— Two-thirds of Boyce's municipal employees will receive Christmas bonuses this year. The other third won't get jealous, though. That person — yes, person — isn't on the payroll yet. As a town with only about 750 residents, Boyce has just three employees. One of the positions has been vacant for months. That plays into why the Town Council voted Tuesday night to give the two current staff members a little more compensation. Town Administrator Matt Hoff will receive a $500 bonus, while Treasurer John O'Neill will get a $250 reward. "It's been a very busy year for the town of Boyce," said Councilwoman Berkeley Reynolds. The code compliance inspector position has been vacant since April. Hoff basically has been doing that job alongside his regular duties, Reynolds said. Since his hiring last summer, O'Neill has "worked diligently" to improve the town's financial reporting, Councilman Floyd Hudson asserted. All three positions are part-time and require little, if any, previous government experience. O'Neill, who's officially retired, has previously worked in finance for other small localities, officials have said. "He's a real asset to this town," Hudson added. Among the code inspector's duties are looking into reports of property maintenance violations, issuing warnings or citations, taking violators to court when needed and preparing a monthly report for the council. The job is for 10 hours per week at $17.88 per hour. None of the few people who've interviewed for the job already have taken it. The council plans to privately interview two more applicants during a special meeting Dec. 16. In another matter, the council is exploring how to resolve complaints it's received from several Boyce residents about a house on Whiting Avenue. Mayor Zack Hudson described the property as unsightly. He declined to elaborate because the town's code doesn't specifically address what the complaints were about. Town officials have consulted with attorney David Griffin, Clarke County Sheriff Travis Sumption and county zoning officials. They've determined "there's nothing at this time we can enforce," Zack Hudson said. Council members aim to get the Boyce Planning Commission's insight into whether some code changes are necessary. Also, the council: • Appointed Trisha Saldana to the planning commission. Hudson mentioned the recent appointment of Bob Garlitz to that panel. • Announced that the first "Pancakes & Pajamas Holiday Breakfast" will be held from 8-10 a.m. — or until the food runs out — Dec. 14 in the social hall at Boyce Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. The menu will include pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs and hash brown casserole. Milk, butter and orange juice are being donated by Mercer Vu Farms. For the past few years, the town has hosted a free Christmas dinner for residents. But each dinner has attracted only about 50 people. A breakfast is being tried this year to see if it will attract more.
ATLANTA — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington. As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race, held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating their neighbors’ pets, he didn't just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris hold their fists in the air after she delivered a concession speech after the 2024 presidential election Nov. 6 on the campus of Howard University in Washington. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” People are also reading... After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris' loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. AP VoteCast takeaways: Gender voting gap was unremarkable compared with recent history “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. Supporters cheer during a community rally with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris on Oct. 27 in Philadelphia. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women's concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people. Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,''' she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response The 25 best cities for Black women to flourish financially The 25 best cities for Black women to flourish financially Where can Black women feel supported and flourish financially? When posed that question, Dr. Lori Martin, a professor of African and African American studies and sociology at Louisiana State University, had this to say: "A livable place for Black women is safe, and for women with children, it is home to schools where all students have access to an excellent education. It would also be diverse, with a visible and thriving Black community, including Black businesses." While the socioeconomic realities of our current time touch all corners of the country, there are pockets of the U.S. where the wealth gap narrows and Black women have more opportunities. MoneyGeek analyzed data on income, the cost of crime , homeownership , and poverty levels from 164 cities across the United States to rank the best — and worst — cities for Black women to live and financially flourish in. Key findings The best cities for Black women MoneyGeek ranked 164 cities with populations greater than 65,000 from the best to the worst for Black women. The ranking includes analysis of income, poverty rate, homeownership, educational attainment and health insurance gaps between Black women and the entire population nationally and locally. The size of the local Black population and the cost of crime in the area were included in the ranking to reflect the presence of the Black community and safety, respectively. Southfield — a suburb of Detroit — and Pearland — a Houston suburb — ranked as the top two cities in the analysis. Notably, Southern cities make up the majority of cities in the top 25, with 13 located in this region. The worst cities for Black women In contrast, Minneapolis, Minnesota, ranked as the worst city for Black women. In Minneapolis, Black women face high poverty rates in absolute and relative terms and have low rates of health insurance coverage compared to the cities analyzed. Meanwhile, Miami ranks as the second least favorable city, with a significant local income gap — there, white men earn almost triple the income of Black women. The economic realities Black women face Income disparity is a key measure of how well Black women are doing today. For each city in the analysis, we calculated the local Equal Pay Day — the day in the following year when Black women would make an equivalent amount as white men — using the median income of Black women working full time and the median income of white men working full time in each locality. In Carson, California, the median pay of Black women is higher than the median pay of white men. However, in Evanston, Illinois, Black women make just over a third of white men's earnings, meaning they would need to work until September 24, 2024, to earn the equivalent of a white man's 2022 pay. Economic challenges faced by Black women include restricted career advancement opportunities, insufficient health insurance, and inadequate retirement savings. Survey data from Goldman Sachs indicates that 42% of Black women perceive limited career growth opportunities compared to 35% of U.S. adults, and merely 43% are able to obtain health insurance through their employer, in contrast to 53% nationwide. Additionally, 71% of Black women feel they are living paycheck to paycheck, compared to 63% of the general population. The intersection of racial and gender bias contributes to these challenges, resulting in low-wage jobs and a considerable wealth gap. Our analysis validates this, demonstrating that Black women who work full-time, year-round, earn 64 cents for every dollar white men earn working full-time, year-round. Less access to economic opportunities puts Black women at a disadvantage in building wealth. The FDIC's National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households found that 11.3% of Black households were unbanked compared to just 2.1% of white households. Unbanked households are credit invisible — that is, they don't have a credit history and, therefore, can't build credit. Having no credit history makes it difficult to utilize credit cards to manage cash needs and mortgages to buy homes. Advocating for economic opportunities for Black women The struggle for economic equity remains a persistent challenge for Black women in America, who have historically faced systemic wage disparities and employment obstacles. However, there are tools and resources that can provide Black women with economic opportunities and empowerment. Dr. Ukanwa shares additional solutions, such as: 1. Invest in education: Research has already shown that degrees increase lifetime earnings, close some societal gaps, and increase job security. But if degrees are not your path, it also means continuing to build that knowledge and expertise in something you can be the best at. Figure out your expertise and what you bring to the table. 2. After building your expertise in a field, build your reputation and personal brand: With an excellent reputation and personal brand, people will start to seek you out rather than the other way around. This increases the worth of your expertise. 3. Find out what your expertise is worth: Educate yourself on how to negotiate . Negotiate to be paid what you are worth. 4. Get into the habit of ownership: Build your own equity, which decreases the dependence on someone else for your income. For example, this could be your own business, stocks , or real estate. Methodology To rank the best cities for Black women, MoneyGeek analyzed data from the American Community Survey , MoneyGeek's Safest Cities and Safest Small Cities and Towns studies, and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The analysis started with over 500 places in America with populations of 65,000 or more. Places without granular data about Black women or lacking other data points for the analysis were removed to get to the final set of 164 cities. The ranking of the best cities for Black women was based on eight factors: safety, Black population, educational attainment, poverty rates, income, employment, health insurance, and homeownership. Each factor was weighted equally and scaled to a score between 0 and 1. The factors were calculated as follows: Safety (full weight): This metric equally comprises two metrics. Percent of local population that is Black (full weight): This percentage represents the proportion of Black individuals within a city's total population, as reported by the United States Census Bureau's five-year American Community Survey (ACS) from 2021, the most recent data available. Educational attainment (full weight): This metric equally comprises two metrics. Poverty rate (full weight): The percentage point difference between the city's rate of Black women earning at or above the poverty level and the rate of all women living above the poverty level nationally. This finding comes from the 2021 Census ACS five-year data, the latest available source covering over 200 cities. Income (full weight): This factor equally comprises two metrics. Employment (full weight): The difference in percentage points between the Black female employment rate and the white male employment rate in the locality. Health insurance (full weight): This metric reveals the percentage point difference between Black women (ages 19-64) and white men (ages 19-64) with health insurance. This information comes from the Census ACS five-year data from 2021, the most recent data source available. Black female homeownership (full weight): This factor comprises three metrics. The full data set can be found here . This story was produced by MoneyGeek and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!A NEW police task force has been deployed to combat an increase in car thefts at an airport ahead of the busy holiday travel season. In 2024 alone, over 300 vehicles have been stolen from Atlanta 's Hartfield-Jackson International Airport's parking deck. The number is nearly triple the 95 cars swiped at the airport's parking lot in 2023. Atlanta police said thieves target the airport while car owners wait for their loved ones' flights to arrive or depart. Major Kelly Collier said carjackers use advanced technology available online to make a copy of a key in five minutes and drive away with the unattended vehicles. "At the beginning of the year, we saw an increase in auto thefts," Collier told Fox affiliate WAGA-TV . Read more in The U.S. Sun "You can buy that equipment on the internet, Amazon. It's a small device you plug into the reader under the dashboard. "And you can program a key fob within five minutes." In an attempt to curb the issue, Atlanta police have deployed a new task force and increased officer presence in the terminals and parking areas around the airport. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum told Atlanta News First that the department had also stationed undercover cops at the airport. Most read in Motors "We're removing the welcome mat at our airport for you to believe you can come and take vehicles," Schierbaum told the outlet. "Some citizens may travel, and it may be days and weeks before they know they've been a victim of a threat. "We've taken a number of initiatives to turn this trend around." Schierbaum said that the department is installing technology to prevent thieves from piggybacking behind each other during heists. ENHANCED AIRPORT MEASURES "New anti-tailgating technology is being installed, so those individuals that come in to take a car can't follow the vehicle they've just stolen out," he added. Meanwhile, airport officials have introduced new measures to keep vehicles safe. Time limits for drivers in parking decks without paying have been reduced to 15 minutes from 30 minutes, and additional cameras and personnel are being put in place. Airport officials told The U.S. Sun they've acquired two motorcycles that will be used to patrol the parking decks. Read More on The US Sun "The APD Airport Section also utilizes its network of License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras to identify suspected auto theft suspect vehicles and respond to the parking decks to prevent suspects from exiting," Collier told The U.S. Sun. "Additional locations have been identified with the goal of adding more LPR cameras to enhance coverage at ATL." Here are 10 ways to avoid your car being stolen according to an auto insurance company: Lock your doors. It makes it more difficult for thieves to access anything inside the vehicle. Keep your keys on your person. With smart keys and fobs, a car can be unlocked if the key is close by. If the key is inside or on your person, it can't be unlocked. Don't leave a spare key near the vehicle, as thieves know to look for them in common places like in a wheel well, under items in the driveway, or in the glovebox. Keep windows closed. If a window is open, thieves can manually unlock the doors. Park in well-lit areas, as it helps detour thieves if their actions are visible to passersby. If your vehicle doesn't have one, consider an anti-theft alarm system. If you live in a high-crime area, consider an immobilizer device that utilizes a kill switch if the device doesn't recognize an authorized key. Consider a tracking device to be able to keep tabs on your vehicle's location if it's stolen. Never leave valuables in the car, especially in a visible spot. Thieves know to look in the floor boards, passenger, or rear seats for valuables. Double-check before leaving the vehicle that it's secure. To protect wheels and tires, especially aftermarket wheels, consider wheel lock lug nuts. They require a special socket to remove, so they're impossible to remove without it. Source: Allstate Auto Insurance
ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China as one of his first executive orders. The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices for American consumers on everything from gas to automobiles to agricultural products. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers. Trump’s latest tariff plan aims at multiple countries. What does it mean for the US? WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has identified what he sees as an all-purpose fix for what ails America: Slap huge new tariffs on foreign goods entering the United States. On Monday, Trump sent shockwaves across the nation’s northern and southern borders, vowing sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada, as well as China, as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. Trump said he will impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. Canadian officials blast Trump's tariff threat and one calls Mexico comparison an insult TORONTO (AP) — Some Canadian officials have blasted President-elect Donald’s Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs. The leader of Canada's most populous province on Tuesday called Trump’s comparison of Canada to Mexico “the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard.” Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China as soon as he takes office in January as part of efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. Canadians say their economy and the U.S. one are deeply intertwined and Americans would feel tariffs, too. Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of obese Americans would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The proposal, which would not be finalized until after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, could cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. It would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some people have labeled them miracle drugs. Stock market today: Wall Street hangs near its records despite tariff talk NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are hanging near their records on Tuesday as Wall Street takes Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs in stride. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% in Tuesday afternoon trading and was on track to top its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 49 points from its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6%. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. Treasury yields rose modestly in the bond market. What Black Friday's history tells us about holiday shopping in 2024 NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday shopping season is about to reach full speed with Black Friday, which kicks off the post-Thanksgiving retail rush later this week. The annual sales event no longer creates the midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem of recent decades, in large part due to the ease of online shopping and habits forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoping to entice equivocating consumers, retailers already have spent weeks bombarding customers with ads and early offers. Still, whether visiting stores or clicking on countless emails promising huge savings, tens of millions of U.S. shoppers are expected to spend money on Black Friday itself this year. Biden administration to loan $6.6B to EV maker Rivian to build Georgia factory that automaker paused ATLANTA (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration will loan $6.6 billion to electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive to build a Georgia factory. The announcement Tuesday comes less than two months before Donald Trump becomes president again. It’s unclear whether the Biden administration can complete the loan in that time, or whether the Trump administration might try to claw the money back. Rivian announced a $5 billion Georgia factory in 2021. But the startup automaker couldn't meet production targets and rapidly burned through cash. The company paused construction of the Georgia plant in March. The company now says its plans for producing electric vehicles in Georgia are back on. US consumer confidence ticks higher on better outlook for hiring WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ outlook on the economy improved modestly in November, lifted by expectations for lower inflation and more hiring. The Conference Board, a business research group, said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index ticked up to 111.7 from 109.6 in October. The small uptick followed a large gain in October. Small business owners breathe easier over labor costs after decision to strike down overtime rule Small business owners have had a mostly positive reaction to a judge’s decision to strike down an overtime rule that would have qualified more workers for overtime pay. On Nov. 15, a federal judge in Texas blocked a new rule from the Biden administration that would have expanded access to overtime pay to millions more salaried workers across the U.S. Nearly all hourly workers in the U.S. are entitled to overtime pay after 40 hours a week. But many salaried workers are exempt from that requirement — unless they earn below a certain level. Will Trump's return lead to a new wave of bestselling books? NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is coming back to the White House, but don't expect another “Fire and Fury,” or much fire and fury in book publishing in general. Authors and publishers doubt that the reading public will snap up Trump-related works in the same way it did the first time around. Among the skeptics is Mary Trump. As Donald Trump's niece and author of the bestselling takedown “Too Much and Never Enough” told The Associated Press in a recent interview, “What else is there to learn?” Bob Woodward has written several Trump-related books and now wonders what he's to write about next.None
