sloto cash casino

sloto cash casino COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court on Monday upheld a new state law that bans some gender-affirming health care for minors, a victory for supporters of the ban as a multitude of lawsuits against similar bans in other states continue to play out. Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a statement that Missouri is the “first state in the nation to successfully defend such a law at the trial court level.” Bailey, who tried to ban minors’ access to gender-affirming health care through rule change but dropped the effort when the law passed , is responsible for defending the legislation in court. “I’m extremely proud of the thousands of hours my office put in to shine a light on the lack of evidence supporting these irreversible procedures," Bailey said. "We will never stop fighting to ensure Missouri is the safest state in the nation for children.” Every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans on gender-affirming care for minors and supported the medical care for youth when administered appropriately. Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri, which are representing the plaintiffs who sued to overturn the law, on Monday said they will appeal the ruling. Missouri is among at least 26 states that have adopted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors. Federal judges have struck down the bans in Arkansas and Florida as unconstitutional, though a federal appeals court has stayed the Florida ruling. A judge’s orders is in place temporarily blocking enforcement of the ban in Montana. New Hampshire restrictions are to take effect in January 2025. The Missouri law banned gender-affirming surgeries for children and teenagers under the age of 18, as well as hormones and puberty blockers for minors who had not started those treatments as of August 2023. The law expires in August 2027. These treatments are accepted by major medical groups as evidence-based care that transgender people should be able to access. Most adults still are allowed to access gender-affirming health care under the Missouri law, but Medicaid won’t cover it. The plaintiffs, including family of several teenagers who are transgender, argued the law takes away medically necessary treatments from transgender minors while still allowing other children to access similar surgeries and medications. Wright County Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter disagreed. In his ruling, the southern Missouri judge wrote that he believes there's “an almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics of adolescent gender dysphoria treatment.” “The evidence at trial showed severe disagreement as to whether adolescent gender dysphoria drug and surgical treatment was ethical at all, and if so, what amount of treatment was ethically allowable,” Carter wrote. Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri in a statement said the ruling signals that "for some, compassion and equal access to health care are still out of reach.” "The court’s findings signal a troubling acceptance of discrimination, ignore an extensive trial record and the voices of transgender Missourians and those who care for them, and deny transgender adolescents and Medicaid beneficiaries from their right to access to evidence-based, effective, and often life-saving medical care,” the organizations said. The states that have passed laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors include: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. Summer Ballentine, The Associated PressSomerset House has been a key part of London's landscape for hundreds of years, with its grand architecture and prominent position close to the River Thames and the Covent Garden area. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 But its leaders say its current role as a center for arts and culture is not fully understood, with one even describing it as "London and the U.K.'s best-kept secret." While its courtyard is well known as a striking venue for a winter ice rink and summer movie screenings, people are less aware that hundreds of artists and creatives work within its walls. And as it approaches 25 years in its most recent guise, the organization wants to raise its profile — in 2025, there will be a raft of exhibitions and events aiming to show off its artistic endeavors. "There wasn't a ... moment when Somerset House was revealed in its full glory. And, in a way, next year is a kind of belated moment to do that," said Jonathan Reekie, director of the Somerset House Trust, the organization that preserves the building and its activities for the public. Somerset House has had many transformations. Queen Elizabeth I lived there in the 16th century, and since then it has been a Navy headquarters, a home for the Royal Academy of Arts and a newspaper tax office, before being completely rebuilt in 1801. "In the ... 1770s, 1780s, [King] George III needed to build an 'office block' for his newly formed civil service. So, this is what he built," Reekie said as he took CNBC on a tour. With four large wings surrounding the large, cobbled courtyard (plus a "new" wing added in the 19 th century), the striking Renaissance property housed the multiple offices of the U.K. government's tax and excise authority for more than 150 years — and in more recent times, the courtyard was even covered with asphalt and used as a parking lot. In 1997, the house gained charitable status after a long campaign led by author and newspaper editor Simon Jenkins and philanthropist Lord Rothschild. "When Somerset House ... opened to the public in May 2000, this building was still mostly full of civil servants," Reekie said. "My predecessors basically had to negotiate with each government department to get rid of them," he said. The tax authority — now known as His Majesty's Revenue and Customs — finally closed its Somerset House office in 2011. Its current role is that of a "self-sustaining home to cultural innovators," according to Somerset House Trust chair Gail Rebuck, speaking at an event in September. But its varied facets are not always well understood, she said. When a fire broke out in August, there was an "outpouring of concern," Rebuck said, but "people struggled to describe Somerset House," she said of news reports at the time. "That's our fault, in a way, and something we want to correct ... We're a very special creative cluster," Rebuck said. "It's also London and the U.K.'s best-kept secret ... it's really important that the 3 million visitors who come through our doors actually know what goes on underneath," she said — Somerset House was the U.K.'s 10th most-visited attraction in 2023, with 2.7 million visits according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions . Rebuck referred to the network of rooms and areas that are home to multiple artists and creatives who work from the building, in offices, co-working places and studios. When Reekie joined the organization in 2014, he was asked what Somerset House should "be." "Part of the question in terms of how would it work as a cultural space is: what can you do with lots of rooms?" he said. One of Reekie's first jobs was to transform what was essentially a long corridor of government offices into rooms that would be desirable to artists — which now make up Somerset House Studios — raising money to do so from scratch. The artists' rent is subsidized by Somerset House's activities: It makes most of its income — £21.2 million ($27.5 million) for the financial year ending March 31, 2023 — from its own events like the ice rink and arts exhibitions curated in-house, as well as from hiring spaces to other organizations such as the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. There are now around 60-70 artists, teams or collectives working in Somerset House Studios, overseen by director Marie McPartlin. The studios' first resident in 2016 was British fashion designer Gareth Pugh, and composer Anna Meredith was its second, with many others working in the visual arts. "Most of them are doing socially-engaged work ... or engaging with emergent, evolving and advanced technologies," McPartlin said. Artists are encouraged to collaborate — one high-profile name was turned down a studio place because of concerns that they would not have been on site enough of the time. "The community is the most important thing," McPartlin said. "The majority of artists don't have gallery representation — it's such a precarious existence ... really quickly, we realized that long-term support is something Somerset House was able to offer." Artists are resident for between one and seven years, with some on site for up to 10 years. In 2025, McPartlin will curate sculpture "The Spell or The Dream" by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani, a resident of the studios, which will sit at the courtyard's center in August and September. Inspired by a sleeping beauty-type figure, it will reflect "on the urgent contemporary issues of our time," according to a release. McPartlin will also curate an artwork by resident artists Lydia Ourahmane and Sophia Al Maria, which will explore the idea of the "right to remain," according to a release, while BAFTA-nominated filmmaker and resident Akinola Davies Jr will screen a new movie in the courtyard that will look at the "everyday rituals" of black life in the U.K. Other highlights for 2025 will include "Salt Cosmologies," an installation that will map out India's Inland Customs Line, the extraordinary story of a 2,500 mile-long hedge put in place by the British East India Company to enforce its Salt Tax in the late 19th century. And an immersive exhibition by choreographer Wayne McGregor, named "Infinite Bodies," will be the culmination of Somerset House's 25-year celebration. Near the studios is Makerversity, a community of about 300 designers and makers, who share a wood workshop, photography studio and other "maker" spaces tucked close to the underside of Waterloo Bridge, at the far west border of Somerset House. And there is also The Exchange, a co-working space for creatives, and the Black Business Residency, a program for black entrepreneurs. "Having great artists in the center of London seems quite essential ... the thinking was to make it completely interdisciplinary," Reekie said.Brown-Forman Corp. Cl B stock rises Friday, outperforms market

None

Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump didBiden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did

Justus McNair's midcourt 3-pointer at the buzzer gives Valparaiso a 76-73 win over Western Michigan

The first commercial batch of made-in-Canada low-carbon aviation fuel sourced from non-food grade canola and tallow has been produced and quickly purchased. Fuel retailer Parkland Corp. said Tuesday it has successfully produced about 100,000 litres of the fuel at its refinery in Burnaby, B.C. “using existing infrastructure.” Parkland senior vice-president Ferio Pugliese said it means production can easily be scaled up, but only if Canada provides the necessary conditions to create an ecosystem around the nascent commodity and its adoption across the country. “We need to do more to make low-carbon air travel a reality,” Pugliese said during the announcement in Vancouver on Tuesday. “We need a long-term Canadian solution for low-carbon, sustainable aviation fuel.” While the potential for emission reduction is massive with production in Canada is also significantly more expensive, Pugliese said. He notes that similar low-carbon fuels used in vehicles, buses and ferries have about one-eighth of the carbon content when compared to traditional fuels. Pugliese said other countries such as the United States incentivize production and use of low-carbon jet fuel, creating the necessary ecosystem to support a local industry. “Currently, the Canadian aviation industry purchases low-carbon aviation (fuel) from other countries and imports it from across the globe into Canada. That makes little sense.” Parkland began trying to develop the fuel in 2017, and the entire batch of the first production run has already been bought by Air Canada. Pugliese said the purchase of the fuel by Air Canada completes a value chain within the country that shows local development, production, sale and use of low-carbon jet fuel can be achieved to the benefit of everyone — but only if the support from government is there. “Airlines need very practical solutions, and today, right here in B.C., Parkland has created a made-in-Canada solution to a global challenge,” he said. The comments echoed that of WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, who in 2023 said the global push for decarbonizing commercial aviation by 2050 will cause spikes in airfares unless governments intervene. Part of the challenge, von Hoensbroech said, is that alternative energy sources such as electric or hydrogen aircraft remains a long way from reality, making the sector difficult to decarbonize. In February, a pair of industry groups, including the National Airlines Council of Canada, said the country needed incentives matching that of the United States to spark production of sustainable aviation fuels. Commercial aviation giant Airbus has said that low-carbon jet fuel can reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by about 80 per cent, and development is ongoing for planes to be able to run completely on it instead of needing to mix it with conventional fuels. But Airbus also said the ecosystem for the fuel is still “in its infancy,” with just 600 million litres produced last year, making up 0.2 per cent of all aviation fuel for 2023. “Appropriate regulatory mechanisms and inventive structures still need to be put in place, and even then, there are challenges associated with the limited availability of land and biowaste,” Airbus said of the technology on its website. Airbus has said it is increasing its own use of low-carbon fuels with a goal of reaching 30 per cent of its total fuel mix by 2030.