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Stock market update: Nifty Pharma index 0.4% in an upbeat marketSaskatchewan’s auditor says the province needs to do a better job tracking and enforcing rules on non-Canadians purchasing farmland. Tara Clemett made the recommendation Tuesday in her latest report and said ensuring farmland is Canadian-owned helps keep prices low. “Having foreign entities buying Saskatchewan farmland does increase the risk that we don’t have Saskatchewan and Canadian residents that own that farmland, and it could be making prices higher than they should be,” Clemett said. Saskatchewan law allows foreign ownership of less than four hectares of farmland, though non-Canadian companies can apply for exemptions should they want more land. Clemett’s report says there have been cases where the Farmland Security Board, which regulates farmland sales, did not request proof of residency for purchases made by out-of-province corporations. Clemett said 140 exemptions have been granted over the last five years and many of the larger exemptions were given to European companies. “The board needs to enhance its processes,” she said. “I can’t say the extent (of the problem), but I would like to see them definitely enhance their processes so that they would have a better comfort to say, ‘We’re doing all we should to make sure we’re addressing (this).’” Clemett’s report determined the security board didn’t request proof of residency for nine of 18 purchases made by companies not registered in Saskatchewan. It also found the board doesn’t have mechanisms to impose fines or penalties for companies that don’t provide such documentation. It recommends the board request proof of residency, review purchases in a timely manner and have protocols in place to levy fines or penalties. Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison told the assembly he welcomes the auditor’s recommendations. “There is always more room for improvement and the board will continue to focus on process improvement,” he said. “As indicated in the report, the audit did not find any confirmed instances of unauthorized foreign ownership.” The report states that since 2020, the board has five times ordered the sale of farmland that was inappropriately purchased by foreign entities. It adds there may be more cases of farmland purchased by non-Canadians that the board hasn’t addressed. Clemett’s report also examined other issues, from repairing social housing to fire dispatch. On social housing in Regina, it says 364 units were in need of repair and an additional 534 were vacant. It says 404 applicants were on a wait list. The empty units cost the province $1.2 million per year, Clemett said. “They need to probably repair those housing units or they need to look at repurposing them,” she said. She added the province could also look at moving renters from two-bedroom units to single-bedroom ones if they no longer need the larger spaces. Clemett’s report also covered procuring hotel rooms for social services clients. Earlier this year, the conflict-of-interest commissioner determined former Saskatchewan Party government backbencher Gary Grewal breached rules when his hotels did business with the province. The Opposition NDP raised the issue last year, when it found one of Grewal’s hotels raised rates for a social services client after the ministry started paying her bill. Clemett’s report didn’t look at conflict issues, saying the commissioner is responsible for that work. But it says the province didn’t consider best value when procuring appropriate hotel rooms. “Social services needs to publicly disclose payments made to vendors like hotels on behalf of its clients to increase transparency,” Clemett said. The province has since changed how it procures hotels. It gets quotes from three hotels and directs social services clients to the most cost-effective one while considering safety and circumstances. On fire emergencies, the report says for the most part it took more than 90 seconds for such calls to be taken and dispatched. Clemett said good practice is 60 seconds. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 3, 2024.

