Will the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (VAS) ever be a growth fund?France celebrated the re-opening of Notre Dame cathedral on Saturday at a special church service that featured a standing ovation for the firefighters who saved the 12th-century landmark from destruction during a 2019 blaze. A two-hour service attended by incoming US president Donald Trump among other world leaders began with the archbishop of Paris knocking on the doors of the cathedral three times. "Notre Dame, model of faith, open your doors to bring together the far-flung children of God in joy," archbishop Laurent Ulrich commanded, banging with a wooden staff crafted from a roof beam that survived the inferno five years ago. Trump could be seen sitting on the front row as guest of honour next to French President Emmanuel Macron, with invitees marvelling at the freshly cleaned walls, new furniture and state-of-the-art lighting installed as part of the overhaul. In a short speech, Macron expressed the "gratitude of the French nation" for the restoration work, achieved at frenzied speed over the last five years. France had "rediscovered what great nations can do -- achieve the impossible", he said. One of the most moving moments came when firefighters in their protective gear walked through the congregation to thunderous applause as the word "Merci" ("Thank you") was beamed on the intricate facade and famous belltowers of the Gothic masterpiece. Small crowds of Parisians and tourists braved wet weather and high winds outside to witness the renaissance of a monument, which came close to collapsing due to the intensity of the inferno that toppled its roof and spire. "I find it really beautiful, even more so now that the spire has been restored," Marie Jean, a 27-year-old dentist from southwest France, told AFP outside. The reconstruction effort cost around 700 million euros ($750 million), financed from donations, with the re-opening achieved within a five-year deadline despite predictions it could take decades. Workers had to overcome problems with lead pollution, the Covid-19 epidemic, and the army general overseeing the project falling to his death while hiking in the Pyrenees last year. Saturday's service featured classical music, the cathedral's choir as well as the "re-awakening" of the 8,000-pipe organ which is considered the voice and soul of the cathedral. A televised public concert planned outside featuring Chinese piano virtuoso Lang Lang and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams had to be pre-recorded on Friday night because of the stormy weather. Held up as an example of French creativity and resilience by Macron, Notre Dame's renaissance so soon after the fire comes at a difficult time for the country. The sense of national accomplishment in restoring a symbol of Paris has been undercut by political turmoil that has left France without a proper government since last week when prime minister Michel Barnier lost a confidence vote. Macron is hoping the re-opening might provide a fleeting sense of national pride and unity -- as the Paris Olympics did in July and August. He scored a major coup by attracting Trump along with around 40 heads of state and government, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who was given a round of applause as he entered Notre Dame. Macron hosted three-way talks with Zelensky and Trump at the presidential palace shortly before the ceremony, with future US military support for Ukraine's war effort against Russia's invasion expected to have been discussed. Trump has vowed to end the nearly three-year Ukraine war when he takes office on January 20, sparking fears in Kyiv that he will force Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for talks with Macron. One surprising absentee on Saturday was Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church. He sent a message addressed to the French people and weighed into a row about whether the place of worship and tourist attraction should remain free to enter. The "immense" numbers set to visit Notre Dame should be welcomed "generously and free of charge", he said, clearly opposing a proposition from the French culture ministry to charge for entry. The exact cause of the 2019 blaze has never been identified despite a forensic investigation by prosecutors, who believe an accident such as an electrical fault was the most likely reason. On Sunday, the first mass with 170 bishops and more than 100 Paris priests will take place at 10:30 am (0930 GMT), followed by a second service in the evening at 6:30 pm which will be open to the public. adp-sjw/jj

Thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents in Spain's second city. Barcelona, which has already taken action to stop the spread of holiday rental apartments, is the latest Spanish city to see protests for cheaper housing. Backed by left-wing parties and unions, the demonstrators gathered in central Barcelona behind a giant banner declaring "Lower the rents". "Today a new political cycle starts concerning housing," Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Catalan Tenants Union, the main organiser, told reporters. "Investors must not be allowed to come to our cities and play with the apartments like a game of Monopoly," she added. The union would target "profiteers" who are taking "half of our salaries", Arcarazo said. The demonstrators demanded a 50 percent cut in rents, leases with an unlimited term and a ban on "speculative" sales of buildings. They threatened to start a rent strike. An estimated 22,000 people took part in a similar demonstration in Madrid on October 13. Campaigns have been launched in other cities. According to the Idealista specialised website, rental prices per square metre have risen 82 percent across Spain over the past decade. The average salary has gone up by 17 percent in that time, according to the national statistics institute. Facing pressure over a housing crisis, the government in 2023 passed legislation calling for more social housing, greater restrictions on rents in high demand areas and penalties for owners who do not occupy properties. But rents have continued to rise while the government has battled city and regional authorities to get some parts of the law applied. vid-vab/tw/jm

Automotive Air Conditioning Market will generate new growth opportunities 2024-2031Thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents in Spain's second city. Barcelona, which has already taken action to stop the spread of holiday rental apartments, is the latest Spanish city to see protests for cheaper housing. Backed by left-wing parties and unions, the demonstrators gathered in central Barcelona behind a giant banner declaring "Lower the rents". "Today a new political cycle starts concerning housing," Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Catalan Tenants Union, the main organiser, told reporters. "Investors must not be allowed to come to our cities and play with the apartments like a game of Monopoly," she added. The union would target "profiteers" who are taking "half of our salaries", Arcarazo said. The demonstrators demanded a 50 percent cut in rents, leases with an unlimited term and a ban on "speculative" sales of buildings. They threatened to start a rent strike. More from this section An estimated 22,000 people took part in a similar demonstration in Madrid on October 13. Campaigns have been launched in other cities. According to the Idealista specialised website, rental prices per square metre have risen 82 percent across Spain over the past decade. The average salary has gone up by 17 percent in that time, according to the national statistics institute. Facing pressure over a housing crisis, the government in 2023 passed legislation calling for more social housing, greater restrictions on rents in high demand areas and penalties for owners who do not occupy properties. But rents have continued to rise while the government has battled city and regional authorities to get some parts of the law applied. vid-vab/tw/jm

Mid-American Conference football goes all in on November weeknights for the TV viewers

Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF ( NASDAQ:FTQI – Free Report ) by 32.7% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 17,672 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,354 shares during the period. Avior Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF were worth $362,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fifth Third Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF during the second quarter worth approximately $3,814,000. TrueMark Investments LLC bought a new position in First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at $3,353,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its position in First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF by 951.3% in the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 125,394 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,561,000 after buying an additional 113,467 shares during the last quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF by 102.9% during the second quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 218,058 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,453,000 after acquiring an additional 110,613 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in shares of First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF by 357.6% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 98,956 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,033,000 after acquiring an additional 77,330 shares during the period. First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of FTQI stock opened at $20.89 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $482.56 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.15 and a beta of 0.52. First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF has a 12 month low of $18.23 and a 12 month high of $21.18. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $20.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.36. First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF Dividend Announcement First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF Company Profile ( Free Report ) The First Trust Nasdaq BuyWrite Income ETF (FTQI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in large cap equity. The fund is an actively-managed portfolio of US stocks, with an options overlay of short calls on the Nasdaq 100. FTQI was launched on Jan 6, 2014 and is managed by First Trust. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FTQI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF ( NASDAQ:FTQI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Trust NASDAQ BuyWrite Income ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Thomas scores 19, Rhode Island beats Providence 69-63

King Charles' former butler, Grant Harrold, has given his top tips on what to get a man who seemingly has it all – something practical, fun, and most importantly, affordable. Revealing the monarch's modest taste, he said, "The King hates being given anything extravagant and expensive. He'd be embarrassed if you spent a fortune on him. He'd say, 'That's lovely but you really shouldn't have.' So, at Christmas , I used to give him books on Victorian gardening or honey-based products because I know how much he loves honey." Your everyday Royal might enjoy festive shopping just as much as anyone else, with habits that strike a chord with us non-royals. Grant Harrold shares, "Everyone assumes the royals only shop in the poshest stores. But they go to the same shops that we do. I'm not saying they never go to Harrods – it's said the late Queen did some Christmas shopping there with her cousin ( the Duchess of Kent ) in the 1950s but she would often nip to her local shops in Ballater village, near Balmoral. The royals enjoy a bargain." The Princess of Wales is no stranger to smart deals, having been sighted grabbing last-minute gifts at The Range in King's Lynn. Alongside Prince William , Kate has also dropped by Bakers and Larners, a Holt department store cherished for its delicious hampers and rustic goods. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla showcases her knack for early gift prep. On an official trip to Nairobi last year, she bagged a "rather large haul" of unique finds from a market, scoring items like blankets, jewellery, and an intriguing pot of cashew butter, which Harrold reveals she boasted as "one up on peanut butter." Queen Elizabeth II had a unique Christmas shopping method, according to her former footman Paul Burrell . A mini 'shop' was set up in a drawing room at Windsor Castle where John Lewis would deliver a selection of almost everything they had in stock, This allowed the Queen to leisurely pick out gifts, often late at night after dinner. Grant Harrold suggests that while the royals could easily ask staff to purchase gifts for them, it's not uncommon to see them mingling among the public. " Princess Beatrice attends the Glastonbury festival most summers!" he exclaims. What's truly astonishing is how often they shop right under our noses without us realising. "In the past, stores would close for Princess Diana . That doesn't happen now," Grant explains. "The royals are very discreet. They always have a bodyguard for protection, but people don't recognise them because you don't expect to see a King or a future Queen browsing in your local store." The convenience of Amazon hasn't escaped the royals either. "The younger ones, especially, are very savvy with online shopping, making Christmas shopping easier," says Grant. However, don't expect to see the monarch struggling with Sellotape. "I can easily see Kate, William and even Anne wrapping their own presents but not the King. He'll have someone do that for him." The royals are known for gathering at 6pm on 24 December at Sandringham to exchange gifts, a tradition that harks back to the German custom of Heiligabend Bescherung – 'Christmas Eve time for exchanging gifts'. The presents are displayed on a long table draped in white cloth, with each pile marked by a name card. The scene is lit only by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree. In his book Spare, Prince Harry describes the festive chaos: "By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place [and] stood before our mound of presents. Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper." There's one rule: each gift must be cheap and cheerful. Royal expert Duncan Larcombe says, "They don't spend much money on gifts," but they do put a lot of thought into their choices, with the funnier and quirkier, the better. Harry once received a pen with a rubber fish attached from his great-aunt Princess Margaret. It's rumoured that he gifted the late Queen a plastic singing sea bass and a shower cap emblazoned with the slogan, Ain't life a b***h! , while his brother presented his grandmother with slippers featuring her face. King Charles reportedly received a white leather loo seat from his sister, while Harry was gifted a 'Grow your own Girlfriend' kit from Kate. Princess Diana initially missed the memo on 'silly gifts', opting to give cashmere sweaters to the family. However, she got it right the following year, choosing a leopard print bath mat for Sarah, Duchess of York . "There are serious gifts given, too," says Grant. "You'll see the royal ladies wearing a new necklace and you'll just know it was a Christmas present. And, of course, Santa still visits Sandringham. I like to think that on Christmas Day morning the children will have lots of presents in their stockings or under the tree." The Wales kids are encouraged to send letters to Lapland and, when George was four, William personally delivered his son's list to Santa Claus at a festive market in Finland's Helsinki. George's wish? A police car. "Money isn't an object for William and Kate, but they're not indulgent," says Duncan. "So the younger royals won't be showered with very, very expensive gifts." While you might assume that's the influence of Kate's parents, former Royal security chief Ken Wharfe points out that William and Harry were never over-indulged as children. "Diana was very careful to ensure that they weren't flooded with gifts," he explains. "Gifts did appear from unknown sources but they were often returned or given to charity because they didn't need them." Her late Majesty was all about keeping the Santa sparkle alive. When a young lad once quizzed her, "Do you believe in Father Christmas? " she deftly answered: "I like to believe in Father Christmas, yes." And it seems her son is following suit. On a trip to a West London shopping centre, the King couldn't hide his joy meeting Santa Claus. Saint Nick himself spilled the beans later, saying he assured the King that he's on Santa's 'very good boy' list". Spot on!

Skattebo and Arizona State to the playoff after 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. Boise State makes the College Football Playoff as Big 12's 1st-round bye chances dim INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The first big win in college football’s postseason goes to Boise State. The have Broncos captured the Mountain West Conference title and earned their spot in the sport’s first 12-team playoff. As for the losers, there was UNLV, which fell 21-7 to Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos in the conference title game. But more than that, it was the Big 12, which saw one path to a first-round bye in those playoffs blocked off by Jeanty and Company. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Man City drops more points after draw with Crystal Palace and Man United loses again Manchester City’s Premier League title defense has taken another blow after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Four-time defending champion City ended a seven-game winless run on Wednesday by beating Nottingham Forest. But City has dropped more points on Saturday after the draw at Selhurst Park. It could have been worse for City after Palace led twice. Pep Guardiola’s team is fourth in the standings and eight points behind leader Liverpool. Liverpool has a game in hand after its derby with Everton was postponed due to a storm. Amber Glenn becomes first US woman in 14 years to win figure skating Grand Prix Final GRENOBLE, France (AP) — Amber Glenn has become the first American to win the women’s Grand Prix Final competition since Alissa Czisny 14 years ago. Glenn landed a triple axel on her way to a total score of 212.07 points to beat Japan's Mone Chiba and triple world champion Kaori Sakamoto. That continues a stunning breakout season at the age of 25 for Glenn. The U.S. could win two more titles later Saturday. Ilia Malinin leads the men’s event ahead of the free skate and Madison Chock and Evan Bates lead the ice dance. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point before the sparsely attended title game between No. 12 Arizona State and 16th-ranked Iowa State. There were thousands of empty seats at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Everton vs. Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh. Other Premier League games remain on LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed because of Storm Darragh's dangerous winds and heavy rain on the west coast. The Met office says parts of Wales have experienced wind gusts of over 90 mph. The four other Premier League games Saturday remained on as planned. Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 5:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford. The remaining games start at 3 p.m. local time. Aston Villa hosts Southampton and urged fans to use extra time to get to Villa Park in Birmingham. In London, Brentford will host Newcastle, and Crystal Palace will host Manchester City. Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After Ashton Jeanty streaked through the middle of UNLV’s defense on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run Friday night in the Mountain West Conference title game, he didn’t strike the Heisman pose. He didn’t even lobby for it after the game, instead letting his play do the talking in No. 10 Boise State's 21-7 victory over No. 19 UNLV 21-7. Jeanty added another 209 yards — his sixth game over 200 yards this season — to push his total to 2,497 — just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record. The Broncos earned a spot in the College Football Playoff with the victory. No. 24 Army wins AAC championship in first attempt as Daily runs for 4 TDs in 35-14 win over Tulane WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for four touchdowns to tie the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league by beating Tulane 35-14. Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yarder to set up a Daily TD, and a score. Daily added 126 yards on the ground for the Black Knights, who overwhelmed AAC opponents with their bruising, clock-eating rushing attack during their first around the league, then ran it to perfection in the championship game. Army moved to 11-1. Daily had runs of 5, 3, 4 and 7 yards. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In this video, Motley Fool contributors Jason Hall and Tyler Crowe discuss whether Target 's ( TGT 2.81% ) latest struggles are more macro or management failure. Particularly as Walmart ( WMT 2.32% ) delivers strong growth and Williams-Sonoma ( WSM -0.30% ) takes market share. *Stock prices used were from the afternoon of Nov. 21, 2024. The video was published on Nov. 23, 2024.Polls close in Ghana's general election in the shadow of the worst economic crisis in a generationBad Axe: Wisconsin wary of rival Minnesota with bowl bid in peril

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Wisconsin faces its first losing season in 23 years and the end of a bowl streak when the Badgers host arch-rival Minnesota on Friday in the annual Big Ten battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) lost to No. 4 Penn State 26-25. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) lost its fourth straight, 44-25, at Nebraska in a game that was not as close as the score. "Well 1890 is the first time we played this football team coming up and this is what it's all about," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said of the rivalry. "And you wouldn't want to have it any other way, being able to end the season with one of your biggest rivals. I know our guys will be ready to go, ready to play." Wisconsin has 22 consecutive winning seasons since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001, the longest active streak among Power 4 teams. The Badgers also have played in a bowl game in each of the last 22 seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest in FBS. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is more concerned with the rivalry game than the winning season and bowl streaks. "I'm not downplaying it, I'm not saying it's not important, I'm not saying it's another thing that's on our plate," Fickell said Monday. "But when it gets down to this last week, it's about one thing, it's about the rivalry. It's about preparing to play in the most important game of the year." The Gophers have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row. Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, while allowing 18.5, 15th-best in the country. Max Brosmer has completed 67 percent of his passes for 221 per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Daniel Jackson is the top target with 69 catches for 802 yards and three scores, and Darius Taylor is the top rusher with 730 yards at 4.8 per carry with nine touchdowns. One week after leading Oregon after three quarters, the Wisconsin defense was shredded for 473 yards and five touchdowns by Nebraska. Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered an early season-ending knee injury, has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games. Locke has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 180.6 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and 10 picks. Tawee Walker is the leading rusher with 828 yards at 4.7 per carry with 10 touchdowns. He has failed to reach 60 yards in three of the last four games. Former Wisconsin and NFL standout JJ Watt posted on social media his assessment - and frustration - with the Badgers after the Nebraska game. "Losing happens, it's part of the game. Hearing announcers talk about how much tougher and more physical Nebraska & Iowa are while getting blown out ... that's the issue," Watt wrote on X. "We are Wisconsin. Physicality, running game, great O-Line and great defense. That is our identity." Wisconsin defeated the Gophers 28-14 last after Minnesota had won the previous two meetings. The Badgers have won 7 of the last 10 and lead the storied series 63-62-8. --Field Level Media

NWSL Championship game 2024: Time, TV and how to watch Pride vs. SpiritAP Business SummaryBrief at 6:36 p.m. ESTCanada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump's tariff threat

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half, leaving his status uncertain Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

DALLAS — The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a plan to clean a toxic site leaking cancer-causing chemicals under dozens of homes in Grand Prairie, Texas. Construction of the cleanup equipment is expected to begin next year, but a timeline for the abatement process is still unknown. A spokeswoman for the EPA said it’s not yet known when the cleanup will begin. Both federal and state authorities have acknowledged frustration with the slow-moving process but said it is typical with this type of toxic site. EPA officials previously said cleanup could begin as early as 2024. Roughly 80 homes in the predominantly low-income Burbank Gardens neighborhood are contaminated by toxic chemicals discarded by defense contractor Delfasco Forge. In 2018, the 1.1-acre property was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List, which includes some of the nation’s most-polluted sites. In an email to The Dallas Morning News, EPA spokeswoman Jennah Durant said it is common for the abatement timeline to shift. “Sites that are placed on the National Priorities List are by definition the most complex cleanup sites that usually take years or even decades to fully address.” Tests have shown that trichloroethylene, or TCE, which is a degreaser, contaminated the soil, bled into the groundwater and vaporized into the air. Delfasco Forge — which made practice bombs for the Navy and Air Force and machinery during the 1980s and ‘90s — used TCE to clean equipment. In addition to causing cancer, TCE can cause heart defects in developing fetuses and damage the liver, kidneys, respiratory, immune and central nervous systems in adults. Pregnant women are among the most vulnerable. At a public meeting in 2022, several residents questioned whether enough was being done, and quickly enough, to address the public health hazard. The Grand Prairie plant, at 114 N.E. 28th St., closed in 1998. In 2008, Delfasco Forge filed for bankruptcy, in part because of liabilities from the contamination. As part of its bankruptcy settlement, the company paid the EPA $400,000 and the state of Texas $600,000 for mitigation efforts. To clean the site, the EPA said it plans to initially adopt two strategies, which will cost the agency $3.3 million. First, it will use a soil vapor extraction system, which is essentially a large vacuum equipped with carbon filters. The technology has been used to clean some 285 other Super Fund sites. Second, a groundwater treatment barrier will treat the toxic plume. Crews are now conducting groundwater sampling, drilling new wells to establish the extent of the plume and assessing the health risk. Both the EPA and the Texas State Department of Health Services have urged residents to request a free vapor mitigation system be installed in their homes. However, many in the neighborhood are renters, and homeowners must approve the mitigation systems. -------- ©2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.A team of Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) visited Business Facilitation Centre (BFC), and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) here on Sunday. The team comprised Project Director Haroon Rasul and Project Director Syed Faizan Bukhari. The visit of team was to continuing with awareness campaign of “Maryam Ki Dastak” App in Business Facilitation Centre (BFC) associated Chambers of Commerce and Industries. The team was warmly welcomed by SCCI Vice President Omer Khalid, Convener SME committee Faizan Akbar and Convener Electronic and Social Media Committee Ejaz Ghauri. Briefing about Maryam Ki Dastak, Project Director Haroon Rasul appreciating the efforts of Punjab government, stressed the need for further collaboration to support such innovative solutions. The initiative aims to provide doorstep delivery of various government services, ensuring convenience and accessibility for the public, he added. He gave a comprehensive presentation detailing the objectives, scope, and achievements of the Maryam Ke Dastak programme.