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Renovaro Inc. (NASDAQ: RENB) , a pioneer in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics powered by artificial intelligence, today announced that it has received a notice from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that it has regained compliance with the minimum bid price requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule, 5550(a)(2). The Company’s security will continue to be listed and traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market and this matter is now closed. Renovaro previously received a notification letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department on September 12, 2024, notifying the Company that, over the previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock had been below the minimum of $1.00 per share required for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). About Renovaro Renovaro https://renovarogroup.com/ aims to accelerate precision and personalized medicine for longevity powered by mutually reinforcing AI and biotechnology platforms for early diagnosis, better-targeted treatments, and drug discovery. Renovaro Inc. includes RenovaroBio with its advanced cell-gene immunotherapy company and Renovaro Cube. Renovaro Cube has developed an award-winning AI platform that is committed to the early detection of cancer and its recurrence and monitoring subsequent treatments. Renovaro Cube intervenes at a stage where potential therapy can be most effective. Renovaro Cube is a molecular data science company with a background in FinTech and a 12-year history. It brings together proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) technology, multi-omics, multi-modal data, and the expertise of a carefully selected multidisciplinary team to radically accelerate precision medicine and enable breakthrough changes in disease agnostic decision support. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the success or efficacy of our pipeline, platform and fundraising. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “aims,” “intends,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various uncertainties, including as set forth in Renovaro’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Renovaro Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Investor Relations Chris Tyson Executive Vice President MZ Group - MZ North America 949-491-8235 RENB@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us For media inquiries, please contact: karen@Renovaro Cube.com and STarsh@Renovarogroup.comThe Met Office has said it is "committed to learning the lessons from Storm Bert" after criticism of its weather forecasts. The weather service also defended itself, pointing out that "observed rainfall totals were broadly in line with the forecast and the severe weather warnings issued in advance". Check forecast in your area Through the end of last week and into the weekend, the storm brought torrential rain and winds over 80mph to parts of the UK. At least four people have died since Storm Bert began, leaving communities badly flooded and turning roads into rivers. It brought a month's worth of rain in one weekend to parts of the UK, with the hills of South Wales the worst hit. 'Incompetence' More on Extreme Weather Typhoon Man-yi: Family of seven among people killed in Philippines The ten deadliest weather events of the last 20 years and how they were fuelled by climate change Worst floods in Spain's memory hit 'like a tsunami' Related Topics: Extreme Weather UK Weather In the House of Commons, on Monday, ministers were told that "incompetence" at the Met Office led to an underestimation of the storm. Labour MP for Cardiff West Alex Barros-Curtis claimed warnings should have been "amber or red". He said: "Can I ask that the secretary of state [Environment Secretary Steve Reed] speak to his Department for Science, Innovation and Technology colleagues to carefully look into the role of the Met Office here? "It is clear that their response was slow and that there was a clear underestimation of the impact of Storm Bert. "They put it yellow rather than amber or red. Our constituents have been let down by this incompetence before, and it cannot keep happening." However, in response to this and other criticism, Met Office services director Simon Brown said that rainfall levels were "within the expected range of that forecast". He added that the warnings in place also highlighted the danger from the floods and outlined how "many factors" play a role in their warning strategy. Mr Brown continued: "I'm committed to learning the lessons from Storm Bert to support even greater preparedness and we will be reviewing our warning strategy and how this linked to flood models in the coming weeks and days. "Today my team and I have been working with stakeholder, partners and customers to start to review Storm Bert." Weather forecast Extreme weather events like Storm Bert are becoming more common with human-induced climate change, studies show. Provisional statistics show that White Barrow, in Devon, experienced the most rainfall during Storm Bert with 175.7mm (6.91") between 23 November and midnight 25 November. Treherbert, Tyn-Y-Waun in South Wales recorded 171.6mm (6.76") at a Natural Resources Wales rain gauge over the same period and winds of 82mph were recorded in Capel Curig, Gwynedd. Read more from Sky News: British soldiers injured in pile-up close to Russia Rachel Reeves promises she will not raise taxes again Ed Sheeran apologises to new Man United manager Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free Storm Bert will slowly "pull away" from the UK on Tuesday, the Met Office said, but the risk of flooding may remain . It is expected to be largely drier and sunnier - with some showers in Northern Ireland, northern England and on western coasts. Follow our channel and never miss an update However, on Wednesday, an area of low pressure is set to move into southern parts of the UK bringing back more heavy rain.

