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Donald Trump hasn't been sworn into office yet, but his ally Elon Musk is already getting started working for a government agency that hasn't yet been created. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the "Department of Government Efficiency" co-director is tweeting out the names and personal details of federal employees, leading to some of his more than 205 million followers to "launch blistering critiques of ordinary" workers. Ashley Thomas, a little-known director of "climate diversity" at the U.S. International Development Financial Corp., was targeted by the billionaire, who called her job "fake." The tweet received 32 million views and spawned a flood of memes making fun of her and telling her that her job would be over soon, the report stated. Also Read: How an economic crash could line Trump's pockets Musk was put in charge of the soon-to-be-created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Biotech company founder Vivek Ramaswamy will be his co-chair. It's tasked with findings massive cuts in government spending. Thus far, Ramaswamy hasn't targeted individuals. Instead, he's talked about his slashing of the federal workforce broadly, saying that he would fire people at random — suggesting it could be done based on Social Security number. In his estimation, he could slash 75 percent of the workforce by choosing people whose Social Security numbers start or end with odd numbers. Using X as a tool to attack people is nothing new, the report said. "After taking over Twitte r in 2022, Musk targeted Yoel Roth, the platform’s former head of trust and safety, who had recently left . Musk tweeted, incorrectly, that it looked like Roth had argued 'in favor of children being able to access adult Internet services,'" the Journal recalled. "Some of the platform’s users interpreted it as Musk calling Roth a pedophile, and they posted calls for Roth’s death. Roth moved out of his house temporarily because of threats." “These tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. It represents about 800,000 members of the 2.3 million federal employees. “It’s intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up," said Kelley. “We are a comparative steal, and we want to help clean it up too,” said Kelley, a former Army sergeant. “The people I represent have been called names like deep state, but they are working people just like you and I.” Read the full report here.PM Holness Promises Relief for Jamaicans Amid Rising OppositionNo. 11 Tennessee crushes UTEP to enhance CFP chances
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:30 p.m. ESTOpinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own. As the crypto market continues its roller-coaster ride, mainstream media outlets are spotlighting bold predictions about Bitcoin’s role in the American economy. A recent segment on Fox News’ “The Big Money Show” titled “ BITCOIN IS THE KING ” showcased Anthony Pompliano, founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management, who discussed how a potential second Trump administration could influence U.S. crypto policy. Meanwhile, business intelligence company MicroStrategy (MSTR), known for its massive Bitcoin holdings, continues to dominate headlines by positioning itself as a corporate bellwether for digital asset adoption. Below is an educational overview weaving together the Fox News discussion, publicly available data on MicroStrategy, and broader insights from around the web. In the Fox News interview , Anthony Pompliano argued that while Donald Trump might focus on acquiring strategic physical assets — such as Greenland or the Panama Canal — there is an equally important “digital real estate” that the United States could benefit from accumulating: Bitcoin. Here are the highlights: While the Fox News conversation focused on potential government moves, the private sector has already provided a blueprint. MicroStrategy, a publicly traded enterprise software firm founded by Michael Saylor, began accumulating Bitcoin in 2020 to hedge against inflation and diversify its treasury. As of December 16, 2024 (based on information circulating on the web and recent press mentions), MicroStrategy reportedly holds 439,000 BTC . Publicly available SEC filings and official MicroStrategy press releases (e.g., on their Investor Relations page) confirm the company has been consistently purchasing BTC since mid-2020. If Bitcoin trades around $95,000 to $100,000 (as some market data websites have suggested in late 2024), MSTR’s BTC stash could be valued well into the tens of billions of dollars. Analysts on the web frequently debate what happens if Bitcoin surges to $150,000 (or higher). Under such a scenario, MicroStrategy’s holdings could balloon in value, underscoring just how leveraged the company is to Bitcoin’s price movements. Historically, MSTR’s stock price has exhibited strong correlation to BTC movements. When Bitcoin rallies, MSTR shares often rise, sometimes even outpacing BTC’s percentage gains due to the company’s leveraged position. Conversely, if Bitcoin experiences a price correction or “crypto winter,” MSTR’s market capitalization can fall sharply. This volatility has made MSTR both attractive to Bitcoin bulls and concerning to risk-averse investors. Beyond Fox News and MicroStrategy, data and trends visible on major crypto tracking sites (such as CoinMarketCap , CoinDesk , and other financial news portals) paint a picture of an evolving industry: Institutional involvement on the rise Regulatory developments Potential for an ETF breakthrough Government adoption? Whether the next administration adopts Bitcoin directly into national reserves is still speculative. Proponents believe it could offer a hedge against currency devaluation, while critics argue that Bitcoin’s volatility remains a stumbling block for conservative fiscal policies. Corporate treasury trend MicroStrategy’s bet on BTC has influenced how corporate treasuries think about digital assets. Tesla, Block (formerly Square), and other firms also hold Bitcoin, though not at the same scale as MSTR. Market timing vs. long-term perspective Pompliano’s central argument on Fox News is that waiting for a “perfect” time to buy might lead to missed opportunities. Yet, he also stresses the importance of risk management—whether for individuals, companies, or governments. The intersection of Fox News coverage, MicroStrategy’s unprecedented BTC holdings, and the potential for a pro-crypto U.S. administration underscores a watershed moment. As Bitcoin matures, discussions about incorporating it into national reserves or corporate treasuries highlight its transformation from a fringe speculation to a mainstream consideration. Still, risks abound — crypto remains volatile and regulatory frameworks differ from nation to nation. For interested observers, the key is education: understanding both the historical context and the evolving landscape. Whether or not the U.S. follows through on “buying Bitcoin,” debates like these demonstrate that digital assets are firmly on the national (and global) radar. Disclaimer This article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Always perform your own due diligence and consult with licensed professionals before making any investment decisions. Qamar Zaman is an American Entrepreneur and the founder of KISSPR, an award-winning, press release distribution ecosystem. His current position as managing director in Storytellers Inc, a news initiative partnering with global news publishers and media outlets to create a news and PR framework. Zaman is a published author of the e-book, “How to Create Google Knowledge Panel Using Press Releases, a Forbes Council member and has been mentioned in top news outlets and media as a thought leader and expert in digital transformation. Zaman is also a member of the Forbes Agency Council .
Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Ohtani joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He had combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . “The ultimate goal from the beginning was to win a World Series, which we are able to accomplish,” he said through a translator. “The next goal is for me to do it again and so right now I’m in the middle of rehab and working out and getting stronger.” When Ohtani returns to the mound, could he win MVP and the Cy Young Award in the same year? “That would obviously be great, but right now my focus is just to get to get back healthy, come back stronger, get back on the mound and show everybody what I can do,” Ohtani said. Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP in a season that started with the revelation his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, had stolen nearly $17 million from the star to fund gambling. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?”None
WESTFIELD — Organizers preparing for the 70th annual Westfield River Wildwater Race are launching a fundraising drive to cover the more than $30,000 in cash they need to run the event. Race Chairman Harry Rock said that while participant fees cover about half the cost of the race, cash donations and in-kind services are needed to continue the longest running canoe race in the country. He is confident the April 19 race will persevere. “We discovered last year that the fees charged participants was not enough to run the races,” he said. “We nearly had to cancel the race if not for the generosity of some supporters and businesses who stepped up at the last minute.” “This year we are starting early and looking to our supporters to step up again,” he said. Rock said organizers are creating a guide for donations. Any amount given up to $100 falls under the “Starting Line” level, while a “Rapids” designation covers any donation between $100 and $249, followed by a “Kayak” for donations of $250 to $499. The guide continues with the “Canoe” level at $500 to $999, with “Paddlers” in the $1,000 to $2,499 range, where Rock himself has contributed. “White Water” donors contribute between $2,500 and $4,999 and “Finish Line” donors are in the $5,000 and up category. So far, JL Raymaakers & Sons Inc. and Roar Inc. have again taken the lead in contributing as the first Finish Line contributors. Last year, John Raymaaker, a longtime paddler in the races, stepped up when he heard about the potential cancelation and put up $4,000 in cash, then challenged his fellow business people to get on board. They did. Champion racer Travis Wheeler started a GoFundMe page that raised over $4,000. Indian Motorcycle of Springfield added to that, as did Pioneer Valley Waste, the Wild and Scenic Westfield River committee, Westfield Bank and others. As a result of the giving, the 69th running of the Westfield River Wildwater Race was launched on time. Rock, joined by the race director, Kathryn Koegan, adopted new operational procedures to better accommodate racers’ needs. A tiered registration system will offer early registrants a discounted fee, with prices increasing as race time nears. Start times, too, will depend upon registration times. Those who register early will have the earliest launches. John Raymaaker led off the Westfield River Wildwater Race Classic Race event in April wearing a special shirt for the occasion. (Dave Canton / The Republican) Dave Canton Rock is meeting with officials in each of the communities the race passes through, smoothing over relations. “We have met with the select boards of both Russell and Huntington, great meetings with the boards, and we are pressing forward,” Rock