series on size, while the flagship Lexus LS sedan goes up against the BMW 7 Series . You can compare the smaller Lexus UX to the BMW X1 , the NX to the X3 , the RX to the X5 , and the GX to the X7 . There are EV SUVs to compare too, namely the Lexus RZ against the BMW iX3 . The final German manufacturer to compare against is Audi, and its upcoming A5 Sedan rivals the Lexus ES. The most direct competitor to Lexus’ LBX small SUV is the Q2 , while the rest of the two brands’ comparable SUVs can be broken down as UX vs Q3 , NX vs Q5 , and RX vs Q8 . In similar sense to BMW, Lexus’ RZ EV competes with the Audi Q6 e-tron . There are some less mainstream brands Lexus has as competitors too, namely Genesis , which rivals the LS with its G80 , the NX with its GV70 , and the RX with its GV80 . There’s also a comparison to be made between some Land Rover models. The off-road leaning Lexus GX rivals the Land Rover Defender , while the LX large SUV can be compared against the Range Rover . Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus To the end of November 2024, Lexus Australia has delivered 12,369 vehicles this year. It’s a decent figure, but it’s 12 per cent down on its sales from this time last year. Compared to the rivals listed above, Lexus is behind Mercedes-Benz (18,303, down 17.8 per cent), BMW (23,876, down 1.3 per cent), and Audi (13,782, down 21.6 per cent). It remains ahead of Genesis on 1287 so far this year, a figure that’s 28.6 per cent lower than the same time last year. Lexus is also outselling Land Rover, which currently sits on 7352 sales for 2024 – though even that is down 5.5 per cent. The Japanese brand’s best-selling model continues to be the NX, of which 5619 units have been sold to the end of November this year. Next highest is the RX on 1871, followed by the LBX on 1355. Its lowest-selling car is currently the expensive LS sedan with 11 units. The RZ EV is next-lowest on 200, with the LM and LX next up at 265 and 504 respectively. All of Lexus’ models have experienced a decline in sales over the course of 2024 compared to 2023, with the UX experiencing the harshest decline of 65.3 per cent. The LX, LS, and ES are all also down by more than 40 per cent on this time last year. In contrast, annual Toyota sales are currently up 13.6 per cent on this time last year, though as Lexus’ broader-reaching parent company it does field a larger number of more approachable mass-market vehicles. Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus Lexus doesn’t have a large number of vehicles planned for Australia in the coming years, as the brand focuses on its more long-term goals that reach into the 2030s. Coming in the first half of 2025 is the hotted-up LBX Morizo RR , which is set to gain the high-performance 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo powertrain from Toyota’s GR Yaris. With a rally-inspired all-wheel drive setup it’ll be a drastic departure from the standard LBX currently on sale, with a 0-100km/h time of just over 5.0 seconds. An eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard when it arrives in local showrooms. While it’ll also be available with a six-speed manual in Japan, you won’t be able to buy one in Australia. Beyond that, Lexus has outlined a series of goals for the coming years, and potential new models that could possibly make their way to Australia have been seen overseas. The first of which is the facelifted ES sedan, which was revealed in China last month . There has been no word on when or if the updated model will come to Australia at the time of publishing, though Lexus did secure a handful of trademarks that hint at potential electric ES sedans earlier this year. There have also been rumours surrounding a new supercar from the luxury Japanese brand , which will reportedly wear the LFR name and be a spiritual successor to the LFA. Already spied testing on public roads in Europe , the LFR is expected to be based on a Toyota racecar called the GR GT3. If it’s real, it’s possible the LFR could be revealed sometime next year ahead of a 2026 market debut. Lexus has also been giving though to its electrified future too, previewed by a pair of concept EVs that broke cover in Japan last year. It has previously been announced that Toyota aims to launch 10 new EVs by 2026 , with Lexus intending to sell only hybrid, PHEV, and EVs in Australia by 2030. A spate of trademarks have also been filed by Lexus in relation to potential future electric models, the first of which were expected to be revealed in 2026 but have been delayed to 2027 . Previous reports have also outlined ambitious goals for Lexus, which suggest it wants to become an electric-only marque globally by 2035 . Interestingly, that would mean it’d make the jump before Toyota. That being said, Lexus hasn’t outlined a clear timeline for exactly when it’ll follow Toyota in ditching petrol versions of cars that have hybrid alternatives, but it does still intend to do so before the end of the decade. Interested in a Lexus? CarExpert’s specialists can help get you in touch with a dealer MORE: Everything Lexus
CLEVLEAND (AP) — Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning. And deeper meaning. The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians on Wednesday, a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent following last season. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stick with the AL Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. There were other offers. None of them matched what he already had in Cleveland. “It's the relationships,” Bieber said on a Zoom call. "The development staff. The coaching staff. My teammates. Having continuity and familiarity in those realms I feel like can prove beneficial not only to me but my family and everybody really involved. "That was big for me to feel confident in my rehab where I’m at right now. Nobody knows me as well as Cleveland does and vice versa, so I’m happy to be continuing with them." Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract . The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026. Not long ago, it seemed as if Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA in 132 starts over seven seasons for Cleveland, was determined to continue his career elsewhere. He had turned down previous long-term offers in the past from the Guardians, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely on the West Coast. But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. And while a setback, the injury and surgery helped Bieber realize that he was already in the perfect place. “I had plenty of great meetings and beneficial and progressive meetings with other ball clubs,” he said. "Everybody handled everything first class all the way, and I’ve got great things to say about plenty of other organizations. “Ultimately, Cleveland made the call and I was happy to receive it and come to terms and so I’m happy with where I’m at. My family’s ecstatic. It was very clearly the right decision for not only myself, my family, and we’re excited to continue it.” Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025. He's throwing three days a week at 90 feet and encouraged by his progress. As for when he'll take the mound in a game, that's currently unknown. “I’m pushing, pushing, pushing.” he said. “I feel great. I haven’t skipped a beat. When I ask for a (return) date, they don’t even give me a date. So there’s a long way to go.” A two-time All-Star, Bieber burst onto the national stage in 2019 when he was named MVP of the midsummer event in Cleveland. He has the highest strikeout ratio per nine innings (10.2) and third-highest winning percentage (.660) in the franchise's 124-year history. Bieber is one of just three Cleveland pitchers to start five season openers, joining Stan Coveleski (1917-21) and Corey Kluber (2015-19). While Bieber had some elbow issues in the past, he didn't appear to be struggling before being shut down. He struck out 11 in six scoreless innings against Oakland on March 28, and followed that up with six more shutout innings at Seattle on April 2. Days later, and with his season officially over, Bieber became emotional during a news conference at Progressive Field. He knew that in the short-term his life would be different and baseball, as he had always known it, would be on the backburner. Bieber said it took a while before he “digested” his new reality. He coped by immersing himself in his recovery, and Bieber found joy in watching his teammates storm through an unexpected season to a division title. Although it may not have been the same because he wasn't contributing on the field the way he always had, the hardships may have given Bieber something he needed. “It’s provided a lot of perspective,” he said. “It was a hard season this year for me and my family, but it was a great one. We’re expecting a baby and it was a season full of growth and I’m very excited to continue that into 2025.” ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Tom Withers, The Associated PressNavitas Semiconductor Surges! Trading Volume Spikes as Analysts Revise Ratings.The ‘View’ co-hosts get into another tense mid-show discussion over Donald Trump’s new attorney general pick
The Ridgefield school board Tuesday voted unanimously to place two three-year levies on the Feb. 11 special election ballot. The proposed replacement operations levy would collect a total of $44 million from 2026 to 2028, with an estimated tax rate of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposed capital projects and technology levy would collect $21.2 million over the same period, with a focus on building a third elementary school and maintaining services. The projected capital levy rate would be 84 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The three-year levies require a simple majority to pass. If approved, they would go into effect in January 2026. Two community members spoke at the meeting in support of the levies. “As an educator, I’ve witnessed firsthand how investments in our schools strengthen the heart of our community,” said Kerri Upton, vice president of Citizens for Ridgefield Schools and special education lead at Union Ridge Elementary School. If both levies pass, the owner of a $500,000 house would pay an estimated $1,890 in annual property taxes in 2026. The cost includes the existing 2012 and 2017 existing bonds. This year, the property tax rate for Ridgefield schools was $2.53, which includes the current operations levy and existing bonds, and owners of a $500,000 home paid $1,265. In August 2022, voters approved the current 2023-2025 operations levy of $30.7 million, with an anticipated rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. And unexpected increase in Ridgefield’s property values meant taxpayers actually paid $1.43 in 2023 and $1.47 in 2024 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The operations levy “bridges the gap between state funding and the actual costs of funding our schools,” said