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, Virgin Islands (AP) — Trey Autry scored 16 points off of the bench to help lead George Washington over Illinois State 72-64 on Monday night to claim a fifth-place finish at the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands. Autry had five rebounds for the Revolutionaries (6-1). Gerald Drumgoole Jr. scored 16 points while going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 6 for 7 from the line. Darren Buchanan Jr. shot 3 of 11 from the field and 9 for 11 from the line to finish with 15 points, while adding 10 rebounds. The Redbirds (4-3) were led by Chase Walker, who posted 18 points and two steals. Johnny Kinziger added 16 points for Illinois State. Dalton Banks also had 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. Autry scored seven points in the first half and George Washington went into the break trailing 29-27. NEXT UP George Washington's next game is Friday against VMI at home, and Illinois State visits Belmont on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

NEW YORK (AP) — Matías Tarnopolsky will become president and CEO of the New York Philharmonic on Jan. 1 after six years heading the Philadelphia Orchestra, a hiring boosted by his long friendship with incoming music director Gustavo Dudamel . Tarnopolsky's appointment was announced Monday. The 54-year-old, who has American, British and Argentine citizenship, fills a void created when Gary Ginstling quit in July just one season into the job. “He’s done a really wonderful job with Philadelphia, and one of the most important issues was that he has a very close relationship with Gustavo Dudamel,” philharmonic co-chairman Peter W. May said. “That was really the most important factor for us.” Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tarnopolsky played clarinet and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music and musicology from King's College, London. A performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony by Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic at the 1987 BBC Proms had an especially memorable impact. He was the New York Philharmonic's vice president of artistic planning from December 2005 until August 2009, then spent nine years as executive director of Cal Performances at Berkeley until moving to Philadelphia in 2018. Cal hosted Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra in several residencies. He called his return to the New York Philharmonic along with Dudamel a “full circle moment,” recalling hitting it off with the conductor during a work visit to Caracas. “I watched him work with the kids of the Simón Bolivar and was just blown away, and so we invited him to conduct the New York Philharmonic. So this is a story almost two decades in the making,” Tarnopolsky said in an interview. Ginstling joined the New York Philharmonic as executive director from Washington's National Symphony Orchestra. “Frankly, it just wasn’t a good fit from both Gary's perspective and our perspective," May told The Associated Press. "Matías clearly had significantly more experience than Gary has had in terms of leading one of the top orchestras in the country and we're quite confident that this is the right guy for the job.” Philharmonic co-chairman Oscar L. Tang said Tarnopolsky is aligned with the vision held by Dudamel and the board. “Gustavo says that he feels classical music is a human right and he wants to view classical music as a force for social development, social good,” Tang said. “These are some of the aspirations that Peter and I have for the New York Phil in terms of extending its role in the cultural and civic life of New York City and really the country and the world.” The New York Philharmonic returned to a renovated Geffen Hall in October 2022, announced Dudamel’s hiring four months later . Borda said guest conductors have been engaged and a tour has been arranged for Dudamel's first season, with his approval, but much of the 2026-27 programming remains open. “Here’s a chance that comes along maybe once in a lifetime to author a completely new chapter for a great musical institution,” Tarnopolsky said. “The commitment here is to rededicate ourselves to ensuring the philharmonic’s place in the civic, cultural, musical, educational life of contemporary New York.” Ryan Fleur, the Philadelphia Orchestra's executive director, will become its interim president on Jan. 1, a role he held for eight months in 2018 between Allison Vulgamore's departure and Tarnopolsky's arrival. ___ This story corrects that Matías Tarnopolsky headed Philadelphia Orchestra six years. Ronald Blum, The Associated PressAston Villa 3-2 RB Leipzig (11 Dec, 2024) Game Analysis - ESPNThe "person of interest" in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was identified as 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a former Ivy League student , frat brother, and valedictorian of his 2016 High School class at the Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland. Mangione was apprehended this morning at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, PA , but has not been charged for the murder. An employee recognized him and alerted the local authorities around 9:15 a.m., according to police commissioner Jessica Tisch. Authorities reveal that Mangione was found with both a real ID and a fake ID, which had the same name on it as the false New Jersey ID the suspected gunman who killed Thompson showed at a hostel on the Upper West Side in Manhattan before the shooting, as well as a handwritten, 2-page manifesto . Luigi Mangione pictured for first time grinning with Happy Meal detained in connection with Brian Thompson death NYC Mayor Adams says man detained in Altoona is 'strong person of interest' in shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Here's everything we know so far about Mangione, who is scheduled to appear in court in Blair County, Pa., at 6 p.m. local time for a "preliminary arraignment on gun charges," according to the NYT. The fake ID had the name 'Mark Rosario' and had an address in Maplewood, a well-to-do suburb of Newark. When confronted in Altoona, he was discovered with a written document, believed to be a manifesto, criticizing healthcare companies for prioritizing money over actual care, as per law enforcement officials. Mangione also had a gun, thought to be a "ghost gun," a silencer, and other counterfeit identification cards on him. He has been arrested on local charges related to presenting a false ID to police officers and firearm charges, officials stated, reports the Irish Star . According to Mangione's LinkedIn and Facebook profiles, he pursued a major in Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees. His Instagram reveals that he was part of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the same university. Mangione's LinkedIn profile also notes that he interned at Firaxis Games and served as a teaching assistant at The University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University. As of November 2020, he has been working as a Data Engineer at TrueCar Inc, in Santa Monica, California, and has held the position for two years and three months as of October 2022. His Instagram account indicates that he lived and worked at Surfbreak Coliving: Hawaii in May 2023. According to his Goodreads profile, Mangione is currently engrossed in reading The Book Thief and How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics. Joseph Kenny, chief of detective of the NYPD, says Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties in San Fransisco, and had a recent address in Honolulu, Hawaii. He had no prior criminal record in New York. A preliminary search of social media revealed that he may have some "ill will toward corporate America," but nothing overt has been uncovered yet. He was called an 'anti-capitalist Ivy League grad' and found to have liked quotes online from “Unabomber’’ Ted Kaczynski . Mangione apparently hated the medical community because of how it treated his sick relative, sources told the New York Post. According to a Facebook profile of the person believed to be Mangione, he attended a private high school in the Baltimore area, participating on the wrestling team and even being named valedictorian. Mangione's social media says he interned at a tech startup, used to keep a WordPress blog on gaming topics, and generally posted photos of himself with friends and family. Police suggested that parts of the 'ghost gun' may contain 3D printed parts, though that has yet to be confirmed as well. Among the lines in the two-page manifesto, Luigi Mangione wrote, "These parasites had it coming" and "I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done," a police official who has seen the document told CNN. Mangione also lived in Hawaii for an unspecified amount of time, where he became a member of Hub Coworking Hawaii in Honolulu's Kakaako neighborhood for over a year. Nam Vu, the co-founder of the coworking space described Mangione as "Nothing strange" but "a nice guy." Mangione did come to the space, often accompanied by colleagues from Surfbreak, a coliving space for digital nomads and remote workers with locations in Honolulu and Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Vu said Mangione didn't interact much with him. Vu declined to reveal when Mangione joined but confirmed that his membership has been inactive for over a year and he hasn't seen him since.

JD Martin is awarded new territory beginning December 1st, 2024. CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JD Martin is proud to announce the expansion of its partnership with Dialight , the global leader in industrial LED lighting technology, into North and South Carolina . This growth strengthens JD Martin's commitment to delivering industry-leading lighting solutions across the Southeast. JD Martin has been a trusted partner for Dialight in multiple territories, and this latest expansion enables the company to extend its reach, bringing Dialight's innovative and energy-efficient LED lighting products to distributors, contractors, and end users in these rapidly growing markets. "We are excited to expand our partnership with Dialigh t into the Carolinas," said Lance Holmes , JD Martin RVP of the Carolinas and Virginia . " Dialight's unmatched LED lighting solutions align perfectly with the needs of our customers in these regions who are prioritizing safety, energy efficiency, and operational reliability. We look forward to continuing to drive value and growth for our partners." Dialight's industrial and hazardous location lighting solutions are renowned for their durability, sustainability, and performance in even the most challenging environments. By combining JD Martin's proven market expertise with Dialight's cutting-edge technology, businesses across the Carolinas will benefit from exceptional service and product availability. To learn more about Dialight's industrial LED lighting products, visit www.dialight.com . About JD Martin JD Martin is a premier electrical manufacturer representative agency, serving 17 states with an extensive portfolio of solutions, including lighting, wire, cable, and EV infrastructure products. With a strong focus on customer service and expertise, JD Martin partners with industry leaders to deliver innovative electrical solutions to distributors, contractors, and end users. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jd-martin-expands-representation-of-dialight-into-north-and-south-carolina-302337510.html SOURCE JD Martin Co.The Liberal government is pulling out the federal wallet to put more money into people’s pockets over the holidays, but its recently announced affordability measures create winners and losers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that the federal government will remove the goods and services tax on a slew of items for two months, starting Dec. 14. But in provinces where the provincial and federal sales taxes are blended together into a harmonized sales tax, Canadians will get a larger break. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. That means Canadians who were not working in 2023, including those who were receiving social assistance or were in retirement, will not be sent a cheque in April. In the House of Commons on Friday, NDP MP Peter Julian called the government out for not including Canadians with fixed incomes. “Why are Liberals excluding seniors and people with disabilities from the real help they need this holiday season? Why won’t Liberals help them, too?” Julian asked during question period. At a news conference on Friday, Trudeau said that the federal government has already stepped up to help the most vulnerable Canadians and that it is now time to give a hand to workers. “Over the past number of years, we have been extraordinarily present in helping the most vulnerable Canadians,” Trudeau said, mentioning the boost to old-age security for seniors aged 75 and older and the Canada Child Benefit. “But as I travel across the country, I do regularly hear from working Canadians who are having trouble making ends meet, but saying, ‘look, I don’t have kids. I’m not a senior yet, and I’m facing challenges.’” The GST break, which is expected to cost the federal government $1.6 billion, will apply to a number of items including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees — both natural and artificial — along with a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles. Meanwhile, 18.7 million people will receive a check this spring, costing the government about $4.7 billion.By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden says he was ‘stupid’ not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

Is this London's best kept cultural secret? A royal palace turned parking lot is reinventing itself — againDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill., Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SigmaTron International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGMA), an electronic manufacturing services company (the “Company”), today reported revenues and earnings for the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024. For the three month period ended October 31, 2024, revenues decreased $24 million, or 24 percent, to $74.7 million compared to $98.7 million for the same quarter in the prior year. Net income/(loss) for the three month period ended October 31, 2024 was a loss of $9.5 million compared to break even for the same period in the prior year. Approximately $3.3 million of expenses were recorded during the second quarter related to debt modification, expensing of deferred financing costs and lender warrants after remeasurement. Basic and diluted income/(loss) per share for the three month period ended October 31, 2024 was a loss of $1.55, compared to $0.00 income per share for the same period in the prior year. For the six month period ended October 31, 2024, revenues decreased $37.3 million, or 19 percent, to $159.5 million, compared to $196.8 million for the same period in the prior year. Net income/(loss) for the six month period ended October 31, 2024, was a net loss of $12.8 million, compared to net income of $0.3 million for the same period in the prior year. Approximately $3.3 million of expenses were recorded during the second quarter related to debt modification, expensing of deferred financing costs and lender warrants after remeasurement. Basic and diluted income/(loss) per share for the six month period ended October 31, 2024 was a loss of $2.08, compared to $0.05 income per share for the same period in the prior year. Commenting on SigmaTron International Inc.’s second quarter fiscal 2025 results, Gary R. Fairhead, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, said “Unfortunately the softness we’ve seen in our revenue stream has continued during the second quarter. Sequentially, our first quarter for fiscal 2025 revenue was $84.8 million and for the second quarter, our revenue was $74.7 million. We currently expect the depressed revenue levels to continue for our third fiscal quarter, in part because of the holidays in December for North America and at the end of January in Asia. As you would expect, this level of revenue resulted in another loss for the second quarter, which included a non-cash charge for deferred financing and warrant expenses that totaled approximately $3.3 million. On a positive note, the Company reported an operating profit in October, demonstrating that our restructuring efforts are now showing a significant impact. We continue to right-size our Company offering significant upside for the operations. The softness we continue to encounter was tied to the general economy and exacerbated by the supply chain volatility in the electronic component marketplace, with customers having overordered in the recent past because of the uncertainty related to acquiring certain components for the electronic assemblies. We believe that the excess inventory that was the result of this behavior has in large part been consumed, which should lead to overall demand increasing in 2025. “In the short term, we continue to see soft revenue in terms of our backlog. However, most of our customers are starting to indicate that they view calendar 2025 as a stronger and growing economy and expect the current trend to have bottomed out. We have seen this with several customers where some modest orders have been pulled in and there has been increased activity with new opportunities. It will still take a while to get to where we want to be but at least the current trend appears to be positive after the third quarter. In addition to right-sizing the Company, we have continued to remain focused on reducing inventory further. We made modest progress in that area in the second quarter, but we fully expect to see significant gains in our reduction efforts during the third quarter. “In our first quarter press release, I also mentioned that we were focused on activities to de-lever our balance sheet. I’m pleased to announce that on December 13, 2024, SigmaTron entered into a sale/leaseback of our Elk Grove Village property. We have signed a three-year lease with two one-year options on the property. From an accounting perspective, not only have we reduced our bank debt, but we will have a one-time capital gain of approximately $7 million to report in our third quarter results. We continue to look at other options for the Company strategically, with the assistance of Lincoln International. We continue to enjoy good relationships with our customers and supply chain and expect that to continue as we continue to go through the process.” About SigmaTron International, Inc. Headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, SigmaTron International, Inc. operates in one reportable segment as an independent provider of electronic manufacturing services (“EMS”). The EMS segment includes printed circuit board assemblies, electro-mechanical subassemblies and completely assembled (box-build) electronic products. The Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries operate manufacturing facilities in Elk Grove Village, Illinois; Acuna, Chihuahua, and Tijuana Mexico; Union City, California; Suzhou, China; and Biên Hòa City, Vietnam. In addition, the Company maintains an International Procurement Office and Compliance and Sustainability Center in Taipei, Taiwan. The Company also provides design services in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, U.S. Forward-Looking Statements Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “continue,” “anticipate,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the Company. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the Company’s plans, actions and actual results could differ materially. Such statements should be evaluated in the context of the direct and indirect risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company’s business including, but not necessarily limited to, the Company’s continued dependence on certain significant customers; the continued market acceptance of products and services offered by the Company and its customers; pricing pressures from the Company’s customers, suppliers and the market; the activities of competitors, some of which may have greater financial or other resources than the Company; the variability of the Company’s operating results; the impact of material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting; the results of long-lived assets and goodwill impairment testing; the risks inherent in any merger, acquisition or business combination, including the ability to achieve the expected benefits of acquisitions as well as the expenses of acquisitions; the collectability of aged account receivables; the variability of the Company’s customers’ requirements; the impact of inflation on the Company’s operating results; the availability and cost of necessary components and materials; the impact acts of war may have to the supply chain; the ability of the Company and its customers to keep current with technological changes within its industries; regulatory compliance, including conflict minerals; the continued availability and sufficiency of the Company’s credit arrangements; the costs of borrowing under the Company’s senior and subordinated credit facilities, including under the rate indices that replaced LIBOR; increasing interest rates; the ability to meet the Company’s financial and restrictive covenants under its loan agreements; changes in U.S., Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese or Taiwanese regulations affecting the Company’s business; the turmoil in the global economy and financial markets; public health crises, including COVID-19 and variants; the continued availability of scarce raw materials, exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions, necessary for the manufacture of products by the Company; the stability of the U.S., Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese and Taiwanese economic, labor and political systems and conditions; global business disruption caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and related sanctions and the Israel-Hamas conflict; currency exchange fluctuations; and the ability of the Company to manage its growth. These and other factors which may affect the Company’s future business and results of operations are identified throughout the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and as risk factors, may be detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These statements speak as of the date of such filings, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements in light of future events or otherwise unless otherwise required by law. For Further Information Contact: SigmaTron International, Inc. Frank Cesario 1-800-700-9095Daniel Penny stands to make millions after not guilty verdict in Jordan Neely's death By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 23:07 GMT, 9 December 2024 | Updated: 23:07 GMT, 9 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Daniel Penny stands to make millions as a martyr of the BLM movement after being found not guilty following a blockbuster trial in Manhattan. The 26-year-old Marine veteran was facing charges of second degree manslaughter and negligent homicide following the subway death of mentally ill homeless street performer Jordan Neely . But after more than 20 hours of deliberations over four days, jurors told the court they were unable to reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge and the state sensationally withdrew the charge in a desperate, last ditch effort to avoid a mistrial. By Monday, jurors returned a verdict of not guilty to negligent homicide to Justice Maxwell Wiley. They quickly found him not guilty - paving the way for his bright future full of book deals, TV appearances and even a career in politics. Since the very beginning, Penny won sympathy from conservatives who said he was right to step in when Neely acted out on the subway. Now, with the trial behind him and renewed support from the likes of the Trump family, Penny's future is brighter than ever. Daniel Penny leaves Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday after being found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide. The manslaughter charge was dropped last week Industry experts believe Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million after the criminal case against him concludes. 'He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,' James Pipe is a legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org, told Daily Mail. Pipe noted a conviction would 'necessarily preclude offers' because publishers and producers are notoriously 'drawn to controversial figures.' He said a 'compelling memoir or exclusive first interview' could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1million. 'A significant factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial. 'If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,' Pipe said. 'However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.' Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him, and how any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits. 'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said. Before the subway incident, Penny was a mild-mannered 24-year-old who'd left the Marines and spent time traveling the world Penny celebrated the court victory at the Stone Street Tavern on Monday afternoon Valerie Zucker said she envisions a 'one hour special or documentary' in the future. She said there could be hurdles to face 'from Neely's' camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to 'clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.' And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track. 'I don't think [it happens] right away,' she said. 'There's some backlash. 