jili official When and where a vote takes place is a decision reserved for the municipal clerk, but the method is up to council, which settled on an online only election. The Municipal Elections Act sets out limits on what council can decide – only the method of the vote. It also outlines the many responsibilities of the clerk. Grey Highlands Clerk Amanda Fines-VanAlstine said that the help centre at the municipal office in Markdale will be open throughout the election period. Details on help centres in other locations will be released when those decisions are made. People who are confident with technology can just vote on their own devices after inputting a code that will be mailed out. DIFFERING OPINIONS The method had to be chosen now, so that the municipality could put out a tender for contracted services for the 2026 election. Originally, council considered a motion for telephone and internet voting. Coun. Tom Allwood shared that he heard criticisms of the phone voting, as did others, so that option was dropped. The vote to limit the vote to internet only with no polling stations and paper ballots was a narrow one – 4 to 3. Mayor Paul McQueen, Deputy Mayor Dane Nielsen and Coun. Dan Wickens were opposed. The Deputy Mayor said that while internet was a good option, he strongly supported that in-person voting be kept in a rural municipality such as Grey Highlands. “We need to have a voting booth on voting day – it’s a strong part of the democratic pride in our voting system,” he said. Mayor McQueen observed that many people like to vote on “Election Day”, even though there is a wider window for voting with alternate methods. And on the last day in the 2018 election, the only polling station open was at the municipal office. Mayor McQueen said he had heard from voters who turned out to spots where there had been prior help centres but there was nothing there. Clerk Fines VanAlstine said that communication would be a big part of the lead-up to the election. She said that, on election day itself, it’s easier if it’s one location. Computers to use for voting will be provided at other help centres and at the municipal office, as well as any assistance needed. The clerk commented that the electronic voting received many compliments when used at Grey Gables in 2022. Election Day is a Monday, when libraries are normally closed, Coun. Paul Allen noted. The clerk steered the conversation away from the topics of the operations side of the election, which for reason of impartiality is placed in the hands of the municipal clerk. MORE DISCUSSION Coun. Dan Wickens also argued in favour of the paper ballot. “I think there’s a large part of the population that are not comfortable even with telephone voting,” he said. “They don’t trust it – they want to see that piece of paper go in the box and they want to see a person count it”. With paper ballots tabulators are often used, and the clerk said those communicate online with voters’ lists, and there are very few suppliers. Mayor Paul McQueen said that both provincial and federal elections are in-person and that is what people are accustomed to, so keeping it consistent has advantages. While it has been argued that internet voting could increase participation levels in elections, that has not been the case. In 2018, there were server issues that caused long delays. An emergency was declared and the voting period extended. Another voting method that has been used in Grey Highlands in the past is a mail-in ballot. Both that method and computer voting are attempts to make it easier for property-owners who don’t live in the municipality to vote. The clerk said she had heard recently that there was one other municipality which had not chosen its voting method. All the others were using internet and telephone voting except Chatsworth, which is strictly the mail-in ballot, she said. During the discussion, Coun. Paul Allen asked if any member was opposed to computer voting, and no one spoke. So, it was really what if any alternatives would be provided that constituted the debate. The pricing for various options was provided in the staff report Internet voting is cost-effective, but councillors also raised participation levels and people’s trust in the process as other concerns. Coun. Joel Loughead said he finds the electronic voting at a help centre much like a paper ballot – “it’s about the act of being there and pressing the button”. Deputy Mayor Nielsen commented before the final vote, that going to a singular electronic voting method was a mistake. “I think this will turn off a segment of our population – I think the goal is to get as much buy-in and response as possible.” Coun. Wickens agreed. “I do think we will be alienating – maybe only a small portion of voters – but I think there are lots of people out there that do not trust the internet.” He said that using people to count ballots mean the vote would be independent of any possible interference or technical glitches. When facing the same decision for the election of 2022, members of the 2018 to 2022 council commented that with codes being issued by mail, they could go to the wrong households or be used by other individuals than those to whom they are addressed,. Other questions they raised were: -How many people thought they had voted, who actually hadn’t? -How many people gave up who would otherwise have voted? -How many were blocked by the system, because it had the wrong year of birth information or for some other reason? -If there were fraudulent votes cast – for example, by people voting in place of other household members, who would be able to prove it? What does acquiring assistance do to the principle of a secret ballot?

