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The ANC has come out in response to the R1.2 billion IT tender awarded to Blue Network Consortium for the provision of Local Area Network (LAN) to Western Cape schools. "The ANC notes with absolute disgust the corrupt actions of the DA-led Western Cape Government regarding the R1.2 billion IT tender awarded to Blue Network Consortium for the provision of Local Area Network (LAN) to schools; further notes that a forensic investigation presented to Parliament's National Assembly by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc. has revealed a web of alleged corruption, collision, maladministration, and abuse of power by officials with the provincial government and the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), with this tender being tainted by widespread irregularities and criminal conduct; acknowledgement that it is absolutely unacceptable that, despite these serious findings, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and its MEC have chosen to turn a blind eye to the corruption uncovered, option to continue honouring this dubious contract, even in the face of clear evidence of wrongdoing," read a statement issued by the ANC. "The DA's National Minister of Communications and Digital... Gerry CupidoUS stocks rose on Monday as small caps rallied near new highs and the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) rose more than 400 points amid a broad sense of optimism over President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary . The Dow increased 0.9% to close at a new record. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) rose 0.3%, despite Nvidia ( NVDA ) sliding over 4%. The Russell 2000 (^ RUT ), up 1.6%, also closed a whisker off a record high. It did notch an intraday high. Stocks kicked off a holiday-shortened week with more of the upbeat mood that lifted the gauges to weekly wins . Markets will shut on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday and close early on Friday. Trump tapped Bessent, viewed as the "investor favorite" pick for Treasury, late Friday evening after a surprisingly drawn-out process that saw candidates' stocks seem to rise and fall by the day . Bessent's nomination has seemed to at least temporarily calm nerves over the president-elect's inflationary agenda, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield ( ^TNX ) dipping back under 4.3%. On the inflationary front, the Fed will get its preferred look at the picture heading into Trump's term with Wednesday's release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index. Economists expect a tick up in "core" PCE, which is closely watched by the central bank. Meanwhile, bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) was in search of a milestone $100,000-per-coin level amid a near-50% surge over the past month. It was back down below $95,000 on Monday, however. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Stocks rose on Monday with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) closing at a fresh record after gaining more than 400 points, or nearly 1%. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.3%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) also gained 0.3%, weighed by shares of Nvidia ( NVDA ) sliding over 4%. Meanwhile small cap stocks also rallied with the Russell 2000 (^ RUT ) gaining as much as 2% during the session to hit record intraday highs. The index closed just shy of its all-time high record. The markets rose on Monday following President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary . Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Kamlani reports: Allurion ( ALUR ) launched a new program to provide patients access to compounded weight-loss drugs Monday after months of pitching its own weight-loss solution — an ingestible balloon — as an alternative for patients who may not want to use the popular injectable GLP-1 drugs. Allurion CEO Shantanu Gaur told Yahoo Finance that, like others, the company continues to see a spillover effect from the unprecedented interest in GLP-1 drugs like Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) Wegovy and Eli Lilly's ( LLY ) Zepbound. It's why the company is now offering copycat products at a fraction of the cost. Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports: Tesla stock ( TSLA ) is down Monday following a strong recent run-up as one Wall Street bank says “animal spirits” have pushed the stock beyond any “fundamental change” at the company. Joseph Spak at UBS noted that Tesla stock has surged around 40% since the election, adding over $350 million to its market cap. While some of President-elect Donald Trump's policy proposals could favor Tesla, there are some policy negatives as well that would hurt fundamentals more than where the theoretical upside has taken the stock. “The rise in Tesla stock is mostly driven by animal spirits/momentum (which has happened multiple times in TSLA’s history),” Spak wrote. Read more here. Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ) sank on Monday to $95,000 after recently jumping to record highs just a stone's throw away from $100,000. The cryptocurrency has been on a steady climb since the Donald Trump's presidential victory earlier this month. On Friday the token inched above $99,600. Year-to-date bitcoin is up about 120%. Cruise line stocks have had an impressive run this year, and there’s still more room for growth, according to Bank of America. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. ( NCLH ) and Carnival Corporation ( CCL ) have climbed more than 30% while Royal Caribbean Cruises ( RCL ) is up over 80% year-to-date. Bank of America raised Norwegian's price target to $29 from $26 and kept a Neutral rating. For Carnival, the firm raised the price target to $28 from $24 and kept a Buy rating, while for Royal Caribbean, analysts raised the price target to $240 from $210 and kept a Neutral rating. “The travel industry is back,” Bank of America analyst Andrew Didora told Yahoo Finance. “It just seems like the core demographic here for cruise [lines], which is typically a bit higher income, they continue to be in a good spot from a discretionary spending perspective.” Cruise-line operators have seen a resurgence in demand as interest rebounded from the pandemic-era, when the restrictions kept fleets docked. Data from Bank of America shows that monthly cruise spending increased 8% in October on a yearly basis. Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares dropped to session lows, sinking more than 3% on Monday. The AI chip heavyweight was the worst performer among the 'Magnificent 7' stocks. Tesla ( TSLA ) shares fell more than 1% while Alphabet ( GOOG , GOOGL ) and Amazon ( AMZN ) rose more than 1%. Nvidia's slide weighed on the Nasdaq, which briefly turned negative by 12:20 p.m. ET. Netflix ( NFLX ) shares also slid 3%, keeping a lid on the tech-heavy index. The Russell 2000 ( ^RUT ) rose more than 2% on Monday to hit its highest level since November 2021. The small cap index has rallied in recent months as the Fed began its interest rate cutting cycle, fueling expectations of less expensive financing. The Russell 2000 is up more than 20% year-to-date, with much of those gains occurring since early August. Two more Wall Street strategists are projecting the bull market in US stocks will roll on in 2025. On Monday, equity strategy teams at Barclays and RBC Capital Markets both issued a year-end target price of 6,600 for the S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) in 2025. The targets suggest a roughly 10.5% gain in the benchmark index over the next twelve months, about in line with the long-term historical average annual return over the past century. "The story the data tells us is that another year of solid economic and earnings growth, some political tailwinds, and some additional relief on inflation (which should keep the S&P 500’s P/E elevated) can keep stocks moving higher in the year ahead," RBC Capital Markets head of US equity strategy Lori Calvasina wrote in a note to clients on Monday. Venu Krishna, head of US equity strategy at Barclays, wrote that with "inflation continuing to normalize, resilient macro, and Big Tech maintaining EPS growth leadership," the S&P 500 should continue its march higher. Read more here. MicroStrategy ( MSTR ) said Monday it purchased another 55,000 worth of bitcoin last week for $5.4 billion as the world's largest cryptocurrency was trading at all-time highs. MicroStrategy stock recovered from a loss of more than 7% in early trading. In a filing with the SEC, MicroStrategy said it spent $5.4 billion to acquire these bitcoin between Nov. 18-24, buying the bitcoin at an average price of $97,862. The company said it used proceeds from convertible notes and share sales to fund the purchase. The application software company, which has become a bitcoin proxy, has been buying tokens since 2020. In recent weeks, it has intensified its purchases as bitcoin has rallied to highs above $99,000 following Donald Trump's presidential win earlier this month. As of Sunday, MicroStrategy held a total of approximately 386,700 bitcoins, acquired for an aggregate purchase price of about $21.9 billion and an average purchase price of approximately $56,761 per bitcoin. Oil dropped to session lows on a report that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah may have been reached. West Texas Intermediate ( CL=F ) sank more than 2% to hover below $70 per barrel, while Brent ( BZ=F ), the international benchmark, traded below $74 per barrel. Axios reported on Monday that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to terms of a ceasefire, citing a senior US official. Earlier, the Israeli ambassador to Washington said in a radio interview on Monday that deal points still need to be finalized but an agreement "can happen within days.” Nvidia ( NVDA ) shares dropped as much as 3% in early trading as the AI chip heavyweight failed to participate in the rest of the market gains. Nvidia shares extended their decline from Friday's session, despite the company beating on quarterly results announced last week. The AI chipmaker has been a leader in the overall markets this year, accounting for roughly 20% of the S&P 500's performance. US stocks rose on Monday as investors await the Fed's preferred measure of inflation this week and after President-elect Donald Trump announced his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI ) led the advance, up roughly 0.7%. The S&P 500 ( ^GSPC ) rose 0.5%, while those the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC ) moved up almost 0.6%. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index will be released this Wednesday, giving investors clues on what the Fed's next move with interest rates may be. The "Magnificent Seven" stocks were mostly higher, with the exception of Nvidia ( NVDA ), down more than 1%, extending its declines Economic data: Dallas Fed manufacturing activity (November) Earnings: Bath & Body Works ( BBWI ), Zoom ( ZM ), Macy's ( M ) (preliminary) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed over the weekend and early this morning: Fed-favored PCE inflation seen as stalling: The week ahead Trump's Treasury choice Bessent says tax cuts are a priority Macy's delays Q3 report on accounting issue, stock falls Tesla's $350B surge driven by hype, not fundamentals: UBS YF columnist Rick Newman: The Republican economy takes off Trump trade muddles inflation outlook in Fed's favorite gauge Nvidia CEO says global cooperation in tech will continue under Trump administration Black Friday Can’t Come Soon Enough for RetailersGophers look to duplicate 2019 upset of Penn State on Saturday

All of Albury's pool plans will be put on hold if councillor Stuart Baker succeeds with his response to the council's or signup to continue reading The water polo stalwart will put a rescission motion to the council's meeting on Monday, December 9 to overturn the November 11 resolution. That 5-4 decision deferred tender preparations for design work on an aquatics hub at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and called for a report into the viability of an array of features as part of a Lavington pool redevelopment. They would include a 10-lane 52-metre heated outdoor pool, deep water pool, water play zone, cafe and various changerooms amid other improvements. Cr Baker had been expected to meeting but with councillors at the Local Government NSW conference. In accordance with the council's code of meeting practice, he has the support of two other councillors, Alice Glachan and Kylie King, to move his motion. If the reversal succeeds, Cr Baker then plans to move "that council defer any planning and decision on aquatics until the outcome of the Lavington Swim Centre is presented to council for decision". He told that his motion would leave the pool situation at a standstill as recently collated feedback about Lavington's swimming hub was compiled for a presentation to councillors in March 2025. "It would mean there's nothing happening on aquatics," Cr Baker said, adding that it meant it was "not back to the status quo" that existed before the November motion. "It's accepting there was a 5-4 vote [on November 11] and there were people concerned by the cost. "I thought a really responsible motion would be to rescind what happened and pause anything until we get the feedback on Lavington." Cr Baker said it would also prompt a halt to any work on the Lavington pool features plan which he described as a "10-course banquet". "Someone wouldn't have to be doing the work to cost all those things," he said. "It's an expense that shouldn't happen and it came from a motion that came out of the blue, unlike last year when the aquatics motion was voted on after extensive public feedback and consultation with stakeholders." Councillor Darren Cameron, a long-time critic of a regional aquatic centre, which he has described as a "chlorinated palace of Versailles" put the which resulted in the November 11 resolution. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementA weekend house fire has left a family displaced and taken the life of a beloved pet. The blaze at 454 Alston Road broke out shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. When the fire broke out in their kitchen, homeowners Ashley Fenton and Dave Stewart were at the movies. A neighbour spotted the flames and called 911, his next call was to Ashley. “We started getting calls on my watch from my neighbour. And we knew that it was strange for them to call us.” Uncertain of the message, Dave ran out of the theatre and drove home. “I just knew something was up. And when I was coming in, like, driving to the house, I heard the sirens stopping. I was like, that's in my area, that's my house!” Sadly, he was right. He called Ashley. She arrived with a family friend to witness the scene. “There were flames were coming out the back windows from the kitchen.” London fire on scene of house fire on Alston Road in London, Ont. on Nov. 24, 2024. (Source: London Fire Department/X) As crews battled the fire, the couple worried about Ashley’s two children. As it turned out, both had left about an hour before the fire broke out. “The kids had both stopped in while we were at the theatre. Max had had a nap on the couch, I mean, they were out of the house. Thank God.” While firefighters were able to contain most damage to the kitchen area, unfortunately, not all family members were able to escape. “They went in instantly looking for them [the family's two cats] and came out with my Rose, and she was safe. But later they came with Reggie, and he wasn't able to make it,” said Dave through tears. “He just turned three,” added Ashley. “Yeah, he was just a baby, but he was awesome. And we're going to miss him very much.” Reggie, A family pet lost in the fire is seen in this undated photo (Source: Ashley Fenton and Dave Stewart) Material damage is estimated at $200,000. It is devastating news for the family – who had rented the home from a family member. “We didn’t have insurance,” confirmed Dave. As firefighters remind the public about the benefits of carrying insurance in case of loss, friends of the couple have set up an online campaign. A fire damaged kitchen lost in a weekend house fire, November 25, 2024 (Sean Irvine/CTV News London) Still, Dave is reluctant to accept help. “I don't intend to like, ask anyone for anything unless we really need it,” Dave stated. The cause has been deemed electrical. In the wake of the blaze, officials are also reminding the public about the dangers of leaving cooking unattended. London Top Stories 'It’s getting dangerous downtown': Rear entrance of London business sprayed with gunfire 'I just knew something was up': London family recounts rushing to their burning home where pet perished Christmas tax break will be 'challenging' for small businesses, says gift shop owner VIDEO | Three of five former junior hockey players in attendance for court proceedings Londoner whose wallet was stolen from their unlocked car serves as cautionary tale Stabbing and robbery being investigated by London police, 3 suspects wanted Fatal crash reported in Huron County Three people in hospital due to collision CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Warren Buffett gives away another US$1.1B, announces plans for distributing $147B fortune after death Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than US$1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Premiers seek 'urgent' meeting with Trudeau before Trump returns to White House Canada's premiers are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers' meeting ahead of the return to office of president-elect Donald Trump. Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. Los Angeles judge postpones hearing on release of Menendez brothers A Los Angeles County judge on Monday postponed a hearing over the possible release of Lyle and Erik Menendez after 35 years in prison for the shotgun murder of their parents, saying he wanted to hear from a new district attorney due to take office on Dec. 3. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Justin Trudeau defends spending record on military amid fresh criticism Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his government's record on supporting national defence, following fresh criticism that Canada is failing to live up to its NATO defence-spending commitments. CEOs demand changes to Liberals' military spending plan The federal government risks jeopardizing the economy unless it meets its NATO military alliance spending obligations within the next five years, says the Business Council of Canada. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 27 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Men 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now 21 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Kids (And They're All From Amazon Canada) Home Our Guide To The Best Stand Mixers In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) Our Guide To The Best Nespresso Machines in Canada in 2024 (And Where to Get Them) Our Guide to the Best Jewellery Boxes You Can Find Online Right Now Gifts 19 Of The Best Tech Gifts Under $100 17 Gifts Your Husband Actually Wants 23 Gifts, Add-Ons, And Stocking Stuffers For Anyone Who Spends A Lot Of Time In Their Car Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals From Anthropologie To Adidas: Here Are The Best Early Black Friday Deals On Clothing And Accessories These Apple Products Are Majorly On Sale On Amazon Canada Right Now, So It Might Be Time To Upgrade Your Tech Black Friday Has Begun On Amazon Canada: Here Are The Best Deals Kitchener Waterloo reviews most collision-prone areas to improve safety Driver warned after police receive complaints about car decked out in Christmas lights in Waterloo Kitchener, Ont. doctor officially claims second Guinness World Record Barrie 'James deceived us,' Slain Collingwood, Ont. woman's family speak ahead of husband's sentencing Novice driver charged with speeding 95km/h over limit on Hwy 11 accused of being impaired Freezing rain, snow in the forecast for Muskoka Windsor 'Active investigation' underway in Windsor Memorial put up on Walker Road after fatal crash Alleged impaired mom found asleep at the wheel with two kids in the backseat Northern Ontario Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog Winter weather advisory in effect for most of northeastern Ont. Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station Sault Ste. Marie Sault suspect charged with punching rideshare driver in the face twice Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog Ottawa FREEZING RAIN WARNING | 1 to 3 mm of freezing rain possible in Ottawa-Gatineau tonight OC Transpo well below punctuality targets on 'less frequent' routes Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont. Toronto Ontario government passes bill to limit bike lanes Toronto mother now facing murder charge in death of four-month old baby 'Embarrassing:' NHL team ditches bus and walks to Scotiabank Arena amid gridlock Montreal Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Teen girls engage in more risky behaviour than boys: Quebec study Man in critical condition after basement fire in Montreal's Saint-Michel neighbourhood Atlantic 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Man charged with unsafe storage of a firearm in Tyson MacDonald homicide: RCMP From cellphones to dentures: Inside Halifax Transit’s lost and found Winnipeg Winnipeg police shoot, kill suspect after officer stabbed in the throat Mounties looking for missing car in connection with suspicious death $4.2M from feds to create Indigenous-led family care centre in Winnipeg Calgary Alberta seeks to 'de-risk' oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory $3.69M Calgary mansion with basketball court for sale in Aspen Woods 'We need an industry': Crowsnest Pass residents voting on support for new coal mine Edmonton 24 arsons in south Edmonton under police investigation Death of worker in Edmonton smokehouse leads to 26 charges against food processing company The story of Alberta's rural long COVID program that never was Regina Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech Regina commits to clearing all 'high priority roads' of snow by Tuesday morning Regina police release images of suspects following early morning armed robbery Saskatoon Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech Saskatoon's second big snowfall in a week won't trigger emergency response: City Two dead after crash on Saskatchewan Highway 4 Vancouver Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Wild weather behind 11-cent surge in Vancouver gas prices, analyst says Canadian border agents seize 246 kilos of cocaine in B.C. Vancouver Island Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Stay Connected

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DULUTH — The boys hockey team from Mankato West High School arrived at the Essentia Duluth Heritage Center early Saturday morning, but they were missing something important for hockey teams — their stick bag. Coach Nate Olsen thought something strange must have happened. Maybe they never made it on the bus or somehow ended up on another team’s bus. The Scarlets had already lost two one-goal games, and they arrived at the Heritage Center for an 8 a.m. game against Anoka to conclude their participation at the annual Holiday Classic tournament. “It’s 7 in the morning, you’re getting the bus unloaded, you have everything there and all of a sudden, when you go to look for the stick bag — there’s no sticks,” Olsen said. The team did their “due diligence,” according to Olsen, but the equipment manager was “adamant” he put the bag on the bus the night before. Officials at the Heritage Center were able to pull up security camera footage to confirm he was correct. “We could see him taking the bag from the locker room and out the door and into the bus,” Olsen said. “Unfortunately, sometime from late yesterday afternoon to early this morning, our stick bag disappeared.” Staying at the downtown Holiday Inn, the Scarlets’ coach bus was parked overnight on West First Street. As they began to suspect theft, they reported the incident to the Duluth Police Department and gave an inventory of what was missing. Duluth police public information officer Mattie Hjelseth confirmed the report and said the investigation remains active. Officers were working to follow any leads, and no further information would be released on Saturday, she said. Officers saw a man walking in the 100 block of East Third Street with a few of the items just before 11 p.m., Hjelseth said in a statement early Sunday morning. The man told officers he found the items behind Chum. He didn’t match the suspect's description but was arrested on an unrelated warrant, Hjelseth said. Police are making arrangements to return the items. Heritage Center Director Jeff Stark put out a call for local help to find the sticks on social media. “We are aware of this theft of property and are