wow.888 A teenage West Ham academy goalkeeper has died aged 15 after suffering from cancer. Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates all loved him. “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.On Wednesday, Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AVIR released Phase 2 study data from the regimen of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for the hepatitis C virus infection that causes liver swelling and can lead to serious liver damage . The study met its primary endpoints of safety and sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12). Primary endpoint results demonstrated a 98% (208/213) SVR12 rate in the per-protocol treatment adherent patient population after eight weeks of treatment with a regimen of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir. Also Read: Atea Pharmaceuticals’ COVID-19 Treatment Flunks In Late-Stage Study, Blames’ Constantly Evolving’ Virus The efficacy evaluable patient population, which included 17% treatment non-adherent patients, achieved a 95% (242/256) SVR12 rate demonstrating the potency and forgiveness of the regimen. In June, Atea Pharmaceuticals shared new data from the lead-in cohort (n=60) of its ongoing Phase 2 combination study of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for hepatitis C virus . The regimen was generally safe and well-tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events or treatment discontinuations. Full data for the Phase 2 study will be presented at a scientific meeting during the first half of 2025. In the Phase 2 study, 99% (178/179) of treatment-adherent patients who were non-cirrhotic and infected with genotypes 1-4 achieved SVR12, demonstrating robust pan-genotypic potency and supporting an eight-week treatment in the Phase 3 program. Treatment adherent patients with cirrhosis achieved a 88% (30/34) SVR12 rate. Viral kinetics were slower in these cirrhotic patients. However, all patients achieved 100% end-of-treatment response. To maximize efficacy, the Phase 3 program will extend treatment duration to 12 weeks in patients with cirrhosis. Atea is preparing for the Phase 3 program, which is expected to follow an End of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA anticipated for early 2025. The Phase 3 program is expected to use a fixed-dose combination tablet, reducing the daily pill count from four to two tablets and enhancing patient convenience, with no food effect. Price Action: AVIR stock is down 9.63% at $3.15 at the last check on Wednesday. Read Next: Southland Holdings Lands $60M Wastewater Deal: Details © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

, Talk about life coming at us fast! I don't know about you, but only now have I begun to settle into the reality of our success on Election Day. But we remain in a time when significant events are happening every day. And multiple times a day! While each of these events are worthy of their own commentary, I wanted to brief you on news that you could not miss and which you very well may have. Within 24 hours of writing this column, former representative Matt Gaetz withdrew his name as President Trump's nominee for Attorney General. That came as a surprise to many, but reports are saying that after multiple meetings with senators, it became clear that there was too much opposition to his nomination. What now? There are a few paths forward, including possibly being named by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to fill Marco Rubio's senate seat. On the same day that Gaetz withdrew, President Trump continued the rapid action we've seen from the moment he became the president-elect. Within hours, he announced former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new nominee for Attorney General. This was met with universal praise on social media by Trump's circle and supporters of the president. Bondi was a prosecutor in Florida for 20 years, and the state's AG for eight years, from 2011-2019. She also happened to be the first woman to hold that office. I've had the pleasure of speaking with and interviewing her a number of times and found her to be sharp, confident, and ready for anything. She's a brilliant attorney and will make an excellent attorney general. Closing out another unnecessary drama fed by the panic of the Democrats, Democrat senator Bob Casey finally conceded to Republican challenger Dave McCormick for the Pennsylvania Senate seat, ending an ongoing recount. Casey spent weeks contesting the results despite no path to victory. All this was happening while a Bucks County commissioner caused a stunning scandal by publicly announcing they would ignore a... Tammy Bruce

