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Q3 FY24 Net Sales of $151.3 Million Q3 FY24 Gross Margin of 71.4% Q3 FY24 Operating Income of $19.2 Million Announces $25.0 Million Share Repurchase Authorization J.Jill, Inc. JILL today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024. Claire Spofford, President and Chief Executive Officer of J.Jill, Inc. stated, "We delivered third quarter results inline with our expectations as we continued to execute the disciplined operating model yielding another quarter of healthy overall margin performance. While our customer has remained selective with her purchasing behavior and we have not yet seen the robust return to full price selling we saw earlier this year, we are maintaining our commitment to providing her the product, value and shopping experience she expects and appreciates from J.Jill. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our operating principles and continue to invest in strategic initiatives such as systems and new stores that we believe will enhance the omni-channel experience and broaden our reach longer-term. In addition to continuing to invest in the business, we are also pleased to further expand our total shareholder return strategy to include a new share repurchase program further underscoring our confidence in the business and the long-term opportunities that remain in front of us." For the third quarter ended November 2, 2024: Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 0.3% to $151.3 million compared to $150.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase includes approximately $2.0 million of benefit due to the calendar shift with the 53 rd week in fiscal 2023. Total company comparable sales, which includes comparable store and direct to consumer sales, decreased by 0.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Total company comparable sales was negatively impacted by approximately 50 basis points due to hurricane-related disruptions in the quarter. Direct to consumer net sales, which represented 45.7% of net sales, were up 0.3% compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross profit was $108.0 million compared to $108.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross margin was 71.4% compared to 72.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. SG&A was $88.6 million compared to $86.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Excluding non-recurring items from both periods, SG&A as a percentage of total net sales was 58.4% compared to 57.7% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income was $19.2 million compared to $22.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 12.7% compared to 14.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted Income from Operations* was $21.4 million compared to $22.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Interest expense was $2.8 million compared to $6.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Interest income was $0.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $4.5 million compared to $4.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and the effective tax rate was 26.8% compared to 28.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Net Income was $12.3 million compared to $11.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Net Income per Diluted Share was $0.80 for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share* in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $0.89 compared to $0.83 in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA* for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $26.8 million compared to $28.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin* for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 17.7% compared to 18.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company opened three new stores, reopened one store that was temporarily closed for relocation in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and temporarily closed one store due to hurricane damage, which has an uncertain reopening date. The store count at the end of the quarter is 247 stores. For the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024: Net sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 increased 2.2% to $468.0 million compared to $457.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The increase includes approximately $2.0 million of benefit due to the calendar shift with the 53 rd week in fiscal 2023. Total company comparable sales, which includes comparable store and direct to consumer sales, increased by 1.4% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024. Direct to consumer net sales, which represented 46.6% of net sales, were up 5.1% compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Gross profit was $335.1 million compared to $329.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Gross margin was 71.6% compared to 71.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. SG&A was $264.1 million compared to $253.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Excluding non-recurring items from both periods, SG&A as a percentage of total net sales was 56.4% compared to 55.6% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Operating income was $70.6 million compared to $75.6 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Operating income margin for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was 15.1% compared to 16.5% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted Income from Operations* was $75.9 million compared to $77.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Interest expense was $13.0 million compared to $19.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Interest income was $2.0 million compared to $1.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. During the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $13.8 million compared to $13.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 and the effective tax rate was 27.1% compared to 29.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Net Income was $37.2 million compared to $31.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Net Income per Diluted Share was $2.48 compared to $2.19 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was $3.15 compared to $3.00 for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was $92.6 million compared to $95.1 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA margin* for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 was 19.8% compared to 20.8% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The Company opened four new stores for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 and temporarily closed one store due to hurricane damage, which has an uncertain reopening date. The store count at the end of the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 is 247 stores. Balance Sheet Highlights Net Cash provided by Operating Activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024, was $56.9 million compared to $56.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. Free cash flow* was $46.9 million compared to $45.9 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. The Company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2024 with a cash balance of $38.8 million. Inventory at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $61.7 million compared to $56.7 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2023. *Non-GAAP financial measures. Please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA," "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations," "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income," and "Reconciliation of GAAP Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flow" for more information. Share Repurchase Authorization On December 6, 2024, J.Jill's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for up to an aggregate amount of $25.