Local nonprofits that have gift shops often count on the gift-giving season to raise a little extra funding for their charitable or educational programs. From museums to art galleries, nature centers to native American cultural centers, nonprofits offer a variety of items that make worthy stocking stuffers and packages wrapped in colorful paper, ribbons and bows. There’s the usual array of coffee mugs and baseball caps emblazoned with the name or logo of the nonprofit, but also plush toys, ornaments, books, T-shirts and hoodies. There’s also the option of paid memberships to a recipient’s favorite museum, cultural institution or outdoor center – ideal for slipping inside a stocking or tucking inside the branches of a Christmas tree. This year, Hannukah begins on the same day as Christmas, Dec. 25, making the gift-buying season that much more intense. In some cases, the gift shops are open for last-minute shoppers, but for most of them, the online versions of their stores are the best bet, provided orders are placed now for timely delivery. There are numerous gift shops across the region. If you have a favorite charity, museum, library or other cultural organization, check out their respective websites to see if they offer specialized merchandise. They make thoughtful gifts for both your loved ones as well as for the nonprofits themselves. Here’s a sampling of just some of the gifts available from nonprofits in the area. Carousel Museum thecarouselmuseum.org/giftshop 95 Riverside Ave., Bristol From the website: Your purchase helps us to preserve the history and beauty of carousels for future generations. As a token of our appreciation, we’re offering free shipping on all orders. Items include a spiral bound journal featuring images of carousel animals, an oval necklace, dog bandanas and hoodies, a 10- ounce tumbler, a Bushnell Park Carousel tripod lamp, flip flops and tote bags, to name a few. Mattatuck Museum mattmuseum.org 144 Main St., Waterbury (For GPS, search for 26 Park Place) The gift shop includes an enamel mug featuring the outline of the state, cork screws and bottle openers fashioned from vintage golf clubs, a frame to make your own pressed flowers, and books on the history of the city in general, the Irish in Waterbury, trolleys in the Brass City, and the history of beer in Connecticut by The Beer Snob, Will Siss. (The best access to the gift shop online appears to be through Instagram; search for mattatuck_museum.) American Mural Project americanmuralproject.org/store 90 Whiting St., Winsted The store that supports the largest indoor collaborative mural in the world includes hoodies, T-shirts, hats, caps, post cards and stickers. A sample of one of the post cards is shown above. At left, one of the three designs of hooded sweatshirts that are available, with the acronym for the American Mural Project, AMP, used in the text. White Memorial Foundation 80 Whitehall Road, Litchfield whitememorialcc.org/gift-shop (extra clicks are required to reach the gift shop items) The gift shop at Litchfield’s White Memorial Foundation has a variety of items for nature lovers, from guide books, wool caps, T-shirts, water bottles, hats, mugs, tumblers, stickers and maps, many with the White Memorial insignia. There also several options for gift memberships available as stocking stuffers. It also has a Christmas ornament featuring one of the winged residents of the 4,000-acre preserve. Gunn Memorial Museum gunnlibrary.org/gunn-museum/museum-support/shop 5 Wykeham Road, Washington, Conn. Items include a handsome hardcover coffee-table book on the country houses in Washington, Conn., designed by architect Ehrick K. Rossiter at the turn of the 20th century. From the website: The museum has a variety of merchandise related to the history of Washington, Connecticut for sale. Items can be purchased at the museum or online below. Items can be shipped by mail for an additional shipping fee. Email museum @gunnlibrary.org if you need assistance. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk muzemerch.com/partner/maritime-aquarium 10 N. Water St., Norwalk. The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk is offering harbor seal adoption kits now through Dec. 31. The symbolic adoption kits include one 10-inch harbor seal plush toy, a certificate of adoption, a fact sheet about harbor seals and two tickets to the Aquarium’s 4D theater. “A harbor seal adoption kit ... will not only will it bring joy to the children in your life, it will help us advance conservation efforts in Long Island Sound, provide educational experiences to people of all ages and care for our resident animals – including harbor seals Sono, Gracie, Feisty, Leila, and Rasal,” said chief strategy and growth officer Danielle Tranzillo. This limited edition toy can be purchased online for $99. It can be delivered by mail or picked up at the aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk. Allow 10-14 business days for delivery and 2-3 business days for on-site pick up. For more information on how to symbolically adopt a harbor seal, visit maritimeaquarium.org/holiday-guide. New England Railroad Museum dynamicticketsolutions.com/rmne/store 242 E. Main St., Thomaston In a unique partnership with the well-known toy train maker Lionel, the Railroad Museum of New England is offering a boxcar emplazoned with the logo of the old Naugatuck Railroad. (The O gauge car is $85, while the HO gauge is $44.) Other rolling stock is also offere as gifts through the museum’s online store are Atlas engines from the Central Maine and New Haven railroads, a Main Central snowplow, and a plush pillow of a New Haven FL9 locomotive. Institute for American Indian Studies Holiday Market on Saturday and Sunday 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Conn. 860-868-0518 The Institute for American Indian Studies will host a one-of a-kind holiday shopping experience that celebrates Native American culture. The institute’s Holiday Market offers both deeply traditional crafts and more contemporary artistic expressions rooted in Native American culture. The Holiday Market takes place this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are many gifts to choose from, including Native American jewelry, paintings, photography, apparel, and candles, decorative gourds, pottery, rattles and flutes at a variety of prices. The chance to talk with the artists who have created these one-of-a-kind objects and to learn about the culture that inspired them makes gift purchases even more meaningful. If you are shopping for pottery and decorative items check out Primitive Technologies that showcase wood fired pottery, decorative masks, and unique jewelry, Jeanne Morningstar Kent (Nulhegan Ban, Coosuk-Abenaki) who creates tribal art on gourds, and Eva Newell, a multi-talented artist who offers a range of artwork from beadwork to paintings. For music lovers, Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe) is offering handmade Native American flutes as well as paintings and crafts. Shoran Piper, the Clan Mother of the Golden Paugussett Tribal Nation, is offering a variety of items from lotions and herbs to beaded jewelry and dream catchers. Keith Rood (Metis) will be selling a selection of leather bags as well as fans, pottery and stone blade knives. Eddie Cuevas of Taino Trinkets will has an array of handmade items, while Native Visions will be have a selection of contemporary and traditional original paintings, limited edition prints, kachinas and Zuni fetishes created by Native American artists and craftsmen from the Plains and Southwest. Some vendors may not be present on certain days, so call ahead for details, 860-868-0518. Also, there may be additional vendors that are not listed here. The museum’s gift shop has a distinctive collection of Native American jewelry, including wampum jewelry crafted by area Indigenous artists as well as silver and turquoise jewelry from the Southwest. For foodies, there is a selection of traditional Native American food products from Sweet Grass Trading Co., from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and others. The gift shop also has a good selection of books and children’s items. Entrance to the Holiday Market is free but donations are welcome. A tour of the museum is available for a nominal fee while visiting the Holiday Market.NoneWin tickets to the Australian Open 2025 with New BalanceNicklaus: Longtime analyst in St. Louis is retiring, but not fading away

(The Center Square) – The Illinois House speaker’s executive assistant has reported to the witness stand at former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s corruption trial. Mika Baugher has worked for Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, since 2021. Baugher was Madigan’s executive assistant from 2017-2021. Madigan had been speaker for all but two years from 1983 to 2021. Baugher previously worked in the speaker’s office from 2001 to2010 and returned in 2013. U.S. government attorney Julia Schwartz introduced pages of Madigan’s schedules over a period of years, which included meetings and dinners with Madigan’s codefendant Michael McClain. The schedules also included meetings with Reyes Kurson law partner Victor Reyes, Madigan campaign worker Ed Moody, state Reps. Eddie Acevedo, D-Chicago, and Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others. AT&T Associate Director of Technology Jack Randall, who oversees wireless records for the company, took the stand Tuesday afternoon after former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis finished his testimony. Randall discussed AT&T’s wireless network with a focus on the years 2017 and 2018. Randall explained that any given call might not go through the network’s nearest processing center. Randall reviewed and verified six calls that had been presented as government exhibits. Prosecutors played several recordings of McClain Tuesday, including conversations with former Madigan chief of staff Tim Mapes. In a call with state Rep. Bob Rita, D-Blue Island, McClain warned Rita about emails related to a gaming bill. McClain advised Rita not to put things in print and said, “The feds are gonna look at it.” Government attorney Sarah Streicher then played a series of calls related to gaming legislation. In one recording, McClain said he was a “Madigan’s agent” and that he was “guiding Rita.” Earlier Tuesday, McClain defense attorney John Mitchell resumed his cross-examination of Solis. After Mitchell asked Solis about his city pension of “approximately $100,000” per year, Solis said it was important to him as a government cooperator to keep his pension. Solis said he understood that his truthful cooperation could lead to the dismissal of his remaining bribery charge and thereby allow him to keep his pension. When asked by Mitchell, Solis affirmed that he was a well-respected alderman and Latino leader in Chicago. At times during Mitchell’s cross-examination of Solis, McClain had his elbows on the table in front of him with his head lowered against his clasped hands. Mitchell referred to a videotaped meeting at Solis’ City Hall office on Dec. 18, 2017, when Solis and McClain discussed the proposed development of state-owned land in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. During the conversation, Solis mentioned developers Eddie Ni and Ray Chin and then-Speaker Madigan. “Eddie and Ray, have always been, well, not Eddie, ‘cause he’s recently maybe the last five years, but Ray, for the 22 years I’ve been here, he’s always been a strong supporter. Listens to my advice and everything. And so, in the past, I have been able to steer some work to Mike. And these guys will do the same thing. And then, so I’m hoping whatever happens in this 2019, 2018 election that this is gonna go through,” Solis told McClain. The Chinatown project faced opposition from then-Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn, who served under Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. In undercover video former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis captured for federal investigators on Dec. 18, 2017, Solis meets with Michael McClain, codefendant in the corruption case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. During the meeting with Solis, McClain expressed optimism that the project might still go through. McClain also offered a “dual path,” with Democrat J.B. Pritzker projected to defeat Rauner in the gubernatorial election the following year. “Instead of just keeping it quiet, if that’s what we think is happening, then we wanna get inside the Pritzker group. So in 2019, the Pritzker IDOT will say, “OK,” McClain told Solis. After Mitchell finished, government attorney Diane MacArthur asked for a sidebar discussion, which led to an early lunch break at Judge John Robert Blakey’s direction. MacArthur introduced a recording of a phone call from Oct. 10, 2014, before Solis began cooperating with the government in 2016. During the call, Madigan asked Solis for an introduction to developer Michael Chivini of The Pizzuti Companies. Madigan attorney Dan Collins asked Solis if, in cooperation with the government, he was investigating conduct or people. Solis said he thought he was investigating crimes. When Collins asked if he was asked to develop evidence against Madigan, Solis said, “I’m not sure how to answer that.” Collins pressed Solis about one of his visits to a massage parlor, which Solis said he did at the government’s instruction. MacArthur objected and called for a sidebar. Shortly after, Judge Blakey told Solis he could step down. In undercover video former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis captured for federal investigators on Dec. 18, 2017, Solis meets with Michael McClain, codefendant in the corruption case against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. The jury was not seated until 9:59 a.m. Tuesday, after Blakey met with prosecutors and defense attorneys over “legal matters.” The judge called for an early lunch shortly after 11 a.m., again due to “legal matters” that involved attorneys resolving several issues. Blakey allowed prosecutors to address Solis’ cooperation in other investigations, including the corruption trial of former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke. The judge, however, instructed government attorneys not to use Burke’s name during redirect testimony. Prosecutors agreed to defense attorneys’ request that Burke be referred to as a “high-ranking official” instead of a “high-ranking alderman.” Madigan’s defense team had earlier objected to potential testimony from AT&T's Randall. McClain’s defense team joined the objection, but attorneys from all sides resolved the issues before the jury returned from lunch. Connie Mixon, professor of Political Science and director of the Urban Studies Program at Elmhurst University, told The Center Square that government attorneys have a lot of material. “They have many counts. They’re hoping that at least some of those counts are going to stick, and (they) usually have built a solid foundation upon which to make their case,” Mixon explained. Madigan and McClain are charged with 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct in connection with a scheme that federal prosecutors referred to as "Madigan Enterprise." Prosecutors allege that ComEd and AT&T Illinois gave out no-work or little-work jobs and contract work to those loyal to Madigan to get legislation passed that would benefit them in Springfield. Four ComEd executives and lobbyists were convicted last year in a related trial, and ComEd itself agreed to pay $200 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors. Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021. He was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. Madigan also chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois from 1998 to 2021. McClain was a longtime lobbyist who previously served as a state representative in Illinois’ 48th district from 1973 to 1982. The trial is scheduled to resume Wednesday at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago.

The New York Yankees have agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million dollar contract -- the largest ever for a left-handed hurler, MLB.com reported Tuesday. The reported deal would be the fourth-largest for any pitcher, a list led by the Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-year, $700 million contract with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. Fried would join right-hander Gerrit Cole in a formidable Yankees rotation. He had an 11-10 record with the Atlanta Braves last season with a 3.25 earned run average in 29 starts. Fried gave up 146 hits and 57 walks with 166 strikeouts for the Braves and tied the Major League Baseball lead with two complete games. The Yankees' reported signing of Fried comes after the club missed out on Dominican superstar Juan Soto, who entered free agency after playing for the Yankees last year but is reportedly headed to the New York Mets on a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal. bb/js © Agence France-PressePackers' improving run defense ready for challenge against NFC North-leading Lions

YOURSAY | ‘There is no need to keep wanting to study things further.’ Scams: PM supports UK model for banks to refund fraud victims LimeHorse5802: I fully support the notion of holding banks legally responsible for refunding victims of scams in full. Scam statistics over the last 10 months reveal no signs of abating, despite the enactment of laws penalising individuals who voluntarily serve as “mules.” These measures address symptoms rather than the root cause of the problem. It is high time to compel banks to take their responsibilities seriously. A balanced approach might involve splitting the financial burden of scam-related losses equally between the victim’s bank and the bank holding the “mule” account. This division would create stronger incentives for both institutions to act proactively. Here are some of the systemic issues that need urgent attention: 1. Customer protection as a shared responsibility. Today, banks hide behind the narrative that “customers should protect their money themselves.” This attitude removes any motivation for banks to invest in state-of-the-art heuristic systems capable of instantaneously flagging transactions with a high fraud propensity. Shockingly, some banks have outrightly admitted that their core banking systems are not designed for fraud detection and prevention. This excuse undermines the trust customers place in banks as custodians of their hard-earned money. 2. Investing in subpar fraud detection systems. When banks do invest in fraud prevention, they often purchase outdated rule-based systems that fail to incorporate advanced machine learning algorithms. These systems struggle to adapt to evolving scam patterns and frequently generate high levels of “false positives” (flagging legitimate transactions as fraudulent) and “false negatives” (failing to detect actual fraudulent transactions). This not only creates inefficiencies but also frustrates customers who face unwarranted disruptions while performing legitimate transactions. 3. Ineffective Identification of mule accounts . Banks primarily rely on rudimentary “know your customer” (KYC) processes to screen individuals before allowing them to open accounts. While this may prevent individuals with prior records as “mules” from opening new accounts, it does little to identify mule accounts through transactional patterns and behavioural anomalies. Many banks justify this inaction by citing costs and the limitations of their systems. As a result, individuals with no prior history of serving as mules can still open and operate accounts for illicit purposes. 4. Reputational risk is a weak deterrent and is often overstated. Despite numerous fraud and scam incidents globally, many banks continue to thrive by rebuilding their image through attractive interest rates, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and other public relations efforts. This underscores the need for stricter regulatory measures, as market forces alone do not sufficiently deter banks from laxity in fraud prevention. If Malaysia is serious about eliminating financial scams, regulators must take a firm stance to ensure the banking sector aligns with global best practices. This includes mandating investments in advanced fraud detection systems, enforcing stricter accountability for losses, and requiring the proactive identification of mule accounts through transactional monitoring and behavioural analysis. Only then will we see meaningful progress in combating this pervasive issue. FitnessPro: The banks will never agree. In Malaysia, it will always be the rakyat who will be the victim and who has to bear the losses. The big bosses, the big powerhouses who own millions and billions do not have to compensate the small fries like us the rakyat. From there, the politicians always stand on the side of those with money. The rakyat has to bear it when the prices of goods and services increase. They are the ones who suffer from victimisation and losses. It has been like this all this while. Would it be any different moving forward? I wish and wish you would prove me