By MEAD GRUVER and AMY BETH HANSON, Associated Press A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship scheduled for later this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference to challenge the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Judge Crews referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player in his ruling and noted that no defendant disputed that San Jose State rosters a transgender woman volleyball player. He said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting that the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a forfeit in league standings. He also said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 – making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a political campaign year. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. San Jose State is seeded second. The judge’s order maintains the seedings and pairings for the tournament. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. Crews served as a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as a federal judge in January of this year. Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.
NoneDuring the Town of Amherst’s final town council meeting of the year on Dec. 16, a motion was passed approving funding for two initiatives. The Community Support Grants Policy, Social Equity Fund allowed for a $5,000 contribution to be made to the Amherst Community Christmas Dinner. The free dinner is open to anyone in the town and beyond providing an inclusive environment for anyone experiencing food insecurity. The welcome holiday meal is free and open to anyone. Another contribution was made on behalf of the Social Equity Fund in the amount of $3,100 being made to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Amherst. The library provides books to more than 220 children in the area to inspire their quest for learning. Council appointed Rae Burke as a citizen member of the Town of Amherst Audit Committee for a term ending on October 31, 2025. The seat was vacant following the election of Rob Small as mayor. An expression of interest was advertised in local media and on the Town of Amherst social media pages. Amherst Town Council believes involving youth in the community adds value to youth development. They also want to empower young people to be active participants in their community and democracy. Council believes the youth perspective is an important one in the decisions they make everyday and welcome their opinions. That’s why in June 2024 an expression of interest was highlighted for young people to join the Amherst Youth Town Council. The seats are capped at 15 members and there were seven interested applicants over the summer. Last week, two new students were recruited, bringing the total number of members to nine. Town Council appointed Isla Crocker and Hanna Brunt to the Amherst Youth Town Council last week. Town Council approved the purchase of 10 body-worn cameras for Town Police in the 2024/25 Capital Budget. The amount to purchase the devices was estimated at $50,000 but the prices have changed considerably since the approval. Staff are now recommending the equipment be leased now instead of purchasing it. Council passed a new motion to remove the purchase of 10 police body worn cameras from the 2024/25 Capital Budget and authorize the lease. The new lease will be for 12 police body-worn cameras at a cost of approximately $20,000 annually. This new approval will be funded from the Police Department Operating Budget. In leasing the equipment, the provider will make sure the existing technology, data storage in the cloud, repairs and equipment replacement will be up to date.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi stressed the urgent need for fundamental reforms to ensure stability in Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s Pakistan MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Dec, 2024) Former stressed the urgent need for fundamental reforms to ensure stability in Quaid-e-Azam ’s . He made these remarks during a to while cutting a cake to commemorate Quaid-e-Azam’s birth anniversary at the office of Property Marketing CEO, Qari Abdul Rauf Qureshi. The , hosted by political and social leader Husnain Khan, was attended by dignitaries including Rana Faraz Noon, Iqbal Jilani, Arsalan Jilani, Qalb Haider, and Mian Zain-ul-Abideen. Abbasi highlighted the importance of addressing the problems of common citizens through practical reforms. “Youth should be educated and trained to adopt Quaid-e-Azam’s ideology,” he said, stressing that the generation is key to ’s . Expressing his pleasure at visiting , Abbasi appreciated the contributions of individuals like Qari Abdul Rauf Qureshi and Husnain Khan. “I am confident that such personalities will support the cause of national stability, development, and prosperity. I assure you of my full commitment to implementing Quaid-e-Azam’s vision,” he added. Qari Abdul Rauf Qureshi and Husnain Khan praised Abbasi’s leadership and assured him of their unwavering support. They lauded his services to the country during his tenure as . Abbasi was accorded a warm welcome upon his arrival. Later, Abbasi addressed the and reiterated the need for the creation of new provinces to address governance challenges. “South and provinces were agreed upon by , yet no action was taken,” he stated. He advocated for provinces to be formed without linguistic biases, emphasizing his party’s commitment to the cause. “New provinces will reduce problems and improve governance,” he added. On political dynamics, He remarked that political parties are currently part of the in some form or another. He also reflected on his legal battles, saying, “I pay the highest taxes. Cases against me still exist, but such challenges are part of a politician’s journey.”Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy
Collaborations, innovation are helping us survive economic woes – Mbraiz Innovations’s CEONo. 22 Xavier unbeaten but looking for more effort vs. South CarolinaMinister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett (left) and Secretary of Tourism for the Philippines, Christina Garcia-Frasco share lens time after he received his global Gusi Peace Prize at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre, on Wednesday, November 27. ~ Jamaica, Philippines explore MOU on tourism collaboration ~ KINGSTON, Jamaica--Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett was awarded the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize in Manila, the Philippines, on Wednesday, November 27, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the global tourism industry, according to a press release from the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism. This distinguished accolade, often referred to as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, celebrates excellence in various fields, including peace, human rights, politics, science and the arts. Minister Bartlett’s award highlights his leadership in championing tourism resilience and sustainability, particularly in small island developing states, and underscores his commitment to advancing global cooperation in the tourism sector, the release states. The award came as part of the four-day Gusi Peace Prize event, which concluded on November 28, and saw global figures from various sectors gathered to network and explore solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. In expressing his gratitude after accepting the award, Minister Bartlett said: “Receiving the Gusi Peace Prize is a humbling and deeply inspiring honour. This recognition belongs not just to me but to the people of Jamaica, whose innovation, resilience and cultural richness are at the heart of all I do. It highlights how tourism, when approached thoughtfully, can transform communities and inspire unity worldwide.” On the margins of the awards ceremony, Minister Bartlett also led a series of high-level discussions with representatives of the Department of Tourism in the Philippines, focusing on the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster greater cooperation between the two countries in the tourism industry. The proposed MOU will focus on several key areas that will drive mutual growth and innovation, according to the release. Minister Bartlett highlighted the importance of human capital development as a key pillar of the potential agreement, citing the Philippines’ success in training over 170,000 tourism workers annually. He noted that this collaboration would help Jamaica strengthen its tourism workforce by enhancing service excellence across the island. “The Department of Tourism in the Philippines has done remarkable work in training tourism workers and certifying them in service excellence. We look forward to collaborating with them to further strengthen service excellence in Jamaica, which is at the core of the visitor experience,” he added. Additionally, the proposed MOU will address craft development, where both countries will exchange expertise in utilising indigenous materials to create value-added products, the release states. Minister Bartlett expressed excitement about the potential for Jamaican artisans to explore new creative possibilities, particularly through the exchange of knowledge with Filipino artisans who have successfully used local resources, such as pineapple and banana fibres, to create garments and other items. Concerning this, the tourism minister noted: “Our artisans can benefit immensely from learning how to transform waste and widely available materials, such as coffee and bananas, into high-quality products. The Philippines has done marvellous work in this area, and we look forward to collaborating with them to bring new value to our own rich natural resources.” Furthermore, the MOU will also prioritise sustainability and resilience initiatives, with the establishment of a Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) at the University of Manila. Minister Bartlett emphasised that this collaboration would strengthen efforts to build more resilient tourism frameworks and improve sustainability across both nations. The two countries also discussed enhancing community tourism, with Minister Bartlett suggesting that there is great potential for collaboration in developing village tourism – a model which has seen success in the Philippines and could further enrich Jamaica’s own community-based tourism initiatives, according to the release. The discussions also touched on the potential for improved air connectivity between Jamaica and the Philippines, with opportunities to connect Jamaica with key destinations in Asia, including Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. The tourism minister noted that these efforts could significantly increase tourism arrivals, benefiting both countries’ economies. Minister Bartlett concluded by announcing that Secretary of Tourism for the Philippines, Christina Garcia-Frasco, is expected to visit Jamaica in February 2025, where the details of the MOU will be further discussed, and an agreement finalised during the 3rd Global Tourism Resilience Conference. The conference is slated to be held from February 17 to 19, 2025, at the Princess Grand Jamaica Resort in Negril, the release concludes.
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