the magical ocean

the magical ocean Top Canadian Stocks to Generate Passive Income in 2025DXC Technology Co. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsEast Carolina wins 71-64 over Stetson

Anne-Mette Elkjær Andersen Joins Tannenbaum Helpern as Partner in the Firm's Corporate Practice Group

Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordELKO — Elko senior Roxy Keim played her way back to a 1st-Team All-State selection. As a sophomore, Keim nailed down the League MVP and a 1st-Team All-State position as an outside hitter. For her junior year, Keim transferred to Elko — earning 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North honors. In her final season of prep volleyball, she once again resumed 1st-Team All-League, 1st-Team All-North and 1st-Team All-State selections for the Lady Indians. Elko's Roxy Keim climbs for a putaway against South Tahoe on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Centennial Gymnasium. Keim was named a 1st-Team All-State outside hitter for the Lady Indians. Keim led Elko, ranked third in the league and finished 13th in the state with 165 kills. Defensively, she placed 15th in the conference with 123 digs. At the net, Keim tied for 20th in the league with 20 blocks. Keim also added 13 aces and 10 assists. She guided the Lady Indians to back-to-back regional championships, Elko finishing the year with an 18-12 overall record and a 6-4 mark in league play. Elko received the No. 3 seed from the East, went on the road and defeated West No. 2 South Tahoe in five sets in the regional quarterfinal. The Lady Indians avenged a pair of regular-season losses by sweeps in the 3A North semifinal, punching their ticket to the state tournament with a three-set sweep of No. 1 Spring Creek. In the regional championship, Elko claimed the 3A North title for the second straight year with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Fernley. At state, the North No. 1 Lady Indians were eliminated in the semifinal for the second-consecutive time after falling in four frames against South No. 2 Moapa Valley. In her second season at the helm of the program, Spring Creek’s Arrayana Edwards was named the 3A North-East Coach of the Year. She led the Lady Spartans to the No. 1 seed from the 3A North-East, Spring Creek finishing the season with a 14-11 overall record and an 8-2 mark in league play. Spring Creek's Arrayana Edwards was named the Division 3A North-East Coach of the Year. "Eddie" led the Lady Spartans to the No. 1 seed from the 3A North-East, Spring Creek finishing the season with a 14-11 overall record and an 8-2 mark in league play. In the 3A North quarterfinal, Spring Creek swept West No. 1 Hug in straight sets. Spring Creek fell in straight frames against East No. 3 Elko with a trip to state on the line in the regional semifinal. For her senior season, Spring Creek’s Brynlee Petersen — who was an honorable mention for the league awards as a junior while splitting duties at setter — moved to the outside and was a force as a hitter for the Lady Spartans. Petersen posted 1st-Team All-League, 1st-Team All-North and 2nd-Team All-State selections as a utility player. Spring Creek's Brynlee Petersen rises for a kill against Hug on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Spring Creek. Petersen earned 1st-Team All-League, 1st-Team All-North and 2nd-Team All-State selections as a utility player for the Lady Spartans. She led Spring Creek and was eighth in the league with 112 putaways. On defense, Petersen dug up 163 shots — finishing 11th in the conference — and blocked five balls. As a setter, she assisted 19 kills. Behind the service line, Petersen chalked up 13 aces. A pair of local athletes earned 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North selections, one from Elko and another for Spring Creek. Brakkin Larsen Elko senior Brakkin Larsen — who earned 1st-Team All-North and 2nd-Team All-State selections as a junior — was named a 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North middle blocker for the Lady Indians. Block she did. Larsen led the league and ranked seventh in the state with 48 rejections. Elko's Brakkin Larsen blocks a Moapa Valley shot on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at Sunrise Mountain High School, in Las Vegas. Larsen was a 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North middle blocker. Offensively, she killed 110 shots — finishing ninth in the conference. Larsen also turned in 13 digs, five aces and five assists. Paige Luzier At libero, Spring Creek senior Paige Luzier led the way for the Lady Spartans with 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North selections as a defensive specialist after closing with a 2nd-Team All-League nod as a junior. Luzier topped the roster, was sixth in the league and 16th in the state with 201 digs. Spring Creek's Paige Luzier makes a pass against Hug on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Spring Creek. She was named a 1st-Team All-League and 2nd-Team All-North defensive specialist. She was also a weapon behind the service line, tying for 18th in the conference with 21 aces. With 32 assists, Luzier finished 15th in the league. She also added six putaways. Of the 2nd-Team All-League selections, one hailed from Spring Creek — the other calling Elko home. Avery Merrill After an honorable mention for the league awards as a sophomore, Spring Creek’s Avery Merrill took her game to new heights as a junior. At setter, she ranked third in the league and ninth in the state with 263 assists. Spring Creek's Avery Merrill sets to a teammate against Fallon on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Spring Creek. Merrill was a 2nd-Team All-League selection at setter. Behind the service line, Merrill also topped the team with 29 aces — finishing 11th in the conference. Her 138 digs were second on the roster and 13th in the league, she tied for 16th in the conference with 14 blocks and she placed 19th in the conference with 58 kills. Addison Seipp As a junior, Elko’s Addison Seipp was an honorable mention for the league awards. But, she continued her upward rise in her senior season — earning a 2nd-Team All-League selection as a middle blocker. Elko's Addison Seipp rises for a kill against South Tahoe on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Centennial Gymnasium. Seipp was a 2nd-Team All-League middle blocker. Paired with Larsen in the center, Seipp was second on the roster and rounded out the top-10 in league with 23 blocks. Seipp put away 64 shots and finished 16th in the conference. She also served 10 aces, dug up 30 shots and assisted five kills. Elko Spring Creek Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports Editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.

Great Basin Children's Advocacy Center marks first anniversaryBy JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press HOUSTON (AP) — 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. 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, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually 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. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that 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 that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “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 that 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 that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt 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, who is 74 years old, 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. Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70

OMAHA — Creighton did it again. In an in-state women’s college basketball series with Nebraska largely dictated by what happens beyond the 3-point arc, the Jays rallied with six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to beat No. 21 Nebraska 80-74 on Friday at Sokol Arena. At one point in the fourth quarter, the Jays made four straight 3-pointers. The Jays were 6 for 9 on threes in the fourth quarter and 13 for 29 for the game to give Nebraska its first loss to the season. The Jays outscored Nebraska by 24 points on 3-pointers. Creighton has won three straight in the series. Lauren Jensen had a game-high 31 points for the Jays with four 3s. Morgan Maly, a senior from Crete, scored 18. Alexis Markowski worked really hard for Nebraska, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds and calling for the ball inside where she often had an advantage. Britt Prince added 20 points in the first game against her hometown school. Nebraska led 55-52 to start the fourth quarter. For the final 10 minutes, one of the questions was how much did Markowski have left? And also, could the Huskers defend the 3-point line just a little longer? The Jays made two of their first three 3-point attempts to start the quarter to regain a 60-57 lead. Molly Mogensen had the first one, and Jensen the second for her fourth of the game. When Mogensen made another three the Jays led 72-66. The Jays sealed the deal when Prince missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left and the Jays made their free throws. Nebraska led 22-19 after the first quarter. It was an entertaining start. The game started with Markowski going at Maly inside the paint, the Nebraska natives who played in the same club in Lincoln. There were five combined 3-pointers, with three for the Jays and two for Nebraska (each from Prince). Creighton used a 13-2 run that included three 3-pointers to take a 15-8 lead. But Nebraska got back in it with a steal and layup from Allison Weidner and a take to the basket from Callin Hake. Creighton added two more 3-pointers in the second quarter, but Nebraska was able to keep a lead at halftime 37-35.WASHINGTON—A “Grand Bargain” from major center-left and center-right think tanks that proposed common-ground solutions to the country’s pressing issues was met with approval but some criticism from Biden economic advisers who reviewed it at an event on Dec. 3. “I very much agree with the tax system critiques,” Bernstein said onstage at the Brookings Institution on Dec. 3. The report “Toward a Potential Grand Bargain for the Nation” calls for taxation to be tilted toward a more progressive direction, advocating an inheritance tax system and, as one of two options, a value-added tax for most households in place of income taxes. Bernstein was concerned about the absence of discussion of money for the Internal Revenue Service in the report. “Funding the IRS should be an absolute, required part of any Grand Bargain,” the White House official said. Bernstein also departed from the report on industrial policy, which was popular with elements of the Biden and Trump administrations. The Grand Bargain characterized industrial policy as interventionist, stating that it often amounted to circumstances in which “the government picks winners and losers.” “The train has left the station on that, given the extent of money in politics and the depth of lobbying. The federal government will not stop picking winners and losers,” Bernstein said. He also said the lack of discussion on housing in the report was “such an acute shortfall.” Additionally, the absence of anyone closely tied to the incoming Trump administration underscores this challenge. “This report touts itself as a bipartisan effort. I’ve read through the names in the report. I don’t see anyone in there who I could see being even potentially hired by the Trump administration,” said Jeff Stein, The Washington Post reporter moderating the talk. The White House’s Bernstein was joined by Ben Harris, an economist who worked for Joe Biden during his vice presidency and presidency, when Harris was assistant secretary of the Treasury for economic policy. Harris echoed Bernstein on what he described as an urgent need for more IRS funding. Some report contributors who spoke, including William Hoagland of the Bipartisan Policy Center, stressed that the Grand Bargain wasn’t designed with political feasibility front of mind, at least in the short term. “Politically, we’re in a bad place,” said Brookings’s Isabel Sawhill, who noted that interest payments on the debt now exceed defense spending—an inauspicious first in the nation’s history. The Trump administration will come into power with Republicans controlling the House and Senate. While the GOP has historically called into question the financial viability of Social Security, which consumes one-fifth of the federal budget, Trump campaigned on ending taxes on Social Security benefits. “Neither candidate has presented plans to fix Social Security’s finances,” the committee wrote.

Top Trump, Biden, and Harris Advisers Spill the Tea on 2024Genetic testing helps B.C. hereditary cancer survivor break the cycleNASA Awards Operations, Services, Maintenance, and Infrastructure ContractStoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United States

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It's now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.

NEW YORK , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tannenbaum Helpern is pleased to announce that Anne-Mette Elkjær Andersen has joined the Firm as partner in the Firm's Corporate practice. Anne-Mette is a highly qualified corporate attorney focusing on cross border and U.S. mergers and acquisitions, international business transactions, and corporate transactions and corporate compliance for engineering & architecture firms. Her decades of experience include advising clients on strategic purchases and sales in many sectors, including engineering, architecture, and other licensed professional design professions; defense; software; renewable energy; oil and gas; technology; retail and manufacturing; service; aviation; and shipping and rail, among others. Anne-Mette comes to Tannenbaum Helpern from the New York office of Holland & Knight, where she counseled clients on international M&A, financing and securities, performed regulatory and licensing work for professional design corporations, and assisted startup and emerging growth companies enter the U.S. market. Her clients include U.S. and foreign established privately and publicly held corporations and emerging companies on stock and asset sales, joint ventures, and SPAC matters, among others. Her experience also includes advising foreign bank clients on loan and financing agreements involving U.S.-based subsidiaries of foreign clients. Anne-Mette's primary experience is with private strategic buyers and sellers, and she also has experience in public and private securities offerings and initial public offerings (IPOs), including simultaneous offerings both in the U.S. and internationally. Anne-Mette began her career in Denmark as a lawyer with the Danish Ministry of Justice. She also spent four years with the Danish law firm Reumert & Partners (now Kromann Reumert), primarily in the areas of general corporate law, M&A and insolvency law. While practicing in Denmark , Anne-Mette represented, among others, U.S., Canadian, and Danish corporations in M&A transactions and other corporate matters. Managing Partner Andrew W. Singer commented, "Anne-Mette will expand our Corporate and M&A practices, facilitate increased opportunities for our clients and increase our ability to pursue new client relationships, especially in overseas markets and the professional design professions. Welcome, Anne-Mette!" "Anne-Mette is a welcome addition to Tannenbaum Helpern . Her capabilities and international reach add to our existing platform and relationships, both in the U.S. and globally," said Drew Jaglom , Chair of Tannenbaum Helpern's Corporate practice. Regarding her arrival, Anne-Mette added, "It's my privilege to join Tannenbaum Helpern . I'm excited to be a part of such a talented team of attorneys, and a Firm that is focused on the future!" About Tannenbaum Helpern Since 1978, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP has combined a powerful mix of insight, creativity, industry knowledge, legal talent and experience to successfully guide clients through periods of challenge and opportunity. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality legal services in a practical and efficient manner and to provide the judgment, common sense and legal acumen of well trained, business minded lawyers, all within a culture that fosters an inclusive and respectful workplace. Through our commitment to exceptional service and driven by a focus on results, Tannenbaum Helpern continues to earn the loyalty of our clients and a reputation for excellence. For more information, visit www.thsh.com . Jennifer Papantonio Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer papantonio@thsh.com 212.702.3147 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anne-mette-elkjaer-andersen-joins-tannenbaum-helpern-as-partner-in-the-firms-corporate-practice-group-302320136.html SOURCE Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLPLiverpool's lead cut in Premier League and Man City ends slump. Chelsea and Arsenal win

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender people under age 18. At least 26 states have adopted laws restricting or banning such care for minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. The nation's top court will be weighing whether Tennessee's law violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, requiring that people in similar circumstances be treated the same under the law. Both sides in the case claim they are acting to protect minors from harm. Gender-affirming care is supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. Here's a look at what's typically involved: Evaluation and diagnosis happen first Young people who persistently identify as a gender that differs from their sex assigned at birth are often referred to clinics where teams from various medical specialties provide gender-affirming care. Such care begins with an evaluation, which can include a pediatrician and a mental health specialist who assess the degree of distress, if any, the young person is experiencing. Those who meet defined criteria may be diagnosed with what's called gender dysphoria if their distress is continuous and significant. Some young people and their families may decide to try a social transition involving a new hairstyle, clothing, name or pronouns. Experts agree that allowing children to express their gender in a way that matches their identity is beneficial. Chazzie Grosshandler, 18, of Chicago, said she was 9 years old when she told her parents she was a girl and "not just a boy who likes girly things." She started receiving care two years later. "The first-ever step of gender-affirming care for me was when I told my parents that I was a girl and that I had felt this way for a long time and that they accepted me," she said. "I think people get really confused when they hear the word 'care' that it has to be something medical. But the truth is that it's more than just medical. It's love and acceptance." Puberty blockers can be a next step A subset of young people may be offered additional interventions such as puberty blockers to ease distress and give them time to explore their gender identity. The drugs, known as GnRH agonists, block the release of key hormones involved in sexual maturation. They've been used for decades to treat precocious puberty, an uncommon medical condition that causes puberty to begin abnormally early. The medication starts after a young person show early signs of puberty - enlargement of breasts or testicles. This typically occurs around age 8 to 13 for those assigned female at birth and a year or two later for those assigned male at birth. The drugs can be given as injections every few months or as arm implants lasting up to a year or two. Many of the effects are reversible - puberty and sexual development resume as soon as the drugs are stopped. Researchers are exploring the effects of puberty blockers on bone development, but no research has shown an increased risk for bone fractures. Young people can stay on puberty blockers for several years. Some transgender youth may take hormones After puberty blockers, trans adolescents go through puberty either with or without hormone treatment. Some may choose to take hormones to make their bodies more closely match their gender identity. They take manufactured versions of either estrogen or testosterone - hormones that prompt sexual development in puberty. Estrogen comes in skin patches and pills. Testosterone is available in injections, implants or gels. Guidelines recommend starting these when teens are mature enough to make informed medical decisions. Many transgender people take the hormones for life. If the medication is stopped, some physical changes remain. Testosterone generally leads to permanent voice-lowering, facial hair and development of the Adam's apple. Estrogen can lead to permanent breast development. Research on long-term hormone use in transgender adults has found potential health risks including a modest risk for blood clots with estrogen and negative cholesterol changes with testosterone. Surgery is rare Gender-affirming surgery in transgender teens is far less common than hormone treatment. When it is done among transgender youth, it's almost always breast reduction surgery in older transgender males. Even so, that type of surgery is extremely rare. Perhaps surprisingly, breast reduction among minors is most frequently performed in males who are not transgender. This is for a condition called gynecomastia, which means having more breast tissue than usual. A study looking at millions of 2019 insurance claims found 151 breast reductions performed for U.S. minors. Nearly all - 97% - were not transgender. Hormones and well-being Research suggests that transgender youth are prone to stress, depression and suicidal thoughts. Some studies suggest treatment for gender dysphoria can improve young people's well-being, but some nuances remain unclear. In one study, researchers spent two years testing and tracking 315 transgender youth who received hormone therapy. Depression and anxiety symptoms eased and life satisfaction increased among those designated female at birth, but not among those designated male at birth. The researchers speculated that the youth designated male at birth might be more affected by stress from being different from most of their peers. In the same study, published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine, two participants died by suicide - one after six months and the other after a year. Longer term studies on treatment outcomes are underway.Trump names billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain

Stoli vodka files for bankruptcy in the United States“My twin sister Nicola got sick when she was 24 years old. It was determined that she had stomach cancer and passed away two months to the day she was diagnosed.” Natasha Benn lost her sister to a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer in 1993. Before Nicola, her mother had passed away from the same cancer when Benn was two. So did her grandmother, aunt, and great-grandfather. “My dad always thought it might be some kind of hereditary component to the type of cancer that my mom had, but it was never confirmed at the time,” Benn said. Shortly after Nicola's death, a gastroenterologist strongly suggested that Benn undergo surgery to remove her stomach, given the close genetic link between the twins. Nine months later, the young woman decided to go forward with full gastrostomy, unbeknownst to her if she was carrying the same ailment. Grieving the loss of her sister and uncertain if she had made the right decision, Benn received news six years later confirming her choice had been the correct one. After performing a biopsy on the young woman’s stomach, pathologists discovered traces of cancer in the organ’s lining - something that could not have been detected even with an endoscopy. Little did they know, the Benns, along with another family from Detroit, were part of a groundbreaking discovery that transformed the lives of countless families. For the first time in history, researchers identified a genetic mutation in Natasha’s stomach which they named CDH1. This mutation was found to carry an 83 per cent risk of developing stomach cancer and 60 per cent likelihood of lobular breast cancer. Thanks to the technological advances and research, organizations like BC Cancer can find this mutation through risk-free, non-evasive, and efficient ways. A simple sample of saliva, or blood, can be all that’s needed to determine if one carries the rogue gene. “Genetic testing can be helpful in clarifying whether or not you have an increased risk [of cancer] and then determining what's available in terms of screening and prevention for those specific types of cancer,” said Jennifer Nuk, leader in genetic counsellor for the BC Cancer Hereditary Cancer Program. For decades, identifying hereditary cancer solely relied on analyzing one’s family history, without having certainty if members were carriers of the ailment, explained Nuk. In the early days of genetic testing, means were limited, costly, and slow. Today, however, researchers can examine more genes than ever before with greater efficiency, at a higher rate, for a fraction of what it once cost. “We've had families that were seen years ago where it looks like there was something going on in the family... and we didn't find anything,” said Nuk. “Now we go back to test that same family [and] we're actually picking up mutations because the technology has improved so much.” Though many remain to be studied, Nuk and her team can now detect rogue genes causing numerous cancers including ovarian, breast, and colon. The lead geneticist added that the services offered by the program are twofold; genetic testing to identify individuals carrying mutated genes, and the provision of personalized care plans for those at increased cancer risk. “If we can figure out someone's at higher risk... we have a much better chance of offering better outcomes for the patient,” she said. People are provided with comprehensive information and a range of options, allowing them to make informed decisions about their next steps. As prevention is key to combating cancer, Nuk and her team will discuss and propose to their patients appropriate screening options, such as mammograms or MRIs, as well as preventative measures like vaccines and surgeries suited to their respective conditions. In turn, Nuk added that if one treatment can be given over another more invasive one, this will ultimately result in a better quality of life for individuals and benefit the overall health-care system. Since its inception in 1997, the prevention program has not only saved thousands of lives but also reduced health-care costs for taxpayers, freed up time and resources for other cancer patients, and alleviated the burden on B.C.'s hospitals. Benn and her sisters benefited from this very program. “My older sister did have the gene and decided to go through with the surgery and had her stomach removed,” she said. “[It] was riddled with cancer and she's still living today.” Her other sister, luckily, tested negative for the CDH1 mutation. Benn herself, facing a significant breast cancer risk from possessing the gene, opted for a preventative mastectomy. Reflecting on her journey, the self-proclaimed “cancer avoider” acknowledges the challenges she faced, including the grief of losing her sister and the uncertainty that followed her surgery. However, she strongly recommends the importance of prioritizing preventative care. “To have that knowledge and to be willing to [use it] is so important,” said Benn. “I know a lot of people avoid going to the doctor, especially when you might be feeling completely healthy, but you don't know what else is happening in your body. “Having a screening place that you can go to determine if you have a history of any kind of illness that you can prevent it in advance, why wouldn't you go?”Ottawa Senators get back to work with pivotal homestand looming

Baijiayun Announces Up To $15 Million Convertible Promissory Notes And $50 Million Standby Equity Purchase Agreement

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, leads fan balloting for the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games after one week of voting, the league announced on Monday. Ravens superstar Jackson set the overall pace with 44,681 votes followed by teammate Derrick Henry, the running back leader, in second overall at 40,729 votes. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was third overall at 40,602, only 127 votes behind Henry in the rusher's race, with Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen fourth overall on 36,574 and Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs fifth on 35,637. The Detroit Lions lead all clubs in total votes received, followed by the Ravens, the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL's revamped all-star event will be staged in Orlando, Florida, for the second consecutive year. In all, 88 players will gather on February 2 in skills competitions and a flag football showdown with coaches Peyton and Eli Manning. While other vote totals were not revealed, Washington rookie Jayden Daniels was the top NFC quarterback in the fan voting and top receivers were Minnesota's Justin Jefferson in the NFC and Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase in the AFC. NFL fans can vote as often as they wish through December 23 with selections decided by a consensus of ballots by players, coaches and fans with each group counting for one-third of every player's final total. NFL players and coaches will cast votes on December 27. js/rcw

Falcons QB Cousins is looking to avoid interceptions, have bounce-back game in Minnesota homecoming