assisting the team and law enforcement with trying to locate and recover their stolen sticks,” Stark wrote. “This incident happened while the team bus was parked overnight at their hotel. If you have any information, please contact the Duluth Police Department so we can try and obtain a positive outcome for the Mankato West players and families.” Olsen said he estimated there were 30 to 40 sticks in the bag worth a “rough estimate” of $10,000-$12,000. He said parents are also working with the list to cross-reference what was lost with what is missing, but either way it’s a “big deal,” particularly on the heels of the holiday season. “That’s usually a more expensive month for most families,” Olsen said. “Now try to come up with $6-800 to be ready to practice and play — even if there is a resolution on the back end, that resolution is not going to have cash in people’s pockets by Monday.” The referee scheduled to work the early game Saturday told Olsen he’s been officiating hockey for 37 years and had never seen anything like this, but the veteran coach said they were trying to stay positive. “The dust will settle and we’ll be OK long term,” Olsen said. “It’s just a unique circumstance we’re going to have to fight through and we’ll be better for it, but it’s quite a story — there’s no doubt about it.” This story was updated at 9:44 a.m. Dec. 19, with information about some of the items being recovered. It was originally posted at 8:23 p.m. Dec. 28.BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Aneesah Morrow had 20 points and 18 rebounds as No. 6 LSU rallied to an 83-61 victory over Albany on Sunday. Mikaylah Williams added 18 points, Flau’Jae Johnson had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Tigers (15-0), who tied their second-best start in school history. Morrow had a double-double – 10 points and 10 rebounds – in LSU’s 25-2 game-closing run. Albany missed its last 11 shots, failing to hit a field goal in the game’s final 8:42. Kaci Donovan scored 15 of her team-high 17 points for UAlbany (10-3). Lilly Phillips and Kayla Cooper had 14 each. Albany: The Great Danes, concerned that almost 30 of LSU’s 93.3 points per game came off fast breaks, conceded getting offensive rebounds in favor of quickly dropping back on defense. In the first half when Albany led 38-34 at the break, it had just one offensive rebound, but only allowed seven fast break points. LSU: Against the three best teams the Tigers have faced so far – a one-loss Washington and Stanford and a two-loss Albany – they have trailed at the end of the first quarter and halftime. LSU had six turnovers in its first 12 possessions against Albany followed by the Great Danes hitting their last 5 of 7 field goals in the first quarter for a 25-16 lead. Williams and Morrow produced steals that turned into their assists to Johnson for a pair of fastbreak layups to start a 25-2 run in the game’s final 7:41 that took the Tigers from a 1-point deficit to the 22-point victory. LSU won despite hitting just 1 of its 13 3-point attempts. Albany opens America East Conference play at home on Thursday vs. Vermont. LSU’s SEC opener is Thursday at Arkansas. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Bull Horn’s 8K filing here . About Bull Horn ( Get Free Report ) Bull Horn Holdings Corp. does not have significant operations. It intends to effect a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses in the sports, entertainment, and brand sectors. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is based in Miami Beach, Florida. Featured Articles

Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: Biden to speak on Carter's death President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Carter’s relationship with his wife Rosalynn spanned a near-lifetime Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Grandson Jason Carter says Plains kept his grandparents humble Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” President Biden mourns his predecessor As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Pelosi says Carter’s life ‘was saintly’ in devotion to peace Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” Historical praise from the United Kingdom British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. Commemoration in New York City To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. The Obamas recall Carter's Sunday services In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” A somber announcement The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A Southerner and a man of faith In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.The Gophers football team resembled its fan base in one respect this week. Current players sat down to watch as their predecessors put together highlight after highlight in Minnesota’s 31-26 upset of Penn State in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT The positive plays were plentiful. Tanner Morgan’s three touchdown passes, including a 66-yard catch and run from Rashod Bateman to open the game; Mariano Sori-Marin’s pressure to force a lofted pass on Antoine Winfield’s second interception of the game; Tyler Johnson’s fighting off pass interference to make a one-handed catch on a 38-yard score; Chris Autman-Bell taking a screen pass and making multiple Nittany Lions miss on a 21-yard TD; Esezi Otomewo’s big sack; and Jordan Howden’s game-sealing pick. With fourth-ranked Penn State coming into Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday, the Gophers will look to pull off another upset. Their use of highlights fulfills one of their mottos: Embracing the past to create our future. Minnesota (6-4, 4-3 Big Ten) will need to collect a similar amount of big plays and turnovers to pull off an upset as an 11-point underdog to the Nittany Lions (9-1, 6-1). “It’s going to take our best players making plays like that,” head coach P.J. Fleck said about the 2019 victory. “Penn State’s going to say the same thing. We’re going to get their best shot. We know that. I don’t expect anything less from a James Franklin team, but we’ve got to coach them up so they get our best shot, too.” ADVERTISEMENT Back in 2019, the Gophers were 8-0 and ranked 13th in the nation. Penn State was also 8-0 and ranked fourth. Minnesota had not beat a ranked team up to that point and doubt remained that Minnesota could play with traditional powerhouses. After the win and fans stormed the field, the Gophers climbed the College Football Playoff rankings the next week. Five years on, it remains of the best wins of Fleck’s tenure since 2017. “That was a great moment spring-boarding us into what we have done consistently,” Fleck told the Pioneer Press. “Then just giving us that ability that we can and that mindset that we can and we will. It’s just a matter of time. A lot of things have to line up for it to happen, but that is what is so fun about it.” For the yesteryear Penn State game, Gophers defensive end Danny Striggow was a visiting recruit from Orono. He and other recruits were told not to storm the field because they were headed into the locker room postgame. ADVERTISEMENT “That was a cool game,” Striggow said. “... I was there as a recruit, so it’s kind of funny to look back on it, just being able to experience that as a fan and as a recruit.” Now Stiggow will play in his 50th game in maroon and gold. “(We can) look back at what they did to win that game, learn from that game and go forward and apply it,” Striggow said. Quarterback Max Brosmer said the 2019 Penn State game was the first one he watched to prepare for this year’s match-up. ADVERTISEMENT “I was wondering how Minnesota beat them in ’19 and what kind of things worked well for them,” Brosmer said. “... How did they execute the small details well to finish and win that game? We took away some good stuff from that game and we will use that to the best of our advantage.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .NoneAllar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn State

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans made claims about illegal voting by noncitizens a centerpiece of their 2024 campaign messaging and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there's one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas. That's because the state has been there, done that, and all but a few Republicans would prefer not to go there again. Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade ago that grew into one of the biggest political fiascos in the state in recent memory. The law, passed by the state Legislature in 2011 and implemented two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of more than 31,000 U.S. citizens who were otherwise eligible to vote. That was 12% of everyone seeking to register in Kansas for the first time. Federal courts ultimately declared the law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn't been enforced since 2018. Kansas provides a cautionary tale about how pursuing an election concern that in fact is extremely rare risks disenfranchising a far greater number of people who are legally entitled to vote. The state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the idea as a legislator and now says states and the federal government shouldn't touch it. “Kansas did that 10 years ago,” said Schwab, a Republican. “It didn’t work out so well.” Steven Fish, a 45-year-old warehouse worker in eastern Kansas, said he understands the motivation behind the law. In his thinking, the state was like a store owner who fears getting robbed and installs locks. But in 2014, after the birth of his now 11-year-old son inspired him to be “a little more responsible” and follow politics, he didn’t have an acceptable copy of his birth certificate to get registered to vote in Kansas. “The locks didn’t work,” said Fish, one of nine Kansas residents who sued the state over the law. “You caught a bunch of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” Kansas' experience appeared to receive little if any attention outside the state as Republicans elsewhere pursued proof-of-citizenship requirements this year. Arizona enacted a requirement this year, applying it to voting for state and local elections but not for Congress or president. The Republican-led U.S. House passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement in the summer and plans to bring back similar legislation after the GOP won control of the Senate in November. In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot. A federal judge declined to block the practice days before the election. Also, sizable majorities of voters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the presidential swing states of North Carolina and Wisconsin were inspired to amend their state constitutions' provisions on voting even though the changes were only symbolic. Provisions that previously declared that all U.S. citizens could vote now say that only U.S. citizens can vote — a meaningless distinction with no practical effect on who is eligible. To be clear, voters already must attest to being U.S. citizens when they register to vote and noncitizens can face fines, prison and deportation if they lie and are caught. “There is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, the leading sponsor of the congressional proposal, said in an email statement to The Associated Press. After Kansas residents challenged their state's law, both a federal judge and federal appeals court concluded that it violated a law limiting states to collecting only the minimum information needed to determine whether someone is eligible to vote. That's an issue Congress could resolve. The courts ruled that with “scant” evidence of an actual problem, Kansas couldn't justify a law that kept hundreds of eligible citizens from registering for every noncitizen who was improperly registered. A federal judge concluded that the state’s evidence showed that only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote from 1999 through 2012 — an average of just three a year. In 2013, then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who had built a national reputation advocating tough immigration laws, described the possibility of voting by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as a serious threat. He was elected attorney general in 2022 and still strongly backs the idea, arguing that federal court rulings in the Kansas case “almost certainly got it wrong.” Kobach also said a key issue in the legal challenge — people being unable to fix problems with their registrations within a 90-day window — has