A North Vancouver man has been charged on multiple counts after a bizarre stabbing incident in California. Devin Wolfgang Vandorhoef, 25, is in police custody after he was arrested by detectives with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 25. At around 10 p.m. that evening, police received multiple 911 calls that a person had been stabbed in a residential neighbourhood of Salinas, a small city 30-minutes by car from Monterey, Calif. Upon arriving at the scene, police said they found three people with stabbing injuries. All were sent to hospital with minor to critical injuries and are expected to survive. Monterey County Sheriff Detectives said they learned that Vandorhoef and a female victim had previously met and gotten to know each other via a gaming platform. “Vandorhoef developed a year’s long obsession with the victim which led to him flying to California from Canada where he resides,” reads a statement from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. Police added that Vandorhoef was accompanied by Darius Avery Whyte, 25, who is also Canadian. Whyte has also been arrested and charged in connection with the incident. “On the date of the stabbing, Vandorhoef arrived at a residence on Bollenbacher Drive and knocked on the door while holding a package. He identified himself as a delivery driver,” police said. “Our victim’s boyfriend opened the door and Vandorhoef forced his way in and began stabbing the boyfriend with a knife resulting in multiple critical injuries. “The female grabbed a sharp metal object and began defending her boyfriend. While fighting back, the female victim was strangled and stabbed by our suspect sustaining moderate injuries. During the struggle, the suspect sustained multiple critical stab wounds,” police said. Detectives said they discovered that the package Vandorhoef was carrying when he arrived contained handcuffs, duct tape and knives. “It is unknown how these items were intended on being used,” the sheriff’s office said. According to the Monterey County in-custody log, Vandorhoef has been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, mayhem, stalking and burglary. His bail is set at US$2.3 million (C$3.2 million). Local broadcaster KBSW Action News 8 that Vandorhoef and Whyte pleaded not guilty in court on Monday. The co-accused are due to appear in court again Dec. 10.Mexico CityFor the human smugglers who ferry migrants northwards from Central America, the return of Donald Trump is a welcome New Year gift that promises to supercharge their business. “Bless Donald Trump for winning,” said one people smuggler, who talked to the Thomson Reuters Foundation on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from Mexico’s authorities as well as its drug cartels. “We’re eagerly waiting January 20th to be back in business and start earning some more dollars,” said the 45-year-old, who has spent the past six years transporting undocumented migrants — most from Central America and the Caribbean — to the US. Now he is banking on a pickup in trade due to Trump’s campaign promise to crack down on migrants once he takes office on Jan 20, vowing to lengthen the border wall to keep migrants out and enforce mass deportations on those who have made it. Like thousands of other smugglers, he is hoping to cash in big time from Trump’s return — expecting an increase of at least $2,000 in profits per person. Smugglers, or coyotes as they are called locally, are also tapping into a rising sense of panic among migrants, many of whom are fleeing deepening violence and poverty, fearing it will become harder to gain asylum under a second Trump presidency. Even before Trump won re-election, smugglers were peddling disinformation and scams on social media, telling migrants to make it to the southern US border before Trump takes office as his presidency will make it harder to cross. In recent years, the father of three said he had ferried about 30 people a week to the US, be it young men or families with children, charging at least $5,000 a head for passage to a new life by plane, bus or car. His business comes from word-of-mouth recommendations from families who have successfully made it to the US, and the smuggler said he also connects migrants with a series of safe houses where they can eat, sleep and use the Internet. This past year, he said, business was down a whopping 80% after the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency set up an app that let migrants make their asylum claim at the border. Instead of hiring a smuggler to get them across, migrants instead waited at the border in Mexico for an appointment — even if it meant living several months in areas rife with crime. In 2023, there were 1,450 appointments available a day on the CBP One app. But as Trump has vowed to get rid of the app — effectively closing the main legal option for people seeking asylum — this will likely raise demand for smuggler services, which will in turn boost the fees that coyotes can charge. “They say they will close the border, but we always find a hole to sneak people through. They can’t close the entire border, it’s impossible,” said the smuggler. The coyote said he had a near-100% success rate by scaling the wall in areas controlled by cartels. On the US side, he then drives the migrants to their chosen destination. Trump is expected to declare illegal immigration a national emergency on taking office, pulling resources from across