WA’s Liberal party leader has thrown down the gauntlet to challengers after polling predicted the “immediate appointment” of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas as leader would allow the flailing party to gain back five seats at the election. Libby Mettam has labelled the polling, commissioned by a mystery Perth business person with links to the party, as ‘flawed and clearly biased’, and has challenged anyone who wishes to be leader to move a no confidence motion against her during a party meeting on Tuesday. Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Credit: WAtoday “Constant undermining of leaders, especially from the shadows within, is a sad reality in politics today,” she said. “But rather than weaken me it has made me stronger and more determined to succeed - not for myself - but for the people of Western Australia who deserve better. “I’m not a quitter, I’m a fighter.” The polling, seen by this masthead, suggested another catastrophic election for the Liberals come election day in March. The party currently holds just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the polling predicting it’s gone backwards since the 2021 election, losing ground in 14 key metropolitan seats. Under Mettam, the party is predicted to suffer a 4 per cent drop in the Liberal primary vote to 31 per cent. On the flip-side, the polling suggests a 3 per cent swing towards the Liberal party under Zempilas’ leadership, and a 38 per cent primary vote.Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:35 p.m. EST

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.None

From wealth and success to murder suspect, the life of Luigi Mangione took a hard turn

Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation's top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. But Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sharply refuted that perception after Mangione's arrest on Monday when a customer at a McDonald's restaurant in Pennsylvania spotted Mangione eating and noticed he resembled the shooting suspect in security-camera photos released by New York police. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather, Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. The Mangione family also purchased Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore in 1986. On Monday, Baltimore County police officers blocked off an entrance to the property, which public records link to Luigi Mangione’s parents. Reporters and photographers gathered outside the entrance. The father of 10 children, Nick Mangione prepared his five sons — including Luigi Mangione’s father, Louis Mangione — to help manage the family business, according to a 2003 Washington Post report. Nick Mangione had 37 grandchildren, including Luigi, according to the grandfather's obituary. Luigi Mangione’s grandparents donated to charities through the Mangione Family Foundation, according to a statement from Loyola University commemorating Nick Mangione’s wife’s death in 2023. They donated to various causes, including Catholic organizations, colleges and the arts. One of Luigi Mangione’s cousins is Republican Maryland state legislator Nino Mangione, a spokesman for the lawmaker’s office confirmed. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media by Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” Mangione, who was valedictorian of his elite Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press. He learned to code in high school and helped start a club at Penn for people interested in gaming and game design, according to a 2018 story in Penn Today, a campus publication. His social media posts suggest he belonged to the fraternity Phi Kappa Psi. They also show him taking part in a 2019 program at Stanford University, and in photos with family and friends at the Jersey Shore and in Hawaii, San Diego, Puerto Rico, and other destinations. The Gilman School, from which Mangione graduated in 2016, is one of Baltimore’s elite prep schools. The children of some of the city’s wealthiest and most prominent residents, including Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr., have attended the school. Its alumni include sportswriter Frank Deford and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. In his valedictory speech, Luigi Mangione described his classmates’ “incredible courage to explore the unknown and try new things.” Mangione took a software programming internship after high school at Maryland-based video game studio Firaxis, where he fixed bugs on the hit strategy game Civilization 6, according to a LinkedIn profile. Firaxis' parent company, Take-Two Interactive, said it would not comment on former employees. He more recently worked at the car-buying website TrueCar, but has not worked there since 2023, the head of the Santa Monica, California-based company confirmed to the AP. From January to June 2022, Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, including surfing, Ryan said. “He went surfing with R.J. once but it didn’t work out because of his back,” Ryan said, but noted that Mangione and Martin often went together to a rock-climbing gym. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. An image posted to a social media account linked to Mangione showed what appeared to be an X-ray of a metal rod and multiple screws inserted into someone's lower spine. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. An X account linked to Mangione includes recent posts about the negative impact of smartphones on children; healthy eating and exercise habits; psychological theories; and a quote from Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti about the dangers of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Mangione likely was motivated by his anger at what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by AP. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s handwritten notes and social media posts. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu; Maryclaire Dale in Philadelphia; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; and Michael Kunzelman in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!All polling stations managed to open despite fierce weather in the sub-Arctic nation that left roads in many areas blocked by snow. Ballot counting began after polls closed at 10pm local time, with results expected early Sunday. This is Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggested the country could be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Mr Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. “My expectation is like, something new (is) going to happen, hopefully,” said Horour Guojonsson, voting in the capital, Reykjavik. “We always have had these old parties taking care of things. I hope we see the light now to come in with a younger people, new ideas.” Iceland, a nation of about 400,000 people, is proud of its democratic traditions, describing itself as arguably the world’s oldest parliamentary democracy. The island’s parliament, the Althingi, was founded in 930 by the Norsemen who settled the country.

Illinois inexplicably ends up behind two Big Ten teams Fighting Illini beat in ESPN FPI | Sporting News

Understanding Enterprise AI Readiness: It’s All About DataApplicants for a new Manitoba Health card who expect to receive a modern plastic version featuring the northern lights will be disappointed. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Applicants for a new Manitoba Health card who expect to receive a modern plastic version featuring the northern lights will be disappointed. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Applicants for a new Manitoba Health card who expect to receive a modern plastic version featuring the northern lights will be disappointed. The decades-old paper health card will continue to be issued until the provincial government can roll out the long-promised plastic card. A spokesperson for cabinet communications couldn’t explain the reason for the delay. Premier Wab Kinew promised in his state of the province address on Dec. 3 that Manitobans would be able to “order” the new plastic card this month. He said at the time that it would replace the printed paper version that hasn’t changed in close to 50 years. The new Manitoba Health card will feature an image of the northern lights. (Free Press files) “We’re moving Manitoba strongly, decisively into the 1980s,” he quipped at the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce event. The government’s throne speech on Nov. 19 also stated that “This December, you can apply for a new, plastic health card illuminated by the winning design, (the) northern lights.” In a year-end interview with The Canadian Press, the premier said the rollout has been delayed until mid-January, in part because the Canada Post strike prevented a “pile” of new paper health cards from being sent out. Neither the premier nor government communications staff could say how many paper health cards were held up or explain how the strike had slowed the rollout of the plastic cards. The Canada Post disruption that began Nov. 15 and ended Dec. 17 doesn’t explain the reason for the delay, said Progressive Conservative health critic Kathleen Cook. “A postal strike doesn’t prevent the government from taking applications online or printing plastic health cards to send out once the strike ends,” Cook said in an email. “This delay is yet another broken promise from the NDP on health care,” the member for Roblin said. “Details related to the production of the province’s new plastic health cards are still being finalized,” a government spokesman wrote in an email Tuesday, without elaborating. Once those details and a new online application for the plastic card is in place, Manitobans can apply for it. They won’t be sent automatically to people covered by Manitoba Health. “The new plastic card is optional, so until people apply, Manitoba Health assumes people still want their paper version,” the spokesman said. In addition, it won’t be first-come, first-served, a cabinet communications assistant said. “The new application system will prioritize those who do not currently have a health card to ensure that we get them the coverage they need first,” she said. Requiring Manitobans to apply for the plastic replacement card will help to ensure that the province has the correct, up-to-date name, date of birth and address information, “and especially so they get delivered to the right address,” she said. The government, which has promised to fix health care and is 14 months into its mandate, could’ve scored points by offering Manitobans modern, durable and attractive health cards to replace the worn-out paper ones, said one expert, who added it would have been viewed as a quick fix and emblematic of progress. “It’s a bit of a joke that our cards look the way they do,” University of Winnipeg political science Prof. Malcolm Bird said about the outdated paper health cards. “I think they thought, ‘Oh, this will be an easy win.’ Like many things, it’s more complicated than one would imagine,” he said. The province has said a digital version will be available for Manitobans to save on their smartphones. “What might look like to be a good public relations thing — bringing in new plastic health cards— is not moving as fast as it should be or could be, or ideally would,” said Bird. “That then cast doubt, and cast light on the very serious challenges this government’s facing trying to ‘fix health care’ because that’s complex,” he said. The underlying problem is Manitoba’s $1.3-billion deficit, said Bird. The government spokesman said the cost of switching to modern health cards is not available. “However, it is anticipated that the cost will be less than what was spent to produce the COVID-19 vaccination card ( $1.67 each ),” he said. Cook noted it’s just the latest in a string of delays on government promises. “They pledged more beds at the Grace Hospital by March this year and minor injury clinics at Grace and Misericordia this fall, but failed to meet both deadlines. Manitobans deserve a government that delivers on its commitments,” she said. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Bird said the latest snafu is telling. “They’ve had it very easy for the last while, and now things are going to get more difficult.” The Tories are gearing up to elect a new leader in April and “will have more oomph and more direction and more motivation to really challenge this government. Then it’ll become even harder to govern,” the academic said. “Their honeymoon period, as it were, was very long and I think it’s now coming to an end.” carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Carol Sanders is a reporter at the legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. . Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. For updates and information on Manitoba Health cards, visit the province’s . Carol Sanders is a reporter at the legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. . Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement

The Denver Gazette sports business insider is a reader’s guide to understanding the influence of money, politics and power behind their favorite leagues, teams and players: Sports business insider: The top 10 highest-paid Colorado professional athletes will combine to earn more than $260 million in 2024-25. Short version: The Denver Gazette gathered public salary cap data (via spotrac.com ) to determine the top 10 highest-paid professional athletes in Colorado. 1. Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets: $51.4 million cap hit (2024-25) 2. Jamal Murray, PG, Nuggets: $36 million cap hit (2024-25) 3. Michael Porter Jr., PF, Nuggets: $35.8 million cap hit (2024-25) 4. Kris Bryant, 1B, Rockies: $28 million payroll salary (2024) 5. Aaron Gordon, F, Nuggets: $22.8 million cap hit (2024-25) 6. Garett Bolles, LT, Broncos: $20 million cap hit (2024) 7. Kyle Freeland, LHP, Rockies: $15 million payroll salary (2024) 8. Charlie Blackmon, DH, Rockies: $14.5 million payroll salary (2024) 9. D.J. Jones, DT, Broncos: $12.9 million cap hit (2024) 10. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Avalanche: $12.6 million cap hit (2024-25) Folsom Field beer sales nearly double with CU football coach Deion Sanders | Sports Business Insider Long version: The Nuggets have four players ranked among the five best-paid athletes in Colorado. Jokic — a three-time league MVP — is tied with Sixers center Joel Embiid as the second-highest paid NBA player this season. The league’s flexible salary cap is currently at $140 million per team. The Rockies' payroll ranked No. 17 among MLB teams at $147.7 million and it didn’t lead to success. Colorado lost 100-plus games in back-to-back seasons. Bryant, the top-paid baseball player, appeared in only 117 games over that span due to injuries. There is no MLB salary cap. The Broncos overcame significant salary cap challenges (more on that later) with help from the strong play of quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie contract. Bolles is in the final year of his current deal with a front office decision looming on his future in Denver. Jones will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The NFL’s hard salary cap is currently at $255.5 million per team. The Avalanche boast the reigning Hart Trophy winner. MacKinnon is the NHL’s second-highest paid player this season. And yet, he barely cracks this list. That is because the league’s hard salary cap is just $88 million per team. However, on Tuesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters in Florida that it is expected to hit $92.4 million next season . Key context: The highest-paid Colorado professional athlete does not live in the state. The Broncos released ex-quarterback Russell Wilson in March and Denver incurred a $53-million cap hit this season ($85 million total over two years). Translation: the Broncos are paying Wilson more than any professional athlete in Colorado this season to quarterback the playoff-bound Steelers (10-3). The good news is that both teams appear better off from the Broncos-Wilson split with Nix leading the Broncos (8-5) to a likely playoff berth, too. How the Denver Broncos aim to lift Colorado small businesses | Sports Business Insider Looking ahead: Expect a handful of young stars to join this list in the near future. Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain signed a four-year, $96-million extension that begins in 2026. Outside linebacker Jonathan Cooper agreed to a four-year, $60-million deal that also starts next year. Offensive Quinn Meinerz also signed a four-year, $80-million contract. Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen has yet to reach a contract extension. He’s earning $9.25 million on his current deal that expires after this season with Rantanen anticipated to increase that number on his next deal. The Nuggets have long-term commitments from their core four players: Jokic, Murray, Porter and Gordon. The Rockies have Bryant under contract through the 2028 season.