'Maybe something in the future.' Penny's acquittal enraged BLM activists, who instantly called for revenge in the form of black vigilantes. The 26-year-old quickly dashed to a downtown bar to celebrate his win with his lawyers and ponder his next move. Even before the verdict came back, there were calls from Republicans for him to be heralded a hero. Rep. Eli Crane, R-Arizona has been so impressed by Penny and his swift action against Neely that, according to Fox, he wants to award him Congress ’ highest civilian honor - a Congressional Gold Medal. ‘Daniel Penny’s actions exemplify what it means to stand against the grain to do right in a world that rewards moral cowardice,’ he said. He went on to describe the justice system as ‘corrupt’ and one which ‘allows degenerates to steamroll our laws and our sense of security, while punishing the righteous. ‘Mr. Penny bravely stood in the gap to defy this corrupt system and protect his fellow Americans. I’m immensely proud to introduce this resolution to award him with the Congressional Gold Medal to recognize his heroism,’ he said. The Marine veteran has kept a dignified silence since he was charged in May 2023 Penny with his mother, Gina Flaim, on November 19 Penny intervened when Neely jumped on the train and began threatening other commuters, including mothers, children and students. Neely was shouting that somebody would ‘die’ and that he was willing to ‘go back to Rikers.’ He placed Neely in a chokehold which the state argued lasted six minutes. His defense told jurors that he was not applying consistent pressure for the length of that time, and that he was simply restraining Neely until police arrived. And while New York’s ‘Son of Sam’ laws prevent convicted criminals from selling their stories to publishers, Penny is innocent and has been convicted of no crime . He could theoretically sell his sensational life story to the highest bidder, or write a book himself about the ordeal. Legal expert and advocate at freegrantsforfelons.org James Pipe told DailyMail.com Penny could be in for a windfall in excess of $1million. 'He could become a symbolic figure for a certain segment of society, opening doors to mainstream and conservative media alike,' he said. Pipe noted a conviction would 'necessarily preclude offers' because publishers and producers are notoriously 'drawn to controversial figures.' He said a 'compelling memoir or exclusive first interview' could be worth up to $500,000, while a documentary or film deal could exceed $1million. 'A significant factor will be how Penny and his team handle public relations after the trial. If he can frame his story in a way that resonates with the public or aligns with ongoing social conversations, the financial opportunities could be transformative,' Pipe said. 'However, backlash or boycotts from opposition groups could dampen prospects.' Similarly, Valerie Zucker of Zucker Media Group said she envisions a 'one hour special or documentary' in the future. She said there could be hurdles to face 'from Neely's' camp, but that immediately after the trial would be a great time for Penny to 'clear the air and change public perception on his vision of what took place that day.' And while Penny is still a divisive figure amongst the public, Zucker said there could be a pathway into politics for Penny down the track. 'I don't think [it happens] right away,' she said. 'There's some backlash. 'Maybe something in the future.' The case has already attracted interest from several writers who have been present daily in the courtroom and are working on books about the outcome. With true-crime documentaries on the rise, there is also a strong possibility that Penny will find himself back in the spotlight via a streaming special about the case. Conservatives have long offered support for Penny since the case gained widespread national attention and became a lightning rod for racial debate. Vivek Ramaswamy donated $10,000 to Daniel Penny's staggering legal fund, which has now reached $3million. He has also repeatedly spoken out about Neely’s lengthy rap sheet, accusing the Manhattan District Attorney’s office of sharing ‘responsibility for his death for creating an anti law enforcement culture.’ ‘Habitual felons like Neely should not roam freely to terrorize and prey on innocent members of our communities,’ he said. Penny also has the strong backing of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , sparking questions about if Penny would consider a tilt in politics himself, given he has access to two recent presidential candidates. The May 2023 incident sparked uproar in America - BLM says it was the racist killing of a mentally ill black man by an overzealous white military faithful. With the trial out of the way, Penny is also free to return his attention to his studies. When he was charged, he was studying architecture at the New York City College of Technology. He was also working two jobs – one as a swim teacher and also at a restaurant in Brooklyn – which he gave up to focus on the trial. He is also not completely out of the woods after Neely’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Penny last week. Penny’s legal team, Thomas Kenniff and Steven Raiser, released a statement Friday afternoon revealing they will immediately set their sights on the lawsuit. The duo said the conclusion of the criminal trial would ‘allow us to focus on the civil lawsuit, filed two days ago, for the same allegations contained in the criminal indictment.’ Pipe said Penny would also need to consider civil lawsuits against him when he considers what his next step will be, because any 'post-trial earnings' could be impacted by those suits. 'Public scrutiny will likely follow him for years, which could affect the longevity of his public persona and his ability to secure deals long-term,' he said. Jordan Neely Daniel Penny Share or comment on this article: Daniel Penny stands to make millions after not guilty verdict in Jordan Neely's death e-mail Add comment

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . CHARLOTTE AMALIE, Virgin Islands (AP) — Trey Autry scored 16 points off of the bench to help lead George Washington over Illinois State 72-64 on Monday night to claim a fifth-place finish at the Paradise Jam tournament in the Virgin Islands. Autry had five rebounds for the Revolutionaries (6-1). Gerald Drumgoole Jr. scored 16 points while going 4 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and 6 for 7 from the line. Darren Buchanan Jr. shot 3 of 11 from the field and 9 for 11 from the line to finish with 15 points, while adding 10 rebounds. The Redbirds (4-3) were led by Chase Walker, who posted 18 points and two steals. Johnny Kinziger added 16 points for Illinois State. Dalton Banks also had 13 points, six rebounds and two steals. Autry scored seven points in the first half and George Washington went into the break trailing 29-27. NEXT UP George Washington’s next game is Friday against VMI at home, and Illinois State visits Belmont on Wednesday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .