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HOUSTON — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. RELATED: What we know about the company representing itself as Enron Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work and wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. RELATED: What we can VERIFY about Enron’s return to the internet On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory claiming all birds are actually government surveillance drones. Peters said she and some other former employees are upset and think the relaunch was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, 74, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. But Sherron Watkins, Enron’s former vice president of corporate development and the main whistleblower who helped uncover the scandal, said she didn’t have a problem with the joke because comedy “usually helps us focus on an uncomfortable historical event that we’d rather ignore.” “I think we use prior scandals to try to teach new generations what can go wrong with big companies,” said Watkins, who still speaks at colleges and conferences about the Enron scandal.Washington, D.C., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RAINN , the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, today announced it has been selected as a winner of the 2024 Amazon Web Services (AWS) IMAGINE Grant , a public grant opportunity open to registered charities in the United Kingdom and Ireland and registered 501(c) nonprofit organizations in the United States who are using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. The grant will support RAINN’s efforts to expedite access to trauma-informed support for sexual violence survivors of all ages, delivering critical interventions where people already communicate. Now in its seventh year, the AWS IMAGINE Grant provides vital resources to nonprofit organizations looking to deploy cloud technology as a central tool to achieve mission goals. As part of the program, AWS seeks proposals for big ideas on how to leverage cloud technology in new and innovative ways to accelerate impact in local and global communities. RAINN was named a winner in the Pathfinder – Generative AI category, which recognizes highly innovative, mission-critical projects that leverage generative AI. RAINN will receive up to $200,000 in unrestricted funding, up to $100,000 in AWS Promotional Credits, and implementation support from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center . Proposals were judged on several factors including the innovative and unique nature of the project, impact on mission-critical goals, and clearly defined outcomes and milestones. RAINN will use AWS generative AI services to integrate RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline and additional support mediums for survivors directly into social media, gaming, and social networking sites. Through this integration, RAINN aims to expedite access to trauma-informed support for sexual violence survivors of all ages, delivering critical interventions where people already communicate. “RAINN is honored to be a 2024-2025 Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Pathfinder recipient,” said Bill Bondurant , Chief Technology Officer for RAINN. “AWS enables RAINN support specialists to connect with survivors, especially those from vulnerable populations, where they are already communicating and may be most comfortable accessing support. Reaching out for help is already difficult, and removing barriers to accessing crisis support for survivors is a critical component of RAINN’s mission. Together, utilizing AWS services, we will help more survivors and work towards creating a world free from sexual violence.” "At AWS, we're inspired by the nonprofit sector's unwavering commitment to preserving the dignity and health of people and our planet," said Allyson Fryhoff, managing director of nonprofit and nonprofit health at AWS. "Our Imagine Grant winners are pioneering groundbreaking, technology-driven approaches that will amplify their mission impact and build a more equitable and compassionate world. We are thrilled to work alongside these organizations, helping them leverage the transformative capabilities of the AWS Cloud to bring these projects to life.” Since the launch of the IMAGINE Grant program in 2018, AWS has awarded over $14M in unrestricted funds, AWS Promotional Credits, and expert technical guidance to over 130 nonprofit organizations in support of their technology-driven goals. Previous winners are currently using AWS services to tackle critical challenges such as eliminating barriers to food security , improving maternal health outcomes , helping millions access clean and safe drinking water globally, tackling rare disease research, and more. Over 85,000 nonprofit organizations worldwide use AWS to increase their impact and advance mission goals. Through multiple programs tailored specifically to the nonprofit community, AWS enables nonprofits of all sizes to overcome barriers to technology adoption, while enhancing the scale, performance, and capabilities of mission operations. For more information on the AWS IMAGINE Grant, visit https://aws.amazon.com/government-education/nonprofits/aws-imagine-grant-program/ ### About RAINN RAINN , the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, help organizations improve their sexual assault prevention and response programs, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, free, confidential help is available 24/7 by calling 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visiting hotline.RAINN.org . Contact: Erinn Robinson Director of Media Relations media@rainn.org Erinn Robinon Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) 8133351418 ErinnR@rainn.orgMan United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'fb 777 slots 。

Disability ministers will ‘champion’ inclusion and accessibility, says TimmsTelix Files TLX250-CDx (Zircaix®) BLA for Kidney Cancer ImagingBARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards marched in downtown Barcelona on Saturday to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living" and “The people without homes uphold their rights.” The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States . Organizers said that over 170,000 had turned out, while Barcelona’s police said they estimated some 22,000 marched. Either way, the throngs of people clogging the streets recalled the massive separatist rallies at the height of the previous decade’s Catalan independence movement. Now, social concerns led by housing have displaced political crusades. That is because the average rent for Spain has doubled in last 10 years. The price per square meter has risen from 7.2 euros ($7.5) in 2014 to 13 euros this year, according to the popular online real estate website Idealista. The growth is even more acute in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Incomes meanwhile have failed to keep up, especially for younger people in a country with chronically high unemployment. Protester Samuel Saintot said he is “frustrated and scared” after being told by the owners of the apartment he has rented for the past 15 years in Barcelona’s city center that he must vacate the premises. He suspects that the owners want him out so they can renovate it and boost the price. “Even looking in a 20- or 30-kilometer radius outside town, I can’t even find anything within the price range I can afford,” he told The Associated Press. “And I consider myself a very fortunate person, because I earn a decent salary. And even in my case, I may be forced to leave town.” A report by the Bank of Spain indicates that nearly 40% of Spaniards who rent dedicate an average of 40% of their income to paying rents and utilities, compared to the European Union average of 27% of renters who do so. “We are talking about a housing emergency. It means people having many difficulties both in accessing and staying in their homes,” said Ignasi Martí, professor for Esade business school and head of its Dignified Housing Observatory. The rise in rents is causing significant pain in Spain, where traditionally people seek to own their homes. Rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Many migrants to Spain are also disproportionately hit by the high rents because they often do not have enough savings. Spain is near the bottom end of OECD countries with under 2% of all housing available being public housing for rent. The OECD average is 7%. Spain is far behind France, with 14%, Britain with 16%, and the Netherlands with 34%. “I think it’s impossible to make prices fall to what they were a few years back. It makes me cry,” said protester Laia Pizjuán. “It's so upsetting. I know so many people who are in a bad situation. I have relatives living together in crowded apartments because they can’t afford to live on their own.” Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for Barcelona’s Tenants Union which helped organize the protest, said that renters should consider a “rent strike” and cease paying their monthly rents in a mass protest movement. “I think we the tenants have understood that this depends on us. That we can’t keep asking and making demands to the authorities and waiting for an answer. We must take the reins of the situation,” Arcarazo told the AP. “So, if they (the owners) won’t lower the rent, then we will force them to do it." The Barcelona protest came a month after tens of thousands rallied against high rents in Madrid. The rising discontent over housing is putting pressure on Spain’s governing Socialist party, which leads a coalition on the national level and is in charge of Catalonia’s regional government and Barcelona’s city hall. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presided over what the government termed a “housing summit” including government officials and real estate developers last month. But the Barcelona’s Tenants Union boycotted the event, saying it was like calling a summit for curing cancer and inviting tobacco companies to participate. The leading government measure has been a rent cap mechanism that the central government has offered to regional authorities based on a price index established by the housing ministry. Rent controls can be applied to areas deemed to be “highly stressed” by high rental prices. Catalonia was the first region to apply those caps, which are in place in downtown Barcelona. Many locals blame the million of tourists who visit Barcelona, and the rest of Spain, each year for the high prices. Barcelona’s town hall has pledged to completely eliminate the city’s 10,000 so called “tourist apartments,” or dwellings with permits for short-term rents, by 2028.