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a reflection of the utility’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, Newsweek today named California Water Service Group (Group) (NYSE: CWT) one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” for 2025. This is the fourth consecutive year that Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, recognized Group with this honor. Group was one of only three investor-owned water utilities ranked in the Energy & Utilities category. The 2025 list spans 14 industries and recognizes the top 600 out of the 2,000 largest public companies by revenue. America’s Most Responsible Companies were selected this year based on 30 publicly available key performance indicators (KPIs) derived from corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and other reports, along with independent survey results. The KPIs focused on company performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas, while the survey asked respondents about their perception of company activities related to corporate social responsibility. “We have long operated by the mantra to always “do the right thing”—not simply the easy thing—for our customers, communities, employees, and stockholders, and for the environment,” said Martin A. Kropelnicki, Group Chairman & CEO. “To be recognized for our efforts by Newsweek for the fourth year in a row is an honor we do not take lightly, and we will continue striving to enhance our efforts each year to do right by those we serve.” The full listing is published at www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-most-responsible-companies-2025 . About California Water Service Group California Water Service Group (NYSE: CWT) is the largest regulated water utility in the western United States. It provides high-quality, reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 2.1 million people in California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, and Texas through its regulated subsidiaries, California Water Service, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, and Washington Water Service, and its utility holding company, Texas Water Service. Group’s purpose is to enhance the quality of life for customers, communities, employees, and stockholders. To do so, it invests responsibly in water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainability initiatives, and community well-being. The company’s 1,200+ employees live by a set of strong core values and share a commitment to protecting the planet, caring for people, and operating with the utmost integrity. The company has been named one of “America’s Most Responsible Companies” and the “World’s Most Trustworthy Companies” by Newsweek , a Top Workplace, and a Great Place to Work ® . More information is available at www.calwatergroup.com . Media Contact Yvonne Kingman ykingman@calwater.com 310-257-1434

Baker Mayfield’s equipment donation helps prep program to state title

Providing a diverse range of perspectives from bullish to bearish, 6 analysts have published ratings on TeraWulf WULF in the last three months. The table below provides a concise overview of recent ratings by analysts, offering insights into the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and drawing comparisons with the preceding months for a holistic perspective. Bullish Somewhat Bullish Indifferent Somewhat Bearish Bearish Total Ratings 3 3 0 0 0 Last 30D 0 1 0 0 0 1M Ago 1 1 0 0 0 2M Ago 2 0 0 0 0 3M Ago 0 1 0 0 0 Insights from analysts' 12-month price targets are revealed, presenting an average target of $8.58, a high estimate of $11.00, and a low estimate of $5.00. Observing a 11.86% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $7.67. Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of TeraWulf by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets. Analyst Analyst Firm Action Taken Rating Current Price Target Prior Price Target Brett Knoblauch Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Overweight $11.00 $11.00 Mike Grondahl Northland Capital Markets Raises Outperform $10.00 $8.00 John Todaro Needham Raises Buy $9.50 $6.00 Kevin Cassidy Rosenblatt Maintains Buy $5.00 $5.00 Lucas Pipes B. Riley Securities Maintains Buy $6.00 $6.00 Brett Knoblauch Cantor Fitzgerald Maintains Overweight $10.00 $10.00 Key Insights: Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to TeraWulf. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company. Rating: Offering insights into predictions, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of TeraWulf compared to the broader market. Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of TeraWulf's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time. Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into TeraWulf's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table. Stay up to date on TeraWulf analyst ratings. Delving into TeraWulf's Background TeraWulf Inc is a digital asset technology company that is engaged in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy development. The company's primary focus is supporting environmentally conscious bitcoin mining operations by developing and operating facilities within the United States. The company's bitcoin mining facilities are powered by clean, affordable, and reliable energy sources. The company's primary source of revenue stems from the mining of bitcoin conducted at the company's mining facility sites. Additionally, the company occasionally generates revenue through the provision of miner hosting services to third-party entities. TeraWulf's Economic Impact: An Analysis Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale. Revenue Growth: TeraWulf displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 37.69% . This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Information Technology sector, the company excelled with a growth rate higher than the average among peers. Net Margin: TeraWulf's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of -85.12%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management. Return on Equity (ROE): TeraWulf's ROE is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of -6.22%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial returns. Return on Assets (ROA): TeraWulf's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -5.2%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets. Debt Management: TeraWulf's debt-to-equity ratio is below industry norms, indicating a sound financial structure with a ratio of 0.0 . The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained Ratings come from analysts, or specialists within banking and financial systems that report for specific stocks or defined sectors (typically once per quarter for each stock). Analysts usually derive their information from company conference calls and meetings, financial statements, and conversations with important insiders to reach their decisions. Analysts may supplement their ratings with predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, offering investors a more comprehensive outlook. However, investors should be mindful that analysts, like any human, can have subjective perspectives influencing their forecasts. Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now? Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. Click here to stay ahead of the market . This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.None