said. “The Westfield River dominates this area. We want to know how the Westfield River Wildwater Race can increase community involvement with the race and make it better for the people who live along the race course and the towns we are in.” The race is believed to have started as a bet in the early 1950s at the Whippernon Country Club bar, formerly on Route 20 in Russell. The first race in 1953 saw nine canoes shove off on the west branch of the river at Wildcat Springs Restaurant in Chester and run 10 miles to the Whippernon. Seven canoes finished and the prize was two cases of beer. In 1965, the course was changed to its present runs, with the novice race starting at the Huntington Department of Public Works yards on Route 112 and traveling eight miles to the paper mills at Woronoco. The expert race stars at the base of the Knightville Dam and runs five miles to the rest area off Route 20 in Huntington near the Huntington Health Center. Since that first bar bet, the Westfield River Wildwater Race has seen a lot of history and a lot of evolution as tastes and technology changed how people interact with the river. Jeff DeFeo first ran the race as a lark in 1974, the year he graduated from high school. “I was lucky we didn’t get killed because we knew practically nothing,” he said Saturday. “We weren’t dressed right, and it was really cold. We ended up swimming the first four or five times we were in the race, until we figured it out.” DeFeo has participated in the race every year since and went on to become the race co-chairman in 1983. With his paddling partner, Jurgen Igel, he ran the race for 30 years. But even back then, entry fees did not cover all of the costs. “We did tag sales and golf tournaments and a couple of dances in the off-season just to keep the funding up,” he said. Later, the race attracted several corporate sponsors and their giving took pressure off, something DeFeo said needs to happen again. “We did all our own timing, all our own registration. Now they are paying for things we never had to do. They are paying way more for police,” he said. Julie Marcoulier has seen a lot of the history of the race first hand, and made some herself. After 30 consecutive races, she is the longest standing female paddler. “In 1994, John DeFeo, Jeff’s brother, took me on as a paddler and taught me and my husband how to read the river and how to use different strokes,” she said. “We ran the novice race that year.” Marcoulier was instrumental in getting more women into the races as teams. “I was coaching girls’ cross country at the Gateway High School from 2000 to 2013 and I took four or five of my runners down the river to try to get them interested,” she said. Now, her favorite partner on the river is her daughter, Jesse Marcoulier-Gladu. “For the past eight or 10 years, my daughter and I have been racing in the expert competition,” Marcoulier said. “I started with Kathy Enger as my partner and we ran a female team. Then my daughter came up and we have been racing together for the past at least 10 years.”BOSTON (AP) — Forty years ago, Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie rolled to his right and threw a pass that has become one of college football’s most iconic moments. With Boston College trailing defending champion Miami, Flutie threw the Hail Mary and found receiver Gerard Phalen , who made the grab while falling into the end zone behind a pair of defenders for a game-winning 48-yard TD. Flutie and many of his 1984 teammates were honored on the field during BC’s 41-21 victory over North Carolina before the second quarter on Saturday afternoon, the anniversary of the Eagles’ Miracle in Miami. “There’s no way its been 40 years,” Flutie told The Associated Press on the sideline a few minutes before he walked out with some of his former teammates to be recognized after a video of The Play was shown on the scoreboards. It’s a moment and highlight that’s not only played throughout decades of BC students and fans, but around the college football world. “What is really so humbling is that the kids 40 years later are wearing 22 jerseys, still,” Flutie said of his old number. “That amazes me.” That game was played on national TV the Friday after Thanksgiving. The ironic thing is it was originally scheduled for earlier in the season before CBS paid Rutgers to move its game against Miami, thus setting up the BC-Miami post-holiday matchup. “It shows you how random some things are, that the game was moved,” Flutie said. “The game got moved to the Friday after Thanksgiving, which was the most watched game of the year. We both end up being nationally ranked and up there. All those things lent to how big the game itself was, and made the pass and the catch that much more relevant and remembered because so many people were watching.” There’s a statue of Flutie winding up to make The Pass outside the north gates at Alumni Stadium. Fans and visitors can often be seen taking photos there. “In casual conversation, it comes up every day,” Flutie said, when asked how many times people bring it up. “It brings a smile to my face every time we talk about it.” A week after the game-ending Flutie pass, the Eagles beat Holy Cross and before he flew off to New York to accept the Heisman. They went on to win the 49th Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day. “Forty years seem almost like incomprehensible,” said Phalen, also standing on the sideline a few minutes after the game started. “I always say to Doug: ‘Thank God for social media. It’s kept it alive for us.”’ Earlier this week, current BC coach Bill O’Brien, 55, was asked if he remembered where he was 40 years ago. “We were eating Thanksgiving leftovers in my family room,” he said. “My mom was saying a Rosary in the kitchen because she didn’t like Miami and wanted BC to win. My dad, my brother and I were watching the game. “It was unbelievable,” he said. “Everybody remembers where they were for the Hail Mary, Flutie pass.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
NoneAuto industry's shift toward EVs is expected to go on despite Trump threat to kill tax credits
BY MIKE PETRO Nov. 26, 2024 Plans scrapped for four-story academic building on university’s West Avenue campus After halting construction this spring on a $175 million project to construct an osteopathic medical school on Buffalo’s West Side, D’Youville University is scrapping those plans and looking elsewhere for a program site. D’Youville will still open a College of Osteopathic Medicine, but instead will do so inside rented space in downtown Buffalo, according to the university. D'Youville College is implementing a four-day work week for employees. (News file photo) A lease agreement was signed in October, but D’Youville officials would not reveal any further details about the site. It will be D’Youville’s second expansion downtown, following the opening of the Medical Extension offices at 712 Main St. “We are working with a new development partner and plan to disclose additional details in the new year,” the university said in a statement. A rendering of D’Youville University’s proposed new four-story academic building, next to its completed Health Professions Hub, that ultimately would be the home of a proposed medical school. Site work for the four-story, 104,000-square-foot academic building on the university’s campus at 443 West Ave. started earlier this year, but paused in May due to soaring construction costs and financing problems due to higher interest rates. Contractors had dug a giant hole in the ground on the site of the former parking lot, which remains to this day. But after weeks of work on-site, all the workers and equipment were suddenly removed. A rendering of D'Youville University's proposed new four-story academic building, next to its completed Health Professions Hub. Following the completion of environmental remediation and utilities relocation on the site, D’Youville is considering the development of housing at the location. Even after the transition of Madonna Hall back to a residential facility, the university’s recent NCAA Division II athletics transition has created the demand for additional housing, D’Youville said. A rendering of D'Youville University's proposed $175 million osteopathic medical school. Construction on the project has been paused due to financial considerations, a university official said. D’Youville confirmed in February it would open a College of Osteopathic Medicine on its campus that would educate 720 students at a time. The plan had originally been unveiled in late 2022 as an expansion of its health care programs. The university had intended to invest $100 million in the new building and set aside $50 million in reserve funds as insurance in case the program failed, and another $25 million just to cover startup costs for the first three years until it could break even at 400 students. Anastasiia Horova leads Saint toward the Koessler Administration Building after taking him out for a walk. To pay for it, D’Youville planned to invest $35 million of its own cash, while obtaining $48 million in taxable bonds through the Industrial Land Development Corp., an affiliate of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. The bulk of the project cost would have been financed through bank loans or other means. UB climbs in entrepreneurship ranking The University at Buffalo is again ranked as one of the top and climbing worldwide undergraduate schools for entrepreneurship studies. For the third consecutive year, Entrepreneur magazine and The Princeton Review have named UB to the list, at No. 41 overall, up three spots from last year. UB also ranked No. 22 among public universities and No. 7 in the Northeast. Based on a 2024 survey of nearly 300 schools in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe offering entrepreneurship studies, the ranking factors in more than 40 data points about school programs, faculty, students and alumni. The growth has been fueled by collaborative efforts among several UB entities, including the School of Management, the UB Startup and Innovation Collaboratory powered by Blackstone LaunchPad, Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, according to UB officials. UB offers a wide range of entrepreneurial experiences, including courses, competitions, hackathons, boot camps, innovation sprints, design challenges, venture support, early funding, investment programs and e-labs. Also happening at UB: • The School of Management is ranked fifth among business schools in the nation based on the return on investment it provides MBA graduates, according to Bloomberg Businessweek’s ROI calculator. Of the 73 schools in the ROI calculator, UB's management school is the only business school from the Buffalo Niagara region to make the list and even finished ahead of top business schools at Harvard (No. 42), Penn (No. 51) and Cornell (No. 45). • Lillvis, which is led by researchers from UB, received a $100,000 grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences for a two-year project studying why hospital complications may occur for children with special health care needs following physical trauma. These special needs include chronic conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, depression, spina bifida or Down syndrome. • A team from the School of Social Work has received a $3.6 million Department of Education grant to develop and implement the Buffalo Mental Health Service Professional fellowship program for graduate students designed to increase the number of highly trained, school-based social workers in rural communities. The program will provide training and coursework meant to address the unique mental health issues facing students and families living in these areas. Forty-six fellows will participate during the five-year grant period. Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News brings you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com . THE LATEST Two of Buffalo's top development officials have been ousted . New solar project starts construction in Great Valley. Scanlon, Poloncarz criticize land bank for delays and cost of homes on projects in Buffalo and Cheektowaga. How do the Bills believe they will ever get to the more than 5,000 potential season ticket holder accounts on their waitlist for the new stadium and why advertise for more of them? Developers battle over Tonawanda Island site but sewer capacity may hinder projects. What went wrong at Tonawanda's Sumitomo tire plant ? And why did Sumitomo's Japan-based parent decide to pull the plug now? Work has begun on venture studio built to fill void in Buffalo's entrepreneurial space . Artisans report as much as 50% of their annual revenue comes from the holiday shopping season. Now valued at $5 billion, Odoo welcomes Google parent company venture fund as co-lead investor. An incentive package containing $11.6 million in sales and property tax breaks could help Wells Enterprises bring 270 jobs to Dunkirk. Local startup Rookery Labs will move into a space at the Northland Center. Family Promise of Western New York wants to build a second emergency shelter for homeless . StoreCash , one of five $1 million winners in last year’s 43North competition, has completed a $3.7 million seed funding round. The Buffalo Niagara region's jobless rate has risen to 3.6%. A report says the Buffalo Bills are ready to sell an about 20% minority stake in team. The cost of the new Buffalo Bills stadium is going up by almost 25% . A downtown golf project is getting a boost from a new investor . ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Locally owned stores are pulling out all the stops to attract customers who may otherwise be lured in by the convenience of major retailers and online shopping. 2. Get the story behind Evans Bank's hunt for a merger , which ended with the Amherst-based bank's acquisition by NBT Bank. 3. A lot goes into getting local grocery stores ready for the Thanksgiving shopping rush . 4. Buffalo officials are considering whether to impose more restrictions on short-term rentals. 5. How retailers try to entice shoppers to do their holiday buying early . The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to get the latest in your inbox five days a week . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with four seconds left, sending No. 25 Illinois to a wild 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field-goal attempt with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed kick was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards. Altmeyer put Illinois in front with a 30-yard touchdown run with 3:07 to go. He passed to Josh McCray on the 2-point conversion, making it 30-24. Rutgers responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive. Athan Kaliakmanis had a 15-yard run on fourth down. He passed to running back Kyle Manangai for a 13-yard score with 1:08 remaining. Illinois then drove 75 yards in eight plays for the unexpected win. Kaliakmanis was 18-for-36 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 13 carries for 84 yards and two TDs. Monangai had a career-high 28 carries for 122 yards. Kaliakmanis found Ian Strong for a 2-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half, and he scored on a 1-yard run to lift Rutgers to a 24-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer runs for a 30-yard touchdown against Rutgers with 3 minutes, 7 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Nov. 23, 2024, in Piscataway, N.J. (Ed Mulholland/Getty) Illinois responded with Aidan Laughery’s 8-yard touchdown run, setting up the roller-coaster finish. The start of the second half was delayed because of a scrum between the teams. There were no punches thrown and the officials called penalties on both schools. Monangai become the third player in Rutgers history to rush for 3,000 yards when he picked up 4 on a third-and-1 carry early in the second quarter. The defending conference rushing champion joins Ray Rice and Terrell Willis in hitting the mark. Illinois: The great finish kept the Illini in line for its first nine-win season since 2007 and a prestigious bowl game. Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights were seconds away from their first three-game conference winning streak since joining the Big Ten in 2014. Illinois: Vs. Northwestern on Saturday at Wrigley Field. Rutgers: At Michigan State on Saturday.The Tennessee Titans are showing signs of growing tougher. This time, they shook off eight sacks and three turnovers to stave off a third straight losing season for at least another week. The Titans not only scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-play drive in the fourth quarter, they also came up with back-to-back sacks. The second led to a safety, clinching a 32-27 win over the AFC South-leading Houston Texans. First-year coach Brian Callahan called how the Titans (3-8) responded crucial validation in the NFL where the only grading system is wins and losses. "We finally get a chance against a really good team on the road in the division to show what we’re made of," Callahan said. "This is the team we think we’re capable of being. It’s the team that I’ve believed in all year long." Running back Tony Pollard says the Titans have learned some important lessons that only come from fighting through adversity. They've had lots of that, which can wear out teams this late in the season. "Eventually, they’ll start turning over,” Pollard said. What’s working The offense. The Titans scored a season high in points and topped their game average with 20 points by halftime. Better yet was quarterback Will Levis both starting and finishing his first win of the season. Levis also completed his first 11 passes and connected with seven different receivers. Levis finished with 278 yards passing and threw two touchdown passes. Pollard also ran for 119 yards as the Titans played keep-away, holding the ball for more than 34 minutes. They finished with four plays of 27 yards or longer with Levis responsible for the three longest. What needs help Special teams. Coordinator Colt Anderson has been under pressure, which didn't ease after the Texans gave up an 80-yard return on the opening kickoff. The Titans then gave up a TD on the first play from scrimmage — only the fourth time that has happened in the NFL since 2000 and first since the Chargers in Week 7 in 2018. It didn't get better as rookie Jha'quan Jackson fumbled a punt recovered by Houston near midfield in the third quarter. The Titans allowed only a field goal. But special teams allowed the Texans to average 36.8 yards per kickoff return. Punter Ryan Stonehouse had a net average of 45.2 yards as he made up for a 38-yarder that counts as a shank for him with a 62-yarder early in the fourth to help flip the field. Stock up Tight end Chig Okonkwo. The fourth-round draft pick in 2022 scored a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown that was the longest catch of his career. That one TD catch had more yards than Okonkwo had managed in any of his previous 44 games. It was enough as the game-winning TD. Stock down Levis completed his first 11 passes. He's completed 67.9% of his passes in his past three starts with five TD passes with only two interceptions with a 107.2 passer rating. Callahan likes those signs of improvement. “We definitely got to get the sack numbers down. ... We can't give up eight sacks a game and feel like it's going to be good enough,” Callahan said. The second-year quarterback has to be more aware of pressure to avoid sacks. The Titans offensive line hasn't helped much, but Levis took a beating, being sacked eight times by Houston. He's now been sacked 20 times in three straight starts since returning from a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder. He also had his third pick-6 this season. Injuries The Titans played Houston without starting safety Amari Hooker because of illness. Callahan said they will open the window for CB Chidobe Awuzie to practice in a possible return from injured reserve. Key number 35 — The number of times Levis has been sacked in eight games this season or more than all but three NFL quarterbacks. One of those? Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who was sacked for a safety to clinch Tennessee’s road win. Next steps A road win over the AFC South leader and defending champion could provide the confidence boost the Titans needed. They wrap up a two-game road swing by visiting Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. The Titans play four of the final five inside the AFC South where their faint hope of reaching the postseason lies even as fans root for a high draft pick. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE:RLJ) Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.15Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is hoping a temporary break on GST will address a 'vibecession' that has gripped Canadians. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that starting Dec. 14 the goods and services tax will be taken off a slew of items for two months to help with the affordability crunch. Freeland says there's a disconnect between recent good news on inflation and interest rates and how Canadians are feeling about the economy, something she said is being referred to as a "vibecession." She says the tax cut is meant to help bridge that gap and stimulate consumer spending. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques in the spring to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. The two measures are estimated to cost the federal government $6.3 billion. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. MORE POLITICS NEWS Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the 'vibecession' CEOs demand changes to Liberals' military spending plan Justin Trudeau defends spending record on military amid fresh criticism Montreal police chief expects additional arrests following anti-NATO protest Canada 'already past due' on NATO defence spending target: U.S. House intelligence committee chair Mike Turner Minister calls GST holiday, $250 cheques for 18 million Canadians 'a targeted approach' Afraid of losing the U.S.-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family IN DEPTH Jagmeet Singh pulls NDP out of deal with Trudeau Liberals, takes aim at Poilievre Conservatives NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has pulled his party out of the supply-and-confidence agreement that had been helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberals in power. 'Not the result we wanted': Trudeau responds after surprise Conservative byelection win in Liberal stronghold Conservative candidate Don Stewart winning the closely-watched Toronto-St. Paul's federal byelection, and delivering a stunning upset to Justin Trudeau's candidate Leslie Church in the long-time Liberal riding, has sent political shockwaves through both parties. 'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it. Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports. 'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday. Opinion opinion | Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election? opinion | Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus. opinion | Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place. opinion | Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point. opinion | Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing. CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante told journalists 'professional vandals' took over protests and smashed windows at the Palais des Congres. Warren Buffett gives away another US$1.1B, announces plans for distributing $147B fortune after death Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by announcing plans Monday to hand more than US$1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. BREAKING | Judge delays resentencing hearing for Menendez brothers A judge has delayed a scheduled resentencing hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Justin Trudeau defends spending record on military amid fresh criticism Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his government's record on supporting national defence, following fresh criticism that Canada is failing to live up to its NATO defence-spending commitments. CEOs demand changes to Liberals' military spending plan The federal government risks jeopardizing the economy unless it meets its NATO military alliance spending obligations within the next five years, says the Business Council of Canada. U.S. driver makes wrong turn to Canadian border, gets arrested for unlawfully possessing a gun A 62-year-old man from the U.S., who took a wrong turn to the Canadian border thanks to his GPS device, is now facing a firearms-related charge. Canada Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante told journalists 'professional vandals' took over protests and smashed windows at the Palais des Congres. Toronto mother now facing murder charge in death of four-month old baby Toronto police say they have charged a mother with second-degree murder following the death of her infant, who was found with critical injuries in midtown Toronto last week. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. U.S. driver makes wrong turn to Canadian border, gets arrested for unlawfully possessing a gun A 62-year-old man from the U.S., who took a wrong turn to the Canadian border thanks to his GPS device, is now facing a firearms-related charge. 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. World Special counsel Jack Smith drops election subversion and classified documents cases against Donald Trump Special counsel Jack Smith is dropping the federal election subversion and the mishandling of classified documents cases against U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, seeking the cases’ dismissal in court filings Monday. Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah Israel launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 12, while Israeli leaders negotiate ceasefire deal with the Hezbollah militant group. Police fire tear gas as thousands supporting former prime minister Khan arrive near capital Pakistani police Monday fired tear gas canisters at supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to stop them from entering the capital, where they hoped to stage a sit-in to demand his release, officials said. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie If life imitates art, a vandal may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come for smashing a tombstone that marked the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge in the English countryside. DHL cargo plane crashes and skids into a house in Lithuania, killing Spanish crew member A DHL cargo plane crashed on approach to an airport in Lithuania's capital and skidded into a house Monday morning, killing a Spanish crew member but not harming anyone on the ground. The cause is under investigation. Father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi found dead in Los Angeles, police say The father of a Hawaii woman who went missing two weeks ago was found dead on Sunday, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Politics Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the 'vibecession' Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is hoping a temporary break on GST will address a 'vibecession' that has gripped Canadians. CEOs demand changes to Liberals' military spending plan The federal government risks jeopardizing the economy unless it meets its NATO military alliance spending obligations within the next five years, says the Business Council of Canada. Justin Trudeau defends spending record on military amid fresh criticism Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is defending his government's record on supporting national defence, following fresh criticism that Canada is failing to live up to its NATO defence-spending commitments. Health How menopause awareness among employers, patients is changing the workplace Canadians might have noticed menopause is increasingly a topic of conversation outside of health circles, gaining profile in entertainment and popular culture Dozens of people in Canada have scurvy, and it's because of food A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada. Ontario missed interim target for providing hands-on care to long-term care residents Ontario failed to meet its own legislated target this past year for the average number of hands-on hours of care that long-term care residents receive, a newly updated document shows. Sci-Tech EU says Bluesky is violating information disclosure rules Bluesky, the rapidly growing social media platform, is violating EU regulations by failing to disclose important details, a European Commission spokesperson told reporters during a daily briefing on Monday. Social media sites call for Australia to delay its ban on