Trump Steps Into Skilled-Work Visa Clash, Saying They’re ‘Great’Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
MICHELLE Keegan has announced she is pregnant with her first baby with husband and former Towie alum Mark Wright. Brassic star Michelle , 37, has been hiding any signs that she is expecting a child. 7 The Brassic star has been hiding her bump in an array of outfits Credit: Instagram 7 Michelle has announced her happy baby news Credit: Tillen & Dove 7 The former Corrie star has kept her bump hidden for months Credit: Splash 7 Mark and Michelle revealed they are expecting their first child Before announcing her pregnancy news on Instagram tonight, Michelle was seen showing tell tale signs that she is a blossoming mum-to-be. The star has been covering up her blooming figure over the past few months, teaming comfy trousers with sensible Ugg boots . The former Corrie star has been keeping her growing bump under wraps in oversized coats and thick winter jumpers. The Fool Me Once actress has also been spotted sporting an array of slouchy clothes including beanies, hoodies, trainers and jogging bottoms. Read more in Showbiz sick bed Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote sparks concern amid five-day illness party pals Corrie legend Charlie Lawson opens up about wild nights out with Katie Price Michelle, who usually keeps fans well-updated on social media, has shared far fewer Instagram posts recently as she navigates the first few months of the pregnancy. The brunette bombshell, who has recently been alcohol-free, admitted that she prefers nesting at home in favour of being out and about. Once a fan of late-night dinners in the early days of their romance, the star explained that she now favours an early night. She said: “I am happy to have a night on the sofa with our dogs watching TV and relaxing, but we do still like getting dressed up and go out for dinner.” Most read in Celebrity GER OUT Moment raging Rangers fans BOO their own players and say 'go away' at Motherwell WELL 2 GERS 2 Shambolic display leaves Clement on brink as horror Christmas week continues FOUND SAFE Missing Scots teacher found safe and well after urgent search PURR-FECT 'You can be my Catwoman' cry fans as Scots singer stuns in plunging jumpsuit The pregnant actress - who told fans over Christmas that she 'couldn't stop' eating - added: “In the old days we’d go out for dinner and drinks until the early hours. "But now after dinner, I’ll look at my watch and say, 'Its 9.30pm, we’d better get back home for bedtime'. Michelle Keegan shares romantic tribute to Mark Wright with new addition to £3.5m mansion "It’s a bit more boring now.” The married pair have been busy designing and building their forever home - just in time for their growing family. In 2021, the TV duo purchased a £3.5 m baby-friendly five-bedroom house, with a cinema room and an outdoor pool . Last August the couple threw a housewarming party to celebrate the completion of the project - which boasts plenty of space for a nursery. She told the Guardian: "It still gets me emotional. Because we’ve worked really hard for it. We’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices. "I missed lots of milestones in my life due to work. Mark went to LA and we spent months apart, which was hard. But, it’s worth it." Michelle said previously about wanting to settle down and have security in her life. "I missed lots of milestones in my life due to work. Mark went to LA and we spent months apart, which was hard. But, it’s worth it." Michelle went on to say that the house was also "about security" as "you never know when all this is going to end". The couple first met behind-the-scenes on The X Factor before subsequently bumping into each other at numerous other events after. A year later, the former TOWIE star asked Michelle out on a date which led to things becoming official in 2012. Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine Mark popped the question to Michelle the following year during a romantic holiday in Dubai and they went on to marry in 2015. The couple married at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds in 2015, followed by a lavish reception at the Tudor mansion Hengrave Hall. 7 Michelle has been seen keeping cosy and warm during the cold Credit: Splash 7 Mark and Michelle have been together for nine years Credit: Alamy 7 The brunette was seen in the summer showing off her enviable figure Credit: InstagramFILE – This image provided by NORAD — the North American Aerospace Defense Command, responsible for monitoring and defending the skies above North America — shows NORAD’s Santa Tracker. (NORAD via AP, File) FILE – NORAD Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Charles D. Luckey takes a call while volunteering at the NORAD Tracks Santa center at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File) FILE – Canadian Lt. Maj. Chris Hache takes a call while volunteering at the NORAD Tracks Santa center at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 24, 2017. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP, File) FILE – Santa tracker volunteer Meghan Huyck, right, and other volunteers answer phone calls from children all over the world at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 24, 2017. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP, File) FILE – This image provided by NORAD — the North American Aerospace Defense Command, responsible for monitoring and defending the skies above North America — shows NORAD’s Santa Tracker. (NORAD via AP, File) NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War, predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics.
Christopher Nolan set to adapt Homer’s The Odyssey for his next film
Braze Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2025 ResultsAccording to Mike Klis , the Broncos are cutting CB Levi Wallace today. The veteran had seen some playing time due to injuries this year but struggled on the field. Denver evidently is ready to try its luck with other options. The Broncos also designated RB Tyler Badie to return from injured reserve, per Tom Pelissero , and promoted RB Blake Watson to the active roster, per HC Sean Payton via Chris Tomasson . Wallace, 29, wound up going undrafted out of Alabama back in 2018. He later signed a three-year contract with the Bills. However, Buffalo waived him at the start of the 2018 season and later signed him to their practice squad. He returned to the Bills on one-year contracts each of the past two years before signing on with the Steelers to a two-year deal in 2022. He concluded his contract with Pittsburgh and was testing the market as an unrestricted free agent when he signed with the Broncos this past offseason. In 2024, Wallace appeared in 13 games for the Broncos and recorded 28 total tackles and two pass deflections. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.
On June 1, 2020, Emergent announced a $628 million contract with the U.S. government to produce COVID-19 vaccines. The company started producing vaccine materials for Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca at its Baltimore facility in late 2020. In March 2021, the facility accidentally contaminated Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses with AstraZeneca ingredients. By April 2021, the FDA halted production at the site, citing quality issues, contamination risks, and poor training. Following the contamination crisis, Emergent stock price dropped by over 60% by November 2021, erasing over half the company’s market value in just months. Shortly after, shareholders filed multiple lawsuits against Emergent, claiming the company misrepresented its vaccine production capabilities and hid serious quality issues. Emergent BioSolutions recently agreed to pay a $40 million settlement to investors to resolve the lawsuits. Affected investors can now file a claim to receive the payout. Overview Emergent BioSolutions EBS secured over $1 billion in government and pharmaceutical contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in March 2021, workers at its Baltimore facility mistakenly mixed Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccine ingredients, contaminating up to 15 million J&J doses and forcing AstraZeneca to discard tens of millions more. This error delayed J&J's vaccine rollout and disrupted global distribution, causing Emergent stock to drop by over 50% by November 2021. Following these events, a group of shareholders sued Emergent, and recently, Emergent agreed to pay a $40 million settlement to all affected investors. How It All Started: Manufacturing Failures In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Emergent BioSolutions positioned its Bayview facility as a critical vaccine production asset. In March 2020, the company secured over $1 billion in contracts with Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, including a substantial government Operation Warp Speed contract. On April 30, 2020, CEO Robert Kramer declared during an earnings call that the company had “proven manufacturing capabilities” and was prepared to scale up quickly to meet the demands of vaccine production. In July 2020, following the AstraZeneca agreement, Emergent further bolstered its claims in a press release, with Kramer declaring, “ Emergent is driven by our desire to advance solutions that will make an impact on this pandemic “. The company’s CDMO business unit head, Syed T. Husain, added that “ Emergent stands ready alongside leading innovators to rapidly deploy our CDMO services to help meet the substantial demand for a vaccine. “ By early 2021, Emergent shares were trading above $90, fueled by high expectations for the company's role in vaccine production. However, despite positive public messaging, internal audits and inspections in the summer of 2020 uncovered serious issues at Emergent BioSolutions' manufacturing facilities. Reports highlighted poor staff training, equipment failures, and inadequate quality control measures, revealing long-standing problems within the company’s operations. One audit found that “the flow of workers and materials through the plant was not adequately controlled to prevent mix-ups or contamination.” Another audit discovered that a manager had “knowingly deviated” from standard procedures. After that, in November 2020, AstraZeneca representatives visiting Emergent’s Bayview facility raised concerns about poor oversight and GMP compliance. Emergent’s VP of Manufacturing acknowledged these issues, mentioning trash buildup in hallways and lapses in GMP standards. An external consultant also warned that the facility was “NON-CGMP compliant” and at regulatory risk, but production still continued. Contamination Crisis at Emergent's Facility In March 2021, a major contamination incident at Emergent's Baltimore facility revealed significant oversight failures. Millions of Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses were mixed with AstraZeneca ingredients, an issue initially detected by Johnson & Johnson's lab in the Netherlands, not Emergent. The contamination forced the disposal of tens of millions of AstraZeneca doses and delayed the delivery of approximately 100 million Johnson & Johnson doses during a critical phase of the pandemic. Following this disclosure, Emergent issued a press release, stating that their “quality control systems worked as designed” and that discarding a batch of bulk drug substance “occasionally happens during vaccine manufacturing.” However, that same day the Associated Press released FDA documents obtained through FOIA requests, revealing a history of quality control issues at Emergent’s facilities dating back to 2017. FDA leaders reported that the company “hired a lot of individuals not as familiar with vaccine manufacturing that did not have adequate training.” Inspectors found several issues at Emergent's facility, including mismanaged waste, peeling paint, and cluttered equipment. They also discovered that some quality checks were removed from vaccines before an FDA visit in February 2021. Later, it came to light that Emergent had been forced to destroy vaccine materials equivalent to nearly 400 million doses — much more than the previously reported 85 million. The situation worsened on November 4, 2021, when Emergent announced that the Department of Health and Human Services had cancelled its $628 million contract, requiring the company to reverse $86 million in Q3 2021 revenue and reduce its contract backlog by $180 million. The impact on investors was clear as Emergent's stock price dropped by over 60%, from more than $120 in early 2021 to below $45 by November 2021. These disclosures and the sharp drop in stock price led shareholders to file multiple lawsuits against Emergent, accusing the company of misrepresenting its vaccine production capabilities and concealing serious quality issues. Resolving The Case After three years of legal proceedings, in September 2024, Emergent agreed to pay $40 million to settle the lawsuit from shareholders. If you invested in Emergent, you may be eligible to file for a portion of the settlement to recover your losses. As of now, Emergent BioSolutions has made significant progress in its recovery, securing a $50 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson and driving a broader transformation under CEO Joe Papa. In Q3 2024, the company saw a 9% revenue increase to $293.8 million and secured vital government contracts, including a $250 million order to produce vaccines for anthrax, botulism, and smallpox. It also sold its Camden facility for $30 million to streamline operations. However, its stock remains far below previous highs, trading at $8 in November 2024 — a 93.6% decline from its $125 peak in 2021, showing that there is still a long road ahead for a recovery. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kids
NexOptic Technology (CVE:NXO) Trading Down 20% – Here’s What Happened
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson has been ruled out for the Colts' big game at the New York Giants on Sunday. Richardson missed practice on Thursday and Friday because of back and foot injuries. He was listed as questionable before he was downgraded to out on Saturday. Indianapolis (7-8) has a slim chance of making the playoffs. The Colts need to win out and get some help. Richardson's absence likely means Joe Flacco will start against New York. Flacco, a New Jersey native who turns 40 on Jan. 16, has passed for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns in six games this season, including four starts. He also has thrown five interceptions. The 22-year-old Richardson was selected by Indianapolis with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft. He has passed for 1,814 yards and eight touchdowns with 12 interceptions this year. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl The Associated Press