Hawley: Overtures to Expand NATO to Include Ukraine 'Extremely Dangerous'
This Timberwolves roster is different than the one from a year ago. That much is obvious in games, as Karl-Anthony Towns’ consistent scoring and general size is missed, as is the playmaking and ball security of guys like Kyle Anderson and Jordan McLaughlin. But their absences have been felt in the locker room, as well. Towns was a consistent source of positivity for the team. Anderson was one of the loudest vocal leaders. The latter can be especially difficult to replace, especially because it can be uncomfortable to speak up when things are going poorly and something needs to change. That was the position Anthony Edwards has found himself in early this season. Edwards has been praised for his leadership through his first four years on Minnesota’s roster. Mostly, that all came via positivity and example. Edwards can be coached hard, which gave the greenlight for the coaches to treat everyone else the same way. Edwards was also quick to credit his teammates around him for their contributions to the cause, and was eager and willing to spend time with and talk to anyone on the roster, players No. 1-15. He’ll also stand up for any of his teammates if the occasion ever arises. That’s why he has been so beloved in the locker room and why he was viewed as such a leader, even at his young age. But with Anderson’s departure, Edwards was now tasked with leading even through choppy waters. And the waves have been rather large through the first quarter of the season. Minnesota’s defense has fallen off a cliff in comparison to where it was a year ago. After never even as many as three consecutive games during the 2023-24 regular season, the Wolves endured a four-game losing skid earlier this week. At that point, words were exchanged, both publicly and privately. A halftime hash out during Minnesota’s loss Wednesday to Sacramento got the conversation rolling. Mike Conley got the dialogue started, but all indications are that Edwards was a healthy participant. Edwards noted it’s difficult to know what to say in those times. “Because you look at everybody, and everybody got a different agenda. It’s like, ‘What the (heck) am I supposed to say?’ You know what I mean?” Edwards said. “I’m trying to get better in that aspect, figure out what the hell to say to get everybody on the same agenda, because everybody right now is on different agendas. I think that’s one of the main culprits of why we’re losing, because everybody out there got their own agenda. I guess their imagination of what’s supposed to be going on, and what’s really happening.” Nickeil Alexander-Walker told reporters at Friday’s shootaround that this is the most vocal Edwards has ever been. And while the intention of everyone’s messages are pure, “sometimes it’s not always worded the right way.” “I think we’ve crossed that line of, ‘Man, I feel like you’re not hearing the message.’ It’s tough to be called out, because you start to feel like, ‘OK, are you saying I’m the reason?’ No one wants to be at fault,” Alexander-Walker said. “But at the end of the day, I definitely think that guys are open to hearing it better. And I think it just came from a stand point of, at a point and time in the conversation, there was a comeback. It was going back and forth now, as opposed to receiving it (and saying), ‘OK, I got you.’ That’s how it’s going to be. It’s very rare that someone is just going to be able to be called out and not have anything to say. “It’s human nature to be defensive, at the end of the day. But kind of remembering what we’re here for, and if I’m being called out, chances are I’ve got to look in the mirror and be better.” It’s a delicate dance. There has to be an environment rooted in accountability, but you also have to be sure not to lose teammates, as Jimmy Butler was criticized for doing during his short stint in Minnesota a few years ago. And while it’s never ideal for a team to be living through a stretch of basketball the quality of which falls significantly short of the expectation, these stretches will likely lead to growth for Edwards, if not on the court, then in the locker room. You can’t steer a ship to a title if you don’t know how to navigate turbulent tides. Day by day, loss by loss, Edwards is learning how to spin the wheel.
#EnergiaAIL Men’s Divisions 2A, 2B & 2C: Round 8 Previews
Tiger teams to have a different look this winter
WOLCOTT – Call it the ultimate place to buy a gift for the person who seemingly has everything. If you can foot the $2,500 to $40,000 price and are willing to stick out the one- to three-year waiting list, you can buy a custom sword from Dragon’s Breath Forge at 10 Swiss Lane. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more modest and utilitarian, there are the custom knives that are on sale for less, but can be used in the kitchen and are so well made, they’ll likely outlive you. If you’re really into the experience, you can even take a weekend class and make your own knife. Those classes are limited to six people at a time and are popular, said Matt Parkinson, one of the forge’s three owners. The forge is owned by Parkinson, Matt Berry and Jamie Lundell, all of whom fell in love with the art of making knives and swords at relatively early ages. Berry, for example, found his passion in seventh-grade shop class in Middlefield. Parkinson, now 48, said he’s been making knives since he was 17 years old. The three came together doing a combination of railing work and Renaissance fairs back in 2005. They moved into their 6,000-square-foot shop in Wolcott about 2011 and developed a reputation for high-quality work. Indeed, Parkinson won the first competition of the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” and Berry has appeared on the show twice and won once. And while they all went through their token Tolkien phases, they don’t typically make swords from television shows, films or video games. There’s a copyright issue to contend with, but also those swords are props. The swords the trio make require “a lot of research, a lot of understanding of physics of swords,” Parkinson said. “Our swords aren’t just shaped objects. They’re swords.” “Matt, Jamie and I have also studied originals,” Berry said. “We’ve handled original swords from the eighth-century on. And we know what they feel like when we understand the harmonics, the flex, the thicknesses, the waves, the balance, how they rotate in the hands. ... The originals, you make like racing cars. They need to be as light as possible, as fast as possible. They have to be strong enough. They have to be functional. Because sword fighting, the first to get there, it wins. So if your sword’s a little slower, you don’t make the parry...” Parkinson and Berry said people order from all over the world – including China and Australia – artwork and re-enactments. “I would say it’s a subsegment of the art market now,” Berry said. “We’re still trying to make them like the originals.” Parkinson said his clients have moved away from “the fantasy stuff.” “I’m making a lot of high-end culinary knives now,” he said, showing a book of his work, which includes a knife with the Hanalei, Hawaii, carved into it. Plus, Parkinson said the process of making swords “hurts more.” A knife can be forged in 20 minutes, a sword can take a couple of hours just to forge, and requires far more physical work, Berry and Parkinson said. As the two talked, Lundell gave a demonstration to several onlookers on how a knife is forged. Lundell, the youngest of the three, mostly makes swords and got his start in the early 2000s while in college in Boston. “I took a class up in fine metal working in Boston at the Museum School of Fine Arts,” he said. “And I just fell in love with metal at that point. ... And then I found Peter Burke, who was a bladesmith right near here. And I started working with him over my breaks from school. And then I learned that I could make swords and knives. And I was like, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.” Lundell said he has a waiting list out to at least 2026 for his swords, but people can take classes at Dragon’s Breath to learn how to forge their own wares. “The classes are great,” he said. “People just really enjoy that experience, you know, it’s a one day class, you know, and, you know, in one day we make a knife. And so you have the experience of coming here, forging, kind of feeling what it’s like and having the experience of what a blacksmith kind of actually does. “And then also in the end, you know, you have this thing that you make.” For information on Dragon’s Breath Forge, visit dragonsbreathforge.com.
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STATE COLLEGE — Penn State is going to the Big Ten championship game. The Nittany Lions secured their spot in the conference title game after beating Maryland, 44-7, and getting some help with Michigan upsetting Ohio State on a wild Saturday. Penn State, currently No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, will play No. 1 Oregon next Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Big Ten championship. The game will kick off at 8 p.m. and air nationally on CBS. With a win, either Penn State or Oregon will secure a first-round bye into the CFP quarterfinals in the new 12-team bracket and, possibly, the No. 1 overall seed. With a loss, Penn State would still be expected to make the CFP. And unless the Nittany Lions get blown out by the Ducks, they would still likely host a first-round game at Beaver Stadium . Penn State entered Saturday with a slim chance of getting into the Big Ten championship. Ohio State just needed to beat Michigan as a three-touchdown favorite to secure a spot in Indy. But in embarrassing fashion, the Buckeyes lost, 13-10, at home to the Wolverines. Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw two interceptions, kicker Jayden Fielding missed two field goals, and Michigan’s Dominic Zvada converted a go-ahead field goal with 45 seconds left. The Buckeyes failed to tie it up, and Ryan Day lost his fourth straight game to Michigan. That result gave Penn State clarity going into its 3:30 p.m. kick against Maryland. A win would put the Nittany Lions into Ohio State’s vacated slot thanks to the Big Ten’s tiebreakers. Even if Indiana, the other one-loss team in the Big Ten, beats Purdue on Saturday night, the Nittany Lions advance to the Big Ten title game on the conference’s fourth head-to-head tiebreaker: cumulative opponent conference record. Oregon will be the toughest test of the season so far for the Nittany Lions. The Ducks are the last undefeated team in college football with wins over Ohio State and Boise State. It will be a massive opportunity for James Franklin , Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions to prove themselves against the nation’s No. 1 team. We’ll see how they fare next Saturday. BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. Sign up for the PennLive’s Penn State newsletters, the daily Penn State Today and the subscriber-exclusive Penn State Insider Stories by Johnny McGonigal Penn State can clinch Big Ten championship game berth as Michigan upsets Ohio State Penn State coach James Franklin’s contract revised for 12-team College Football Playoff Penn State commit, Harrisburg RB Messiah Mickens has Central Catholic’s attention ahead of PIAA semifinal
After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizersWendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera Coyote football coach Kenny Paolinelli gives senior quarterback Joel Arellano a hug after Friday’s Div. III Championship game loss to Kerman. With all the pomp and circumstances of a championship game, the Madera Coyotes were shut out in the second half while the Kerman Lions scored a pair of touchdowns to win the Div. III Championship in front of a full house at Memorial Stadium for the final time. The teams were tied at the half, 28-28, but the Coyotes couldn’t take advantage of two trips deep into Kerman territory and the Lions countered with a pair of touchdowns for a 42-28 victory Friday. Friday’s game at Memorial Stadium was the final one in the current configuration. The Stadium will undergo modernization construction that will upgrade the stadium when it opens in two years.
Is Secret Santa stressing you out? Here’s your holiday gift-exchange survival guideBarcelona loses at home for the first time this seasonAfter half a decade of testing and an investment of nearly $300 million, the federal government is still years away from fully implementing its next-generation pay and human resource cloud platform to replace the problem-plagued Phoenix payroll system. Moving more than 360,000 federal workers onto a cloud-based system will require hiring more contractors and re-opening union agreements to streamline pay categories. The government is also considering building a new data hub to clean and standardize employment information from departments before it's transferred to the new Dayforce platform. Alex Benay, the associate deputy minister at Public Service and Procurement Canada (PSPC) acknowledged to CTV News that the government may have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on building its NextGen-PayHR platform before it even starts operating. PSPC says it will outline its implementation strategy and provide a final cost estimate by 2026. The Government of Canada’s commitment to increasing accessibility in the public service and its selection of a third-place vendor may also be contributing to prolonged timelines and escalating costs. Alex Benay, associate deputy minister of Public Service and Procurement Canada. Benay stands in front of the inspiration wall with words written by his pay transformation team. Why did Canada choose a third-place bid? Dayforce’s software needs to be redesigned and re-tooled to meet the complex requirements of the federal government. The Toronto-based company, formally known as Ceridian, has dedicated 250 employees to the NextGen project. They work in collaboration with a team of 126 federal public servants. The number of people on the project is expected to grow over the next two-and-a-half years. CTV News has learned that Dayforce had placed last out of three competing vendors when it was awarded the NextGen-PayHR contract in 2021. The top bid was SAP, followed by Workday, then Dayforce. Benay says the contract was awarded before he took over responsibility for NextGen PayHR, but says it’s his understanding that government selected Dayforce because it was “the most flexible.” “After the RFP, what happened is we started throwing more things at all three of the companies (like) accessibility legislation, official languages legislation - and (Dayforce) was most willing to play,” said Benay in an interview with CTV National News. Just over six per cent of federal public servants have disabilities, which is lower than the national average of 9.1 per cent. The government’s accessibility strategy aims to increase the number of employees with disabilities to 5,000 people by 2025. “Accessibility is a core principle of our country. It's based in law and so is official languages. We think it’s extremely serious that suppliers that come and bid on projects for the Government of Canada can meet our basic national values. So, for us, that’s not a negotiation point,” said Benay. Accessibility criteria SAP was the frontrunner to win the bid because it had previously been awarded the 2019 NextGen pilot project. According to four separate government and private sector sources, SAP withdrew in the summer of 2021 after being selected for the massive project. Sources say federal officials made additional accessibility and language demands that were not specified in the government’s original request for proposal (RFP). In an email to CTV News, SAP said it met all the requirements of the RFP and resulting contract, and that its software and web-applications are tested against the European Union EN301 549 standard as well as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level 2.2. Those are the same requirements that were outlined in the government’s RFP. Documents seen by CTV News indicate that the federal government then offered the contract to Workday, requesting that the company confirm its willingness to honour its technical and financial bid without “any changes to the terms and conditions stipulated.” Workday responded that it agreed to honour the terms of the original RFP and requested a meeting to discuss new caveats. Federal negotiators responded that Canada was “not in a position to negotiate any terms and conditions.” No meeting was scheduled, and less than a week later, the contract was awarded to Dayforce. Workday is currently providing NextGen HR services to a handful of smaller and highly secure departments such as CSIS, CSE and FINTRAC. In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson said that this work includes “Workday agreeing to and meeting a set of accessibility and Official Language requirements which we are proud to support in line with our commitment to providing an inclusive single user experience and accessibility in design.” Neither SAP nor Workday filed complaints about the procurement process. Viable but not ready Dayforce’s founder David Ossip is Canadian and its vice president of public sector revenue enablement and strategy, Gianluca Cairo, previously worked for a minister in Justin Trudeau’s government. Cairo was the chief of staff to former innovation minister Navdeep Bains before he was hired by Dayforce in 2019. Of the $289 million dollars the government has invested in the NextGen initiative, the bulk $171 million has been used to pay Dayforce to build a customized platform for the federal government. According to the NextGen HR and Pay Final Findings Report released in February, after two years of analysis, the government of Canada will need to develop “critical” tools and infrastructure and “significant resource investment” before 130 departments can start using Dayforce. According to the report, Dayforce was deemed “viable” but not ready to be rolled out. Its software solution met 85 per cent of the government's 582 requirements. But there were 90 gaps. These technological holes were related to complex scheduling and pay brackets across roles ranging from ships’ officers to nurses to correctional officers. Factors such as 24-hour scheduling and temporary acting roles posed problems for Dayforce. According to the report, 18 of these shortcomings were gaps that Dayforce “cannot meet now... and that planned future product development will not address.” “These gaps exist mainly because of a lack of alignment between unique GC rules and industry best practices for some HR processes, which are critical to producing accurate and timely pay,” the report found. Patching these critical holes will require re-opening nearly 150 labour agreements with 18 unions to simplify pay processes so they can be imputed into Dayforce. Bargaining required Benay says PSPC plans to meet with union representatives next week to explain what’s needed. Some fixes could be as simple as getting every department to agree to start new employees on the same day of the week, but others may involve renegotiating contracts to change terms to align with Dayforce. Jennifer Carr, the president of the Professional Institute of Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), says PIPSC wants the government to pay its workforce on time, but it won’t agree to simplifications which will result in “rollbacks” for its 70,000 scientists, IT workers and professionals. “We’re not interested in losing any of our rights. We have collectively bargained these rights and it is our entitlement,” says Carr. She’s also concerned about escalating costs and stretched timelines. “We could have helped them build something in house and the government chose to go with a contracted-out solution which in our mind is just more costly for taxpayers,” said Carr. Benay says they’re currently at the “design and build stage” and that the Dayforce solution will not go “LIVE” until all the gaps are addressed. The government has put out a request for information from contractors for cost estimates to build a data hub to bridge the transition to the Dayforce solution. The federal government is aiming to roll out Dayforce NextGen in 2027, one department at a time. But before that, it must test every cloud extension and run a parallel pay system to Phoenix for at least six months to ensure there are no glitches. The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), which represents 25,000 public servants, appreciates PSPC’s cautious approach. “This is about restoring trust with Canadian taxpayers that you’re not going to create another boondoggle,” said Nathan Prier, CAPE’s president. Prier says CAPE’s members are still facing financial pressures stemming from the Phoenix debacle which has cost taxpayers $3.5 billion. “We’re glad they’re taking their time to do pilots and implement things slowly here. We need to be at the table discussing every step of the way...We’re still dealing with the Phoenix disaster. Our members are still facing significant financial pressures stemming from being underpaid, overpaid and not paid at all.” MORE POLITICS NEWS Conservatives decry 'procedural nonsense' as NDP forces House debate on abortion Government asks for third extension on court deadline to pass 'lost Canadians' bill Former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault tells committee: 'I am not Indigenous' 'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa Tariffs on Chinese EVs, aluminum and steel to raise federal revenues by $473M: PBO Canada may have to spend millions more before new payment system can be used Trudeau says Poilievre 'not able' to unite to defend Canada against Trump threats IN DEPTH Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power. 'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties. 'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it. Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports. 'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday. Opinion opinion | Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election? opinion | Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus. opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place. opinion | Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point. opinion | Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing. CTVNews.ca Top Stories BREAKING | Earthquake strikes off California; tsunami warning issued The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a tsunami warning for parts of California and Oregon after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the U.S. Pacific coast on Thursday. LIVE UPDATES | Health insurance CEO's wife says threats received prior to fatal shooting The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson used ammunition emblazoned with the words 'deny,' 'defend' and 'depose,' a law enforcement official said Thursday. Here's the latest. Man wanted for military desertion turns himself in at Canada-U.S. border A man wanted for deserting the U.S. military 16 years ago was arrested at the border in Buffalo, N.Y. earlier this week. 'At the dawn of a third nuclear age,' senior U.K. commander warns The head of Britain’s armed forces has warned that the world stands at the cusp of a 'third nuclear age,' defined by multiple simultaneous challenges and weakened safeguards that kept previous threats in check. AI modelling predicts these foods will be hit hardest by inflation next year The new year won’t bring a resolution to rising food costs, according to a new report that predicts prices to rise as much as five per cent in 2025. Alleged Alberta Bitcoin extortionist, arsonist arrested Authorities have arrested Finbar Hughes, a man wanted in connection with alleged plots in Calgary and Edmonton that threatened to burn victims' homes if they did not pay him Bitcoin ransoms. Pete Davidson, Jason Sudeikis and other former 'SNL' cast members reveal how little they got paid Live from New York, it’s revelations about paydays on 'Saturday Night Live.' Congo government says it's 'on alert' over mystery flu-like disease that killed dozens Congo’s health minister said Thursday the government is on alert over a mystery flu-like disease that in recent weeks killed dozens of people. 'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth. Canada BREAKING | B.C. officials monitoring tsunami threat after 7.3M earthquake off California Emergency management officials in British Columbia say they are monitoring for any potential tsunami threats after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. Alleged Alberta Bitcoin extortionist, arsonist arrested Authorities have arrested Finbar Hughes, a man wanted in connection with alleged plots in Calgary and Edmonton that threatened to burn victims' homes if they did not pay him Bitcoin ransoms. Renewed calls for policy changes following stabbing in downtown Vancouver There are calls for policy changes when it comes to public safety, following Wednesday’s stabbing in the downtown core. 'Name what things are': Recognizing 'femicide' 35 years after the Montreal massacre Ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, Annie Ross, a mechanical engineering professor at Polytechnique Montreal, said she often thinks of those who lived through the tragedy but still suffer silently. P.E.I. town backs away from pickleball plan that prompted mayor to resign A central P.E.I. town has decided not to proceed with a contentious pickleball plan that cost the community its mayor. 