Peaches spread across North America through Indigenous networks November 22, 2024 Penn State Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a new study. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a study led by a researcher at Penn State. The study, published in Nature Communications , shows that Indigenous political and social networks and land use practices played key roles in the peach's adoption and dispersal across the continent, according to the researchers. "Peaches need a lot of care by people to be productive. They need to be planted in appropriate places with a lot of sunlight and the right soil drainage, and they need to be pruned," said Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, first author and assistant professor of anthropology at Penn State. "For a long time, the narrative was that the Spanish introduced peaches and then peaches spread very quickly. The reality is way more complicated. How quickly peaches spread is very much a product of Indigenous networks and land management." The researchers analyzed historical documents that mentioned peaches, such as the travel writings of French missionary explorer Jacques Marquette and English merchant Jonathan Dickinson. They also employed radiocarbon dating -- a method that measures the decay of radioactive carbon-14 atoms in organic material -- to determine the approximate ages of peach pits and other organic samples, like carbonized tree wood, from 28 archaeological sites and two regional locales where archaeologists previously recovered preserved peach pits. The sites were located in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas. The team found that peaches were likely widespread across Indigenous settlements in the interior southeast as early as the year 1620, roughly 100 years after the earliest Spanish expeditions in Florida and in Georgia's Oconee Valley. The timing suggests that early Spanish settlements becoming important trade nodes within existing Indigenous networks created the necessary conditions for the spread of peaches, according to Holland-Lulewicz. "Many narratives talk about the Spanish, or Europeans generally, arriving and then you see instantaneous changes to Indigenous histories and the spread of materials, but those initial interactions didn't cause major changes," he said. "It's not until Spanish networks and Indigenous networks become entangled 100 years later that we have the necessary conditions for the spread of peaches." The team also identified what are possibly the earliest peaches in North America at a Muskogean farmstead in the Oconee Valley. In the 1990s, the late Penn State archaeologist James Hatch recovered peach pits from the bottom of post holes that once housed support structures for the farmstead's house. The researchers radiocarbon dated charcoal, nuts and corn kernels from these post holes and found that occupation at the site began between 1520 and 1550 and ended between 1530 and 1570. This timing suggests that peaches had spread to the interior southeast possibly decades before the founding of St. Augustine in 1565, according to the researchers. "Understanding the path that the introduction of species, such as peach trees, took through colonization and the role that Indigenous people and their long-term relationship with the environment played in shaping these histories demonstrates the importance of these events, people and processes to what becomes a broader American history," said co-author Victor Thompson, Distinguished Research Professor of archaeology at the University of Georgia (UGA) and executive director of the Georgia Museum of Natural History. "Further, the fact that all of this work took place on museum specimens underscores the importance of maintaining these collections for future study." Indigenous peoples not only adopted the peach but selectively bred new varieties outnumbering the varieties found in Europe even at this early time, Holland-Lulewicz said. "When Europeans started to move through and into the interior of the continent in the mid- to late 1600s, they noted that there were way more varieties of peaches being grown by Indigenous peoples than there were in Europe," he said, explaining that the fruit had become an important aspect of Indigenous culture. "At this time, Europeans are noting really dense peach orchards around Indigenous towns, but some of these towns and people had never previously interacted with or even heard of Europeans. In fact, there are records of Indigenous peoples describing peaches as an Indigenous fruit." The fruit had become so integral to Indigenous history and culture that when the ancestors of the modern-day Muscogee (Creek) Nation were forcibly removed from Georgia and Alabama during the 1800s, they took peaches with them. "There are Muscogee (Creek) peoples today who grow peaches as heritage crops," Holland-Lulewicz said. "The act of growing and caring for those peaches is an important cultural practice. These were the first peaches introduced in the 1500s and 1600s that were then carried halfway across the continent and continue to be grown today." In addition to Holland-Lulewicz and Thompson, other collaborators include Amanda Roberts Thompson and Mark Williams at the UGA Laboratory of Archaeology, and Dario J. Chavez, University of Georgia; RaeLynn Butler, the Secretary of Culture and Humanities for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Turner Hunt, Muscogee (Creek) Nation citizen; Jay Franklin, Logan Simpson Design; and John Worth, University of West Florida. The UGA Laboratory of Archaeology and the Institute of Energy and the Environment at Penn State supported this work. Story Source: Materials provided by Penn State . Original written by Francisco Tutella. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :, Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore | Flickr Aside from Trump himself and the American people, several individuals emerged as particularly big winners on election night when the former president secured a return ticket to the White House. There were some big losers as well who had a serious stake in Harris winning but came up short. Here's a look at each camp. WINNER: JD Vance Just a few short years ago, JD Vance was a prominent Trump critic. Now he's Trump's vice president-elect and the heir apparent of Trump's America First movement. Vance was undoubtedly taking a risk by signing on to be Trump's vice presidential pick – just as Trump was taking a risk by choosing him. A first term senator from Ohio, Vance was a relatively untested political commodity. But Trump's confidence in Vance paid off big, with "the kid from Middletown" becoming a major asset for the campaign. Of course, Vance's first priority as vice president will be helping enact Trump's agenda. But it's impossible to ignore that Vance is now perfectly positioned to be the frontrunner to secure the Republican nomination for president in 2028, if he so chooses. LOSER: Corporate Media Volumes can, should, and likely will be written on how the corporate media sabotaged its own credibility in pursuit of its ceaseless crusade to "get Trump." While 2016 and 2020 dashed the public's confidence in the establishment press, 2024 revealed just how complete the collapse has been. The media went all-out in the final weeks of the campaign to build up Kamala Harris into an almost mythical political savior, while continuing to demonize Trump as "literally Hitler" and a "threat to democracy." But voters simply did not buy it. In fact, the longer the media has continued its smear campaign against Trump, the more popular he has become, increasing his raw vote total from 2016 in both 2020 and 2024. Some in the corporate media are now finally beginning to take a look in the mirror to save what is left of their... Shane Harris

Memphis fights off No. 2 UConn in OT in Maui Invitational thriller

What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?No, The Heritage Foundation’s director of finance doesn’t own Hobby Lobby

Spotify Is Hilariously Exposing Gay People With This One Specific Spotify Wrapped FeatureNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points, or 1%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent , a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has argued for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44% immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.26% Monday, down from 4.41% late Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. That helped stocks of smaller companies lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped 1.5%. It finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set three years ago. Smaller companies can feel bigger boosts from lower borrowing costs because of the need for many to borrow to grow. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also eased sharply. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders had reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump’s preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8% last month from 2.7% in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4%, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 16.5% after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $154 million in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 2.2%. Among the market’s leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday’s drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 5.9%. Homebuilders, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and Lennar all rose at least 5.6%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 18.03 points to 5,987.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 440.06 to 44,736.57, and the Nasdaq composite gained 51.18 to 19,054.84. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading below $95,000 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Judge says lawsuit over former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr.'s jail death can proceed

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points, or 1%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Judge says lawsuit over former NFL player Glenn Foster Jr.'s jail death can proceed

SMCI Stock Rallies 16% As AI Recovers From Setbacks. 'They're Back,' Says Analyst.

NoneAscend produces bio-circular performance chemicals, PA66Foster, a former New Orleans Saints defensive end, died on Dec. 6, 2021, three days after being arrested and taken to jail in rural Pickens County for alleged speeding and attempting to elude police. A judge ordered Foster taken to a medical facility in Tuscaloosa for a mental evaluation. Foster was found unresponsive in the back of a law enforcement vehicle when he arrived at the facility. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later. His widow, Pamela Foster, filed a lawsuit against officers at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office and jail saying Foster had been beaten, shocked with a Taser and strangled while at the jail. The defendants then asked a federal judge to dismiss the case. U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon ruled Thursday refused to dismiss allegations of excessive force and failure to intervene. Axon dismissed other portions of the lawsuit. The ruling came a day before the third anniversary of Foster’s death. Foster appeared in 17 games for the Saints in 2013 and 2014.

A proposal to ban a transgender Montana lawmaker from using the women’s bathroom in the state's capitol building failed on Tuesday. The proposed amendment, introduced by Republican Rep. Jerry Schillinger of Circle, would have required state legislators to use restrooms based on their biological sex at birth. The amendment needed to receive a majority from House members and Senate members on the joint rules committee to advance. It got enough votes to pass on the Senate side, but not the House. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula, was Montana’s first openly transgender female lawmaker. Rep. SJ Howell, D-Missoula, was the first nonbinary lawmaker. Both were first elected in 2022 and reelected this year. RELATED STORY | Montana transgender lawmaker on Capitol Hill's bathroom ban: 'Do not cede ground' On social media, Zephyr thanked her colleagues — particularly her republican colleagues — who she said “recognized this as a distraction from the work we were elected to do.” Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, one of four Republicans to vote against the proposal, said, “This particular action will have the effect of making people famous in the national news and will not contribute to the effective conduct of our business." This comes after some intense moments last month in Washington after a Republican representative from South Carolina proposed a similar ban on Capitol Hill ahead of the first openly transgender member of Congress, Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Delaware, taking office next year. RELATED STORY | Justices seemingly unmoved to overturn transgender health care ban for minors