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock over the next 2 years. The program is expected to be funded through the Company's existing cash and future free cash flow. The timing of any repurchases and the number of shares repurchased are subject to the discretion of the Company and may be affected by various factors, including general market and economic conditions, the market price of the Company's common stock, the Company's earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and levels of indebtedness, legal requirements, and other factors that management may deem relevant. The share repurchase program authorization does not obligate the Company to acquire any shares of its common stock and may be amended, suspended or discontinued at any time. Shares may be repurchased from time to time through open market transactions, block trades, privately negotiated purchase transactions or other purchase techniques and may include purchases effected pursuant to one or more trading plans established pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Quarterly Dividend Payment On December 4, 2024, the Board declared a cash dividend of $0.07 per share, payable on January 9, 2025 to stockholders of record of issued and outstanding shares of the Company's common stock as of December 26, 2024. Outlook For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company expects net sales to be down 4% to 6% compared to the 14-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The Company expects total company comparable sales to be up 1% to 3% compared to the comparable 13-week period in the prior fiscal year and expects Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $12.0 million to $14.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. For fiscal 2024, the Company expects net sales to be about flat to up 1% compared to fiscal 2023, total company comparable sales to be up 1% to 2% and for Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $105.0 million to $107.0 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 5% to 7% compared to fiscal 2023. This net sales and Adjusted EBITDA guidance reflects the negative impact from the loss of the 53rd week in fiscal 2023 of $7.9 million in net sales and $2.2 million in Adjusted EBITDA as well as investments to support profitable sales growth, including approximately $2.0 million in operating expenses related to the Company's Order Management System ("OMS") project. Excluding the impact of the 53rd week as well as the operating expense investment in the OMS project, the Company expects fiscal 2024 net sales to grow in the range of 1% to 2% and Adjusted EBITDA to decline in the range of 2% to 4% compared to the prior year. The Company now expects net store count growth of 4 stores to end fiscal 2024, excluding the impact of the hurricane closure. The Company continues to expect total capital expenditures of approximately $22.0 million, which reflects the treatment of cloud based software implementation costs as prepaid expense. Conference Call Information A conference call to discuss third quarter 2024 results is scheduled for today, December 11, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (888) 596-4144 or (646) 968-2525 if calling internationally. Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call and reference Conference ID 7311773 when prompted. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at http://investors.jjill.com/Investors-Relations/News-Events/events . A taped replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours following the call and can be accessed both online and by dialing (800) 770-2030 or (609) 800-9909. The pin number to access the telephone replay is 7311773. The telephone replay will be available until December 18, 2024. About J.Jill, Inc. J.Jill is a national lifestyle brand that provides apparel, footwear and accessories designed to help its customers move through a full life with ease. The brand represents an easy, thoughtful and inspired style that celebrates the totality of all women and designs its products with its core brand ethos in mind: keep it simple and make it matter. J.Jill offers a high touch customer experience through over 200 stores nationwide and a robust ecommerce platform. J.Jill is headquartered outside Boston. For more information, please visit www.jjill.com or http://investors.jjill.com . The information included on our websites is not incorporated by reference herein. Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement our unaudited consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), we use the following non-GAAP measures of financial performance: Adjusted EBITDA, which represents net income plus depreciation and amortization, income tax provision, interest expense, interest expense - related party, interest income, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on debt refinancing, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items primarily consisting of outside legal and professional fees associated with certain non-recurring transactions and events. We present Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. We also use Adjusted EBITDA as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting overall expected performance of our business and for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations. Further, we recognize Adjusted EBITDA as a commonly used measure in determining business value and as such, use it internally to report results. We also use Adjusted EBITDA margin which represents, for any period, Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales. Adjusted Income from Operations, which represents operating income plus equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items. We present Adjusted Income from Operations because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts, and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Adjusted Net Income, which represents net income plus income tax provision, equity-based compensation expense, write-off of property and equipment, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on debt refinancing, adjustment for exited retail stores, impairment of long-lived assets, loss due to hurricane, and other non-recurring items. We present Adjusted Net Income because management uses it as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share represents Adjusted Net Income divided by the number of fully diluted shares outstanding. Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share is presented as a supplemental measure in assessing our operating performance, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative operating performance from period to period. Free Cash Flow represents cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow is presented as a supplemental measure in assessing our liquidity, and we believe that it is helpful to investors, securities analysts and other interested parties as a measure of our comparative liquidity and operating performance from period to period. While we believe that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Free Cash Flow are useful in evaluating our business, they are non-GAAP financial measures that have limitations as analytical tools. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered alternatives to, or substitutes for, Net Income, Income from Operations, Net Income per Diluted Share or Cash from Operations, which are calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently or not at all, which reduces the usefulness of such non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. We recommend that you review the reconciliation and calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted EPS and Free Cash Flow to Net Income, Income from Operations, Net Income per Diluted Share and Cash from Operations, respectively, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, under "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA", "Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations", "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income" and "Reconciliation of Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flows" and not rely solely on Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Income from Operations, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Net Income per Diluted Share, Free Cash Flow or any single financial measure to evaluate our business. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains, and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives may contain, "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management, expected market growth and any activities, events or developments that we intend, expect or believe may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are often identified by words such as "could," "may," "might," "will," "likely," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "continues," "projects," "goal," "target" (although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words) and similar references to future periods, or by the inclusion of forecasts or projections. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding capital market conditions, our business, the economy and other future conditions and are not guarantees of future performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are inherently subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, potentially inaccurate assumptions and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements include regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions, including risks regarding: (1) our sensitivity to changes in economic conditions and discretionary consumer spending; (2) the material adverse impact of pandemics, other health crises or natural disasters on our operations, business and financial results; (3) our ability to anticipate and respond to changing customer preferences, shifts in fashion and industry trends in a timely manner; (4) our ability to maintain our brand image, engage new and existing customers and gain market share; (5) the impact of operating in a highly competitive industry with increased competition; (6) our ability to successfully optimize our omnichannel operations, including our ability to enhance our marketing efforts and successfully realize the benefits from our investments in new technology, for example our recently implemented point-of-sale system and the forthcoming upgrade to our order management system; (7) our ability to use effective marketing strategies and increase existing and new customer traffic; (8) any interruptions in our foreign sourcing operations and the relationships with our suppliers and agents; (9) any increases in the demand for, or the price of, raw materials used to manufacture our merchandise and other fluctuations in sourcing and distribution costs; (10) any material damage or interruptions to our information systems; (11) our ability to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights; (12) our indebtedness restricting our operational and financial flexibility; (13) our ability to manage our inventory levels, size assortments and merchandise mix; (14) the fact that we are no longer a controlled company; (15) the impact of any new or increased tariffs; (16) our management succession plan; and (17) other factors that may be described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the factors set forth under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 28, 2024. You are encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov , for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. We caution investors, potential investors and others not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements in this press release and in the oral statements made by our representatives. Any such forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. J.Jill undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. (Tables Follow) J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales (a) $ 151,260 $ 150,881 Costs of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 43,285 42,283 Gross profit 107,975 108,598 Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) 88,646 86,450 Impairment of long-lived assets 102 21 Operating income 19,227 22,127 Interest expense (b) 2,849 6,501 Interest income (b) (494 ) (707 ) Income before provision for income taxes 16,872 16,333 Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Net income and total comprehensive income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Net income per common share: Basic $ 0.81 $ 0.82 Diluted $ 0.80 $ 0.80 Weighted average common shares: Basic 15,331,712 14,169,955 Diluted 15,490,876 14,448,228 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.07 — (a) For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Net sales includes $0.7 million of processing fee income related to customer sales returns that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. (b) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net sales (a) $ 468,015 $ 457,758 Costs of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) 132,909 128,423 Gross profit 335,106 329,335 Selling, general and administrative expenses (a) 264,072 253,705 Impairment of long-lived assets 413 66 Operating income 70,621 75,564 Loss on extinguishment of debt 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing — 12,702 Interest expense (b) 13,009 18,758 Interest expense - related party — 1,074 Interest income (b) (2,020 ) (1,750 ) Income before provision for income taxes 51,062 44,780 Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Net income and total comprehensive income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Net income per common share: Basic $ 2.51 $ 2.22 Diluted $ 2.48 $ 2.19 Weighted average common shares: Basic 14,831,762 14,130,734 Diluted 14,994,786 14,379,529 Cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.14 — (a) For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, Net sales includes $2.5 million of processing fee income related to customer sales returns that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. (b) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. J.Jill, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except common share data) November 2, 2024 February 3, 2024 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 38,765 $ 62,172 Accounts receivable 6,535 5,042 Inventories, net 61,737 53,259 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 18,774 17,656 Total current assets 125,811 138,129 Property and equipment, net 52,091 54,118 Intangible assets, net 62,223 66,246 Goodwill 59,697 59,697 Operating lease assets, net 112,358 108,203 Other assets 6,076 1,787 Total assets $ 418,256 $ 428,180 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 50,936 $ 41,112 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 42,534 42,283 Current portion of long-term debt 2,188 35,353 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 34,251 36,204 Total current liabilities 129,909 154,952 Long-term debt, net of discount and current portion 69,124 120,595 Deferred income taxes 9,511 10,967 Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 105,161 103,070 Other liabilities 1,290 1,378 Total liabilities 314,995 390,962 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' Equity Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,340,378 and 10,614,454 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2024 and February 3, 2024, respectively 153 107 Additional paid-in capital 241,998 213,236 Accumulated deficit (138,890 ) (176,125 ) Total shareholders' equity 103,261 37,218 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 418,256 $ 428,180 J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Add (Less): Depreciation and amortization 5,257 5,792 Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Interest expense (a) 2,849 6,501 Interest income (a) (494 ) (707 ) Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (b) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (c) 17 19 Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs (d) 180 283 Adjustment for exited retail stores (e) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (f) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (g) 252 — Other non-recurring items (h) 47 — Adjusted EBITDA $ 26,808 $ 28,552 Net sales (i) 151,260 150,881 Adjusted EBITDA margin 17.7 % 18.9 % (a) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. (c) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. (d) Represents amortization of capitalized implementation costs related to cloud-based software arrangements that are included within Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. (e) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (f) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (g) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (h) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (i) For the third quarter of fiscal 2023, Net sales includes $0.7 million of processing fee income that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Add (Less): Depreciation and amortization 16,091 16,854 Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Interest expense (a) 13,009 18,758 Interest expense - related party — 1,074 Interest income (a) (2,020 ) (1,750 ) Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (b) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (c) 74 65 Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs (d) 645 399 Loss on extinguishment of debt (e) 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing (f) — 12,702 Adjustment for exited retail stores (g) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (h) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (i) 252 — Other non-recurring items (j) 485 2 Adjusted EBITDA $ 92,642 $ 95,075 Net sales (k) $ 468,015 $ 457,758 Adjusted EBITDA margin 19.8 % 20.8 % (a) Beginning fiscal 2024, Interest income is presented separately from Interest expense. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. (c) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. (d) Represents amortization of capitalized implementation costs related to cloud-based software arrangements that are included within Selling, general and administrative expenses. Adjusted EBITDA for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. (e) Represents loss on the prepayment of a portion of the term loan. (f) Represents loss on the repayment of the Priming and the Subordinated Credit Agreement. (g) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (h) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (i) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (j) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (k) For the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023, Net sales includes $2.5 million of processing fee income that was previously included in Selling, general and administrative expenses. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Operating Income to Adjusted Income from Operations (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Operating income $ 19,227 $ 22,127 Add (Less): Equity-based compensation expense (a) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 17 19 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 47 — Adjusted income from operations $ 21,371 $ 22,477 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Operating income $ 70,621 $ 75,564 Add (Less): Equity-based compensation expense (a) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 74 65 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 485 2 Adjusted income from operations $ 75,906 $ 77,822 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted income from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Operating income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted income from operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 and for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Operating income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (d) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (e) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (f) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 12,348 $ 11,616 Add: Income tax provision 4,524 4,717 Income before provision for income tax 16,872 16,333 Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (a) 1,726 942 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 17 19 Adjustment for exited retail stores (c) — (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (d) 102 21 Loss due to hurricane (e) 252 — Other non-recurring items (f) 47 — Adjusted income before income tax provision 19,016 16,683 Less: Adjusted tax provision (g) 5,172 4,655 Adjusted net income $ 13,844 $ 12,028 Adjusted net income per share: Basic $ 0.90 $ 0.85 Diluted $ 0.89 $ 0.83 Weighted average number of common shares: Basic 15,331,712 14,169,955 Diluted 15,490,876 14,448,228 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (d) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (e) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (f) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (g) The adjusted tax provision for adjusted net income is estimated by applying a rate of 27.2% for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 27.9% for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. J.Jill, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted Net Income (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net income $ 37,235 $ 31,434 Add: Income tax provision 13,827 13,346 Income before provision for income tax 51,062 44,780 Adjustments: Equity-based compensation expense (a) 4,676 2,757 Write-off of property and equipment (b) 74 65 Loss on extinguishment of debt (c) 8,570 — Loss on debt refinancing (d) — 12,702 Adjustment for exited retail stores (e) (615 ) (632 ) Impairment of long-lived assets (f) 413 66 Loss due to hurricane (g) 252 — Other non-recurring items (h) 485 2 Adjusted income before income tax provision 64,917 59,740 Less: Adjusted tax provision (i) 17,657 16,667 Adjusted net income $ 47,260 $ 43,073 Adjusted net income per share: Basic $ 3.19 $ 3.05 Diluted $ 3.15 $ 3.00 Weighted average number of common shares: Basic 14,831,762 14,130,734 Diluted 14,994,786 14,379,529 (a) Represents expenses associated with equity incentive instruments granted to our management and Board of Directors. Incentive instruments are accounted for as equity-classified awards with the related compensation expense recognized based on fair value at the date of the grant. Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, equity-based compensation expense is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (b) Represents net gain or loss on the disposal of fixed assets. Adjusted net income for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023 has been restated to include such adjustments to Net income. Beginning fiscal 2024, write-off of property and equipment is included as an adjustment. The prior period has been conformed with the current period presentation. (c) Represents loss on the prepayment of a portion of the term loan. (d) Represents loss on the repayment of the Priming and Subordinated Credit Agreement. (e) Represents non-cash gains associated with exiting store leases earlier than anticipated. (f) Represents impairment of long-lived assets related to right of use assets and leasehold improvements. (g) Represents loss on write-off of property and equipment and inventory at one store location due to hurricane. (h) Represents items management believes are not indicative of ongoing operating performance, including non-ordinary course legal and professional fees. (i) The adjusted tax provision for adjusted net income is estimated by applying a rate of 27.2% for the thirty-nine weeks ended November 2, 2024 and 27.9% for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 28, 2023. J.Jill, Inc. Selected Cash Flow Information (Unaudited) (Amounts in thousands) Summary Data from the Statement of Cash Flows For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 19,067 $ 21,067 Net cash used in investing activities (5,487 ) (3,655 ) Net cash used in financing activities (3,281 ) (2,200 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 10,299 15,212 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of Period 28,466 48,903 End of Period $ 38,765 $ 64,115 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 56,947 $ 56,682 Net cash used in investing activities (10,047 ) (10,760 ) Net cash used in financing activities (70,307 ) (68,860 ) Net change in cash and cash equivalents (23,407 ) (22,938 ) Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of Period 62,172 87,053 End of Period $ 38,765 $ 64,115 Reconciliation of GAAP Cash from Operations to Free Cash Flow For the Thirteen Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 19,067 $ 21,067 Less: Capital expenditures (a) (5,487 ) (3,655 ) Free cash flow $ 13,580 $ 17,412 For the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended November 2, 2024 October 28, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 56,947 $ 56,682 Less: Capital expenditures (a) (10,047 ) (10,760 ) Free cash flow $ 46,900 $ 45,922 (a) Capital expenditures reflects net cash used in investing activities, which includes capitalized interest and excludes cash received from landlords for tenant allowances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211903405/en/ © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. Charles Kushner arrives July 20, 2022, for the funeral of Ivana Trump in New York. Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

Women of the West are making political history—and have been for 130 yearsNone

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NEW YORK , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on the Company's Class A and Common Stock for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. The dividend is payable on March 14, 2025 , to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2025 . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Florida 6, Carolina 0Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees?

