5/39 taiwan lottery AP News Summary at 4:36 p.m. ESTGold has been on an impressive trajectory over the past year, starting 2024 at $2,063 per ounce before launching into a remarkable upward climb. The precious metal then set numerous price records throughout the year, eventually reaching an all-time high of over $2,736 per ounce in late October. This dramatic price increase brought new investors to the precious metals market who were eager to participate in gold's historic run . Things changed in early November, though, when the market experienced a sustained correction, with prices pulling back to trade closer to $2,600 per ounce. Right now, though, both the demand and the price of gold are climbing again, with gold trading at just under $2,700 per ounce (as of December 10, 2024). So while many investors made the prudent move to purchase physical gold during the recent dip, some investors are now wondering if they've missed their opportunity to buy in at a discount. For those considering an investment in physical gold, particularly 1-ounce gold bars , the key question is whether these smaller units still make sense at current price levels. Let's examine the advantages and drawbacks of investing in 1-ounce gold bars in today's market. Explore the unique benefits of gold investing now . Do 1-ounce gold bars make sense amid gold's price recovery? While gold bars come in a wide range of weights , 1-ounce gold bars have long been a popular choice for investors who are seeking a manageable and flexible way to own physical gold. After all, these bars offer several advantages that make them attractive in a recovering market — even with gold prices climbing. The most obvious advantage is perhaps their affordability . Larger gold bars become increasingly expensive, but 1-ounce bars provide a more manageable entry point into the gold market. At current prices, investors with limited budgets can start by adding a single ounce of gold to their portfolios rather than committing to a larger, more expensive purchase. These smaller bars also offer excellent flexibility. Investors can buy in gradually over time, averaging their purchase price rather than investing all at once. When it comes time to sell a portion of their gold, having physical gold in 1-ounce bars makes it easier for investors to liquidate. These small bars make it simple to sell what's necessary rather than being forced to sell a larger amount . The market for 1-ounce bars tends to be very liquid as well, meaning these bars are usually easy to buy and sell. This liquidity becomes particularly valuable during periods of price volatility, as investors can more easily adjust their positions or take profits when desired. Storage is another practical benefit of 1-ounce bars. Thanks to their small size, these gold bars are easy to store securely at home or in a safe deposit box. As gold prices rise, the logistics of storing larger quantities of gold become more complicated and expensive, making smaller units more practical. While 1-ounce bars typically carry a higher premium per ounce than larger bars, this premium also becomes less significant in a rising market. Dealers usually charge a percentage markup over the spot price of gold, so when prices are higher, the relative difference in premiums between large and small bars often narrows. Find out how to add gold to your portfolio today . What to consider before buying 1-ounce gold bars Despite the advantages, there are also a few factors worth considering before investing in 1-ounce gold bars at current price levels. For starters, the timing matters. While gold is traditionally viewed as a long-term investment , buying near price peaks can reduce your potential returns in the short term, so you may want to consider averaging your purchases over time rather than investing all at once. It's important to be aware of the dealer premiums tied to these gold bars, too. Smaller bars often carry higher premiums above the spot price of gold compared to larger ones, so it can pay off to shop around and compare prices from multiple reputable dealers. Premiums can vary significantly, and finding a competitive price becomes even more important when gold prices are high. There are also risks to buying 1-ounce gold bars during a price recovery. Because gold prices are influenced by global events, economic indicators and market sentiment, they are inherently volatile over the shorter term. As a result, buying during a peak or upward trend could result in short-term losses if prices decline. Gold's long-term performance can also lag behind equities or other asset classes during periods of strong economic growth, so think about your investment goals. If you're buying gold as a long-term hedge against inflation or economic uncertainty, current price levels may be less important than establishing your position. However, if you're hoping for quick gains, buying at higher prices increases your risk. The bottom line For investors who are seeking a tangible, direct investment in gold, 1-ounce bars remain a solid choice — even amid gold's price recovery. Their accessibility, liquidity and suitability for incremental investments make them ideal for those aiming to hedge against inflation or diversify their portfolios. However, it's crucial to approach any gold investment with clear objectives. If your goal is to build long-term wealth or safeguard your assets during economic turbulence, 1-ounce gold bars can play a pivotal role. On the other hand, if you're looking for quick returns, you may want to explore alternative investment options like gold ETFs or mining stocks instead. Angelica Leicht is senior editor for Managing Your Money, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications.

Canadiens veteran Brendan Gallagher has learned to adapt his game

A TRAVEL expert has revealed the clever packing hack that stops your clean clothes getting dirty on holiday. Travellers are always eager to find new hacks that allow them to pack their luggage more efficiently before jetting off on holiday . 1 A travel expert has revealed an amazing packing hack (stock) Credit: Getty One of the biggest annoyances for those heading abroad is keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones while on holiday. It goes without saying that our bags often become a jumbled mess by the end of the trip. However, a well-seasoned flyer has shared one method which could help stop this headache for holidaygoers . According to Samantha Hamilton, an expert traveller who runs the New England Wanderlust blog, there is a correct way to pack your dirty laundry when traveling. Read More in Travel ON TRACK New £2billion 'super station' to open in UK with 250,000 passengers a day RIDE ON World’s first 'luxury' theme park to open with rollercoasters and huge water show H amilton, who has been travelling for over 10 years, told holidaygoers: "Keep your dirty laundry in a separate packing cube." The travel whizz says that packing cubes have been the most effective way to contain the smell. She also says they are especially handy as they maintain an element of the compression to save space. A specific compression packing cube will help you save space and keep the smells away from clean clothes. Most read in News Travel BACK UP Passengers call for BAN on reclining plane seats after push from iconic chair brand FULL STEAM AHEAD Packing expert's must-have travel item has cheap £6.99 dupe ON HOLS All the new travel rules Brits face in 2025 from biometric checks to visa-waivers RAILLY PRICEY Journey through Scotland part of world's most expensive £100k train trip Compression packing cubes are great at creating more space in your suitcase as they reduce the room taken up by clothes and other items. Hamilton also advises travellers to “throw a dryer sheet into your dirty laundry cube" to help with bad smells. Lexie Limitless shares her top travel tips and tricks You might not use a lot of dryer sheets in your normal laundry routine, but pack a few to keep your suitcase from permanently absorbing the scent of every adventure. There is no harm in putting them in your suitcase and also in the packing cube with your dirty laundry. Hamilton says they are her "last line of defence" to stop odours from seeping into the rest of her suitcase. And for longer trips they come in handy even more thanks to taking up no room at all. Hamilton added: “I also no longer mix my dirty laundry with my shoe bags, and keep them separate. “I noticed that, especially with shoes like canvas sneakers, they would start to absorb odours from the dirty laundry.” Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine It follows this travel expert's clever trick using tape that makes packing so much easier and keeps everything in one place. And this packing expert has revealed how to pack enough luggage that is still under 7kg. Holiday packing tips Jemma Solomon, aka The Label Lady has got 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday. 1. Write a list Think about all the essentials you need to take with you; suncream, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels, and write everything in one list, which you can tick off as you add it to your suitcase. Or for complete ease, try Google's AI app - Gemini - which will create a list for you and help you not over pack. 2. Involve your kids Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and nine, and they enjoy helping to pack. So I send them a list, and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list. “And then I give them a rucksack each - and say to them ‘you can have whatever you want in there as long as it’s not liquid', and they can take that on the plane. And that’s their ‘home away from home’ items.” 3. Try a hack or two She said: "I think they all work, but for different reasons - and you’ve just got to pick the right one for your trip. "Rolling your clothes is really good to stop your clothes from getting creases. And if you’re trying to get a lot of items into your case, it’s a space saver. “Packing cubes are great - for example, I’m going on holiday with my three kids and we’re all using the same suitcase for our clothes. "These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and tech into designated cubes, maximising luggage space by keeping your items compressed and neatly stacked. "I love taking them abroad with the family and it means my kids can easily take charge of their own items once we’ve arrived." 4. Decant beauty products Do you really need to take full-size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with you? The beauty industry has evolved so much, you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets - which are much lighter and smaller. Or, if you'll be popping to the shops when you're abroad, consider buying some items when you arrive. 5. Get organised before you come home Jemma said: “When you repack on holiday [before coming home], the trick is to separate clean from dirty clothes. “Also pack it in some form of order - so lights, darks, colours for items that need washing, or if you wash your clothes by person in the household, piles for each person. "Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do it straight away, don’t leave it."NORAD’s Santa tracker was a Cold War morale boost. Now it attracts millions of kidsDana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.BEAMING Micheal Martin declared he has a “clear route back to government” as Fianna Fail aim to become the most popular party in the country. But as the count continued late into the night, Fianna Fail , Fine Gael and Sinn Fein are looking at a photo finish in the General Election . And a defiant Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald declared: “Two-party politics is now gone. It’s ­consigned to the dustbin of history .” Some vote counts are expected to drag on into Monday due to the tight results. The three big parties are each claiming they could hit 40 seats. The Social Democrats look to be the standout performers among the smaller parties, with sources telling The Irish Sun they believe they could double their six TDs. Labour are also confident of gains and are already being eyed up by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as potential coalition partners to replace the Greens, who have been decimated in the polls. A delighted Mr Martin arrived at the count centre in Cork South Central, which he won easily, flanked by his family . He told reporters there was a “clear route back to government”. And Fianna Fail were tonight confirmed as taking 21.1 per cent of the first preference vote, with Fine Gael at 20.7 and Sinn Fein in third at 19.7 per cent. An earlier exit poll on Friday night had put Fianna Fail at just 19.5 per cent — with Sinn Fein ­marginally out in front. Mr Martin admitted: “When I saw the exit poll, I was ­disappointed, I said to myself ‘What the hell?’ “In the current situation, one or two per cent is massive and particularly in a multi-party situation with lots of independents and so on. “It looks like now we will exceed the exit poll, and we could be the largest party in the popular vote.” But asked if he would consider partnering with Sinn Fein, he said: “I have made it clear throughout this campaign that we don’t expect to align with their policies. “We will align with protecting the economic model we have in this country , a pro-European disposition and home ownership.” The results are a hammer blow to Sinn Fein’s hopes of forming a government. But Ms McDonald said she will reach out to the leaders of left-wing parties such as Labour and the Soc Dems to try and form a coalition. Speaking at the RDS count centre in Dublin , she said: “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould her in this state. “Two-party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that in itself is very significant.” And asked if she believes the numbers are there for Sinn Fein to form a coalition of the left, Ms McDonald said: “I am looking to bring about a government of change and I am going to go and look at all formulations. “The bottom line is the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years in our strong opinion is not a good outcome for Irish society. "Obviously I want to talk to other parties of the left and those we share significant policy objectives with. I’m going to do that first and hear their mind and thinking. Be very clear — we will be very actively pursuing entrance into government.” Taoiseach Simon Harris , elected on the first count in Wicklow tonight, was boisterous about the results and claimed Fine Gael would top the poll in at least ten constituencies across the country. But he would not be drawn on coalition options, saying he was “optimistic and excited” for the weeks ahead when government formation talks will commence. “It looks like now we will exceed the exit poll, and we could be the largest party in the popular vote.” Mr Harris said: “I think anybody who makes any projection on who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government they are a braver person than I am. "Our electoral system dictates that there will be many, many transfers that will go for hours, if not days, before we know the final composition of the Dail. “What I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead and I am cautiously optimistic and excited about what the weeks ahead hold.” The results so far mean that a return of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in coalition with another small party or group of Independents is likely to be the make-up of Ireland’s next government. Ex-Green Party leader Eamon Ryan encouraged smaller parties to consider going into coalition, despite the Greens suffering a near wipeout of their 12 seats following their term in government. Mr Ryan said: “I would still advise any party if you have the opportunity to go in to government and represent your electorate and all the people — I think it is the right thing to do.” The Social Democrats look set to the be the biggest of the small parties. Leader Holly Cairns retained her seat , despite having to limit her canvassing due to being pregnant. “The bottom line is the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years in our strong opinion is not a good outcome for Irish society." Ms Cairns gave birth to a baby girl on polling day, meaning she didn’t even get to vote. Deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan — — who will ease back into his seat in Dublin Bay North — has stepped into her role temporarily. He told us the party will speak to Labour about a possible left alliance before considering coalition talks with any of the three big parties. He said: “We certainly intend talking to the Labour Party and other parties over the coming days.” Labour leader Ivana Bacik — who will easily retain her seat in Dublin Bay South — wants to unite with the Soc Dems and the Greens to form a left block to enter coalition negotiations on a stronger footing. She said: “We must have a critical mass of numbers to deliver on the mission of change that we have. “We want a left block on a ­common platform to come together to deliver on the change we want.” Meanwhile, the political establishment has tonight played down gang boss Gerry Hutch’s chances of becoming a TD, with the Taoiseach arguing: “It’s not nailed on.” But as The Monk continued to hoover up transfers, Mary Lou McDonald became the first person elected in Dublin Central on the third count. The Monk was boosted by 218 votes in transfers from Mary Lou McDonald with the gang boss securing the highest portion of the Sinn Fein leader’s spare ballots. It now appears to be a fight between Hutch and Labour’s Marie Sherlock for the fourth and final seat in the constituency. And on a day of huge political shocks , some of the biggest names were in danger of being dumped out of the Dail — including Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and almost EVERY Green Party TD. But Dublin Central was the ­constituency to watch as the scale of support for Hutch became clear from the first tallies. The gangland kingpin landed a whopping 3,098 first preference votes — putting him fourth in the poll with Ms Sherlock chasing behind with 2,465 votes. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe and Social Democrat Gary Gannon both look set to retain their seats after big turnouts. But incumbent Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan faces the chop, with former MEP Clare Daly also failing to make an impact in the constituency after deciding to run here at the last minute. Transfers will decide who wins the final seat between The Monk and Labour’s hopeful, with Hutch expected to receive transfers from right-wing Independent Malachy Steenson, while Sherlock will pick up votes from the Greens, People Before Profit and the Soc Dems. And with the final seat looking likely to go down to the wire, ­Taoiseach Simon Harris insisted the mobster’s audacious Dail run could still end in failure. He said: “In relation to Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, I always buy into the very basic tenant of democracy that the people are sovereign. "Whoever the people choose to elect is entirely a matter for them. But I remain to be ­convinced that he will be a TD. “I think there is a long way to go and as I talk to people on the ground in Dublin Central, and as I read the mood music, I don’t think he’s nailed on at all.” And Ms McDonald — who topped the poll — said the last seat was going to be a “battle royal”. Speaking about the dramatic Dublin Central race , Ms McDonald said: “It’s a ­hat-trick for me in topping the poll in the constituency and I’m proud of that achievement. The last seat is in the ­balance. I think it’s going to be a battle royal .” “We must have a critical mass of numbers to deliver on the mission of change that we have." Pressed on whether she was surprised by Hutch’s 3,000 first preference votes, the Sinn Fein leader said: “Nothing in politics surprises me, I’m around far too long.” Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe said people will have to reflect on why The Monk ­performed as well as he has. Speaking at the RDS count centre, the outgoing Public Expenditure Minister said: “His performance was always possible in this election. I think it is worth noting that the vast majority of people in Dublin Central have not voted for him. “The vast majority of voters in Dublin Central have chosen to put their votes behind other candidates and we will have to reflect later why he performed like he did.” Soc Dem’s Gannon said Hutch’s solid vote shows how badly ­working class communities have been treated for years. He added: “When people are in a dark place they’ll search for very strange options and that’s what happened here. That’s a plague on all of our houses, it’s a reflection of politics as a whole.” And Clare Daly said “the ­political establishment should take note” of the mega Monk vote. She added: “I don’t see him being a national parliamentarian or a legislator per se, which is part of the job, but if elected he could, if the will was there, really keep a focus on an area that has been left behind and is crying out.” “I think there is a long way to go and as I talk to people on the ground in Dublin Central, and as I read the mood music, I don’t think he’s nailed on at all.” Legendary director Jim Sheridan said he was “shocked” at the strong backing that The Monk received after filming him on the campaign trail for a documentary . Speaking at the count centre in the RDS, the My Left Foot director said he was “totally surprised” at the level of support Hutch received from voters. He said: “I was thinking of just doing a small documentary about the election — that’s all. I never thought he’d get in or have a chance and I don’t know if he will still, but he has a chance.” Asked why he thought people backed The Monk at the polls, Sheridan said: “It is anger at their position. Years of drugs and nothing happening in that community. “Some people are trying to help but there has never been anyone since Independent Tony Gregory who provided a cohesive attitude towards the many problems.” The Monk’s shock election performance resulted in the Green’s Neasa Hourigan losing her seat with her party facing a total wipeout after a dismal display. The Greens had 12 TDs in the outgoing Dail, but have failed to avoid the tradition of smaller coalition parties being hammered in the polls after their stint in Government. Voters have turfed out the Greens with the party now facing an agonising wait to see if they can even return one TD to the next Dail. Leader Roderic O’Gorman, who is in a fight for the fifth seat in Dublin West, admitted it was a difficult day for his party. Speaking at the count centre in Ongar, he said: “We got a mandate in 2020 and that was a mandate to go into Government to act on climate and to support families and children all over the country. “We worked hard over four and a half years. We now have our lowest carbon emissions in the last 30 years. We’ve invested in public transport and we’ve halved the cost of childcare .” Ex-Green leader Eamon Ryan denied that the devastating result would spell the end for the party. He said: “No matter what the result today, there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland .” And Health Minister Stephen ­Donnelly looks to be one of the biggest names in politics that could lose his seat in the election with the Fianna Fail TD suffering a bitter defeat in Wicklow. The redraw of constituencies resulted in Wicklow becoming a four seater with Taoiseach Simon Harris topping the poll and looking likely to bring in a running mate in Edward Timmons. Asked about this blow to the party, leader Micheal Martin said: “He is still in the hunt and could potentially benefit from transfers from Simon Harris. We always felt that would be competitive.”

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Nova Scotia charity serving 600 free turkey dinners for ChristmasQuestion: True or false? Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, located just south of downtown Bloomington, is older than the city. Answer: True. Evergreen’s oldest burial dates back to the 1820s, while Bloomington was officially founded in 1831. Vivian Kong Doctora talks about how to order at Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar Lifelong hockey enthusiast Adam Morris follows the growth of the Bloomington Bison in their first season. The ECHL holiday break is over. As the Bison face the Kalamazoo Wings in a weekend set that includes two home games, here's a look at what to expect. Are there parallels between the Bloomington Bison and their primary NHL affiliate? Columnist Adam Morris checks out the New York Rangers in person. The Bison are in their third month of existence, but their presence in Bloomington-Normal has already started to take root. After their five-game run against the Iowa Heartlanders ended with two consecutive losses, the Bloomington Bison can look forward to a change of scenery — and opponent. As we bask in the glow of holiday decorating and Thanksgiving leftovers, columnist Adam Morris takes stock of his gratitude as a Central Illinois hockey fan. When the Bison and Iowa Heartlanders play, penalties will be a factor. There have been 171 penalty minutes handed out, including 13 roughing calls and nine major penalties. Power plays, leadership and stamina: Three takeaways from the Bloomington Bison's first winning weekend at Grossinger Motors Arena. As the Bloomington Bison lose their top goaltender to a higher league, a grueling schedule in the coming weeks could become the team's proving ground. The Bloomington Bison's owners believe fans will be impressed with the higher level of play at Grossinger Motors Arena — but that only works if they're there to see it. Are you struggling to keep up with the Bison's ever-changing roster? You're not alone. Here's why the new Bloomington hockey team is uniquely positioned in its league — and how it could be an advantage. "Was it a little disappointing that the Bison did not come out of last weekend with a win? Of course. ... What I did see, though, felt just as encouraging." It's always exciting to see the start of something new. That's what fans are getting with the Bloomington Bison — on the ice and behind the glass. When the Bloomington Bison drop the puck in their preseason matchup Saturday, it will represent potentially best chance for sustained professional hockey in the Twin Cities. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer Jim McNally and late Buffalo Bills running backs coach Elijah Pitts are recipients of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Awards of Excellence, it was announced Tuesday. Offensive line coach Jim McNally, shown in the locker room at his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, in 2005. It’s a career accomplishment created by the football shrine in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in “behind-the-scenes” roles. In addition to assistant coaches, Awards of Excellence are given annually to selected public relations personnel, athletic trainers, equipment managers and film/video directors. McNally and Pitts are joined as coaching honorees by Dick Hoak, longtime running backs coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Upon Further Review: Cam Lewis gets personal retribution with first career interception in Bills' win McNally, 81, played and coached at the University at Buffalo and then spent 43 seasons in the NFL, becoming a legend among offensive line coaches. McNally entered the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980. He stayed there until 1994, reaching two Super Bowls and mentoring future Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz for all 13 of his seasons. Known by friends and colleagues as "Mouse," McNally had stints with the Carolina Panthers (1995-98), the New York Giants (1999-2003) and the Bills (2004-07). Then he served as a consultant with New Orleans for two years, the New York Jets for two years and then the Bengals for a dozen years before his “second retirement” in 2023. “I think it is satisfying partly because most of the people who’ve gotten recognized on the offensive line have been on Super Bowl winners,” McNally said from his home in Orchard Park. “I was on four Super Bowl teams, three with the Bengals and one with the Giants, and the teams didn’t win. So I think it has something to say about my contribution to the football world, whether it’s high school coaches, college coaches.” Besides his famed work for NFL teams, McNally has given coaching clinics across the country for decades, spreading his knowledge and serving as somewhat of a goodwill ambassador for offensive line play at all levels. He still spreads his knowledge with posts on O-line techniques on the social media platform X, where he has 23,000 followers. There will be a dinner in late June in Canton, Ohio, to honor the Awards of Excellence recipients. Pitts, who died at age 60 in 1998, was a five-time NFL champion as a running back for the Green Bay Packers. He served 24 years as an NFL assistant coach, starting under head coach Chuck Knox with the Rams in 1974. Pitts moved with Knox to the Bills from 1978 to 1980, then coached Hall of Famer Earl Campbell with the Oilers for two years. Pitts worked under Marv Levy as Bills running backs coach from 1985 to 1997. He was assistant head coach from 1992 to 1997. Pitts played a big role in mentoring Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas. Sent weekly directly to your inbox!By BEN FINLEY The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Related Articles National News | Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights National News | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting National News | Judge rules Arkansas law allowing criminal charges against librarians is unconstitutional National News | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says National News | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018 , and this year . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.

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