— Advancement of SOLiD O-RAN-compliant technology to empower more efficient, sustainable, multi-operator in-building 5G connectivity — DALLAS , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLiD , the leader in cellular in-building mobile coverage, is a recipient of a $27.68 Million grant from the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund (PWSCIF) . The award is intended to advance SOLiD's Open RAN technology development for neutral-host, in-building 5G network service. SOLiD's Open RAN radio unit (O-RU) technology enables simple and economical use of 4G and 5G spectrum for greater service agility, scalability, and efficiency. The Wireless Innovation Fund grant is awarded to develop multi-operator O-RU signal source technology integrated with distributed antenna system (DAS) infrastructure, enabling open access to in-building configurations. As part of this project, SOLiD will enhance the research and development of O-RAN-compliant products to support the latest RAN-sharing models, such as multi-operator radio access network ( MORAN ) architectures. The evolution of neutral host RAN sharing infrastructure will enable more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective design, deployment, and maintenance of in-building 5G networks. "This NTIA Wireless Innovation Fund award is a recognition of SOLiD's technological leadership in wireless infrastructure, and validates our approach to high-performance in-building connectivity through the precise integration of Open RAN and DAS technologies," said Scott Deweese , president of SOLiD Americas. "SOLiD is committed to commercializing outstanding O-RAN-compliant solutions to empower more affordable and sustainable multi-operator in-building coverage." About SOLiD SOLiD enables indoor and outdoor cellular at many of the world's best-known and most challenging venues — from the busiest airports and subways to Fortune 500 corporate buildings, hospitals, hotels, universities, sports venues, government, industrial, and logistics facilities. SOLiD continuously innovates to deliver best-in-class connectivity solutions that scale to every need. For more information, visit www.solid.com/us . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solid-awarded-ntia-grant-for-open-ran-development-project-302336606.html SOURCE SOLiD Americas © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NEW YORK — The Yankees beefed up their bullpen on Friday afternoon, agreeing to a trade that will bring Devin Williams to the Bronx. The Yankees are sending Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin to the Brewers in the trade for the closer. Milwaukee is also receiving cash considerations. While stress fractures in his back limited Williams to 22 games last season, the 30-year-old has been one of baseball’s best relievers since debuting with Milwaukee in 2019. Over that span, Williams ranks first in H/9 (4.9), second in ERA (1.83), fourth in K.9 (14.3) and sixth in HR/9 (0.6) among relievers with at least 200 innings pitched. A two-time All-Star and two-time National League Reliever of the Year, the right-handed Williams also saved 65 games over the last three seasons, including a career-high 36 in 2023. Armed with a unique change-up nicknamed “The Airbender,” he recorded sub-2.00 ERAs in each of those seasons. Williams, the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year, figures to be the Yankees’ new closer. While he worked as a set-up man earlier in his career, manager Aaron Boone was non-committal when asked if he considered Luke Weaver the Yankees’ closer in 2025 at the winter meetings. Weaver did admirable work in the role late in the 2024 season and playoffs after Clay Holmes lost the gig. “Depends where we go this offseason,” Boone said of Weaver, who worked as a versatile reliever for most of 2024 after being converted from a starter. “I think he was as dominant a reliever as there was in the game, especially in the second half with his emergence. I have a ton of confidence in Luke. Whatever role that ends up being, whether it is the traditional closer, we’ll just hopefully put him in the best position to be successful. And definitely have a lot of expectation and confidence that he’s going to be hopefully a part of another really strong bullpen.” The Yankees’ bullpen, while incomplete, is certainly mightier with the addition of Williams, who also joins the recently re-signed Jonathan Loáisiga, Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Effross and Clayton Beeter. The team has also expressed interest in re-signing Tim Hill — the 40-man roster is missing a left-handed reliever — and Tommy Kahnle. The two have mutual interest in a reunion but have received intrigue from other suitors. As dominant as Williams has been in the regular season, he’s struggled over his limited experience in the playoffs. He has allowed six earned runs over 2 1/3 innings in the postseason. Like Cortes, Williams is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. Both pitchers are also scheduled to make $7.7 million in arbitration. Cortes became expendable after the Yankees agreed to an eight-year, $218 million deal with Max Fried during the winter meetings. Even with Cortes shipping out, the Bombers still have six starters (Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil and Marcus Stroman) for five rotation spots. With the Yankees also interested in cost-effective Japanese ace Rōki Sasaki don’t be surprised if they trade another member of that group. On Wednesday, Brian Cashman noted that teams were actively asking the Yankees about their starting surplus. “If we find that there are matches that make sense, then you start to seriously consider it,” the general manager said. “So you just have to have those conversations, which we’re having. I don’t know where it’s gonna take us.” Friday’s trade marks the end of Cortes’ third stint with the Yankees. A 36th-round draft pick in 2013, Rule 5 Draft returnee in 2018, and mop-up reliever early in his career, the crafty southpaw matured into a valuable starter and tremendous success story in New York. Known for his trickery on the mound, the 30-year-old Cortes was an All-Star and finished eighth in Cy Young voting in 2022. He had a 2.61 ERA over 251 1/3 innings from 2021-2022, but injuries hindered his performance in 2023, as he finished with a 4.97 ERA after 12 starts. In 2024, Cortes recorded a 3.77 ERA over 31 games (30 starts), but he ended the regular season on the injured list with a flexor strain. However, he avoided surgery, went through an expedited rehab process and returned for the World Series. Pitching out of the bullpen, Cortes allowed a walk-off grand slam to the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman in his first game back. With Hill, a fellow lefty also warming, Boone was widely panned for the choice. Back in July, Cortes’ name surfaced in trade rumors, but he managed to survive the deadline. “I’m almost confident that the Yankees want me enough to stay here. Sometimes it’s just because they need to improve in other areas,” Cortes said, foreshadowing the circumstances surrounding his eventual departure. Durbin, meanwhile, had been mentioned as an option to replace Gleyber Torres, a free agent, at second base. The 24-year-old was well-liked throughout the Yankees’ organization thanks to his high contact rates and low strikeout numbers. Durbin set career highs with 25 doubles, 10 home runs and a .451 slugging percentage last season, adding some pop to a .275 average, .388 on-base percentage, 60 RBIs, 31 steals and a 9.9 K%. The short, versatile infielder then hit .312/.427/.548 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 24 Arizona Fall League games. His 29 stolen bases set the league’s record, and he won the AFL’s Breakout Prospect of the Year Award. In 2,392 plate appearances since the start of his college career, Durbin has struck out just 153 times. “He’s been gifted with a superpower of not ever swinging and missing, and with that power comes great responsibility, as they say,” former Yankees Triple-A hitting coach Trevor Amicone, who is now with the Twins, said while detailing Durbin’s focus on hitting for more power last year. “When he swings, he’s going to make contact, so he has got to be very selectively aggressive at the pitches that he swings at.” The Yankees originally acquired Durbin and Indigo Diaz from the Braves for Lucas Luetge in December 2022. With Durbin out of the picture, the Yankees could move Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base, his most experienced position, if they add a third baseman via trade or free agency. Other internal candidates at second include Oswaldo Cabrera, Jorbit Vivas and Oswald Peraza. “We were very surprised how he took to a very difficult position, and it certainly wasn’t perfect because it was new to him, but golly, he at least made you realize that it’s possible that you might already have your third baseman,” Cashman said of Chisholm, who learned the hot corner on the fly last season. “I think middle infield is probably easier, because it’s something that he’s done. Third still is something he’ll finish off, if that’s where he stays, but I don’t know, it just depends on the directions, the opportunities.” ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Two major automakers are joining forces to survive

Blame it on the food and drink?

It’s official: 2024 is coming to a close, and December’s festivities are nearly upon us. If you’re stocking your cupboards for holiday fun, Trader Joe’s has plenty of new products on the shelves for December ( you can find our round-up here !). But if you’re bored of the usual holiday fare, you can check out our guide to cooking a delicious Italian-inspired Christmas feast here . This week, research implied that certain households might be more likely to step away from the traditional Christmas ham this year than others. A newly published study from Baruch College and the University of Southern California suggested that the people most likely to reduce red meat consumption in the US are those aged over 65, female, and come from nonwhite households. And they’re not alone— King Charles could be joining them. Recently, the monarch’s stepson Tom Parker-Bowles revealed that both the King and Queen Camilla were looking at reducing their meat consumption for health reasons. Regardless of your food choices this holiday season, the truth is: everyone deserves a treat. Find out where to get everything from free dairy-free mochas to vegan bacon chocolate (yes, that’s bacon chocolate) to delicious festive dairy-free cinnamon buns below. We’ve also got news from the food tech space, fresh information on Oatly’s ongoing legal challenges, and updates on the vegan restaurant scene in India and Australia. Holiday food news In the US, Cinnaholic has a new vegan holiday menu, and Peet’s Coffee is offering free mochas on New Year’s Day. If you’re buying treats in the UK, H!P’s new Figs in Blankets chocolate bar with vegan salty bacon is well worth a try. Cinnaholic If you’re craving festive flavors, cinnamon roll chain Cinnaholic recently announced its new holiday menu, which consists of a Nutcracker Sweet Roll (which is topped with Bavarian candied nuts and creme brulée frosting), an Oh Fudge Roll (which features chocolate frosting, fudge cookie dough, chocolate bark, chocolate sauce, and sprinkles), and CinnaBites (which are basically bite-sized cinnamon rolls). You can also sip on hot cocoa made with plant-based milk and treat yourself to a Wreath Cake (made with cinnamon rolls) and an assorted dessert board. In honor of Pantone’s Color of the Year, coffee chain Peet’s Coffee has announced it will be handing out free mochas on New Year’s Day to anyone who says the codeword “Mocha Mousse.” The coffee chain’s mochas can be made dairy-free with a few tweaks: just ask for dairy-free milk and no whip. British oat milk chocolate brand H!P is known for its unique chocolate bar flavors (like Salty Pretzel and Cookies No Cream, for example), but for this year’s festive season, it has taken things to a whole new level. The new Figs in Blankets flavor, which combines plant-based bacon seasoning with figs, might sound a little odd at first, but the brand’s founder James Cadbury promises it hits “the sweet spot.” The flavor benefits The King’s Trust charity and is exclusively available on UK Amazon . Oatly RELATED: Boxing Hall of Famer Mike Tyson Invests in Vegan Burger Chain, Mr. Charlie’s Food industry and tech news While the holidays are undeniably a big theme for this week’s roundup, there has also been progress in food innovation—from potato-based cheese to butter alternatives to Oatly’s former president starting a new role with a game-changing plant-based meat brand. Plus, it’s a double mention for Oatly, as recently the UK ruled the company could not use the word “milk” in its marketing. Mike Messersmith, the former president of Oatly USA, one of the biggest names in the dairy-free industry, is taking his expertise to Tender Food . The Harvard scientist-led food technology brand creates unique, innovative plant-based meat products, including beef short rib and chicken breast, using its own patented technology. With Messersmith as CEO, Tender Food hopes to strengthen its mission and transform the food industry. “Stepping into a leadership role for Tender is a thrilling transition for me, Messersmith said in a statement. “The team has created an extraordinary platform for continued technological development and is on the cusp of a really exciting new chapter.” In more ingredient news, Israel-based food technology company Gavan recently announced it has raised $8 million to replace the animal fat in butter with a highly functional “cutting edge” plant-based alternative. According to the brand, the new funding round “opens the door for Gavan to enter the European food market.” KMC The dairy-free cheese market, which hit an estimated value of $1.9 billion in 2024, according to some market research reports, has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years. Thanks to brands like Violife, Daiya, and Follow Your Heart, you can now buy everything from shreds to slices to cream cheese. Danish cooperative KMC believes that with its new potato-based starch ingredient, named CheeseMaker CF66, it can create a vegan mozzarella for pizza that can melt, stretch, and pull just like the dairy version. It hasn’t hit the market yet, but watch this space. Oatly has long used the word “milk” in its branding. One of its most commonly used phrases, for example, is “milk made for humans,” as well as “post-milk generation.” But London’s Court of Appeal recently ruled the leading dairy-free brand must stay away from the term “milk,” as it can only be applied to products made from “normal mammary secretion.”Alex Robinson, the CEO of environmental charity Hubbub, wrote on Linkedin : “This ruling feels regressive but the direction of travel is clear: more people are choosing plant-friendly options. The law will catch up eventually.” Mr. Charlie’s RELATED: Europe, US Boast the “Most Vegan-Friendly Cities” in the World: Report Restaurant news The popular vegan fast-food chain Mr. Charlie’s (a favorite of new investor Mike Tyson ), has launched a pop-up in Melbourne, Australia. Plus a new report from Good Food International (GFI) has promising news for the vegan market in India. A new report from GFI India, titled The Next Course: Reimagining Protein , revealed that while the plant-based meat market is still in its “infancy” in India, there has been some positive growth in the industry. The report noted that in Mumbai, for example, 37 percent of restaurants offer plant-based meat on the menu. In Bangalore, it’s 20 percent of restaurants, and in New Delhi, it’s 19 percent. The report acknowledged that while demand for plant-based meat is still low, “targeted education and strategic menu integration” can boost awareness. Melbourne residents who want a taste of vegan fast food from the popular California chain Mr. Charlie’s are in luck. The McDonald ’s-inspired plant-based brand has followed the launch of its Sydney location with a new pop-up in Melbourne. Located at the CoConspirators Brewpub, Mr. Charlies will be serving its burgers and Mr. Frowny meals through December and January. DON'T MISS OUT : Get breaking news, recipes, and our weekly vegan deal by signing up for our FREE VegNewsletter Bill Gates’ Favorite Yogurt Is Made From Fungi, and It’s a Game-Changer Plant-Based Proteins Slash Heart Disease Risk and Environmental Footprint LA’s Hottest Vegan Restaurant Now Available Nationwide JUMP TO ... Latest News | Recipes | Guides | Health | Subscribe Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.

WASHINGTON – Sen. Kevin Cramer is among the authors of bipartisan legislation introduced Thursday, Nov. 21, to keep fixing aging infrastructure in national parks across the country. Joining the North Dakota Republican in introducing the America the Beautiful Act, which will extend critical park maintenance, were Sens. Steve Daines, R-Montana; Angus King, I-Maine; and Mark Warner, D-Virginia. ADVERTISEMENT The Great American Outdoors Act, originally signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2020, established the National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund and included $1.9 billion over five years to address the maintenance backlog across public land agencies, including the National Parks Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and others. According to a news release from Cramer’s office, the America the Beautiful Act will reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund and provide $2 billion for maintenance projects. Since the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, North Dakota projects in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Dakota Prairie Grasslands received significant funding to complete restoration and expansion projects, Cramer said in the news release. In TRNP, the South Loop Road is slated to reopen next summer as a result of $47 million to repair the washed-out sections and will have expanded walkways, seating and wayside exhibits, as well as repaved roadside pull-outs. Cramer visited TRNP in August to view the construction progress on the loop. The Dakota Prairie Grasslands, located near TRNP, has received multiple awards to maintain campgrounds, update the Maah Daah Hey trailhead and resurface and repair roadways with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act. Additional projects in North Dakota include trail maintenance on the National North Country Scenic Trail. “The Great American Outdoors Act brought real results to North Dakota’s outdoor recreation opportunities,” Cramer said in a statement . “Visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be able to travel the South Loop road, which washed out several years ago, and recreationists can enjoy the updated trails and campsites in the nearby grasslands. Let’s keep this momentum going by passing the America the Beautiful Act, so we maintain our national treasures.” Congress now must work together to get the bill over the finish line, the National Parks Conservation Association said. “Millions of people flock to national parks every year to experience some of our nation’s best landscapes and most significant stories,” Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement. “National parks are icons of our country, and Americans love them. They also want to see them supported. And this bill is a promise that we will continue to take care of the places that mean so much to so many people.”There is plenty of NBA action on Wednesday, Dec. 4 including a matchup in which the Boston Celtics host the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden in Boston. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on NBC Sports Boston and FanDuel Sports Network Detroit . Fans looking to watch this NBA game can do so by using FuboTV , which offers $30 off your first month, or DirecTV Stream, which offers a free trial or with SlingTV, which doesn’t offer a free trial but has promotional offers available . The Celtics are 17-4 and looking for their second win over the Pistons this season after knocking them off in October, 124-118. The Pistons are losers of three of their last four including each of their last two. They are playing the second night of a back-to-back Who: Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics When: Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. EST Where: TD Garden in Boston Stream: FuboTV ; Sling ; DirecTV Stream (free trial) Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide , where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts. More College Football What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME . From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers $30 off the first month for new customers. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX , Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz. What is SlingTV? SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation. RELATED CONTENT: Analysis: The NBA’s 3-point craze is only getting crazier, with the Celtics leading the charge By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Make more 3-pointers than your opponent in this NBA era, and you’re likely to win. Make a lot more 3s than your opponent, and you’re almost certain to win. The Boston Celtics are clearly banking on that thinking as they seek back-to-back titles. All the 3-point numbers in the NBA are on the rise yet again, with the league on yet another record pace for both 3s made and 3s attempted. This can’t come as a surprise, given there’s been a steady rise in those numbers across the league for more than a decade. But the Celtics are relying upon the 3-pointer like no team in NBA history — on pace to smash the league records for 3s made and attempted in a season — and other teams are taking note of the approach. “When we’re at our best, you have to have an understanding,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “This is what we do. ... At the end of the day, we’re trying to be the best version of ourselves more than other people.” The best version of the Celtics is the version that includes them shooting it from deep and shooting it from there often. They’re not alone in that sort of thinking. Of the NBA’s 30 teams, 13 are on pace to shoot more 3s this season than they ever have before. “It helps, for sure, and our guys have really worked at that,” said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team is one of the 13 — along with Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio and Washington — on a franchise-record pace for 3-point attempts. “It all works together, though. It can’t just be 3s and it can’t just be paint attacks.” It’s silly to say that one stat — other than points, obviously — can dictate winning or losing, but it sure seems like an edge in 3-pointers made equates to victories. So far this season, the team that takes more 3-pointers in a game wins 53% of the time. The team that makes more 3-pointers wins 67% of the time. If a team makes five more 3s than its opponent, it wins 75% of the time. And if a team makes 10 more 3s than its opponent, game over: Those clubs, after the Celtics did it to the Heat on Monday, are now 31-0 this season. “Rhythm shots, catch-and-shoot 3s, open shots, you’ve got to be willing to take those,” Toronto coach Darko Rajaković said. “Players at this level, they spend so much time working on their shot — working in the offseason, working in-season — you’ve got to have confidence to take those shots.” Only two teams in league history — the 2018-19 Houston Rockets and 2020-21 Utah Jazz — have finished a season having gotten more points off 3-pointers than they did 2-pointers. That club is going to have a new member or two when this season is over. This is an example of how what Boston is doing is never-before-seen. The Celtics are getting 47% of their points off 3s and only 37% off 2s, an unprecedented difference. (And most of those 2s are at the rim.) Meanwhile, the Charlotte Hornets are getting 45% of points off 3s, 42% off 2s. It’s almost unheard of to be that 3-point reliant. The Jazz got 43% of their points on 3s in 2020-21, 42% on 2s. The Rockets got 42% of their points on 3s in 2018-19, 41% on 2s. Charlotte is in its first year under coach Charles Lee — who, it should be noted, coached in Boston last season under Mazzulla. It’s not a stretch to conclude that Lee brought the Boston-3-party mentality to Charlotte and gave his shooters a very green light. “We’re challenging them in a lot of different ways,” Lee said. There have been six instances entering this week of a player taking at least 18 3-pointers in a game this season. One was by Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton. Another was by Boston’s Jayson Tatum. The other four were by Charlotte players — three by LaMelo Ball (including the NBA’s first 20 3-point-attempt game this season) and the other by Brandon Miller. All this comes in an era where basically everybody is shooting 3s and has been for some time. The Heat had a game last week where Spoelstra played 10 players and all of them tried at least two 3s in a game. Of the top 200 scorers in the league this season in terms of total points, 95% of them have made at least one 3-pointer. And the 5% that aren’t in that group, they’re all post players who almost never venture outside the arc — guys like Ivica Zubac, Jakob Poeltl, Daniel Gafford, Jarrett Allen, Clint Capela and Rudy Gobert. Rajaković doesn’t see this increased 3-point reliance ending anytime soon. “If you make them, awesome, get back to the gym and work and get in more,” Rajaković said. “If you miss them, get back to the gym and work and get in more.” The Associated Press contributed to this article

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court sounded hesitant Wednesday to second-guess Tennessee lawmakers who banned gender-affirming care for minors, as justices heard warnings that upholding the law could lead to other state or national restrictions on transgender Americans. During more than two hours of oral argument, members of the court’s conservative wing repeatedly expressed reticence to step into policy disputes over access to transgender care for minors, raising questions about the science behind the care and the fallout for other transgender issues such as access to women’s sports. The state law bans puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for minors for the purpose of medically transitioning their gender. Challengers have asked the justices to rule that the law unconstitutionally discriminates on the basis of sex because it prohibits access to that care when it is for the purpose of gender transition. Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh said there were “forceful policy arguments” on both sides of the Tennessee law, including how the ban harmed transgender children but also prevented a small number of children from being harmed by the treatments. Kavanaugh said that disputes about the medical efficacy of treatments “strikes me as a pretty yellow light or red light” for the court to intervene. “So it seems to me that we look to the Constitution, and the Constitution doesn’t take sides on how to resolve that medical and policy debate,” Kavanaugh said. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. repeatedly brought up disputes about the medical science behind gender-affirming care and wondered whether it would be better to “leave those determinations to legislative bodies rather than try to determine them ourselves.” Roberts later said it was “very troubling” that the court could step into an area where they are “bereft of expertise” around complicated questions of medical effectiveness. And Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. repeatedly brought up a literature review in the United Kingdom that questioned the efficacy of gender-affirming care and recent decisions by medical bodies in the U.K. and Sweden to restrict access. Families and doctors of transgender children, as well as the Biden administration, challenged the law, arguing it violates the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause because it prohibits access to those medicines based on gender transition but not for other conditions such as precocious puberty. The challengers and major medical organizations have maintained that the treatments are effective, including by reducing depression and suicidal ideation among transgender children. About two dozen states have similar laws banning access to gender-affirming care for minors, and the case comes to the court as Republicans nationwide, including in Congress, have said they intend to impose more restrictions on the care. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices Wednesday that upholding the law, which explicitly states its goal for minors to “appreciate their sex,” allows transgender youth in the state to suffer. “It doesn’t matter what parents decide is best for their children. It doesn’t matter what patients would choose for themselves. And it doesn’t matter if doctors believe this treatment is essential for individual patients,” Prelogar said. The Tennessee law “categorically bans treatment when and only when it’s inconsistent with the patient’s birth sex.” Prelogar pointed out that the treatments are restricted but still available in the U.K. and Sweden rather than the ban that Tennessee imposed. Prelogar and Chase Strangio, attorney for the families challenging the law, both pointed to West Virginia’s law as an example, because the state has restricted gender-affirming care rather than banning access and has yet to face legal challenge. Prelogar said the justices also could send the case back to the lower court with instructions to make sure the state better justifies with evidence its efforts to restrict the treatments. J. Matthew Rice, arguing for Tennessee, claimed the treatments were “risky and unproven” and said the law turned on the medical purposes of taking hormones or puberty blockers, rather than a sex classification. Rice also compared gender-affirming care to assisted suicide, lobotomies and eugenics that states had a right to regulate. “The Equal Protection Clause does not require the states to blind themselves to medical reality or to treat unlike things the same, and it does not constitutionalize one side’s view of a disputed medical question,” Rice said. Rice argued that the challengers could not eliminate risks from the procedures or the possibility that patients could detransition later, at which point Justice Sonia Sotomayor interrupted to say, “Every medical treatment has risks.” Sotomayor raised the concern that the same logic could apply to medical care for adults, and that upholding Tennessee’s law would be “licensing states to deprive full adults of the choice of which sex to adopt.” Sotomayor also downplayed the ability of the democratic process to protect such a small minority of the population if the court doesn’t intervene. “It didn’t protect women for centuries,” she said. President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign included explicit promises to target transgender care, and members of Congress have said they intend to legislate on the issue when they come into power with a trifecta in January. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said she found similarities between Tennessee’s argument and the ones made by Virginia to try and uphold anti-miscegenation laws in Loving v. Virginia. Jackson pointed out that Virginia pointed to “disputed” medical science about race-mixing to try and justify the law. “I wonder if Virginia could have gotten away with what they did here by making a classification argument,” Jackson said. Justice Elena Kagan rejected Tennessee’s effort to categorize the use of hormones and puberty blockers as different medical purposes. “The whole thing is imbued with sex,” Kagan said. “It is a dodge to say it is based on a medical purpose.” On Wednesday, Rep. Mark E. Green, R-Tenn., praised the state’s stance in a post on social media. “Tennessee is leading the way and standing up for our children. Minors must be protected from these harmful and irreversible medical experiments,” Green posted. Similarly, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X calling gender-affirming care “child abuse.” Mace has previously said she would back legislation to bar access for transgender individuals to the bathrooms of the gender they identify as. ©2024 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.COLLEGE FB NOTESAUM of USD 635 Billion at ADFW Caps Stellar Q4 as Trillion-Dollar Club Flock to ADGMEurope’s tallest building, the Lakhta Center, is a stunning architectural marvel standing at an astonishing 1,515 feet tall. Located in Saint Petersburg , Russia , this sleek, spiralling tower is a landmark that redefines the city’s skyline and serves as a testament to modern engineering. Completed in 2018, the Lakhta Center was commissioned by Gazprom, one of the world’s largest energy companies, and it currently serves as its headquarters. Designed by architectural firm RMJM, the tower’s twisting form minimises wind resistance, making it both practical and aesthetically striking. The Lakhta Center overtook Moscow’s Federation Tower to claim the title of Europe’s tallest building, and it’s 500ft taller than The Shard in London, which measures 1,016 feet. With its record-breaking height, the Lakhta Center ranks among the 20 tallest buildings in the world. The Lakhta Center isn’t just tall, it’s green, too. The building incorporates advanced energy-saving technologies, including a double-skin facade that improves thermal insulation and a sophisticated heating and cooling system that minimises its environmental impact. Its construction adhered to international environmental standards, earning it a LEED Gold certification. The tower features 87 floors, housing a mix of offices, observation decks, and public spaces. Its observation deck, perched near the top of the structure, offers panoramic views of the Gulf of Finland and the historic city of Saint Petersburg. Standing far taller than the city’s traditional low-rise architecture, the Lakhta Center is not without controversy. Some critics argue that its immense height disrupts the aesthetic balance of the UNESCO World Heritage site. However, supporters claim that the building is a symbol of progress and modernity, reflecting Russia ’s ambition to blend heritage with innovation. The Lakhta Center has inspired a wave of urban development in Saint Petersburg, including new residential and commercial projects in its surrounding district. The skyscraper also serves as a cultural hub, with an amphitheater, planetarium, and exhibition spaces open to the public.

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In a significant political escalation, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal has submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, spotlighting a contentious incident involving the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, was abruptly halted by authorities while heading to violence-stricken Sambhal to meet bereaved families. Venugopal sharply criticized the move, labeling it a 'grave assault' on democratic principles and parliamentary privileges. He emphasized the act of denying permission to the opposition leader and fellow MPs as a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of movement, demanding immediate dialogue in the House to safeguard democratic norms. The situation further escalated with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also filing an adjournment motion regarding the government's interference. Gogoi underscored the alarming impact of this obstruction, arguing it stifles opposition efforts to assess ground realities and maintain governmental accountability amidst regional tensions, following violent clashes prompted by an ASI survey. (With inputs from agencies.)