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A new initiative is powering up electric vehicle (EV) training for public-sector mechanics and technicians in several northeastern states. Advanced Vehicle Technology Group (AVTG) is partnering with regional Clean Cities coalitions to address the pressing need for skilled EV technicians in municipal fleets within disadvantaged communities. “This initiative represents a unique collaboration between training providers like us and Clean Cities coalitions across the Northeast,” Dave Macholz, president and CEO of AVTG, told . “Over the next three years, we’ll deliver two-day seminars to upskill technicians and launch boot camps for community college and vocational instructors to ensure a sustainable training model.” The program, funded by the , includes Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine as key participants. The initiative, Macholz said, will center on localized, equity-focused training, featuring immersive three-day programs designed to equip automotive instructors with hands-on certifications and knowledge they can pass on to students. “As part of our outreach, there was a big effort to reach disadvantaged communities,” he said. “So, we looked at basically each community, and identified what they call areas to look at where the communities of need might be, and then focused the localized training in proximity to those areas.” Per the , federally covered Justice40 initiatives, generally, include investments that can benefit disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities in any of seven areas including clean energy and energy efficiency, and clean transit. Paul Wessel, director of the Clean Transportation Communities of Southern Connecticut, described a knowledge gap their collaboration with AVTG aims to fill. “Public-sector technicians often miss out on the training that private-sector mechanics receive from manufacturers,” he said. “I recall one Vermont municipality technician mentioning this was his first formal training in 12 years.” Roughly 80 Clean Cities coalitions throughout the country promote the use of fuels other than petroleum-based fuels, focusing on energy independence, Wessel said. They also promote cleaner air and cleaner water, and work to protect the public against storm impacts from carbon emissions. The coalitions work with governments to help accelerate the transition to newer technologies that are less polluting. Auto dealers receive manufacturer-provided training on EVs, but public-sector mechanics and techs, including those employed by local and state governments, often lack similar opportunities, he said: “That’s the gap we’re trying to fill here.” The program focuses on the Northeast, but AVTG is interested in scaling it nationwide. “We’re in discussions with other states and welcome inquiries from those interested in bringing this training to their region,” Macholz said. Training rollouts will vary by state, based on needs and responses, Wessel said; for Connecticut, officials will begin promoting the training resources in mid-2025, to drive awareness. “We'll cast a wide net, do a series of one-hour webinars on the problem that we're looking to solve and the opportunities that the training will provide as a way of marketing the program and assessing who's interested,” he said. Training in Connecticut should begin to roll out in late 2025 for “technicians in general, with a focus on disadvantaged, low-income communities.” A second phase, likely to begin in 2026, Wessel said, will involve working with high schools, community and technical college systems “to help develop or buttress their work around electric vehicle training.” The state, Wessel said, is facing a challenge within its automotive technician workforce; he noted that 75 percent of the state’s current technicians are expected to retire within the next five years. This training initiative is intended to meet that challenge head-on. “We often focus on acquiring new vehicles but overlook what’s needed to maintain them,” he said. “This program fills a need and will essentially help create a knowledgeable EV workforce for the future.”By MICHELLE L. PRICE NEW YORK (AP) — Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Sheriff Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump’s first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. Trump’s pick of Chronister for the DEA job drew backlash from conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.” In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid virus. “Shame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That’s not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,” Chronister said at the time. “We are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.” U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be “disqualified” for the arrest. Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida’s immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend. Related Articles National Politics | Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff National Politics | President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction National Politics | Democrats stick with Schumer as leader, their strategy for countering Trump is far less certain National Politics | Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs National Politics | Democrats’ outgoing chair says Trump’s win forces party to reassess how it reaches voters In the video, Chronister praised the “rich diversity” of his community and called it “a place where people from all walks of life come together.” He said it was important to note his office “does not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That’s the authority of federal agencies.” Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration. Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida contributed to this report.