probably been solved. “The technological challenge of how quickly can you verify someone’s citizenship is getting easier,” Kobach said. “As time goes on, it will get even easier.” The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the Kansas case in 2020. But in August, it split 5-4 in allowing Arizona to continue enforcing its law for voting in state and local elections while a legal challenge goes forward. Seeing the possibility of a different Supreme Court decision in the future, U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt says states and Congress should pursue proof-of-citizenship requirements. Schmidt was the Kansas attorney general when his state's law was challenged. "If the same matter arose now and was litigated, the facts would be different," he said in an interview. But voting rights advocates dismiss the idea that a legal challenge would turn out differently. Mark Johnson, one of the attorneys who fought the Kansas law, said opponents now have a template for a successful court fight. “We know the people we can call," Johnson said. “We know that we’ve got the expert witnesses. We know how to try things like this.” He predicted "a flurry — a landslide — of litigation against this.” Initially, the Kansas requirement's impacts seemed to fall most heavily on politically unaffiliated and young voters. As of fall 2013, 57% of the voters blocked from registering were unaffiliated and 40% were under 30. But Fish was in his mid-30s, and six of the nine residents who sued over the Kansas law were 35 or older. Three even produced citizenship documents and still didn’t get registered, according to court documents. “There wasn’t a single one of us that was actually an illegal or had misinterpreted or misrepresented any information or had done anything wrong,” Fish said. He was supposed to produce his birth certificate when he sought to register in 2014 while renewing his Kansas driver's license at an office in a strip mall in Lawrence. A clerk wouldn't accept the copy Fish had of his birth certificate. He still doesn't know where to find the original, having been born on an Air Force base in Illinois that closed in the 1990s. Several of the people joining Fish in the lawsuit were veterans, all born in the U.S., and Fish said he was stunned that they could be prevented from registering. Liz Azore, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said millions of Americans haven't traveled outside the U.S. and don't have passports that might act as proof of citizenship, or don't have ready access to their birth certificates. She and other voting rights advocates are skeptical that there are administrative fixes that will make a proof-of-citizenship law run more smoothly today than it did in Kansas a decade ago. “It’s going to cover a lot of people from all walks of life,” Avore said. “It’s going to be disenfranchising large swaths of the country.” Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.Crisis in South Korea: Defiance in Parliament Grounds Martial LawKanpur, Dec 8 (PTI) Indian seers and sages understood dharma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday and added it was not just a method of worship. He also said no Sanatan Dharma follower could say that only those who visited temples were Hindus. Addressing the convocation ceremony of a private university, Adityanath said, "One has to follow the path of religion and truth. In fact, Indian sages understood religion... It is not just a method of worship." "No Sanatan Dharma follower can say that only those who go to temples is a Hindu. Whether I believe in the Vedas and scriptures or not, my Hinduism will still take me along (with it). We have not limited religion to worship, deity or scripture," he added. He also spoke about developing the habit of writing and not running away from technology. "A society that runs away from reform and science can never move forward," Adityanath said. Speaking on the progress of technology, the chief minister said there was a time when telephone coupons were sold. Now, after deploying 5G, preparations are underway for 6G spectrum, he said. Acknowledging the advancements in AI technology, Adityanath also had a word of caution. "On one hand, AI has simplified life. On the other hand, it has brought the problem of deepfake." The chief minister also laid stress on making students knowledgeable, well-mannered and disciplined. The introduction of computers was opposed in the 1990s because it was feared that they would take away jobs, he said. There were strikes in banks but every house has a computer now, he added. "Our government is giving tablets to two crore youngsters. Only those youngsters who are technologically competent will (be able to) face the challenges. Whatever new comes, there will be opposition. The journey of development of the country and society cannot be obstructed because of some people," the chief minister said. Adityanath further said youngsters had the ability to turn every adverse situation in their favour. As a word of advice, the chief minister said those who did not respect their 'gurus (teachers)', parents and elders could not gain knowledge. Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, ministers Yogendra Upadhyay and Rakesh Sachan, and Kanpur Mayor Pramila Pandey were present at the event. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 12 Clemson