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced $200 million in humanitarian aid for conflict-torn Sudan during what was likely his final trip to the United Nations while in office. With the U.N. Security Council more divided than ever, Blinken led two meetings of the U.N.’s most powerful body on Thursday, capping his engagements with the world body after a tumultuous four years that saw war return to Europe and multiple crises in the Middle East. But neither focused on Russia’s war with Ukraine or the Mideast, where the U.S. has been frequently at odds with permanent members China and Russia and almost always in the minority when it comes to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Instead, in an apparent bid to produce a modicum of consensus, Blinken led Security Council sessions on artificial intelligence and Sudan , where conflict has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis that aid agencies say has not received enough attention. The money announced by Blinken will go toward food, shelter and health care for the people of Sudan. He also said the State Department will work with Congress to provide an additional $30 million to elevate civilian voices to help with the transition back to democratic governance. Here’s a look at America's top diplomat at the U.N.: Blinken has been appearing in person and virtually before the Security Council since March 2021, just after assuming his position as the Biden administration’s top diplomat. In addition to several one-off council meetings, including one in February 2022 shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine, Blinken has gone to New York for a week every September for the annual General Assembly gathering of world leaders. The presidency of the Security Council rotates alphabetically every month among its 15 members. This month, it's the U.S. turn. The country holding the presidency almost always organizes several signature events on topics its government chooses. Presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers often preside at these meetings, which ministers from other council nations are invited to attend. Russia and China have blocked all council action condemning the invasion of Ukraine. This has led U.S. officials to believe that a session on the topic, especially as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office with a stated goal of ending the war immediately, would likely be a waste of time. On the Middle East, the U.S. has frequently vetoed council action condemning Israel for its tactics against Hamas in Gaza, leaving it virtually alone at the United Nations in supporting Israel. War broke out in Sudan last year between rival generals heading the military and paramilitary forces. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, forced millions from their homes and pushed a large swath of Sudan’s population to starvation — creating an often forgotten global crisis the U.S. is seeking to spotlight. The roughly $230 million in assistance announced Thursday brings total U.S. support to over $2.3 billion since the fighting erupted. Blinken said the fighting unleashed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and every day “brings new atrocities, attacks on hospitals, on markets, displaced persons, camps, summary executions, women and girls subjected to unspeakable sexual violence.” “We continue to see war crimes and crimes against humanity committed across vast parts of Sudan,” he said. The U.S. leads the world in developing AI technology, according to a recently released Stanford University index, and it has been in the forefront of U.N. action on AI. In March, the first U.N. resolution on artificial intelligence was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly. Sponsored by the U.S., it gives global support to an international effort to ensure the powerful technology benefits all nations, respects human rights and is “safe, secure and trustworthy.” Blinken said AI has the potential to do “tremendous good” but can also pose “tremendous threats to the international peace and security that this council is charged with upholding.” He noted that “repressive regimes are using AI-enabled surveillance to target journalists and political dissidents" and that "if algorithms are built into weapon systems, and if they malfunction, they could spark a conflict.” “By setting rules of the road for AI we can minimize these risks, we can harness the exceptional promise of this technology,” he said. Blinken has represented the U.S. at the Security Council about half a dozen times at meetings ranging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the war in Gaza. Russia, like the U.S. and China, is a permanent veto-holding member of the 15-nation council, and both have seats at its horseshoe-shaped table. But apart from pointed disagreements during debates, there have been no confrontations or one-on-one meetings between Blinken and Russian diplomats at previous U.N. meetings — and there was none on Thursday. Blinken thanked Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia after his remarks — as is custom — even though Nebenzia accused the U.S. of imposing rules on others but not abiding by them. But the Russian envoy agreed that “we cannot allow AI to dominate human beings and human values.” It is not unusual for Blinken or other senior U.S. officials to attend international meetings and conferences where Russian officials are present, but interactions are rare. Lee reported from Washington.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos' usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven't been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor's fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn't stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and deny Denver a wild-card berth. Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited" about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. "Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. "The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss' dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they've been allowing 26.3 points a game. Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he's ready to return to the field or if it's better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning's last start, they'll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

For as much as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart hustles on the court, he carves out plenty of time for his own sports fandom. With his social media posting about other leagues comes inevitable confusion. Editor's Picks 'In JD5 we trust': Josh Hart trolls Knicks teammates after Commanders down Eagles 2d Anthony Gharib Wemby debut, LeBron vs. Steph: Top questions for the NBA's Christmas games 2h NBA insiders On Sunday morning, Hart -- an avid fan of English Premier League side Chelsea -- was tuned in to the day's action across the Atlantic. Tottenham Hotspur , a London rival of Chelsea, lost a wild 6-3 affair to top of the table Liverpool that day, prompting a mocking post from Hart. Spurs = 💩💩💩💩 The problem? Hart's Knicks are also facing a Spurs squad this week -- hosting the NBA's San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden. Hart was asked ahead of the clash about the post, prompting him to explain that he meant a different team. "I wasn't talking about those Spurs," Hart clarified to an assortment of laughing reporters. "The Spurs I was talking about is trash. Tottenham? The North London one? Yeah, they trash." It's not the first time Hart's propensity for posting about other sports has led to confusion in the NBA. In late September, with buzz of New York trading for Karl-Anthony Towns growing, Hart posted "Uhh...are we serious?" before clarifying on X minutes later that he had been referring to the Chelsea match. THIS IS ABOUT THE CHELSEA MATCH! https://t.co/5ZX7eX93RB The Knicks and Spurs (of San Antonio) will tip off at noon ET (ABC) on Wednesday.None

Vietnam's ambitions to modernize its military and diversify international partnerships were on full display at the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo, an exhibition that concluded with defense enterprises signing 16 contracts worth over $286 million, along with 17 strategic cooperation agreements with international defense firms. The exhibition, which took place from Dec. 19-22 in Hanoi, featured more than 240 defense industry companies and represented 49 countries. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the expo was “an affirmation of Vietnam's role and contribution in international defense cooperation” and a “symbol of trust, respect and goodwill in cooperation between nations for a world of peace, stability and prosperity.” Experts noted that the vast number of international companies at the exhibition reflected Vietnam’s long-term approach to diversifying its foreign partners. "If you look at the list of invited firms and defense firms and companies at the expo, you can see there’s a wide range of companies from many different countries,” said Hanh Nguyen, a research fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies based in Japan. “This decision reflects Vietnam's long-standing foreign policy approach, which is to strive to build partnerships with every country regardless of their political system or ideology," he added. Bich Tran, a postdoctoral fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, shared a similar sentiment, explaining to VOA that the presence of Chinese, Russian and Western countries at the expo showed that Vietnam is committed to the principle of diversifying its foreign relations. “Vietnam has talked about diversifying its arms supplies for many years, but I think Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Vietnam to facilitate the process. So with this expo, [Vietnam] has the opportunity to talk with many different partners, to look around to see what will work,” Tran said. American firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin, French company Airbus, and Chinese state-owned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) attended the expo. NORINCO's participation marked the first time for a Chinese company. Concurrently, Vietnam’s general-secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. Despite the active participation and discussion between Beijing and Hanoi officials, Nguyen said the expo is unlikely to become a breakthrough point for arms sales between the two countries, noting that Vietnam has concerns over the transparency performance of Chinese military equipment. Nguyen The Phuong, a doctoral candidate in maritime security at the University of New South Wales, told VOA that “Vietnam will never, ever buy any lethal weapons from China,” adding that Vietnam’s reluctance to buy weapons from China is a “long-standing principle dating back to the ‘70s and '80s.” Phuong said Vietnam is preparing to advance and upgrade its outdated systems, “focusing on the modernization of the Vietnamese army and maritime defense needs.” “Vietnam is trying to modernize its navy and air force and trying to turn them into modernized and capable services after 2030. So, there are a lot of things that the Vietnamese military wants to improve from buying more aircraft for its air force, building more warships for its navy, and especially the capability to monitor.” Contributing to Hanoi’s need to modernize is the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, a geopolitically disputed territory that is both a critical maritime route for global trade and a region rich in resources, including oil, natural gas and fish stock. On Dec. 10, the South China Morning Post reported that Vietnam is actively building military facilities on several islands and reefs in the Spratly Islands — key territories in the South China Sea. "Vietnam's military strategy in the South China Sea can be summed up in one word: deterrence. Or more precisely, deterrence by denial," said Phuong, explaining that Vietnam’s decisions at the expo reflect an ambition to increase its coastal military capabilities. Another takeaway from the expo is Hanoi’s cooperation with the United States. Speaking at the expo, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Napper said the United States' goal is to ensure that Vietnam "has everything it needs to defend its interests at sea, in the air, on the ground and in cyberspace.” Tran said this goal demonstrates that the U.S.-Vietnam defense cooperation is shifting from a single arms assistance model to a broader multilateral cooperation framework.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos’ usually stout defense has been rocked ever since losing second-year cornerback Riley Moss to an MCL injury against Las Vegas in Week 12. Without Moss there to capitalize on opponents shying away from star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos (9-6) have had to largely abandon their preferred man coverage in favor of zone strategies and the results haven’t been pretty. They allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown. Only Jonathan Taylor’s fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. They couldn’t stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week that prevented the Broncos from ending their eight-year playoff drought. It also put more pressure on the Broncos to win Saturday at Cincinnati, where the Bengals (7-8) cling to hopes of catching the Broncos and deny Denver a wild-card berth. RELATED COVERAGE Lopsided loss sinks the reeling Saints further into evaluation mode Titans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags Texans get visit from longtime foe Derrick Henry when the Ravens visit on Christmas Day Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception in 12 starts. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. “We were and have been super excited” about the third-round pick out of Iowa, coach Sean Payton said. “Obviously, the guy that plays opposite of Patrick is going to get a lot of business. All throughout training camp, he really rose to the occasion, battled, competed and throughout really a good portion of the season. “He’s a big reason why we were playing so well defensively,” Payton added. “The sooner the better when we can get him back in the lineup. Hopefully it can happen this weekend.” In Moss’ dozen starts, the Broncos allowed 16.8 points per game. Without him, they’ve been allowing 26.3 points a game. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase pose a bigger challenge to the Broncos than Jeudy and Jameis Wiston did for Cleveland or Herbert and Ladd McConkey did for the Chargers. Moss returned to practice last week and the Broncos will determine this week whether he’s ready to return to the field or if it’s better to keep him out until their season finale against Kansas City. The medial collateral ligament is on the inside of the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone. It’s one of four major ligaments that stabilize the knee and allow it to rotate. It typically takes a month to recover from an MCL sprain and the Broncos had their bye week earlier this month, meaning Moss might only have to miss three games. If the Broncos reach the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 in Hall of Famer Peyton Manning’s last start, they’ll likely need to have a healthy Moss opposite Surtain to have any realistic hopes of avoiding a one-and-done appearance. The Broncos got a scare when Surtain injured an ankle against Indianapolis two weeks ago and limped off the field in the closing minutes. However, he was a full-go at practice last week and had no issues against the Chargers. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Ex-Colorado footballer Bloom dedicates time to fulfilling wishes for older adults

Queen Rania is certainly e njoying being a grandmother to Princess Iman , and the royal couldn't help but compliment her young granddaughter in her latest appearance. On Wednesday, the 54-year-old hosted a luncheon for women in the Sahab part of the Jordanian capital, Amman. The luncheon celebrated 100 women across the fields of education, culture, media, and civil society. During her appearance, Rania was briefed on projects helping the families of the community. The royal reflected on the birth of her first grandchild as she expressed her gratitude for the many messages of support she was sent. " Time flies when I'm with he r ," she said, saying Iman was the thing she was most thankful for during the year. However, Rania also drew attention to wider conflicts in the region as she expressed her sadness at lives lost over the past year. "We used to believe that all people in this world had an equal claim to humanity and human rights; but sadly, we are seeing otherwise," she said. "We in Jordan will stay true to the core values with which we were raised: kindness, generosity, compassion, care, and community. These are the values I never fail to see in the Jordanian people." Rania has regularly shown her love for her granddaughter and last month, she brought Iman to work with her as she conducted business over Zoom . "Baby Iman's first Zoom board meeting earlier this week," she wrote in the caption. The image featured Rania holding her granddaughter while she engaged in a video call at her desk. Iman's birth was announced in August 2024 with an official statement from the Royal Hashemite Court which in part read: "The Royal Hashemite Court is pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II and Princess Rajwa Al Hussein were blessed, on 3 August 2024, with a baby girl they named Iman." Shortly after Iman's birth, Rania penned a heartfelt message on social media which read: "Praise be to God for His greatest gifts... You have enlightened our lives with our precious granddaughter, Iman. "May God protect us from you. Congratulations to Hussein and Rajwa, and may God fill your lives with blessings and contentment."

Apple launched a bunch of iPads in 2024, including the much-awaited iPad mini refresh and a new iPad Air , which was the first to be available in two screen sizes. The company’s tablet portfolio is now bigger than ever, which can be confusing if you are in the market for a new great tablet . Even if your priorities are clear with size and price, there are a number of overlapping models, which can make decision-making difficult. Do you need a more pocketable iPad or a more powerful tablet? Are you fixated on a specific screen size? Are you confused about how much power is required to run your creative tasks? Which is the best iPad overall? Don’t worry if you don’t have answers to any of these questions right now. This comparison between two of our favorite iPads from 2024 will help answer them so you can make an informed decision. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): specs iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): design and display The new iPad mini is a similar-looking product to its predecessor. It sports the same sleek design and an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with a 2266 x 1488 resolution at 326 pixels-per-inch (ppi). It’s as pocketable as before, so you can toss it inside your backpack or carry it with you for reading on commutes without any issues. The 2024 iPad Air introduced two variants. Apple borrowed the iPad Pro approach for the iPad Air (2024) and offers it in two sizes, 11-inch and 13-inch. Depending on the screen estate you need, you can choose one of the three iPads mentioned above. While we recommend the iPad mini (2024) for reading and browsing, the iPad Air (2024) is the better product for creatives. Both the iPad mini and Air support Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil USB-C, but you’ll get better brightness (600 nits versus 500 nits) on the 13-inch iPad Air. These screens don’t support Apple’s ProMototion technology, so you get a 60Hz refresh rate. You can get any of the three screen sizes in four colors: Space Gray, blue, purple, and Starlight. It’s a tie here because each of these products appeals to a different user base. Winner: Tie iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): performance This year, Apple focused on making the iPads more powerful than ever. Both the new iPad mini and iPad Air feature good performance upgrades. Apple also increased the base storage capacity on the mini to 128GB (finally). Starting with the iPad mini (2024), it gained the iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chipset. As per Apple, the upgrade results in 30% faster CPU performance and 25% faster graphics. However, in our usage, we experienced the tablet getting warm to the touch when running Lightroom with an SSD connected. If you are a power user, you should opt for the iPad Air (2024) because it packs the MacBook-grade Apple M2 chipset . If you use your iPad for creative tasks such as editing videos or creating art with the Apple Pencil Pro, you’ll be more at home with the M2 iPad Air. The iPad Air (2024) is more powerful than the iPad mini (2024) and wins this round. Winner: iPad Air (2024) iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): cameras and battery While you might not use the rear camera on an iPad much, it’s useful to quickly scan documents or take a copy of your notes. And a good quality camera is always better, more so on the front because you could be using your iPad to attend meetings and take work calls. Both the iPad mini (2024) and the iPad Air (2024) feature a 12-megapixel camera on the back and a 12MP Center Stage camera on the front. The iPad Air now sports the front camera in the landscape orientation for a better experience. As for the battery life, both of these models are expected to last the same number of hours. Apple promises nine to 10 hours of battery backup on a single charge. But expect to get better standby battery life on the M2 iPad Air. Winner: Tie iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): software The 2024 models of the iPad Air and iPad mini run iPadOS 18 and support Apple Intelligence . The latter is focused on delivering AI-powered features for writing, focus, and communication. Apple recently rolled out a smarter Siri with ChatGPT integration, which might be useful for ideation. Both of these products can be expected to receive at least five years’ worth of software upgrades. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): price and availability The iPad mini (2024) starts at $499 for the Wi-Fi-only variant and costs $649 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The Wi-Fi-only 11-inch iPad Air costs $599 and the Wi-Fi + Cellular option is $749. The most expensive of the lot, the M2 iPad Air 13-inch ,starts at $799 for the Wi-Fi-only variant, while the Wi-Fi + Cellular model will set you back at $949. All of these products are available in multiple storage configurations, with the base model starting at 128GB. These products are available from the Apple Store, as well as through third-party retailers. iPad mini (2024) vs iPad Air (2024): Which one to buy? The iPad mini (2024) is for those who want a tablet for reading and browsing on the go. If your foremost priority is portability, the iPad mini (2024) should be your choice. You get a compact iPad with a powerful processor and a display that supports the Apple Pencil Pro. However, if you are a creative who values performance over portability, the iPad Air (2024) should be your go-to choice. The M2 chipset paired with an up to 13-inch sharp display with Apple Pencil Pro support, reliable OS, and a good battery life makes the iPad Air (2024) a good choice for power users.Joel Embiid scores 31 in return to the 76ers' starting lineup against the Bulls

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One of Sumire Sekino’s most memorable Christmases involved spending the day hopping around some of Tokyo’s best date spots with her boyfriend. That day, she recalled, began with the pair snapping away at TeamLab, an immersive and extremely Instagrammable digital art installation. Then, they headed up Shibuya Sky, an observation deck perched 751 feet off the ground, to catch a panoramic view of the Japanese capital. “It was only our first month together, so we were still nervous. But I had so much fun going to these places with him for the first time,” says the university student. Another student, Akao Takao, 19, checked out some dazzling light displays and went to a Christmas market with his girlfriend last year, before they sat down for a belly warming hot chocolate. “I had a wonderful experience,” he recounts. In Western culture, Christmas is that time of the year when families gather around a long table to catch up, opening lavishly wrapped gifts and sipping eggnog. Some attend church. But in Japan, the festive season has long taken on an additional dimension, a rather romantic one: it’s widely seen as another Valentine’s Day . A visitor looks at a Christmas installation with goldfish and colorful lights at Tokyo's Art Aquarium Museum. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters/File via CNN Newsource) Couples go on a special date on Christmas Eve, checking out festive decorations, dining at fancy restaurants and staying at luxury hotels. Love is in the air everywhere from Tokyo — where its bustling districts like Roppongi and Ginza are filled with couples holding hands on the streets, lined with sparkling trees — to Hokkaido, where the promise of a white Christmas awaits. For guys who are willing to splurge a little, luxury hotel rooms with spectacular views — which easily run up to $2,000 per night — are on offer, if they haven’t already been booked solid. Young people in Japan tend to stay with their parents until they get married, so spending a night together outside the home is seen as a special treat. This year, the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo offers a “romantic escape” that includes credits for a fine dinner and ice skating experience at an outdoor rink. Grand Hyatt Tokyo, meanwhile, promises a “romantic evening,” offering rooms that overlook the festively-lit trees. Restaurants and shops also seize on the opportunity to unveil special dinner sets and discounts on a range of gifts, from chocolates to jewelries. “It’s all about mood and atmosphere,” associate professor Roy Starrs, who specializes in Japanese studies at the University of Otago in New Zealand, tells CNN Travel. “Young couples go out together on dates once it gets dark to view the spectacular displays of colorful lights and this is thought to be a very romantic atmosphere conducive to young love.” A couple walks through Christmas lights at a shopping area in Tokyo. (Koji Sasahara/AP/File via CNN Newsource) A country of 124 million, Japan’s most-followed religion is Shintoism, with less than one percent of its population being Christian. And yet, the nation celebrates Christmas in full spirit. Christianity entered Japan in the mid-16th century, according to Starrs, but was largely suppressed for another two and a half centuries during the Tokugawa era, a period marked by its strict social order and isolationist policies. It wasn’t until after WWII that American culture began to sweep through Japan, bringing Christmas along with it. But the holiday has been celebrated with a uniquely Japanese touch. “Most Japanese do not view Christmas as any kind of religious event but as a pop-cultural spectacle imported from the West — an aesthetically pleasing melange of bright lights, Santa Claus dolls, Christmas markets, colorfully wrapped gifts [and] Christmas cakes,” says Starrs. Japan is a society that values aesthetics highly, he adds, so it makes sense that these festive displays, often accompanied by ample snow, concoct the perfect recipe for a romantic white Christmas. “The couple may also exchange gifts, visit an exotic German–style Christmas market, and end the evening in a fancy French or Italian restaurant. And after all that the mood may be exactly right for a marriage proposal!” says Starrs. The romantic spin of Christmas may be one of the best presents the Japanese government can hope for, as it scrambles to boost marriages and births. Its fertility rate plunged to 1.20 last year, another record low, far below the 2.1 required to maintain a stable population in a country. Workers dressed as Santa Claus parade around Tokyo's Marunouchi business district. (Issei Kato/Reuters/File via CNN Newsource) For the older generation in what was once the world’s second biggest economy, lavishness was the way to go, the glitzier the better. Apart from expensive hotels, men often popped open bottles of champagne and rented limousines for a night to impress. But after years of stagnation, Japan’s once enviable economic prowess has lost it shine, slipping to world’s number four spot earlier this year. With the rising cost of living — exacerbated by the recent depreciation of Japanese yen — young couples are looking for creative ways to celebrate. University student Inoue Shogo, 23, says he would avoid hotels because of the price surge. “Since the Western food gets more expensive, as everyone seeks for a Christmas dinner, we opt for a cheaper version which is usually Japanese food,” he says. Simply having a Christmas cake, staying home for a private party, and checking out Christmas lights have become more popular options among the younger generation these days, according to a recent survey by marketing company MERY. Yuhi Hasegawa, 19, visited Enoshima with his girlfriend last year, soaking in the festive lights and beautiful views. The small island is located an hour train away south of Toyko, known for its sandy beaches and a relaxed lifestyle. “We should value the time with our partner. Instead of spending money on fancy restaurants or luxury cosmetics, staying home, watching ‘First Love’ (a Netflix love series) and finding true love might be the perfect solution,” he says.