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France's Macron to address nation day after no-confidence vote topples government French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation Thursday following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a day after a historic no-confidence vote at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. Israeli court rejects Netanyahu's request to limit how often he'll testify An Israeli court on Thursday rejected a request from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit the number of days each week he'll have to testify when he finally takes the the stand in his years-long corruption trial. Father of victim in NYC subway chokehold case sues defendant Daniel Penny The father of the victim at the center of the fatal New York City subway chokehold trial has sued the defendant as a Manhattan jury continues to deliberate the case Thursday. Norwegian court rejects mass killer Anders Behring Breivik's 2nd bid for parole Politics Conservatives decry 'procedural nonsense' as NDP forces House debate on abortion A surprise tactical move by the NDP forced a debate in the House of Commons on abortion access Thursday morning, sidelining a Conservative motion designed to use NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's own words against him. Government asks for third extension on court deadline to pass 'lost Canadians' bill Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the government is seeking a third extension to a court-mandated deadline to pass legislation that grants citizenship to 'lost Canadians.' Former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault tells committee: 'I am not Indigenous' Randy Boissonnault, whose shifting claims to Indigenous identity cost him his job as employment minister, told a House of Commons committee today that he is not Indigenous. Health What not to do when hanging up Christmas lights The magic of the holidays wouldn't be complete for many people without Christmas lights, but there are some important tips to know before you set up your ladder. Health Canada recalls more than 300 sexual enhancement products in four provinces Health Canada has recalled hundreds of different sexual enhancements products from stores in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and B.C. Dark chocolate linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes, study says Eating at least five tiny servings of dark chocolate each week may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 21 per cent, according to a new observational study. In fact, as dark chocolate consumption increased from none to five servings, so did the benefits, the study found. Sci-Tech NASA's first astronaut flight around the moon in decades faces more delays NASA announced more delays Thursday in sending astronauts back to the moon more than 50 years after Apollo. Facial recognition to board a plane: How does it work, and what are the privacy concerns? Air Canada has launched facial recognition technology at the gate for people flying out of Vancouver International Airport - with the promise of a faster boarding process with fewer hassles. Meta says generative AI had muted impact on global elections this year Despite widespread concern that generative AI could interfere with major elections around the globe this year, the technology had limited impact across Meta Platforms' META.O apps, the tech company said on Tuesday. Entertainment Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows When BC Place stadium announced a ban on loose objects and large bags for Taylor Swift's upcoming shows in Vancouver, it put some Swifties in a bind — what to do with the hundreds of friendship bracelets that are traditionally swapped at the superstar's shows? Saskatchewan singer receives surprise message from King Charles III Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Jeffrey Straker received an early Christmas present recently, from King Charles III. These are Canada's favourite musicians, according to Spotify Wrapped 2024 One particular artist dominated the charts in Canada, and country music exploded in popularity this year, according to Spotify. Business Bitcoin has surpassed the US$100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next? Bitcoin topped US$100,000 for the first time as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. TD Bank warns of challenging 2025 after profit miss; BMO earnings fall short Canada's No.2 bank TD Bank on Thursday warned of a challenging 2025 and suspended its medium term earnings forecast as it works through its anti-money laundering remediation program following a U.S. regulatory probe. Jeff Bezos says he is 'optimistic' about a new Trump term and can help with cutting regulations Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years. Lifestyle What not to do when hanging up Christmas lights The magic of the holidays wouldn't be complete for many people without Christmas lights, but there are some important tips to know before you set up your ladder. Here’s what child development experts think about the 'beige mom' trend While the parents are often criticized for their choices in neutral tones, experts say the colours don’t matter as long as there is variety and diversity in other areas of the child’s life. 2 winning tickets sold for $80-million Lotto Max jackpot There are two winners of the $80 million Lotto Max jackpot, Ontario Lottery and Gaming has announced. The prize will be split between the holders of two tickets sold in Quebec and Alberta. Sports Jays slugger Guerrero wins 2024 Tip O'Neill award as top Canadian player Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been named the 2024 winner of the Tip O'Neill award. Toronto Tempo unveiled as handle for new WNBA team as leak accelerates unveiling Canada's new WNBA franchise will be called the Toronto Tempo, a handle officially unveiled with some haste Thursday morning after it was leaked the previous day. George Russell accuses Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as F1 feud deepens Mercedes driver George Russell has accused Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour as a dispute between the two at last week's race in Qatar deepened Thursday. Autos Honda to recall more than 200,000 SUVs in Canada, U.S. over fuel leak concern Honda is recalling approximately 12,000 vehicles in Canada Electric vehicle reliability improving but lagging gas models: Consumer Reports survey The reliability of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids has dramatically improved, narrowing a wide gap with gas-powered automobiles, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports. OPEC+ oil producers' alliance postpones production increases as crude prices stagnate Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries decided Thursday to put off increasing oil production as they face weaker than expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries — factors that could keep oil prices stagnant into next year. Local Spotlight N.S. woman finds endangered leatherback sea turtle washed up on Cape Breton beach Mary Janet MacDonald has gone for walks on Port Hood Beach, N.S., most of her life, but in all those years, she had never seen anything like the discovery she made on Saturday: a leatherback sea turtle. 'It moved me': Person returns stolen Prada bag to Halifax store; owner donates proceeds A Halifax store owner says a person returned a Prada bag after allegedly stealing it. 'It's all about tradition': Bushwakker marking 30 years of blackberry mead The ancient art of meadmaking has become a holiday tradition for Regina's Bushwakker Brewpub, marking 30 years of its signature blackberry mead on Saturday. Alberta photographer braves frigid storms to capture the beauty of Canadian winters Most people want to stay indoors when temperatures drop to -30, but that’s the picture-perfect condition, literally, for Angela Boehm. N.S. teacher, students help families in need at Christmas for more than 25 years For more than a quarter-century, Lisa Roach's middle school students have been playing the role of Santa Claus to strangers during the holidays. N.S. girl battling rare disease surprised with Taylor Swift-themed salon day A Nova Scotia girl battling a rare disease recently had her 'Wildest Dreams' fulfilled when she was pampered with a Swiftie salon day. Winnipeg city councillor a seven-time provincial arm wrestling champ A Winnipeg city councillor doesn’t just have a strong grip on municipal politics. Watch: Noisy throng of sea lions frolic near Jericho Beach A large swarm of California sea lions have converged in the waters near Vancouver’s Jericho and Locarno beaches. Auburn Bay residents brave the cold to hold Parade of Lights It was pretty cold Saturday night, but the hearts of those in a southeast Calgary neighbourhood warmed right up during a big annual celebration. Vancouver BREAKING | B.C. officials monitoring tsunami threat after 7.3M earthquake off California Emergency management officials in British Columbia say they are monitoring for any potential tsunami threats after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. B.C. launches review of 911 services after complaints about costs, transparency British Columbia is launching a review of the province's 911 emergency service after complaints about escalating costs and lack of transparency. B.C. artist fills front yard with towering stone sculptures You may notice the swirling symbol that he “painted” with a power-washer on the sidewalk first. Toronto 'It was like I was brainwashed': 2 Ontarians lose $230K to separate AI-generated cryptocurrency ad scams Two Ontarians collectively lost $230,000 after falling victim to separate AI-generated social media posts advertising fraudulent cryptocurrency investments. 'Enough is enough:' Doug Ford says municipalities will be given 'enhanced tools' to respond to encampments Ontario Premier Doug Ford is promising new legislation to target homeless encampments around the province and is threatening to use the notwithstanding clause to get it done. GTA gears up for another week of snow and rain Environment Canada says GTA residents can expect more snow and showers in the coming week, as the sun beams down after the first snow. Calgary Glenmore Landing redevelopment defeated by vote at Calgary council Calgary city council has defeated a motion to rezone a piece of land in Glenmore Landing to allow for a high-density development in the area. Not feeling the effects of the growing economy? Welcome to the ‘vibecession’ A new term is making the rounds to describe the current disconnect between economic forecasts and personal sentiment. Alleged Alberta Bitcoin extortionist, arsonist arrested Authorities have arrested Finbar Hughes, a man wanted in connection with alleged plots in Calgary and Edmonton that threatened to burn victims' homes if they did not pay him Bitcoin ransoms. Ottawa Federal government announces $8 million funding investment for Ottawa’s Bronson Centre Ottawa’s Bronson Centre is getting a major upgrade after the federal government announced an $8 million investment Thursday. Ottawa family urge government to approve husband and father's paperwork to get him back from Lebanon Being home for the holidays is a common desire at this time of year, but for one Ottawa family, they say it's a life-saving request. Periods of snow to continue in Ottawa on Thursday Environment Canada has lifted the winter weather travel advisory for Ottawa. The forecast calls for Ottawa to receive another 2 cm of snow on Thursday. Montreal WEATHER | Montreal hit with first major snow fall of the year Montrealers woke up on Thursday to the first real dump of snow as winter looks ready to set in. The majority of 17-month-old babies in Quebec use a screen every day: study Screens have found their way into families and are now an integral part of everyday life. Even under the age of two, babies in Quebec are using screens every day. Toddlers from low-income households use screens more frequently, according to a report by the Quebec statistics institute (ISQ) published on Thursday. Montreal posts big home sales gains in November as median prices continue to rise Montreal-area home sales rose 47 per cent in November compared with a year ago as the province's real estate board says the region saw the second-most activity for the month since 2000. Edmonton LIVE @ 11:30 A.M. MT | Federal minister in Edmonton for health care improvement announcement Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and federal Health Minister Mark Holland will announce an improvement to health care in the province on Thursday. 30 robberies involving the swarming of store employees reported to Edmonton police The Edmonton Police Service is warning of a new shoplifting trend where groups of young people swarm store employees to steal expensive products. With both coming off shutout losses, Oilers take on Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets continue their five-game Western Conference road trip on Thursday when they face the Edmonton Oilers. Atlantic Weather update: Conditions in the Maritimes change Thursday night In the thick of a mix of snow and rain, accompanied in some cases by high winds, the Maritimes will see a change in weather conditions Thursday night into Friday. Storm brings snow, wind and rain to the Maritimes; some N.B. schools closed Thursday A number of weather warnings remain in place across the Maritimes Thursday due to an early December storm that’s bringing snow, strong winds and rain to the region. Police search for Halifax bank robber who fled on bike Halifax Regional Police are searching for a suspect in connection with a robbery at a city bank. Winnipeg Massive spike in Jordan’s Principle spending, Manitoba requests In the last five years, the number of approved Jordan’s Principle requests and the subsequent spending have nearly tripled. 'Iconic Winnipeg Christmas tradition': A look at Canada Life's Three Wise Men statues A sign of the jolliest time of year is once again making its appearance near downtown Winnipeg, signalling the start of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. 'There's a nostalgia': The Garry Theatre’s silver screen set to shine again The Garry Theatre sits vacant and shuttered on Manitoba Avenue in Selkirk. Inside, posters for movies that never got the chance to run still cling to its walls. But the silver screen is set to shine once again in the City of Selkirk. Regina Ottawa providing more than $265M to help Sask. upgrade electrical grid, build renewable power projects The federal government says it will be providing Saskatchewan with more than $265 million to help build more renewable power projects as well as modernize and upgrade the province’s electrical grid. Increased RCMP presence continues on White Bear First Nation Saskatchewan RCMP’s Major Crimes continues to investigate the suspicious death of a 33-year-old man on White Bear First Nation. Saskatchewan singer receives surprise message from King Charles III Saskatchewan singer-songwriter Jeffrey Straker received an early Christmas present recently, from King Charles III. Kitchener developing | Arrest made, replica firearm seized, after early morning standoff in Stratford One woman has been sent to hospital as Stratford Police investigate an intimate violence investigation Thursday morning. One person sent to hospital after collision near Brantford One person was sent to hospital after a collision involving a tractor trailer and a pedestrian near Brantford early Thursday morning. jeewan chanicak no longer Waterloo Regional District School Board director The Waterloo Region District School Board is under new leadership. Saskatoon 'Acts of aggression' increase on Saskatoon Transit, violence against drivers drops Mike Moellenbeck, director of Saskatoon Transit, said "acts of aggression" can be classified as an intent to do harm, but physical violence hasn't happened. Ottawa providing more than $265M to help Sask. upgrade electrical grid, build renewable power projects The federal government says it will be providing Saskatchewan with more than $265 million to help build more renewable power projects as well as modernize and upgrade the province’s electrical grid. Saskatoon boy, 16, faces first-degree murder charge in death of woman found outside the Copper Mug A 16-year-old boy faces a first-degree murder charge in the case of a woman found dead in an 8th Street parking lot last month. Northern Ontario Four transport truck drivers charged in northern Ont. collisions on Hwy. 11 Bad weather and bad driving contributed to multiple collisions on Highway 11 on Wednesday, leading to charges for several commercial motor vehicle drivers. Suspect from Manitoulin Island charged in carjacking near Estaire, second suspect still at large Two people, including a 37-year-old Manitoulin Island man, are facing charges after an armed carjacking south of Sudbury last week. Layoffs at Vale's Sudbury operations not affecting members of Local 6500 Some non-union staff at Vale in the Sudbury area are being laid off, but the company is not saying how many and what positions are being affected. London Digital billboard comes loose over Veterans Memorial Parkway Emergency crews on scene at Veterans Memorial Parkway near Gore Road for a large digital billboard came loose from an overpass and is hanging down blocking traffic. Perth declares 'significant weather event,' road closures and hydro outages reported If you’re begging for the snow to stop, unfortunately reprieve is not on the way just yet. Increased police presence in relation to reported missing person OPP and London police are notifying the public of an increased police presence as it relates to a person reported missing. The presence will be in the area of Hawk Cliff Road at Dexter Line in Union, Ont., north of Port Stanley. Barrie Snow squall warning issued for Simcoe County, with up to 50 cm of snow possible Snow squall warnings for most of central Ontario with snow accumulations up to 50 centimetres likely. Crews attend 2 separate tractor-trailer collisions on Hwy 11 Heavy tow equipment was called to two separate collisions involving tractor-trailers Wednesday evening along Highway 11 as snow squalls picked up through the area making driving conditions messy. Barrie mayor applauds Ford's pledge to help deal with homeless encampments in public spaces Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall is applauding Ontario Premier Doug Ford for his pledge to back municipalities dealing with homeless encampments in public spaces. Windsor 14-year-old boys charged with gunpoint robbery and kidnapping Windsor police officers have arrested two 14-year-old boys related to a kidnapping and gunpoint robbery in south Windsor. Hit-and-run crash investigated at St. Clair College MediaPlex building Windsor police say they are investigating a hit-and-run crash at the St. Clair College MediaPlex building. 'Enough is enough:' Doug Ford says municipalities will be given 'enhanced tools' to respond to encampments Ontario Premier Doug Ford is promising new legislation to target homeless encampments around the province and is threatening to use the notwithstanding clause to get it done. Vancouver Island BREAKING | B.C. officials monitoring tsunami threat after 7.3M earthquake off California Emergency management officials in British Columbia say they are monitoring for any potential tsunami threats after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning. Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows When BC Place stadium announced a ban on loose objects and large bags for Taylor Swift's upcoming shows in Vancouver, it put some Swifties in a bind — what to do with the hundreds of friendship bracelets that are traditionally swapped at the superstar's shows? B.C. launches review of 911 services after complaints about costs, transparency British Columbia is launching a review of the province's 911 emergency service after complaints about escalating costs and lack of transparency. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Lethbridge Lethbridge peace officer charged in relation to more than 10-year-old incident A Lethbridge police community peace officer has been charged with an off-duty incident stemming from more than 10 years ago. Lethbridge homeless support facilities expanding to cope with increasing demand Lethbridge has seen its population of people experiencing homelessness increase significantly over recent years, but help is coming, as construction is underway on an expansion of the Lethbridge Shelter. Southern Alberta man sentenced in 2021 killing A southern Alberta man has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years, less time served, in connection with a fatal attack on Linden Grier more than three years ago. Sault Ste. Marie New addition to the CTV Northern Ontario family The CTV Northern Ontario family got a little bigger Tuesday when longtime anchor Marina Moore and her husband welcomed their second baby into the world. Some Ontario food banks are making cuts, Timmins is not A new report from Feed Ontario indicates food banks in the province have reduced the amount of food they provide, but the situation is not as bleak in Timmins. Northern Ont. MPP calls for increased winter training for truckers A Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) from northern Ontario presented a bill at Queen’s Park calling for increased winter driving training for truckers. N.L. 'Kids are scared': Random attacks have residents of small-city N.L. shaken Mount Pearl, near St. John's, has been the scene for three random attacks in November. Police have arrested and charged seven youth. 'They're sitting ducks:' More women with disabilities unhoused due to abuse, violence New data show women with disabilities are more likely to be forced into homelessness because of violence or abuse. GivingTuesday: Food banks need help, but charity won't end hunger, advocates say It's GivingTuesday, and some directors of food banks and anti-poverty groups say the day underlines a conundrum for their organizations. Stay Connected
The dairy behind flu-contaminated milk is linked to 7 previous recalls and at least 35 illnesses.BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Liga leader was stunned by Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday. Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphinha’s equalizer to give Las Palmas its first win at Barcelona in more than 50 years. Barcelona played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and was flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. It had won all eight of its home games. But it has gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Before Las Palmas, it fell at Real Sociedad 1-0 and drew at Celta Vigo 2-2 after squandering a two-goal lead in the final minutes. The dropped points mean Madrid, despite its own troubles , especially in the Champions League, can move ahead of Barcelona in La Liga. It trails Barcelona by four points with two games in hand. “I don’t care about scoring, I care about winning,” Raphinha said after his standout performance was unable to end Barcelona's slump. “We have to take a hard look at what we are doing wrong. We have slipped in our form and are letting games get away form us. We have our next game on Tuesday (at Mallorca), and we need to turn this around so we can win the league.” Atletico Madrid was only two points behind Barcelona in second place — and with the same number of games played — after Antoine Griezmann scored a gem of a goal in a 5-0 demolition of last-placed Valladolid. History for Las Palmas Las Palmas savored its first victory at Barcelona since the 1971-72 season and just its third victory at the Catalan club overall. The other visits by the modest side that wears all yellow uniforms to Barcelona have ended in 34 defeats and three draws. “We are thrilled because we have made history,” Sandro said. “When you start the season you think that these games are usually going to end in wins for the bigger side, but if there is one thing we believe in is our capacity to work hard all week to get results like this.” Barcelona's Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that sidelined him for three weeks. Yamal appeared as a halftime substitute and Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also palmed a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes. Sandro, a former Barcelona youth player, capped a fine five-pass buildup by Las Palmas from its own box as it masterfully undid Barcelona’s high pressure in the 49th minute. Raphinha had already hit the crossbar in the first half before he equalized in the 61st. The Brazil forward took a short pass from Pedri just outside the area, skirted across the edge and drilled a shot between two defenders. But Barcelona was caught pushing forward for a second goal when Silva controlled a ball from Javi Muñoz and sent in a shot bouncing past Iñaki Peña in the 67th. The unexpected loss dampened Barcelona’s celebration of its 125th anniversary, which included the debut of its new mascot “Cat,” a large, yellow feline wearing its team kit. Balde carried off Barcelona lost left back Alejandro Balde early in the game when he couldn’t continue after he crashed into Sandro at full speed. Balde appeared to hurt his upper chest or neck area when he ran into Sandro’s shoulder. He was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Gerard Martín. Griezmann applauded Griezmann scored one of the goals of the season when the forward exchanged a quick one-two with Julián Alvarez and used a sleek touch of the inside of his boot to roll the ball with him as he spun before dinking it over the Valladolid goalkeeper. That was the visitor's fourth goal. Shortly after, Valladolid fans stood up and applauded when Griezmann was substituted. “That is what every players wants, to make people enjoy what we do. So I appreciate their warmth,” Griezmann said. Atletico also got goals from Alvarez, Clement Lenglet, Rodrigo de Paul, and Alexander Sorloth. Espanyol ends losing streak Espanyol beat Celta 3-1 to end a streak of four losses in the league and relieve pressure on coach Manolo González. Alaves also drew with Leganes 1-1 at home. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