the government to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration. Yet tightening the restrictions does not dissuade people from migrating, said Maureen Meyer with the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a human rights advocacy group. “Increased enforcement does very little to decrease migration flows to the US. What it does is feed profits into organised criminal groups,” said Meyer, WOLA’s vice president for programs. According to 2017 estimates by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), human trafficking to the US earns criminal groups up to $4.2bn a year. As US and Mexican authorities tighten security along their border, a violent turf war is playing out further south over the Mexico-Guatemala border — changing the smuggling business, who controls it and heaping new dangers on migrants. If smugglers once largely worked independently, operating within their own communities, many have now been recruited by the cartels, who control every step of the way to the border. Cartels run a vast transport network to facilitate their mass people smuggling: tourist buses, sweltering tractor-trailer trucks, motorcycles, taxis and app-based drivers who transport migrants through Mexico and into the US. “We’re always paying an extortion fee to do anything — move people, merchandise, food,” said the smuggler, who has been recruited by a cartel that he preferred not to identify. Smugglers also pay corrupt officials so they can get through checkpoints expressly set up to catch migrants, the coyote said. Cartel violence is especially fierce in Chiapas state in southern Mexico, a key crossing point for migrants heading north from Central America or from as far as the Darien Gap — a perilous stretch of rainforest straddling Colombia and Panama. In Chiapas, factions from the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Nueva Generacion Cartel are fighting for control of human trafficking, among other illegal businesses, said Armando Vargas, security expert with the think tank Mexico Evalua. “Because people have different uses, from forced recruitment to sexual exploitation to organ removal,” said Vargas, explaining how organized crime now makes more money from human traffic than it does from gun smuggling. Every child and adult pays 1,200 pesos ($60) to the cartel just for the right to cross the river that divides Mexico and Guatemala, the smuggler said. Whoever refuses to pay — migrant and smugglers alike — runs a high risk of kidnap or murder, he added. WOLA, and other human rights groups, have documented the acute dangers that migrants face on their journey north. “They have often been subjected to horrendous abuse during the kidnapping including sexual assault, torture, withholding food and water as a way to send messages to the family members, oftentimes in the US, who are being extorted to pay ransom,” said Meyer. As cartels engage in more aggressive turf wars, Vargas expects this will also propel more Mexicans to risk all and head for the US in search of a better life. “The risk of violence will increase for these vulnerable people, not only from Mexico, but from all of Latin America,” said Vargas. And despite the triple whammy for would-be migrants of greater violence, higher fees and tougher restrictions, the app-based driver-turned-coyote is banking on a highly profitable 2025. “Migrants don’t want to pay (for a smuggler), but I think we will become their only, and safest, option,” he said. — Thomson Reuters Foundation

WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday due to a technical issu e just as the Christmas travel season kicks into overdrive and winter weather is threatening more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. American flights were cleared to fly by federal regulators about one hour after a national ground stop order was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. There were 1,447 delays for flights entering or leaving the U.S. early in the day, with 28 cancellations. Snow was falling early in New York and Dallas-Fort Worth International, which is American Airlines' main hub, was getting hit with rain. Dallas-Fort Worth had the most delays, followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, Washington, New York, Chicago and Miami Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have “interline agreements” that let them put stranded customers on another carrier’s flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That’s because finding a last-minute flight on another airline yourself tends to be very expensive. Just before 7 a.m. Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the U.S. at the airline’s request. American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday. American said in an email that the problem Tuesday morning was caused by a vendor technology issue that “impacted systems needed to release flights.” The groundings couldn’t come at a worse time for the millions of travelers expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through January 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Friday and Sunday, and on Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. “Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation’s highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C., are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. —— AP Reporters David Koenig, Mae Anderson and Mike Pesoli contributed to this report.

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Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s magnificent seven grand slam finalsA new strain of COVID-19 known as XEC is gaining traction in Chicago, just as the holidays approach and seasonal respiratory virus season gets underway. The COVID-19 virus remains a public health challenge that must be met with continued vigilance, particularly among members of Chicago’s Hispanic and Latino community. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinos have experienced the highest COVID-19 mortality rate of all minority groups in the United States. This year, we are fortunate to be approaching the season from a position of knowledge and strength. We know that getting an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine lowers our risk of serious illness and hospitalization. We hold the power to determine whether COVID-19 will be a minor inconvenience or a major health incident this year. Protection from prior vaccinations wanes over time, which is why the CDC recommends getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Current vaccines are formulated to protect against the latest strains of the virus, including the prevalent JN.1 strain, to which most circulating variants — including XEC — are related. Most insurance plans cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost, and free vaccination clinics are hosted regularly by the Chicago Department of Public Health across the city. This season, Chicagoans have the added option of choosing between the mRNA-based vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna or the protein-based vaccine developed by Novavax, which is built on the same technology as many flu shots. Both are widely available in pharmacies across the Chicago area. Regardless of which vaccine you choose, when you get vaccinated, you are making an intentional choice to help protect yourself, those closest to you and the broader Hispanic-Latino community in Chicago. — Esther E. Sciammarella, Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, Chicago Thanks for the article “EPA adding methane fee to oil, gas rule violations” (in print Nov. 13). The new fee is intended to encourage the fossil fuel industry to adopt best practices that reduce methane emissions in oil and natural gas mining and transport. Methane is a climate super pollutant, far more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The industry will fight these rules, and the Environmental Protection Agency during the next administration is expected to weaken enforcement. The larger issue is whether fossil fuel companies should be paying for the additional extreme-weather damage caused by using their products. That damage includes more frequent and more intense wildfires, droughts and storm damage. Today, they pay nothing, and taxpayers foot those bills. As a society, we need to decide whether these companies should be allowed to freely emit climate-damaging emissions into the atmosphere. If these polluters are forced to pay for the harm that is caused by using their products, such as through carbon pricing, the transition to cheaper and less damaging clean energy will happen much faster. A more livable world would be the outcome. — Andrew Panelli, Homer Glen I am concerned after reading the Nov. 17 article “Nuclear plants in Illinois are caught in the crosshairs.” The implications for ratepayers are alarming. The article states that “data centers’ seemingly insatiable appetite for energy ... could also increase residents’ electric bills.” That’s the problem. Why must it be inevitable that building more power capacity for the benefit of tech firms results in higher costs for everyone else? If tech firms plan to make money from new, energy-intensive ventures that are unrelated to basic heating, cooking and keep-the-lights-on needs, then why should everyday users be responsible for the resulting increased costs? Why can’t the rate structure be revised to put the increased cost burden on the entities that will be responsible for incurring those increased costs — i.e., the tech firms themselves? Evidently, the existing rate structure equally spreads capacity costs among all ratepayers. If some entity wants more energy, then, under current thinking, that entity pays for its extra watts. That arrangement is indeed fair, but only under the assumption that the amount of generating capacity is equally needed by all ratepayers in the first place. It would appear that this “normal” scenario is assumed to hold even in the new situation in which the demand for vast amounts of additional power are coming from a distinct subset of the ratepayer population, namely the tech firms. The rest of the ratepayer population does not directly benefit from the increased capacity. Can a new payment arrangement be devised/proposed so that the segment of the ratepayer population that is demanding the new generating capacity will then be responsible for the bulk, if not all, of the costs required to build that new generating capacity? Is there some way to think outside the status-quo payment mechanisms so that all ratepayers are not, in fact, subsidizing the demand by tech firms for more capacity — capacity that only the tech firms benefit from? Illinois should ensure that the existing cost-allocation methods don’t become just a convenient tool in a tech firm lead play for more power. The matter should be rethought before these costs become locked in the usual bureaucratic arthritis. — Fred R. Garzino, Chicago The “Wicked” movie has hit theaters, welcoming old and new audiences alike to the land of Oz. Many may not know that “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the novel that started it all (movies, plays, musicals and more), was written right here in Chicago. Author L. Frank Baum wrote “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” from his home in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood in 1899. So the legend goes, Baum’s idea for Oz’s Emerald City was inspired by his numerous visits to the White City of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago — a brightly lit, beautiful city but filled with skeletons of temporary buildings covered in painted plaster. Although the Baum family home in Humboldt Park no longer stands, the block’s sidewalk was dug up in 2019 and repaved with yellow bricks to honor the birthplace of America’s great fairy tale. A colorful Oz-themed mural was also commissioned on the site. And less than 4 miles to the east of Chicago’s own yellow brick road is Oz Park. Yes, that “Oz.” Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Oz Park celebrates all things “Wizard of Oz.” According to the Chicago Park District, areas of the 14-acre park include Dorothy’s Playlot and the Emerald City Gardens. Surrounding these areas are statues of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and everyone’s favorite, Dorothy and Toto. Another Chicago connection: Chicago’s own Quincy Jones produced the soundtrack for “The Wiz,” the 1978 musical adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” featuring a star-studded cast of all-Black actors, including Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. I think Chicago historian Shermann Dilla Thomas sums this whole thing up best: “Everything dope about America comes from Chicago.” — Marty Malone, Chicago On Nov. 9, I became blissfully wrapped up in Lyric Opera’s gratifying production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” While it played out, stressful current events didn’t exist. Reading Chris Jones’ grumpy, prudish review ( “‘Figaro’ by Lyric Opera leans into comedy of a tricky story,” Nov. 13), I found myself wishing once again that he could resist trying to punish centuries-old classics for not fitting 2024 political correctness. Worse, he takes directors to task for not doing so. His comment that you can hear in Gordon Bintner’s voice his difficulties with the production’s choices is one of the most risible opinions I’ve read in serious music criticism. I think modern audiences can deal with letting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sublime work play out as originally conceived. — Lee Kingsmill, Munster, Indiana Note to readers: As part of our annual holiday tradition, we’d like to hear from you about what is making you feel thankful this year. Sincere thoughts only, please. Email us a letter of no more than 400 words to letters@chicagotribune.com. Be sure to include your full name and your city or town. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com .

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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field with 5:32 left in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury during Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference game against host Louisville. The freshman was sacked at the Panthers' 49-yard line by Louisville's Ashton Gillotte, who rolled on the quarterback's ankle. Holstein was in a walking boot as he was helped to the cart. Holstein missed last week's game against Clemson after suffering a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago. Holstein was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards and an interception before exiting. Nate Yarnell, who threw for 350 yards in the loss to Clemson, replaced Holstein. --Field Level Media

Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field with 5:32 left in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury during Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference game against host Louisville. The freshman was sacked at the Panthers' 49-yard line by Louisville's Ashton Gillotte, who rolled on the quarterback's ankle. Holstein was in a walking boot as he was helped to the cart. Holstein missed last week's game against Clemson after suffering a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago. Holstein was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards and an interception before exiting. Nate Yarnell, who threw for 350 yards in the loss to Clemson, replaced Holstein. --Field Level Media