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart’s sweeping rollback of its diversity policies is the strongest indication yet of a profound shift taking hold at U.S. companies that are revaluating the legal and political risks associated with bold programs to bolster historically underrepresented groups in business. The followed a string of legal victories by conservative groups that have filed an onslaught of lawsuits challenging corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minority and women-owned businesses and employees. The risk associated with some of programs crystalized with the election of former President Donald Trump, whose administration is certain to make dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion programs a priority. Trump’s incoming deputy chief of policy will be his former adviser , who leads a group called America First Legal that has aggressively challenged corporate DEI policies. “There has been a lot of reassessment of risk looking at programs that could be deemed to constitute reverse discrimination,” said Allan Schweyer, principal researcher the Human Capital Center at the Conference Board. “This is another domino to fall and it is a rather large domino,” he added. Among other changes, Walmart said it will no longer give priority treatment to suppliers owned by women or minorities. The company also will not renew a five-year commitment for a racial equity center set up in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd. And it pulled out of a . Schweyer said the biggest trigger for companies making such changes is simply a reassessment of their legal risk exposure, which began after that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, conservative groups using similar arguments have secured court victories against various diversity programs, especially those that steer contracts to minority or women-owned businesses. Most recently, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty won a victory in a case against the U.S. Department of Transportation over its use of a program that gives priority to minority-owned businesses when it awards contracts. Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts, said Dan Lennington, a deputy counsel at the institute. His organization says it has identified more than 60 programs in the federal government that it considers discriminatory, he said. “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches — the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President — are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups,” Lennington said. The Trump administration is also likely to take direct aim at DEI initiatives through executive orders and other policies that affect private companies, especially federal contractors. “The impact of the election on DEI policies is huge. It can’t be overstated,” said Jason Schwartz, co-chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at law firm Gibson Dunn. With Miller returning to the White House, rolling back DEI initiatives is likely to be a priority, Schwartz said. “Companies are trying to strike the right balance to make clear they’ve got an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcome, and they want to get the best talent, while at the same time trying not to alienate various parts of their employees and customer base who might feel one way or the other. It’s a virtually impossible dilemma,” Schwartz said. A recent survey by Pew Research Center showed that workers are divided on the merits of DEI policies. While still broadly popular, the share of workers who said focusing on workplace diversity was mostly a good thing fell to 52% in the November survey, compared to 56% in a similar survey in February 2023. Rachel Minkin, a research associated at Pew called it a small but significant shift in short amount of time. There will be more companies pulling back from their DEI policies, but it likely won’t be a retreat across the board, said David Glasgow, executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at New York University. “There are vastly more companies that are sticking with DEI,” Glasgow said. “The only reason you don’t hear about it is most of them are doing it by stealth. They’re putting their heads down and doing DEI work and hoping not to attract attention.” Glasgow advises organizations to stick to their own core values, because attitudes toward the topic can change quickly in the span of four years. “It’s going to leave them looking a little bit weak if there’s a kind of flip-flopping, depending on whichever direction the political winds are blowing,” he said. One reason DEI programs exist is because without those programs, companies may be vulnerable to lawsuits for traditional discrimination. “Really think carefully about the risks in all directions on this topic,” Glasgow said. Walmart confirmed will no longer consider race and gender as a litmus test to improve diversity when it offers supplier contracts. Last fiscal year, Walmart said it spent more than $13 billion on minority, women or veteran-owned good and service suppliers. It was unclear how its relationships with such business would change going forward. Organizations that that have partnered with Walmart on its diversity initiatives offered a cautious response. The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, a non-profit that last year named Walmart one of America’s top corporation for women-owned enterprises, said it was still evaluating the impact of Walmart’s announcement. Pamela Prince-Eason, the president and CEO of the organization, said she hoped Walmart’s need to cater to its diverse customer base will continue to drive contracts to women-owned suppliers even if the company no longer has explicit dollar goals. “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World,” Prince-Eason wrote. “Any retailer’s ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart.” Walmart’s announcement came after the company spoke directly with conservative political commentator and activist Robby Starbuck, who has been going after corporate DEI policies, calling out individual companies on the social media platform X. Several of those companies have subsequently announced that they are pulling back their initiatives, including , Harley-Davidson, and . Walmart confirmed to The Associated Press that it will better monitor its third-party marketplace items to make sure they don’t feature sexual and transgender products aimed at minors. The company also will stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. A Walmart spokesperson added that some of the changes were already in progress and not as a result of conversations that it had with Starbuck. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, senior director of the HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program, said companies that “abandon” their commitments workplace inclusion policies “are shirking their responsibility to their employees, consumers, and shareholders.” She said the buying power of LGBTQ customers is powerful and noted that the index will have record participation of more than 1,400 companies in 2025.

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