Hugh Jackman may spend some of the Christmas holidays either without his two children or his rumored new girlfriend, Sutton Foster, because his ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness isn’t ready to created a “blended,” “modern-family” dynamic with all of them celebrating together. The 56-year-old Jackman reportedly wanted to introduce Foster, 49, to his adult children, Oscar, 24, and Ava,19, but Furness is not “keen” on the idea, “It’s going to take more time for loved ones to adjust to the new normal and so that means Hugh and Sutton are bracing themselves for way less time together than they’d like during the holidays,” an insider told Woman’s Day. Even without saying anything publicly, Furness, 68, has reportedly made it clear that she’s not happy with how her marriage ended. A report last month said she , his co-star in the hit Broadway revival of “The Music Man,” is the reason behind their divorce after 27 years of marriage. For that reason, Furness feels like Jackman is “moving on quickly” even after she “gave so much of herself to their marriage,” the Woman’s Day source said. She definitely doesn’t want a “blended” Christmas, in which she’d presumably include Foster and even her 7-year-old daughter in their family celebrations. “Hugh and Sutton would love to get together with their kids for the holidays, but it’s still awkward, and Hugh is conscious of respecting Deb’s feelings,” the source said. Tensions are “still simmering,” according to Woman’s Day. “Deb feels like Hugh hasn’t properly acknowledged the hurt he caused by moving on so quickly,” the insider also said. Jackman and Furness shocked fans when they announced their separation in September 2023. One of a few Hollywood couples known for a long and seemingly happy marriage, they issued a statement that sounded polite and amicable, saying that their journey together was “shifting,” and they had “decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.” But then came reports in October, saying that Jackman had developed a “close relationship” with Sutton when they starred together in “The Music Man,” which ran from late 2021 to January 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Manhattan. At the time, both were married to other people. The reports about a rumored affair began as soon as the Tony Award-winning Foster filed for divorce from screenwriter Ted Griffin after 10 years of marriage. A source close to Foster told Us Weekly: “Sutton and Hugh’s relationship is the reason Hugh and Deb (separated).” In October, gossip blogger Tasha Lustig also said that Furness was “blindsided” by her husband’s romance with his co-star, even after she had given her “whole life and career to him,” Us Weekly also reported. Lustig said that the Broadway stars were planning to “soft launch” their relationship publicly. But even if Furness was “blindsided” by her husband’s alleged romance, she had concerns about him working with Foster, . A source told the Daily Mail that the relationship was “not a secret to her.” The relationship also was “not a secret” among the New York theater community. It was in fact an “open secret” in Broadway circles, multiple reports said. The romance allegedly developed while Jackman and Foster were working together on the classic musical comedy, which is set in small-town America at the turn of the 20th century. His conman and her librarian fall in love through a series of music and dance numbers. As Jackman and Foster promoted the show, they didn’t hide their regard for each other. During a 2022 interview on “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” Foster admitted that she and Jackman developed a very close bond and explained how they started a pre-performance ritual that took place when they were alone in her dressing room. “We call it carpet chat,” Foster revealed in the interview. Woman’s Day reported that Jackman and Furness’s children are handling the upheaval with “remarkable maturity.” The source said, “They just want peace and happiness for their parents. But they’re definitely aware of the tension.” Meanwhile, Jackman and Foster are “shocked by the backlash,” another insider told Woman’s Day. With a blended family Christmas off the table, the new couple are reportedly planning a romantic getaway in the New Year. “They’re determined to make it work, but for now, they’re trying to keep things as low-key as possible out of respect for everyone involved,” the source said.
This is an excerpt from The Buzzer, which is CBC Sports' daily email newsletter. Stay up to speed on what's happening in sports by subscribing here . On Wednesday night, Canada will announce its full roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, the new "best on best" hockey tournament that will serve as an appetizer for the NHL's return to the Olympics a year later. For those who need a refresher, the 4 Nations Face-Off was created earlier this year by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association. It's scheduled for Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston, replacing this season's All-Star Game. Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland will play each other once, and the teams with the two best records after the round robin will square off in a one-game final. Ideally, the 4 Nations Face-Off would probably be a 6 Nations Face-Off including Russia and the Czech Republic — the only other countries with enough NHLers to form a team. (Unlike the Olympics, players from other leagues aren't allowed in this event because the NHL and NHLPA are running it without the cooperation of the IIHF, hockey's world governing body.) But Russia remains suspended from international play because of its war with Ukraine, and the NHL and NHLPA had no interest in undermining the IIHF-issued ban — even though, technically, they can do whatever they want with their own event. The Czechs became collateral damage because a five-team tournament doesn't make sense. The rosters Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland each named the first six players on their team back in June. Canada chose forwards Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Brad Marchand and Brayden Point and defenceman Cale Makar; the Americans picked forwards Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk and defencemen Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy; Sweden selected forwards Filip Forsberg, William Nylander and Mika Zibanejad and defencemen Gustav Forsling, Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson; Finland went with forwards Sebastian Aho, Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, defencemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell and goalie Juuse Saros. The remainder of each team's 23-man roster was due on Monday, and they'll all be unveiled Wednesday. Sweden and Finland announce theirs at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Canada and the U.S. at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tough calls The guy calling the shots for Canada is Don Sweeney, the general manager of the Boston Bruins. Sweeney is Canada's GM for the 4 Nations Face-Off and will be an assistant GM for the 2026 Olympics under Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues. The Tampa Bay Lightning's Jon Cooper is Canada's head coach for both events. Sweeney and his staff are blessed with a bounty of Canadian talent to choose from, but that also makes for some tough decisions. At forward, it's probably safe to assume they picked NHL goals leader Sam Reinhart of Florida, top-five assist man Mitch Marner of Toronto and Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele, who's averaging better than a point per game for one of the league's top teams. The pundits also seem pretty convinced that Philly winger Travis Konecny, coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons, will make it along with Vegas' Mark Stone, who's currently injured (again) but is among the best two-way players in the sport when healthy. It would also be tough to pass up Chicago's Connor Bedard. He's scored only five times in 25 games this season, but the 19-year-old is as talented as they come and could be a full-fledged superstar by the time the Olympics roll around. So it might be wise to get him some top international experience here. HOCKEY NORTH | Reacting to the biggest moments of PWHL's opening weekend: Are Alex Carpenter and Sarah Fillier the best duo in the PWHL? 5 hours ago Duration 5:10 Host Anastasia Bucsis is joined by PWHL insider Karissa Donkin as they react to the biggest moments from the opening weekend of the 2nd season. After that, it gets murkier. For instance, what do you do with 34-year-old Steven Stamkos, who reached 40 goals for the seventh time last season with Tampa Bay but has just seven in his first 25 games with Nashville? And what about Edmonton's Zach Hyman, who potted 54 goals last season on McDavid's wing but has cratered to just three in 20 games this season? On defence, it makes sense to pair Makar with his Colorado blue-line mate Devon Toews. Ditto for Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, who play together in Vegas. Winnipeg's Josh Morrissey and New Jersey's Dougie Hamilton are the two highest-scoring Canadian defencemen other than Makar this season, while Edmonton's Evan Bouchard had that distinction last year. Los Angeles veteran Drew Doughty is out with a broken ankle but could be back in time for the 4 Nations. That brings us to the goalies — the soft underbelly of this team and a big source of anxiety for Canadian fans who pine for the days of Martin Brodeur, Carey Price and even Roberto Luongo. You can argue this team is so stacked that it doesn't need a top-notch tender to win the tournament. But that doesn't mean it'll be fun to white-knuckle it with whoever emerges from the less-than-stellar options including Washington's Logan Thompson, St. Louis' Jordan Binnington, Vegas' Adin Hill and Detroit's Cam Talbot. Binnington and Hill have backstopped their teams to Stanley Cups, but they both have a save percentage below .900 this season. Thompson (.911) could be the front-runner for the No. 1 job as he's a sparkling 10-1-1 for the surprising Capitals, but a hot-hand approach seems like the best bet here.Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia.Police became convinced they were investigating a crime in the disappearance of University of Mississippi student when they interviewed the man now on trial in his death, a top officer testified Tuesday. Lee had been missing for two weeks when officers arrested on July 22, 2022, said Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutchen. Authorities interviewed Herington twice that day, and he gave conflicting information about the hours before Lee vanished, the chief said. “From the moment that we gave Tim Herrington the opportunity to tell the truth and he couldn’t and he lied and we backed that up, we knew then,” McCutchen said. Herrington, 24, is being tried on a capital murder charge in the death of Lee, 20, a gay man who was well known in the LGBTQ+ community at Ole Miss and in Oxford. in Oxford, where is in its second week. Prosecutors and the defense both called their final witnesses Tuesday, and did not testify. Closing arguments are set for Wednesday. Lee’s body has never been found, but a judge has declared him dead. Herrington maintains his innocence and his attorney, Kevin Horan, told jurors last week that prosecutors have “zero” proof Lee was killed. Lee has not contacted friends or family, and his financial transactions and once-prolific social media posts have stopped since the day he went missing, investigators testified. Before officers interviewed Herrington, they had already obtained sexually explicit text messages exchanged between social media accounts belonging to Herrington and Lee in the early hours of July 8, 2022, when Herrington disappeared in Oxford, McCutchen said. Lee communicated with his mother daily, and sent his last message to her hours before he vanished to wish her happy birthday, according to earlier testimony. Google records obtained through a warrant showed that Herrington searched “how long does it take to strangle someone” at 5:56 a.m., University Police Department Sgt. Benjamin Douglas testified last week. The final text message from Lee’s phone was sent to a social media account belonging to Herrington at 6:03 a.m. from a spot near Herrington’s apartment, and cellphone tower in another part of Oxford last located any signal from Lee’s phone at 7:28 a.m., McCutchen said Tuesday. A security camera showed Herrington jogging at about 7:30 a.m. out of a parking lot where Lee’s car was abandoned, investigators testified earlier. “We’ve been looking for Jay Lee’s body for two years, and we’re not going to stop ’til we find it,” McCutchen said in court Tuesday. On the day Lee vanished, Herrington was also seen on security cameras buying duct tape in Oxford and driving to his own hometown of about an hour away, police have testified. Herrington is from an affluent family in Grenada, Mississippi, about 52 miles (83.7 kilometers) southwest of Oxford, testified Ryan Baker, an Oxford Police Department intelligence officer who was a detective when he helped investigated the case. Herrington’s grandfather is bishop of a church in Grenada, other family members work at the church and Herrington himself taught youth Sunday school classes there, Baker said. Herrington “was not portraying himself as gay” to family or friends, Baker said. During testimony Tuesday, Herrington’s father and grandfather both said Herrington had never spoken about having boyfriends. Herrington operated a furniture moving business with another man while they were students at the University of Mississippi, and they had a white box truck that Herrington drove to Grenada, Baker said. Security cameras at several businesses and a neighbor’s house showed Herrington and the truck in Grenada hours after Lee disappeared, Baker said. During McCutchen’s testimony Tuesday, Horan asked whether DNA tests on items taken from Herrington’s apartment and the truck showed “any trace evidence at all implicating my client.” McCutchen said they did not, but police first searched Herrington’s apartment two weeks after Lee vanished and they searched the box truck a few days after the apartment. Both Herrington and Lee had graduated from the University of Mississippi. Lee was pursuing a master’s degree. He was known for his creative expression through fashion and makeup and often performed in drag shows in Oxford, according to a support group called Justice for Jay Lee. Prosecutors have announced they do not intend to pursue the death penalty, meaning Herrington could get a life sentence if convicted. Mississippi law defines capital murder as a killing committed along with another felony — in this case, kidnapping. Emily Wagster Pettus, The Associated Press
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck explains trick play call on game-defining drive in Penn State lossSouth Korea’s president declared martial law. Could it happen in the U.S.?Taisei Co. (OTCMKTS:TISCY) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest
