CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes of the final with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed their lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league’s biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .

Chaikin scores 20 as Lafayette takes down Mercyhurst 77-73

None

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.Robinson has 15 in Delaware State's 80-77 win against Loyola

Kendall Jenner's New Haircut Is Her Shortest Look Yet

The last special game of the year at Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., off Exit 1 of the I-190, will be held today, Saturday, Dec. 14. Refreshments at noon, play begins at 12:30 p.m. It’s a StaC (Sectional Tournament at the Clubs) game, awarding silver master points. For partnerships, call Pat Haynes 716-202-1155 or email phaynes508@roadrunner.com . • • • The Buffalo Bridge Center offers a regular schedule of in-person and online games five days a week, with special games on the weekends, unusually one each month. Fee for face-to-face games is $8 for members and $11 for non-members until the end of the year. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website or call 716-424-0014. The Bridge Center reminds members that dues for 2025 are $80 and can be paid starting Dec. 1, cash or check. Fee for games next year will be $8 for members and $12 for non-members. In other notices, the club once again will offer a game on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. Refreshments at 11:15 a.m., game at 11:45. Pre-registration required. Sign up at the club or with Andrei Reinhorn at 716-390-8857, email reinhorna@gmail.com . In case of heavy snow, the club abides by what the Buffalo Public Schools do. If they close, the club will be closed. Lessons for beginners are being held at the Buffalo Bridge Center from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays. For more information, call Ruth Nawotniak at 716-949-7574 or email ruth2250@outlook.com . Don’t want to clean up the house for kitchen bridge? The Bridge Center also hosts a social game in its lessons room on Tuesday mornings during the regular 10:30 a.m. game. Players can go at their own speed and style. Fee is $5 to cover expenses. In-person games: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. For players with fewer than 1,600 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Upgraded to now include players with up to 2,000 points. Simultaneous game for players with fewer than 99 points if there are enough tables. Free lesson at 10. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Open to all players by pre-registration only. Call 716-424-0014. Virtual games on Bridge Base Online: Mondays, 7 p.m. For players with fewer than 750 points. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Delaware Wednesday game for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For info on this game, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com . • • • More access to virtual games on Bridge Base Online is being offered by the Airport Bridge Club, which currently is not holding face-to-face games. It has affiliated with a new group of clubs, the SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, where most games are $5. For more info, click this link . The Airport Club also continues to be part of the Alliance Bridge Club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943. • • • The East Aurora Bridge Club begins play at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net . • • • The Bridge Centre of Niagara (BCON) in St. Catharines, Ont., offers a mix of online games and in-person games at its club in Tremont Square opposite the Pen Centre shopping plaza off Glendale Avenue. Face-to-face games open to all players are offered at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. There is also a face-to-face game for 499ers (players with fewer than 500 points) at 1 p.m. Monday and Friday, a beginner game with a mini-lesson at 6 p.m. Monday, mentoring at 1 p.m. Tuesdays (register by 9 p.m. Sunday), a 299er game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (pre-registration requested); and a 999er game at 1 p.m. Thursday. The club currently hosts two virtual games on Bridge Base Online. There’s one for players with fewer than 750 points at 10 a.m. Tuesdays, and an open game at 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more info, click here . BCON also has begun an affiliation with SE Club of Clubs Online Bridge Collective, which appears as SE Carolina on Bridge Base Online. Games run throughout the day. A full lineup of games can be seen at SE Carolina On-line Bridge . • • • Face-to-face play in non-sanctioned clubs is offered at the Tonawanda Senior Center on Wednesday afternoons and at the Amherst Senior Center on Monday and Friday afternoons. • • • Tournament calendar 2024 District 5 STAC (Sectional Tournament at the Clubs) – Participating ACBL-sanctioned clubs. Today, Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15. 2025 Toronto Non-Life Master Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Friday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Toronto New Year's Sectional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Friday, Jan. 3, to Sunday, Jan. 5. For more info, click this link . Cleveland Rock & Roll Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Wednesday, Jan. 8, to Sunday, Jan. 12. For more info, click this link . Niagara Sectional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 7, to Sunday, Feb. 9. Buffalo Spring Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, March 28, to Sunday, March 30. Toronto Easter Regional – Sheraton Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, April 15, to Sunday, April 20. For more info, click this link . Finger Lakes Regional – Louis Wolk Jewish Community Center, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester. Tuesday, June 9, to Sunday, June 14. Cleveland All-American Regional – Embassy Suites Hotel, 5800 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Tuesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 29. For more info, click this link . South Western Ontario Regional – St. George Banquet Hall, 665 King St. North, Waterloo, Ont. Tuesday, July 1, to Sunday, July 6. For more info, click this link . Buffalo Summer Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, July 11, to Sunday, July 13. Niagara 499er Sectional – Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Center, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Friday, Aug. 15, to Sunday, Aug. 17. Pittsburgh Labor Day Regional – Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center, 3579 Masonic Way, Pittsburgh, Pa. Wednesday, Aug. 27, to Monday, Sept. 1. Great Lakes Sectional – Erie Bridge Club, 1221 Grant Ave., Erie, Pa. Saturday, Sept. 6, and Sunday, Sept. 7. Buffalo Fall Sectional – Buffalo Bridge Center, 60 Dingens St., Buffalo. Friday, Sept. 12, to Sunday, Sept 14. Buffalo Regional – Millennium Hotel, 2040 Walden Ave., Cheektowaga. Tuesday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Oct. 26. Niagara Regional – Holiday Inn & Suites, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Tuesday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 16. • • • Bridge club websites: Click names for links. Bridge Center of Buffalo . Western New York Unit 116 . The Airport Bridge Club, which continues to be on hiatus, does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943. • • • Duplicate scores from ACBL Live for Clubs Week of Dec. 2 to Dec. 8 ACBL Affiliated Clubs Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening – 0-750 game online. Anne Slater and Cynthia Tashjian, 56.94%; (tie) Joyce Frayer and Karen Dearing, Jim and Michael Hassett, 52.78%; Carol Licata and Larry Himelein, 50%. Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning – 0-1,600 game. North-south, Joyce Greenspan and Audrey Ray 64.93%; Ruth Nawotniak and Paul Zittel, 59.72%; Pat Haynes and Judy Zeckhauser, 55.56%; Joanne Nover and David Schott, 50.69%; east-west, Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 65.63%; Carol Licata and Ilene Rothman, 61.81%; Mary Ball and Pat Wolcott, 52.78%; Bonnie Clement and Larry Himelein, 51.74%; Sharon Wilcox and Anthony Girasole, 51.04%. Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning – 0-2,000 game. Closed due to snow. Buffalo Bridge Center Friday morning – Open game. Sandi England and Larry Abbate, 60.42%; Donna Steffan and Kamil Bishara, 55.21%; (tie) Judy Gray and Mike Ryan, John Ziemer and Vic Bergsten, 51.04%. Buffalo Bridge Center Saturday afternoon – Unit 116 annual meeting. Open game. North-south, Judie Bailey and Nancy Wolstoncroft, 57.65%; Judy Graf and Mike Ryan, 56%; Betty Metz and Paul Zittel, 54.58%; Sharon Benz and Elaine Kurasiewicz, 54.58%; Florence Boyd and Dale Anderson, 53.65%; Terry Fraas and Cathy Majewski, 53.36%; east-west, Jay Levy and Fred Yellen, 63.66%; Ruth Wurster and Sharon Wilcox, 56.38%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 52.70%; Larry Abate and Rajat Basu, 49.82%; Nancy Kessler and Paula Kotowski, 49.04%. Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning – Open game. Linda and Paul Zittel, 57.50%; (tie) Joan and Bob Ciszak, Ruth Wurster and Alex Ivanov, 55%. Delaware Wednesday evening – 0-2,000 game online. Walt Olszewski and Jim Lanzo, 65%; Beena Deshmukh and Bill Rich, 58.69%; Sue Manning and Sam Khyatt, 56.11%; Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 53.89%; Teresa McIntyre and Bruce Wachsman, 53.33%; Jim Hassett and Terry Camp, 52.22%. Other clubs Amherst Senior Center Monday afternoon – North-south, Jill and Bruce Brown, 59%; Joe Huber and Fritz Schweiger, 51%; east-west, Nancy Wolstoncroft and Pat Radtke, 62%; Shirley Cassety and Jeff Peters, 53%. Amherst Senior Center Friday afternoon – North-south, Nancy Wolstoncroft and Rolene Pozarny, 58%; Ed Drozen and Walt Olszewski, 57%; east-west, Midge Coates and Rob Buchanan, 62%; Rich Kayton and Ted Kotlarz, 58%. Tonawanda Senior Center Wednesday afternoon – Rose Bochiechio and Edna Fill, 64.5%; Judy White and Fritz Schweiger, 47.5%. • • • Unit 116 Master Point Leaders for Club Play Jan. 1, 2024, to Nov. 30, 2024 0-5 Points – John Brennan, 3.09; Cathy Hetzler, 2.02; Alice Cooley, 1.93; Elaine Rinfrette, 0.86. 5-20 Points – Dennis Daly, 12.56; Zakie Nohra, 9.09; Anthony Girasole, 6.38; Barbara Kaye, 3.43; Jeannine Dupuis, 3.38; Joan Nigrelli, 1.84; Chris-Elaine Santilli, 1.79; Bill Duax, 1.65; Devon Marlette, 0.40. 20-50 Points – Ilene Rothman, 14.70; Brian Fleming, 14.33; Molly Morris, 8.84; Pepe Justicia-Linde, 7.97; Donna Starnes, 6.51; Gini Sicignano, 5.48; Phyllis Stasiowski, 4.10; Helen Scott, 3.65; Peggy Mead, 3.06; Kathleen Voigt, 2.02. 50-100 Points – Susan Cardamone, 15.04; Maureen Cancilla, 13.63; Mike Meacham, 11.57; Howard Epstein, 3.86; John Houghtaling, 3.33; Jo Ann Smith, 3.25; Elaine Idzik, 3.12; Nancy Deneen, 1.94; Cherry Searle, 1.31; Anne Slater, 0.81; Darwin Skalski, 0.78. 100-200 Points – Carol Licata, 14.52; Betty DeFeo, 7.06; Joan Ciszak, 5.53; Susan Levy, 4.03; Janet Desmon, 1.96; Tom England, 1.54; Tiger Li, 0.78. 200-300 Points – David Whitt, 12.67; Ethan Xie, 5.53; Judith Babat, 4.03; Laura Houghtaling, 3.33; Laurie Foster, 3.32; (tie) Barbara Scott and John Scott, 1.87; Maria Amlani, 1.41; John Fiegl, 0.58; Jane Roberts, 0.56. 300-500 Points – David Schott, 52.90; Joanne Nover, 44.64; Pat Haynes, 44.14; Linda Milch, 26.72; Jim McClure, 24.46; Maryann Szafran, 18.58; Ruth Nawotniak, 17.65; Agi Maisel, 14.29; Judy Zeckhauser, 10.45; Margaret Zhou, 10.35. 500-1,000 Points – Larry Himelein, 59.42; Paul Zittel, 39.05; Andrei Reinhorn, 37.09; Linda Zittel, 37.06; Joe Miranda, 31.25; Joyce Frayer, 30.50; Mary Terrana, 24.33; Paula Rosen, 22.90 Gordon Crone, 22.13; Jo Nasoff-Finton, 20.36. 1,000-1,500 Points – Kamil Bishara, 47.79; Betty Metz, 44.99; Sue Neubecker, 36.14; Mary Ball, 34.97; Terry Fraas, 32.50; (tie) Marilyn Wortzman, Jim Easton, 30.65; Joanne LaFay, 25.99; Howard Foster, 17.74; Bob Kaprove, 11.55. 1,500-2,500 Points – Tova Reinhorn, 40.64; Pinky Regan, 39.39; Paula Kotowski, 34.18; Sandi England, 19.82; Joyce Greenspan, 19.08; David Colligan, 18.01; Walt Olszewski, 14.29; Barbara Pieterse, 7.24; Nancy Wolstoncroft, 7.07; Martin Pieterse, 6.87; Nancy Kessler, 5.37. 2,500-3,500 Points – Fred Yellen, 71.21; Linda Burroughsford, 33.13; Art Morth, 6.14; David Turner, 5.54; Dale Anderson, 5.50; Pat Rasmus, 1.89; Joanne Kelley, 1.71. 3,500-5,000 Points – John Ziemer, 60.43; Donna Steffan, 56.03; Judy Graf, 54.61; Davis Heussler, 49.78; Jim Gullo, 31.41; Mike Ryan, 26.24; Martha Welte, 23.77; Judy Padgug, 23.19; Chongmin Zhang, 4.20; Allen Beroza, 3.81. Over 5,000 Points – Bud Seidenberg, 69.12; Chris Urbanek, 60.10; Jay Levy, 48.57; Jay Costello, 45.26; Sharon Benz, 26.51; Dian Petrov, 17.65; Kathy Pollock, 5.02; Saleh Fetouh, 3.52. • • • The Duplicate Bridge column is compiled weekly by Buffalo News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. These days you can find it in two places online. Google “Duplicate Bridge” plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com , the Buffalo News website. Another place to find it is on Dale Anderson’s bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/ Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com . Office phone is 716-849-4420. • • • A Gold Life Master , Dale Anderson has a career total of more than 2,980 master points. He occasionally writes about his quest for the next measure of achievement, Sapphire Life Master (3,500 points), and other bridge adventures here . Email danderson@buffnews.com . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE: BXMT) declared a dividend of $0.47 per share of class A common stock with respect to the fourth quarter of 2024. This dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 31, 2024. About Blackstone Mortgage Trust Blackstone Mortgage Trust (NYSE: BXMT) is a real estate finance company that originates senior loans collateralized by commercial real estate in North America, Europe, and Australia. Our investment objective is to preserve and protect shareholder capital while producing attractive risk-adjusted returns primarily through dividends generated from current income from our loan portfolio. Our portfolio is composed primarily of loans secured by high-quality, institutional assets in major markets, sponsored by experienced, well-capitalized real estate investment owners and operators. These senior loans are capitalized by accessing a variety of financing options, depending on our view of the most prudent strategy available for each of our investments. We are externally managed by BXMT Advisors L.L.C., a subsidiary of Blackstone. About Blackstone Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. We seek to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which we invest. Our more than $1.1 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn , X (Twitter) , and Instagram . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which reflect BXMT’s current views with respect to, among other things, its operations and financial performance, its business plans and the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, including interest rate changes. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “outlook,” “objective,” “indicator,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. BXMT believes these factors include but are not limited to those described under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this release and in the filings. BXMT assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Blackstone +1 (888) 756-8443 BlackstoneShareholderRelations@Blackstone.comPublic Affairs Blackstone +1 (212) 583-5263 PressInquiries@Blackstone.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FINANCE BANKING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SOURCE: Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:15 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213685391/enMatildas ready to lock horns with old foes Brazil

Adam Kinzinger had the perfect response to Trump's strategy of attacks and liesTrump cabinet picks including Matt Gaetz targeted by bomb threats and swatting

Mother of man imprisoned in Egypt urges Foreign Secretary to do more

Advanced Energy Industries director sells $210,312 in stockBuxar: One Raghunath Chaudhary (65) died after he was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Maharaja Kothi on the Ara-Buxar four-lane road under New Bhojpur station of the district on Tuesday. Raghunath, son of late Nagina Chaudhary, was a native of Barka Rajpur village under Tilak Rai’s Hata police station of the district. He was a close relative of Brahmapur RJD MLA Shambhunath Yadav. Naya Bhojpur SHO Manish Kumar said the body was sent to Buxar for postmortem. He said no injury marks were found on the body of the deceased, nor was there any damage to his motorcycle. He added that the cause of death would be ascertained after arrival of the postmortem report. We also published the following articles recently 65-year-old man dies in road accident in Buxar A 65-year-old man, Raghunath Chaudhary, died mysteriously on Tuesday near Maharaja Kothi in Buxar, Bihar. He was found near his undamaged motorcycle on the Ara-Buxar road. Police reported no visible injuries on Chaudhary, a relative of RJD MLA Shambhunath Yadav. Authorities await the postmortem report to determine the cause of death, leaving a puzzling incident under investigation. Railway court to be established at Buxar station A railway court is soon to be established at Buxar station, bringing relief to passengers and railway officials. District Judge Harshit Singh has requested infrastructure details from railway authorities within a week. Currently, passengers caught without tickets face arduous journeys to Ara and Sasaram courts. Two die as tractor overturns in Buxar Tragedy struck in Buxar district, Bihar, on Thursday when a tractor overturned, claiming the lives of two men. The victims, Upendra Yadav (30) and Pintu Ram (25), both residents of Jawahi Deyar village, were traveling from Brahmpur when the accident occurred. Police have sent the bodies for postmortem and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Taylor Swift speaks on behalf of Travis Kelce to make promise to Caitlin Clark

After two tied runoff elections and two recounts, the Yellowstone County Democratic Central Committee on Monday evening selected three potential candidates to replace Emma Kerr-Carpenter in the Montana House. The longtime state representative from Billings was appointed last week to succeed Democrat Kathy Kelker in the Montana Senate. State Rep. Emma Kerr-Carpenter, D-Billings, speaks during a public forum at the MSU Billings College of Education on Dec. 15, 2022. Kelker, 81, resigned on Nov. 13 , leaving an opening for her position representing central Billings in the upper legislative chamber. The Yellowstone County Commission unanimously selected Kerr-Carpenter, 35, to serve the remainder of Kelker’s term, which ends on Jan. 4, 2027, from among three candidates nominated by the local Democrats. Billings Democrat Emma Kerr-Carpenter is sworn in by Judge Colette Davies on Dec. 3 to serve in the Montana Senate. Yellowstone County Commissioners Don Jones (left) John Ostlund (center) and Mark Morse (right) appointed Kerr-Carpenter, who represents District 46 in the Montana House, to replace state Sen. Kathy Kelker, who resigned on Nov. 13. Later this month, the commission is expected appoint a new representative to serve Kerr-Carpenter's two-year term in the House. Kerr-Carpenter, who has represented central Billings in the legislature since 2018, was re-elected on Nov. 5. Her appointment to the state Senate, leaves her position in House District 46 open just ahead of the Jan. 6 start of the legislative session. By state law, when a vacancy occurs, the central committee from the outgoing lawmaker’s political party nominates three potential successors. The county commissioners then select one of them to appoint. The local Democrats’ top picks to replace Kerr-Carpenter are Billings City Councilwoman Denise Joy , retired psychiatrist Dr. Mark Nicholson and artist and property manager Anne Ross . Joy, 60, a special needs assistant for Billings Public Schools, is currently serving her second four-year term on the council. When she was first elected to represent Midtown and the South Side in 2017, she was the only member of the Democratic Socialists of America to win public office in Montana. Billings City Councilwoman Denise Joy poses for a portrait at Moav Coffee House after becoming Montana's only elected member of the Democratic Socialists of America in November 2017. Danny Choriki , who previously served on the council with Joy, spoke on her behalf. He said she couldn’t miss the council meeting to be present when the party selected nominees on Monday evening because she’s the only member with a perfect attendance record. Choriki praises Joy’s work for Billings neighborhoods “That’s especially interesting because she was there the night after her father was murdered ,” Choriki said. “She’s been a tireless advocate for the working class and other minorities. ...And she has those years of experience of knowing what’s going on with the government and what the city needs from the state legislature.” Nicholson, 70, ran in the Nov. 5 election for a four-year term serving parts of Southwest and central Billings in Montana Senate District 24 . Although he lost by 608 votes, or 54% to 46% , to longtime local leader Republican Mike Yakawich, he said, he learned a lot by listening to voters during his campaign. Retired psychiatrist Dr. Mark Nicholson leaves a flyer at a home on Prickett Lane in Billings while campaigning for Montana Senate District 24 on Sept. 27. “We really need to continue our traditional Democratic work of making the system work for people,” Nicholson said. “But we also have to convince them that we’re doing that.” Nicholson shares what he heard on the campaign trail of 2024 If appointed, Nicholson said, he’d start helping working people by focusing on expanding Medicaid, reducing property taxes, improving education and curbing crime. Ross, 39, also competed for a legislative seat on the Nov. 5 ballot. Republican Curtis Schomer, however, won the two-year term to serve parts of Southwest Billings in House District 48 , by 641 votes, or 57% to 43% . Ross said her education studying art and psychology at MSU coupled with her experience working in mental health care for Youth Dynamics and being a parent made her want to start fighting for underdogs. Billings artist and property manager Anne Ross ran for a two-year term representing Southwest Billings in House District 48 in the Nov. 5 election. “I definitely saw how close we all are to homelessness, to instability in our finances and things like that. We’re all just one lost paycheck away from something that could spiral into something much deeper,” she said. “Realizing that gave me a lot more empathy for the people who are struggling to get by.” Ross talks about fighting for Montana’s underdogs Becky Riedl, chairwoman for the local Democrats, said she plans to submit the three nominees to the Yellowstone County Commission by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The commissioners will then have 15 days to appoint Kerr-Carpenter’s successor. Riedl said Kelker hasn't given a reason for her resignation. She did not respond to the Gazette's request for an interview. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.LOS ANGELES — Until he sustained a season-ending knee injury last week in the Western Conference final, Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig was having a tremendous season. So I heard. I watched Puig play only twice this year, once in the Galaxy's season-opening 1-1 draw with Inter Miami and a second time in his team's Fourth of July defeat to LAFC at the Rose Bowl. Outside of short highlight clips on social media, I never saw the former Barcelona prospect, not even when he assisted on the goal that sent the Galaxy to the MLS Cup final. That wasn't a reflection of my interest. Some of my friends will make fun of me for publicly admitting this, but I like Major League Soccer. I covered the league in my first job out of college and have casually kept up with it since. I take my children to a couple of games a year. My 11-year-old son owns Galaxy and LAFC hats but no Dodgers or Lakers merchandise. When flipping through channels in the past, if presented with the choice of, say, college football or MLS, I usually watched MLS. But not this year. While the MLS Cup final between the Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will be shown on Fox and Fox Deportes, the majority of games are now exclusively behind a paywall, courtesy of the league's broadcasting deal with Apple. MLS Season Pass subscriptions were reasonably priced — $79 for the entire season for Apple TV+ subscribers, $99 for non-subscribers — but I was already paying for DirecTV Stream, Netflix, Amazon Prime, PlayStation Plus and who knows what else. MLS became a casualty in my household, as well as in many others, and the possibility of being out of sight and out of mind should be a concern for a league that is looking to expand its audience. Which isn't to say the league made a mistake. This was a gamble MLS had to take. Now in the second year of a 10-year, $2.5 billion deal with Apple, MLS did what Major League Baseball is talking about doing, which is to centralize its broadcasting rights and sell them to a digital platform. Regional sports networks have been decimated by cord cutting, making traditional economic models unsustainable. The move to Apple not only increased the league's broadcast revenues — previous deals with ESPN, Fox and Univision were worth a combined $90 million annually, according to multiple reports — but also introduced a measure of uniformity in the league. The quality of the broadcasts are better than they were under regional sports networks. Viewers know where to watch games and when, as every one of them is on Season Pass and most of them are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. local time either on Wednesday or Saturday. "That's been fueling our growth and driving our fan engagement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Friday at his annual state of the league address. Apple and MLS declined to reveal the number of League Pass subscribers, but the league provided polling figures that indicated 94% of viewers offered positive or neutral reviews of League Pass. The average viewing time for a game is about 65 minutes for a 90-minute game, according to Garber. In other words, the League Pass is well-liked — by the people who have it. The challenge now is to increase that audience. The launch of League Pass last year coincided with the arrival of Lionel Messi, which presumably resulted in a wave of subscriptions. But the league can't count on the appearance of the next Messi; there is only one of him. MLS pointed to how its fans watch sports on streaming devices or recorded television than any other U.S. sports league, as well as how 71% of its fans are under the age of 45. The league also pointed to how it effectively drew more viewers to the Apple broadcast of Inter Miami's postseason opener with a livestream of a "Messi Cam' on TikTok, indicating further collaborations with wide-reaching entities could be in its future. Garber mentioned how Season Pass is available in other countries. The commissioner also made note of how Apple places games every week in front of its paywall. "What we have, really, is a communication problem," Garber said. "This is new, and we've got to work with Apple, we've got to work with our clubs and we've got to work with our partners to get more exposure to what we think is a great product." The greatest benefit to the league could be Apple's vested interest in improving the on-field product. MLS insiders said Apple has not only encouraged teams to sign more high-profile players but also pushed the league to switch to a fall-to-spring calendar more commonplace in other parts of the world, reasoning that doing so would simplify the process of buying and selling players. The on-field product is what matters. The on-field product is why MLS continues to face competition for viewers from overseas leagues. The on-field product is why the league hasn't succeeded in converting every soccer fan into a MLS fan. And ultimately, if casual viewers such as myself are to pay to watch the Galaxy or LAFC on a screen of some kind, the on-field product will be why. Get local news delivered to your inbox!