The Atlanta Braves are in somewhat unfamiliar territory. Atlanta has been great in recent years and has had a very solid core. Most of the team's top pieces have stuck together but changes could come this offseason. All-Star starting pitcher Max Fried is one of the most sought-after free agents on the open market and it's unclear if he will sign back. It seems unlikely at this point but there will be options to replace him. Newsweek's Zach Pressnell put together a list of six options to replace Fried and suggested that the Braves pull off a blockbuster trade with the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet. "(Left-handed pitcher) Garrett Crochet, Chicago White Sox," Pressnell said. "If the Braves are exploring the trade market, they could look to acquire the best arm on the market: Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. "Crochet would require a huge haul to acquire, but that's something the Braves could explore. The flamethrowing southpaw would provide the Braves with one of the higher potential starters in the game. Atlanta likely doesn't have the farm system to comfortably make this deal, but it's something worth exploring for sure." Crochet is a fellow left-handed All-Star and would cost significantly less. He is projected to make $2.9 million in 2025 and is under team control for the 2026 season as well. It would be tough to part with enough prospects to bring Crochet to town, but if Fried leaves maybe the Braves would consider such a move. More MLB: Braves urged to sign projected $60M star if Max Fried cuts ties with ATL
Shortstop Willy Adames and San Francisco Giants finalize $182 million, 7-year contract76ers Paul George Exit Grizzlies Game After Suffering Left Knee Hyperextension By Curious about star and his recent ? Fans are anxious for updates as the All-Star’s absence creates challenges for a struggling Sixers team. As a key piece of Philadelphia’s “Big Three,” his health and recovery are critical to their season’s success. So, what happened to him? Here’s what we know about Paul George’s left knee injury, recovery timeline, and what it means for the struggling 76ers. What happened to Paul George? Paul George suffered a left knee hyperextension during the third quarter of the Philadelphia 76ers’ game against the Memphis Grizzlies on November 20. The injury as George was reaching for a rebound, and he left the game after struggling to move on offense. This is the same knee he injured in the preseason, which had already delayed his season debut by six games. The injury is another setback for the 76ers, who have been plagued by injuries to their “Big Three” of George, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. George managed just two points on 1-of-6 shooting before his exit, and the Sixers went on to lose the game, dropping to a league-worst 2-12 record. When will Paul George return to play for NBA? The timeline for Paul George’s return is currently uncertain. The 76ers have yet to release detailed information about the severity of the hyperextension or a projected recovery timeline. In October, a similar injury kept Paul George out for several weeks, so a similar absence is possible depending on the extent of the current left knee injury. Head coach Nick Nurse has indicated that the injury resembles George’s preseason issue, which required careful management to avoid aggravation. The team will likely prioritize caution to ensure George’s long-term health, especially given his recent struggles with form and fitness. Paul George’s left knee injury is a troubling setback for the Philadelphia 76ers. The team is already struggling with injuries and poor form this season. With no clear timeline for his return, the Sixers must lean on Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Fans are hopeful for positive updates as the team faces a challenging schedule ahead. Vritti Johar, Content Writer at ComingSoon.net, fuses her cinema passion with sharp content creation skills. When she's off-duty, you'll find her exploring the world through art and photography, always feeding her creative side. Share articleIndiana quarterback Rourke earns Jon Cornish Trophy as top Canadian in NCAA footballTaylor Swift’s impact has moved beyond music and fashion into the design of ultra-high-end real estate, changing the expectations for how luxury homes should look and function. The Taylor Swift Effect is driving demand for advanced smart home technology, immersive entertainment spaces and bold design elements that reflect the pop icon’s influence, and home experience designers are collaborating with architects and builders to reimagine living spaces to meet these new desires. Including these amenities in custom homes makes good business sense for builders, especially because 78% of potential homebuyers say they would pay extra for a smart home . The power of young influencers In ultra-high-end custom homes, the significance of younger family members’ wants is growing rapidly. Children from affluent families have specific tastes shaped by pop culture and media, especially Swift’s music. For this generation, home design isn’t just about style — it’s about creating spaces that blend functionality and fun in a digitally harmonious living environment. Swift’s eclectic style and dynamic career are reflected in these designs, where rooms must be adaptable to different purposes, much like Swift herself shifts between genres and personas. Homeowners are requesting multi-functional spaces that serve both practical and entertaining purposes — homework zones by day, party rooms by night. Concert-like entertainment spaces Home experience designers are working with builders to plan homes that blend tech, entertainment and architecture. A key feature of this Swift-inspired trend is state-of-the-art media rooms and entertainment spaces that offer an experience rivaling live concerts. Swift is known for her theatrical performances, and her fans want to bring that same energy into their homes. As a result, modern home designs incorporate embedded audiovisual technology, surround sound systems and customizable lighting to create immersive entertainment hubs. These spaces aren’t just for watching movies — they’re designed for everything from music listening parties to live streaming events. With Swift’s latest hits playing in the background, these entertainment areas become dynamic spaces where families can enjoy a concert-like experience at home, whether they are out back near the pool or rocking out inside the home gym. Social media-ready design In an age where Instagram and TikTok dominate, having a modern luxury home that looks good on camera is a priority. Young influencers are driving the demand for visually striking spaces that pop on social media. Inspired by vibrant aesthetics, design elements like bold color schemes, playful lighting and eye-catching furniture are becoming more popular. Parents want homes that serve not only as functional living spaces but also as Instagrammable moments for the whole family. Swift-inspired interiors, whether reflecting the playful energy of Lover or the cozy vibes of Folklore, are increasingly requested by younger family members who want their homes to mirror their favorite pop star’s style. These design elements balance luxury and creativity, offering families a stylish space that remains practical and visually appealing. Every corner of the home is now seen as a potential backdrop for social media, blending aesthetic appeal with everyday functionality. Transformable spaces One of the most exciting innovations stemming from this new genre is the demand for spaces that can transform at the touch of a button. Modern luxury homes are now being designed with the ability to shift between different functions instantly, creating rooms that go from homework-friendly to entertainment-ready with ease. For example, mood lighting and color change lighting can be adjusted to create versatile atmospheres, while artwork can double as ultra-high-definition screens for eclectic parties, gaming or movie nights. These transformable rooms support productivity and leisure, making them the perfect environment for homeowners’ multifaceted lifestyles. The future of luxury homes The Taylor Swift Effect on home design shows how pop culture and younger generations are reshaping luxury real estate. By incorporating advanced technology, immersive entertainment spaces and adaptable rooms, designers are meeting the demands of homeowners who want creative, functional and stylish homes that allow them to live in harmony. As this trend evolves, we’ll see more luxury homes that embrace these Swift-worthy features — multi-functional, bold and designed to meet the needs of a generation that thrives on creativity and technology, all while fostering an environment that encourages harmony and well-being. Stephen Smith is the solutions engineering manager for home experience design company Bravas , based in Austin, Texas. The firm partners with homeowners, architects, builders and interior designers to help clients live in harmony with their homes.
Laid-off workers from the Northvolt plant that makes batteries for electric vehicles in Skelleftea are flocking to free Swedish for Immigrants courses organised by the municipality. Many of those made redundant were immigrants now hoping to boost their chances of finding work by speaking better Swedish. The medicinal cannabis programme introduced as a pilot scheme in 2018 could be made permanent following its increased use for pain relief. The Interior and Health ministry said the government wanted patients to continue using medicinal cannabis without having to acquire it on the illegal market. Freja Kirk, singer and a LGBT role model, met homophobic abuse when she performed at an Odense school where, amongst other things pupils called her a freak. “There was a bad vibe and bad energy among some of them,” the singer said afterwards. “It makes me disappointed and sad for young people. Most Read on Euro Weekly News The number of boys in the 13-17 age group taking medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown from 2 per cent to 5.5. per cent since 2004, Norway’s Institute of Public Health (NIPH) figures showed. The NIPH attributed the rise to growing awareness and improved diagnostic methods. Modernising Oslo’s busy Majorstuen station, a new signalling system and completing the new Fornebu line will disrupt the metro system in 2025, public transport provider Ruter announced. “There will be detours and replacement buses on different sections throughout much of next year,” Ruter warned. Fifty-one per cent of Italians told a survey by ANAS, which manages the country’s motorways and main road, that they did not believe driving over the speed limit was dangerous. ANAS chief executive Aldo Isi said these figures highlighted the need for more investment in road education and awareness. Italy came 43rd out of 63 countries on the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) presented at the COP29 Conference in Baku. This was better than last year when Italy was ranked 44th but despite a medium rating for greenhouse gas emissions, it lost out on renewable energy and climate policy. The Sint-Joost-ten-Node municipal elections on October 13 were declared invalid after the new mayor Emir Kir was accused of electoral fraud. As proxy votes at two of the town’s 12 polling stations were untraceable and another 226 proxy forms had errors, it is likely voters will have to go to the polls again. A gold tooth, all that remains of Patrice Lumumba, was not stolen from his mausoleum in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s capital, as previously feared. Lumumba, assassinated by Katangan separatists in 1961, was responsible for transforming the Belgian Congo into an independent nation. Environmentalists opposed to extending Tesla’s Gruneheide plant were moved from their camp by police who explained that they needed to verify there were more no unexploded bombs in the area after two were found there last summer. Once pronounced safe, the activists could return, police said. Crisis-hit Volkswagen which hopes to save €18 billion by shutting down three sites worldwide, is also planning staff reductions, prompting its German employees to offer a cut in their salaries to avoid redundancies. Should this fail, there will be industrial action the union that represents them warned. Spot checks on 115,000 people by border police between January and the end of October this year prevented 497 illegal entries at frontier crossings with Germany and Belgium. An additional 628 people who were stopped in vehicles went on to request asylum in the Netherlands, police statistics revealed. None of the lifts at 10 of Amsterdam’s 38 metro stations are working and are now totally inaccessible to wheelchair users, according to the NH Niews and local television station AT 5. The city’s public transport company GVB agreed that there was a problem and said they were waiting for spare parts for the lifts. Cyclists are increasingly unpopular in France and are accused of treating other road users with contempt, especially in Paris where mayor Anne Hidalgo is reproached for favouring them. In contrast, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) claim cyclists are “routinely subjected to motorised violence.” EMMANUEL MACRON finished his Latin American tour in Chile where he visited the Santiago home of the late poet and Nobel prizewinner Pablo Neruda, emphasing his links to France. The connection was political as well as literary, the President said, as France was both a refuge and a platform for Neruda. The video game industry in Finland has developed from a few small operators 30 years ago to a multimillion industry that is one of Europe’s largest. Figures from Statista Finland show that in 2019 the sector was worth $185.74 million (€177.1 million), but will soar 91 per cent to $356.49 million (€339.9 million) by 2029. Finland has recorded its highest number of corporate bankruptcies so far this century, with 2,700 companies declaring themselves insolvent by the beginning of November and overtaking 2023’s record number of 2,681 bankruptcies. Small businesses that have a turnover of less than €199,000 were the most affected. The Irish National Seismic Network (INSN) registered a mild 1.6 earthquake northeast of Brandon (County Cork) at 5.50am on November 19. It was only one kilometre below the surface and some locals reported noting the tremor, which was described as “unusual” for Co Cork where seismic activity is rare. IRELAND’S employment figures are rising, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) revealed, with 73 per cent of the 15 to 64 age group working in the third quarter of 2024. With approximately 2.8 million people in jobs, this was 1.1 percentage points more than during the same period in 2023, the CSO said. The six reservoirs and dams that provide the Algarve’s water were at 34 per cent capacity on November 18 following recent rainfall, Portugal’s Environment Agency (APA) said. Between them they hold approximately 154 cubic hectometres of water, which equates to 35 per cent of the needs of tourism and urban areas. Only 4.1 per cent of the 6,446 Portuguese children who are in care live with foster families, and their ages generally range from newborns to nine-year-olds. The government now hopes to “make great strides” in reducing the number of children of all ages in institutional care by finding more foster homes for them.Pay first, deliver later: Some women are being asked to prepay for their babyFormer Twins first baseman Carlos Santana signs with Guardians
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed party workers on Saturday as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra. The senior politician hailed the poll results as a victory of ‘development, good governance and social justice’ while ‘lies and deceit’ suffered a crushing defeat. “This time Maharashtra has broken all records. This is the biggest victory for any party or pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra in the last 50 years. This is the third consecutive time that Maharashtra has blessed the alliance led by BJP. For the third time, BJP has emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra,” he said. PM Modi also noted that the BJP had received more seats than the Congress and its allies and that Maharashtra was the sixth state to have given the mandate to BJP three times in a row. “Biggest message from Maharashtra after Haryana polls is unity. 'Ek hain to safe hain' has become country's 'mahamantra'. Some people resorted to betrayal and tried to create instability in Maharashtra... voters have punished them. Voters are with those who put ‘nation first’...not with those putting ‘kursi first’. The 'INDI Alliance' is unable to understand the mood of the country,” he added.Toronto police have installed books of condolence at three locations for people who wish to leave messages of support for family, friends, and colleagues of the late Det. John Park. A 14-year veteran of the force who has been serving as a member of the hold-up squad, Park experienced a medical episode while executing a search warrant in connection with an ongoing robbery investigation in North York on Dec. 19. He died suddenly. Park, who was 40 and began his career with Toronto Police Service (TPS) at 22 Division, leaves behind his wife Tina and their two children, Madison, age 9, and five-year-old Austin, as well as his parents Lorne and Theresa, his sister Jennifer and her husband Anthony, his grandparents Leslie and Louise. An for Park said that he was a dear son-in-law to Brenda and Orlando, a beloved brother-in-law to Christopher and Vanessa, and the proud of Rocco, Michael, Tiago and Mia. He will also be fondly remembered by his many aunts, uncles and cousins, it read. “John’s life was one filled with love for his family, friends, and colleagues. His memory will forever create smiles, laughter, tears, and inspiration. John will be missed by all who knew him,” the obituary said. The books of condolence will be located at Toronto Police Service Headquarters, 40 College St., from Dec. 23 to 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm., 33 Division, 50 Upjohn Rd. in North York, from Dec. 23 to 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, and at 22 Division, 3699 Bloor St. W. in Etobicoke, also from Dec. 23 to 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Members of the public should note that they will need to go through a security check point to enter TPS Headquarters and sign the book. Park’s unexpected and untimely death has prompted an outpouring of support from other first-responders in the GTA, including Toronto Paramedics Services, York Regional Police, and Durham Regional Police, who have all posted messages of condolences on social media. Several officers also lined the street outside Humber River Hospital when Toronto police held a Dec. 19 news conference announcing his death. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow as well as Premier Doug Ford also offered their condolences. Further, the CN Tower was dimmed for five minutes at the top of each hour on Thursday night in Park’s honour. Visitation for Park will be held at Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes at 8088 Yonge St. in Thornhill on Dec. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. His funeral service is set for Dec. 30 at Bayview Glen Church, 300 Steeles Ave. E. in Thornhill at 1 p.m. A has also been created to help pay for Park’s funeral and support his widow and children. His family is requesting donations in lieu of flowers.
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SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- Last Wednesday, attorneys from Susman Godfrey LLP and Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff, LLP filed an antitrust lawsuit on behalf of CDS Litigation, LLC, against Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”), the American Dental Association (“ADA”), and the American Association of Orthodontists (“AAO”). The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, alleges that the Defendants engaged in a multi-year coordinated and illegal conspiracy to eliminate their most serious market competitor to protect their industry dominance at the expense of consumers’ ability to access effective, affordable, and proven orthodontic care. This lawsuit arises from evidence described in the complaint that the Defendants colluded to drive SmileDirectClub, a leading provider of affordable and effective telehealth-based orthodontic solutions, out of business. Align initially invested tens of millions of dollars in SmileDirectClub and supported its business model as an investor, board member, lender, and manufacturer. All that changed, however, after SmileDirectClub rejected Align’s proposed buyout bid and an arbitrator later forced Align out of the company entirely for improperly using its access to confidential and proprietary SmileDirectClub information to try to copy SmileDirectClub’s business. The complaint explains how Align, no longer able to profit off of SmileDirectClub’s growth, turned to colluding with the ADA and AAO on a years-long campaign to destroy SmileDirectClub. Despite SmileDirectClub’s high customer satisfaction ratings and proven track record of offering effective care, the Defendants’ coordinated actions described in the complaint ultimately required the company to cease operations, resulting in fewer choices and higher costs for consumers. Evidence Of Anti-Competitive Behavior SmileDirectClub’s innovative model disrupted the orthodontic industry and threatened the financial interests of the Defendants by offering affordable, effective, and accessible clear aligner treatment, with clinical supervision and approval by state-licensed dentists and orthodontists on a fully remote basis, thereby doing away with the need for in-office visits and eliminating key barriers of cost and geography for millions of consumers. As detailed in the complaint, Align was initially attracted to this new model, investing $59.5 million for a 19% ownership stake in SmileDirectClub and becoming the company’s exclusive third-party supplier of clear aligners. This partnership granted Align extensive access to SmileDirectClub’s confidential business information, as well as a seat on its board of directors. But as the lawsuit explains, after SmileDirectClub rejected Align’s $1.5 billion buyout offer, Align instead used the confidential information it had learned from SmileDirectClub and opened a series of copycat “Scan Shops” modeled directly on SmileDirectClub’s innovative SmileShops. SmileDirectClub brought an arbitration against Align because of Align’s violation of the restrictive covenants it had previously agreed to, and the arbitrator ruled in SmileDirectClub’s favor in early 2019. The ruling ordered Align to divest its stake in SmileDirectClub at a steep discount, costing Align hundreds of millions of dollars. The arbitrator also enjoined Align from opening competing stores until August 2022. At this point, the complaint alleges that Align pivoted and launched its new strategy to eliminate SmileDirectClub as a competitor and secure a monopoly in the clear aligner market. The complaint details allegations as to how Align worked in concert with the ADA and AAO to spread false and misleading claims about SmileDirectClub’s safety and efficacy to damage its reputation with consumers and industry professionals, filed baseless complaints with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and leveraged exclusive agreements with dental support organizations - while also interfering with other third-party relationships - to block SmileDirectClub from accessing vital market opportunities. According to the lawsuit, these actions represented a calculated and coordinated effort by the Defendants to stifle competition and innovation in orthodontic care as part of their conspiracy to monopolize the industry and prevent consumers from accessing additional proven treatment options at more affordable prices. The lawsuit also shows how these actions directly contradicted the positions two of the conspirators—Align and the ADA—had taken up until the point when Align’s efforts to buy or copy SmileDirectClub failed. As the lawsuit explains, prior to embarking on the conspiracy, Align’s own CEO had forcefully debunked the exact same false assertions about SmileDirectClub’s services that Align and its coconspirators would repeatedly promote once Align shifted from trying to copy or buy SmileDirectClub to trying to destroy it. Similarly, as the lawsuit shows, the ADA expressly supported and endorsed “asynchronous” teledentistry (i.e., dentists treating patients without having to meet with them live) for years, only to reverse course right when it began conspiring with Align to falsely denigrate SmileDirectClub’s business model. Consumer Impact The alleged actions of Align, the ADA, and the AAO significantly reduced competition, requiring consumers to pay higher prices for orthodontic treatment while limiting their access to proven and less expensive alternative solutions. Before its bankruptcy, SmileDirectClub provided millions of consumers with an affordable and effective telehealth solution for clear aligner treatment, receiving high customer satisfaction ratings and helping those who used the company’s products achieve successful outcomes. Despite its effectiveness and proven product quality, the filing explains that SmileDirectClub was forced into bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2023 as a result of the Defendants’ systematic anticompetitive actions. The Plaintiff in this case, CDS Litigation, LLC, has the right to pursue litigation claims held by SmileDirectClub against the Defendants. ADA/AAO Involvement The filing describes the pivotal roles the ADA and the AAO played in the conspiracy to destroy SmileDirectClub, leveraging their positions as influential trade associations and active market participants to shield giant sponsors - like Align - and block disruption in the industry. The complaint alleges that the ADA and AAO participated in this monopolistic conspiracy by using their position as both market participants and powerful trade associations to preserve the profits and dominance of entrenched industry leaders and ensure that disruptive innovations – like SmileDirectClub’s affordable and accessible care model – could not succeed. About Susman Godfrey The lawsuit is being led by the team at Susman Godfrey that secured a $787.5 million settlement on behalf of Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation case against Fox News. “The filing alleges that Align Technology abused its market dominance to systematically crush competition and protect its monopoly at the expense of consumers,” said Stephen Shackelford, Partner at Susman Godfrey LLP . “According to the complaint, after Align was forced to give up its ownership interest in SmileDirectClub, it suddenly changed its tune as to SmileDirectClub’s model and conspired with the ADA and AAO to spread falsehoods, disrupt SmileDirectClub’s business relationships, and block its access to essential equipment and partnerships. Align’s conduct alleged in the complaint was anticompetitive, calculated, and illegal. The allegations in the complaint show how the entrenched and powerful incumbents in Big Dentistry manipulated the system to collude against a revolutionary and otherwise successful competitor, restrict affordable and effective options for consumers, and inflict lasting reputational damage through their dissemination of demonstrably false claims.” “As explained in the complaint, the Defendants didn’t just target their main competitor - they targeted the millions of consumers who stood to benefit from the affordable and accessible orthodontic care the competitor offered. The effectiveness of SmileDirectClub’s model and products threatened the Defendants’ market and financial interests, who, according to the filing, conspired to destroy the company rather than compete with them fairly,” said Davida Brook, Partner at Susman Godfrey LLP . “This complaint presents a textbook example of how dominant players collude to maintain market power, stifle competition, and harm consumers.” Susman Godfrey LLP is a leading national trial firm with an unmatched track record in high-stakes litigation. The firm has earned recognition as a fearless advocate for fairness, representing clients seeking justice against entrenched industry leaders. About Benesch Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff joins Susman Godfrey as co-counsel and is being led by a team that has extensive experience representing SmileDirectClub. “Having previously litigated and won against Align, we are all too familiar with the sort of abusive anticompetitive acts alleged in the Complaint against Align and other dominant players in the traditional dental market. SmileDirectClub pioneered the use of teledentistry to advance oral care with over 2 million satisfied customers, and the Complaint details the astonishing tactics the Defendants devised to run SmileDirectClub out of business,” said David Rammelt, a Partner at Benesch and Co-Chair of its Litigation Group. Benesch’s award-winning Litigation Practice Group has secured multibillion-dollar wins for plaintiffs and defendants in precedent-setting cases. An Am Law 200 firm, Benesch is nationally recognized by Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Law Firms “Best Lawyers” for earning a place of distinction representing mid-size to Fortune 100 companies in high-stakes litigation and jury trials across the country. Founded in 1938, Benesch has grown to more than 400 attorneys across six U.S. offices. Over the last five years, Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group has expanded by 40% to more than 170 attorneys, making it among the fastest-growing practices in the country. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223208613/en/ Jeremy Adler,jeremy@uplandworkshop.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: LEGAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES HEALTH DENTAL SOURCE: Susman Godfrey LLP Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 02:30 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 02:30 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223208613/enShould Washington Commanders be concerned about Marshon Lattimore? | Sporting News
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The 41-year-old has been in charge of the Baggies since October 2022, recording 47 wins from his 107 matches in charge. Having established West Brom as a Championship promotion contender since his arrival, the Spaniard has recently been linked with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton. However, according to Marca , it appears that it will be a La Liga club that push through a deal for his services. © Imago Earlier in the day, Valencia made the decision to part ways with Ruben Baraja courtesy of their lowly position in Spain's top flight. Just 12 points have been accumulated from 17 matches to leave Valencia sitting second-bottom in the table , four points adrift of safety. Despite recent draws with Alaves and Espanyol, the club's board have preferred to go in a different direction, sacking the club legend after 78 matches in charge. An earlier report suggested that Corberan and Quique Sanchez Flores were the two candidates in contention to replace Baraja, yet it now appears that a concrete decision has been made to go with Corberan. Valencia are allegedly prepared to pay the £2.8m release clause in his contract with Corberan having already given the green light to a move. Providing that a deal goes through as expected, Corberan will be returning to a club where he spent time in their academy ranks and 'B' team as a player. © Imago West Brom have endured a relatively positive campaign thus far, collecting 35 points from their 22 matches in the second tier of English football. Although they have suffered just three defeats, there have been 11 draws, yet they are within two points of fifth-placed Blackburn Rovers in the Championship table . Furthermore, the West Midlands outfit have lost just one of their last 14 games and prevailed in two of their most recent three fixtures.Old news often retains its relevance when the establishment increases its level of aggression toward its latest target. For instance, in a clip posted to the social media platform X in September 2023, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former House Speaker, described the exact method — she called it a “wrap-up smear” — by which the establishment media colludes with Democrats and establishment Republicans to destroy the character of anyone deemed a threat to the system. Given the date, of course, Pelosi was not specifically addressing the recent attacks against defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth. Still, one could not mistake the pattern she was describing, apparently to a group of journalists. “You smear somebody with falsehoods and all the rest. And then you merchandise it. And then [journalists] write it, and they’ll say, ‘See? It’s reported in the press that this, this, this and this.’ So they have that validation that the press reported the smear, and then it’s called the wrap-up smear,” said. “Now I am going to merchandise the press’s report on the smear that we made. It’s a tactic,” she added. Never forget when Nancy Pelosi revealed the Democrat Party’s entire playbook: ‘The Wrap Up Smear’ “You smear somebody with falsehoods and all the rest and then you merchandise it and then you write it and they’ll say, see, it’s reported in the press that this, this, this and... — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) Needless to say, Pelosi intended those comments as an accusation, not an admission of guilt. As conservative journalist has often said, however, leftists accuse their opponents of doing what they actually do. “They say precisely the opposite of what they mean every time. They accuse you of the crimes they themselves are committing,” Carlson said in a clip posted to X in July 2020. Tucker Carlson Exposing The Left’s Strategy To Take Power “Their first instinct is to manipulate rather than persuade. They hide their real beliefs. They say precisely the opposite of what they mean every time. They accuse you of the crimes they themselves are committing.” — The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) Last month, President-elect Donald Trump nominated , a decorated veteran and political outsider, to serve as secretary of defense. True to form, establishment politicians denounced as unqualified. In other words, he owed no favors to donors and lobbyists, which made him impossible to control. Thus, the establishment turned to the wrap-up smear. Earlier this week, for instance, NBC a hit piece in which 10 current and former Fox News employees, all speaking anonymously, expressed concerns about what they described as Hegseth’s drinking problem — a smear so shameless and cowardly that many of Hegseth’s other former colleagues went on the record to refute it. As Pelosi explained, however, the hit piece only works if it gives establishment senators “validation” when they vote against Hegseth. We see how the game works, and we thank the former speaker for laying it out with such clarity. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. .
Newswise — Electricity, water, transportation, healthcare and communications interact to form a broader system of systems that analysts at Argonne are committed to making more resilient. Decision and infrastructure sciences experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are dedicated to understanding how critical infrastructure operates — and why and when sometimes it won’t. By analyzing the way key systems like electricity, water, transportation, healthcare and communications interact, they form an understanding of a sort of “system of systems” upon which modern society relies. This includes understanding how that broad system functions normally on good days and what might happen on not-so-good days. Meet seven people of infrastructure resilience whose scientific, analytical and technological expertise serves communities in times of stress or change and helps them plan to adapt to future challenges. The U.S. power grid is an example of something so large, so complex and so interconnected that it is truly too big to fail. And yet it does sometimes. Just ask anyone who has experienced outages during an extreme weather event. Leah Talaber, an infrastructure analyst at Argonne, developed a sophisticated hurricane model called HEADOUT to help predict where and when critical infrastructure systems are most likely to experience outages. The model is so valuable and accurate that it runs every time the National Hurricane Center issues an advisory. In the hours preceding some storms, Talaber has been tasked with providing hourly updates to DOE and DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Systems, and Emergency Response (CESER). HEADOUT data is essential because it helps communities anticipate and mitigate the safety and economic impacts of losing electrical power, which could cascade to other types of infrastructure, including so-called “lifeline systems” — energy, water, communications and transportation — when a hurricane makes landfall. After every storm, HEADOUT analysts review the model’s predicted storm path and reconcile that data with the storm’s actual path. They also consider the storm’s impact on electrical power. When errors between the predicted model and the actual result are found, Talaber said, it is sometimes a positive sign that regions have improved infrastructure as a result of data HEADOUT provided in previous storms. Using better models and more reliable data, regions can more accurately calculate where it is most important to make interdependent systems more resilient in anticipation of future events. “It’s very exciting to see how these advances have the potential to save lives,” said Talaber. “The more information we have, the more we can prepare. That decreases the potential for lives lost.” If someone has to focus on the possibility of a regional energy system having its worst kind of day, it might be David Sehloff, an Argonne energy systems engineer. Sehloff, who lived in California during an era of rolling energy blackouts, is an expert in modeling adverse conditions on regional power transmission networks. Sometimes, he’s using Argonne’s high-fidelity downscaled future weather simulations to look many years into the future. Other times, he is modeling a system’s resilience a few months ahead. He examines how a system will respond when an adverse event propagates through it and ripples into other parts of the network. He also examines what happens to the infrastructure systems that are dependent or interdependent on the initially affected system. “An adverse event might be a natural hazard, a cyber event or a physical attack,” said Sehloff. “A flood might take out a substation and we know we’ll lose power in its vicinity. But how does losing that one substation affect the rest of the system, and can we model how that entire system will respond and recover?” This analysis can reveal a system’s most vulnerable aspects. With that information, Argonne can start making recommendations for how to mitigate effects and improve overall system resilience. “Power systems work very well, but there is a high cost when there is a disruption,” Sehloff said. “It’s important to identify critical times and pieces of infrastructure so that we can make improvements and prevent worst case outcomes.” Navigating the vast complexity of so much infrastructure in order to make it more resilient might be easier if there was a map to follow. But ask what information belongs on that map and Argonne’s Carmella Burdi will ask you what story you are trying to tell. “What belongs on a map changes based on what you’re trying to do,” said Burdi, group leader of Argonne’s Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and Data Analytics. “We have the ability — and maybe the responsibility — to think about what’s going on when we’re trying to get information across using a map.” Unlike cartographers of old who used chain links as standard units of measure and drafted with pencil on paper, Burdi and others at Argonne use the laboratory’s high performance computing (HPC) resources to add mathematical depth and scientific meaning to spatial data. She has become an expert at piecing together GIS and data analytics to tell complex community stories. For example, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), AT&T and DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, she helped develop a free, R&D 100 award-winning, publicly available online tool called ClimRR to make Argonne’s high-fidelity, dynamically downscaled future weather projections more accessible to both non-experts and experts alike. Local, regional and national decision-makers can use this information for forward-looking resilience planning or in immediate response to crises. “When you’re talking about infrastructure resilience, you’re talking about an actual spot on the earth’s surface that’s important to understand,” Burdi said. “As technology makes more data available to us, we’re able to capture more information about the world. We can organize that data, make sense of it and make our findings discoverable for other folks who need it.” Lawrence “Paul” Lewis lived through the deadly devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans as a law student in 2005. The experience was profound and formative, both personally and professionally. “I witnessed communities lose absolutely everything,” said Lewis, who had been studying environmental law. “It caused me to start thinking, ‘why did this happen? Was it the way the city was constructed? What was it about the infrastructure that caused all of the systems’ failures?’ ” Inspired, Lewis completed his legal studies, went on to earn a master’s degree in threat and response management and is currently completing a Ph.D. in systems engineering. Today, as the Community Resilience and Sustainable Development Program Lead and co-principal investigator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Regional Resiliency Assessment Program (RRAP), he devotes himself to finding, untangling and modeling solutions to single points of infrastructure failures that can disrupt entire systems and devastate communities. “There’s not always a data set you can download and feed into a model,” Lewis said. “Some of this analysis has to be stitched together from real people who identify which part of their system is the most consequential to lose.” Lifeline systems are the most devastating to lose and they can create cascading problems for a community. Those failures are the ones Lewis wants to help identify most. “It’s really important to me that my work with Argonne has economic impact,” he said. “But, most important to me is the immediate impact we have on helping communities to be the versions of themselves that they want to be.” A better understanding of how infrastructure systems connect and relate to one another can help system operators to prioritize and restore functionality when a natural hazard or other event disrupts operations. Josh Bergerson, a principal infrastructure analyst at Argonne, works directly with critical infrastructure owners and operators to help them gain greater visibility of their dependencies on and interdependencies with other infrastructure systems. This can be through complex analysis of a system — and its place within the broader system of systems — or by facilitating more transparency between system operators. For example, a hospital may know it needs water and electricity, but it might not know how disruptions in these utilities could impact its usage of those systems. “Other than knowing the direct substation to which it is connected, a hospital might not know some of the resilience challenges,” Bergerson said. “We can work with stakeholders to collect data and run different analyses to help them understand what they can do so their supply is not as vulnerable every time there’s a storm or other event.” Smaller utilities might not fully understand the demands of their customers and how to prioritize restoration of power. But prioritizing a hospital’s critical functions is likely higher priority than restoring a nearby parking garage’s functionality. It also presents different resilience challenges. Bergerson works to bridge this gap in understanding through his work in support of RRAP and DHS. “Sometimes this work directly informs future decisions to enhance critical infrastructure resilience,” he said. “Sometimes it brings value by building relationships between stakeholders.” When planning for and developing critical infrastructure, one of the biggest x factors in any plan may be the people who use it. “People don’t necessarily use infrastructure in the ways we expect, even though they are the very reason why infrastructure is built in the first place,” said Liz Bolton, infrastructure risk analyst at Argonne. In addition to being a Fulbright scholar, Bolton is an expert in water security and the nexus between people and infrastructure. During one program abroad, she recalled, a community diverted water from newly constructed infrastructure for purposes entirely different than what its engineers intended. The region spent millions of dollars, but the effort didn’t result in improved water security. Bolton believes there are opportunities to apply new ways of thinking to promote greater water security. She studies the interdependencies between water and power grids, and the critical choke points where the greatest impact is felt if part of the system, such as a power plant, should fail. “Power and clean water are inextricably linked,” said Bolton. “Pumping, treating, cleaning and distributing water require a lot of energy. Energy production often requires large volumes of clean water for equipment cooling. When one fails, the other is at risk.” Analyzing and understanding the interdependencies of water and complex systems (that include people) is Bolton’s top priority. “We all expect water to be there until it isn’t,” she said. “At the point when we notice poor quality or insufficient quantity, it’s often too late.” Before becoming Argonne’s director of Global Energy and Climate Security, Duane Verner considered various careers in security and law enforcement. He was a National Park Service Ranger in Glacier National Park. He earned a degree in urban planning and helped governments and organizations with infrastructure recovery efforts after disasters like Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Combined, the experiences all made him pose a question to himself that he continues to ask today: How can communities be built to be more resilient to natural disasters and man-made attacks? His efforts to answer that question have varied over time and include work on national and international programs, including the DHS’s RRAP, the DOE’s Office of International Affairs’ Partnership for Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation (P-TECC), and the U.S. Department of State’s Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Energy and the stability of energy systems are increasingly important to the U.S. and its allies. As a result, Verner supports P-TECC and OSCE in their shared focus to develop and implement projects on the protection of critical, sustainable energy networks and energy-related aspects of disaster risk reduction in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For example, recent geopolitical tensions prompted the country of Moldova to identify viable alternative routes and sources of natural gas in the event of a wintertime disruption. Verner and an Argonne colleague flew to Moldova’s capital, analyzed the interdependencies of the country’s power system, identified ways to respond to a potential disruption and jump-started a partnership that led to a viable backup plan. That kind of expertise, Verner said, plus the HPC resources in the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, a DOE Office of Science user facility, and additional science and technology capabilities make Argonne a key contributor to infrastructure resilience — and national security. “We have very unique capabilities at the national labs,” he said, “and the world knows that.” The DOE, DOE’s CESER, DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, DHS, DHS’s FEMA, DOE’s Office of International Affairs, OSCE, AT&T and others sponsors contributed funding for research described in this article. The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility provides supercomputing capabilities to the scientific and engineering community to advance fundamental discovery and understanding in a broad range of disciplines. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program, the ALCF is one of two DOE Leadership Computing Facilities in the nation dedicated to open science. Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science .Anti-NATO protest in Montreal erupts in fires, smashed windows, arrests, say police
Minority extremist forces aided UDF victory in Palakkad, allege LDF, BJPThe Texas Longhorns and Georgia Bulldogs are set to square off in the SEC championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7th, and if it's anything like their regular season meeting, it's safe to say this game could be chaotic. Georgia came out on top, beating Texas by a final score of 30-15. Of course, the game was marred by a controversial incident that saw Longhorns fans, upset about a pass interference call, throw debris on the field. The game was paused as a result, and it eventually led to the referees conferring with each other and reversing their initial call. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
KyKy Tandy, FAU close out Oklahoma State in CharlestonBryce Thompson scored 17 points and achieved a milestone as Oklahoma State defeated Miami 80-74 on Friday afternoon in a Charleston Classic consolation game in Charleston, S.C. Thompson made 6-of-14 shots from the floor, surpassing 1,000 points for his career at Oklahoma State (4-1), which also got 15 points from Marchelus Avery. The Cowboys won in large part thanks to their impressive 3-point shooting (10-for-22, 45.5 percent). Oklahoma State backup guard Arturo Dean, a Miami native, posted eight points and one steal. He led the nation in steals last season while playing for Florida International. Miami (3-2) has lost two straight games in Charleston, failing to take a lead at any point. They will play on Sunday against either Nevada or VCU. The Hurricanes on Friday were led by Nijel Pack, who had a game-high 20 points. Brandon Johnson had a double-double for Miami with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Matthew Cleveland scored 11 points and Lynn Kidd and Paul Djobet added 10 points apiece for Miami. Miami, which fell behind 7-0 in Thursday's loss to Drake, got behind 9-0 on Friday as Abou Ousmane scored six of his eight points. Oklahoma State stretched its lead to 18 before settling for a 43-27 advantage at the break. Pack led all first-half scorers with 10 points, but Miami shot just 29.6 percent from the floor, including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers (23.1). Oklahoma State shot 48.4 percent, including 8-for-15 on 3-pointers (53.3 percent) before intermission. The Cowboys also had a 14-8 edge in paint points. In the second half, Miami closed its 20-point deficit to 55-42 with 12:12 left. Miami got a bit closer as two straight short jumpers by Kidd, trimming the deficit to 73-62 with 3:25 to play. The Hurricanes cut it to 77-70 on Pack's 3-pointer with 34 seconds remaining, but the Cowboys hit their free throws to close out the win. --Field Level Media
By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.Former Twins first baseman Carlos Santana signs with Guardians
President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska's Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska's Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? President-elect Donald Trump has once again suggested he wants to revert the name of North America’s tallest mountain — Alaska’s Denali — to Mount McKinley, wading into a sensitive and decades-old conflict about what the peak should be called. Former President Barack Obama changed the official name to Denali in 2015 to reflect the traditions of Alaska Natives as well as the preference of many Alaska residents. The federal government in recent years has endeavored to change place-names considered disrespectful to Native people. “Denali” is an Athabascan word meaning “the high one” or “the great one.” A prospector in 1896 dubbed the peak “Mount McKinley” after President William McKinley, who had never been to Alaska. That name was formally recognized by the U.S. government until Obama changed it over opposition from lawmakers in McKinley’s home state of Ohio. Trump suggested in 2016 that he might undo Obama’s action, but he dropped that notion after Alaska’s senators objected. He raised it again during a rally in Phoenix on Sunday. “McKinley was a very good, maybe a great president,” Trump said Sunday. “They took his name off Mount McKinley, right? That’s what they do to people.” Once again, Trump’s suggestion drew quick opposition within Alaska. “Uh. Nope. It’s Denali,” Democratic state Sen. Scott Kawasaki posted on the social platform X Sunday night. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who for years pushed for legislation to change the name to Denali, conveyed a similar sentiment in a post of her own. “There is only one name worthy of North America’s tallest mountain: Denali — the Great One,” Murkowski wrote on X. Various tribes of Athabascan people have lived in the shadow of the 20,310-foot (6,190-meter) mountain for thousands of years. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. McKinley, a Republican native of Ohio who served as the 25th president, was assassinated early in his second term in 1901 in Buffalo, New York. Alaska and Ohio have been at odds over the name since at least the 1970s. Alaska had a standing request to change the name since 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond appealed to the federal government. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it. ___ Rush reported from Portland, Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement
Luigi Mangione, who is accused of shooting and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, fought extradition to New York during a hearing in a Pennsylvania court on Dec. 10. During the hearing, Mangione was denied bail—something he has 14 days to challenge—while prosecutors raised concerns about him being a flight risk. Mangione’s attorney, Thomas Dickey, said his client wanted a hearing on extradition and on whether a second-degree murder charge from New York might be eligible for bail. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said that it would seek a governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition. A felony warrant from New York cited Altoona police stating that written admissions to the crime were found in Mangione’s belongings. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that Mangione was likely motivated by anger toward health insurance companies. A Pennsylvania police complaint alleged that Mangione committed forgery, carried a firearm without a license, tampered with records or identification, possessed instruments of crime, and falsely identified himself to law enforcement. The law enforcement bulletin said that Mangione described Ted Kaczynski, the “Unabomber,” as a political revolutionary and that Mangione’s targeting of Thompson appeared to be symbolic. It also said Mangione described health care companies as parasitic and wrote about how profits increased while life expectancy didn’t. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland House of Delegates member Nino Mangione, posted a family statement on social media on Dec. 9. “Unfortunately, we cannot comment on news reports regarding Luigi Mangione,” the statement read. “We only know what we have read in the media. Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest. We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.”
A probate commissioner has ruled against Rupert Murdoch’s effort to change his family’s trust to give one of his sons control of his media empire and ensure Fox News maintains its conservative editorial slant, according to a sealed document obtained by The New York Times. In a decision filed on Saturday, a probate commissioner in Nevada concluded that Murdoch, 93, and his son, Lachlan Murdoch, had acted in “bad faith” in their endeavor to amend the irrevocable trust, The New York Times reported on Monday. The trust divides control of the company equally among four of Rupert Murdoch’s children — Prudence, Elisabeth, Lachlan and James — after he dies. Lachlan Murdoch has been the head of Fox News and News Corp since late last year, when his father stepped down. The elder Murdoch has argued that to preserve his businesses’ commercial value for all his heirs, the trust must be changed to allow Lachlan Murdoch to maintain Fox News' conservative bent. James and Elisabeth Murdoch are both known to have less-conservative political views than their father or brother, potentially complicating efforts to ensure that Fox News remains conservative. In his 96-page opinion, Nevada Probate Commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. of the Second Judicial District Court characterized the plan to change the trust as a “carefully crafted charade” to “permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch’s executive roles” inside the empire “regardless of the impacts such control would have over the companies or the beneficiaries” of the family trust. Adam Streisand, a lawyer for Rupert Murdoch, told the newspaper that his client and his client's son were disappointed with the ruling and intended to appeal. A spokesperson for Prudence, Elisabeth and James Murdoch said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that they welcome the ruling and hope that their family can “move beyond this litigation to focus on strengthening and rebuilding relationships among all family members.” Gorman in his conclusion said: “The effort was an attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch’s favor after Rupert Murdoch’s passing so that his succession would be immutable. The play might have worked; but an evidentiary hearing, like a showdown in a game of poker, is where gamesmanship collides with the facts and at its conclusion, all the bluffs are called and the cards lie face up.” He added: “The court, after considering the facts of this case in the light of the law, sees the cards for what they are and concludes this raw deal will not, over the signature of this probate commissioner, prevail.”Big beef: No space for Bevo at SEC title game - ESPN