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Politics, like comedy, is about timing. Albanese will be a victim of the liberal era’s fallAt the top of a twisting driveway, the Crafty Distillery enjoys a glorious view of the Galloway landscape. Situated just outside Newton Stewart, it is best known for its gin production but has branched out more recently into vodka and whisky. Its products are already stocked in a number of major supermarkets and hundreds of independent retailers but the company now has plans to expand. Founder and managing director Graham Taylor said it could allow them to increase production, hire more staff and boost turnover signficantly. The story of the distillery goes back to 2014 when Graham was working abroad but was keen to move back to the area where he grew up and start a business. "I was working in the design industry, but I had an interest in spirits," he explained. "I guess my dad was a whisky fan and both me and my brother got into drinking whisky over the years." He spotted a distillery for sale in the area but could not afford to buy it so, instead, ended up finding a site where they could build their own. They started building in 2016 and completed it early the following year. And when it came to developing their first gin, it was inspired by their surroundings. "First and foremost, we are a Galloway distillery," said Graham. "You've got Cairnsmore of Fleet in front of you, you look up to the Merrick, you've got the history and we've got this absolute bounty of botanicals. "So when we went to develop our first product, which was the Hills and Harbour gin we wanted to capture some of that." So from the hills they took noble fir - and seaweed from the coastline - to give it its distinctive flavour. Only recently have they branched out into whisky and they are working with a farmer in nearby Port William to look at growing local barley. Now the company, with a staff of 12, has gone as far as it can with the current facilities and has plans to expand. "We've really maxed out the production in here," Graham explained. At present they produce "only" 10,000 pure litres a year for their whisky but the new facilities could allow them to go up to 100,000 with the potential to reach 200,000. It would also let them double white spirit production as well. "We've grown roughly between kind of 10% and 20% every year for the last five years," he said. "We've done it in almost, you could say, in quite a traditional fashion. "We only invest and we only grow when we can afford to, because we don't work with banks in the sense that we don't have investors, we don't have bank loans at the moment." They have just launched their first crowd funder to look to get more local investment because Graham said they were at a point where they really hoped to "scale this up" and be able to take on more staff. "Last year we had £1.1m turnover and almost in its entirety that has come from white spirit," he said. "So what we're looking to do is double that revenue for the business, so we're looking to get that to £2.2m in the next few years. "That means producing, roughly, about 100,000 bottles a year." In the process, they hope to "help put Galloway on the map" and be able to take on more staff. "The main story I guess here from my perspective is that we're at that point where we've had a really good solid seven or eight years of growth," said Graham. "We really want to double down and cement our commitment to the region, the existing staff and the future potential. "To do that, we really need to try and expand in operations." Dumfries and Galloway Council has just approved the expansion of the site with a new production and visitor facility. Graham said the best part of running a business in Galloway was also one of its most challenging aspects. "You're only two hours from Glasgow - in some ways we are actually easy to get to, but, in a lot of people's minds, we're quite remote," he said. "We really need more people to come and enjoy it. "This is an absolutely magical place, and there's tons of opportunities here - you just have to find them."Jones accounts for 4 TDs, defense adds two TDs, NC Central swamps Delaware State 52-10
LAS VEGAS — There are three races remaining in the Formula 1 season and Max Verstappen of Red Bull is close to a fourth consecutive world championship, which can wrap up Saturday night at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. All is not smooth sailing headed into this final month of racing: "It was a bit of a surprise, I think, for everybody," said Mercedes driver George Russell, a GPDA director. "It's a hell of a lot of pressure now onto the new race director (with) just three races left. Often, as drivers, we probably feel like we're the last to find out this sort of information." The Andretti team is expected to receive F1 approval to join the grid, albeit without Michael Andretti, who has scaled back his role dramatically since the IndyCar season ended in September. Many drivers, particularly seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, have been at odds with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem since his election following the 2021 season finale. In the GDPA statement, they reminded the sanctioning body "our members are adults" who don't need lectures and fines on foul language or jewelry bans, and simply want fair and consistent race control. There's been no response from Ben Sulayem, and won't be this weekend since he does not attend the LVGP. He will be at Qatar and the finale in Abu Dhabi next month. Hamilton doesn't think all the behind-the-scenes changes will be a fan topic as the season comes to a close. But he noted that consistency from race control is all the drivers have asked for, while throwing his support behind Domenicali and the job Maffei has done in growing F1 since Liberty took over. "I really hope Stefano is not leaving because he's been so instrumental in changes and progress to this whole thing," Hamilton said. "And he knows the sport as well as anyone. But all good things do come to an end, and whoever they put into place, I just hope they are like-minded. But sometimes you have to shake the trees." That's just what happened with the surprise departure of race director Wittich. Although drivers have been unhappy with race officiating this season and held a private GPDA meeting in Mexico City, Russell said they had no prior warning Wittich was out. The race director is the referee each weekend and Wittich has been in charge since 2022, when Michael Masi was fired following the controversial 2021 season-ending, championship-altering finale at Abu Dhabi. Now the man in charge for the final three races is Rui Marques, the Formula 2 and Formula 3 race director. Las Vegas, which overcame multiple stumbling blocks in last year's debut before putting on one of the best races of the season, is a difficult place to start. Verstappen can win his fourth title by simply scoring three points more than Lando Norris of McLaren. "It's a bit weird with three races to go to do that," Verstappen said. "It doesn't matter if you're positive or negative about certain things. I thought in Brazil there was definitely room for improvement, for example. It's still a bit weird having to now then deal with a different race director." Charles Leclerc of Ferrari wondered why the move was made with only three races to go. "To do it so late in the season, at such a crucial moment of the season, it could have probably been managed in a better way," he said. The drivers have consistently asked for clearer guidelines in the officiating of races, specifically regarding track limits and racing rules. The drivers have no idea how Marques will officiate, highlighting a disconnect between the competitors and Ben Sulaymen's FIA. "We just want to be transparent with the FIA and have this dialogue that is happening," Russell said. "And I think the departure of Niels is also a prime example of not being a part of these conversations." The GDPA statement made clear the drivers do not think their voice is being heard. "If we feel we're being listened to, and some of the changes that we are requesting are implemented, because ultimately we're only doing it for the benefit of the sport, then maybe our confidence will increase," Russell said. "But I think there's a number of drivers who feel a bit fed up with the whole situation. It only seems to be going in the wrong direction." He also said the relationship between the drivers and the FIA seems fractured. "Sometimes just hiring and firing is not the solution," he said. "You need to work together to improve the problem." Norris, who has battled Verstappen this year with mixed officiating rulings, said "obviously things are not running as smoothly as what we would want." Marques has his first driver meeting ahead of Thursday night's two practice sessions and then three weeks to prove to the competitors he is up for the job. Carlos Sainz Jr., who will leave Ferrari for Williams at the end of the season, hopes the drama doesn't distract from the momentum F1 has built over the last five years. "I think Formula 1 is in a great moment right now and all these rumors, I think in every team, every job, there's job changes," he said. "It's not big drama. I'm a big fan of the people you mentioned, they've done an incredible job in Formula 1 and Formula 1 is what it is thanks to these people. But it's just so emotional, especially the Stefano one. The only one that has a real effect is the race director. But I think if he does a good job, it should be transparent and nothing big." Get local news delivered to your inbox!WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.”Eagle-eyed viewers spot Tulisa was eager to remove 'all traces' of I'm A CelebHilton Partners with American Campus Communities to Offer Exclusive Benefits for Students
Cardi B says she went on a massive shopping spree following her divorce from Offset , spending $2 million on designer jewelry, bags, and more. She explained the decision after claiming she charges $1.5 million for concerts in the United States. “In October alone, I spent about $2 million just on my gifts I bought for myself,” Cardi said on X (formerly Twitter) Spaces. “Because you know what? I’m divorced, I’m single and shopping makes me feel good.” The topic originally arose as fans complained about the latest delay to her long-awaited sophomore album . She explained that, despite not dropping a new album since 2018, she's not hurting for cash. “I get paid $1.5 million to do shows in America, depending on the venue. Because If the venue is big, I gotta get $2 million. If I’m going out of the state, I’m getting [$2.5 million.]," she said. “I pay my nanny for my baby $700 a day,. Every single time I step out just hair and makeup is about $4,000, $5,000, depending on the length of the f*ckig hair. My outfits don’t even be less than f*cking $8,000. Just so I can step out of the house, let’s make that clear.” Read More: Cardi B Promises She's "Whipping Everybody’s Ass" In 2025 Nov 1, 2024; West Allis, WI, USA; Rapper and songwriter Cardi B speaks at a campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris Friday, November 1, 2024, at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images From there, she promised the new album would eventually come. “It’s gonna come and everything is gonna make sense,” she added. “I know I say that all the time, but I swear that on everything. I have no choice but to put it the f*ck out.” Cardi had been saying that the project would be dropping before 2025 throughout the year. Her tone changed in recent weeks after admitting this had been the "weirdest year I have ever experienced." Cardi also recently remarked that she's going to be hitting the "reset button" and "whipping everybody’s ass" in 2025. Check out Cardi B's latest rant on social media below. Read More: Cardi B Seems Unfazed After Offset Appears To Threaten To Expose HerArvind Kejriwal thanks Punjab on AAP's bypoll win
AFL NSW Hall of Famer Shane Lenon believes the flood of Riverina Football League players into the Ovens and Murray should be worth one more point. or signup to continue reading One of the most respected figures in Riverina Football and an inaugural inductee into the AFL NSW Hall of Fame this year, joining three-time Brownlow medallist Haydn Bunton and two-time North Melbourne premiership player Wayne Carey, Lenon stressed he had no issue with players tackling a higher standard. However, under the player points system (PPS) Riverina products are only three points at their new O and M club. "We're happy to see players at the higher level, I'm rapt they're having a crack at it, but it's not a level playing field," the 2024 Collingullie-Wagga premiership coach said. "A , a Cayden Winter were three-pointers when they came to North Albury (2023) and they're going to be better players, but they are worth four points. "That's smart on their behalf (North Albury) because the rules allow them to do that." Lenon is a former best and fairest at North Albury, as well as fellow O and M club Myrtleford, and remains a passionate follower of the league. He has lost premiership players Ed Perryman (Lavington), Kane Flack, James Pope and (North Albury), while Leeton-Whitton best and fairest Angus Crelley has joined that quartet at the Hoppers. The RFL's Jim Quinn medallist Nathan Richards and fellow Griffith team-mate Jack Rowston have joined Corowa-Rutherglen. "I'd say the same thing for the Farrer League and Hume League," Lenon added. "The good players in those competitions are going to be good players in the Ovens and Murray. "Ed Perryman is going to be one of the best recruits in that competition and he's worth three points. "The Ovens and Murray has already got the advantage with the higher standard and salary cap. They've already got a huge advantage as it is without getting players for three points, it's not fair." The RFL salary cap is $85,000, while the O and M is $130,000. Riverina League clubs are also beneficiaries of the current points system, as they are able to recruit players from either the Farrer and Hume Leagues for three points. "I don't have an issue with the higher competition having more money in their salary cap," Lenon suggested. "That's fine and obviously the attraction for young players is playing at a higher level, it's just the points and that's one thing that should be looked at. "North Albury is probably the club that has recruited the most out of the Farrer League. "Good on them as it's smart what they are doing, but they should be worth four points. "They appealed as they wanted extra points, but common sense prevailed there as they didn't win the appeal and that was a good decision." DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
As hundreds of Winnipeg bus shelters await broken glass replacements and wintry weather sets in, the City of Winnipeg is preparing to test out a shatterproof alternative. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * As hundreds of Winnipeg bus shelters await broken glass replacements and wintry weather sets in, the City of Winnipeg is preparing to test out a shatterproof alternative. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? As hundreds of Winnipeg bus shelters await broken glass replacements and wintry weather sets in, the City of Winnipeg is preparing to test out a shatterproof alternative. A new pilot project will test how polycarbonate glass panels could help address the backlog in repairs. At a bus stop on Main Street that has several missing panes of glass, a Transit rider said it has been a struggle to escape recently plummeting temperatures. BORIS MINKEVICH / FREE PRESS FILES City workers clean up broken glass from a bush shelter on Maryland near Notre Dame. The city is launching a new pilot project to see if polycarbonate panels would be a viable alternative for glass in Winnipeg Transit bus shelters. “The winter is coming and it’s getting so cold and there’s a lot of people waiting for the buses. The (shelters) are not so good in quality. I think they should be much more winter-resistant,” said Tammana Bansal. Bansal said the effort to try out shatterproof glass to better keep structures intact is welcome. Another rider agreed. “I think that would be really good, especially when it’s super cold out, when it’s snowing ... and there’s nowhere to go,” said Summer Wilson. A new city tender seeks a company to buy the special glass for a roughly one-year pilot project, which does not yet have an exact start date. Last year, 305 bus shelters had 750 panes of glass damaged, information from Winnipeg Transit shows. This year so far, 233 shelters have been damaged, affecting 591 panes of glass and 93 doors. As of Tuesday, 207 shelters were missing at least some glass, up from 115 at the end of 2023 and 143 at the end of 2022. The city has 880 bus shelters, including 170 that are heated. Winnipeg Transit first confirmed it was planning to test out shatterproof glass at bus shelters in November 2023 but did not post a tender to buy the material until this week. In an email, a Transit spokeswoman said each panel is expected to cost between 2.5 and four times more than regular safety glass. “The cost and number of shelters installed with polycarbonate-style panels... will be determined as part of the (tender) evaluation process,” wrote Megan Benedictson. Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of council’s public works committee, said she’s hopeful the pilot will ease the demand to replace shattered glass. “We’re constantly repairing, it’s costing us about $300,000 a year on replacing glass in the shelters. There are 183 open work orders right now... and it doesn’t seem like it’s coming to an end,” said Lukes (Waverley West). While the tender doesn’t note exactly how many shelters the shatterproof glass will be installed at, Lukes estimates it could be placed at about five to eight sites. She noted a surge in broken glass arrived with the pandemic, caused by vandalism, vehicle crashes and fires. “We’re hoping that this glass (will help prevent that)... There’s actually a lot of businesses that are using it and it’s proving to be very effective,” she said. Lukes said proper shelter is critical for transit riders in a winter city like Winnipeg and will also be needed after Winnipeg overhauls its primary transit network in June. “With the new primary network... virtually everyone’s going to have to make a transfer at some point in their trip ... because it’s a spine-and-feeder system. Your next bus might be five or 10 minutes (away),” she said. The councillor noted social issues appear linked to the shattered glass, as some bus shelters have also been used by the homeless as a place to stay. Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, said efforts to better maintain shelters are “terribly needed.” “As the work is structured, (bus) operators have to wait out on the street to take over (routes)... so they also need to be protected,” said Scott. The union leader, who represents drivers and bus shelter maintenance crews, said one of his members reported multiple panes of glass being shattered at the same bus shack three times in a short period. “That’s why the department has often exceeded its glass budget in the first third of the year... We understand that this shatterproof glass is more expensive. But, in the long run, it will be a cost savings, if you’re not having to replace those panels on a regular basis,” said Scott. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. However, he suspects catching up on glass replacements could be followed by an increase in the number of people seeking bus shelters to sleep in, since they would become relatively warmer. “This is probably now going to increase occupancy in shelters. (So) those underlying issues that bring that to the forefront have to be addressed as well,” he said. The city will accept bids to provide the shatter-resistant glass until Dec. 16. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementWhere to watch Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Bayern Munich, lineups, odds: Champions League live stream, pick
Chargers are expected to be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against Falcons
TROY, Ala. (AP) — Amir "Primo" Spears led UTSA with 29 points, including a three-point play with 25.8 seconds left, as the Roadrunners knocked off Merrimack 76-74 on Wednesday. Spears added five rebounds for the Roadrunners (2-3). Jonnivius Smith scored 11 points while shooting 5 of 7 from the field and added 20 rebounds. Marcus Millender went 3 of 9 from the field (2 for 6 from 3-point range) to finish with 10 points. Adam Clark led the way for the Warriors (1-6) with 28 points, six rebounds and four steals. Devon Savage added 15 points for Merrimack. Bryan Etumnu finished with 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. The loss was the Warriors' sixth in a row. Damari Monsanto put up eight points in the first half for UTSA, who led 37-36 at halftime. Spears scored a team-high 24 points for UTSA in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .IO Biotech Receives Notice from Nasdaq Regarding Minimum Bid Price Requirement
Jones accounts for 4 TDs, defense adds two TDs, NC Central swamps Delaware State 52-10No. 7 Tennessee outscored UT Martin by 28 points in the second half in routing the visiting Skyhawks 78-35 on Friday afternoon in Knoxville. Chaz Lanier scored a game-high 18 points for the Volunteers (7-0), who expanded on a 35-20 halftime lead with a 43-15 second half. Felix Okpara had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, helping Tennessee command the paint along with Igor Milicic, who added nine points and 13 rebounds. Zakai Zeigler nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine assists. The Volunteers used their size to their advantage, outscoring UT Martin 36-10 in the paint and out rebounding the Skyhawks 49-24. That included 20 offensive rebounds for Tennessee, which led to 19 second-chance points. UT Martin (2-5) was cold coming out of the locker room after halftime, missing its first eight shots. Conversely, the Vols started the second half with a nine-point run to extend their lead to 24 points. The Vols never let the Skyhawks score consecutive baskets in the first half, holding UT Martin to 25 percent shooting (4 of 16) from beyond the arc and allowing a total of only three points from the starting five. For the game, guard Josue Grullon led UT Martin with 15 points. The leading scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference entering Friday at 18.2 points per game, Grullon has not started any game for head coach Jeremy Shulman. Most of the Skyhawks' points -- 28 of 35 -- came from their reserves. The starting five combined to score seven points -- six points from Matija Zuzic and a free throw for Lamine Niag. The starters went a combined 2 of 18 from the floor, while UT Martin as a team shot 22.6 percent (12 of 53) from the field. The Skyhawks made 5 of 7 free-throw attempts and made 18 turnovers. The Volunteers, who got 23 points off the bench, were 8-for-10 and had 11 turnovers. Tennessee improved to 6-0 all-time against UT Martin since 1993. --Field Level Media
