BROOMFIELD, Colo. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today reported results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ended October 31, 2024 , provided season pass sales results for the 2024/2025 season, updated fiscal 2025 net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. guidance and reaffirmed fiscal 2025 Resort Reported EBITDA guidance, announced capital investment plans for calendar year 2025, declared a dividend payable in January 2025 , and announced first quarter share repurchases. Highlights Commenting on the Company's fiscal 2025 first quarter results, Kirsten Lynch , Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our first fiscal quarter historically operates at a loss, given that our North American and European mountain resorts are generally not open for ski season. The quarter's results were driven by winter operations in Australia and summer activities in North America , including sightseeing, dining, retail, lodging, and administrative expenses. "Resort Reported EBITDA was consistent with the prior year, driven by growth in our North American summer business from increased activities spending and lodging results. This growth was offset by a decline in Resort Reported EBITDA of $9 million compared to the prior year from our Australian resorts due to record low snowfall and lower demand, cost inflation, the inclusion of Crans-Montana, and approximately $2.7 million of one-time costs related to the two-year resource efficiency transformation plan and $0.9 million of acquisition and integration related expenses." Regarding the Company's resource efficiency transformation plan, Lynch said, "Vail Resorts continues to make progress on its two-year resource efficiency transformation plan, which was announced in our September 2024 earnings. The two-year Resource Efficiency Transformation Plan is designed to improve organizational effectiveness and scale for operating leverage as the Company grows globally. Through scaled operations, global shared services, and expanded workforce management, the Company expects $100 million in annualized cost efficiencies by the end of its 2026 fiscal year. We will provide updates as significant milestones are achieved." Turning to season pass results, Lynch said, "Our season pass sales highlight the compelling value proposition of our pass products and our commitment to continually investing in the guest experience at our resorts. Over the last four years, pass product sales for the 2024/2025 North American ski season have grown 59% in units and 47% in sales dollars. For the upcoming 2024/2025 North American ski season, pass product sales through December 3, 2024 decreased approximately 2% in units and increased approximately 4% in sales dollars as compared to the period in the prior year through December 4, 2023 . This year's results benefited from an 8% price increase, partially offset by unit growth among lower priced Epic Day Pass products. Pass product sales are adjusted to eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates by applying an exchange rate of $0.71 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar in both periods for Whistler Blackcomb pass sales. For the period between September 21, 2024 and December 3, 2024 , pass product sales trends improved relative to pass product sales through September 20, 2024 , with unit growth of approximately 1% and sales dollars growth of approximately 7% as compared to the period in the prior year from September 23, 2023 through December 4, 2023 , due to expected renewal strength, which we believe reflects delayed decision making. "Our North American pass sales highlight strong loyalty with growth among renewing pass holders across all geographies. For the full selling season, the Company acquired a substantial number of new pass holders, however the absolute number of new guests was smaller compared to the prior year, driving the overall unit decline for the full selling season. New pass holders come from lapsed guests, prior year lift ticket guests, and new guests to our database. The Company achieved growth from lapsed guests, who previously purchased a pass or lift ticket but did not buy a pass or lift ticket in the previous season. The decline in new pass holders compared to the prior year was driven by fewer guests who purchased lift tickets in the past season and from guests who are completely new to our database, which we believe was impacted by last season's challenging weather and industry normalization. Epic Day Pass products achieved unit growth driven by the strength in renewing pass holders. We expect to have approximately 2.3 million guests committed to our 42 North American, Australian, and European resorts in advance of the season in non-refundable advance commitment products this year, which are expected to generate over $975 million of revenue and account for approximately 75% of all skier visits (excluding complimentary visits)." Lynch continued, "Heading into the 2024/2025 ski season, we are encouraged by our strong base of committed guests, providing meaningful stability for our Company. Additionally, early season conditions have allowed us to open some resorts earlier than anticipated, including Whistler Blackcomb, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, and Stevens Pass. Early season conditions have also enabled our Rockies resorts to open with significantly improved terrain relative to the prior year, including the opening of the legendary back bowls at Vail Mountain opening the earliest since 2018. Our resorts in the East are experiencing typical seasonal variability for this point in the year, with all resorts planned to open ahead of the holidays. We are continuing to hire for the winter season, and are on track with our staffing plans and have achieved a strong return rate of our frontline employees from the prior season. Lodging bookings at our U.S. resorts for the upcoming season are consistent with last year. At Whistler Blackcomb, lodging bookings for the full season are lagging prior year levels, which may reflect delayed decision making following challenging conditions in the prior year." Operating Results A more complete discussion of our operating results can be found within the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of the Company's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024 , which was filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following are segment highlights: Mountain Segment Lodging Segment Resort - Combination of Mountain and Lodging Segments Real Estate Segment Total Performance Outlook The Company's Resort Reported EBITDA guidance for the year ending July 31, 2025 is unchanged from the prior guidance provided on September 26, 2024 . The Company is updating its guidance for net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc., which it now expects to be between $240 million and $316 million , up from the prior guidance range of $224 million to $300 million . The primary difference is due to a $17 million increase from the gain on sale of real property related to the resolution of the October 2023 Eagle County District Court final ruling and valuation regarding the Town of Vail's condemnation of the Company's East Vail property that was planned for Vail Resorts' incremental affordable workforce housing project, a transaction that has been recorded as Real Estate Reported EBITDA. Additionally, the guidance is updated to include a decrease in expected interest expense of approximately $2 million which assumes that interest rates remain at current levels for the remainder of fiscal 2025. These changes have no impact on expected Resort Reported EBITDA. The Company continues to expect Resort Reported EBITDA for fiscal 2025 to be between $838 million and $894 million , including approximately $27 million of cost efficiencies and an estimated $15 million in one-time costs related to the multi-year resource efficiency transformation plan, and an estimated $1 million of acquisition and integration related expenses specific to Crans-Montana. As compared to fiscal 2024, the fiscal 2025 guidance includes the assumed benefit of a return to normal weather conditions after the challenging conditions in fiscal 2024, more than offset by a return to normal operating costs and the impact of the continued industry normalization, impacting demand. Additionally, the guidance reflects the negative impact from the record low snowfall and related shortened season in Australia in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, which negatively impacted demand and resulted in a $9 million decline of Resort Reported EBITDA compared to the prior year period. After considering these items, we expect Resort Reported EBITDA to grow from price increases and ancillary spending, the resource efficiency transformation plan, and the addition of Crans-Montana for the full year. The guidance also assumes (1) a continuation of the current economic environment, (2) normal weather conditions for the 2024/2025 North American and European ski season and the 2025 Australian ski season, and (3) the foreign currency exchange rates as of our original fiscal 2025 guidance issued September 26, 2024 . Foreign currency exchange rates have experienced recent volatility. Relative to the current guidance, if the currency exchange rates as of yesterday, December 8, 2024 of $0.71 between the Canadian Dollar and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada , $0.64 between the Australian Dollar and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Perisher, Falls Creek and Hotham in Australia , and $1.14 between the Swiss Franc and U.S. Dollar related to the operations of Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana in Switzerland were to continue for the remainder of the fiscal year, the Company expects this would have an impact on fiscal 2025 guidance of approximately negative $5 million for Resort Reported EBITDA. The following table reflects the forecasted guidance range for the Company's fiscal year ending July 31, 2025 for Total Reported EBITDA (after stock-based compensation expense) and reconciles net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. guidance to such Total Reported EBITDA guidance. Fiscal 2025 Guidance (In thousands) For the Year Ending July 31, 2025 (6) Low End High End Range Range Net income attributable to Vail Resorts, Inc. $ 240,000 $ 316,000 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 23,000 17,000 Net income 263,000 333,000 Provision for income taxes (1) 91,000 115,000 Income before income taxes 354,000 448,000 Depreciation and amortization 295,000 279,000 Interest expense, net 174,000 166,000 Other (2) 21,000 13,000 Total Reported EBITDA $ 844,000 $ 906,000 Mountain Reported EBITDA (3) $ 818,000 $ 872,000 Lodging Reported EBITDA (4) 16,000 26,000 Resort Reported EBITDA (5) 838,000 894,000 Real Estate Reported EBITDA 6,000 12,000 Total Reported EBITDA $ 844,000 $ 906,000 (1) The provision for income taxes may be impacted by excess tax benefits primarily resulting from vesting and exercises of equity awards. Our estimated provision for income taxes does not include the impact, if any, of unknown future exercises of employee equity awards, which could have a material impact given that a significant portion of our awards may be in-the-money depending on the current value of the stock price. (2) Our guidance includes certain forward looking known changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration based solely on the passage of time and resulting impact on present value. Guidance excludes any forward looking change based upon, among other things, financial projections including long-term growth rates for Park City, which such change may be material. Separately, the intercompany loan associated with the Whistler Blackcomb transaction requires foreign currency remeasurement to Canadian dollars, the functional currency of Whistler Blackcomb. Our guidance excludes any forward looking change related to foreign currency gains or losses on the intercompany loans, which such change may be material. Additionally, our guidance excludes the impact of any future sales or disposals of land or other assets which are contingent upon future approvals or other outcomes. (3) Mountain Reported EBITDA also includes approximately $25 million of stock-based compensation. (4) Lodging Reported EBITDA also includes approximately $4 million of stock-based compensation. (5) The Company provides Reported EBITDA ranges for the Mountain and Lodging segments, as well as for the two combined. The low and high of the expected ranges provided for the Mountain and Lodging segments, while possible, do not sum to the high or low end of the Resort Reported EBITDA range provided because we do not expect or assume that we will hit the low or high end of both ranges. (6) Guidance estimates are predicated on an exchange rate of $0.74 between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; an exchange rate of $0.67 between the Australian dollar and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of our Australian ski areas; and an exchange rate of $1.18 between the Swiss franc and U.S. dollar, related to the operations of Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana in Switzerland. Liquidity and Return of Capital As of October 31, 2024 , the Company's total liquidity as measured by total cash plus revolver availability was approximately $1,024 million . This includes $404 million of cash on hand, $407 million of U.S. revolver availability under the Vail Holdings Credit Agreement, and $213 million of revolver availability under the Whistler Credit Agreement. As of October 31, 2024 , the Company's Net Debt was 2.8 times its trailing twelve months Total Reported EBITDA. Regarding the return of capital to shareholders, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $2.22 per share of Vail Resorts' common stock payable on January 9, 2025 to shareholders of record as of December 26 , 2024. In addition, the Company repurchased approximately 0.1 million shares during the quarter at an average price of approximately $174 for a total of $20 million . The Company has 1.6 million shares remaining under its authorization for share repurchases. Commenting on capital allocation, Lynch said, "We will continue to be disciplined stewards of our shareholders' capital, prioritizing investments in our guest and employee experience, high-return capital projects, strategic acquisition opportunities, and returning capital to our shareholders. The Company has a strong balance sheet and remains focused on returning capital to shareholders while always prioritizing the long-term value of our shares." Capital Investments Vail Resorts is committed to enhancing the guest experience and supporting the Company's growth strategies through significant capital investments. For calendar year 2025, the Company plans to invest approximately $198 million to $203 million in core capital, before $45 million of growth capital investments at its European resorts, including $41 million at Andermatt-Sedrun and $4 million at Crans-Montana, and $6 million of real estate related capital projects to complete multi-year transformational investments at the key base area portals of Breckenridge Peak 8 and Keystone River Run, and planning investments to support the development of the West Lionshead area into a fourth base village at Vail Mountain. Including European growth capital investments, and real estate related capital, the Company plans to invest approximately $249 million to $254 million in calendar year 2025. Projects in the calendar year 2025 capital plan described herein remain subject to approvals. In calendar year 2025, the Company will embark on two multi-year transformational investment plans at Park City Mountain and Vail Mountain. In addition to embarking on two multi-year transformational investment plans, the Company is planning significant investments across the guest experience in calendar year 2025, including: In addition to the investments planned for calendar year 2025, the Company is completing significant investments that will enhance the guest experience for the upcoming 2024/2025 North American and European ski season. As previously announced, the Company expects its capital plan for calendar year 2024 to be approximately $189 million to $194 million , excluding $13 million of incremental capital investments in premium fleet and fulfillment infrastructure to support the official launch of My Epic Gear for the 2024/2025 winter season at 12 destination and regional resorts across North America , $7 million of growth capital investments at Andermatt-Sedrun, $2 million of maintenance and $2 million of integration investments at Crans-Montana, and $3 million of reimbursable capital. Including these one-time investments, the Company's total capital plan for calendar year 2024 is now expected to be approximately $216 million to $221 million . Earnings Conference Call The Company will conduct a conference call today at 5:00 p.m. eastern time to discuss the financial results. The call will be webcast and can be accessed at www.vailresorts.com in the Investor Relations section, or dial (800) 579-2543 (U.S. and Canada ) or +1 (785) 424-1789 (international). The conference ID is MTNQ125. A replay of the conference call will be available two hours following the conclusion of the conference call through December 16, 2024 , at 11:59 p.m. eastern time . To access the replay, dial (800) 753-9146 (U.S. and Canada ) or +1 (402) 220-2705 (international). The conference call will also be archived at www.vailresorts.com . About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge , Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America ; Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland ; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia . We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests, and our EpicPromise is to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, support our employees and communities, and broaden engagement in our sport. Our company owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to our mountain destinations, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Retail operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America . Learn more about our company at www.VailResorts.com , or discover our resorts and pass options at www.EpicPass.com . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements discussed in this press release and on the conference call, other than statements of historical information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the statements regarding fiscal 2025 performance and the assumptions related thereto, including, but not limited to, our expected net income and Resort Reported EBITDA; our expectations regarding our liquidity; expectations related to our season pass products; our expectations regarding our ancillary lines of business; capital investment projects; our calendar year 2025 capital plan; our expectations regarding our resource efficiency transformation plan; and the payment of dividends. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to risks related to a prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, including adverse effects on the overall travel and leisure related industries and our business and results of operations; risks associated with the effects of high or prolonged inflation, elevated interest rates and financial institution disruptions; unfavorable weather conditions or the impact of natural disasters or other unexpected events; the ultimate amount of refunds that we could be required to refund to our pass product holders for qualifying circumstances under our Epic Coverage program; the willingness or ability of our guests to travel due to terrorism, the uncertainty of military conflicts or public health emergencies, and the cost and availability of travel options and changing consumer preferences, discretionary spending habits; risks related to travel and airline disruptions, and other adverse impacts on the ability of our guests to travel; risks related to interruptions or disruptions of our information technology systems, data security or cyberattacks; risks related to our reliance on information technology, including our failure to maintain the integrity of our customer or employee data and our ability to adapt to technological developments or industry trends; our ability to acquire, develop and implement relevant technology offerings for customers and partners; the seasonality of our business combined with adverse events that may occur during our peak operating periods; competition in our mountain and lodging businesses or with other recreational and leisure activities; risks related to the high fixed cost structure of our business; our ability to fund resort capital expenditures, or accurately identify the need for, or anticipate the timing of certain capital expenditures; risks related to a disruption in our water supply that would impact our snowmaking capabilities and operations; our reliance on government permits or approvals for our use of public land or to make operational and capital improvements; risks related to resource efficiency transformation initiatives; risks related to federal, state, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; risks related to changes in security and privacy laws and regulations which could increase our operating costs and adversely affect our ability to market our products, properties and services effectively; potential failure to adapt to technological developments or industry trends regarding information technology; our ability to successfully launch and promote adoption of new products, technology, services and programs; risks related to our workforce, including increased labor costs, loss of key personnel and our ability to maintain adequate staffing, including hiring and retaining a sufficient seasonal workforce; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including their integration into our internal controls and infrastructure; our ability to successfully navigate new markets, including Europe , or that acquired businesses may fail to perform in accordance with expectations; a deterioration in the quality or reputation of our brands, including our ability to protect our intellectual property and the risk of accidents at our mountain resorts; risks related to scrutiny and changing expectations regarding our environmental, social and governance practices and reporting; risks associated with international operations, including fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates where the Company has foreign currency exposure, primarily the Canadian and Australian dollars and the Swiss franc, as compared to the U.S. dollar; changes in tax laws, regulations or interpretations, or adverse determinations by taxing authorities; risks related to our indebtedness and our ability to satisfy our debt service requirements under our outstanding debt including our unsecured senior notes, which could reduce our ability to use our cash flow to fund our operations, capital expenditures, future business opportunities and other purposes; a materially adverse change in our financial condition; adverse consequences of current or future litigation and legal claims; changes in accounting judgments and estimates, accounting principles, policies or guidelines; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024 , which was filed on September 26, 2024 . All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All guidance and forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forecast or forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Statement Concerning Non-GAAP Financial Measures When reporting financial results, we use the terms Resort Reported EBITDA, Total Reported EBITDA, Resort EBITDA Margin, Net Debt and Net Real Estate Cash Flow, which are not financial measures under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Resort Reported EBITDA, Total Reported EBITDA, Resort EBITDA Margin, Net Debt and Net Real Estate Cash Flow should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, measures of financial performance or liquidity prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, we report segment Reported EBITDA (i.e. Mountain, Lodging and Real Estate), the measure of segment profit or loss required to be disclosed in accordance with GAAP. Accordingly, these measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. Additionally, with respect to discussion of impacts from currency, the Company calculates the impact by applying current period foreign exchange rates to the prior period results, as the Company believes that comparing financial information using comparable foreign exchange rates is a more objective and useful measure of changes in operating performance. Reported EBITDA (and its counterpart for each of our segments) has been presented herein as a measure of the Company's performance. The Company believes that Reported EBITDA is an indicative measurement of the Company's operating performance, and is similar to performance metrics generally used by investors to evaluate other companies in the resort and lodging industries. The Company defines Resort EBITDA Margin as Resort Reported EBITDA divided by Resort net revenue. The Company believes Resort EBITDA Margin is an important measurement of operating performance. The Company believes that Net Debt is an important measurement of liquidity as it is an indicator of the Company's ability to obtain additional capital resources for its future cash needs. Additionally, the Company believes Net Real Estate Cash Flow is important as a cash flow indicator for its Real Estate segment. See the tables provided in this release for reconciliations of our measures of segment profitability and non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Vail Resorts, Inc. Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended October 31, 2024 2023 Net revenue: Mountain and Lodging services and other $ 187,050 $ 182,834 Mountain and Lodging retail and dining 73,162 71,442 Resort net revenue 260,212 254,276 Real Estate 63 4,289 Total net revenue 260,275 258,565 Segment operating expense: Mountain and Lodging operating expense 266,264 255,576 Mountain and Lodging retail and dining cost of products sold 28,947 31,295 General and administrative 106,857 108,025 Resort operating expense 402,068 394,896 Real Estate operating expense 1,491 5,181 Total segment operating expense 403,559 400,077 Other operating (expense) income: Depreciation and amortization (71,633) (66,728) Gain on sale of real property 16,506 6,285 Change in estimated fair value of contingent consideration (2,079) (3,057) Loss on disposal of fixed assets and other, net (1,529) (2,043) Loss from operations (202,019) (207,055) Mountain equity investment income, net 2,151online casino fishing game 。

Bundesliga: Boniface faces sanction for reckless driving

McFly star Danny Jones might have been crowned King of the Jungle after securing 55.21% of the final vote , but this year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! isn’t over just yet. Following the series’ grand finale, the campmates enjoyed a heartfelt reunion and they celebrated their time in camp over glasses of Prosecco as they partied the night away. Although many of this year’s campmates have given viewers a peek of their post-show antics on social media, fans of the show can get even more of a look as part of the Coming Out Show, which airs on Friday, 13 December. Just like previous years, the special episode will follow the class of 2024 as they leave the jungle, giving a behind-the-scenes look at what returning to normality has been like. And while the campmates were all smiles as they reflected on the past three weeks, one face was noticeably missing as Tulisa, who called her time in the jungle a “whirlwind”, landed back in the UK shortly after being the third campmate to be eliminated. So, as the I’m A Celeb stars of 2024 round off their time on the show, let’s take a glimpse at the upcoming Coming Out Show... Coleen Rooney, who finished the show in second place, looked effortlessly glam as she swapped her I'm A Celeb red shorts and navy T-shirt for a chic yellow dress. To complete the look Coleen wore a pair of chunky gold earrings and had her hair in a low bun. Love Island star Maura Higgins wowed as she showed off her physique in a figure hugging dress. In a nod to her time in the jungle, the TV personality sported a sheer leopard print maxi dress which featured flared sleeves. Oti Mabuse also got the leopard print memo as she stunned in an off-shoulder sequin dress. Rounding off the look, the Strictly Come Dancing professional accessorised with gold hoop earrings and a high bun. GK Barry looked radiant as she sported a slinky gold dress which she paired with a matching gold smokey eye. The podcast host, who revealed that she'd got a blow dry from Danny's mum just moments after leaving the show, wore her long hair in loose waves. Having been crowned King of the Jungle for 2024, Danny Jones was understandably all smiles as he reunited with his campmates. For the occasion the McFly singer kept things casual with a navy blue shirt, jeans and Converse. Rev Richard Coles, who made it all the way to the final three, looked suave as he sported a teal blue tunic which he paired with a floral lilac scarf. Having been the first contestant to be eliminated, Jane Moore has kept fans updated as she soaked up the Australian sun from her hotel. As she reunited with her fellow campmates, the Loose Women panellist dazzled in an asymmetric white dress and smokey eye. Melvin Odoom cut a cool figure in an all-black look as he paired a black blazer with a matching pair of trousers and T-shirt. Coronation Street star Alan Halsall kept things simple yet smart as he opted for a navy blue shirt and dark jeans. Former professional boxer Barry McGuigan beamed from ear to ear as wore a light grey suit and white T-shirt. Dean McCullough kept things classic with a textured white shirt and pair of mid-wash blue jeans. Finishing off the stylish look, the BBC Radio 1 DJ wore a necklace with a coin pendant around his neck.Philippines VP Threatens To Assassinate President And First Lady, Echoing Her Father's Brutal Legacy

None

For a few more weeks, Biden retains the responsibilities and powers of the nation’s highest office. If he believes his words, he must take urgent action to strengthen our democracy, even as he works to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. President-elect Donald Trump has made little secret of his desire for unchecked power, whether to be a dictator on day one, weaponize the Department of Justice against perceived enemies or strip broadcast licenses from disfavored media outlets. But this has yet to come to pass. America only has one president at a time. If Biden’s campaign ad was more than political bluster — and his lifetime of dedicated public service suggests it was heartfelt — he must now do everything he can to safeguard our fundamental rights. So what can he do? First, he can shore up protections for the dedicated career civil servants who keep us safe. Doctors, scientists and bank inspectors ensure the prescribed drugs are safe, our water is free of toxins, our jobs won’t cause us injury and our life’s savings won’t disappear when we make a deposit. Civil servants in agencies such as the FBI, CIA and Defense Department keep us safe from terrorists and foreign adversaries. With his billionaire Cabinet picks and quid-pro-quo style, Trump will replace servants of the people with those who serve him. He doesn’t want career civil servants to blow the whistle when his actions sacrifice Americans’ safety and well-being to benefit his wealthy friends. Solidifying job protections for civil servants gives them what authoritarians hate most: the ability to stand up, speak truth and ensure our laws are followed. Biden says he’s the most labor-friendly president in a generation. Now he must aggressively side with public workers in contract negotiations and offer whistleblower training to put our health and safety over the interests of billionaires. Second, Biden can recognize the Equal Rights Amendment to protect women. Many in Trump’s orbit are pushing him to use draconian measures to block Americans’ access to reproductive care. His nominee for defense secretary has said he believes women are less effective fighters and shouldn’t serve in ground combat units. Trump also could scale back efforts to combat sex discrimination in the workplace and health care. The ERA could offer vital constitutional protections. Virginia ratified it in 2020 and was the last state needed to bring it into force, but it has yet to be formally recognized as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. This is the case even as the nation’s leading scholars and the American Bar Association argue it has already been adopted. Biden has the power to clarify this once and for all. Finally, Biden should do all he can to prepare our military, law enforcement and intelligence communities to uphold the rule of law and push back against attempts to weaponize them against law-abiding citizens. The Republican-led House of Representatives has passed two bills to safeguard journalists and stop the government from purchasing Americans’ private location, web history and search data without a warrant. Biden must press the Senate to take immediate action on these bills. Through training and guidance, he also can reiterate that presidential immunity does not shield military and law enforcement officers from the legal requirement to follow only lawful orders. Additionally, his administration can lay out constraints on the domestic deployment of federal forces, even if they are ultimately reversed. Biden’s term isn’t over, nor is his responsibility to the children and grandchildren watching him, waiting to see what kind of America they will inherit. Urgent actions are sitting on the most powerful desk in America. We must now ask the lifelong statesman and patriot who sits behind it: What will you do to protect our democracy?For a few more weeks, Biden retains the responsibilities and powers of the nation’s highest office. If he believes his words, he must take urgent action to strengthen our democracy, even as he works to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. President-elect Donald Trump has made little secret of his desire for unchecked power, whether to be a dictator on day one, weaponize the Department of Justice against perceived enemies or strip broadcast licenses from disfavored media outlets. But this has yet to come to pass. America only has one president at a time. If Biden’s campaign ad was more than political bluster — and his lifetime of dedicated public service suggests it was heartfelt — he must now do everything he can to safeguard our fundamental rights. So what can he do? First, he can shore up protections for the dedicated career civil servants who keep us safe. Doctors, scientists and bank inspectors ensure the prescribed drugs are safe, our water is free of toxins, our jobs won’t cause us injury and our life’s savings won’t disappear when we make a deposit. Civil servants in agencies such as the FBI, CIA and Defense Department keep us safe from terrorists and foreign adversaries. With his billionaire Cabinet picks and quid-pro-quo style, Trump will replace servants of the people with those who serve him. He doesn’t want career civil servants to blow the whistle when his actions sacrifice Americans’ safety and well-being to benefit his wealthy friends. Solidifying job protections for civil servants gives them what authoritarians hate most: the ability to stand up, speak truth and ensure our laws are followed. Biden says he’s the most labor-friendly president in a generation. Now he must aggressively side with public workers in contract negotiations and offer whistleblower training to put our health and safety over the interests of billionaires. Second, Biden can recognize the Equal Rights Amendment to protect women. Many in Trump’s orbit are pushing him to use draconian measures to block Americans’ access to reproductive care. His nominee for defense secretary has said he believes women are less effective fighters and shouldn’t serve in ground combat units. Trump also could scale back efforts to combat sex discrimination in the workplace and health care. The ERA could offer vital constitutional protections. Virginia ratified it in 2020 and was the last state needed to bring it into force, but it has yet to be formally recognized as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. This is the case even as the nation’s leading scholars and the American Bar Association argue it has already been adopted. Biden has the power to clarify this once and for all. Finally, Biden should do all he can to prepare our military, law enforcement and intelligence communities to uphold the rule of law and push back against attempts to weaponize them against law-abiding citizens. The Republican-led House of Representatives has passed two bills to safeguard journalists and stop the government from purchasing Americans’ private location, web history and search data without a warrant. Biden must press the Senate to take immediate action on these bills. Through training and guidance, he also can reiterate that presidential immunity does not shield military and law enforcement officers from the legal requirement to follow only lawful orders. Additionally, his administration can lay out constraints on the domestic deployment of federal forces, even if they are ultimately reversed. Biden’s term isn’t over, nor is his responsibility to the children and grandchildren watching him, waiting to see what kind of America they will inherit. Urgent actions are sitting on the most powerful desk in America. We must now ask the lifelong statesman and patriot who sits behind it: What will you do to protect our democracy?

Jake Auchincloss sells State Street Corporation stockHolly Valance’s husband is to become Reform UK’s treasurer, after renouncing his Conservative Party membership over what he described as “too many broken promises.” Billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy accused the Tories of a “complete breach of trust with the wealth creators in our country” and said he would take up the fundraising role in the new year. Ms Valance is also a prominent Reform backer. The Australian- British actress and singer was pictured with her husband, Donald Trump and party leader Nigel Farage at the US president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in 2022. Reform has been buoyed by a series of Tory defections, including former minister Andrea Jenkyns, and described Mr Candy’s appointment as its “latest coup” as it prepares for the local elections in May. Mr Candy said: “I have today resigned my membership of the Conservative Party after many years of active support and substantial donations to the party. “I am sorry to say there have been too many broken promises and a complete breach of trust with the wealth creators in our country. “Nigel Farage is a close personal friend of mine, and Reform UK represents the future of British politics. “I am pleased to announce that I will now become the treasurer for Reform UK and intend to raise enough funds for them to win the next general election. “I will take up the role in the new year.” Reform leader Nigel Farage MP said: “I warmly welcome this decision. We are the fastest-growing movement in British politics today and Nick’s efforts will help Reform UK transform our country.”The National Football League is enjoying strong viewership for the 2024 season with some records set on Thanksgiving Day, news that streaming giant Netflix Inc NFLX likely welcomes as the company may be nervous after struggles with its live boxing event. What Happened: While many people will be opening presents and enjoying time with families on Christmas Day, many will also tune into Netflix for two exclusive NFL games , similar to how they celebrated on Thanksgiving. Netflix will stream its first-ever live NFL games on Christmas with two key matchups that could once again highlight the streaming giant's growth in sports. At 1 p.m. ET, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs game will stream on Netflix, followed by the 4:30 p.m. ET matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. NFL viewership has been good for the 2024 season, which could be good and bad for Netflix as the company struggled during its recent live boxing event that featured a headline match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Netflix reported that over 60 million homes tuned into the boxing event, with a peak of 65 million. That event saw hundreds of thousands of people report issues with the stream and a class action lawsuit filed against the company. The NFL recently reported the three games that aired on Thanksgiving set a new all-time record, with data dating back to 1988. The three games had 141 million viewers, a new record and an average of 34.2 million viewers per game, another record. The early game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears on CBS, a unit of Paramount Global PARA PARAA , set a record with 37.5 million viewers, the highest average for the early Thanksgiving Day game. The midday game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants on FOX, a unit of Fox Corp FOX FOXA , averaged 38.8 million viewers, making it the fourth most watched Thanksgiving Day game ever and fifth most watched regular season NFL game ever. Read Also: Netflix To Become ‘Default Choice’ For TV, Movies? Analyst Predicts More Live Sports, Price Increases Why It's Important: Thanksgiving Day games have long been highly watched given the event-driven nature of the games on a holiday with people off work and watching games together. This could be similar on Christmas, which means Netflix could be in store for high viewership for its inaugural NFL games. For comparison, Amazon.com Inc AMZN has the exclusive streaming rights to Thursday Night Football games and is averaging 13.3 million viewers for those games this season, up 8% year-over-year. Amazon also streamed an exclusive game on Black Friday for the second straight year. The matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs averaged 13.51 million viewers, up 41% year-over-year. The high viewership, which is above Amazon's average, came with a close battle and the Chiefs surviving a last-minute push from the Raiders. The Chiefs are the most-watched NFL team this season, having some of the more popular games and the highest average across national television games. For Netflix the odds are likely stacked for and against the company to have huge viewership, the big question is if the company can handle the demand and show the games without the same troubles it had during the boxing event. The Chiefs (11-1), Steelers (9-3), Ravens (8-5) and Texans (8-5) are among the best teams in the NFL with each team ranking first or second in their division and all four teams currently in the NFL Playoffs if the season ended today. The Texans game will also feature a halftime performance from Beyoncé , adding in potential non-football fan viewership on the holiday. Add it all up and you have two games with top NFL teams, a holiday where people watch sports together, a halftime performance from a global superstar, a game with the top-watched team in the NFL and the potential of Taylor Swift to be present at the Chiefs game and you have must-see television and sports. NFLX Price Action : Netflix stock closed up 0.75% to $917.87 on Thursday after hitting new all-time highs of $927 during the intraday. Netflix stock is up 96% year-to-date in 2024. Read Next: ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Includes New Games, Contestant With A Crypto Background, Revenge Factor, Political Overtones Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Two newcomers win seats on Scotts Valley City Council

Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican’s Cabinet. Here are some things to know about Turner: Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones,” which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction.Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker announced a pilot program Monday that strategically targets high-crime streets in a multi-agency effort to address longstanding needs and problems. The program, dubbed Every Block Counts, was launched in October with a specific focus on residential blocks within two NYPD precincts known for having the highest number of violent crimes, in particular shootings, over the past five years. The pilot program targets five blocks within the 46th Precinct in the Bronx— which covers the neighborhoods of Fordham, University Heights, Mount Hope and Morris Heights—and several streets in Brooklyn’s 73rd precinct, which covers Brownsville and Ocean Hill. The blocks in the Bronx include Morris Avenue, Elm Place and Walton Avenue; meanwhile the program covers Bristol Street, Christopher Avenue, Dumont Avenue, Lott Avenue and Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brooklyn. The program coordinates efforts among various city agencies, including police, fire, parks, sanitation, transportation, buildings, health and more. In the announcement, Adams pointed to results achieved thus far, including zero shootings in the two targeted areas over the past 56 days, as well as the completion of 111 out of 146 quality-of-life problems identified by the communities. The 46th precinct has seen a rise in shootings and murders since last year, according to NYPD CompStat data. In 2023, there were 42 shooting incidents, 53 shooting victims and 13 murders in the 46th precinct. So far this year, there have been 49 shooting incidents, 64 shooting victims and 25 murders. ‘Remarkable’ progress The mayor spoke from Bean Morris Community Garden near Morris Avenue and Grand Concourse — named for resident Carrie Cuthbertson’s son Devon, nicknamed Bean, who was shot and killed nearby in 2019 at age 24. Cuthbertson, who said she has long been active in her community, has now become a “Block CEO” with Every Block Counts, acting as a liaison between the community and city agencies. As part of the program, she has been working with fellow residents on a list of neighborhood safety and quality of life concerns. Recent progress under the program has been tangible to her and her neighbors, she said. “For the first time in years, we saw rapid improvement. The transformation was nothing short of remarkable,” said Cuthbertson. A Halloween event with treats for hundreds of neighborhood kids, funded by donations, was a recent example of how the community has united and improved, she said. “ Our streets are now clean, graffiti is gone, trash is picked up, and the area feels brighter and more inviting. Most importantly, we feel safer.” Council Member Pierina Sanchez, whose district office is nearby, said she has experienced ducking bullets in the area while pregnant with her first child. Just 4% of the city’s blocks are the site of almost all shootings, she said, and the program acknowledges that “ the 4-6 [Precinct] is different than the rest of the City of New York.” While Sanchez said she does not always agree with Adams, she applauded the pilot program, calling it an example of “partnership despite differences and progress despite obstacles.” Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia recalled the alarming shooting deaths in September of three people within blocks of each other in the Burnside area. Since the launch of Every Block Counts, she said she has not received any emergency calls from the precinct captain. “This fight is for us to have, and let’s do it, let’s win it,” she said. The mayor said given these early positive results across the 10 focus blocks of the pilot, he plans to expand Every Block Counts to more locations. Adams, who has expressed frustration at the lingering perception of a rise in crime in the city, said the program is part of the comprehensive effort to address both crime and quality-of-life concerns, and his office issued a new report on various initiatives aimed at decreasing crime throughout the city. Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes

We have brought back a fan favourite where we talk about the things you didn't know know about football... You guys submitted your questions over on Instagram and we also dug into our contacts within the game to tell us some secret... Ben FosterNone

By FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Matt Gaetz said Friday that he will not be returning to Congress after withdrawing his name from consideration to be attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump amid growing allegations of sexual misconduct. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress,” Gaetz told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, adding that he has “some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family.” The announcement comes a day after Gaetz, a Florida Republican, stepped aside from the Cabinet nomination process amid growing fallout from federal and House Ethics investigations that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations against him. Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general had stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department, but reflected Trump’s desire to place a loyalist in a department he has marked for retribution following the criminal cases against him. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, who would come to the job with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. It’s unclear what’s next for Gaetz, who is no longer a member of the House. He surprised colleagues by resigning from Congress the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general. Some speculated he could still be sworn into office for another two-year term on Jan. 3, given that he had just won reelection earlier this month. But Gaetz, who has been in state and national politics for 14 years, said he’s done with Congress. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said.Letters for Dec. 6: Nominees should be loyal to the country, not an individualINDIANA STATE 83, IONA 80

Oracle Announces Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter Financial ResultsBOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25