genie wish granted House Speaker Mike Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks spoke to reporters following an event in Indianola Oct. 18, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ reelection win for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District was confirmed Wednesday as the recount requested by Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan concluded. The Associated Press called the race at 3:07 p.m. Wednesday, several weeks after the Nov. 5 general election. As of the latest updates from the AP, Miller-Meeks won with unofficial results showing her at 206,955 votes to Bohannan’s 206,157 — a 798-vote margin, slightly smaller than the 802-vote gap reported when Bohannan requested the recount earlier in November . The recount process was conducted in all 20 counties in the 1st Congressional District over the course of seven days, with the final two counties — Johnson and Keokuk counties — finishing their recounts Wednesday. There were no changes to the vote totals during the recount process in Keokuk County, according to the local county auditor’s office. In Johnson County, Miller-Meeks’ lead dropped by two votes and Bohannan’s dropped by six, according to county auditor staff. Bohannan conceded the race in a Wednesday statement, congratulating Miller-Meeks on her victory. She thanked election officials and volunteers for their efforts during the election and recount process — as well as thanking Iowans “for their patience” as the recount was conducted. “Although this is not the result we wanted, I am so proud of our campaign,” Bohannan said. “We exceeded all expectations and turned a district that many pundits thought was unwinnable into one of the very closest races in the country. ... I am honored by the roughly half of Iowans in this district – people of all political parties – who voted for me to be their next congresswoman. Although I won’t be able to represent them in Washington DC this January, I want them to know that I will continue our important work of putting Iowa first.” With the conclusion of the 1st Congressional District recount, all recount processes for 2024 elections in the state have concluded. Three legislative races were also brought to recount from the 2024 election with results showing two Democratic incumbents, Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Waukee, and Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport, keeping their seats, as well as confirming the loss of incumbent Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, to Republican Mike Pike. With these recounts over, Iowa’s federal delegation will continue to be all Republican. Republicans will also hold a trifecta of control at the Iowa Statehouse, with supermajorities in both the state House and Senate. Miller-Meeks gave her victory speech at her Election Night watch party and has criticized Bohannan for pursuing a recount. She, alongside the House GOP campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee, have criticized Bohannan for not conceding the race earlier because of the cost to the state, claiming the process had cost $21,000 as of Tuesday. Mike Marinella, a NRCC spokesperson, released a statement congratulating Miller-Meeks on her reelection Wednesday. “Congratulations to Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks on her incredible victory,” Marinella said. “As a doctor, veteran, and Congresswoman, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has always answered the call to service. Rep. Miller-Meeks’ record speaks for itself, and she will continue to deliver valuable results for veterans, farmers, small business owners and families across Southeast Iowa.”

A first treatment has been found for chronic asthma in 50 years and could be “game changing” in preventing deadly attacks. Scientists have discovered benralizumab could tackle suffocating attacks for people with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A breakthrough Lancet study shows an injection during a flare up was more effective than current standard care of steroid tablets, showing it cut the need for further treatment by 30%. Lead investigator Professor Mona Bafadhel, of King's College London, said: "This could be a game-changer for people with asthma and COPD. Treatment for asthma and COPD exacerbations have not changed in 50 years, despite causing 3.8 million deaths worldwide a year combined. Benralizumab is a safe and effective drug already used to manage severe asthma. We've used the drug in a different way to show that it's more effective than steroid tablets, which is the only treatment currently available." About 5.5 million Brits have asthma while an estimated three million people have COPD, a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, but two thirds of these are undiagnosed. Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody, which are proteins made in a lab that bind to specific targets in the body. It targets specific white blood cells, called eosinophils, to reduce lung inflammation. It is currently used by the NHS as a repeat treatment for severe asthma at a low dose, but a new trial at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust found a higher single dose is very effective if injected at the time of a flare-up. Researchers said benralizumab could also potentially be administered safely at home or in a GP practice, as well as in A&E. First author Dr Sanjay Ramakrishnan, of the University of Western Australia , said: "Our study shows massive promise for asthma and COPD treatment. COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide but treatment for the condition is stuck in the 20th century. We need to provide these patients with life-saving options before their time runs out." The drug could be lifesaving intervention for the 50% of asthma attacks and 30% of COPD attacks which are “eosinophilic exacerbations” - meaning they involve a type of white blood cell. Eosinophils protect the body from allergens, parasites, foreign bacteria and they release enzymes during infections, allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The clinical trial recruited 158 people who needed medical attention in A&E for their asthma or COPD attack. Patients were given a quick blood test to see what type of attack they were having, with those suffering one involving eosinophils being suitable for treatment. Participants were randomly split into three groups. One received the benralizumab injection and dummy tablets, another received standard prednisolone steroids and a dummy injection, and the third group received both the benralizumab injection and steroids. After 28 days, respiratory symptoms of cough, wheeze, breathlessness and sputum were found to be better in people on benralizumab. And after 90 days, there were four times fewer people in the benralizumab group who failed treatment compared with those receiving steroids. Treatment with the benralizumab injection also took longer to fail, meaning fewer visits to a GP or hospital for patients. People also reported a better quality of life on the new regime. Researchers said steroids can have severe side-effects such as increasing the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis and that switching to benralizumab could provide huge benefits. Dr Samantha Walker, director at charity Asthma and Lung UK, said: "It's appalling that this is the first new treatment for those suffering from asthma and COPD attacks in 50 years, indicating how desperately underfunded lung health research is." AstraZeneca provided the drug for the study and funded the research, but had no input into trial design, delivery, analysis or interpretation. The findings are published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

Wall Street stocks surged to fresh records Wednesday on hopes about easing US monetary policy, shrugging off political upheaval in South Korea and France. All three major US indices scored records, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing above 45,000 for the first time. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.PM to promise police officer for every community in landmark ‘Plan for Change’

If you’re tuning into the radio in Boulder County, chances are the dial lands on 88.5 FM, the home of KGNU. Known for its eclectic mix of music, independent news and being listener-and-volunteer-supported, KGNU has been a beloved Front Range audible staple for 46 years. Now, the station is turning the volume up on its future with plans for a new downtown headquarters. So why the big move? KGNU’s current home at 4700 Walnut Street, where the station has operated for more than 25 years, is — according to Station Manager Tim Russo — looking a little worse for wear. The facility has older technology and limited community space for the plethora of activities that KGNU hosts — including over 200 live in-studio, on-air musical performances to date in 2024. After Boulder County’s devastating floods of 2013 underscored the need for more resilient infrastructure, KGNU began exploring possibilities for a new home base. By 2017, with the support of Boulder’s Community, Culture and Safety ballot measure, the dream of a new headquarters started to take shape. Last year, the station finally closed on the 14th Street property, a former office building that Russo calls “the perfect spot.” “The new facility is in an incredible location for us — right downtown and next to Boulder High School, which opens up so many opportunities,” said Russo. “We’re excited to have a permanent media training space where we can partner with programs like AVID for bilingual, first-generation students, providing a safe space to explore media, storytelling and literacy. Being a bookend to the Civic Center redevelopment and near the bus station also makes us more accessible to the entire community.” Russo said the new headquarters will help strengthen its partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder’s College of Media, Communication and Information. “Starting in the spring of 2025, we’ll be an official off-campus work-study partner, allowing students on financial aid to work at KGNU with partial stipends from the university,” Russo said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to mentor younger and more diverse media makers, giving them hands-on experience and exposure to community-centered media. We hope this space becomes a magnet for young people, offering them a safe and welcoming environment where they can not only learn, but also help shape the future of media.” The new headquarters isn’t just in a prime location; it’s brimming with some pretty snazzy features designed to inspire collaboration and creativity. A spacious, two-story community café will serve as the building’s social heart and caffeine center, with co-working spaces overlooking the buzz below. High-tech studios will host live broadcasts, podcasts and media-training programs, while a rooftop event space will provide stunning views and opportunities for everything from outdoor concerts to casual gatherings. Perhaps the crown jewel of the design is the black-box performance space, a flexible venue with retractable seating for up to 75 people. Equipped with top-notch audio and video capabilities, the space will be ideal for everything from live music and theater rehearsals to book readings and political debates. “We’re designing this as a flexible space to accommodate a wide variety of events, and we’re committed to offering below-market rental rates for nonprofits and cultural organizations so they have an affordable place downtown to host their activities,” Russo said. To keep the space accessible, KGNU plans to offer below-market rental rates for community groups and nonprofits, ensuring that cost isn’t a barrier to creativity. “So many organizations have been priced out of downtown,” Russo said. “We want to change that.” But the headquarters won’t just be a pretty new building. Sustainability is at the core of KGNU’s design philosophy, and the facility will feature a solar rooftop with innovative energy storage solutions to ensure the station stays operational during emergencies — an increasingly vital need in a region prone to wildfires and floods. “This is more than a building — it’s a resiliency hub,” Russo said. “We’ve designed it to serve as a lifeline during times of crisis, providing emergency alerts and critical information when the community needs it most.” Russo hopes the project will inspire other community media organizations to think big. “This is a complex, collaborative effort,” he said. “We’re learning a lot about public-private partnerships, sustainable design and how to create a space that truly reflects the needs of the community. Once this is done, we’re excited to share those lessons with others.” Construction is expected to continue into 2025, with a ribbon-cutting celebration planned for next fall. Hard-hat tours of the facility are set to begin later this year, offering a peek inside of what’s to come. Want to get involved or learn more? Visit kgnu.org/amplifying-community to find out how you can support KGNU’s big new chapter.

LOS ANGELES — UCLA football underclassmen carried their seniors off the field after Thursday’s practice as part of Bruin tradition, hoisting them above their shoulders in honor of the work they’ve done in their time with the team. Two days later, 42 players walked in the Senior Day celebration prior to the Bruins’ season finale against Fresno State at the Rose Bowl. Redshirt junior Carson Schwesinger took part in the celebration, indicating the possibility that the Butkus Award-nominated linebacker may not stay for another next season. Schwesinger and head coach DeShaun Foster said the FBS’ leading tackler has not made a decision as to whether he will go to the NFL. “He’s really going to do whatever is best for him in that situation,” Foster told reporters Wednesday. “I completely understand, especially if he gets the Butkus Award, and the way that he came out and performed this season. He deserves to get a shot and go to the NFL.” Receiver J.Michael Sturdivant also walked for Senior Day. Sturdivant, a redshirt junior, was UCLA’s third-leading receiver heading into Saturday’s game with 311 total yards and one touchdown. He averaged 31.1 yards per game. Sturdivant’s ability to stretch the field was underutilized in his two seasons at UCLA after he previously played two seasons at Cal. Offensive lineman Josh Carlin, edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo and defensive lineman Jay Toia each walked with the seniors Saturday and are expected to make a push for the NFL. “Incredibly grateful for the Bruin program, the UCLA program,” Oladejo told reporters Tuesday. “Came in here at the age of 19 and I’m now 21, so I’ve grown here a lot. Grown as a man, matured. Not just on the field but off the field as well. This means a lot to me.” Other notable players who took part in Senior Day: offensive lineman Garret DiGiorgio, quarterbacks Ethan Garbers and Chase Griffin, running back Keegan Jones, receiver Logan Loya, tight end Moliki Matavao and linebacker Kain Medrano. “A game like, this you want to send the seniors off on the right note,” Schwesinger said, “but on top of that, it’s being able to go out there and play competitively. We’re all here because we like to play football and you get a chance to do that, you’ve gotta go out and play your hardest.” Olympic and UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles was in attendance for Saturday’s football game and gave a “4’s up” gesture on the big screen during the second quarter, promoting her return to UCLA. Chiles, a junior who took a year off to train for and compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will make her return as a Bruin for the upcoming 2025 season. She made the announcement in an interview with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb in early August. Chiles won a silver medal in 2020 to make her the most decorated Olympian in UCLA women’s gymnastics history. She scored three perfect 10s in her 2022 season as a Bruin — two in floor exercise and one on the uneven bars. She won NCAA titles in both events in 2023 and was the runner-up in the all-around at the national championships. UCLA’s gymnastics season begins with its Meet the Bruins event on Dec. 14 at Pauley Pavilion.

NoneB.C. Premier Eby says U.S. tariffs would be 'devastating' for forest industry VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says 25-per-cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries. Canadian Press Nov 27, 2024 2:04 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Premier David Eby meets with his cabinet for breakfast during a photo opportunity at legislature in Victoria, Nov. 27. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says 25-per-cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries. He made the comment ahead of a meeting with fellow first ministers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Eby was scheduled to participate in the virtual meeting on Wednesday to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose the tariffs unless Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent illicit drugs from entering the United States. Eby said the lumber and forestry sectors are already strained by a recent increase in duties amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada dispute over softwood lumber. He said after the first meeting of his new cabinet in Victoria that the tariffs are "unjustified," and they would hurt Americans as much as they would Canadians. The premier said B.C. is a source of natural gas, wood products, minerals and other products that U.S. businesses depend on, and the tariff would hinder jobs and opportunities in the province while making "life more expensive for Americans." Eby and Ottawa have called for a united front dealing with Trump's tariff plan, which he announced on social media on Monday. Eby said B.C. officials had repeatedly raised concerns with Ottawa over organized crime and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, in relation to border security. "It's a priority for us. It has been for a while, we've written to Ottawa about it. Doesn't justify the tariffs, but it does mean that we can talk about those issues as well." Eby said Trump's proposed tariff "doesn't make economic sense," and the measure is not necessary to address issues at the border. The premier said he believes B.C. has a strong case to make for the tariff being "badly placed" if Trump's priority is to reduce costs for Americans. "I think the premiers are unified," Eby said. "There are 13 of us plus the prime minister. It's a big group of people with different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we're protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we're completely in line on that question." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. 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 Robert Wickens moving up to IMSA GTD series in 2025 thanks to new Bosch hand controls Nov 27, 2024 2:03 PM Industry not consulted on Alberta's plan to challenge federal emissions cap Nov 27, 2024 2:02 PM Inuit Nunangat University closer to realization with $50M from Mastercard Foundation Nov 27, 2024 1:47 PM Featured FlyerChiefs Reveal Solution to 'Pop' vs. Hunt 'Problem'

Trump says automation causes more harm to longshoremen than it's worthThe 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria's largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels' strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country's borders . It was the first opposition attack on Aleppo since 2016, when a brutal air campaign by Russian warplanes helped Syrian President Bashar Assad retake the northwestern city. Intervention by Russia , Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah and other groups has allowed Assad to remain in power, within the 70% of Syria under his control. Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 The surge in fighting has raised the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East, at a time when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. Robert Ford, the last-serving U.S. ambassador to Syria, pointed to months of Israeli strikes on Syrian and Hezbollah targets in the area, and to Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon this week, as factors providing Syria’s rebels with the opportunity to advance. Here's a look at some of the key aspects of the new fighting: Why does the fighting at Aleppo matter? Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict that's killed an estimated half-million people. Some 6.8 million Syrians have fled the country, a refugee flow that helped change the political map in Europe by fueling anti-immigrant far-right movements. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. The U.S. has about 900 troops in northeast Syria, far from Aleppo, to guard against a resurgence by the Islamic State. Both the U.S. and Israel conduct occasional strikes in Syria against government forces and Iran-allied militias. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo. Coming after years with few sizeable changes in territory between Syria's warring parties, the fighting “has the potential to be really quite, quite consequential and potentially game-changing,” if Syrian government forces prove unable to hold their ground, said Charles Lister, a longtime Syria analyst with the U.S.-based Middle East Institute. Risks include if Islamic State fighters see it as an opening, Lister said. Ford said the fighting in Aleppo would become more broadly destabilizing if it drew Russia and Turkey — each with its own interests to protect in Syria — into direct heavy fighting against each other. What do we know about the group leading the offensive on Aleppo? The U.S. and U.N. have long designated the opposition force leading the attack at Aleppo — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, known by its initials HTS — as a terrorist organization. Abu Mohammed al-Golani emerged as the leader of al-Qaida's Syria branch in 2011, in the first months of Syria's war. It was an unwelcome intervention to many in Syria's opposition, who hoped to keep the fight against Assad's brutal rule untainted by violent extremism. Golani and his group early on claimed responsibility for deadly bombings, pledged to attack Western forces, confiscated property from religious minorities and sent religious police to enforce modest dress by women. Golani and HTS have sought to remake themselves in recent years, focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action, researcher Aaron Zelin noted. His group broke ties with al-Qaida in 2016. Golani cracked down on some extremist groups in his territory, and increasingly portrays himself as a protector of other religions. That includes last year allowing the first Christian Mass in the city of Idlib in years. By 2018, the Trump administration acknowledged it was no longer directly targeting Golani, Zelin said. But HTS has allowed some wanted armed groups to continue to operate on its territory, and shot at U.S. special forces at least as recently as 2022, he said. What's the history of Aleppo in the war? At the crossroads of trade routes and empires for thousands of years, Aleppo is one of the centers of commerce and culture in the Middle East. Aleppo was home to 2.3 million people before the war. Rebels seized the east side of the city in 2012, and it became the proudest symbol of the advance of armed opposition factions. In 2016, government forces backed by Russian airstrikes laid siege to the city. Russian shells, missiles and crude barrel bombs — fuel canisters or other containers loaded with explosives and metal — methodically leveled neighborhoods. Starving and under siege, rebels surrendered Aleppo that year. The Russian military's entry was the turning point in the war, allowing Assad to stay on in the territory he held. This year, Israeli airstrikes in Aleppo have hit Hezbollah weapons depots and Syrian forces, among other targets, according to an independent monitoring group. Israel rarely acknowledges strikes at Aleppo and other government-held areas of Syria.