Founder of failed crypto lending platform Celsius Network pleads guilty to fraud charges

For those of you who are weary of what you find in the news these days, I hearken back to a column I wrote 20 years ago that was not about politics, foreign wars or Western wildfires but about geese. A goose, to be precise. A dead one. The headline in the Charlotte Observer read, “Students jailed in goose killing.” Who could pass up the lure of that story? Not I. Five fraternity boys in Davidson, North Carolina, went to a local park, dropped some bread crumbs on the ground and lured a goose within striking distance of a five iron (or maybe it was a putter or a driver). The unsuspecting goose was knocked senseless and put in the trunk of the boys’ car. Meanwhile, the equally unsuspecting carload of goose-nappers failed to see that a passerby watched this exceedingly unfunny “Monte Python” skit unfold and took down their tag number. The story took a true “Law and Order” turn when the perps were arrested and the victim was found dead in the trunk. From what I later read (and heard) you would think this goose killing rivaled the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in murder and mayhem. First off, I wonder about a judge who would put a $20,000 bond on a college student for killing a goose. A nasty case of wanton, unjustifiable destruction it was. But $20,000! Good grief, was this really the goose that laid the golden eggs? A statement released by Davidson College said that the students’ actions were “both repugnant and senseless,” a position I and presumably any normal person would completely agree with. But I take issue with the idea that killing a goose should be perceived as any worse than some of the actions people take against other native wildlife. Understand, now, I am not condoning killing geese in public parks with golf clubs, even during hunting or golf season. But let's put the incident in perspective, shall we? One of the town commissioners went on record as saying that people were “stunned” by the incident. Again, we should not deride someone for feeling emotional about an animal getting bludgeoned to death or being angered by outright vandalism. But do you suppose that commissioner would be stunned to know that on that same night more than a dozen raccoons, possums, skunks and foxes were probably killed on highways that the commission had approved over the last decade? And what about the sanctioned loss of small wetlands that has resulted in the untimely deaths of millions of amphibians, reptiles and small mammals? And would Davidson College issue a statement about the “repugnant and senseless” killing of a harmless kingsnake or rat snake on campus? The point is that this goose should not get any more sympathy than other native wildlife that suffer horrible deaths every day and night in that region — and every other region of the country. Especially when some of their deaths are because of decisions made by some of the same people who are whooping and hollering about a single dead goose. People everywhere should consider the importance of protecting natural habitats and the wildlife inhabiting them. Killing the goose was a dumb thing to do. It was also cruel. But destroying wildlife in other ways is even crueler. One goose is trivial compared to the daily losses to our native wildlife populations from other causes; yet most people pay no attention to that slaughter. If court time and public taxes are to be spent on prosecuting the five goose killers, I hope that on the same docket will be the people in the area who have destroyed wetlands that amphibians depend on, built unnecessary highways and intentionally killed harmless snakes. I don’t mind if a goose becomes the symbol for a community’s stand against insensitive attitudes toward wildlife. I do mind if people are upset simply because it was a goose instead of something else.Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from consideration

Scanlan: Time for legislators to protect women

NoneSponsored by the US Department of State, The Asia Foundation (TAF) on Monday hosted an event to celebrate the culmination of a three-year flagship initiative aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs in the Northern and Southern Provinces. Themed ‘Improving the Economic Wellbeing of Vulnerable and Marginalised Women,’ the project focused on enhancing the economic wellbeing of 300 vulnerable and marginalised women during the series of economic, health, and political crises by strengthening the participation of women in the startup sector as micro and small business (MSB) owners. In partnership with the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC), Galle District Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GDCCI) and Jaffna Social Action Centre (JSAC), TAF worked with five districts – Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Galle – to boost female representation in business ownership by developing technical expertise, facilitating their adaptation to evolving market dynamics, offering financial assistance, and providing mentoring and networking opportunities. Through a series of extensive training workshops, personalised mentoring sessions, and a greater reach in the country as a result of participation in trade fairs, the program significantly leveraged their entrepreneurial capabilities. Key elements of the training included entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital marketing-equipping the beneficiaries with the vital skills to improve operational efficiency, gain market competitiveness, and ensure long-term sustainability. In addition to training, over 100 beneficiaries received grants to foster innovation and expansion, with a focus on digital competency development. Providing financial grants to women-owned MSBs helped address barriers to financial resources often faced by women, particularly those experiencing discrimination. Access to financial resources in the form of seed grants to and digital skills development grants was especially crucial post COVID-19, as it enabled product development, innovation, market entry and diversification, and income generation. This support, in addition to greater social capital due to mentorship and networking programs, also boosted the confidence and motivation of women entrepreneurs, empowering them to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. Reiterating the far-reaching benefits of the project and expressing hope for the future, TAF Sri Lanka Country Representative Dinesha desilva Wickramanayake said: “By building capacity, agency, and leadership among women MSB owners, the program not only supports individual business growth but also contributes to broader goals of gender equality and rural economic development in Sri Lanka. These efforts underscore the critical role of targeted support in not only bridging market access gaps and catalysing sustainable economic empowerment for women in underrepresented regions, but also enhancing the overall wellbeing of the economy as household incomes are raised with more women earning.” She also reinforced the integration of mental health awareness campaigns within the workshops, providing stress management tools and fostering resilience that will aid women in mentally overcoming any hurdles they face in the business sector, ensuring their retainment in the entrepreneurship field. She believes that this trailblazing step taken by TAF in Sri Lanka will have ripple effects across the community, building women ready to lead, inspire and succeed. TAF Asia Policy Lead and Senior Program Manager Rukshanie Vidyaratne remarked on the tumultuous yet inspiring journey of these female entrepreneurs. “Initially, many of these young women started small, supplying their products to other shops. Today, they have grown remarkably, opening their own stores and becoming employers to multiple staff members. This growth has notably increased job opportunities for women in these communities. In addition to expanding their businesses, many owners have taken charge of their branding efforts, creating unique logos, business cards, and professional packaging for their products. Furthermore, they have successfully connected with mainstream markets, securing better value and consistent demand for their offerings.” Highlighting the project achievements and milestones, Vidyaratne emphasised that this program was directed towards victims of war, widows, survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ communities, women with disabilities, and those affected by caste considerations. She believes that these women in particular must be targeted because their economic state and the deeply entrenched social and cultural norms within their households hinder their access to opportunities, making entrepreneurship a necessary pathway to their financial independence. Elaborating on its process, she said: “90 from each district were chosen. We received 110 women from Mullaitivu, but we had to shortlist only 34. Nevertheless, this demonstrates the significant progress the nation is making.” “Our strategies included bridging the language barriers between various communities, as it is essential to ensure that communication gaps do not prevent women from accessing knowledge and expressing their ideas. We would like to thank all our partners including University of Ruhuna, University of Vavuniya, and Lanka Angel Network for their unwavering commitment to translation techniques. Furthermore, our 30 seed grants to six beneficiaries from each district and 72 digital marketing grants underscore the necessity of financial assistance in empowerment, while the six-month advisory sessions conducted equipped them with the skills required. In addition to these groundbreakers learning from us, we have also learned several lessons from them, including flexibility, collaboration, adaptive programming and requirement assessments,” she opined. Keynote speaker Counsellor for Public Affairs Heidi Hattenbach expressed awe over this initiative, by highlighting its potential in challenging corruption by building businesses rooted in trust and transparency. She also stressed on the creation of gender equality at all levels in the economic sector as more women join the workforce due to the growth of female-oriented businesses that offer employment. “The Asia Foundation’s efforts despite the forex crisis, political instability, power cuts, and hyperinflation persevered to ensure financial inclusion regardless of age, gender, and economic status. By equipping women of all ethnicities and backgrounds with the know-how, you are carving a better future not only for them but the country as a whole, showing us possibility in the face of impossibility.” The panel discussion held soon after, moderated by Zahra Cader spotlighted how although women comprised 52% of the Sri Lankan population, only 32% are involved in the local labour force and even less in entrepreneurship. She acknowledged that while female literacy rates, and access and participation in healthcare were relatively stabilised, the country was lacking in female political and economic participation. In Sri Lanka, empowering women to actively contribute across sectors could add $ 20 billion to the country’s GDP. On a global scale, closing the gender earnings gap and increasing female participation in the workforce could generate an astounding $ 28 trillion in additional GDP. Speaking about the challenges encountering women who seek work opportunities, Achala Samaradiwakara noted that access to capital was a key obstacle to female startups. Globally, women are 20% less likely to get finance compared to men, and in Sri Lanka, only 10% of women have adequate access to adequate financing. She also emphasised that while female literacy rates are high in this country, financial literacy is severely lacking. Women must be increasingly enlightened to alternative sources of start-up capital and effective legal mechanisms must be put in place and monitored to prevent gender discrimination when seeking loans from financial institutions. Other challenges that were pointed out was the digital divide, with only 17% of rural women accessing smartphones and computers. World University Service of Canada Country Director Mumtaz Faleel expressed hope in the current administration’s efforts toward greater economic digitalisation, fostering female empowerment by enhanced access to online education, remote work opportunities and exposure to international entrepreneurship platforms. Faleel also noted that the availability of mentorship and peer networks to women were significantly less when compared to their male counterparts. To solve this imbalance, she recommended the need for matching the skills of these women to market conditions, and spreading technical expertise evenly in all regions’ ensuring knowledge is not just concentrated in Colombo. Tailored training on technologies, coupled with detailed curation processes identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing these budding female entrepreneurs can eventually mobilise them as a company Sri Lanka Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairperson Gayani De Alwis spoke about the gender biases and ingrained societal values hindering women. She expressed how society stereotypes men as the ‘breadwinners’ and women as ‘homemakers’ and ‘çhildbearers’ perpetuating misconceptions surrounding a woman’s capabilities, limiting her from engaging in work and further personal growth. In response to legal and political frameworks that can challenge such false perceptions, De Alwis suggested increased social marketing campaigns aimed at raising awareness, in addition to revisions in the local education system that teaches people to respect all regardless of gender, racial or any differences. Being educated on these pressing concerns from a young age is fundamental in establishing a new value system based on mutual respect and opportunity to all. The Asia Foundation is a non-profit international development organisation committed to elevating livelihoods and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, their work revolves around governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. They work in more than 20 countries through their 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington DC. Their funding comes from a wide array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. The organisation will soon commence phase 2 titled, ‘Becoming export ready’ which aims to facilitate greater dialogue with policymakers over these projects, while enabling market opportunities for these women on a global sphere.The new chief minister of Maharashtra will be sworn in on December 5, 2024, at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced. He added that the ceremony will begin at 5:00pm and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Home Minister Amit Shah, and several Union ministers. Mahayuti alliance's election victory and CM selection The announcement of the oath-taking ceremony comes after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance's historic win in the state assembly elections, where they won 230 out of 288 seats. The BJP was the largest party with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) with 41. However, despite the win, suspense still looms over who will be Maharashtra's next chief minister. Fadnavis and Shinde: Potential candidates for CM post Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is a frontrunner for the post. But talks are still on as Eknath Shinde , caretaker chief minister and Shiv Sena leader, visited his native village in Satara district, even as the decision was being made. A crucial meeting of the Mahayuti alliance was delayed due to Shinde's visit but is likely to be held on Sunday. Shinde expresses willingness to accept PM's decision In recent talks with BJP President JP Nadda and Shah, no final decision was made on the power-sharing arrangement in the alliance. Shinde has said he won't stand in the way of government formation and has even expressed willingness to accept Prime Minister Modi's decision on the CM's post. Shinde and his deputies, Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda to discuss the formation of the state's administration on Thursday.

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DOVER, Del. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) ("Chesapeake Utilities" or the "Company") today announced that it has established an at-the-market equity offering program (the "ATM Program") under which it may, from time to time, sell shares of its common stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $100,000,000 (the "Shares"). Chesapeake Utilities has entered into an equity distribution agreement with each of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, M&T Securities, Inc., Maxim Group LLC, PNC Capital Markets LLC, and Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC (collectively, the "Sales Agents"), as sales agents. Pursuant to the equity distribution agreement, sales of the Shares may be made in transactions deemed to be "at-the-market offerings," as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including by sales made directly on or through the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities intends to use the proceeds from the sales, if any, of the Shares for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, financing of capital expenditures, repayment of short-term debt, financing acquisitions, investing in subsidiaries, and general working capital purposes. The Shares will be offered under the Company's existing shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No.: 333-274284) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The offering is being made by means of a prospectus supplement to the prospectus contained in the registration statement. Before making an investment in the Shares, potential investors should read the prospectus and the prospectus supplement for more complete information about Chesapeake Utilities and the offering. Potential investors may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Alternatively, the Company or the Sales Agents will arrange, upon request, to send the prospectus. Please direct requests to: RBC Capital Markets, LLC by mail at 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098, attention: Equity Syndicate, by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com or by telephone at 877-822-4089. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements Matters included in this release may include forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements in the Company's 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2024 for further information on the risks and uncertainties related to the Company's forward-looking statements. About Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses. Contacts: Investors Beth W. Cooper Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Assistant Corporate Secretary 302.734.6022 Michael D. Galtman Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer 302.217.7036 Noah T. Russell Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer 302.387.9147 Media Alexander Nye Director, Strategic Communications 727.754.0136 ANye@chpk.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chesapeake-utilities-corporation-announces-100-million-at-the-market-equity-offering-program-302314606.html SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities CorporationGreen is poised to help scale Mechanized AI's revolutionary technology and drive operational excellence as the company enters a phase of rapid growth. ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mechanized AI , a pioneer in the enterprise AI and application modernization space, proudly announces the designation of Amy Green as its new Chief Operating Officer. With over 15 years of industry experience, Green brings a wealth of expertise in operations, professional services and technology product marketing to the trailblazing enterprise AI and application transformation startup. Her appointment underscores Mechanized AI's commitment to combining groundbreaking technology with top-tier leadership to maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace. Based in Dallas , Green joins the team with an extensive background in operational management and strategic execution at Deloitte Consulting, where she built and grew the Product Engineering group within their Application Modernization & Innovation practice with Charles Wright , CEO of Mechanized AI. Prior to this, Green served on Deloitte's Global Strategy & Innovation team, where she advised teams across the global network on bringing technology products to market and driving scalable growth. A former Executive Search Consultant with Russell Reynolds Associates, Green has advised Fortune 100 clients on complex leadership challenges and recruited top executives to lead transformation at public and private organizations. Previously, Green also served as Strategic Engagement Director at AIG within the Office of the Chief Technology Officer. Green obtained her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her MBA from UC San Diego's Rady School of Management. "Amy's deep expertise in managing world-class organizations will be critical to ensure we have the people, processes and technology in the right places to drive our operations forward," says Wright. "Her mastery of leading companies through transformation journeys and category creations will be invaluable as we roll out new products and strengthen our collaboration with strategic partners. Amy has already hit the ground running as COO and she will be a crucial asset in building a client-centric business as we position ourselves for sustainable growth." As COO, Green will oversee delivery and customer success, human resources, operations and marketing—key areas vital to Mechanized AI's ongoing success and ambitious growth objectives. She joins a veteran team of startup and consulting executives, including Aditya Muralidhar (Chief AI Officer), Matias Kreder (CTO), Ian Easton (CCO) and recently, Jenny Allen (CMO). "I'm honored to join Mechanized AI as COO and to collaborate with such a talented, passionate team in the rapidly evolving AI space," Green remarked. "Having had the privilege of working with Charles in the past, I'm confident in his ability to drive the company's vision and direction. Mechanized AI is uniquely positioned for growth and innovation, so I'm excited to help scale the organization and deliver impactful solutions that drive transformation for our clients." Launched in 2023, Mechanized AI has grown its team of experts by over 50 percent in 2024 and has locations throughout the U.S. and South America . Green's appointment comes at a pivotal moment as Mechanized AI expands its global operations and scales its enterprise AI and application modernization solutions across industries. About Mechanized AI: Mechanized AI was launched in 2023 to help companies unlock the power of enterprise AI and accelerate their application modernization journeys. Built and backed by a team with over four decades of combined AI/ML experience, the product suite enables end-to-end AI development and deployment and transforms traditional modernization workflows by automating complex, manual processes. The AI Factory platform is a turnkey solution to build Fortune 500-quality production AI for both enterprise and mid-market businesses. The mAI Modernize suite of products provides AI-powered code modernization for any tech stack, empowering clients to understand and modernize legacy code in hours versus months. For more information, set up a demo at Mechanized.ai , follow us on LinkedIn and X , and view open positions on our Careers page . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mechanized-ai-announces-expansion-of-executive-team-with-appointment-of-amy-green-as-coo-302330807.html SOURCE Mechanized AI

Chhatra League leaders hide for safety in Bangladesh. They’re organising to bring back HasinaWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”

Households urged to buy five essential items before Storm Bert arrivesRobert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump's pick to head the U.S. health department, is scheduled to travel to Romania next week. His visit coincides with a meeting with Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate who secured a surprising lead in Romania's presidential elections. The recent election results, which placed Georgescu in a favorable position for the Dec. 8 run-off, could potentially alter Romania's political landscape and its pro-Western orientation. However, the results face a recount ordered by Romania's top court, creating uncertainty ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for the same weekend. Kennedy's trip to Bucharest will also include the launch of his book on the coronavirus pandemic, featuring a preface by Georgescu. The Romanian television station, Realitatea, announced it is partnering the event, slated for Dec. 5, but Kennedy's team has yet to confirm the meeting's details. (With inputs from agencies.)Cheers and beers for Ruud van Nistelrooy as Leicester reign starts with win

Manchester United teammates Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo exchanged words after the final whistle of a 2-1 victory on Thursday. And manager Ruben Amorin has no problem with it. “For me, it’s a very, very good sign,” Amorin said after his team beat Viktoria Plzen to stay unbeaten in the Europa League. Hojlund scored two goals and hoped for a centering pass from Diallo to go for a hat trick in the final minutes. The Denmark striker didn't get the pass, though. Viktoria had been pushing forward looking for an equalizer, which created space for United counters. On another break shortly afterward, Hojlund opted to keep the ball. The pair then had a heated post-game exchange. “We need to feel something,” Amorin said. “If we need to fight each other, it's like a family. When you don't care, you don't do nothing. When you care — you fight with your brother, with your mother, your father.” ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Plzen,Czech Republic, The Associated Press

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ECOVIEWS: What should be the penalty for killing native wildlife?

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TOMS River, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns them. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information about the drones. On Wednesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said they are not U.S. military drones. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump ’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear or misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, say the military should shoot down the drones. Smith said a U.S. Coast Guard commanding officer briefed him on an incident over the weekend in which a dozen drones followed a motorized Coast Guard lifeboat “in close pursuit” near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone. Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you. Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all. You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you. Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. Coast Guard Lt. Luke Pinneo on Wednesday told The Associated Press “that multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park.” ___ Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Related From Our PartnerED: All Schools Need Cellphone PoliciesNone

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Green is poised to help scale Mechanized AI's revolutionary technology and drive operational excellence as the company enters a phase of rapid growth. ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mechanized AI , a pioneer in the enterprise AI and application modernization space, proudly announces the designation of Amy Green as its new Chief Operating Officer. With over 15 years of industry experience, Green brings a wealth of expertise in operations, professional services and technology product marketing to the trailblazing enterprise AI and application transformation startup. Her appointment underscores Mechanized AI's commitment to combining groundbreaking technology with top-tier leadership to maintain its competitive edge in the marketplace. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.