No secrets as Bucs visit Dave Canales, Panthers for NFC South showdown
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was limited with the right shoulder injury that sidelined him last week and there is growing concern about the long-term status of left tackle Trent Williams. Wednesday's practice was not the start to the NFL workweek head coach Kyle Shanahan had hoped after Purdy was unable to bounce back from a shoulder injury in Week 11. Brandon Allen started at Green Bay and the 49ers (5-6) lost 38-10 with the backup-turned-starter committing three turnovers. Williams was reportedly spotted in the locker room with a knee scooter and is experiencing pain walking. He played through an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks Nov. 17. Defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) also missed practice Wednesday, leaving the 49ers to spend the holiday plotting to play the Buffalo Bills (9-2) without the three Pro Bowlers again. "I don't know anyone who gets Thanksgiving off unless maybe you have a Monday night game. You just start a lot earlier and get the players out," Shanahan said. "We cram everything in so the players get out, tries to be home with the family by 5. I usually get home by 7 and they're all mad at me, then get back to red-zone (installation)." The 49ers are in danger of a three-game losing streak for the first time since Oct. 2021. Injuries have been a common thread since September when running back Christian McCaffrey was a surprise scratch with an Achilles injury for the opener. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL) is out for the season at a position dinged from top to bottom. Star linebacker Fred Warner also is ailing and said Wednesday that he fractured a bone in his ankle on Sept. 29 against the New England Patriots. The game against the Bills will mark his eighth straight game playing with the injury. "It's something I deal with every game," Warner said. "I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it's not an excuse. It's just what it is. That's the NFL. You're not going to be healthy. You've got to go out there, you've got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week." Shanahan wasn't interested in injury talk. He said the 49ers have not played well in the past two weeks, and puts part of his focus on getting more out of the running game with snow in the forecast on Sunday night. He's not in agreement with pundits who doubt McCaffrey's ability early into his return from injured reserve, with a per-carry average of 3.5 yards compared to 5.4 in 2023. "The speculation on Christian is a little unfair to him," Shanahan said. "Christian is playing very well. He's playing his ass off. To think a guy who misses the entire offseason is going to come back and be the exact same the day he comes back would be unfair to any player in the world." San Francisco opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl in February. His return date is unclear. This article first appeared on Field Level Media and was syndicated with permission.
The FBI is warning iPhone and Android users against texting each other without encryption due to a recent Chinese cyberattack. On Wednesday, deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger announced that at least eight U.S. telecom companies had been breached by a Chinese hacking operation known as "Salt Typhoon." The operation accessed private text messages and phone conversations involving an undisclosed number of Americans. The hackers are believed to have successfully intercepted the communications of senior government officials and high-profile political figures. However, Neuberger said the government did not think "any classified communications" had been accessed. In response to the attack, the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released guidance aimed at identifying the hackers and preventing future cyberattacks. Since communications between iPhone and Android users are not encrypted by default, agency officials urged Americans to stop sending texts between the two operating systems or use third-party apps with end-to-end encryption. Why Aren't Text Messages End-to-End Encrypted? SMS messaging first emerged in the early 1990s, when there were far fewer concerns surrounding text message security. At this point, altering SMS to include end-to-end encryption would likely be impractical or impossible. However, modern text messages often do not use SMS and are transmitted using other systems, such as Apple 's iMessage and Google Messages. Are iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal and Google Messages Encrypted? Text messages between iPhone users and between Android users do include end-to-end encryption by default. However, messages transmitted between the two systems are not encrypted and could be vulnerable. WhatsApp and Signal both offer end-to-end encryption. NBC News reported on Wednesday that CISA official Jeff Greene and a senior FBI official both urged Americans to use an encrypted app instead of communicating between iPhone and Android devices. "Encryption is your friend, whether it's on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication," said Greene. "Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible." How Can You Tell If Someone Has Encrypted Messages? As messages with end-to-end encryption can only be read using a type of "key" that is only available to the sender and receipt, the content of the messages remains inaccessible when hacked by a third party. Encrypted messages between iPhone users appear in blue. On Android devices, a lock icon under a message or an indication that the message is being sent using RCS (Rich Communication Services) protocol denotes encryption. What Is Salt Typhoon? "Salt Typhoon" is a nickname given to the Chinese hacking operation by Microsoft . The group has also been referred to using the nicknames "FamousSparrow" and "Ghost Emperor." While U.S. intelligence officials have tied the group to the Chinese government, Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, denied involvement earlier this week while insisting that "the U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China." Update 12/5/24, 6:45 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel goes scorched earth on MSNBC guest in wild letter Kash Patel's lawyer sent a letter threatening legal action against Olivia Troye Sign up for the latest with DailyMail.com's U.S. politics newsletter By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, DC Published: 22:47 GMT, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 22:52 GMT, 4 December 2024 e-mail 8 View comments The lawyer of Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump 's pick to lead the FBI , sent a letter to an MSNBC commentator threatening to take legal action unless she retracts her remarks about him on the network. Olivia Troye, who once served in the Trump administration before becoming a fierce critic of the president-elect, shared the letter by Patel's attorney on social media. 'Litigation will be filed against you if you fail to publicly retract defamatory statements you made about Mr. Patel on MSNBC on December 2, 2024,' the letter reads. It accuses her of making 'several false and defamatory statements' about Patel. During the MSNBC segment, Troye called Patel a 'delusional liar' and accused him of lying about intelligence. She accused him of 'making things up on operations' to the point where he was accused of putting 'the lives of Navy SEALs at risk in an operation when it came to Nigeria .' Troye also accused Patel of misinforming Vice President Mike Pence . President-elect Trump's pick for FBI director threatened legal action against Olivia Troye after she criticized him during an appearance on MSNBC She claimed she would have to double-check his work so she did not pass on misinformation to the vice president while working for him as a special adviser during the Trump administration. The letter from Patel's lawyer called her criticism of him a 'complete fabrication.' 'At no point did Mr. Patel ever lie about national intelligence, place Navy Seals at risk, or misinform the Vice President,' the letter reads. The letter accused her of not only having 'knowledge of the falsity of this smear' but doing so 'with the malicious intent of degrading his character and of cynical self-promotion.' The letter demanded she retract her remarks with a public statement on her X account within five days of receiving the letter. 'Unless this step is taken, Mr. Patel will take swift legal action to uphold his rights and reputation,' the letter stated. It also directed her to preserve documents related to Patel including emails, texts and other electronic messages, recordings, voice mails, drafts, notes communications, documents, data and electronically stored information. It asked for confirmation of receipt of the letter and intention to retract statements as well as confirmation she intends to retain documents and data. Olivia Troye called Patel a 'delusional liar' and accused him of lying about intelligence in Trump's first term during an appearance on MSNBC on December 2 But Troye decided to make the entire letter public on social media, positing it on X and the Bluesky social platform. ' This aligns with his threats against the media & political opponents, revealing how he might conduct himself if confirmed in the role, Troye wrote in her post. 'I stand by my statements—my priority remains the safety & security of the American people, she continued. 'I am not the only one who has expressed concerns about him. So why me? And so it begins,' she finished. Olivia Troye responded to threatened legal action by posting the letter and her response on social media The letter sent to Olivia Troye's lawyer from the law firm representing Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel threatening legal action Troye, who previously also served in the Department of Homeland Security during Trump's first term and the Defense Department during the Bush administration came out as a fierce critic of Trump after serving in his first administration. She was one of multiple former Trump officials to speak out against him during the 2024 campaign including from the state of the Democratic National Convention. Olivia Troye speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August Troye with then-Vice President Mike Pence. she served as his homeland security and counterterrorism adviser Trump announced on Saturday that he intended to nominate Patel, a close ally and controversial pick, to be the next FBI director, cutting short the tenure of current FBI Director Christopher Wray. Patel served as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary during Trump's first term as well as on the National Security Council and as an adviser to the acting director of national intelligence. He is a 2020 election denier who has also been a vocal critic of the bureau he is being tapped to lead accusing the FBI of 'deep state' activities. Patel has also gone after the media claiming during a December 2023 podcast taping on Steve Bannon's show that they will 'come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.' Patel would have to be confirmed by the Senate to become the next FBI director. In her appearance on MSNBC's The Reidout on Monday, Troye warned Patel is someone wh o 'openly has contempt for people in national security, for people especially at DOJ and the FBI.' She called it 'insane' if he becomes FBI director and said she fears for the law enforcement officers who will have to navigate working for him. Politics Share or comment on this article: Trump's FBI pick Kash Patel goes scorched earth on MSNBC guest in wild letter e-mail Add comment
LPGA, USGA to require players to be assigned female at birth or transition before pubertyWashington (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service, signaling plans to oust current Commissioner Danny Werfel before his term expires in 2027. Replacing Werfel, who was picked by President Joe Biden, could mean a major shift at the agency, which has been undergoing a massive transformation that’s become a political football in Washington. Democrats have argued the agency, after facing years of budget cuts, needs more money to go after tax cheats and modernize its technology. And Republicans, many of whom – including Long – have supported shutting down the agency altogether , are skeptical that new enforcement actions won’t unfairly target middle-class Americans. Last year, Republican lawmakers successfully clawed back $20 billion of the $80 billion provided to the IRS by the Democrat-backed Inflation Reduction Act that passed in 2022. Further cuts to the IRS’ budget could be a priority for Trump, who has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of a new commission to cut federal spending . While the Inflation Reduction Act spells out how much money can be used for enforcement activities and taxpayer assistance, it’s largely up to the IRS, which is housed in the Department of Treasury, to decide how exactly the money is spent . One of the biggest projects under Werfel – the launch of a free tax filing program called Direct File – doesn’t have the backing of many GOP lawmakers, some of whom have criticized the program as “illegitimate and unnecessary.” There are Republicans who have also voiced concern about the effort to ramp up enforcement. Some, including Trump , have misleadingly suggested that the IRS is hiring 87,000 new auditors to target middle-class Americans and small business owners. But Democrats say the IRS needs the influx of money to successfully go after tax cheats. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency did not have the staffing or resources to pursue high-income earners that the agency knew owed taxes, Werfel said earlier this year . So far, the IRS has collected nearly $1.3 billion in overdue taxes from wealthy households due to the new enforcement efforts. Less controversial efforts undertaken under Werfel’s leadership have been aimed at making it easier for Americans to file their federal taxes, like hiring thousands more customer service representatives and updating the agency’s archaic technology so that it can digitize paper forms . The independent Congressional Budget Office and other budget experts say that spending money on tax enforcement can reduce the deficit by bringing in more tax revenue. Long served 12 years in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023. He ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in 2022. During his time in Congress, Long served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – but not on the House’s main tax-writing committee. He co-sponsored, along with dozens of other Republicans, bills to abolish the IRS and replace the federal income tax system with a national sales tax. Long currently works as a certified tax and business adviser, according to his X bio . “DM me to save 40% on your taxes. We have a new traunch of tax credits just out!” it says. “Since leaving Congress, Billy has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday announcing his pick. In the private sector, Long has been helping people file for the employee retention tax credit, a pandemic-era benefit. The IRS temporarily paused processing of those claims in 2023 amid concerns of fraud . In a 2023 podcast interview , Long talked about how he only helps people who are eligible to claim the tax credit. “If they don’t qualify, we do not tell them they do. And we do not to get them through the process,” he said. “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm. He is the consummate ‘people person,’ well respected on both sides of the aisle,” Trump said in his statement. A former professional auctioneer, Long once used his skills to drown out a protester who was disrupting a committee hearing on Capitol Hill. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Wrap Technologies Unveils Go-Forward Strategy, Pioneering End-to-End Public Safety and Defense Solutions with New Virginia Facility
Warning over hiking apps after 'virtually identical' rescues on Vancouver North Shore VANCOUVER — The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains is warning people to do their research after international visitors became stranded in two separate incidents while relying on hiking apps to plan their routes Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 3:25 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains says its teams recently rescued two international visitors who became stranded in rugged terrain after relying on online hiking apps without doing further research. The North Shore mountains are shown in Vancouver on Nov. 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER — The search and rescue organization for Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains is warning people to do their research after international visitors became stranded in two separate incidents while relying on hiking apps to plan their routes. North Shore Rescue was called in on Nov. 28 to rescue a man from Norway who the organization said "seriously underestimated the difficulty" of a route marked in an online hiking app. Rescuers were back on a nearby mountain three nights later for a "virtually identical" operation, the group said in a social media post. Allan McMordie with North Shore Rescue managed the Sunday night rescue of a man at Goat Ridge, a backcountry area behind Grouse Mountain. He said the man from France told rescuers he had not been expecting snow, despite two of the local ski hills opening with fresh powder last month. "All you had to do was look at the top of the mountains from Vancouver and know there's snow up there," he said in an interview. "To be in running shoes and not even expecting any snow was pretty naive." The man had set out on a marked route, then decided to make his way through very rough, steep terrain to a separate trail at significantly higher elevation. "This is rugged backcountry," McMordie said. "It's almost impassable." McMordie could not confirm which apps the hikers in both recent rescues were using, but said a lack of any marked route or trail reports is a good indication to stop and turn around, and in any case, trip planning should involve multiple sources of information. If the man from France had done any research, McMordie said he would have discovered the backcountry area where he was rescued is closed for the winter. In both recent cases, he said there were signs at each trailhead with maps showing trails and topography, along with reminders about key steps in trip planning, he said. Both men were lucky to have been able to make 911 calls, McMordie added, as service is patchy in the area and their phone batteries had nearly run out. Above all, he said hikers should tell someone else where they're going and when they expect to return, so that person can alert local authorities if necessary. "Absolutely nobody knew where this person was and what he was doing that day," McMordie said of the man from France. "If he had not been able to get that (911) call out, he would still be there." North Shore Rescue said the course taken by the man from Norway was "barely a trail" in the summer and "nothing whatsoever" in the winter, making for "full mountaineering conditions" at this time of year. He called for help after hiking for eight hours that left him "tired, soaked (and) hypothermic" as the sun was setting," it said. It's doubtful the man would have survived the night in the Mount Seymour backcountry if he hadn't been able to make the call, the rescue group added. The man had been staying in a short-term accommodation and had taken an Uber to the trailhead. Only his girlfriend in Norway knew where he was, and he was not wearing or carrying adequate gear for the conditions, McMordie said. Vancouver-based Stephen Hui, the author of several B.C. hiking guidebooks, said the rough, mountainous terrain steps away from urban Metro Vancouver and the extent of the snowpack in winter is a surprise for many visiting hikers. Hui said online apps can be helpful and often provide commentary about trail conditions from other hikers, but it's crucial to look at additional sources of information, including complete maps and provincial and national park websites. He said local authorities and outdoor groups have some responsibility for people heading into the backcountry, and there is room for more signage and education. Ultimately, though, he said people must be responsible for themselves. "We can't handhold everybody," he said. "There's always going to be dangers in hiking." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business Police release new photos as they search for the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Dec 5, 2024 3:50 PM Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives Dec 5, 2024 3:34 PM Lululemon CEO sees progress in company's efforts to address past lack of newness Dec 5, 2024 3:11 PM Featured FlyerBelal Muhammad reveals key factor of his Ian Machado Garry upset pick at UFC 310
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Promising review: "I work from home and was looking for the perfect comfortable shoe. These Crocs were perfect because they are lined for extra coziness but also if I need to go out to the store or get the mail they are durable for outside. Love them!" — Brooklyn Whitesides Get them from Amazon for $38.99+ (available in women's sizes 4–17 and in 32 colors). 9. A fan favorite Otherland candle that'll make your home smell divine while also adding a pretty piece of decor to the room. If it were acceptable to soak your entire body in a candle scent....you'd like want to choose one of these. I'm SUCH a fan of Otherland candles. I've been burning them in my home for years and, honestly, cannot get enough of them. I've given tons of them as gifts as well, and everyone has always raved about how much they love them. They each have a burn time of 55 hours, are made of a coconut and soy wax blend, contain a cotton wick, and are hand poured in the USA. 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I, like many others (it has over 27,000 5-star reviews on Amazon) have this primer and also agree that it's fantastic! It really does go on my skin so smoothly, I can barely even feel that I've put any primer on at all. My makeup stays on so nicely when I take the time to apply it over it. And at a price like this? Ya can't beat it. Promising review: "I saw this on TikTok and thought I'd take a chance. I have sensitive skin and have to watch what I use. I LOVE this product! Goes on smooth and you don't need to use a lot. I put it on before I put on my foundation. Makes a huge difference . Highly recommend and will buy again!!" — Brooks Crim Get it from Amazon for $10 (available in three shades). 14. A jar of internet-beloved The Pink Stuff , which is an all-purpose cleaning paste that'll help you tackle all of your messes but make it *~pretty in pink~* at the same time. Check it out in action on TikTok ! 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A veggie chopper you can use to dice onions in a flash — save your uncontrollable crying for the next time you watch The Notebook . It can also spiralize, slice, and chop! Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container. " — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.97 (available in three colors). 16. A Bluetooth speaker with an adorable '90s feel to it that you can program with fun pixelated messages, a clock, and animations galore! This lil' gadget has RGB-backlit buttons and, of course, has the ability to play music and podcasts. Check out an unboxing TikTok from @thatkawaiigrl ! BuzzFeed editor Jenae Sitzes loves hers! You can read more on why it's one of her favorite pieces of desk decor here . Promising reviews : "I actually impulsively purchased this because I saw it on TikTok. I have had it for a little over a month now, and it is actually the best item I have purchased in a while. I admit, there is a slight learning curve when setting it up because there is not a clear-cut instructions guide for all of the features, but once you figure it out, it’s so worth it. It is really multifunctional and you can customize it to your liking. I really love the mini games feature on here, like Tetris and Snake , because they all bring back childhood memories for me. My favorite part is the fact that it works as a speaker and when I play music, I can have little videos sync to the music. Who knew a tiny little speaker could bring me so much joy. It is a bit pricy though, but it is just so cute. If you’re looking for a sign to buy this, here’s your sign." — Khuyen Nguyen Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in five colors). 