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S&P/TSX composite rises on morning of Christmas Eve, U.S. stock markets also up TORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada's main stock index higher in late-morning trading on Christmas Eve, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 57.82 points at 24,806.80. Canadian Press Dec 24, 2024 8:31 AM Dec 24, 2024 8:35 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message A signboard is displayed at the TMX in Toronto, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Listen to this article 00:01:33 TORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada's main stock index higher in late-morning trading on Christmas Eve, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index was up 57.82 points at 24,806.80. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 177.64 points at 43,084.59. The S&P 500 index was up 43.11 points at 6,017.18, while the Nasdaq composite was up 210.74 points at 19,975.62. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.50 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 91 cents at US$70.15 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 13 cents at US$3.48 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$1.10 at US$2,627.10 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 24, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More National Business Border measures aimed at responding to Trump's tariff threat begin to take effect Dec 24, 2024 8:17 AM Cash back, credit rating boosts: How to use your rent payments to get extra perks Dec 24, 2024 7:00 AM Quebec doing better job at retaining immigrants, Atlantic Canada still struggling Dec 24, 2024 6:35 AM Featured Flyer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks tiptoed to more records amid a mixed Tuesday of trading, tacking a touch more onto what’s already been a stellar year so far. The S&P 500 edged up by 2 points, or less than 0.1%, to set an all-time high for the 55th time this year. It’s climbed in 10 of the last 11 days and is on track for one of its best years since the turn of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 76 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record set a day earlier. AT&T rose 4.6% after it boosted its profit forecast for the year. It also announced a $10 billion plan to send cash to its investors by buying back its own stock, while saying it expects to authorize another $10 billion of repurchases in 2027. On the losing end of Wall Street was U.S. Steel, which fell 8%. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on social media that he would not let Japan’s Nippon Steel take over the iconic Pennsylvania steelmaker. Nippon Steel announced plans last December to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14.1 billion in cash, raising concerns about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains and U.S. national security. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden also came out against the acquisition. Tesla sank 1.6% after a judge in Delaware reaffirmed a previous ruling that the electric car maker must revoke Elon Musk’s multibillion-dollar pay package. The judge denied a request by attorneys for Musk and Tesla’s corporate directors to vacate her ruling earlier this year requiring the company to rescind the unprecedented pay package. All told, the S&P 500 rose 2.73 points to 6,049.88. The Dow fell 76.47 to 44,705.53, and the Nasdaq composite gained 76.96 to 19,480.91. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report showed U.S. employers were advertising slightly more job openings at the end of October than a month earlier. Continued strength there would raise optimism that the economy could remain out of a recession that many investors had earlier worried was inevitable. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.23% from 4.20% from late Monday. Yields have seesawed since Election Day amid worries that Trump’s preferences for lower tax rates and bigger tariffs could spur higher inflation along with economic growth. But traders are still confident the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again at its next meeting in two weeks. They’re betting on a nearly three-in-four chance of that, according to data from CME Group. Lower rates can give the economy more juice, but they can also give inflation more fuel. The key report this week that could guide the Fed’s next move will arrive on Friday. It’s the monthly jobs report , which will show how many workers U.S. employers hired and fired during November. It could be difficult to parse given how much storms and strikes distorted figures in October. Based on trading in the options market, Friday’s jobs report appears to be the biggest potential market mover until the Fed announces its next decision on interest rates Dec. 18, according to strategists at Barclays Capital. In financial markets abroad, the value of South Korea’s currency fell 1.1% against the U.S. dollar following a frenetic night where President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and then later said he’d lift it after lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Stocks of Korean companies that trade in the United States also fell, including a 1.6% drop for SK Telecom. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 1.9% to help lead global markets. Some analysts think Japanese stocks could end up benefiting from Trump’s threats to raise tariffs , including for goods coming from China . Trade relations between the U.S. and China took another step backward after China said it is banning exports to the U.S. of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The counterpunch came swiftly after the U.S. Commerce Department expanded the list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls to include many that make equipment used to make computer chips, chipmaking tools and software. The 140 companies newly included in the so-called “entity list” are nearly all based in China. In China, stock indexes rose 1% in Hong Kong and 0.4% in Shanghai amid unconfirmed reports that Chinese leaders would meet next week to discuss planning for the coming year. Investors are hoping it may bring fresh stimulus to help spur growth in the world’s second-largest economy. In France, the CAC 40 rose 0.3% amid continued worries about politics in Paris , where the government is battling over the budget. AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 24 (ANI): Film producer and Chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation, Dil Raju , has shared that Sri Tej, the victim of the Sandhya Theatre tragedy and the son of Revathi, who lost her life in the incident, is responding well to treatment and has been taken off the ventilator two days ago. (Also read: Allu Arjun's Hyderabad home covered with white sheets post vandalisation incident. Watch ) What Dil Raju said about the victim of the stampede case Dil Raju visited KIMS Hospital in Secunderabad, Hyderabad, to meet Sri Tej's family. Speaking to ANI, he revealed that he had earlier met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to discuss providing support to Sri Tej's family, ensuring that both the film industry and government would extend all necessary assistance. "He (the child injured in the Sandhya Theatre incident during the premiere show of Pushpa 2) is responding and recovering... He was taken off the ventilator two days ago," said Dil Raju. More details Sri Tej's father, Baskar, also spoke to the media and shared a positive update, stating that his son is slowly recovering. Earlier, the producers of Pushpa 2, Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar, handed over a ₹ 50 lakh cheque to the victim's family at KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad, in the presence of Telangana Minister for Roads & Buildings and Cinematography, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy. The cheque was received by Revathi's husband, the father of Sri Tej, who is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. The tragic incident occurred on December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule. A large crowd gathered to see him, and the situation escalated when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car. Revathi lost her life, and her son, Sri Tej, was injured. Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after posting a ₹ 50,000 bond. The case took another turn when the Pushpa actor was served a notice to appear for questioning in connection with the Sandhya Theatre tragedy. "The case is under investigation, and your presence is essential before the undersigned officer to elicit answers about the incident and, if necessary, to visit the scene of the offence to ascertain the true facts," read the notice issued by the Telangana Police. Actor Allu Arjun has since returned to his residence after appearing at the Chikkadpally police station in Hyderabad in connection with the incident. On December 22, a group of protestors demanding justice for Revathi attacked Allu Arjun's residence . According to DCP West Zone, Hyderabad, the group arrived holding placards and shouting slogans. One individual climbed the compound wall and began throwing stones, prompting security to intervene. During the altercation, the protestors damaged flower pots and manhandled security personnel. Six individuals, claiming to be members of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC), were taken into custody and later granted bail. The incident has also sparked political controversy. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy blamed Allu Arjun for the tragedy, stating in the Assembly that police had denied permission for any event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns. The actor, however, dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt at "character assassination." ( With reports from ANI )None

Aaron Rodgers has not yet spoken to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson over his future with the AFC East franchise following his horrendous 2024 season. After returning from a torn Achilles injury that derailed his debut season with the Jets, Rodgers has struggled immensely. Following a loss to the Los Angeles Rams last week, the Jets fell to 4-11 - a far cry from preseason predictions that had them going to the Super Bowl . There’s no two ways about it: 2024 has been a colossal failure of a campaign - and Rodgers has played a key role. His performances have been subpar; he has thrown for 3,511 yards and 24 touchdowns with 8 interceptions, compiling a career-low 90.8 rating. Aaron Rodgers faces bleak New York Jets reality as Davante Adams problem highlighted NFL announces schedule changes in brutal Dallas Cowboys reality check Given his poor performances and age, as well as another change of regime in New York, there is speculation suggesting Rodgers could depart the Jets in the offseason. When asked if owner Johnson wants him back, the 41-year-old said: “You should ask Woody.” Rodgers also confirmed he has not spoken with Johnson about his future with the franchise. He added he’d be “surprised” if such a discussion takes place, admitting the process is likely to take some time. He explained: “[There are] so many uncertainties. There's a GM that has to get hired, I would assume first, and then he's going to be a part of hiring the head coach. “And then so I have to be in the plans of multiple people, starting with the ownership and then the GM and then the head coach. So that's why to me, that would not be a conversation I'm expecting anytime soon until those things are in place.” Back in April 2023 amid plenty of speculation, the Jets completed a sensational trade with the Green Bay Packers to secure the services of the four-time MVP. Rodgers - as well as the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a fifth-round selection - moved to New York in exchange for the 2023 13th overall pick, a 2023 second-round pick (no.42), a sixth-round pick (no.207) and a conditional second-round pick. Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news Rodgers enjoyed 18 years as a member of the Packers - winning Super Bowl XLV - after he was drafted in 2005. However, the Jets and the NFC North franchise were engaged in trade talks after it became clear Green Bay was willing to move off Rodgers and progress with Jordan Love in 2023 and beyond. However, Rodgers’ New York dream turned into a nightmare just four snaps into his much-anticipated debut. On the opening drive of his Jets career against the Buffalo Bills , Rodgers was sacked by Leonard Floyd with the veteran quarterback tearing his Achilles in the process. Rodgers is questionable to feature in the Jets' penultimate game of the season. The 4-11 Jets take on the 12-3 Bills in an AFC East showdown on Sunday, Dec, 29. Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.

Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in heaviest barrage in weeks BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah has fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel, wounding seven people in one of the militant group’s heaviest barrages in months. Sunday's attacks in northern and central Israel came in response to deadly Israeli strikes in central Beirut on Saturday. Israel struck southern Beirut on Sunday. Meanwhile, negotiators press on with cease-fire efforts to halt the all-out war. And Lebanon's military says an Israeli strike on a Lebanese army center in the southwest killed one soldier and wounded 18 others. Israel's military has expressed regret and said its operations are directed solely against the militants. Israel cracks down on Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — In the year since the war in Gaza broke out, Israel's government has been cracking down on dissent among its Palestinian citizens. Authorities have charged Palestinians with “supporting terrorism” because of posts online or for demonstrating against the war. Activists and rights watchdogs say Palestinians have also lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations. Palestinians make up about 20% of Israel's population. Many feel forced to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society. Others still find ways to dissent, but carefully. Israel's National Security Ministry counters that, “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite.” Israel says rabbi who went missing in the UAE was killed. The government arrests 3 TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates has been found, citing Emirati authorities. The UAE’s Interior Ministry said authorities arrested three perpetrators involved in the killing of Zvi Kogan. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Sunday said Kogan was killed, calling it a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.” It said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." Kogan went missing on Thursday, and there were suspicions he had been kidnapped. His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after the two countries traded fire in October. Somalia says 24 people have died after 2 boats capsized in the Indian Ocean MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia's government says 24 people died after two boats capsized off the Madagascar coast in the Indian Ocean. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said 46 people were rescued. Most of the passengers were young Somalis, and their intended destination remains unclear. Many young Somalis embark every year on dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities abroad. A delegation led by the Somali ambassador to Ethiopia is scheduled to travel to Madagascar on Monday to investigate the incident and coordinate efforts to help survivors. The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. Moscow offers debt forgiveness to new recruits and AP sees wreckage of a new Russian missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting debt forgiveness to new army recruits who enlist to fight in Ukraine. The measure, whose final version appeared on a government website Saturday, underscores Russia’s needs for military personnel in the nearly 3-year-old war, even as it fired last week a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. Russia has ramped up military recruitment by offering increasing financial incentives to those willing to fight in Ukraine. Ukraine’s Security Service on Sunday showed The Associated Press wreckage of the new intermediate-range ballistic missile that struck a factory in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Forecasts warn of possible winter storms across US during Thanksgiving week WINDSOR, Calif. (AP) — Forecasters in the U.S. have warned of another round of winter weather that could complicate travel leading up to Thanksgiving. California is bracing for more snow and rain while still grappling with some flooding and small landslides from a previous storm. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for California's Sierra Nevada through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at high elevations. Thousands remained without power in the Seattle area on Sunday after a “bomb cyclone” storm system hit the West Coast last week, killing two people. After Trump's win, Black women are rethinking their role as America's reliable political organizers ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump's victory has dismayed many politically engaged Black women, and they're reassessing their enthusiasm for politics and organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote, and they had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Kamala Harris. AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistani security officer says police have arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in Islamabad to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year. But he remains popular and his party says the cases against him are politically motivated. Police Sunday arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters in eastern Punjab province, a Khan stronghold. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off the capital with shipping containers. It also suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” Uruguay's once-dull election has become a dead heat in the presidential runoff MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans are heading to the polls to choose their next president. In Sunday's election, the candidates of the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition are locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month’s vote. It's a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou — overseeing the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation.FREYR Battery, Inc. FREY shares are trading higher on Tuesday. The company closed its acquisition of Trina Solar's 5 GW solar module manufacturing facility in Wilmer, Texas, announced last month . The transaction includes $100 million in cash, a $50 million loan repayment, a $150 million loan note, and 9.9% of FREYR's stock, with a potential additional 11.5% stake through an $80 million convertible note. FREYR also assumed $235 million in facility debt. The Wilmer, Texas, solar module plant is on track, with Line 1 completed and Line 2 commissioning underway. Full production is expected by the second half of 2025. FREYR plans to begin U.S. solar cell facility construction in second quarter of 2025, with regulatory filings starting in the first quarter of 2025. Approximately 30% of the production volume is already secured through firm offtake agreements with U.S. customers. FREYR also secured $50 million from Encompass Capital Advisors, with an additional $50 million contingent on the solar cell facility's construction. This acquisition enhances FREYR's solar and battery capabilities, positioning it for growth in renewable energy. Outlook : FREYR reiterated its 2025 EBITDA guidance of $75 million–$125 million, aiming for a $175 million–$225 million run rate by year-end . The company expects to achieve fully integrated operations to achieve an annual EBITDA of $650 million–$700 million . Daniel Barcelo, FREYR's Chairman of the Board and CEO said, "We are grateful for the continued support of our shareholders, and we look forward to advancing our key objectives to create meaningful shareholder value and to enhance our competitive position in 2025, highlighted by the planned start of construction of our solar cell manufacturing facility and other project development opportunities that are emerging for FREYR and Trina to mutually pursue." Last month, the company reported a third-quarter 2024 EPS loss of $(0.20), missing the consensus of $(0.18) . As of September 30, 2024, FREYR had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $184.1 million. Price Action : FREY shares are up 13.30% at $3.90 at the last check on Monday. Read Next : Zoom Communications, Lockheed Martin And More: CNBC's ‘Final Trades' Photo Courtesy of Freyr Battery © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Olema Oncology Reports Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)Man accused in burning death of a woman on New York subway appears in court

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Efforts to reduce the nation’s persistently high maternal mortality rates involve state panels of experts that investigate and learn from each mother’s death. The panels — called maternal mortality review committees — usually work quietly out of the public eye, but that’s not been the case recently in three states with strict abortion laws. Georgia dismissed all members of its committee in November after information about deaths being reviewed leaked to the news organization ProPublica. Days later, The Washington Post reported that Texas’ committee won’t review cases from 2022 and 2023, the first two years after the state banned nearly all abortions. In Idaho, the state let its panel disband in 2023 only to reinstate it this year. “They’ve become more of a lightning rod than they were before,” said epidemiologist Michael Kramer, director of the Center for Rural Health and Health Disparities at Mercer University in Georgia. Here’s what these committees do and what might happen next: “Maternal mortality review committees are important because they are the most comprehensive source of information about maternal mortality that we have,” said David Goodman, who leads the maternal mortality prevention team at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The panels review deaths that occur during pregnancy or within a year after it ends, whether related to the pregnancy or not. Causes of death can range from hemorrhage during childbirth to drug overdoses to traffic accidents. The goal, Kramer said, is to examine maternal deaths and help “decide what we can do about them.” All states, a few cities and Puerto Rico have these committees. Their membership varies and may include OB-GYNs, maternal-fetal medicine doctors, nurses, midwives, mental and public health experts and members of patient advocacy groups. Most have representatives from several areas of expertise, which the CDC recommends. How members are selected also varies; people may apply, submit letters of interest or be invited to serve. The selection shouldn’t be politically motivated, Kramer said, because “if there’s a systematic exclusion of certain data or certain perspectives” it’s difficult to truly understand what’s happening. The panels work with state vital statistics offices and epidemiologists to identify deaths associated with pregnancy by examining death certificates and looking for a pregnancy checkbox or a related cause of death. They also may search for links to birth and fetal death records, or delve into hospital discharge data, media reports and obituaries. Once they identify cases, they collect as much information as possible, such as prenatal care records, hospital and social service records, autopsy reports and interviews with family members. Professional “abstractors” distill all this into case narratives, which committee members pore over. Most use a standardized review process developed by the CDC — and all panels can get help and guidance from the agency. They consider questions such as: Was the death pregnancy- related? What was the underlying cause? Was it preventable? What factors contributed? States generally have privacy rules that protect committee members and people who provide information on the deaths. The groups then issue public reports that don’t name mothers or hospitals but include overall findings, trends and recommendations. Some come out a couple of years or more after the deaths. Across the nation in 2023, Goodman said, 151 recommendations from those reports were implemented by communities, hospitals, medical professionals and policymakers. Georgia will rebuild its committee through a new application process, the state public health commissioner said. Texas’ committee has been reviewing 2021 deaths and will start on 2024 cases at its next meeting, Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Lara Anton said. “Reviewing cases is a lengthy process and legislators have asked for more recent data. Starting the next review cycle with 2024 cases will allow us to provide that in the next report,” Anton said, adding that maternal and child health epidemiologists will continue to analyze and publish data for 2022 and 2023. In Idaho, the reconstituted review committee now falls under the state board of medicine, which licenses doctors, instead of the state’s health and welfare department. It will operate like it always has, said Bob McLaughlin, spokesperson for the medical board. Members met for the first time in November and plan to issue a report by Jan. 31. Because the legislature wanted the most up-to-date information, McLaughlin said the first report will cover only 2023 cases, and the group will review 2022 deaths next. Get local news delivered to your inbox!KENOSHA — A series of books and short stories written by a Kenosha author is changing the lives of her readers and their families. Parents who once thought certain tasks were impossible are seeing big changes in their kids. The series is called Positively Prepared. The books are written by Heather McKay. She has been a speech pathologist for about 26 years. She writes primarily short stories that are called 'social stories' or 'social narratives'. “They are books that are written to prepare children for specific situations, procedures, or events," McKay said. These stories prepare children for big moments by giving them visual representations of what to expect. Some of these events include going to the dentist, blood tests, entering middle school, talking with friends, expressing emotions, and potty training. “The visual representation of the story is so important to help prepare these kids, to reduce their anxiety, to increase their positive behavior," McKay said. She has written about 80 different stories since the early 2000s. In 2021, McKay turned it into a business called Positively Prepared. Over the past two decades, she has helped dozens of students and their families. One prime example is Leila Burke. You'd never be able to tell now, but the 16-year-old grew up being non-verbal. “Cause I have autism, and I couldn’t really talk that well at the time," Burke said. Thanks to McKay and her books all that changed. "She helped me, like, learn how to interact with my peers and stuff and get better at it," Burke said. The books and corresponding visuals were presented in a way that Burke could understand. “So, because her language wasn’t functional at the time, she started to become verbal, and these stories kind of helped bridge that gap in showing her how to communicate with her peers and her teachers in the classroom," McKay said. For a while, Burke's parents weren't sure what to do. They didn't know if or when their daughter would start speaking. “We had had a hard time at our home life honestly. People do not believe us now when they see her compared to how she was then. I mean she has grown so much. She has learned a lot. And Heather definitely had a big part in that," Katie Burke, Leila's mom, said. It’s those success stories that motivate McKay every day. “This is where I start crying. Just what you said—it’s very touching to see how successful these kids become," McKay said. “I just see these families and parents really struggle with kids on the autism spectrum. If I can make it a little easier by giving them a tool to use at home.” This is why McKay will keep writing these books and tailoring them specifically to kid's needs. She wants more success stories like Leila's. “I have not run out of any ideas yet.” Find her books at positivelypreparedstories.com . Watch the story to see more Positively Prepared stories... It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device. Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip