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Insurer vows audit after report finds it denied 77% of hurricane claimsBy Don Miller I’ve written a column for many Thanksgivings encouraging readers to express gratitude, even among difficult, sometimes mystifying circumstances. Such as right now. Each year brings its own challenges. The pandemic. Now, an incoming change in political leadership and direction and a nation divided. It’s climate change and taxes, the cost of housing. Crime. Gun violence. The Middle East. The pervasive influence of social media and the invasive threat of artificial intelligence. Maybe for you it’s advancing age or poor health. Financial problems. A family member caught up in the disease of addiction, or mental illness. Always something. Always will be. Amid the struggles in this broken world, life can seem capricious and unfair. Psychologists say gratitude has to be genuine to be effective. Forcing ourselves to be grateful – even this week – when we secretly hold on to resentments, or fear, can be counterproductive. And it comes off as mindless when expressing greeting-card gratitude for a broken-down car or spiraling credit-card bills, much less the loss of a loved one. So, it’s understandable why a statement like “be thankful always” can come off as an empty platitude. And yet, it’s no coincidence people showered with material blessings or gifted with physical beauty, superior talents, even great intelligence, often remain unsatisfied. People who find an overarching sense of gratitude in their lives often have suffered loss, or come up short on youthful dreams. They understand the world as it is, and remain humbled by their own character defects. Don’t take my word for it. Researchers have shown that exercising the free choice of gratitude will replace our anxiety and fear and bring health benefits that include better coping with stress, improved sleep, higher levels of love toward others, and, yes, a sense of inner peace. Gratitude as a daily attitude leaves me less consumed by possessions, more willing to help others, more spiritually aware. It takes my eyes off the irretrievable past and leaves me in the unfolding reality of the present, looking forward, with hope. Gratitude often includes expressing our thanks to others, and allows us to let go of self-reliance. And when I make this choice to be grateful, I stop being consumed by what others have and I don’t — or by resentment or anxiety. I can accept my journey through the valley of loss and walk back from the cliff of despair. There’s a spiritual principle at work: In everything, give thanks. For Christians, this is not optional. The Apostle Paul in the New Testament book of 1st Thessalonians (5:18) writes: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you ...” And in his Letter to the Philippians (4:6), Paul, writing from prison, put it this way, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Do this, Paul said, and peace will flow through your inner being. But you may not be a believer or convinced these words have meaning. But they do. Because gratitude in the face of inevitable difficulties says, “I’m making a choice to trust, rather than be fearful.” And this kind of radical thankfulness, which says “yes” instead of “no,” invites me to share the promise with others, and unleashes inner freedom and the power to overcome the obsessive thoughts I have to grab more for myself. Keeping a daily gratitude journal is helpful. The discipline of regularly writing down events and encounters in the prism of gratitude can bring remarkable changes others will notice. And consider starting each day with a list of things to be truly grateful for. Family and friends. Someone we love or who loves us. For the freedoms we enjoy. For living in a beautiful place. For the certainty of the next sunrise. For forgiveness. For grace. Why wouldn’t I be thankful? Don Miller is the Santa Cruz Sentinel’s Opinion Editor and former Editor of the Sentinel and Monterey Herald.
Will Assad Survive in Syria? And Will the Conflict Widen Into a Regional War?Farce of Daniel Penny trial shows again that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg needs to go — now!
Several members of Donald Trump's incoming administration have received threats including bomb alerts, the FBI said Wednesday, with one nominee reporting a pipe-bomb scare sent with a pro-Palestinian message. "The FBI is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners," the agency said in a statement. Swatting refers to the practice in which police are summoned urgently to someone's house under false pretenses. Such hoax calls are common in the United States and have seen numerous senior political figures targeted in recent years. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for Trump's transition team, earlier said that several appointees and nominees "were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them." Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist congresswoman tapped to be UN ambassador, said her residence in New York was targeted in a bomb threat. She said in a statement that she, her husband, and small son were driving home from Washington for the Thanksgiving holiday when they learned of the threat. Lee Zeldin, Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, said his home was targeted with a pipe bomb threat sent with a "pro-Palestinian themed message." The former congressman from New York said he and his family were not home at the time. Fox News Digital quoted unidentified sources saying that John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee to head the CIA, and Pete Hegseth, the defense secretary pick, were also targeted. Ahead of his return to the House in January, Trump has already swiftly assembled a cabinet of loyalists, including several criticized for a severe lack of experience. The Republican, who appears set to avoid trial on criminal prosecutions related to attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss, was wounded in the ear in July in an assassination attempt during a campaign rally. The shooter was killed in counter-fire. In September, authorities arrested another man accused of planning to shoot at Trump while he played golf at his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. bur/sms/bjthas picked Keith Kellogg to serve as a special envoy for and , a newly conceived role given the ongoing war between the two countries. Kellogg, an 80-year-old retired US army lieutenant general, would start in the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues into its third year. “Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration. He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!,” Trump in a Truth Social post. Kellogg previously served as a national security adviser to vice-president Mike Pence during Trump’s first presidency. Kellogg later became acting security advisor to Trump himself after Michael Flynn in 2017. As per his plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, Kellogg previously that he would emphasize getting the two countries to the negotiating table. “We tell the Ukrainians: ‘You’ve got to come to the table, and if you don’t come to the table, support from the United States will dry up,’” Kellogg said in a June interview. “And you tell [Vladimir] Putin [that] he’s got to come to the table and if you don’t come to the table, then we’ll give Ukrainians everything they need to kill you in the field.” Early reactions to Kellogg’s potential confirmation have been tepid, the Hill . “It was a gulp – not horrible, not amazing,” said one security analyst based in Washington DC, who spoke anonymously to the publication. Oleh Shamshur, a former Ukrainian ambassador to the US, told the Hill he was pessimistic about Kellogg’s potential appointment. “As I understand, he totally accepts the logic of Trump’s ‘peace plan’ as related by [vice-president-elect JD] Vance,” said Shamshur, referring to Vance’s support of ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia and rejecting plans for Ukraine to join Nato. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative thinktank, noted to the in September that Vance’s plans weren’t “a realistic proposal for peace.” “He offered a plan for a Russian victory,” Coffey told the Times. Trump’s upcoming presidency has about the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He pledged to bring a quick end to the war as one of his main campaign promises, though he has not elaborated on how he will do so. Some Ukraine supporters have that Trump’s steps to end the war could be detrimental to the country’s security or see Ukrainian land ceded to Russia, while Ukraine’s president, , says he is certain the war with Russia will “end sooner” than it otherwise would have once Trump takes office. Zelensky reportedly had a “ ” with Trump during a conversation in the aftermath of Trump’s victory the US presidential election.
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US to require passenger vehicles to sound alarms if rear passengers don't fasten their seat belts
Four members of Congress unveiled a bipartisan bill Friday that would spark changes at the U.S. Center for SafeSport, placing a time limit on resolving cases that can sometimes take years and improving communication between the center and abuse survivors. The Safer Sports for Athletes Act looks to address some of the bigger concerns that have opened the center to criticism since it was established in 2017 to handle sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports and their grassroots cousins. The bill has potential for a fivefold increase of an existing grant to the center, bringing it to $10 million a year. But even if the full amount were approved, it wouldn't solve all of the problems. As before, that grant can only be used for training and education , not investigations and enforcement, which are the focus of complaints about the center , and also of the reforms the lawmakers are seeking. “We’re hoping the combination of appropriations for other activities will free up money for investigations, as well as the streamlining,” said one of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Deborah Ross, D-North Carolina. The center estimates the reforms in the bill could cost more than $4.5 million. It currently operates on a budget of around $21 million a year, most of which comes from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and its sports affiliates, known as national governing bodies, or NGBs. “It's really unclear, and I don't think that some parts of the bill jibe with other parts of the bill," SafeSport CEO Ju'Riese Colon said. "We're going to need some more conversation to suss out some of this stuff. Right now, it just doesn't really add up for us.” The center's critics, meanwhile, have long been skeptical about giving more resources to an agency they feel is missing the mark. The bill would also mandate that investigations be concluded within 180 days after a report is made, with possibilities to extend them. Some of the most egregious complaints about the center have come from people who say it has taken years for their cases to be resolved. The center currently receives about 155 reports a week, which comes to more than 8,000 a year. When fully staffed, it has 77 people on its response and resolution team. “Too many other survivors have also been left waiting for years for SafeSport to investigate or have their cases closed without action,” said soccer player Mana Shim, who helped lawmakers draft the bill. Shim's own case, involving sexual harassment and coercion by her coach, took more than two years for the center to resolve and led to investigations and reforms across American soccer. Other reforms include a requirement for the center to provide victim advocates at no cost for those needing them — a move already underway as part of a menu of changes the center announced earlier this year — and to assign case managers who can give timely updates to victims and the accused. “I have questions around, if the center were to hire and staff the advocates, there might be some conflict of interest with us doing this internally," Colon said. The center was also concerned with one provision that would redefine how arbitration works and another that would change the dynamics of information sharing between the center and the USOPC and NGBs. The other bill sponsors were Reps. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio; Don Bacon, R-Nebraska; and Kathy Castor, D-Florida. The lawmakers positioned the bill as one that will help the Denver-based center, while making clear they are not satisfied with the results so far. “We're going to make sure the center has the resources it needs to effectively respond to thousands of reports it handles annually,” Castor said. “It has unfortunately fallen short." Ross conceded this bill will probably get pushed to the next Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, “but we needed to set the stage as soon as possible.” ___ AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games Eddie Pells, The Associated PressI'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! favourite Barry McGuigan revealed he has a plastic nose following a nasty boxing injury. He shared the story with his campmates on Friday (November 22). Barry, 63, revealed on the ITV show: "When I had it broken it was flat, so they just took the bone out and replaced it with plastic." He added that it was just part of the risks of boxing. Barry won both the British and European featherweight championships between 1983 and 1985, and his contributions to the sport earned him a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. He showed off his boxing skills as he sparred with McFly singer Danny Jones on the show. Read more Tulisa Contostavlos' ex speaks out on her changing face amid heath battles Asking for Barry's tips on how to take a body punch, Barry told him to tense his stomach muscles. But after he delivered a 'soft' blow, Danny was left exclaiming 'oh god'. Barry then challenged Danny to hit him back, telling him to go harder each time without even so much of a flicker of recognition on his face. Danny later told the Bush Telegraph: "Today my life was made because Barry McGuigan let me hit him in the stomach. I hit him really hard and it was solid, it was like hitting a brick wall." Viewers were thrilled by the surprise friendship and took to X to react. One fan wrote: "Barry McGuigan is still solid. Danny nearly broke his hand just jabbing his body #ImACeleb # imacelebrity. " A second said: "Berry don't give a f*** he just hurt Danny with that punch #ImACeleb." A third commented: "I want someone who looks at me the same way that Danny looks at Barry." A fourth added: "I love Danny and Barry’s friendship #ImACeleb." And a fifth shared: "Barry can barely feel Danny’s punches." "Danny and Barry are such a cute duo. Barry ain’t even phased by the punches but Danny bless him," another fan said. And another added: "Barry keep saying no hit it when Danny was punching him," adding crying with laughter emojis.
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1 2 Lucknow: Pushing for the use of technology in the agriculture sector, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that UP, which has only 11% of the total land in the country but produces around 20% of the total food, can increase it threefold if technology is adopted. Speaking at ‘Krishika-From farming to prosperity', a programme organised by a private media house, the CM criticised the opposition for playing politics in the name of farmers, whereas the only real work for them was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The central and state govts are committed to ensuring that farmers achieve self-reliance and never have to depend on anyone. Key initiatives such as issuing soil health cards and launching schemes like the PM Fasal Bima Yojana and PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana have significantly benefited the farming community," the CM said. Detailing work done for farmers in UP, the CM said that approximately 70% of the land is tied to the rural economy in the state. Of the 235 lakh hectare of land in the state, 161 lakh hectare are cultivated, with 86% of it being irrigated and extremely fertile. This allows UP farmers to achieve nearly double the food grain production compared to other states, he said. Among the state's recent achievements, the CM said that irrigation coverage was expanded and now has over 3,500 farmer producer organisations. The inauguration of the Arjun Sahayak project in Bundelkhand in 2021 transformed the region, and farmers who previously earned Rs 5,000 per bigha annually now report incomes of Rs 50,000 per bigha. Warehousing capacity has also been enhanced, and the sugarcane sector now boasts 120 operational sugar mills, 100 of which make payments to farmers within a week. "UP ranks first in sugarcane, sugar and ethanol production, while also contributing 25% of India's potato production and 30% of its maize output. The state's farmers have set records in the cultivation of paddy, wheat, pulses and oilseeds. These achievements, driven by the hard work of farmers and the ‘double-engine' govt's initiatives, have restored UP's pride as the food basket of the nation," the CM said. He added that UP was also a leader in cattle rearing, with over 12 lakh stray cows being cared for in govt shelters. Natural farming is being practised on over 1.15 lakh hectare in UP, particularly along the banks of the Ganga in 27 districts and all seven districts of Bundelkhand. Under the PM Kusum Yojana, the state provided solar panels to one lakh farmers. Electricity dues for private tube-wells of over 14 lakh farmers were waived, while loans worth Rs 36,000 crore for 86 lakh farmers were waived in 2017. Initiatives like the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi ensured direct financial support to 12 crore farmers nationwide, including 2.62 crore farmers in UP. The CM spoke about Shyam Bihari Gupta, chairman of the gau seva commission, who was promoting natural farming, which saves farmers Rs 12,000–15,000 per acre. If all 1.61 crore hectare of cultivated land in UP were converted to natural farming, the economic benefits would run into lakhs of crores of rupees, the CM said. The CM also gave examples of some successful farmers from UP, mentioning a farmer from Bijnor who earns an annual net profit of Rs 1 crore from just 10 acre of land. UP farmers have set a national benchmark by producing an extraordinary 860 quintal of sugarcane per acre. He also spoke about a farmer who cultivates peppermint, processes it, and has achieved export earnings of Rs 200 crore. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Regions Financial Corp. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsNvidia’s stock dips after China opens probe of the AI chip company for violating anti-monopoly laws
Ottawa police seeking suspect in Mooney's Bay area shootingDusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. Arkansas
CHICAGO (AP) — As Donald Trump’s Cabinet begins to take shape, those on both sides of the abortion debate are watching closely for clues about how his picks might affect reproductive rights policy in the president-elect’s second term . Trump’s cabinet picks offer a preview of how his administration could handle abortion after he repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue on the campaign trail. He attempted to distance himself from anti-abortion allies by deferring to states on abortion policy, even while boasting about nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down the constitutional protections for abortion that had stood for half a century. In an NBC News interview that aired Sunday, Trump said he doesn't plan to restrict medication abortion but also seemed to leave the door open, saying “things change.” “Things do change, but I don't think it's going to change at all,” he said. The early lineup of his new administration , including nominations to lead health agencies, the Justice Department and event the Department of Veterans Affairs, has garnered mixed — but generally positive — reactions from anti-abortion groups. Abortion law experts said Trump's decision to include fewer candidates with deep ties to the anti-abortion movement could indicate that abortion will not be a priority for Trump's administration. “It almost seems to suggest that President Trump might be focusing his administration in other directions," said Greer Donley, an associate law professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Karen Stone, vice president of public policy at Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said while many of the nominees have “extensive records against reproductive health care,” some do not. She cautioned against making assumptions based on Trump's initial cabinet selections. Still, many abortion rights groups are wary, in part because many of the nominees hold strong anti-abortion views even if they do not have direct ties to anti-abortion activists. They're concerned that an administration filled with top-level officials who are personally opposed to abortion could take steps to restrict access to the procedure and funding. After Trump’s ambiguity about abortion during his campaign, "there’s still a lot we don’t know about what policy is going to look like," said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law. That approach may be revealed as the staffs within key departments are announced. Trump announced he would nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, which anti-abortion forces have long targeted as central to curtailing abortion rights nationwide. Yet Kennedy shifted on the issue during his own presidential campaign. In campaign videos, Kennedy said he supports abortion access until viability , which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks, although there is no defined timeframe. But he also said “every abortion is a tragedy” and argued for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a stance he quickly walked back. The head of Health and Human Services oversees Title X funding for a host of family planning services and has sweeping authority over agencies that directly affect abortion access, including the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The role is especially vital amid legal battles over a federal law known as EMTALA, which President Joe Biden’s administration has argued requires emergency abortion access nationwide, and FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All, called Kennedy an “unfit, unqualified extremist who cannot be trusted to protect the health, safety and reproductive freedom of American families.” His potential nomination also has caused waves in the anti-abortion movement. Former Vice President Mike Pence , a staunch abortion opponent, urged the Senate to reject Kennedy’s nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the group had its own concerns about Kennedy. “There’s no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary," she said. Fox News correspondent Marty Makary is Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, which plays a critical role in access to medication abortion and contraception. Abortion rights groups have accused him of sharing misinformation about abortion on air. Russell Vought , a staunch anti-abortion conservative, has been nominated for director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought was a key architect of Project 2025 , a right-wing blueprint for running the federal government. Among other actions to limit reproductive rights, it calls for eliminating access to medication abortion nationwide, cutting Medicaid funding for abortion and restricting access to contraceptive care, especially long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUD’s. Despite distancing himself from the conservative manifesto on the campaign trail, Trump is stocking his administration with people who played central roles in developing Project 2025. Trump acknowledged that drafters of the report would be part of his incoming administration during the Sunday interview with NBC News, saying “Many of those things I happen to agree with.” “These cabinet appointments all confirm that Project 2025 was in fact the blueprint all along, and the alarm we saw about it was warranted,” said Amy Williams Navarro, director of government relations for Reproductive Freedom for All. Dr. Mehmet Oz , Trump’s choice to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a former television talk show host who has been accused of hawking dubious medical treatments and products. He voiced contradictory abortion views during his failed Senate run in 2022. Oz has described himself as “strongly pro-life, praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade , claimed “life starts at conception” and referred to abortion as “murder.” But he also has echoed Trump’s states-rights approach, arguing the federal government should not be involved in abortion decisions. “I want women, doctors, local political leaders, letting the democracy that’s always allowed our nation to thrive to put the best ideas forward so states can decide for themselves,” he said during a Senate debate two years ago. An array of reproductive rights groups opposed his Senate run. As CMS administrator, Oz would be in a key position to determine Medicaid coverage for family planning services and investigate potential EMTALA violations. As Florida’s attorney general, Pam Bondi defended abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period. Now she’s Trump’s choice for attorney general . Her nomination is being celebrated by abortion opponents but denounced by abortion rights groups concerned she may revive the Comstock Act , an anti-vice law passed by Congress in 1873 that, among other things, bans mailing of medication or instruments used in abortion. An anti-abortion and anti-vaccine former Florida congressman, David Weldon, has been chosen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which collects and monitors abortion data across the country. Former Republican congressman Doug Collins is Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid a political battle over abortion access and funding for troops and veterans. Collins voted consistently to restrict funding and access to abortion and celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. “This is a team that the pro-life movement can work with," said Kristin Hawkins, president of the national anti-abortion organization Students for Life. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.Oregon already secured its spot in the Big Ten championship game, but the top-ranked Ducks have plenty to play for in their regular-season finale. Revenge may be on Oregon's mind when the Ducks host longtime rival Washington on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. Oregon (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) would perhaps be closing in on its second straight College Football Playoff appearance had the Huskies (6-5, 4-4) not dealt the Ducks their only two losses last season. Washington edged Oregon 36-33 in Seattle last October, then slipped past the Ducks 34-31 in the Pac-12 title game to secure a playoff spot for the second time in school history. Both teams joined the Big Ten in August. Third-year Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is 33-5 leading the Ducks. But he remains winless against the Huskies (0-3). Oregon plots to sprint out of its late-season bye after using time to heal injuries, but Lanning doesn't believe the break should stall the flow of an undefeated season. "It's always about what we're able to do on the field. Motivation is overrated," Lanning said. "Our guys have to want to go out there and execute at a really high level. Since the beginning of the season we've talked about playing our best football at the end of November. We're there. This is our opportunity to go play our best football against a good team." The Ducks could have star wide receiver Tez Johnson back from a shoulder injury this week. Johnson has missed the past two games. That would be good news for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who would regain the team's leader in receptions (64), receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (eight). Washington, under first-year head coach Jedd Fisch, is 63-48-5 all-time against Oregon but is just 1-12-1 when facing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. The Huskies are led on offense by running back Jonah Coleman, who has racked up 1,008 yards and nine scores on the ground this season. Coleman averages 5.8 yards per carry and has 36 runs of at least 10 yards. In the passing game, wide receiver Denzel Boston is tied for the Big Ten lead with nine in touchdown catches and ranks sixth in the conference with 764 receiving yards. Whom Boston will be catching passes from is not yet known, however. Washington has not revealed whether Will Rogers or Demond Williams Jr. will start at quarterback. Rogers has started every game for the Huskies but was benched in favor of Williams two weeks ago after throwing a pair of interceptions in a 31-19 win over UCLA. Fisch said he has a "good idea" of how he will use his quarterbacks on Saturday, and while he wouldn't go as far as to name a starter, he did say Rogers responded well in practices last week. "On the same token, Demond's energy and Demond's confidence showed up. His ability to jump right in and feel really good about leading the group whenever it was his turn... he did a really nice job there as well," Fisch told Seattle Sports. "I think both guys responded well to the week of practice, and now, really, it's important for us that the guy we believe will start the game gets a significant amount of reps in practice week. But as you know, we're not afraid to play two quarterbacks." --Field Level Media