wrong. GraySalmon8323: Something as simple as Malaysian residents, whether Malaysians or foreigners are allowed to lend their name to mule accounts with no consequences. It says plenty for Malaysian law enforcement. An ex-prime minister who scammed the Treasury has been given a partial pardon. Many others have done the same and are living the high life - they scammed the taxpayers and the Treasury through decades of rent-seeking aka corruption with collusion with senior civil servants. Now someone is setting their sights on the banks! With the expected collusion between big-time scammers and “victims”, the real victims may well turn out to be banks! Nada Villa: (There is) No need to keep wanting to study things further. Scams have been going on for so long and yet government committees still need to study it further. What further “ lawatan sambil belajar ” (study trips) are needed? Bank Negara and the Securities Commission have enough data and comparative solutions to make the banks comply. All that is left now is political will. Hmmm: If you want to be serious, you need to increase the penalty for mule account holders. At present, they only receive a paltry fine of a few hundred ringgit if found guilty. The scammers can easily pay for them. The authorities should increase the fine and also include imprisonment. These mule accounts must be closed, and they are not allowed to open another account at any bank either permanently or for at least a set number of years. Similarly, telco number owners whose phone numbers have been used to scam people. With these, I believe many cases can be stopped until the scammers find a different modus operandi. Fair Play: A possibility? The banking system that we know today could be changed totally soon. Customers will be king again. With gold or asset-backed currencies of all nations of the world in the pipeline, inflation (excessive money printing of fiat paper money) could be a thing of the past. BlueCougar1744: The banks, telcos and many other institutions are liable as most of the data and information of individuals are breached, and many phone users constantly receive calls from unknown parties portraying that they are from the banks, the police, Inland Revenue Board and others to scam victims. Address these issues first! punchie101: Would like to see the first scammer caught, jailed and caned. They are very cunning. All transactions are via WhatsApp but never reveal their voice, face or address. If you want to avoid being conned, agree to part with your money In front of a lawyer. Ask the scammer to meet you at the lawyer’s office. He will never surface! P Ramlee: Cane the mules first before you force the banks to refund. Right now, the mules are happily making quick money without being appropriately penalised. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact. Please join the Malaysiakini WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news and views that matter.

On paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nroGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Defending the run has been one of the Green Bay Packers’ weaknesses over the last several years. Not so much lately, though. Green Bay limited San Francisco to 16 carries for 44 yards in a of the 49ers on Nov. 24, with two-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey gaining 31 yards on 11 attempts. Four nights later, the by holding the Dolphins to 39 yards on 14 carries. It was the first time since 1995 — and only the second time since 1950 — that the Packers had allowed fewer than 45 yards rushing in back-to-back games within the same season. “I think we’re playing harder and harder each week,” first-year defensive coordinator said. “And that’s how you play good defense.” That defense needs to be at its best Thursday as the Packers (9-3) close a stretch of three games in 12 days by visiting the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (12-1), who have the NFL’s highest-scoring offense thanks in part to a rushing attack featuring the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs and the physical David Montgomery. “Gibbs is a great running back,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “I really think the offense really starts with him, honestly. He can do everything — receive, in-and-out runner, can do stretch, duo plays. We’ve got to have all hands on deck with Gibbs. And then Montgomery, he’s a great complement to him. He can do everything, also.” The Lions were the first team since the 1975 Miami Dolphins to rush for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of their first 11 games. The streak ended on Thanksgiving when the Lions rushed for 194 yards but didn’t have a touchdown on the ground in a over the Chicago Bears. Green Bay outrushed Detroit 138-124 in the to the Lions on Nov. 3 at Lambeau Field. Montgomery rushed for 73 yards while Gibbs ran for 65 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs has 973 yards this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Montgomery ran for a combined 192 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ two games against the Packers last season. Green Bay’s run defense has come a long way since. The Packers have allowed 106.6 yards rushing per game this season, which ranks eighth in the league. The Packers haven’t closed a season in the top 10 in run defense since 2016 and have finished outside the top 20 in four of the last six years, including 26th in 2022 and 28th in 2023. “I think Haf’s doing a good job of mixing up the fronts and some of the coverages, but really it’s ultimately about tackling, swarming, getting many hats to the football,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And our guys have really embraced that style of play.” The Packers are yielding 4.2 yards per carry to rank seventh in the league after finishing 22nd or worst in that category each of the last three seasons. They haven’t closed a season ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per carry since 2017. Hafley says the improvement starts up front. “The interior part of our D-line has done such a good job these last few games,” Hafley said. “They really have. They’re hard to block. They’re staying in their gaps. They’re tearing off of blocks, and it’s the same thing with those defensive ends. They’re setting edges, they’re forcing the ball back inside, they’re getting off blocks and then we’re tackling and we’re running to the ball and there’s multiple people to the ball. “And when you turn on our tape right now and when you freeze it, you see that. You see a lot of guys around the football. And then you’re not afraid, right? Like if I have an open-field tackle and I know eight other guys are coming, I’m going to take my shot because I know if I miss, it’s going to be, ‘Bang, bang, bang,’ we’ve got three or four other guys there, and we’re starting to play faster.” Green Bay’s defense has the Lions’ attention. “They’ve been playing well,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “I mean, they have, really, all season, and nothing has changed.” ___ AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, on Tuesday called on President Joe Biden to pardon some "working-class Americans" after drawing criticism for pardoning his own son, Hunter Biden. "During his final weeks in office, President Biden should exercise the high level of compassion he has consistently demonstrated throughout his life, including toward his son, and pardon on a case-by-case basis the working-class Americans in the federal prison system whose lives have been ruined by unjustly aggressive prosecutions for nonviolent offenses," Jeffries said in a statement. Biden, who leaves office on Jan. 20, for months had said he would not pardon his son, who was found guilty of lying about being addicted to illegal drugs while buying a gun and pleaded guilty to criminal charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. The sweeping pardon also applied to any other crimes "he committed or may have committed" between Jan. 1, 2014 and Dec. 1, 2024. The president said he believed his son had been made the target of a politically motivated prosecution. Republicans including President-elect Donald Trump blasted the move, as did some Democrats who said it eroded trust in the judicial system. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter, additional reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Scott Malone and Caitlin Webber)WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Trump transition team said it can begin submitting names of officials and nominees for background checks and security clearances after it signed an agreement with the Justice Department. The FBI plays a key role in the transition from one administration to the next, conducting background checks and processing security clearances for intended nominees and the transition officials, known as landing teams, who go into agencies before the inauguration to get ready. "Ultimately, this will afford the transition process additional insights, and it facilitates our agency landing teams gaining access to the information they need to prepare for leadership of the federal agencies and departments," the transition team said in a statement. The transition team missed an Oct. 1 deadline to sign an agreement with the White House to provide for landing teams to begin meeting with departments and agencies. It ultimately signed that agreement on Nov. 26. But team members need security clearances to gain access to classified information. The delays in signing the memoranda of understanding had raised concerns that the Trump team would bypass FBI background checks that have long been a requirement for Senate confirmations. President-elect Donald Trump hasn't been shy about his distrust of the Justice Department and the FBI. He's already announced his pick for FBI director , indicating he plans to fire the current head. The transition team opted against signing a third agreement with the General Services Administration (GSA) that would provide funding, office space and technology. That agreement would have required an ethics agreement. Instead, the Trump team said it would use "an existing ethics plan" for its team, and agreed to post it on the GSA website . Copyright 2024 NPR

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