Kelliana Cole, a Ridgefield parent and member of Citizens for Ridgefield Schools. “It funds teachers, classroom support, supplies, transportation and enrichment programs — all essential services that directly impact every student’s education and well-being.” In the past, operations levy money has gone toward sports and activities, special education, student supports, staff professional development, facilities and operating costs. About $15 million from the capital levy, $21 million in impact fees on new development and $16.5 million in state funding would go toward building the elementary school, if the capital levy is approved. “The capital and technology levy addresses the district’s most urgent needs, including the plans for a third elementary school to alleviate overcrowding,” Upton said. “This was developed through extensive community input.” The district also plans to allocate funds from the capital levy to student and staff technology replenishment cycles, according to a November school board meeting presentation. Bonds vs. levies In the past 35 years, Ridgefield passed only four out of 17 bonds, according to district data. Voters in April rejected the most recent bond proposals, which would have collected between $70 million and $190 million. Bonds are repaid with property taxes over as many as 40 years and must be approved by a 60 percent vote. With feedback from community members about the April bond, the school board landed on the two proposed levies. The board and a crowd of about 30 clapped after each levy placement was approved. “This is exactly what the community asked for: to use community input to inform your next ask and be smart about funding,” Cole said. “It leverages community voices and maximizes outside resources to address the need for a new elementary school.”Key deals this week: Shell-Equinor U.K. combination, Hershey, TotalEnergies, GE HealthCare and more
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans made claims about illegal a centerpiece of their 2024 and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there's one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas. That's because the state has been there, done that, and all but a few Republicans would prefer not to go there again. Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade ago that grew into one of the biggest political fiascos in the state in recent memory. The law, passed by the state Legislature in 2011 and implemented two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of more than 31,000 U.S. citizens who were otherwise eligible to vote. That was 12% of everyone seeking to register in Kansas for the first time. Federal courts ultimately declared the law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn't been enforced Kansas provides a cautionary tale about how pursuing an election concern that in fact is risks disenfranchising a far greater number of people who are legally entitled to vote. The state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the idea as a legislator and now says states and the federal government shouldn't touch it. “Kansas did that 10 years ago,” said Schwab, a Republican. “It didn’t work out so well.” Steven Fish, a 45-year-old warehouse worker in eastern Kansas, said he understands the motivation behind the law. In his thinking, the state was like a store owner who fears getting robbed and installs locks. But in 2014, after the birth of his now 11-year-old son inspired him to be “a little more responsible” and follow politics, he didn’t have an acceptable copy of his birth certificate to get registered to vote in Kansas. “The locks didn’t work,” said Fish, one of nine Kansas residents who sued the state over the law. “You caught a bunch of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” Kansas' experience appeared to receive little if any attention outside the state as Republicans elsewhere pursued proof-of-citizenship requirements this year. Arizona this year, applying it to voting for state and local elections but not for Congress or president. The Republican-led U.S. House passed in the summer and plans to bring back similar legislation after the GOP won control of the Senate in November. In Ohio, revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot. A federal judge declined to block the practice days before the election. Also, sizable majorities of voters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the presidential swing states of North Carolina and Wisconsin were inspired to amend their state constitutions' provisions on voting even though the changes were only symbolic. Provisions that previously declared that all U.S. citizens could vote now say that only U.S. citizens can vote — a meaningless distinction with no practical effect on who is eligible. To be clear, voters already must attest to being U.S. citizens when they register to vote and noncitizens can face fines, prison and deportation if they lie and are caught. “There is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, the leading sponsor of the congressional proposal, said in an email statement to The Associated Press. After Kansas residents challenged their state's law, both a federal judge and federal appeals court concluded that it violated a law limiting states to collecting only the minimum information needed to determine whether someone is eligible to vote. That's an issue Congress could resolve. The courts ruled that with “scant” evidence of an actual problem, Kansas couldn't justify a law that kept hundreds of eligible citizens from registering for every noncitizen who was improperly registered. A federal judge concluded that the state’s evidence showed that only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote from 1999 through 2012 — an average of just three a year. In 2013, then-Kansas Secretary of State a Republican who had built a national reputation advocating tough immigration laws, described the possibility of voting by as a serious threat. He was elected attorney general in 2022 and still strongly backs the idea, arguing that federal court rulings in the Kansas case “almost certainly got it wrong.” Kobach also said a key issue in the legal challenge — people being unable to fix problems with their registrations within a 90-day window — has probably been solved. “The technological challenge of how quickly can you verify someone’s citizenship is getting easier,” Kobach said. “As time goes on, it will get even easier.” The U.S. Supreme Court in 2020. But in August, it in allowing Arizona to continue enforcing its law for voting in state and local elections while a legal challenge goes forward. Seeing the possibility of a different Supreme Court decision in the future, U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt says states and Congress should pursue proof-of-citizenship requirements. Schmidt was the Kansas attorney general when his state's law was challenged. "If the same matter arose now and was litigated, the facts would be different," he said in an interview. But voting rights advocates dismiss the idea that a legal challenge would turn out differently. Mark Johnson, one of the attorneys who fought the Kansas law, said opponents now have a template for a successful court fight. “We know the people we can call," Johnson said. “We know that we’ve got the expert witnesses. We know how to try things like this.” He predicted "a flurry — a landslide — of litigation against this.” Initially, the Kansas requirement's impacts seemed to fall most heavily on politically unaffiliated and young voters. As of fall 2013, 57% of the voters blocked from registering were unaffiliated and 40% were under 30. But Fish was in his mid-30s, and six of the nine residents who sued over the Kansas law were 35 or older. Three even produced citizenship documents and still didn’t get registered, according to court documents. “There wasn’t a single one of us that was actually an illegal or had misinterpreted or misrepresented any information or had done anything wrong,” Fish said. He was supposed to produce his birth certificate when he sought to register in 2014 while renewing his Kansas driver's license at an office in a strip mall in Lawrence. A clerk wouldn't accept the copy Fish had of his birth certificate. He still doesn't know where to find the original, having been born on an Air Force base in Illinois that closed in the 1990s. Several of the people joining Fish in the lawsuit were veterans, all born in the U.S., and Fish said he was stunned that they could be prevented from registering. Liz Azore, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said millions of Americans haven't traveled outside the U.S. and don't have passports that might act as proof of citizenship, or don't have ready access to their birth certificates. She and other voting rights advocates are skeptical that there are administrative fixes that will make a proof-of-citizenship law run more smoothly today than it did in Kansas a decade ago. “It’s going to cover a lot of people from all walks of life,” Avore said. “It’s going to be disenfranchising large swaths of the country.” Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.John Stossel: Your tax dollars not at work
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 1:21 p.m. EST( MENAFN - Caribbean News Global) USA / SURINAME – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Anastasia Guscina conducted discussions with the Surinamese authorities during October 29-November 12 on the 2024 Article IV and reached a staff level agreement on the 8th review of the 36-month Extended Fund Facility that was approved by the IMF's Executive Board in December 2021 . At the conclusion of the discussions, Guscina issued the following statement: “The IMF team reached a staff-level agreement with the authorities on the eighth review of Suriname's economic reform program that is supported by the EFF arrangement. All quantitative targets for the eighth review were met except the primary fiscal balance target. The authorities are taking corrective actions to meet the end-year primary balance target. Structural reforms are progressing with a strong impetus. This staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF's executive board, contingent on the fulfillment of all relevant Fund policies. Upon completion of this review, Suriname will have access to SDR 46.7 million (about USD 61.3 million), bringing total program disbursements to date to SDR 383.8 million (about USD 503.8 million). “The authorities' commitment to maintaining prudent macroeconomic policies and difficult reforms are showing results in terms of macroeconomic stability and investor confidence. Economic growth is projected to reach 3 percent this year, inflation is on a steady downward trend, donor support is increasing, investor confidence is returning, and international reserves are increasing. The authorities face important near-term risks, including capacity constraints and policy implementation challenges reflecting the increasingly difficult socio-political environment. Suriname's medium-term outlook has improved significantly with the announcement of the final investment decision (FID) paving the way for offshore oil production beginning in 2028. “The fiscal path for 2024-25 has been loosened to accommodate unanticipated fiscal needs against the backdrop of the improving medium-term debt dynamics arising from the FID. The end-September primary balance target was missed because the electricity company (EBS) transferred insufficient resources to the state budget and an overrun on social assistance spending. The EBS has been hit hard by the ongoing drought (forcing a switch from hydroelectric to more expensive thermal generation) and weak bill collection. There was also a need to help rice farmers that have lost their crops due to the drought. The government is putting in place new fiscal rules and the supporting institutional arrangements to enable the country efficiently and transparently manage the upcoming oil wealth. Broader structural reforms are necessary to increase the efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the energy sector. “Protecting the poor and vulnerable remains high on the agenda. The government met the indicative target on social assistance spending for end-September 2024. Stronger efforts are needed to address the challenges in the execution of the social beneficiary program to ensure the benefits reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly in the country's interior regions. The authorities should promptly implement the recently completed strategic plan to enhance the effectiveness of social protection with the support of development partners. “Excellent progress has been made with debt restructuring. Agreements have been reached with all official and most commercial creditors and negotiations with the remaining commercial creditors are ongoing. An umbrella agreement with the Paris Club for the second phase of the debt treatment was signed in October and negotiations with individual creditors are ongoing. Domestic debt arrears have been repaid and Suriname should be ready to re-access domestic debt market in the second half of 2025. The authorities are strengthening commitment controls to prevent accumulation of supplier arrears. “The continued restrictive monetary policy stance has further reduced inflation. The Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS) is monitoring monetary developments and will continue to diligently implement open market operations to maintain the reserve money path consistent with the program targets. The CBvS remains committed to a flexible, market-determined exchange rate and is working to improve the functioning of the foreign exchange market, including through the launching of an electronic foreign exchange trading platform. “Vulnerabilities in the banking system are being addressed. Timely completion of recapitalization plans of banks with capital shortages, and prudent monitoring of capital adequacy, liquidity and asset quality of banks are essential to preserve stability in the banking sector. The CBvS also needs to increase its monitoring of non-bank financial institutions, particularly with respect to their interconnectedness with the banking system. “The authorities need to push ahead with their ambitious structural reform agenda to strengthen institutions and governance. A strong CBvS balance sheet is crucial for operational independence and the robust implementation of monetary policy. The central bank recapitalization plan, as required by the Central Bank Act, should be implemented as planned. Looking ahead, it is also important to push ahead with the broader governance reforms in anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), anti-corruption, and public sector procurement to prepare the country for the oil wealth. “The mission would like to thank the authorities for a collaborative and fruitful dialogue. Meetings were held with the president and vice president of the Republic of Suriname, the minister of finance and planning, the minister of agriculture, the minister of justice and police, the minister of internal affairs, the minister of labor, the minister of transport, communications and tourism, the central bank governor, the leadership and the finance committee of the National Assembly, other senior government officials, civil society organizations, women leaders, representatives of the private sector, and development partners. IMF Communications Department The post IMF – Suriname eighth review of the extended arrangement under the EFF appeared first on Caribbean News Global . MENAFN22112024000232011072ID1108916433 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Share this Story : ONE-ON-ONE: Alfie ready to play key role for Team Sweden at 4 Nations Face-Off Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Ottawa Senators Sports Hockey Senators Extra ONE-ON-ONE: Alfie ready to play key role for Team Sweden at 4 Nations Face-Off 'My role has been about strategy and how we're going to play.' Author of the article: Bruce Garrioch Published Dec 07, 2024 • 7 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. File photo: Speaking to Postmedia before the Senators faced the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, Senators assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson said is excited for this next step in his international hockey career. Photo by Ashley Fraser / Postmedia Article content Daniel Alfredsson has been benched for the first time in his illustrious hockey career with Sweden. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . ONE-ON-ONE: Alfie ready to play key role for Team Sweden at 4 Nations Face-Off Back to video We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . Play Video Article content So to speak. Alfredsson, who will celebrate his 52nd birthday on Wednesday, has just about done it all for his country in his Hockey Hall of Fame career, but he’ll take on a new role when he serves as an assistant coach with Team Sweden at the first 4 Nations Face-Off. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content While there was a lot of buzz when the rosters for Team Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden were unveiled Wednesday, a move that had been in the works for months to make Alfredsson part of the club’s staff with his country was finally made official. He started discussions to play a role with Anders Lundberg, Sweden’s director of national teams, when Alfredsson was in Sweden during the summer. That evolved into being added to head coach Sam Hallam’s staff for the tourney Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston. Alfredsson didn’t play a role in roster selection with general manager Josef Boumedienne, a former Senators’ farmhand, and Hallam. His job on the staff will be assisting with the club’s approach offensively and how to use the boatload of skills the Swedes have on their roster. Hallam was in town in October to have dinner with Alfredsson so they could get to know each other and prepare to work together. Speaking to Postmedia before the Senators faced the Nashville Predators on Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre, Alfredsson said is excited for this next step in his international hockey career. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “My role has been about strategy and how we’re going to play,” Alfredsson said after the club wrapped up its morning skate and before he headed home for lunch. “(Hallam) from what I hear is a very good coach, but it’s different on small ice. “He likes the idea of me being involved, having coached on smaller ice here for the last year and making adjustments. We’ve talked about what kind of adjustments because there are differences. Sweden and Finland will probably have a little bit different feel. “A lot of NHL teams play fairly similarly with some differences, but they’re not huge. We’ll see what we incorporate in the tournament.” Sweden features Toronto’s William Nylander, Gustav Forsling of Florida, New York’s Mika Zibanejad, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman and Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson. The goaltending is strong with Minny’s Filip Gustavsson, Jacob Markstrom of New Jersey and Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark. LEARNING THE ROPES In his first full season with the Senators as an assistant on coach Travis Green’s staff after joining coach Jacques Martin in an interim role when D.J. Smith was fired last December, Alfredsson is thrilled to have the chance to work for Sweden in this role. Sports Get the latest sport headlines and breaking news. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sports will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content File photo: Daniel Alfredsson says ‘it’s been a lot of fun learning from more experienced guys’ since joining the Senators’ coaching staff. Photo by Tony Caldwell / Postmedia He has fit in nicely on the Ottawa coaching staff and spends time working with players on skill development. Alfredsson has caught the coaching bug and is enjoying the opportunity to work with Green, plus assistants Mike Yeo, Nolan Baumgartner, Ben Sexton and Justin Peters. Coaching has required a steep learning curve for Alfredsson. “It’s been a lot,” he said, “but it’s been a lot of fun learning from more experienced guys last year and then being around this year. I realize I’ve been around a long time, and I played a lot of hockey, but I’m still lagging behind the other guys in the coach’s room. “I love coming in every day and just talking about the subtle differences in certain areas, whether it’s faceoffs, the neutral-zone forecheck, defensive zone coverage or just looking at every other team and what they do. They’re similar to us, but they have small differences and I love learning and taking it all in to build my own data bank if I continue this career.” Being at the rink for hours on an end hasn’t come as a shock to Alfredsson since he became a full-time coach. He knew the commitment he had to make when he took over an interim role, and that’s why, before he accepted the job with Green, he wanted to make sure he was all-in. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Alfredsson knew when he was a player that the support staff and the coaches were the first ones through the door every morning. After Steve Staios, the club’s president of hockey operations and general manager, talked to him about joining Martin behind the bench he took some time to think about it first. “That’s why I was hesitant at the beginning,” Alfredsson said. “But when you put the work in, it’s more rewarding when you get something out of it. “As a player, you want to try to get any advantage you can, and it’s the same with coaching. If that means watching more video or you have to work harder, then that’s what you have to do.” Daniel Alfredsson returned to Ottawa with a gold medal in hand after the Winter Olympics in Turin. photo Courtesy of the Senators SWEDE SUCCESS It makes sense for the Swedes to use a former NHLer who amassed 444 goals and 1,157 points in 1,246 career games as a resource in a short tournament where there’s no margin for error. Hallam coaches all of the national teams overseas and this will be an adjustment. “You have to see what works on small ice and what doesn’t,” said Alfredsson. “In the NHL, you have to get the puck to the net quicker. How can you do that? How can you create chances and still have traffic on the net? You look at (Connor) McDavid, (Leon) Draisaitl and (Zack) Hyman. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “Hyman is unbelievable at going to the net, creating space, winning battles in the corners, and then Draisaitl and McDavid draw attention to themselves to set up a shot and then they always have somebody at the net. And I think that’s very important.” Alfredsson didn’t say no to his country often during his playing career and he wants to do what he can in what will be a competitive tourney. The highlight of his international career was winning a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. “Any time you get to represent the country in a capacity where you’re playing against the best, or any capacity for that matter, it’s a huge honour,” Alfredsson said. “Especially for my generation. We grew up and the main goal was the national team, not the NHL because we didn’t have NHL coverage. “I couldn’t watch any games, it was Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em videos with Don Cherry that we watched on the bus. It was huge to be involved with the national team then and it’s the same thing now. It’s a good way to represent your country and also help develop the game. In these best-on-best tournaments, you’re going to have all these top players sharing what they do with their teams; everybody learns from it. That’s the same for the coaches and it’s great for the game.” Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content A STEPPING STONE FOR ALFIE? Sweden will open the tourney against the host Canadian team on Feb. 12 in Montreal. The players will only have a couple of days together before they hit the ice as a team, but the competition should be excellent. “It’s going to be high calibre,” said Alfredsson. “Are you going to get hockey where you’re dialled in right away? You’re going to have to overcome a lot with hard work and finding a way to make plays when it matters. Goaltending is going to play a big role. “Special teams as well. If you can win the special teams battle, it’s going to give you a big edge because nobody will be firing on all cylinders, especially with so little practice time. When you’re working with a system, you don’t want to overcomplicate it and try to keep it simple.” Alfredsson is confident this Swedish team can have success. “We’ve got a very good team and Sweden is under-rated as well,” Alfredsson said. “You look at the rosters of Canada and the United States, they’re pretty darn good. It’s going to be super fun. Any team can beat any team on any given day, but Canada and the U.S.A. stand out with their talents.” Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The 4 Nations Face-Off doesn’t have the pedigree of the Olympics, but it will be better than an IIHF world championship because this will be the best players from all four countries. “Participating in the Olympics is a huge honour and winning the gold medal is icing on the cake, and it’s something you will always have with you,” Alfredsson said. “This tournament doesn’t have that status, but any time you bring the best players together, you’re going to have good hockey.” The competition changes when you put on the Tre Kroner, right? “Of course it does,” Alfredsson said. “It’s like a Canadian putting on the maple leaf or an American with the red, white and blue, it means a little more. These guys work hard every day in their regular jobs with their teams, but this brings a little different dimension. “It’s almost like going from the regular season to big playoff games right away. The intensity and the anticipation will bring out the best from everybody and we’re going to see some fabulous hockey.” Winning gold with Sweden is one of the highlights of Alfredsson’s incredible career, but this is the opportunity to start a new chapter and it could be used as a stepping stone to being part of the coaching staff at the Olympics in Milan, Italy, in 2026. “We’ll see what happens in this tournament,” Alfredsson said. “I would love to be part of the Olympics or coaching in general. The last year has been a lot of fun.” BGarrioch@postmedia.com Recommended from Editorial Brady Tkachuk to New York Rangers rumour is 'Total bulls--t' and 'garbage' Ottawa Senators had no serious talks on Jacob Trouba as search for help continues Author of the article: Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : ONE-ON-ONE: Alfie ready to play key role for Team Sweden at 4 Nations Face-Off Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending Ottawa police release photo of suspect in Riverside Drive shooting News Ottawa man and woman face drug charges after south-end traffic stop News 'Travel advisory' in effect in Ottawa, as 15 cm of snow on the way Local News Pure Kitchen to shut doors on Rideau Street location Local Business PWHL did Ottawa Charge no favours by booking CTC game when it did Sports Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local Savings