Middle East latest: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill more than 50 people, including kidsMcDaniels 4-13 0-0 10, Randle 7-15 8-13 23, Gobert 4-5 2-2 10, A.Edwards 9-21 4-4 28, DiVincenzo 4-8 0-0 11, Minott 0-0 0-0 0, Reid 2-9 0-0 5, Alexander-Walker 1-7 2-2 4, Dillingham 6-10 0-0 14. Totals 37-88 16-21 105. Brown 10-18 2-2 29, Tatum 8-21 5-6 26, Horford 3-10 0-0 8, Holiday 3-10 2-2 9, White 7-12 1-2 19, Hauser 2-7 0-0 5, Tillman 1-2 1-2 3, Pritchard 3-7 1-1 8. Totals 37-87 12-15 107. 3-Point Goals_Minnesota 15-41 (A.Edwards 6-11, DiVincenzo 3-6, Dillingham 2-4, McDaniels 2-6, Randle 1-4, Reid 1-6, Alexander-Walker 0-4), Boston 21-56 (Brown 7-10, Tatum 5-12, White 4-9, Horford 2-9, Hauser 1-5, Pritchard 1-5, Holiday 1-6). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Minnesota 49 (Gobert 20), Boston 40 (White 9). Assists_Minnesota 19 (A.Edwards 7), Boston 25 (White 5). Total Fouls_Minnesota 18, Boston 23. A_19,156 (18,624)

Anas Sarwar may have won politician of the year, but real test lies ahead for Scots Labour2024’s top ASX gas performers

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluence Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLNC) ("Fluence” or the "Company”), a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage, operational services, and asset optimization software, today announced the completion of the previously announced offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2030 (the "Notes”). Fluence also granted the initial purchasers of the Notes an option to purchase, for settlement within a period of 13 days from, and including, the date the Notes are first issued, up to an additional $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes issued on December 12, 2024 include $50.0 million principal amount of Notes issued pursuant to the full exercise by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase additional Notes. The Notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of Fluence, will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears and will mature on June 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. On December 10, 2024, in connection with the pricing of the Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (the "base capped call transactions”) with one or more of the initial purchasers and/or their respective affiliates and/or other financial institutions (the "counterparties”). In addition, on December 11, 2024, in connection with the initial purchasers' exercise of their option to purchase additional Notes, the Company entered into additional capped call transactions (the "additional capped call transactions” and, together with the base capped call transactions, (the "capped call transactions") with the counterparties. The capped call transactions cover, subject to customary adjustments, the number of shares of the Company's Class A common stock that will initially underlie the Notes. The cap price of the capped call transactions represents a premium over the last reported sale price of the Company's Class A common stock on the pricing date of the offering of the Notes. The capped call transactions are generally expected to offset the potential dilution to the Class A common stock and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, with such offset subject to a cap, as the case may be, as a result of any conversion of the Notes. In connection with establishing their initial hedge of these capped call transactions, the Company has been advised that the counterparties (i) may enter into various over-the-counter cash-settled derivative transactions with respect to the Class A common stock and/or purchase the Class A common stock in secondary market transactions concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the Notes; and (ii) may enter into or unwind various over-the-counter derivatives and/or purchase the Class A common stock in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes. These activities could have the effect of increasing or preventing a decline in the price of the Class A common stock concurrently with or following the pricing of the Notes and under certain circumstances, could affect the ability to convert the Notes. In addition, we expect that the counterparties may modify or unwind their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions and/or purchasing or selling the Class A common stock or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes and prior to maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so (x) during any observation period related to a conversion of the Notes or following any redemption or fundamental change repurchase of the Notes, (y) following any other repurchase of the Notes if the Company unwinds a corresponding portion of the capped call transactions in connection with such repurchase and (z) if the Company otherwise unwinds all or a portion of the capped call transactions). The effect, if any, of these transactions and activities on the market price of the Class A common stock or the Notes will depend in part on market conditions and cannot be ascertained at this time, but any of these activities could adversely affect the value of the Class A common stock and the value of the Notes, and potentially the value of the consideration that a noteholder will receive upon the conversion of the Notes and could affect a noteholder's ability to convert the Notes. Fluence used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to fund the cost of entering into the capped call transactions. Fluence intends to transfer the remaining net proceeds of the offering directly to purchase an intercompany subordinated convertible promissory note issued by Fluence Energy, LLC, the proceeds of which Fluence Energy, LLC intends to use for working capital needs, upgrading one of its battery cell production lines from 305 amp hour cells to 530 amp hour cells, and general corporate purposes. The offer and sale of the Notes and any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes have not been, and will not, be registered under the Securities Act or any other securities laws, and the Notes and any such shares cannot be offered or sold except to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the Notes or any shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the Notes or any such shares, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offers of the Notes will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum. About Fluence: Fluence Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLNC) is a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage and optimization software for renewables and storage. The Company's solutions and operational services are helping to create a more resilient grid and unlock the full potential of renewable portfolios. With gigawatts of projects successfully contracted, deployed and under management across nearly 50 markets, the Company is transforming the way we power our world for a more sustainable future. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding the consummation of the offering of the Notes, the consummation of the capped calls transactions, our future results of operations and financial position, operational performance, anticipated growth and business strategy, future revenue recognition and estimated revenues, future capital expenditures and debt service obligations, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding expected growth and demand for our energy storage solutions, services, and digital application offerings, relationships with new and existing customers and suppliers, introduction of new energy storage solutions, services, and digital application offerings and adoption of such offerings by customers, assumptions relating to the Company's tax receivable agreement, expectations relating to backlog, pipeline, and contracted backlog, current expectations relating to legal proceedings, and anticipated impact and benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and related domestic content guidelines on us and our customers as well as any other proposed or recently enacted legislation, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you may identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may,” "will,” "should,” "expects,” "plans,” "anticipates,” "could,” "seeks,” "intends,” "targets,” "projects,” "contemplates,” "grows,” "believes,” "estimates,” "predicts,” "potential”, "commits”, or "continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Among those risks and uncertainties are market conditions and the consummation of the offering of the Notes and the consummation of the capped calls transactions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, our relatively limited operating and revenue history as an independent entity and the nascent clean energy industry; anticipated increasing expenses in the future and our ability to maintain prolonged profitability; fluctuations of our order intake and results of operations across fiscal periods; potential difficulties in maintaining manufacturing capacity and establishing expected mass manufacturing capacity in the future; risks relating to delays, disruptions, and quality control problems in our manufacturing operations; risks relating to quality and quantity of components provided by suppliers; risks relating to our status as a relatively low-volume purchaser as well as from supplier concentration and limited supplier capacity; risks relating to operating as a global company with a global supply chain; changes in the cost and availability of raw materials and underlying components; failure by manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers to use ethical business practices and comply with applicable laws and regulations; significant reduction in pricing or order volume or loss of one or more of our significant customers or their inability to perform under their contracts; risks relating to competition for our offerings and our ability to attract new customers and retain existing customers; ability to maintain and enhance our reputation and brand recognition; ability to effectively manage our recent and future growth and expansion of our business and operations; our growth depends in part on the success of our relationships with third parties; ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel; risks associated with engineering and construction, utility interconnection, commissioning and installation of our energy storage solutions and products, cost overruns, and delays; risks relating to lengthy sales and installation cycle for our energy storage solutions; risks related to defects, errors, vulnerabilities and/or bugs in our products and technology; risks relating to estimation uncertainty related to our product warranties; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; risks related to our current and planned foreign operations; amounts included in our pipeline and contracted backlog may not result in actual revenue or translate into profits; risks related to acquisitions we have made or that we may pursue; events and incidents relating to storage, delivery, installation, operation, maintenance and shutdowns of our products; risks relating to our impacts to our customer relationships due to events and incidents during the project lifecycle of an energy storage solution; actual or threatened health epidemics, pandemics or similar public health threats; ability to obtain financial assurances for our projects; risks relating to whether renewable energy technologies are suitable for widespread adoption or if sufficient demand for our offerings do not develop or takes longer to develop than we anticipate; estimates on size of our total addressable market; barriers arising from current electric utility industry policies and regulations and any subsequent changes; risks relating to the cost of electricity available from alternative sources; macroeconomic uncertainty and market conditions; risk relating to interest rates or a reduction in the availability of tax equity or project debt capital in the global financial markets and corresponding effects on customers' ability to finance energy storage systems and demand for our energy storage solutions; reduction, elimination, or expiration of government incentives or regulations regarding renewable energy; decline in public acceptance of renewable energy, or delay, prevent, or increase in the cost of customer projects; severe weather events; increased attention to ESG matters; restrictions set forth in our current credit agreement and future debt agreements; uncertain ability to raise additional capital to execute on business opportunities; ability to obtain, maintain and enforce proper protection for our intellectual property, including our technology; threat of lawsuits by third parties alleging intellectual property violations; adequate protection for our trademarks and trade names; ability to enforce our intellectual property rights; risks relating to our patent portfolio; ability to effectively protect data integrity of our technology infrastructure and other business systems; use of open-source software; failure to comply with third party license or technology agreements; inability to license rights to use technologies on reasonable terms; risks relating to compromises, interruptions, or shutdowns of our systems; changes in the global trade environment; potential changes in tax laws or regulations; risks relating to environmental, health, and safety laws and potential obligations, liabilities and costs thereunder; failure to comply with data privacy and data security laws, regulations and industry standards; risks relating to potential future legal proceedings, regulatory disputes, and governmental inquiries; risks related to ownership of our Class A common stock; risks related to us being a "controlled company” within the meaning of the NASDAQ rules; risks relating to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws; risks relating to our relationship with our Founders and Continuing Equity Owners; risks relating to conflicts of interest by our officers and directors due to positions with Continuing Equity Owners; risks related to short-seller activists; we depend on distributions from Fluence Energy, LLC to pay our taxes and expenses and Fluence Energy, LLC's ability to make such distributions may be limited or restricted in certain scenarios; risks arising out of the Tax Receivable Agreement; unanticipated changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of tax returns; risks relating to improper and ineffective internal control over reporting to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Act; risks relating to changes in accounting principles or their applicability to us; risks relating to estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies; and the factors described under the headings Part I, Item 1A. "Risk Factors” and Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Many of the important factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. We qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this press release by these cautionary statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as otherwise required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Contacts: Analyst Lexington May, Vice President, Finance & Investor Relations +1 713-909-5629 Email: [email protected] Media Email: [email protected]The United Way Perth-Huron has announced a new living wage, and it has gone up slightly compared to last year. The living wage for this year is $23.05, compared to last year’s $22.75. “Making our communities more livable is an important, ongoing local effort,” said Ryan Erb, executive director of the United Way. “The good news from a business perspective is government policy, such as $10 a day childcare, is helping slow the upward pressure on wages. Unfortunately, food and housing costs continue to be major stressors, and both nutritious food and a safe place to live are fundamental to personal well-being.” Erb continued, adding the wages needs to reflect the needs of workers. “United Way is committed to continuing to have this conversation with employers, helping ensure the economic pressures many people face are eased,” he said. The living wage is determined by the Ontario Living Wage Network. It shows how much a person needs to make per hour to make ends meet in their area. London Top Stories Two displaced in $200,000 house fire Three people in hospital due to collision Sarnia police warning of scams Assault at Santa Claus parade leads to charges United Way’s living wage rises Easton Cowan needs a point Sunday to tie 55-game OHL point streak record CPKC Holiday Train to stop in Southwestern Ontario Sunday night One community still undecided in nuclear waste willingness vote CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger. A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. 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AUBURN — When Central Maine Community College’s criminal justice program began to run out of room, a decision was made to create a stand-alone building to house what can be noisy sessions with students firing blanks, shouting and simulating hostage situations or other scenarios. The Central Maine Community College maintenance crew — Brian Landry, left, Dan Graham and Matthew Walker — built the Public Service Simulation Center at CMMC in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal The school has a maintenance team made up of three CMCC graduates, who were tapped to build what is known as the Public Service Simulation Center. The concrete, sprinkler system, heating and air conditioning and plumbing were contracted out. Everything else was done by the trio. Dan Graham is the facilities director at the school. He graduated from the electrical program in 2002, studied electromechanical engineering and was a foreman with a commercial construction company. Brian Landry graduated in 1997 and is the school’s electrician. Matthew Walker is a 2022 graduate of the carpentry program and is the school’s master carpenter. He was still a student when he began working on the building. “We built an electronics lab after I graduated,” Graham said. “The president of the college at the time hired myself and another former graduate to design the current electronics lab. And then when I graduated, they hired me on to build it.” The school saves a lot of money by doing such projects itself, but it is not focused solely on the bottom line, according to Graham. “An architect gave us basically the structural plans for the building,” he said, “and then basically everything else design wise was done by us.” That means everything from paint color to fixtures, ceiling, lighting and the layout of the rooms. The process allows the school to customize the building to the needs of the program at a fraction of the cost. In this case, it got a $2 million building for $1 million, paid with grant money and capital funds. The trade-off was time. It took twice as long to build, but it includes some unique features and functions. There is a classroom with all types of electronics, including cameras and microphones in the simulation areas so instructors can monitor what is happening live in a control room or play back specific scenes to show students what they did right or wrong. There is also an armory room where all the weapons outfitted with a laser system are locked down. Dan Graham stands in a doorway of the Public Service Simulation Center at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. The room has moveable walls so students or emergency workers in training can simulate dangerous situations. The lighting in the ceiling was created by the team from CMCC to suit the needs of the room and has been copied around campus. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal The back section of the building can be blacked out and has interlocking panels that can be assembled to simulate a house or building that trainees must navigate, fake blood and all. Locker rooms include showers so students can clean up after physical exercises in the grassy area behind the center, which can often include mud. There is also a garage that can be used for simulations that require more space. Walker had the sharpest learning curve of the trio, working one day a week on the building as he attended classes. “I would come in and we’d frame,” he said. “I got a really good part of setting the trusses on the roof, but then, by the time I finished graduating, we still had a lot of the exterior.” So he painted and installed tile in the bathrooms, ceiling tiles and custom ceiling tile lighting. To make it symmetrical, the tiles had to be centered in the room or hallway at an angle, which was challenging, Walker said, but one of his favorite parts of the project. “Putting that at an angle was a real highlight — it’s different,” he said. “You never see anything like that, you know. I mean, when you work in a job like this, and you start to notice those things.” The worst part, Walker said, was insulating the building. “We sheathed it, then we wrapped it in ice and water shield,” he said. “We wrapped it in foam, and then we wrapped it again in sheathing. So, we literally circled this building five times (to comply with codes), just before we could put siding on.” Walker was guided by the more experienced Graham, who acted as foreman and electrician Landry, who worked for 15 years in commercial construction before joining CMCC. For Landry, the toughest part was working alone for the most of the time. “I did all the electrical — if it’s an outlet, light projector on the wall fire alarm system, security system, ethernet cable, speakers, everything,” he said. “Wire up the boilers, wire all the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) equipment.” When Landry was not wiring something, he would help build walls or with anything else that needed be done. The best part, he said, was finally seeing the project completed. Other projects at the campus had to be prioritized, while some had to be put off until the building was completed. Matthew Walter stands outside the armory room used to store StressVest training weapons at the Public Service Simulation Center at Central Maine Community College in Auburn. Walker was a student when he began working on the building. He is now a master carpenter at the school. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal “I kind of like seeing the finished product, especially the amount of time we put into it,” Graham said. “The thing I don’t like about it is how much we lose on the rest of the campus, because there’s a lot of stuff that I walk by and you see nicks in the wall and like, man, I wish I had time to fix that, but I gotta put this fire out first.” All three men said they like to see how people react to the finished product, which is not the only project they have tackled together. “You get a lot more pride in what you do because you see it every day,” Graham said. “You see how people react to it, and that’s kind of my favorite thing in the whole project is watching other people react to the spaces when they go in.” Students use the center about 90% of the time. When school is not in session and on weekends, the facility is used by those in local, state and federal law enforcement for training. In their downtime, the three men have differing interests. Graham said he likes to work on antique cars. “I’ve got a lot of old race cars,” he said. “I like playing sports — basketball. I was national championship in basketball, so I like playing sports. I’m coaching my daughter’s team now.” Landry says one of the reasons he took the job was to be able to spend more time with his family. “Watching my kids grow up,” he said, “and being part of their sports teams. Coaching and being able to see their games, going to practices and just being a dad.” Landry said he also enjoys snowmobiling and a little golf, but mumbled something about getting too old to do some of the things he used to do. Walker, the youngest of the trio, said he loves that he can be the cross-country coach at Bruce M. Whittier Middle School in Poland. “I do a lot of restoring of antique furniture,” he said, “and I have a whole collection of old antique power tools that I’ve restored and hand tools that I’ve restored.” “Working” is a monthly feature highlighting an individual, group or business and focuses on what they do for their job. It is a great way to recognize people for their work or an entire career. If you would like to nominate someone for recognition, send an email to cwheelock@sunjournal.com . Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous

KYIV – Ukraine is reportedly looking to curry favour with the incoming Trump administration by offering concessions on its vast reserves of critical minerals, estimated to be worth up to $11.5 trillion, has revealed. These resources are vital to various high-tech and industrial applications, making them a strategic asset in global supply chains. Ukraine’s mineral wealth includes some of the world’s most sought-after materials, many of which are crucial for industries ranging from electric vehicles (EVs) to aerospace and military technologies. However, the ongoing conflict with Russia has complicated access to these resources, with several major deposits now under Russian control. The strategic importance of these minerals cannot be overstated. Lithium, nickel, and cobalt are at the heart of the EV revolution, while titanium and gallium are indispensable to defence and technology sectors. Ukraine’s uranium reserves also position it as a potential player in global nuclear energy markets. However, the ongoing conflict with Russia has significantly disrupted Ukraine’s ability to capitalise on these resources. Major reserves in regions such as Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk are under Russian control, limiting Kyiv’s access to some of the most valuable deposits. The report suggests that Ukraine’s leadership is attempting to leverage these assets to strengthen its strategic partnerships, particularly with the United States, amidst a shifting global political landscape. Whether these concessions will yield the desired political support remains to be seen. Ukraine’s vast mineral wealth underscores its critical role in global supply chains, particularly as the world transitions to renewable energy and advanced technologies. However, the ongoing geopolitical tensions and competition over these resources highlight the challenges Kyiv faces in fully harnessing its natural potential.Work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move aims to drive “real improvements” for disabled people, whom the ministers will be encouraged to engage with on a regular basis. He told the Commons: “I am very pleased to be able to announce today the appointment of new lead ministers for disability in each Government department, they will represent the interests of disabled people, champion disability inclusion and accessibility within their departments. “I’m going to chair regular meetings with them and will encourage them to engage directly with disabled people and their representative organisations, as they take forward their departmental priorities. “And I look forward to this new group of lead ministers for disability together driving real improvements across Government for disabled people.” This came during an adjournment debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling raised concerns about “floating bus stops”, which have a cycle lane between the stop and the pavement. Intervening, the MP for Torbay, who is registered blind, said: “The Government needs to ban floating bus stops.” Sir Stephen said: “I do think this issue about floating bus stops is an important issue which we need to work across Government to reflect on.” Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who led the debate, had earlier criticised the lack of accessibility for disabled people on trains. The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “Our train network does not have level access, and we heard Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson from the other place make this plea back in the summer, absolutely outrageous what she was put through. “But I was absolutely shocked to find, when I had a presentation of the TransPennine route upgrade, that the rolling stock yet to be commissioned is not going to provide that level access. “It’s absolute nonsense, it’s not even in the design of that procurement, so we must do better than this.”

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Senate Leader Bamidele slams allegations of fight with Akpabio as Fake NewsWork and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said the move aims to drive “real improvements” for disabled people, whom the ministers will be encouraged to engage with on a regular basis. He told the Commons: “I am very pleased to be able to announce today the appointment of new lead ministers for disability in each Government department, they will represent the interests of disabled people, champion disability inclusion and accessibility within their departments. “I’m going to chair regular meetings with them and will encourage them to engage directly with disabled people and their representative organisations, as they take forward their departmental priorities. “And I look forward to this new group of lead ministers for disability together driving real improvements across Government for disabled people.” This came during an adjournment debate on International Day of Persons with Disabilities, where Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling raised concerns about “floating bus stops”, which have a cycle lane between the stop and the pavement. Intervening, the MP for Torbay, who is registered blind, said: “The Government needs to ban floating bus stops.” Sir Stephen said: “I do think this issue about floating bus stops is an important issue which we need to work across Government to reflect on.” Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who led the debate, had earlier criticised the lack of accessibility for disabled people on trains. The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “Our train network does not have level access, and we heard Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson from the other place make this plea back in the summer, absolutely outrageous what she was put through. “But I was absolutely shocked to find, when I had a presentation of the TransPennine route upgrade, that the rolling stock yet to be commissioned is not going to provide that level access. “It’s absolute nonsense, it’s not even in the design of that procurement, so we must do better than this.”CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!