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It’s a daunting reality for Democrats: Republican Donald Trump's support has grown broadly since he last sought the presidency. In his defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris , Trump won a bigger percentage of the vote in each one of the 50 states, and Washington, D.C., than he did four years ago. He won more actual votes than in 2020 in 40 states, according to an Associated Press analysis. Certainly, Harris’ more than 7 million vote decline from President Joe Biden’s 2020 total was a factor in her loss, especially in swing-state metropolitan areas that have been the party’s winning electoral strongholds. But, despite national turnout that was lower than in the high-enthusiasm 2020 election, Trump received 2.5 million more votes than he did four years ago. He swept the seven most competitive states to win a convincing Electoral College victory, becoming the first Republican nominee in 20 years to win a majority of the popular vote. Trump cut into places where Harris needed to overperform to win a close election. Now Democrats are weighing how to regain traction ahead of the midterm elections in two years, when control of Congress will again be up for grabs and dozens of governors elected. There were some notable pieces to how Trump's victory came together: Though Trump improved across the map, his gains were particularly noteworthy in urban counties home to the cities of Detroit, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, electoral engines that stalled for Harris in industrial swing states Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Harris fell more than 50,000 votes — and 5 percentage points — short of Biden's total in Wayne County, Michigan, which makes up the lion's share of the Detroit metro area. She was almost 36,000 votes off Biden's mark in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, and about 1,000 short in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. It wasn't only Harris' shortfall that helped Trump carry the states, a trio that Democrats had collectively carried in six of the seven previous elections before Nov. 5. Trump added to his 2020 totals in all three metro counties, netting more than 24,000 votes in Wayne County, more than 11,000 in Philadelphia County and almost 4,000 in Milwaukee County. It’s not yet possible to determine whether Harris fell short of Biden’s performance because Biden voters stayed home or switched their vote to Trump — or how some combination of the two produced the rightward drift evident in each of these states. Harris advertised heavily and campaigned regularly in each, and made Milwaukee County her first stop as a candidate with a rally in July. These swings alone were not the difference in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but her weaker performance than Biden across the three metros helped Trump, who held on to big 2020 margins in the three states' broad rural areas and improved or held steady in populous suburbs. Trump's team and outside groups supporting him knew from their data that he was making inroads with Black voters, particularly Black men younger than 50, more concentrated in these urban areas that have been key to Democratic victories. When James Blair, Trump's political director, saw results coming in from Philadelphia on election night, he knew Trump had cut into the more predominantly Black precincts, a gain that would echo in Wayne and Milwaukee counties. “The data made clear there was an opportunity there,” Blair said. AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 120,000 voters, found Trump won a larger share of Black and Latino voters than he did in 2020, and most notably among men under age 45. Democrats won Senate races in Michigan and Wisconsin but lost in Pennsylvania. In 2026, they will be defending governorships in all three states and a Senate seat in Michigan. Despite the burst of enthusiasm Harris' candidacy created among the Democratic base when she entered the race in July, she ended up receiving fewer votes than Biden in three of the seven states where she campaigned almost exclusively. In Arizona, she received about 90,000 fewer votes than Biden. She received about 67,000 fewer in Michigan and 39,000 fewer in Pennsylvania. In four others — Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina and Wisconsin — Harris won more votes than Biden did. But Trump's support grew by more — in some states, significantly more. That dynamic is glaring in Georgia, where Harris received almost 73,000 more votes than Biden did when he very narrowly carried the state. But Trump added more than 200,000 to his 2020 total, en route to winning Georgia by roughly 2 percentage points. In Wisconsin, Trump's team reacted to slippage it saw in GOP-leaning counties in suburban Milwaukee by targeting once-Democratic-leaning, working-class areas, where Trump made notable gains. In the three largest suburban Milwaukee counties — Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha — which have formed the backbone of GOP victories for decades, Harris performed better than Biden did in 2020. She also gained more votes than Trump gained over 2020, though he still won the counties. That made Trump's focus on Rock County, a blue-collar area in south central Wisconsin, critical. Trump received 3,084 more votes in Rock County, home of the former automotive manufacturing city of Janesville, than he did in 2020, while Harris underperformed Biden's 2020 total by seven votes. That helped Trump offset Harris' improvement in Milwaukee's suburbs. The focus speaks to the strength Trump has had and continued to grow with middle-income, non-college educated voters, the Trump campaign's senior data analyst Tim Saler said. “If you're going to have to lean into working-class voters, they are particularly strong in Wisconsin,” Saler said. “We saw huge shifts from 2020 to 2024 in our favor.” Of the seven most competitive states, Arizona saw the smallest increase in the number of votes cast in the presidential contest — slightly more than 4,000 votes, in a state with more than 3.3 million ballots cast. That was despite nearly 30 campaign visits to Arizona by Trump, Harris and their running mates and more than $432 million spent on advertising by the campaigns and allied outside groups, according to the ad-monitoring firm AdImpact. Arizona, alone of the seven swing states, saw Harris fall short of Biden across small, midsize and large counties. In the other six states, she was able to hold on in at least one of these categories. Even more telling, it is also the only swing state where Trump improved his margin in every single county. While turnout in Maricopa County, Arizona's most populous as the home to Phoenix, dipped slightly from 2020 — by 14,199 votes, a tiny change in a county where more than 2 million people voted — Trump gained almost 56,000 more votes than four years ago. Meanwhile, Harris fell more than 60,000 votes short of Biden's total, contributing to a shift significant enough to swing the county and state to Trump, who lost Arizona by fewer than 11,000 votes in 2020. The biggest leaps to the right weren't taking place exclusively among Republican-leaning counties, but also among the most Democratic-leaning counties in the states. Michigan's Wayne County swung 9 points toward Trump, tying the more Republican-leaning Antrim County for the largest movement in the state. AP VoteCast found that voters were most likely to say the economy was the most important issue facing the country in 2024, followed by immigration. Trump supporters were more motivated by economic issues and immigration than Harris', the survey showed. “It’s still all about the economy," said North Carolina Democratic strategist Morgan Jackson, a senior adviser to Democrat Josh Stein, who won North Carolina’s governorship on Nov. 5 as Trump also carried the state. “Democrats have to embrace an economic message that actually works for real people and talk about it in the kind of terms that people get, rather than giving them a dissertation of economic policy,” he said. Governor’s elections in 2026 give Democrats a chance to test their understanding and messaging on the issue, said Democratic pollster Margie Omero, whose firm has advised Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the past and winning Arizona Senate candidate Ruben Gallego this year. “So there’s an opportunity to really make sure people, who governors have a connection to, are feeling some specificity and clarity with the Democratic economic message,” Omero said.
Nyamasheke: 11 officials resignCheck Point Software Announces New Regional Director for Africa(Reuters) – A crypto venture recently unveiled by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his new Middle East envoy, billionaire Steve Witkoff, has partnered with a crypto platform that authorities and financial experts say has been used by criminals and Iran-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. World Liberty Financial Inc, founded by the Witkoff family two months before November’s U.S. election with Trump as a financial beneficiary, presents concerns over ethics and conflicts of interest, say six specialists in U.S. government ethics. Among their biggest concerns is World Liberty’s new partner: Tron crypto platform. Quicker and cheaper than Bitcoin, the Tron network has overtaken its rival as a vehicle for crypto transfers associated with groups designated as terror organizations by Israel, the United States and other countries, Reuters reported in 2023, citing interviews with seven financial crime experts and cryptocurrency investigations specialists. Tron announced last month it was investing $30 million in World Liberty. Tron’s founder, Chinese-born entrepreneur Justin Sun, will join the Trump-Witkoff venture as an advisor, Sun and World Liberty said on social media platform X. The British Virgin Islands-registered Tron is now World Liberty’s largest investor, Sun said. Crypto seizures announced by the Israeli security services since 2021 have frequently singled out Tron’s use by militants, including Hamas whose 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli authorities, and triggered the Gaza war. Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing (NBTCF), which is responsible for such seizures, froze 186 Tron wallets since July 2021, saying they were used by a “designated terrorist organization” or for a “severe terror crime.” Of those, Israeli authorities linked 84 Tron wallets to Hamas or Hamas allies, including Islamic Jihad, 39 to Hezbollah and 63 to unspecified terrorist groups or money changers. The most recent Tron seizure was announced on March 28. Reuters could not independently determine Tron’s use by militant groups, and the NBTCF did not provide evidence for its assertions or respond to requests for more details. Hamas and Hezbollah did not respond to requests for comment. Tron, which profits from transaction fees on its network, told Reuters its technology “has attracted both lawful users and those with illicit motives” but did not specifically respond to claims it has been used by militants. The company “has taken proactive measures to address the risk of illicit activities on its network,” a Tron spokesperson said in response to questions for this story. A collaboration with law enforcement launched in September froze $70 million in illicit funds, the spokesperson said. Sun, the founder, did not respond to a request for comment. On the sidelines of a crypto conference in Abu Dhabi, Eric Trump told Reuters that the use of crypto by criminal groups was “everybody’s foremost concern” but said traditional financial institutions were also used to funnel “bad money.” “Anything can be manipulated if used by the wrong people, and you have to crack down on it,” Trump’s second son said, adding that the crypto industry will do “a great job” of policing itself when it comes to illicit flows. The U.S. Treasury Department has also seized Tron wallets, including an account linked to a group that the department said raised money for Hamas in the wake of the 2023 attack on Israel. In March, the Treasury leveled sanctions against a Lebanon-based money changer who it said provided Hezbollah officials with crypto accounts, including a Tron wallet, to receive funds from Iran. Tron’s investment in World Liberty raised concerns among among ethics experts. “There are red flags all over this,” said Kathleen Clark, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in government ethics. Her concerns include the significant size of Tron’s investment in World Liberty, whether Trump could benefit financially from it and the alleged use of Tron by militants including Hamas and Hezbollah. She also highlighted an investigation of Tron founder Sun by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2023, the SEC charged Sun with fraud, accusing him of artificially inflating trading volume and concealing payment to celebrities to promote his companies. Sun, who is based in Switzerland and is a citizen of Grenada, said the SEC charges “lack merit.” The case is ongoing. Clark questioned whether World Liberty’s close relationship with Sun would pose a conflict of interest for Trump once his administration takes over the SEC in January. Spokespeople for Trump and his transition team did not directly respond to questions about Trump’s financial ties to World Liberty, the Tron investment and potential conflicts. “President Trump didn’t get into politics for profit,” said transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. “He’s fighting because he loves the people of this country and wants to make America great again.” Militant groups and criminals like Tron because it gives users the option to conceal their identities, charges low fees and can be converted into cash easily, according to some crypto experts. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS Witkoff co-founded World Liberty and has a stake in a company — WC Digital Fi, LLC — that is entitled to some of World Liberty’s revenues, according to the company’s terms. He is a close friend of Trump’s and a donor to his Republican presidential campaign. He plans to put all his investments in a “blind trust,” said a person familiar with Witkoff’s plans who declined to be identified. The source, however, said Witkoff would retain ownership of his assets. Typically, in a blind trust, an outside manager controls an official’s assets, selling off those that pose a conflict and reinvesting the proceeds into investments unknown to the owner. Witkoff declined to comment. World Liberty did not respond to requests for comment about potential ethical issues and Tron’s investment in the company. Even with a trust, World Liberty sets up potential conflicts of interest, the ethics specialists told Reuters. Witkoff’s Middle East policy recommendations could be affected by what he sees as best for World Liberty as opposed to the United States, they said. Even if Witkoff sets up a trust and isn’t involved in World Liberty’s day-to-day operations, potential conflicts exist so long as he maintains a financial stake in the company, said Richard Painter, ethics counsel to former president George W. Bush and a University of Minnesota professor. “Whether you’re involved in the management of the company or not, that’s not relevant at all. What’s relevant is if you own a financial interest that could be directly impacted by your government work,” said Painter. Trump also faces potential conflicts from World Liberty, the experts said. Trump is listed as “chief crypto advocate” on World Liberty’s website and is entitled to a cut of its revenues, according to the company’s terms and conditions. World Liberty sells a proprietary token that cannot be traded, those terms and conditions say, unlike Bitcoin and other crypto tokens. Trump and other unnamed “affiliates” are entitled to 75% of some World Liberty revenues, according to the terms, raising the possibility of people buying World Liberty coins to try to gain favor with him. “Is this an alternative way of ingratiating yourself with Trump?” Clark said of World Liberty. Trump’s business dealings drew close scrutiny in his first term. While he was in office, at least 20 governments, including Saudi Arabia and China, collectively spent more than $7.8 million at his hotels and other properties, according to a report published by congressional Democrats in January. Trump did not face legal consequences for that spending. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for information on what steps he would take to address any conflicts from World Liberty. World Liberty’s connection with Trump features heavily on the company’s website. A picture of Trump, ear bandaged after the July assassination attempt on him, greets visitors on the home page. The first people listed as members of the World Liberty team are Trump and his three sons, Don Jr., Eric and Barron, who are described as “Web3 ambassadors.” Trump himself, along with relatives and associates, unveiled the business during a live event on X in September. Don Jr. and Barron did not respond to requests for comment. Through World Liberty, Trump and his family could also benefit from possible regulatory changes that his administration makes involving crypto, the experts said. During the campaign, Trump vowed to name a new SEC chair to replace Gary Gensler, who took on the crypto industry with various lawsuits. Last week, he tapped crypto-friendly Washington lawyer Paul Atkins for the role. Witkoff’s sons, Alex and Zach, are also listed as co-founders of World Liberty. They did not respond to requests for comment. Eric Trump told Reuters he is “very involved” in World Liberty. If foreign governments or sovereign wealth funds were to invest in World Liberty, that could place Witkoff and Trump in violation of the U.S. Constitution’s “emoluments” clause, designed to thwart corruption and improper influence on government, said Larry Noble, a professor at American University and former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission. The clause bars federal officials from accepting gifts or other advantages from foreign governments without congressional approval. Diplomats said they were surprised when Witkoff, a New York real-estate investor, was named special Middle East envoy on Nov. 12 given his lack of foreign policy experience. He will assume the job at a time of heightened regional tensions, including the Gaza conflict, turmoil in Syria and the risk of a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. Witkoff donated $250,000 to the pro-Trump super PAC spending group MAGA Inc in December 2023. He is worth at least $1 billion, according to Forbes. Already, the lines between Witkoff’s business venture and his diplomatic role are blurring. Witkoff spoke on Monday at the Abu Dhabi crypto conference. The program listed him as Trump’s special envoy to the region and also mentioned the crypto business in his biography. “A forward-thinking entrepreneur, Steve is now focused on the intersection of real estate, Bitcoin, and crypto,” the conference website read. Those attending paid as much as $9,999 to access special sessions, which were closed to the media. Tron’s Sun was also listed as a speaker. Witkoff did not respond to questions about the conference. SPECIAL ENVOY, FEW RULES Witkoff’s new role of special envoy is not defined by law and may not require confirmation by the U.S. Senate. The incoming administration could define him as a “special government employee,” a designation meant for temporary roles, said Scott Greytak, director of advocacy at Transparency International’s Washington office. In that case, “unlike regular government employees, he can continue receiving outside income without limits,” he said. “However, he must file a financial disclosure form and cannot take any official actions that would financially benefit himself.” Witkoff should also sign an agreement with the State Department that he will not talk with foreign government officials about crypto while on official business, said Meredith McGehee, an independent ethicist and former policy director of nonprofit watchdog the Campaign Legal Center. “That should be a wall. You can’t say: ‘By the way, what’s your government going to do on crypto?’” McGehee said. Special envoys under Biden, former President Barack Obama and Trump’s own first administration were typically not from the business sector, Reuters found in a review of the emissaries. None had founded a major company linked to a presidential candidate weeks before the election. Some had extensive investments in the private sector, however. Multimillionaire John Kerry divested assets identified by government ethics officers as potentially conflicting with his role as Biden’s special climate envoy, according to a 2021 certificate of divestiture from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Trump has appointed a close business associate before. In 2016, he tapped the Trump Organization’s chief legal officer, Jason Greenblatt, as Special Representative for International Negotiations, a key role in Israeli-Palestinian talks. Greenblatt told Reuters he left Trump’s company before taking up his White House role. He did not recall whether he sold his investments before working as a special envoy, but said he would have followed applicable rules.
Jets running back Hall 'looks promising' to play vs. Jags, but cornerback Reed is doubtfulThe Rotterdam resident began collecting monthly Social Security disability payments, which ultimately proved too little to support the 66-year-old who also supports her autistic adult son. Soon after retiring, Geloso found herself standing in a snaking line along Nott Terrace in Schenectady waiting to receive free food distributed by Street Soldiers, a grassroots, volunteer-run organization that distributes everything from pre-portioned meals to bread and socks, in the parking lot next to Zion Lutheran Church. “It’s tough and it’s getting tougher,” Geloso said. “Rent is going up. I got a $33 increase for my Social Security for 2025. That’s the cost-of-living adjustment. I mean, $33? Where is that going to go?” Geloso joined a coalition of around a dozen members of the Schenectady County Food Council — including lawmakers, pantry operators and volunteers — to call on New York state to increase funding for programs aimed at curbing food insecurity, and to increase the minimum benefit under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from the current $23 to $100. Gathered in front of a statue depicting a homeless Jesus Christ sleeping on a bench between St. Luke’s Catholic Church and its parish center on State Street in Schenectady, the group called on the state to increase funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and Nourish New York by $75 million each. The programs provide funding to assist food banks and purchase New York-grown items for distribution. It’s a move that would benefit the thousands throughout the county who struggle to put food on the table each month, according to Maura Furey, a volunteer with Street Soldiers in Schenectady. Furey was overcome with emotion as she told just a handful of stories of the hundreds who line up each month amid bone-chilling temperatures and rain to receive food to get through each week. The lines have continued to grow amid raising rents and inflationary pressures that have forced many to choose between buying food or paying a utility, she said. Many who line up have young children and travel great distances on foot due to a lack of transportation, Furey said. She told the story of one woman who apologized to volunteers for being late because the friend she lives with was using the only pair of shoes in the household. Then, there’s another woman who stresses about how she’ll get to her doctor’s appointment and how she’ll pay for it all. “If we take away where they’re going to get their next meal, how can we expect them to rise above all the other complications that they are facing?” Furey said. “If we think about what they go through on a day-to-day basis as a mile walk, some of them have run a marathon before the rest of us have even opened our eyes.” Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced an additional $27.5 million in funding for the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program and Nourish New York. The funding was awarded to 11 organizations supporting more than 2,600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across the state. Among those receiving funding is the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, the Latham-based food bank that services the Capital Region, including pantries in Schenectady County. "New Yorkers always help our neighbors when they're in a tough spot, and our efforts to provide food for those in need will deliver more than 400 million meals in the comings months," Hochul said in a statement. Food insecurity has long been an issue in Schenectady County, where poverty rates are high in some parts and access to grocery stores can be difficult. Around 12% of Schenectady residents live in poverty, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which shows poverty rates range from 2.7% in the town of Niskayuna up to 21% in the city of Schenectady. The county is home to more than 159,000 residents, according to the data. But the number of residents applying for SNAP benefits has been increasing each month and currently hovers around 22,000, according to Michelle Ostrelich, a county legislator who chairs of the Legislature's Health, Housing and Human Services Committee. The number of households in the county receiving SNAP benefits rose to 11,847 in July, according to the latest state data. That’s a 9% increase compared to July 2019, when 10,852 households were receiving the benefit. A total of 21,731 Schenectady County residents were receiving SNAP benefits as of this July, according to the latest data available. That’s up from 20,473 in July 2019 — a 6% increase. Ostrelich said the county receives between 800 and 1,000 SNAP applications each month. “SNAP is a crucial program that is proven to reduce poverty, improve health outcomes and help local economies thrive,” she said. “Yet the current minimums are so very insufficient. ... An increase in the minimum benefit would have a significant positive impact on a large portion of our residents.” Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, said increases to the programs are a "nonpartisan issue” and believes the state should prioritize the additional funding. He called the effort to increase funding for benefits a “top priority” when lawmakers return to Albany next month. Santabarbara is a founding member of the Schenectady County Food Council, which was launched last year with the support of The Schenectady Foundation. “It’s troubling what we’re seeing. These are stories we don’t want to hear about,” he said. “This issue isn’t just about hunger, it’s about dignity, stability and the health of our entire community.” The increase in SNAP recipients coincides with increases seen at local food pantries, according to volunteers running the organizations. Rev. Dustin Longmire of Messiah Lutheran Church in Rotterdam, who currently doubles as the executive director of the Rotterdam Community Center, said, despite hours of volunteer service, local food pantries are only “putting a Band-Aid on a much deeper wound.” “The fact of the matter is that since 2019 the number of people attending emergency food programs in Schenectady County has increased by 70%,” he said. “It’s staggering how many people are entering into our emergency food system for the first time.” The Rotterdam Community Center serves about 150 residents a month at its Bread of Life Food Pantry and provides free produce during a weekly distribution event to an additional 150 individuals. For the past two years, the center has operated under Messiah Lutheran Church, but organizers are planning to spin the center off into its own 501(c)(3) organization in the new year amid efforts to bolster the facility’s presence. “Rotterdam is not a town with abject poverty at all,” Longmire said. “Most of our food pantry residents are either seniors or are working full time and can no longer make ends meet. It’s the affordability crisis here in New York state. We need systemic change.” At St. Luke's, the church’s Daily Bread Food Pantry has been around since the 1980s, but is busier than ever, said Jacqueline Clute, the pantry’s executive director. The pantry has already seen more than 21,000 visitors so far in 2024 and is expecting hundreds more by the end of the year. It’s a sharp uptick compared to the around 17,000 who visited the pantry last year, according to Clute. “It’s very difficult to come to grips in a country like this where people are on the verge of starvation,” she said. Clute said that many of the pantry’s visitors are senior citizens that worked their whole lives and can no longer afford to purchase groceries. Many also belong to multi-generational households and have jobs, but can’t afford to make ends meet as rents continue to climb and the cost of groceries rises. The Bread of Life pantry recently broke away from St. Luke’s to become its own 501(c)(3) nonprofit, a move that Clute hopes will open the door for new grant opportunities. The pantry, she said, has an operating budget of around $12,000 a month. Earlier this year, volunteers at the pantry opened a satellite location at the Holy Name of Jesus church on Pearl Street in the city’s Mont Pleasant neighborhood. Prior to that, the neighborhood was not serviced by a pantry. Michael Aragosa, a Glenville Town Board member who operates the satellite campus, said he’s seen the need for resources grow in his four years volunteering. He described how one resident pulled up to the pantry with a wheelbarrow because they did not have transportation and had no other means to carry their items. Others come with wagons. Many who visit come on foot. Aragosa also volunteers at the Fresh Table, a food distribution event established two years ago that services the Scotia-Glenville area. Around 150 individuals attend each month, said Aragosa, who noted the numbers continue to climb each time the event is held. “Anyone that tells you it’s just a city problem — they’re way out of line,” he said. “There’s working poor everywhere.”New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville (3-10) Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX. BetMGM NFL Odds: Jets by 31⁄2. Against the spread: New York Jets 4-9; Jacksonville 7-5-1. Series record: Jaguars lead 9-8. Last meeting: Jaguars beat the Jets 19-3 in New Jersey on Dec. 22, 2022. Last week: Jets lost 32-26 in OT at Miami; Jaguars won 10-6 at Tennessee. Jets offense: overall (27), rush (31), pass (19T), scoring (25). Jets defense: overall (4), rush (16), pass (4), scoring (19). Jaguars offense: overall (28), rush (26), pass (24), scoring (26). Jaguars defense: overall (32), rush (24), pass (31), scoring (28). Turnover differential: Jets minus-3; Jaguars minus-11. QB Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old four-time MVP is coming off his best game with the Jets, throwing for 339 yards and ending a drought of 34 regular-season games without reaching 300 yards. Rodgers will be looking for his first consecutive 300-yard passing games since he did three straight weeks in 2021 with Green Bay. DE Josh Hines-Allen needs 3 1/2 sacks to break the franchise record (55) held by Tony Brackens. Hines-Allen has seven sacks this season, becoming the second in team history with at least seven in four consecutive years. Yannick Ngakoue is the other. Jaguars rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr. versus Jets CB Sauce Gardner. Thomas had eight catches for 86 yards last week and is 15 yards shy of breaking Justin Blackmon's franchise record (865) for receiving yards by a rookie. Gardner (hamstring) was inactive a week ago, but said he'll play this week and is looking for his first interception of the season. Jets RB Breece Hall could miss his second game in a row because of an MCL injury and hyperextension in his left knee. ... Special teams ace Irvin Charles was placed on injured reserve this week with a torn ACL. ... KR Kene Nwangwu sat out early in the week with a hand injury. ... The Jaguars are relatively healthy for Week 15, at least defensively. They are putting TE Evan Engram (shoulder) on injured reserve, where he will join three fellow starters: QB Trevor Lawrence and WRs Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis. The Jaguars have won three of the past four meetings, including two straight in Jacksonville. ... The Jets are one of just six NFL teams with a losing record against the Jags. The Jets were eliminated from playoff contention last week, extending their postseason drought to 14 consecutive years. It's the longest active skid in the NFL. ... New York has lost four in a row and nine of 10 but is 2-1 against the AFC South, with victories over Houston and Tennessee. ... Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich is 1-7 since replacing the fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. ... The Jets have lost a franchise-worst five games in which they held a fourth-quarter lead, and they’ve done it in three straight games. ... Rodgers and Davante Adams have connected 79 times for touchdowns, including the playoffs, for the fourth most by a QB-WR duo in NFL history. Next on the list is Miami's Dan Marino and Mark Clayton, who had 82 TDs together. ... WR Garrett Wilson needs 123 yards receiving to become the fifth player in NFL history with 80 or more catches and 1,000 or more yards receiving in each of his first three seasons. ... Adams has 40 catches on 69 targets for 453 yards and three TDs in seven games since being acquired from Las Vegas. ... LB Jamien Sherwood had 18 tackles, including 13 solo, last week to become the first NFL player this season with multiple games of 17 or more tackles. ... The Jets failed to register a quarterback hit against Miami's Tua Tagovailoa, who passed 47 times last week. ... The Jaguars are 2-7 in one-score games this season and 1-4 at EverBank Stadium. ... QB Mac Jones is 5-0 against the Jets, throwing for 1,134 yards and four TDs in those starts. ... DE Travon Walker has 5 1/2 sacks in his past four home games. ... Rookie CB Jarrian Jones is coming off his best game. He has two pass breakups and a sack last week at Tennessee. Jets TE Tyler Conklin has at least one catch in 23 consecutive games and could be in for a big day against a defense that has struggled to cover tight ends all season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
New York City mayor meets with Trump's 'border czar' to discuss how to go after 'violent' criminalsWhy Are Investors Suddenly So Excited About This Database Giant?
Rocket the therapy dog first pawed into his sheriff’s job in 2023, mainly to comfort first responders and residents affected by violent or tragic incidents. Part of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s K9 unit, the Brittany spaniel has since touched hundreds of people. His handler, John McSwain, who is a department chaplain and brings Rocket to work, said the dog seems to sense when individuals are stressed or sad, and goes to them for snuggles. Now, the 2-year-old Rocket is nominated for national recognition: First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award. He’s among 19 therapy dogs in the running, and one cat, but the feline technically can’t win the title. People can vote for Rocket online Nov. 25 through Dec. 4. Rocket instantly changes people’s moods wherever he goes, said Paula Pelka, who works at the department. “In the mornings, John will bring Rocket through the doors into the hallway, and it’s right as the deputies’ night shift is coming off,” Pelka said. “You’ve probably got 10 deputies standing around, and they’re kind of, ‘Ugh,’ after dealing with everything all night. The minute Rocket hits that door, all you hear is, ‘Rocket, Rocket, Rocket,’ and there’s smiles and joy and laughter. He’s touched all of us.” Registered “Sir Rocket the Kindhearted” with the American Kennel Club, the Brittany also visits veterans, school children and people at hospitals and hospice facilities. “He’s a community dog,” McSwain said. When not on duty, Rocket lives with McSwain. “Our chaplains get called out all the time to traumatic situations. If I happen to be one of the chaplains who responds, Rocket goes with me.” But there’s a reason Rocket is called a first-responder therapy dog. McSwain said law enforcement officers see “the worst of the worst all the time,” responding to crimes and accidents. He asked the department to add a therapy dog and offered to cover most costs, other than for training. Rocket was certified through First Responder Therapy Dogs in August 2023. McSwain worked as an officer with the King County Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years. He retired there in 2021 and moved to North Idaho. He also worked in peer support, as he does here. First responders need to emotionally and mentally process difficult events, such as a traumatic death scene or an officer-involved shooting, McSwain said. “Inserting Rocket into those environments, just having him around the offices and in and out of briefings, it’s beneficial because the officers get to interact with something that just unconditionally says, ‘I love you. I’m a dog and you’re great. Come and pet me,’ ” he added. “It’s not the trauma that knocks you off the rails; it’s the body’s response to trauma. When you introduce something like an animal, it directly impacts that officer’s ability to process what they’ve seen. It changes brain function, and your body releases all these good chemicals that can help your body reset a lot faster.” McSwain offers to introduce Rocket while out on calls. “We went to a call where a lady had a pretty traumatic thing happen,” he said. When he introduced Rocket, she laid down on the ground and hugged him. “People have appreciated that support in that moment.” Rocket is the only therapy dog in the K9 unit, which currently keeps three other dogs for tracking and drug detection work. McSwain said the entire canine crew relies on community donations. Although Brittany spaniels typically have high energy levels, Rocket is unusually calm, McSwain added. That’s especially true when he puts on his therapy vest, knowing “it’s time to go to work,” he said. “He’s also super smart. When I first got him, I’d shut the door to my office. He didn’t like that, so he would just open the door.” And he’ll leave if duty calls. McSwain’s office is across from a conference room, where job candidates are interviewed. “There have been a couple times he just decided that, ‘Hey, there is something stressful going on in here, and I’ve got some work to do,’ ” said McSwain, describing how Rocket went directly up against the person being interviewed. Another time, McSwain said he watched Rocket single out a few people who seemed the most upset opening up within a large group talking after a fire. “I watch Rocket, and he only goes to the ones I know are struggling,” he said. “I don’t tell him.” Pelka saw that touch when McSwain brought the dog to visit her husband at Kootenai Health’s hospital in July. Fighting an infection, Ross Pelka had to have an amputation. Her husband was struggling and missing his own dog, Cairo. She was in his hospital room, and Rocket usually goes directly to her at the office, but Pelka said the dog merely glanced at her. He then jumped up on her husband’s hospital bed to snuggle, staying there 45 minutes. Both she and McSwain said during the visit that they watched as Ross Pelka calmed and his heart rate and blood pressure lowered. “Rocket wouldn’t leave me for anything,” Ross Pelka said. “He just knew, and he helped me pull through.” Another reason for first-responder therapy dogs is to help those professionals talk about their work and understand they need to take care of their own health, McSwain said. Statistics show that too many officers after retirement tend to have short lifespans because of heart issues, suicides and unmet medical needs, he added. “If we can do things that intentionally help them to be healthy at the end of their career and retire, maybe with some scars but not open wounds, they can be healthier,” McSwain said. Behavioral health provider FHE Health is running the online vote. The top dog and handler get a $2,000 check, Chewy gift basket and social media feature. They’re also honored in a $2,500 donation to First Responders Pack Foundation, which seeks to increase the number of first-responder therapy dogs. Paula Pelka plans to rally for Rocket. “We don’t know any of the other therapy dogs, but he’s our therapy,” she said. “He’s proven therapy for a lot of people.”Econometer: What are you thankful for about the economy?
“Are you guys chefs or something?” It’s a question Oliver Poilevey, Marcos Ascencio and Alex Martinez get asked a lot when they tailgate at Bears home games. They hear it while setting up their butane burners and putting the blue-and-white tablecloths on their folding tables. They hear it when doing prep work. And they definitely hear it once the various dishes — seafood paella, truffle-topped soft scrambled eggs and brioche French toast with foie gras, for example — are ready and shared with those fortunate to be nearby. No surprise then that the answer is a resounding yes. Poilevey is chef/partner at Le Bouchon, Obelix, Mariscos San Pedro and Taqueria Chingon; Ascencio is chef/partner at Mariscos and Chingon; and Martinez is chef/partner at Mariscos. ( Taqueria Chingon ‘s last day in Wicker Park is Nov. 26, but the search for a new location is underway.) Season ticket holders for the last three years, the trio regularly bring their A-game to their tailgating at the 31st Street parking lot near Soldier Field — even if the Bears don’t bring theirs. Of the three, Poilevey is the biggest Bears fan and gets the most heartbroken over the team’s losses, while Ascencio and Martinez have learned to roll with the inevitable punches. Whether they’re doing a crawfish boil, steakhouse-style fare, or whatever the three conjure up, the menu planning often begins at the previous tailgate. “We’re constantly like, ‘Hey, what should we do next week?’” says Ascencio of the informal planning, which is sometimes influenced by the team the Bears are playing, or more often by what they have on hand at the restaurants. Poilevey admits having top-notch ingredients at their fingertips is a major advantage. For a recent tailgate, the plan was to do dishes that represented all their restaurants. At the end of one Saturday night’s service, the chefs gathered last-minute ingredients for the next day’s tailgate. A large plastic bin was stocked with steaks, duck breasts, caviar, cheese, butter and chorizo. Containers of various sauces, their names and dates clearly marked on blue masking tape, went into the bin too. “You don’t want to save too much of that stuff for the day of, especially if it’s a noon game,” Poilevey says. “You’re waking up at 7 a.m. after working the night before and you will forget something.” Alex Martinez says hello to an octopus while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the following day. Martinez and fellow chefs Oliver Poilevey and Marcos Asencio, who are Bears season ticket holders, tailgate at many of the team’s home games. Crispy octopus glazed with tare was on the menu at the game. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chef Marcos Asencio works with chorizo to be used in a paella while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the following day. Asencio and fellow chefs Oliver Poilevey (cq) and Alex Martinez (cq), who are Bears season ticket holders, tailgate at many of the team’s home games. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chef Marcos Asencio cuts up chorizo to be used in a paella while prepping in the kitchen, Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chef Marcos Asencio organizes items to be used in a paella, Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the next day. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Chef Marcos Asencio scans a cooler while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro ahead of his Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the next day. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Alex Martinez breaks eggs for a French scramble dish while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro on Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Alex Martinez uses an immersion blender to mix eggs and cream for a French scramble eggs dish while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the following day. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Alex Martinez says hello to an octopus while prepping in the kitchen at Mariscos San Pedro in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on Nov. 9, 2024, ahead of a Chicago Bears tailgating adventure the following day. Martinez and fellow chefs Oliver Poilevey and Marcos Asencio, who are Bears season ticket holders, tailgate at many of the team’s home games. Crispy octopus glazed with tare was on the menu at the game. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Aiding in the preparation process is a ready-to-go kit that includes the basics — dubbed “the Bear essentials” — such as towels, knives, seasonings, wipes, cutting boards and utensils. Post-game, the kit goes back to one of the restaurants where items are cleaned and replaced as needed. An avid camper, Ascencio takes charge of the kit. Ideally, everything goes back in the box, except for that time when the salt didn’t (don’t ask). On game day, Ascencio typically arrives first as his SUV is packed with the equipment, kit and coolers. The unpacking of it resembles those circus clown cars with item after item endlessly coming out. Setup, on the other hand, looks like a race car pit change with each chef quickly organizing their respective stations. Conversation isn’t needed as they know exactly what to do. Ascencio lights the charcoal for the small Japanese grill and sets up the paella propane cooker, while Poilevey readies the snacks, such as freshly shucked oysters, pate en croute and raw tuna topped with salsa negra. “We like to have something to eat as we work,” says Poilevey, who’s also in charge of caviar bumps. “This man never leaves the house without caviar,” quips his girlfriend, Sonia Balzak. Freshly baked croissants and doughnuts grabbed from Obelix that morning are unboxed. Meanwhile, Martinez is warming up duck consommé, which will be paired with maitake mushrooms that Poilevey has thinly sliced and placed into cups for easy serving. Chicken stock for paella is warmed up on a second butane burner. Once it’s done, Martinez will get started on the soft scrambled eggs prepared in a bain-marie. Their handiwork hasn’t gone unnoticed. “You guys are fun to watch,” says Clarence Boot of Naperville, who, along with two friends, has been eyeing the chefs from their neighboring spot. “You guys are doing it right,” adds Dick Patton, also from Naperville. After the duck consommé is served — a paper cup is MacGyvered as a ladle as they forgot to bring one — Martinez gets to work on the torre de mariscos, think a multi-layered cake but with tuna, octopus, shrimp and scallops. The fish tower rests on a bed of red and green salsas and is topped with sliced avocado. Poilevey steps away from his station to help man the grill and lightly sears Wagyu steak, octopus and duck breasts. Those are topped simply with salt and sliced, making for tasty finger food. “Typically, we’re not trying to put together really complex dishes with a bunch of ingredients,” Poilevey says. “It’s more about really great product, cooked well and seasoned right.” Little by little friends and co-workers arrive, as do the Champagne splits, bottles of wine and beer. The tequila comes out later. “They all know we tailgate for home games and are invited,” Martinez says. Ascencio is now in full paella mode, methodically adding each ingredient to the large pan. There’s chorizo, mussels, shrimp, calamari and squid in addition to the rice. Chicken stock is added in waves. At 10:30 a.m., the finished product is topped with peas and drizzled with a spicy crema before being handed out to anyone who asks, including some who have gotten to know the trio from previous tailgates and search them out. “If you’re making something nice, bring enough to share,” Ascensio says. “Spreading love is what food and hospitality is about.” “Oh, paella, holy s−−−,” shouts a guy walking by. “That’s a work of art.” At the parking spot next door, Robert McClendon of Crown Point, Indiana, has been watching closely, sampling dishes here and there. Initially, he wasn’t so sure about the paella, but after trying it, he comes back for a heaping plate to bring home to his wife. “I’m glad we got parked next to them,” he says. Sharing their culinary knowledge is a big part of the chefs’ tailgating experience. “It’s not only about cooking and enjoying that but also educating too,” Martinez says. “We like to show people what we do and introduce them to new stuff.” An added bonus: Some of those folks end up visiting the restaurants. By 11 a.m. attention turns to cleanup. There is, after all, a Bears game to go to in case you forgot. Like other aspects of their tailgating, that has a system too. Early on, Ascencio sourced out where still-warm coals and garbage can be discarded, a process that’s been ongoing. Another tip? “I always tell people when they tailgate to clean as you go,” he says. Similar to setup, the breakdown is equally disciplined, although now those co-workers and friends help. Soon the only evidence of their tailgating is a small piece of octopus on the ground. Then they start their 30-minute trek to Soldier Field. So why would these chefs want to spend their day off once again cooking for others? “We don’t turn this off. It’s in our blood,” Poilevey says. “We’re chefs for a living because we love to cook and host and that carries over to all other aspects of our lives.” Lisa Shames is a freelance writer.
NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Doré Copper Mining Corp. (" Doré Copper ") (TSXV: DCMC; OTCQB: DRCMF; FRA: DCM) today announced that it has filed and is in the process of mailing the management information circular (the " Circular ") and related materials for the special meeting (the " Meeting ") of shareholders of Doré Copper (" Doré Copper Shareholders ") to be held December 16, 2024. At the Meeting, Doré Copper Shareholders will be asked to consider and vote on a special resolution (the " Arrangement Resolution ") approving a statutory plan of arrangement (the " Plan of Arrangement ") pursuant to Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the " Arrangement "), subject to the terms and conditions of an arrangement agreement dated October 14, 2024 (the " Arrangement Agreement ") entered into among Doré Copper, Cygnus Metals Limited (" Cygnus ") and 1505901 B.C. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cygnus, all as more particularly described in the Circular. The board of directors of Doré Copper (the " Doré Copper Board ") and the special committee of independent directors established by the Doré Copper Board (the " Special Committee ") have unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Doré Copper and that the Arrangement is fair to the Doré Copper Shareholders. The Special Committee and the Doré Copper Board reviewed and considered a significant amount of information and considered a number of factors relating to the Arrangement, with the benefit of advice from Doré Copper's management, and the financial and legal advisors of the Special Committee and the Doré Copper Board. The Special Committee unanimously recommended that the Doré Copper Board recommend to Doré Copper Shareholders that they vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution. The Doré Copper Board unanimously recommends that Doré Copper Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution. See pages 33 to 36 of the Circular for a detailed description of the " Reasons for the Arrangement ". In accordance with the interim order granted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) on November 12, 2024, providing for the calling and holding of the Meeting and other procedural matters relating to the Arrangement, the Arrangement can only proceed if, among other conditions, it receives the approval of not less than two-thirds (662⁄3%) of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Doré Copper Shareholders in person or by proxy at the Meeting and not less than a majority (50% + 1) of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Doré Copper Shareholders in person or by proxy at the Meeting excluding the votes cast by certain interested or related parties or joint actors of Doré Copper in accordance with the minority approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions . Under the Arrangement Agreement, the parties have agreed to effect the Arrangement, pursuant to which Cygnus will indirectly acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Doré Copper (" Doré Copper Shares "), and Doré Copper Shareholders will be entitled to receive, for each Doré Copper Share held immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement (the " Effective Time "), 1.8297 fully paid ordinary shares (the " Consideration ") in the capital of Cygnus (each one whole share, a " Cygnus Share "). As a result of, and immediately following the completion of, the Arrangement, Doré Copper will be an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Cygnus and the former Doré Copper Shareholders will be entitled to receive the Consideration for each Doré Copper Share previously held by them immediately prior to the Effective Time (subject to rounding, as provided for in the Plan of Arrangement). Cygnus has applied for its Cygnus Shares to be listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (the " TSXV "). It is a condition of closing that Cygnus shall have received conditional listing approval from the TSXV to list the Cygnus Shares on the TSXV. Listing of the Cygnus Shares on the TSXV will be subject to Cygnus receiving approval from, and fulfilling all of the minimum listing requirements of, the TSXV. Meeting and Circular The Meeting of the Doré Copper Shareholders will be held at the offices of Bennett Jones LLP located at One First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 3400, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1A4 on December 16, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (Toronto time). Doré Copper Shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 13, 2024 are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Meeting. Doré Copper Shareholders are urged to vote before the proxy deadline of 12:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on December 12, 2024. The Circular provides important information on the Arrangement and related matters, including the background of the Arrangement, the rationale for the recommendations made by the Special Committee and the Doré Copper Board, and voting procedures. Doré Copper Shareholders are urged to read the Circular and its appendices carefully and in their entirety. The Circular is being mailed to Doré Copper Shareholders in compliance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Circular is available under Doré Copper's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Doré Copper's website at www.dorecopper.com . Impact of Canada Post Labour Strike Due to the ongoing Canada Post labour strike, it is possible that Doré Copper Shareholders may experience a delay in receiving the Circular and related materials in respect of the Meeting. Doré Copper Shareholders are encouraged to access the Circular and related materials electronically as noted above. Registered holders of Doré Copper Shares experiencing a delay in receiving the Circular and related materials may contact Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 to obtain their individual control numbers in order to vote their Doré Copper Shares. Registered holders of Doré Copper Shares are encouraged to vote their Doré Copper Shares via the internet at www.investorvote.com or via telephone at 1-866-732-VOTE (8683). Registered holders of Doré Copper Shares are also encouraged to complete and return letters of transmittal by hand or by courier to ensure the appropriate documents are received in a timely manner. Beneficial holders of Doré Copper Shares experiencing a delay in receiving the Circular and related materials should contact their broker or other intermediary for assistance in obtaining their individual control numbers in order to vote their Doré Copper Shares. Beneficial holders of Doré Copper Shares are encouraged to vote their Doré Copper Shares via the internet at www.proxyvote.com or via telephone at 1-800-474-7493 (English) or 1-800-474-7501 (French). It is recommended that any physical forms of proxy or voting instruction forms be delivered via courier to ensure that they are received in a timely manner. Registered holders of Doré Copper Shares who wish to exercise their dissent rights in connection with the Arrangement are also cautioned to deliver their written objection to Doré Copper by mail using a method other than Canada Post or by facsimile transmission in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Circular to ensure that they are received in a timely manner. Other Matters Agreement with SOQUEM Further to its news release dated July 3, 2024, on July 2, 2024, Doré Copper issued 1,190,476 Doré Copper Shares to SOQUEM at a deemed price of $0.105 per Doré Copper Share in connection with its acquisition of a 56.41% interest in a group of contiguous claims located immediately north and east of its flagship high-grade Corner Bay copper project in the Chibougamau mining camp. About Doré Copper Mining Corp. Doré Copper Mining Corp. aims to be the next copper producer in Québec with an initial production target of +50 million pounds of copper equivalent annually by implementing a hub-and-spoke operation model with multiple high-grade copper-gold assets feeding its centralized Copper Rand mill 1 . Doré Copper has delivered its PEA in May 2022 and is proceeding with a feasibility study. Doré Copper has consolidated a large land package in the prolific Lac Doré/Chibougamau and Joe Mann mining camps that has historically produced 1.6 billion pounds of copper and 4.4 million ounces of gold. 2 The land package includes 13 former producing mines, deposits and resource target areas within a 60-kilometer radius of Doré Copper’s Copper Rand Mill. About Cygnus Metals Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5) is an emerging exploration company focused on advancing the Pontax Lithium Project (earning up to 70%), the Auclair Lithium Project and the Sakami Lithium Project in the world class James Bay lithium district in Québec, Canada. In addition, Cygnus has REE and base metal projects at Bencubbin and Snake Rock in Western Australia. The Cygnus Board of Directors and Technical Management team have a proven track record of substantial exploration success and creating wealth for shareholders and all stakeholders in recent years. Cygnus’ tenements range from early-stage exploration areas through to advanced drill-ready targets. For further information about Doré Copper, please contact: Visit: www.dorecopper.com Facebook: Doré Copper Mining LinkedIn: Doré Copper Mining Corp. Twitter: @DoreCopper Instagram: @DoreCopperMining Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “expect”, “potential”, “project”, “target”, “schedule”, “budget” and “intend” and statements that an event or result “may”, “will”, “should”, “could” or “might” occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the proposed Arrangement and the terms thereof, the completion of the Arrangement, including receipt of all necessary court, shareholder and regulatory approvals and timing thereof, the listing of the Cygnus Shares on the TSXV, and the plans, operations and prospects of Doré Copper and its properties are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to obtain approvals in respect of the Arrangement and to consummate the Arrangement, the ability to obtain approvals for the listing of the Cygnus Shares on the TSXV, integration risks, actual results of current and future exploration activities, benefit of certain technology usage, the ability of prior successes and track record to determine future results, changes in project parameters and/or economic assessments, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, future prices of metals, uninsured risks, risks relating to estimated costs, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required regulatory approvals, health emergencies, pandemics and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by Doré Copper with securities regulators. Although Doré Copper has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Doré Copper disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 1 Technical report titled “Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Chibougamau Hub-and-Spoke Complex, Québec, Canada” dated June 15, 2022, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). The Technical Report was prepared by BBA Inc. with several consulting firms contributing to sections of the study, including SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. and WSP Inc. 2 Sources for historic production figures: Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963–989 - Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp, Northeastern Abitibi, Canada by François Leclerc et al. (Lac Dore/Chibougamau mining camp) and NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Joe Mann Property dated January 11, 2016 by Geologica Groupe-Conseil Inc. for Jessie Ressources Inc. (Joe Mann mine).
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For travelers, Puerto Rico is a floating island of desirability
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When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Labor has gained Senate approval for laws to ease student loans for three million Australians by scaling back the indexation of their debts. The government has also passed laws to back a for public schools and a in the latest stage of a fraught negotiation in the upper house. Education Minister Jason Clare joined Nine’s to discuss the passage of the bills, defending the expense as necessary to tackle the “unfair” indexation of HECS debt. “We got a body of experts together to look at [HECS indexation] and tell us what to do, and they recommended that we set the indexation for HECS every year at either inflation or wages, whatever’s the lowest. And that’s what we’ve done,” Clare said. “But we’ve done more than that. We’ve backdated it to June last year. So that wipes out what happened last year and makes sure that it never happens again.” Young Australians will have to wait, however, for and raise the income threshold that triggers HECS-HELP repayments because Labor says the bigger reform will take place only if it wins the election. The Coalition is opposed to the 20 per cent discount Labor is offering. The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have returned to Australia, as Foreign Minister Penny Wong pushes for a “thorough and transparent” investigation into the tragedy. The families of Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles travelled from Bangkok to Melbourne on Tuesday night, bringing home the bodies of the two 19-year-old girls. “We miss our daughters desperately,” Bianca’s father Mark Jones said. “We cannot have our girls passing and this continue to happen.” Overnight, Wong confirmed she had spoken to her Laos counterpart, Thongsavanh Phomvihane. Wong said the pair agreed that the investigation into the methanol poisoning tragedy “must be thorough and transparent”. “I appreciate our continuing cooperation,” Wong wrote. Eight people linked to the hostel were on Tuesday, local media reported. Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a new poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton is ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 2 and a half years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” Hume quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. 36 per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. Figures to be released to federal parliament show Australia is almost on track to meet its legislated 2030 target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The nation’s emissions are projected to be down 42.6 per cent by 2030 under existing government policies, which is a smidgen shy of the legislated target of 43 per cent but better than the 37 per cent projected a year ago. Also signalling an improving trajectory on harmful pollution, total net emissions are projected to be three per cent below the nation’s 10-year carbon budget, according to the annual climate change statement due out on Wednesday. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will tell parliament the nation is on track to beat its legislated emissions budget by 152 million tonnes over the 10 years to 2030, which is equivalent to Australia’s entire electricity sector emissions in 2024. Australia’s latest figures include the impact of a new vehicle efficiency standard for cheaper-to-run cars, progress towards the 82 per cent renewable energy target, and a revamped safeguard mechanism to control industrial emissions. “We know action on climate change is not only a moral imperative but critical for Australian industries to remain competitive, create jobs in the regions and export clean energy to the world,” Bowen said. The 2024 projections provide the latest estimates of future emissions, calculated using the Paris Agreement’s agreed rules on climate accounting. Bowen insisted that Australia’s 43 per cent target was “ambitious but achievable” but the coalition has slammed the 2030 target and plans to dump it if elected in 2025. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has flagged more gas generation and extensions for coal-fired power plants to keep the lights on, as well as longer-term plans to add nuclear power to the energy mix for a lower carbon electricity grid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will recommend a proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah to his cabinet for approval, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. In a television address, Netanyahu said he would put the ceasefire accord to his full cabinet later in the evening. Israeli TV reported that the more restricted security cabinet had earlier approved the deal. “We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to any violation. Together, we will continue until victory,” he said. “In full co-ordination with the United States, we retain complete military freedom of action. Should Hezbollah violate the agreement or attempt to rearm, we will strike decisively.” Meanwhile, Israel is carrying out its most intense wave of strikes on Lebanon’s capital Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the war with Hezbollah, apparently signalling it aims to pummel the country in the hours before any ceasefire takes hold. Good morning and welcome to the national news blog. My name is Josefine Ganko, and I’ll be leading our live coverage until the early afternoon. It’s Wednesday, November 27. Here’s what’s making news this morning.
Have you ever heard the expression, “Music calms the savage beast”? The saying means music can be so powerful, it can soothe anyone – no matter how upset, distressed or worked up they may be. In today’s tale, we’ll meet a musician whose sounds don’t just ‘calm the savage beast.’ They make it dance! Our tale is called “Dancing to a Different Tune.” It’s inspired by tales from the South American country of Brazil... though you’ll find versions in many other places, including Denmark, Egypt, England, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia and the Ozark Mountains of the United States. Voices in this episode include Ryan Dalusung, Todd Scofield and Hilary Hahn. Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn has made a career of connecting with fans and musicians of all ages – from her recordings of the first three Suzuki violin books to her “Bring Your Own Baby” concerts and “ 100 Days of Practice ” project on social media. Not only does Hilary play the main character in our story; she also did us the honor of playing the violin! This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir, with help from our composer and sound designer Eric Shimelonis. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram , and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE. Now it’s your turn! Luciana was passionate about making music. What’s something you’re passionate about? Perhaps you enjoy being in nature, or practicing gymnastics. Maybe you love doing art or gathering with family during the holidays. Find some paper and draw a picture of you and your passion. When you’re finished, share it with someone you have fun with. And if you’d like, share it with us! Ask a grown-up to snap a photo of you and your drawing and email it to circleround@wbur.org . With your permission, we may feature it in “The Lion’s Roar,” the monthly newsletter of the Circle Round Club. Learn more about this super-fun opportunity for super-fans like you here . Musical Spotlight: Violin Since its invention in Italy in the 16th century, the violin has been a significant player in many styles of music. The violin is the smallest member of the string family (or “chordophones”), which also includes the viola, cello and bass. All members of the string family are played either by drawing a bow over the strings, or by plucking the strings with your fingers, in a technique called pizzicato. The violin’s body is usually made from different types of wood. The strings are most often made from nylon, steel or gut (a type of cord prepared from the natural fiber found in animal intestines!). An individual who builds or repairs violins is called a luthier (from the French word for “lute”). A person who makes or repairs bows is called an archetier (from the French word for “bow”). Story Transcript: NARRATOR: Luciana lived with her father Lucio out in the countryside, where they ran a cozy little farm with a modest piece of land for growing crops, a tiny orchard for picking fruit, and a small flock of sheep for making milk and cheese. Of all Luciana’s chores, her favorite was herding the sheep. LUCIANA: Come along, Tulip and Petunia! You too, Magnolia and Bluebell! There are some yummy dandelions just over this hill. You fluff balls are going to love them! NARRATOR: But her true passion wasn’t growing crops or picking fruit or even herding her beloved “fluff balls.” Her true passion... was music. Ever since she was little, Luciana longed to play... the violin. It thrilled her to think about gliding her elegant bow back and forth as her fingers danced across the strings. But every time she asked Lucio if she could have a violin of her own...? LUCIO: (warmly) I’m sorry, my dear. But even though we’ve been scrimping and saving, we could never afford a violin. Never. NARRATOR: The years went by, and Lucio grew old and frail. One day, as he was resting his creaky bones in bed, he called his daughter to his side. LUCIO: (older, weaker, but still spirited) Luciana. You are the apple of my eye. The light of my life. But I believe I’m drawing closer to the end of that life. LUCIANA: Come now, Father. Your body has slowed down a bit. But your mind is as quick as ever! LUCIO: That’s sweet of you to say, my dear. But you and I both know I won’t be around forever. And when I go, there isn’t much I can leave you in the way of worldly riches. Other than this farm, of course. LUCIANA: And I adore this place! I grew up here! I don’t need anything else. LUCIO: But you DO need something else, Luciana. And that is why, once I’m gone, I want you to sell whatever you need – the land, the orchard, even the sheep – and buy yourself a violin . NARRATOR: Luciana’s heart did a somersault in her chest. LUCIANA: Are you serious? You want me to buy a violin? LUCIO: (warmly) Having a violin has always been your dream, has it not? And to be honest, buying one for you has always been MY dream. NARRATOR: Luciana wiped away a tear. Then she reached down and wrapped Lucio in a hug. LUCIANA: Oh, Father. Thank you so much! I love you. LUCIO: And I love YOU, my child. Forever. NARRATOR: Not long after that, Lucio was gone. Luciana had never felt so heartbroken or alone. But she did as her dearly-departed father instructed. She sold the land and orchard – though she held onto the sheep. LUCIANA: Tulip and Petunia? Leave some clover for Magnolia and Bluebell! You fluff balls are hogging the whole patch! NARRATOR: Luciana made just enough money from the sale to set aside a handful of coins for savings... and spend the rest on a violin. Her first notes on her new instrument were shaky and uncertain. But Luciana practiced... ...and practiced... ...and with each passing day, week, month and year, she felt more and more in command. The music that sailed forth from Luciana’s violin was rich and beautiful. But there was a melancholy to it: a sense of sorrow and loss. You see, when Luciana’s father was alive, she had shared everything with him: her thoughts, her hopes, her dreams. Now that Lucio was no longer around, she had no one to turn to... save for her violin. So she poured her heart and soul into her playing, day after day after day. But while Luciana’s musical prowess was growing... her savings were dwindling. LUCIANA : Ugh. I need to find some work and bring in some cash. In my wildest dreams I would become a professional musician , and earn money doing something I love! But let’s face it. There aren’t exactly a ton of opportunities for a violinist out here in the country. NARRATOR: Luciana frowned, picked up her violin, and went outside. Perhaps practicing in the warm summer air would help soothe her worries. But soon after she settled on the porch and began to play... LUCIANA: Tulip? What are you doing here? Did you come to hear my music? Petunia! You’re here, too? And Magnolia? And Bluebell? I had no idea you fluff balls were music fans! If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were dancing ! NARRATOR: Indeed, as note after sweet note filled the air, the sheep were bobbing their heads and swaying back and forth. LUCIANA: Well... if you fluff balls really want to cut a rug... this melancholy music will never do. (beat) I think it’s finally time to try something different. NARRATOR : Luciana paused for a moment, then began playing again. And for the first time ever, the music coming from Luciana's violin wasn’t aching with grief. It was bursting with gaiety! Brimming with so much life and energy that the notes seemed to skip, jump and leap through the air. And get this: the notes weren’t the only things skipping, jumping and leaping. The sheep were, too! Tulip, Petunia, Magnolia and Bluebell were all bouncing from hoof to hoof and shimmying their rumps as they danced in time to the music. Little did Luciana know, but her audience was about to get a whole lot bigger... and WILDER! What do you think will happen as Luciana keeps playing? We’ll find out what it is, after a quick break. [BREAK] NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Dancing to a Different Tune.” Before the break, Luciana was grieving the loss of her father, Lucio. As she played sad, melancholy music on her violin, her sheep came over and began to sway back and forth. Luciana was so delighted by the sight that she began playing more gayly... and the sheep followed suit! They started prancing and dancing all over the lawn. And as the music continued, who should come scurrying over to join the flock... but a horde of mice! ...followed by a family of frogs... ...then a flock of birds... ...then a pack of wolves... ...then a tangle of snakes... Soon, animals from all corners of the countryside were running, crawling, jumping, winging and slithering Luciana’s way... then boogieing to the music! Luciana rose to her feet and began marching around the cavorting, capering critters. The animals formed themselves into a long line... following right behind her! Advertisement LUCIANA: Oh! So we’re going to have a little parade, are we? Or a big one, more like. (beat) Either way, follow me! NARRATOR: With her elegant bow gliding back and forth and her fingers dancing across the strings, Luciana led the animals away from the farm and across the countryside. They jigged through meadows carpeted with flowers and forests thick with trees... they jived past rivers teeming with fish and mountains capped with snow. Next thing Luciana knew, they were parading past the royal palace, with its gleaming stone towers and walls. And standing atop one of those walls... was the king! He was surrounded by his royal guards. And much to Luciana’s surprise, he was tossing back his crowned head... KING: (laughter) NARRATOR: ...and laughing ! KING: (laughter) Welcome to the palace, my friends! (laughs) You must be the most entertaining visitors we have ever received! NARRATOR: Luciana was so stunned she stopped playing... ...and the animals went still. KING: Oh no! Please don’t stop the music! OR the dancing! Something tells me you are JUST what my daughter needs! NARRATOR: Luciana had no idea what the king was talking about. She gave a little curtsy, then flashed him a nervous smile. LUCIANA: Your Majesty! I appreciate your interest in our merry band! I truly do! (beat) But with all due respect... how could the animals and I possibly be of service... to a princess? NARRATOR: The king’s face grew grim. KING: (sigh) Haven’t you heard? It’s been years since the princess LAUGHED! Ever since her mother died, my daughter has been melancholy, full of sorrow. NARRATOR: Luciana felt a twinge in her heart. She too knew that feeling – all too well. KING: I have offered a generous reward to anyone who can make the princess laugh again. Countless people have shown her their funniest tricks, told her their most hilarious jokes. She won’t even crack a smile. But something tells me you will fare better. (beat) Well – you and your dancing menagerie! Never before have I seen or heard such JOY!!!!! NARRATOR: The king turned to one of his guards and whispered in his ear. The guard bustled into the palace. When he reappeared, he had the princess in tow. Her eyes were cast downward and her shoulders were slumped. The king laid a gentle hand on her arm. KING: My dear daughter. I have a surprise for you. I think you’ll like it. NARRATOR: The king gestured toward Luciana. The violinist smiled, took a breath, then lifted her bow to the strings... and began to play. At the sound of such joyful and sprightly strains, the princess lifted her gaze. At the sight of hundreds of animals frisking and frolicking to the beat, she straightened her shoulders. With each new note and phrase, her eyes grew brighter... her lips curled into an arc... and for the first time in years, not only did the princess smile ... PRINCESS: (laughter) NARRATOR: ...but she laughed! PRINCESS: (laughter) NARRATOR: She laughed and laughed and laughed. And when the music finally came to an end... ...she threw herself into her father’s arms. The king beamed, and turned to Luciana with admiring eyes. KING: You’ve done it! You’ve made my daughter laugh! Tell me, oh talented one, what reward do you wish to have? What is something your heart truly desires? NARRATOR: Luciana blushed. LUCIANA: Honestly, Your Majesty? The one thing my heart desires... is music! I long to make music my livelihood: earning my daily bread by playing and performing and sharing my music with the world! KING: Is that so...? NARRATOR: The king tapped a bejeweled finger to his chin. KING: In that case... my daughter and I shall become your patrons! LUCIANA: “Patrons,” Your Majesty? KING: Yes! We shall provide the money you need to devote yourself to your music. We’ll make sure you’re able to practice and keep your violin in top shape. And naturally, we'll want you to perform all across the kingdom! To share this joy. What do you think? NARRATOR: Luciana’s heart felt like one of her dancing animals: it was jumping and leaping and bouncing inside her chest. She gratefully accepted the king’s offer. And from that day forward, she played her violin for audiences far and wide. But Luciana didn’t just provide them with music. She provided them with inspiration! Inspiration to dance, inspiration to dream, and inspiration to follow their hearts and maybe, just maybe, make music of their own.Fluence Energy, Inc. Announces Closing of Offering of $400.0 Million of Convertible Senior Notes due 2030
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