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Police arrested a 16-year-old student after he allegedly brought a gun to his high school in Kenosha, the second time in less than a month that someone has apparently tried to bring a firearm into one of the southeastern Wisconsin city's schools. Indian Trail High School and Academy's resource officer learned Monday that a photo of the student with a gun had been posted on social media, police said in a statement Wednesday. The student was located, escorted to an office, arrested and taken to the police department. Investigators later determined that the student had hidden a gun in a “sensitive area," making it difficult for officers to locate the weapon initially.The Chicago Cubs 2nd basemen Nico Hoerner’s name has once again been thrown out in trade discussions, this time involving the Seattle Mariners. In a report written by the Seattle Times Adam Jude, the Chicago Cubs have had “preliminary talks” with the Seattle Mariners involving a trade which would send INF Nico Hoerner to the Mariners. He writes: “The Mariners have also had preliminary talks with the Chicago Cubs about second baseman Nico Hoerner, a Gold Glove winner who offers positional versatility. The Cubs are seeking proven major league talent in talks for Hoerner, a source said.” Hoerner, who had surgery this off season to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right forearm and will most likely miss the first few weeks to month of the season, has once again seen his name brought up in trade negotiations. Earlier this off season Hoerner and fellow Chicago Cub 1st basemen/OF Cody Bellinger were both linked in a trade proposal which sent them over to the New York Yankees. Now that the winter meetings are only a week away, a real clear path for these trades to happen are likely. It’s no secret that the Seattle Mariners have one of if not the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. However, they don’t have as near as great an offense to pair with it to make them one of the top teams in the AL. Pair that with their unwillingness to spend money and you just have a mid-level team. So that’s why it’s so important for the Cubs to strike now while the irons hot and snag one of the Mariners star pitchers that they have in their rotation to help bolster theirs. With Hoerner starting the season on the shelf the Cubs are going to have to turn to their farm to help them fill that gap since it seems like they want to target pitching and catching mostly in free agency. So, it’s going to be up to guys like #1 prospect Matt Shaw or #5 prospect James Triantos to step and fill Hoerner’s shoes at 2nd. When looking at the Mariners there’s only one guy the Chicago Cubs should target and that’s RHP Logan Gilbert. In Jude’s article he wrote that “The Cubs are seeking proven major league talent in talks for Hoerner, a source said.” and that perfectly fits the description of one such as Logan Gilbert. Gilbert, who is still just 27, is poised to break out in 2025 and eventually become what all scouts thought he could be and that’s an “Ace” which the Cubs need. For his career Gilbert has a record of 41-31 with an ERA of 3.60 in 704.1 innings pitched. In 2024 Gilbert lead all the MLB in innings pitched (208.2) and WHIP (0.887) as well as being named an All-Star and finishing 6th in the Cy Young voting. Having a pitcher like Gilbert with “Ace” like qualities at the top of the staff paired with Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon the Cubs would immediately have one of the better staffs in the NL. What would it take? So obviously a 1-for-1 swap for Hoerner and Gilbert is out of the question. Hoerner who is making $23.5M the next two years while Gilbert is only in his first year of arbitration and is only set to make $8.3M according to Spotrac . However, the Mariners need more offense, in particular pop. Hoerner would be an upgrade at 2nd base for the Mariners being that as its set Dylan Moore is slated to be their everyday guy there come opening day. The Deal The Seattle Mariners receive: INF Nico Hoerner , 1st baseman/OF Cody Bellinger, OF Owen Caissie (Cubs #2 prospect, MLB #34), and $10M to pay down Bellinger’s contract The Chicago Cubs receive: RHP Logan Gilber and RHP Andrés Muñoz (CL) This trade has all the makings of a win-win type of trade for both teams. The Mariners get the much-needed offensive help they’ve been desiring, while the Cubs get what potentially could be their “Ace” as well as a lockdown closer for the bullpen. The Chicago Cubs also get off the Cody Bellinger contract which they have been desperate to do since signing the deal. Yes, they have to eat $10M to pay it down but throwing in Owen Caissie in the deal as well in my opinion makes the Mariners more likely to pursue this deal. Bellinger would also fill the void over at 1st base for the Mariners and who would be an improvement both offensively and defensively over Justin Turner who played 31 games for the M’s there last season. With the GM Meetings already passed us where the foundations for trades are laid, the next big date on the MLB calendar are the Winter Meetings which are set to start on December 8th. These “preliminary talks” could potentially become real tangible trades once the Winter Meetings begin. We could potentially see Nico Hoerner be on the move and possibly be in a different uniform come next season. As well as potentially a few other Cubs as well. This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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BLOUNTVILLE— During last week’s voting meeting, the Sullivan County Commission passed a resolution allowing early retirement for police officers and correctional officers through a bridge program. The commission also passed a resolution that opposes the establishment of an overlay district on the South Fork of the Holston River. Bridge program Police officers, firefighters and correctional officers that are between ages 55 and 62 can retire early under the bridge program if they have put in at least 25 years of service. “The bridge program is something that all the federal programs have in law enforcement and traffic,” said Mark Ireson, commissioner and sponsor of the resolution.“I’m actually retired on the Bridge program. It’s a program that helps to cover living expenses and allows you to use your retirement funding the day you retire at age 55 and it goes to 62 until you’re eligible for Social Security.” Mark Ireson Ireson said EMS and EMA officials are currently not eligible for the program. He said he consulted with Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy and county financial staff before pursuing the resolution. “I asked the sheriff, ‘Is this something you guys are interested in?’ And he said, ‘Yes, absolutely,’” Ireson said. The program is expected to benefit 35 employees, with 29 of them retiring within six years. There are six people in the county who will not hit the 25 years of service mark and won’t be able to retire. “Of the six people, four of those were retirees from other departments or other jobs who came in to do extra work here at the sheriff’s office,” Ireson said. “There are two that will not be able to retire by age 60, and that’s gonna be an issue, but the sheriff said he he will work with them to figure something out.” Ireson said meetings are to be held with county employees and representatives from the program, so they are informed on how they may be affected. Sheriff Cassidy who spoke during the meeting, said the program will benefit a lot of his employees who are getting close to the age of retirement. “My heart is for these employees,” Cassidy said. “This job is very demanding, very stressful, away from your family a whole lot more than you need to be. This program is a life changer for those who are eligible.” Sergeant Phil White, one of the officers set to retire soon also spoke. “This program will be a big boost to me. I’ve been here for almost 29 years,” White said. “It’s a young man’s game. It’s not for me anymore, but I still do my job on a daily basis as best I can.” Ireson noted that reaction times decline around age 56, which is another reason the bridge program can make operations safer, especially in police departments. Opposition to river overlay district In another resolution, the commission expressed complete opposition to a proposed overlay district on the South Fork of the Holston River. Sponsored by Commissioner Joe Carr, the resolution voiced concerns about the potential impact on property rights, farming and the possibility of eminent domain use for zoning projects. “Many residents are deeply concerned about the prospect of a river overlay district being imposed on them, which would be a detriment to both landowners and our farmers,” the resolution stated. During public comment, multiple residents urged the commission to approve the resolution, citing flaws in a recent recreational study that could be used to justify an overlay district in the future. Melinda Morell pointed out discrepancies in survey data. “This study explains that the survey data was a critical component, yet the survey results in previous versions were wrong and only corrected after documented evidence was provided,” Morell said. Morell said the survey only had about 0.2% of Sullivan County represented and of those respondents, 9% did not live in the county. “The second survey that was provided, 55 pieces of information were sent out, but yet there’s 8,004 parcels. That’s less than 0.7% of impacted individuals,” Morell said. Morell said she and others asked the zoning and planning commission to include those statistics and numbers from the surveys in their reports to give context for future commissions. Jaquita Hickman asked the commission to consider how an overlay district could impact the property taxes of the land. “Most people on that river have private property farms,” Hickman said. “We have large farms, and what I am concerned about is the restrictions that will be given to our ancestors because I want my children and my grandchildren to be able to have our legacy so that they can have a future in Sullivan County as well.”

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is taking a first step back into the huge Chinese market with two preseason games set to take place in Macao next October, five years after the league was effectively blocked from China. The Brooklyn Nets and the Phoenix Suns will play the preseason games on October 10 and 12 at the Venetian Arena next year, while an NBA Flagship Store will also open in Macao. "Bringing preseason games to Macao will showcase the excitement of the NBA to fans in one of the world's emerging hubs for sports," NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said in a press release. "The Nets and the Suns feature an exciting mix of established and rising stars, and we look forward to engaging fans, aspiring players and the local community in Macao through these games and a variety of interactive events, youth development programs and social impact initiatives." NBA teams command a huge following in China, where basketball is wildly popular. The league has not staged a game in the country since 2019, when a tweet in support of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong from the Houston Rockets' then general manager Daryl Morey sparked a political firestorm. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver refused to punish or censor Morey – who is currently the Philadelphia 76ers' president of basketball operations – prompting ire from Beijing and leading the sports station of China's central broadcaster to stop showing the league's games for a year. Hong Kong was roiled by pro-democracy protests in 2019, which at times brought several hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to push for democracy in the city. Like Macao, Hong Kong is considered a special administrative region of China, partly distinct from the mainland. Beijing repeatedly accused Western democratic forces of working to fuel the popular Hong Kong protests and lashed out at any support for the movement, which died out in 2020 when the capital imposed a sweeping national security law on the city. Silver said two years ago that the NBA had lost "hundreds of millions of dollars" in revenue following the fallout with China, with whom the league had shared a long-standing relationship. According to Reuters, 17 NBA teams played 28 games in China between 2004 and 2019. However, tensions between the league and the country now appear to have thawed, with a legends game featuring six former NBA stars set be held in Macao on Saturday. "We always love the opportunity to compete on the global stage and we are grateful to participate in the NBA China Games 2025," said Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks. "The Brooklyn Nets have an incredible fanbase around the globe and we can't wait to bring our love of the game directly to our fans while giving our players and coaches the opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture." Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein, meanwhile, added that playing in Macao is part of the team's vision to "bring the Suns to a global audience and impact fans across the world."Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field with 5:32 left in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury during Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference game against host Louisville. The freshman was sacked at the Panthers' 49-yard line by Louisville's Ashton Gillotte, who rolled on the quarterback's ankle. Holstein was in a walking boot as he was helped to the cart. Holstein missed last week's game against Clemson after suffering a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago. Holstein was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards and an interception before exiting. Nate Yarnell, who threw for 350 yards in the loss to Clemson, replaced Holstein. --Field Level MediaBest Tech Books to Gift this Holiday SeasonONE Gas to Participate in Jefferies, Mizuho, and Wells Fargo Utility Conferences

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. On Tuesday: The S&P 500 rose 65.97 points, or 1.1%, to 6,040.04. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 390.08 points, or 0.9%, to 43,297.03. The Nasdaq composite rose 266.24 points, or 1.3%, to 20,031.13. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 22.42 points, or 1%, to 2,259.85 For the week: The S&P 500 is up 109.19 points, or 1.8%. The Dow is up 456.77 points, or 1.1%. The Nasdaq is up 458.53 points, or 2.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 17.48 points, or 0.8%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,270.21 points, or 26.3%. The Dow is up 5,607.49 points, or 14.9%. The Nasdaq is up 5,019.77 points, or 33.4%. The Russell 2000 is up 232.78 points, or 11.5%.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A boat explosion at a South Florida marina has left one person dead and five others injured, officials said. The explosion occurred Monday night at the Lauderdale Marina, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said in a social media post. Rescue workers transported five people to local hospitals, three with traumatic injuries, officials said. A sixth person was found dead in the water several hours later by the Broward Sheriff's Office. Fire rescue officials said they didn't immediately know what caused the explosion.A Broncos rookie is in line for his NFL debut. The team elevated offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo — a seventh-round (No. 256 overall) pick in the 2024 NFL draft — from their practice squad on Saturday ahead of Week 12 at the Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos also elevated inside linebacker Zach Cunningham, as previously reported by The Denver Gazette . Gargiulo (6-5, 310) started seven games at center and five games at left guard in his final college season in 2023 at South Carolina. He spent three previous seasons at Yale (2018-22). Cunningham is being elevated for a third and final time this season before needing to be signed to the active roster. NFL Insider: Broncos rookies discuss why they dropped in draft and how it provided 'that extra chip on their shoulder' Broncos fines The NFL fined cornerback Pat Surtain $11,255 for a facemask penalty in the third quarter last week against Atlanta. The Broncos defeated the Falcons, 38-6, to improve to 6-5 on the season. All players may appeal fines. Briefly The Raiders (2-8) have not won a game since the Broncos beat them at home in Week 5. But tight end Adam Trautman said: “They still get paid to play, too. And they’ve still got really good players. Obviously, when I look at it from the defensive side of the ball, (DE) Maxx Crosby is arguably one of the best players in the entire NFL.” ... Crosby has 34 total tackles (11 for loss) and 6.5 sacks over nine games played this season. ... QB Bo Nix continues to inspire confidence in his wide receivers. Rookie Devaughn Vele said: “I feel like it’s just the trust. We’re both getting experience. ... Understanding the little nuances.”