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Former President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100 on Sunday, a little over a year after his beloved wife Rosalynn Carter passed away. Newsweek reached out to The Carter Center via email for comment on Sunday evening. Why It Matters Jimmy and Rosalynn were not only the 39th president and first lady but also leading human rights advocates through their Atlanta nonprofit, The Carter Center, created after the two left the White House. Also remarkable is the length of their love story. The two were married for 77 years before Rosalynn died in November 2023, the longest marriage in presidential history. The former first lady reportedly was Jimmy's closest adviser during his presidency and thereafter. What To Know Jimmy and Rosalynn, both from Plains, Georgia, wed on July 7, 1946, a year after their first date. In the summer of 1945, Jimmy, then-20 years old, asked Rosalynn, then-17 years old, out to the movies on a whim, People magazine reported. Jimmy originally popped the question in the winter of 1945, but Rosalynn was concerned about the speed at which their relationship was progressing and wanted to finish her education first, so she said no, according to Biography.com. But in the spring of that year, she agreed to marry him and Jimmy gave her a compact engraved with the letters "ILYTG," which stood for, "I love you the goodest," Biography.com reported. "The best thing I ever did was marrying Rosalynn," Jimmy said during an interview at The Carter Center in 2015. "That's the pinnacle of my life." The pair went on to have four children —Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy— as well as 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Jimmy and Rosalynn in the White House Jimmy, a Democrat, was elected to the White House in November 1976, thanks to the help of who people called his "secret weapon," Rosalynn, according to People magazine. Rosalynn told People in 1976, "I've made as many as 12 speeches a day in one community. I enjoy it. But sometimes I want to stop and wash my hair." Jimmy served one term as president from 1977 to 1981. Jimmy was credited with encouraging a peace agreement in the Middle East that ultimately resulted in the Camp David Accords, which the Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State described as "historic." The White House archives lists the Panama Canal treaties and an agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union restricting nuclear weapon production as some of Carter's biggest victories overseas. In the U.S., Carter pursued deregulation in a handful of industries, including energy and transportation, and pushed for new environmental protections. The U.S. Department of Education also launched during his time in office. Rosalynn was also busy in the White House, representing the administration during visits with Central and South American leaders, fundraising for displaced Cambodians, and sponsoring poetry and jazz festivals at the White House. She was also a vocal advocate for mental health, women's rights, and human rights. Post-Presidency Humanitarian Work In 1982, Jimmy and Rosalynn created The Carter Center in partnership with Emory University. The former first lady was Carter's "full partner" in their efforts at the nonprofit and she also created and chaired its Mental Health Task Force. The Carter Center was created "on a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering" and describes its continuing mission as seeking "to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health." Rosalynn was also president of the board of directors for the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, which supports those who care for loved ones with chronic illness and disabilities. Until 2020, Jimmy and Rosalynn volunteered one week a year for the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, which helps renovate and build homes for those in need. Jimmy was recognized "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development" with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Rosalynn and Jimmy's Deaths Rosalynn died at the age of 96 on November 19, 2023, while in hospice care at her Plains, Georgia, home, months after The Carter Center announced that she suffered from dementia . Jimmy, who had been in hospice care since February 2023 , died Sunday. What People Are Saying Jimmy said in a statement released by The Carter Center when Rosalynn died, "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished." He added: "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me." Chip Carter, Jimmy and Rosalynn's second eldest son who is now 72 years old , said in a statement released by The Carter Center Sunday, "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love." He continued: "My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs." What Happens Next There will be public funeral observances for the former president in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., as long as a private interment in Plains, Georgia. Final arrangements for his state funeral are still pending.Man found dead near burning car after giving stranger a ride, PCSD saysNone
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The original version of this story appeared in Quanta Magazine . Much of mathematics is driven by intuition, by a deep-rooted sense of what should be true. But sometimes instinct can lead a mathematician astray. Early evidence might not represent the bigger picture; a statement might seem obvious, only for some hidden subtlety to reveal itself. Unexpectedly, three mathematicians have now shown that a well-known hypothesis in probability theory called the bunkbed conjecture falls into this category. The conjecture—which is about the different ways you can navigate the mathematical mazes called graphs when they’re stacked on top of each other like bunk beds—seemed natural, even self-evident. “Anything our brain tells us suggests the conjecture should be true,” said Maria Chudnovsky , a graph theorist at Princeton University who was not involved in the new work. But they were wrong. Last month, a trio of mathematicians announced a counterexample , disproving the conjecture. The result offers fresh guidance on how to approach related problems in physics about properties of solid materials. But it also taps into deeper questions about how mathematics works. A lot of mathematical effort is spent trying to prove conjectures true. It’s lonelier to try to pull them apart. The team behind the new work failed many times before they finally found their counterexample. Their story suggests that mathematicians may need to question their assumptions more often. Graphs on Graphs In the mid-1980s, a Dutch physicist named Pieter Kasteleyn wanted to mathematically prove an assertion about how liquids flow throughout porous solids. His work led him to pose the bunkbed conjecture. To understand it, start with a graph: a collection of points, or vertices, connected by lines, or edges. Now make an exact copy of the graph and place it directly above the original. Draw some vertical posts between them—additional edges that connect some of the vertices on the bottom graph with their twin vertices on the top graph. The structure you end up with resembles a bunk bed. Next, consider an edge in the bottom graph. Flip a coin. If it lands on heads, erase the edge. If it lands on tails, keep the edge. Repeat this process for every edge in both graphs. Your bottom and top bunks will end up looking different, but they’ll still be connected by the vertical posts. Finally, pick two vertices in the bottom graph. Can you get from one vertex to the other by following the graph’s edges, or are the two now disconnected? For any graph, you can calculate the probability that there will be a path. Now look at the same two vertices, but for one of them, jump up to the vertex directly above it in the top graph. Is there a path that will take you from the starting vertex on the bottom graph to the ending vertex on the top graph? The bunkbed conjecture says that the probability of finding the path on the bottom bunk is always greater than or equal to the probability of finding the path that jumps to the top bunk. It doesn’t matter what graph you start with, or how many vertical posts you draw between the bunks, or which starting and ending vertices you choose. For decades, mathematicians thought this had to be true. Their intuition told them that moving around on just one bunk should be easier than moving between two—that the extra vertical jump required to get from the lower to the upper bunk should significantly limit the number of available paths. Mathematicians also wanted the bunkbed conjecture to be true. It belongs to a class of statements in an area called percolation theory, which deals with the paths and clusters that exist after graphs have edges deleted at random. These graphs can be thought of as simplified models of how a fluid moves, or percolates, through a porous material, the way water moves through a sponge. The bunkbed conjecture, for its part, would imply a widely believed assumption in physics about how likely a fluid is to travel through a solid. It would also hint at how to solve related problems about the physics of percolation. But that would only happen if someone could prove that the bunkbed conjecture was true. There was a reason why no one could. Probably Wrong Igor Pak , a mathematician at the University of California, Los Angeles, always had his doubts that the bunkbed conjecture was true. “He was skeptical from the very beginning,” said Nikita Gladkov , one of his graduate students. “He’s a big disbeliever in old conjectures.” Pak has been a vocal critic of mathematicians’ tendency to focus their efforts on proving such conjectures. He asserts that equally important advances can come from asking, “ What if they are all wrong? ” Pak also had a particular reason for doubting the bunkbed conjecture: It seemed to be far too broad a claim. He was skeptical that it would really hold for every conceivable graph. “Some conjectures are motivated by substance, and other conjectures are motivated by wishful thinking,” he said. The bunkbed conjecture seemed like the latter. Nikita Gladkov ran an exhaustive, brute-force search on every graph to search for a counterexample. In 2022, he set out to disprove it. He spent a year making failed attempts. Then he instructed Gladkov to use a computer to run an exhaustive, brute-force search on every graph he could. Realizing the task would require some sophisticated programming, Gladkov enlisted a friend he’d known since high school, Aleksandr Zimin , now a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We actually were roommates in college—we had a real bunk bed in our dorm,” Gladkov said. Gladkov, Pak, and Zimin were able to manually check every possible graph with fewer than nine vertices. In these cases, they could verify that the bunkbed conjecture held true. But for larger graphs, the number of possible situations blew up. They couldn’t account for all the possible ways that edges could be deleted or paths could be formed. The team then turned to machine learning. They trained a neural network to produce graphs with circuitous paths that might potentially prefer the upward jump. In many of the examples it spat out, they found that a bottom-bunk path was only the tiniest bit more probable than its top-bunk alternative. But the model didn’t uncover any graphs where the reverse was true. There was another problem. Each graph the neural network came up with was still so large that the mathematicians couldn’t possibly investigate every single outcome of the coin-flipping step. Rather, the team had to compute the probability of finding upper and lower paths over a subset of these outcomes—much as polls sample from a subset of voters to predict the result of an election. The mathematicians realized that they could be more than 99.99 percent confident in any counterexample their neural network gave them—but not 100 percent. They began to doubt whether pursuing this approach to the problem would be rewarded. It was unlikely to convince the mathematical community; certainly no prestigious journal would consider it a rigorous proof. “PhD students need jobs in reality, not in theory,” Pak wrote on his blog —and Gladkov and Zimin would be looking for jobs soon. “That is really why we stopped,” he continued. “Why persevere and create controversy when you can just try doing something else?” They gave up on their computational approach, but they didn’t stop thinking about the problem. For the next several months, they focused on formulating a theoretical argument that wouldn’t require a computer. But they didn’t have all the pieces they needed to complete it. Then a breakthrough came from abroad. Who Needs Computers? In June, Lawrence Hollom of the University of Cambridge disproved a version of the bunkbed problem in a different context. Instead of dealing with graphs, this formulation of the conjecture asked about objects called hypergraphs. In a hypergraph, an edge is no longer defined as the connection between a pair of vertices, but rather as the connection between any number of vertices. Hollom found a counterexample to this version of the conjecture. He created a small hypergraph whose edges each connected three vertices: Gladkov came across the paper and realized it was just what the trio needed. “I found it in the evening, and I read it until 3 am. I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy. Absolutely mind-boggling,’” he said. He texted Zimin before going to sleep, and the two got on the phone the next day. Could they rework Hollom’s counterexample into a normal graph that would disprove the original bunkbed conjecture? This wasn’t the first time the pair of old friends had thought about how to translate hypergraphs into graphs. Early last year, they had discussed the issue just before attending a concert together. “The Red Hot Chili Peppers were singing, and I was thinking about this problem,” Gladkov said. “I was not listening to the music much.” They later developed techniques that allowed them to move from hypergraphs to graphs in particular situations. They could now use those techniques, they realized, to adapt Hollom’s hypergraph. Gladkov, Pak, and Zimin replaced each three-vertex edge in the hypergraph with a massive cluster of points and normal edges. This gave them an enormous graph of 7,222 vertices connected by 14,422 edges. They then used the theoretical argument they’d built up after abandoning their artificial intelligence approach to prove that in this graph, finding an upper path was 1/10 6,500 percent more likely than finding a lower one—an unimaginably small but nonzero number. The bunkbed conjecture was wrong. Aleksandr Zimin roomed with Gladkov in college, with an actual bunkbed in their dorm. Their result shows the importance of not taking anything for granted, said Noga Alon , a mathematician at Princeton. “We have to be suspicious, even about things that intuitively look very likely to be true.” Gladkov, Pak, and Zimin found many small-graph examples that satisfied the conjecture, but in the end, those did not reflect the more complicated, less intuitive graphs they could build when given enough vertices and edges. As Hollom put it, “Do we actually understand all this stuff as well as we think we do?” Mathematicians still believe the physics statement about connected locations within solids that inspired the bunkbed conjecture. But they’ll need to find a different way to prove it. In the meantime, Pak says, it’s clear that mathematicians need to engage in a more active discussion about the nature of mathematical proof. He and his colleagues ultimately didn’t have to rely on controversial computational methods; they were able to disprove the conjecture with total certainty. But as computer- and AI-based lines of attack become more common in mathematics research, some mathematicians are debating whether the field’s norms will eventually have to change. “It’s a philosophical question,” Alon said. “How do we view proofs that are only true with high probability?” “I think the future of mathematics will be to accept probabilistic proofs like this,” said Doron Zeilberger , a mathematician at Rutgers University who is known for crediting his computer as a coauthor on many of his papers. “In 50 years, or maybe less, people will have a new attitude.” Others wonder if such a future threatens something vital. “Maybe a probabilistic proof would give you less understanding or intuition of what’s really going on,” Alon said. Pak has suggested that separate journals be created for results of this kind as they become more common, so that their value isn’t lost to mathematicians. But his main goal is to open the conversation. “There’s no correct answer,” he said. “I want the community to meditate on whether the next result of this kind will count.” As technology continues to infiltrate and transform mathematics, the question will only become more pressing. Original story reprinted with permission from Quanta Magazine , an editorially independent publication of the Simons Foundation whose mission is to enhance public understanding of science by covering research developments and trends in mathematics and the physical and life sciences.Shane Van Gisbergen Crashes in Horrific Sprint Car Flip Ahead of NASCAR EntryInternational Business Machines Corp. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day
Adani issue, Manipur strife, Delhi air: Oppn gears up for Winter SessionHARRISBURG, PA — Governor Josh Shapiro authorized a series of legislative measures into law on Monday, signing seven bills that address a range of significant topics, from memorializing fallen heroes to enhancing consumer protections and modernizing local governance. Each new law signals progress in key areas affecting Pennsylvania residents, with far-reaching implications for public safety, economic activity, and civic recognition. The legislation includes House Bills 71, 1210, 1304, 1850, 2177, 2426, and Senate Bill 155. These new Acts address issues like honoring Gold Star families, protecting victims of abuse, improving emergency services, revising municipal accounting practices, updating motorcycle inspection rules, banning license plate flipping devices, and expanding consumer protections for motorcyclists. House Bill 71 , now Act No. 145 of 2024, underscores Pennsylvania’s commitment to honoring military sacrifice. The law authorizes the construction of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on the State Capitol grounds. Sponsored by the Woody Williams Foundation, the monument will recognize Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in military service. Its design reflects core themes of homeland, family, patriotism, sacrifice, and legacy. By creating a space for memory and education, the monument offers a lasting tribute to fallen heroes and their families, while fostering greater public understanding of their sacrifice. Act No. 146 of 2024, originating from House Bill 1210 , enhances protections for victims of domestic violence by allowing judges to explicitly prohibit defendants from harming the victim’s pets. This addition to Pennsylvania’s Protection From Abuse Act addresses an often-overlooked aspect of domestic abuse, where abusers harm pets as a tactic of intimidation. This law empowers courts to address this specific threat, ensuring victims can seek safety without fear for their animals. By recognizing the connection between pet welfare and victim safety, the bill represents a critical evolution in domestic violence protections. House Bill 1304 , now Act No. 147 of 2024, brings sweeping updates to Pennsylvania’s emergency 911 communication system. The legislation promotes the transition to Next Generation 911 (NG911), which enables advanced digital capabilities like text, video, and data sharing. It outlines provisions for surcharge collection, fund distribution, and coordinated operations across counties. By modernizing the state’s emergency response infrastructure, Act 147 enhances public safety and creates a system better equipped to handle evolving technological needs and emergencies in real time. House Bill 1850 , signed as Act No. 148 of 2024, introduces changes to accounting practices in second-class townships. Specifically, it clarifies that advertisements are required only during the initial vote to replace elected auditors with certified public accountants (CPAs). Subsequent CPA reappointments no longer require additional public notices. This measure reduces administrative burdens while maintaining transparency, ensuring that municipalities can efficiently manage their transitions between accounting professionals without undue procedural hurdles. Act No. 149 of 2024, stemming from HB 2177 , simplifies safety inspection rules for motorcycles in Pennsylvania. Previously restricted to inspections between March and October, PennDOT-certified stations may now perform these inspections year-round. This change aligns safety protocols with motorcycle operation and sales, which occur throughout the calendar year. By eliminating this restriction, the law promotes road safety while offering greater convenience for motorcycle owners. House Bill 2426 , now Act No. 150 of 2024, closes a loophole in state vehicle laws by explicitly prohibiting license plate flipping devices. These mechanisms, which allow drivers to conceal or alter license plates, can enable illegal activities such as toll evasion and reckless driving. The new law ensures accountability on the road, making it clear that the use of such devices is unacceptable. This commonsense measure strengthens enforcement efforts and reinforces the principle that all drivers must adhere to traffic laws and identification requirements. Senate Bill 155 , enacted as Act No. 151 of 2024, expands Pennsylvania’s Automobile Lemon Law to include motorcycles. Previously covering only cars, the legislation ensures that motorcyclists receive the same consumer protections against defects that significantly impair use, value, or safety. These protections apply during the first year of ownership or the duration of the warranty, offering critical recourse for buyers. By addressing an oversight in existing consumer protections, this law aligns motorcycle purchasers with the safeguards already afforded to car buyers. The bills signed into law reflect a commitment to practical governance and the enhancement of public welfare. “These new laws address real needs in our communities, from public safety to consumer protection and more.” Gov. Shapiro’s administration repeatedly emphasized bipartisan collaboration in advancing these measures, reinforcing Pennsylvania’s ability to tackle diverse challenges. With laws now in place to honor military families, safeguard victims of abuse, modernize emergency systems, improve local governance, and protect motorcycle buyers, Pennsylvania stands poised to implement these initiatives for the benefit of its citizens. These Acts collectively represent a step forward in fostering safer, stronger, and more equitable communities across the Commonwealth. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .
John Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level Media
Vivek Ramaswamy doubled down on DOGE's calls to eliminate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He wrote on X that the CFPB overstepped its authority with its recent rule to limit overdraft fees. The CFPB's rule still allows banks to charge overdraft fees, and the bureau has previously pushed back on DOGE's claims. Vivek Ramaswamy is pointing to a government agency's latest rule to give Americans banking relief as an example of why the office should be eliminated. Advertisement Ramaswamy, who Donald Trump chose along with Elon Musk to make spending cut recommendations with a new Department of Government Efficiency, posted on X on Thursday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has exceeded its authority with its recent rule to limit overdraft fees . "The new administration can & should nullify this overreach, but we must go further: this latest gambit of the CFPB is just a symptom of a deeper (and unconstitutional) cancer of unelected bureaucrats substituting their policy judgments for those of Congress," Ramaswamy said. "That's un-American & needs to end." Advertisement While DOGE is an advisory commission and does not have the power to eliminate agencies or cut spending on its own, it is in the position to make recommendations. Now both leaders have said the Trump administration should " delete CFPB ," as Musk said in November. Ramaswamy's post refers to a rule the CFPB finalized on December 12 that would require banks to limit overdraft fees — the amount charged to customers when they attempt to spend more than their balance. The agency estimated that the new rule would save Americans up to $5 billion each year, or $225 per household. "The CFPB has heard from tens of thousands of Americans who are sick and tired of paying billions in junk fees," Allison Preiss, a CFPB spokesperson, told Business Insider in a statement. "This rule is common sense and long overdue, and it's unclear why big banks are scared to be transparent with their customers about the interest rate they're charging on overdraft loans." Advertisement The rule updates federal regulations for banks with over $10 billion in assets, including major institutions like Bank of America and Capitol One. Banks can now choose between two options to address overdraft fees: They could implement a $5 cap on fees, or they could set their fee at an amount necessary to cover the bank's costs and losses. Banks earning profits off of overdraft fees would also be required to disclose the terms of the fees, as they already do with credit cards and other types of loans. The CFPB took action against Wells Fargo in 2022 after the bureau said it charged consumers surprise overdraft fees, which resulted in $205 million in refunds to impacted consumers. Other federal agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Transportation, have also taken steps to ban hidden and excessive fees. The CFPB is no stranger to criticism. The Supreme Court in May rejected a conservative-led lawsuit that sought to dismantle the CFPB's funding structure. The lawsuit argued that Congress should have to approve annual funding for the agency rather than it receiving funding in perpetuity. Since its creation in 2011 in the wake of the financial crisis, the CFPB has received funds directly from the Federal Reserve, allowing it to carry out its functions independently of the political appropriations process. Advertisement Along with the CFPB, Trump, Musk, and Ramaswamy have called for eliminating other federal agencies including the Education Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It's unclear how far DOGE will succeed in its efforts to eliminate agencies like the CFPB. However, Rohit Chopra, the head of the CFPB, warned Musk and Ramaswamy in an interview earlier this month with MSNBC that axing the agency is "begging for a financial crisis" and would have dire consequences. "I don't understand why people would want financial crime," Chopra said, "and if they say it's duplicative, who else will do it?"Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian. The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceIndigenous dancer flying from strength to strength
Port Moody council has been able to significantly whittle down its proposed property tax increase, approving a 5.71 percent bump for its provisional 2025 budget. The interim figure was discussed at a finance committee meeting on Dec. 17, with council managing to slash around seven percent since budget deliberations began in October. Mayor Meghan Lahti said this year’s budget came with challenges she’s never experienced in her 25 years in office, noting the consumer price index has risen nearly 14 percent since council took office. “That is astronomical,” Lahti said. “It was really important to show our willingness to reduce the budget in areas that are priorities for us, because we are responding to the public’s desire to see a lower tax increase.” Port Moody’s taxpayers have faced a combined 15.89 percent tax hike over the previous two budget cycles. Public frustration was reflected in this year’s budget consultations, with over half of respondents opposed to any increases in 2025. Approximately 70 percent of the city’s $90 million budget is funded through taxation, with the city’s provisional budget adding an additional $3.3 million from last year, amounting to $167 more for the average household. Staff’s initial tax proposal pitched a 10.85 percent when deliberations began, which council reduced to 8.52 percent following two workshops. However, reductions in the BC Assessment roll and increased labour costs and benefits added another $1.25 million, bringing the figure back up to 10.3 percent. Council has since made substantial cuts for a further $2.68 million reduction, or 4.59 percent. This includes pausing the city’s Climate Action Levy for a year ($584,000); using accumulated surplus to fund community events, inclusionary initiatives and previously deferred items ($695,000); reducing various reverse transfers ($319,000); decreasing services levels ($317,000); budget reductions ($150,000); eliminating or phasing in new budget requests ($192,000); and adjusting sick-time and vacation benefits ($150,000). The city has also recalculated the amount of revenue it expects from pay parking, recreation, filming, leasing and businesses licensing, adding $345,000. Paul Rockwood, general manager of finance and technology, said “tough economic times require tough measures.” He said the city significantly underestimated the amount of tax revenue it would bring in from new growth. Originally, staff expected to net an additional $584,000, but less than a quarter of that was realized. “We had very minimal taxation growth this year,” Rockwood said. “But we are facing increased demand, internally and externally for a variety of services.” Lahti said she’s seen a lot of public commentary regarding the lack of tax revenues from new growth, but cautioned it takes time before it shows up on the city’s balance sheet. She said she anticipates more money will be realized after a new BC Assessment roll occurs in 2025. “Hopefully next year will be a much more positive outcome for all the work that we’re putting in to provide housing,” Lahti said. “We want to see that translated into a reduction in our taxes, or at least some breathing room.” Council was defensive regarding the recent budget increases, with some members taking aim at previous council’s decisions, social media chatter, and media reporting. Coun. Kyla Knowles attacked what she described as “rampant misinformation and spin” on social media. She said comparisons with the former council’s budgets were unfair, pointing to inflationary impacts, and budget reductions from in-person events and positions being cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowles also asserted the former council drained the growth-stabilization reserve, which added $400,00 annually to city coffers to help ease the loss of its industrial tax base. “The previous council depleted it to their great benefit, and it’s a shame that it didn’t continue to get topped up as we went along,” Knowles said. Couns. Callan Morrison and Samantha Agtarap both took issue with a Global News story, which ranked Port Moody’s initial 8.52 percent increase as the highest in the Lower Mainland. Agtarap said such comparisons are inevitable, but argued it is not fair to compare Port Moody to municipalities with casinos, which receive 10 percent of their net revenues. “For a community like Richmond, that’s over $12 million, and for Coquitlam, that’s almost $7 million (annually),” she said. Coun. Diana Dilworth warned of continued instability in the coming years. “There’s not a lot of certainty that any local government has at this time,” she said. She noted the Canadian dollar continues to drop, federal rebate cheques have been cancelled, and the entire political landscape could change by the next federal election. Dilworth suggested the growth-stabilization reserve ought to be re-established, stating it was initially set up in the 1990s to help ease tax impacts. Council voted to have staff report back with a strategic plan and policy to create a new reserve, dubbed by Lahti as the rate-stabilization reserve. Port Moody has until May 15 to pass the official budget.
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