17. A pair of wireless sleep headphones , because we're basically living in the future — you can listen to music, a podcast, or your go-to comfort show (helloooo endless hours of Gilmore Girls ) to help you fall asleep without fruitlessly attempting to get cozy with earbuds bulging out of your ears. The headphones connect via Bluetooth and have 33 feet of wireless range (meaning your phone doesn't have to be right next to you). The controls are on the forehead, which makes it comfortable for back and side sleepers, and they are made to block out ambient noise. Promising review : "I saw these on TikTok, and since I have so much trouble finding quality headphones, I decided to try it. I’m very happy with the sound quality and comfort of these. I’m able to fall asleep to my music or podcast without having to limit myself to sleeping on my back or losing an earbud in my bed in the middle of the night. It makes working out easier as well. The value is worth the quality. I would recommend." — Thunder Muffin Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 17 colors). 18. An acupressure mat and pillow set to help reduce muscle tension and back pain — a must-have for attempting to restore your body to its prime after an extra-long work day. Talk to your doctor before using this if you're in pain. Read more about how applying pressure to acupoints on your body can help muscles relax and improve blood flow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . Promising review: "Honestly, a friend sent me a TikTok video on this item. I was like for 20 bucks I'll try it, and oh my god, I have lower back problems and 20 minutes lying on this spiking mat helped relieve pressure . I work remotely and am sitting down for 8–10 hours a day, so tension builds up and this totally worked. So many ways to try using the mat." — Arlington Ink Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 10 colors). 19. A silly windshield shade that'll keep your car cool while making it look like all four of The Golden Girls are cruising around — want to place bets that they're headed to pick up a cheesecake??? Promising review: "I am so happy with my purchase. It keeps the sun out and makes me smile whenever I see it in my window. 😂 5/5 recommended!" — Stephanie Get it from Amazon for $39.99 . 20. An extra-large car cup holder that'll transform your car's too-tiny cup holder into one that'll properly support your oversized emotional support water bottle. You're welcome. Promising review : "I saw one of these on TikTok and I gasped!! I carry my Yeti with me everywhere, so usually it just sits in my passenger seat. But this is perfect so it doesn’t fly around in the seat. This fit in my Chevy Equinox perfectly. So far so good." — J Get it from Amazon for $14,95 (available in two colors). 21. A set of pastel kitchen utensils so you can embrace the Barbie Core trend and decorate your kitchen like it's, quite literally, a Dream House. Aside from just being SUPER cute, reviewers have noted that these utensils are great against heat resistance and can be tossed right into the dishwasher for cleaning. Check out a TikTok of the utensil set in action. These can withstand temps up to 392-degrees F. Promising review : " Really cute set and the quality is good too, so a win-win for me! It is dishwasher-safe. I tried one of the pieces washed in the dishwasher and it came out just fine. For longevity I plan to just hand-wash because I love things in pink! They're heat resistant — I used the spatula to cook bacon and pressed on the pan and nothing bad happened to it. I've had this set for a month now and been using it every day; it still looks as good as new. No burns/melted marks; no discoloration. I have washed it in the dishwasher several times and they come out fine. Easy to clean." — Pookie Bear Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors). 22. COSRX Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence that’ll have you wondering if Gary the Snail has been the reason SpongeBob has been looking GOOOOOD for all of these years — it soothes damaged skin while also repairing dark spots and improving skin vitality. Promising review: " Um...WOW! I have used so many products to help with my dry, red, and inflamed skin. During the winter it is so hard to keep my skin moisturized through out the day. Within two days I saw such a huge difference. So calming and gives you a nice, moisturized glow . I feel so much better knowing my skin is healing. I will use this in my routine for the rest of my life!" — Christina A. Get it from Amazon for $20 . 23. A Quick Dry Polish from Olive and June, so even if you're short on time you can still give your nails the manicure they deserve. I have *so* many Olive and June products it should be a crime — that being said, the Quick Dry polishes are a 10/10 in my book. I'm a mom of a toddler so free time is not something that comes easily for me these days. However, I feel naked if my nails aren't done. These polishes have been an absolute godsend for me! They really do dry shockingly fast but without sacrificing any quality of the polish itself! In the photo above I'm wearing Pomodoro with Fairy over it for some shimmer. I think it took me 10 minutes total to do three coats of polish and a top coat (including drying!), so I was able to get right back into all the messy tasks that come along with being a parent. The brand has 32 different Quick Dry shades to choose from, so there's definitely an option that'll work for everyone. Get it from Olive and June for $7.50 (available in 32 shades). 24. A travel pill organizer you'll wonder how you've lived this long without — it's moisture-proof, has eight compartments, and is made of cereal fiber and food grade plastic. You can totally use this *all* the time, not just when you're jet setting. Promising review: "I love these! I have pretty severe ADHD, and I am constantly forgetting my meds when camping or hiking or just generally leaving the house for extended periods of time. These make it so much easier for me to just squirrel away in my backpack and be so pleased when I find them again. The labels are great, they are durable, and I'm no longer finding stray pills of unknown origin in the bottom of my bag. Highly recommend." — Eliza Get a pack of three from Amazon for $9.47 (available in two styles). 25. A lil' car trash can, so the next time you pick up fast food, you'll have a designated spot to toss your (likely) greasy bag instead of letting it live on the floor in front of your passenger seat. Promising review: "Love this trash can! I drive a small car, and it fits perfectly in the back behind the center console. Before this, I always used whatever random bags I found floating around, but this is so much better. No spills, and it looks great." — Stacey Dawson Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in eight colors). 26. A grape cutter because who on earth wants to spend their precious time cutting grapes??? This lil' gadget will ensure your kiddo's favorite fruit is the perfect size without costing you an entire afternoon. Watch a mom quartering grapes in a flash with this tool on TikTok . Promising review: "I was stubborn initially and didn’t believe in getting something to cut my kid’s grapes. I would cut them by hand. My friend told me about it and I caved in and bought it. I shouldn’t have been stubborn! I can literally cut more grapes in half the time! If you’re reading this, do not be stubborn, just get it! It will save you time! I even managed to cut blue berries with them!" — Kao Get it from Amazon for $11.95 . 27. A subscription to Big Island Coffee Roasters , a must-have for anyone who has ever been lucky enough to visit Hawaii and experience how amazing their coffee is firsthand. You'll be able to bring those delicious flavors into your life daily! The "Tasters Club" subscription will deliver one bag of coffee to you each month. You can choose from four different flavor profiles of coffee and whether you'd like the beans whole or ground. I've been lucky enough to try these coffees (and to have traveled to Hawaii!) and can't get enough. The coffee is ripe harvested, milled in small batches, and roasted-to-order. They really are as delicious as you'd imagine them to be. Get it from Big Island Coffee Roasters for $45/month . 28. A shaker of edible cocktail glitter , so just like Taylor Swift, you and your drinks can make the whole room ✨shiiiiiimmmerrrr✨. Bakel is a small business that specializes in edible glitters for food and drink (fun!). I used the pink glitter to jazz up the drinks at my Taylor Swift–themed baby shower and it was a huge hit! It even looked fabulous when added to sparkling water. A little goes a long way, so don't be concerned when a tiny jar of glitter arrives — it'll be PLENTY. Promising review: " Don’t think any further and just buy it . This was so cool, and everyone loved it! I got the clear one because it will go with any drink. I will be the one to put this in all my friends' drinks. Also had no taste, so it was just the look. Sooooooo cool!" — gigi Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in 18 colors). 29. An under-desk electric treadmill complete with an LED display that shows time, speed, and distance. It also features a quiet motor, and Bluetooth capabilities so you can blast "I Can Go The Distance" a la Hercules while getting your steps in and perusing your emails. See it in action in this TikTok here . The speed range is 0.5–6mph, and it can hold up to 220 pounds. Promising review : "This thing is awesome. I'm a small, not technical person and managed to haul this thing up two flights of stairs (slowly), unbox, turn on and even connect my phone to the Bluetooth in it. No assembly. Simple instructions. Distance and time measurements seem to be accurate, but the 'calories' might be missing a decimal point. No squealing or groaning under my walking. Not too loud. Slides right under my bed. Didn't need to adjust the belt, though the tool to do so is included. Packaging says to oil every 30 hours. The remote is needed to make the treadmill function. It is extremely cheap — like dollar store cheap. I hope the company has a remote replacement for if/when the remote bites it. Even still, I would 100% buy this again. Great treadmill!" — Crowells Get it from Amazon for $290.99+ (available in four colors). 30. Rhode pocket blush — it'll make getting ready for the day a breeze, letting you craft a no-makeup makeup look without the need for a million products. It blends in beautifully and is so buildable (in case you *do* want it to appear more pigmented). It's so lightweight you won't even remember that you have it on! I own this in the neutral peach shade and after trying it out for a while I've found myself reaching for it more than any of my other blush products. It's just SO easy to apply! It can definitely be blended with your fingers, but I opt to use a brush. It's very subtle but adds the perfect amount of glow to my cheeks. I also love that it's not a bulky item, so I can pop it into my bag to add a lil' color to my face whenever. It can also be used on lips! So it's a lovely little two-for-one! Also! Rhode is owned by Hailey Baldwin Bieber. All of the products are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and tested/developed by dermatologists. Promising review: "Umm hello this blush is amazing!??? She’s the perfect shade. I was influenced from TikTok of course so I had to try her out and it was so worth itttt... so girl if your thinking of buying you definitely should. Although, I would say, I wish they were bigger and in afraid I’ll run out to quick!" — Madelynn S. Get it from Rhode Skin for $24 (available in six colors) or buy the entire set for $130 . 31. And a boxed set of The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbooks , perfect for anyone who would basically give their kidney away if it meant being able to chow down on a Mickey-shaped pretzel right about now. This set comes with The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook , The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook and The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook . Promising review: "We like going to the Disney parks, and one of the things we try to do is figure out the different dishes we get at the sit-down restaurants. While most of them are pretty easy to figure out, some of them are not. These books help us go a long way to recreating some of our favorites. It's a fun read." — RocketTom Get it from Amazon for $34 . For more recipes, check out The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book and the latest addition The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook . Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Huntley fills in for injured Tagovailoa, leads Dolphins past Browns 20-3 to keep playoff hopes aliveNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96 Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.
Whether you're a renter, homeowner or potential buyer in South Florida, the new year may present you with some favorable changes in the housing market, according to real estate experts. This could include better prices in 2025, as well as more options to choose from when deciding where to live, whether that's renting an apartment or buying a house. South Florida will remain a high-cost, high-demand region. But many renters and buyers — both current and prospective — still could look forward to leaving behind a real estate market marked by the presidential election and anxiety about a potential market crash. What's to come Prices have actually begun to level off, by dropping altogether or rising at a rate that isn't as high as it was in previous years, and that is expected to continue into the beginning of 2025. "We're actually seeing this in both the buying and the renting," said David Serle, Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors' president. "We're looking at more renters coming into the market and more buyers coming into the market as they perceive that this is a good time to buy or a good time to rent." In Palm Beach County, for example, the median sale price for a single-family home in October of this year was $621,500, as opposed to being $622,733 in October of 2023, according to data from the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors. Similarly, the median price for a townhome or condo was $305,000 in October of this year, which is a decrease from the median price in October 2023 of $315,000. "The properties that are priced right and are renovated or new have been still flying off the shelves, and it continues to be a robust market," Serle said. Whitney Dutton, the residential sales director for Native Realty, a South Florida real estate agency, agreed with the notion that prices are becoming more palatable, particularly in the rental market. Dutton used an example of the Waverly, a residential building in Fort Lauderdale, to illustrate this trend. In February, a two-bedroom was renting for about $3,200; now, a two-bedroom at the Waverly is renting for about $3,000, he said. "Between now and in January, yes, I think that prices have absolutely relaxed a little bit," he said. The driver behind the favorable price conditions has a lot to do with increasing inventory and supply. Earlier in the year, more than 14,000 new apartments were forecast to enter the South Florida market by the end of year. And the months' supply of inventory — which is how many months it would take for an area to reach "zero inventory" if no new listings were added — increased in both Palm Beach and Broward counties this year in comparison to 2023, according to the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors. Homes also are staying on the market longer on average, which means buyers have more flexibility, Dutton said. "If you can put your buyer hat on or your shoes on, you could say, 'Oh OK, I went out and looked at three homes this week, and I didn't really like any of them, but I've been noticing there's more properties coming on. I see more signs up,'" Dutton said. "It completely removes a sense of urgency and fear of loss from the market. And when you remove sense of urgency and fear of loss, the buyer gets to be a little more picky." This "pickiness" can lend itself to more negotiating power for a buyer or renter, Dutton said. "I'm telling a lot of our buyers, don't be afraid to make offers," he said. Edgardo DeFortuna, the president, CEO and founder of Fortune International Group, a South Florida real estate firm, said that even though buyer urgency has slowed, demand has not, and he predicts that will continue into the new year. "The demand has really increased very significantly since the end of the pandemic," he said. "And it continues to a great degree, having a more balanced market, meaning that we have a lot of U.S. buyers in addition to the typical foreign buyer that was always present in the Miami, especially in the South Florida market," he said. He added, "More importantly, people are moving here to both work and reside in, in South Florida. So it's significantly more stable and creating jobs and economic activity." What's getting left behind Dutton believes two primary factors influenced market conditions in 2024: high interest rates and the election. Political speculation led to hesitancy in buyers and sellers, he said, and while people are still waiting to see how the economy might shift under Donald Trump's administration, the real estate market will no longer heave under the weight of an upcoming election. Interest rates have lowered slightly in recent months, and are hovering around the "low-to-mid sixes," Dutton said, and what it's led to is houses taking longer to sell. "Whenever houses are taking longer to sell, sellers get more motivated and buyers get better deals," he said. For the next several months, Dutton doesn't see the market changing much for sellers. "I don't think waiting right now is going to help sellers out. I think if you cannot sell your house today in this market, I don't necessarily know that in six months it's going to be worth 5% more," he said. "If you can sell now, sell now." What's still lacking in both the rental and housing market the most is supply of medium- and low-income housing, DeFortuna said. "We need to try to address that because a lot of the people that are moving to Miami, especially the middle-range people, not the top executives, but the people that are really working in these company need housing and need places to live," he said. DeFortuna is hopeful, though, that initiatives such as Florida's Live Local Act, which provides financial incentives to developers who allocate portions of residential projects to workforce or affordable housing, will help alleviate that problem in the new year. Overall, DeFortuna is optimistic about the state of the real estate market in 2025 with persistent demand, a tapering of prices, rental availability and the announcement of more development projects. "The market is going to continue to do very well here in South Florida," he said.Websites Offering Generative AI for Unclothing People in Images Top 18 Mil. Visits per Year in JapanInternally displaced people walk among the tents in a camp in Tabqa City, Raqqa governorate, northern Syria, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa City. (Associated Press Photo/Hogir El Abdo) BEIRUT — Syrian insurgents swept into the central city of Hama on Thursday and government forces withdrew, dealing another major blow to Syrian President Bashar Assad days after insurgents captured much of Aleppo, the country’s largest city. The stunning weeklong offensive appeared likely to continue, with insurgents setting their sights on Homs, the country’s third-largest city. Homs, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Hama, is the gate to the capital, Damascus, Assad’s seat of power and the coastal region that is a base of support for him. The offensive is being led by the jihadi group HTS and an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Their sudden capture of Aleppo, an ancient business hub in the north, was a stunning prize for Assad’s opponents and reignited the Syrian civil war that had been largely a stalemate for the past few years. Hama is one of the few cities that has remained mostly under government control in the conflict, which broke out in March 2011 following a popular uprising. By sunset, dozens of jubilant fighters were seen shooting in the air in celebration in live footage from Hama’s Assi Square. The square was the scene of massive anti-government protests in the early days of the uprising in 2011, before security forces stormed it and got the city under control. READ: After Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province The Syrian Army on Thursday said it redeployed from Hama and took positions outside the city to protect civilians. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgency, announced in a video message that fighters had reached Hama in a “conquering that is not vengeful, but one of mercy and compassion.” Al-Golani is the leader of the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which previously served as al-Qaida’s branch in Syria and is considered a terrorist group by the United Nations as well as countries including the U.S. The group that was known as the Nusra Front in the early years of Syria’s conflict changed its name and said in recent years that it cut ties with al-Qaida. Al-Golani publicly toured Aleppo on Wednesday and spoke about Hama on Thursday from an undisclosed location in what appeared to be a video filmed with a mobile phone. “This is a massive win for the rebels and a strategic blow for the (Syrian) regime,” Dareen Khalifa, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group and an expert on Syrian groups. She said the question is whether the opposition will be able to reach Homs and take over the area, which she said would be a game-changer. “I think then we are going to have to pause and consider whether or not this regime can actually survive this war,” she added. Internally displaced people sit in a camp in Tabqa City, Raqqa governorate, northern Syria, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Thousands of Kurdish families displaced from Aleppo and Tel Rifaat have ended up in temporary shelters and on the streets in Kurdish-controlled areas of Tabqa City. (Associated Press Photo/Hogir El Abdo) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country supports the opposition fighters, reiterated during a telephone call with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that the Syrian government should urgently engage with its people “for a comprehensive political solution.” Guterres said in a statement later that after 14 years of war in Syria, “it is high time” for all parties to engage seriously in talks to resolve the conflict in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.” That resolution, which was adopted unanimously in December 2015, endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights — an opposition war monitor — said after fierce battles inside Hama, opposition gunmen now control the police headquarters in the city as well as the sprawling air base and the central prison from where hundreds of detainees were set free. “The process leading to the fall of the regime has started,” the Observatory’s chief, Rami Abdurrahman, told Associated Press. READ: Insurgents breach Syria’s largest city for the first time since 2016 Aleppo’s takeover by Syrian insurgents marked the first opposition attack on the city since 2016, when a brutal Russian air campaign retook it for Assad after rebel forces had initially seized it. Military intervention by Russia, Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah, and other militant groups has allowed Assad to remain in power. The latest flare-up in Syria’s long civil war comes as Assad’s main regional and international backers, Russia and Iran, are preoccupied with their own wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine. This time, there appeared to be little to no help from his allies. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the renewed fighting, which began with the surprise opposition offensive Nov. 27. Hama is a major intersection in Syria that links that country’s center with the north as well as the east and west. It is about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of the capital. Hama province also borders the coastal province of Latakia, a main base of popular support for Assad. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The city is known for the 1982 massacre of Hama, one of the most notorious in the modern Middle East, when security forces under Assad’s late father, Hafez Assad, killed thousands to crush a Muslim Brotherhood uprising.Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.
Harte Hanks director Bradley Radoff acquires $241,551 in stockWhat A Mom Of Two Preschoolers Is Wishlisting On Black FridayFeds outlaw another 324 types of firearms, propose donating guns to Ukraine OTTAWA — The Liberal government has outlawed another 324 firearm varieties — guns it says belong on the battlefield, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press Dec 5, 2024 3:25 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message A row of AR-15 style rifles is displayed for a photograph, one with a conversion device installed making it fully automatic, and one a fully automatic M-16 machine-gun, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), National Services Center, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Martinsburg, W.Va. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Alex Brandon OTTAWA — The Liberal government has outlawed another 324 firearm varieties — guns it says belong on the battlefield, not in the hands of hunters or sport shooters. The move follows the May 2020 ban of 1,500 makes and models of firearms, a number that grew to more than 2,000 by November of this year as new variants were identified. The latest prohibition of hundreds more, announced Thursday, follows expressions of concern from gun-control advocates that many assault-style firearms were not covered by the 2020 ban. The measure came on the eve of the 35th anniversary of a gunman's murder of 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc called the Polytechnique shooting a dark chapter that affected a generation. "Our goal is to ensure that no community, no family, is devastated by mass shootings in Canada again," LeBlanc told a news conference. The federal government says it is working with provinces, territories and police on a planned buyback of prohibited weapons from individual owners. It has already run a pilot project on collecting banned firearms from businesses. Ottawa also says it has committed to the Ukrainian government to work with firearm businesses and identify how these guns could support the fight against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Every bit of assistance that we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step towards their victory, and a worthwhile investment of our collective time and efforts," Defence Minister Bill Blair said at the news conference. The newly banned firearms share the same technical characteristics as those prohibited in May 2020. It means they can no longer be legally used or sold in Canada, and can be transferred or transported only under limited circumstances. Following the May 2020 prohibition, an amnesty for individuals and businesses was put in place, allowing time for compliance. A new amnesty order has been introduced for the firearms outlawed Thursday. Officials made it clear that additional makes and models could be added to the list of banned firearms, saying an expert panel will provide advice on guns that are still on the market. For instance, the SKS rifle, which has been used in shooting sprees, remains legal. LeBlanc said a decision on the firearm, used by many Indigenous people for hunting, would be made by February before the next phase of the buyback program. "We want to reflect on this over the coming weeks." The government says it also intends to table regulatory amendments in Parliament on Dec. 13, following through on commitments to make sure that all makes and models of firearms are accounted for prior to entering the Canadian market. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National News Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa Dec 5, 2024 4:02 PM Chief 'disappointed' to see clean water used as a political tactic by Conservatives Dec 5, 2024 3:34 PM Brown: Indian diplomat pushed back when he used the words "Sikh nation" Dec 5, 2024 3:26 PM Featured Flyer
House blocks release of Matt Gaetz ethics reportNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Core & Main president sells $2.75 million in stock