children younger than 16 An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week. Canadian neurosurgeons seek six patients for Musk's Neuralink brain study Canadian neurosurgeons in partnership with Elon Musk's Neuralink have regulatory approval to recruit six patients with paralysis willing to have a thousand electrode contacts in their brains. Entertainment Drake's Australian tour to begin same date as rival Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl show Drake is taking his musical stylings Down Under with a short Australian tour set to kick off on the same date as rival Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Zayn Malik returns to the stage with tribute to Liam Payne Zayn Malik played his first concert since the death fellow One Direction member Liam Payne and it was emotional. Business Couple accused of stealing nearly US$1 million from Lululemon in elaborate shoplifting plot A Connecticut couple is accused of running an elaborate theft ring at Lululemon stores in multiple states, stealing nearly a million dollars from the company. Judge in Alex Jones' bankruptcy case to hear arguments on The Onion's bid for Infowars A bankruptcy judge is set to hear arguments Monday in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars and turning it into a parody. Freeland says the two-month GST holiday is meant to tackle the 'vibecession' Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the federal government is hoping a temporary break on GST will address a 'vibecession' that has gripped Canadians. Lifestyle 'Like climbing Mount Everest:' Inside the gruelling world of the Chess World Championship The Chess World Championship begins in Singapore on Monday with China's Ding Liren seeking to defend his title against India's Gukesh Dommaraju, better known as Gukesh D, who is still just 18 years old and could become the youngest ever person to be crowned world champion. School bullies have moved online. But is banning all under-16s from social media really the answer? The Australian government introduced what it's called 'world-leading' legislation in parliament this week to wipe social media accounts – including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and X – from the devices of children under 16. Ants marching into spotlight as hobby of ant-keeping rises in popularity They are tiny insects that are often overlooked or stepped on, but ants are marching not only into people’s backyards, but also their homes, as the popularity of ant-keeping rises in Canada. Sports NBA legend Charles Barkley criticizes LA Lakers over handling of Bronny James NBA legend Charles Barkley has criticized the Los Angeles Lakers over their handling of Bronny James this season. 'Embarrassing:' NHL team ditches bus and walks to Scotiabank Arena amid gridlock The Utah Hockey Club got the full Toronto experience Sunday night ahead of their first-ever matchup against the Maple Leafs—bumper-to-bumper traffic that forced the team to walk to the game. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Two weeks after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff run ended in the first round, the team has fired head coach Vanni Sartini. Autos Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles recalled in Canada over power loss risk Nearly 46,000 electric vehicles from Kia, Hyundai and Genesis are being recalled in Canada over a potential power loss issue that can increase the risk of a crash. Northvolt says Quebec battery plant will proceed despite bankruptcy filing Northvolt AB has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States, but said the move will not jeopardize the manufacturer's planned electric vehicle battery plant in Quebec — though hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars invested in the parent company could be lost. Canadian drivers own their poor road habits: survey Canadian drivers are regularly in a hurry to get to their destination and a majority are willing to take unnecessary risks on the road, according to the results of a new survey. Local Spotlight 'I had no idea that they even existed': Family reunites with 80-year-old letters hidden in Winnipeg home The family of a soldier who fought during the Second World War has been reunited with letters written to him 80 years ago. The Thriftmas Special: The benefits of second-hand holiday shopping The holidays may be a time for family, joy and togetherness, but they can also be hard on the wallet. Video shows octopus 'hanging on for dear life' during bomb cyclone off B.C. coast Humans weren’t the only ones who struggled through the bomb cyclone that formed off the B.C. coast this week, bringing intense winds and choppy seas. B.C. man reunites with Nova Scotia stranger, 56 years after being saved from drowning After driving near the water that winter day, Brian Lavery thought he saw a dog splashing in the waves – then realized it was way too cold for that. 'It's nice to just talk to people': Toronto podcaster prank calling Nova Scotians Toronto radio and podcast host Jax Irwin has recently gone viral for videos of her cute -- and at times confusing -- phone conversations. Lotto Max jackpot hits $80M for second time ever The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history. 'I'm just tickled pink': Childhood friends from New Brunswick named Rhodes Scholars Two young women from New Brunswick have won one of the most prestigious and sought-after academic honours in the world. B.C. man to cycle length of New Zealand to raise funds for Movember Stretching 3,000 kilometres from the tip of New Zealand to its southernmost point, with just a bicycle for transport and a tent to call home, bikepacking event Tour Aotearoa is not for the faint of heart. 'She's a people person': Urban chicken inspires positivity in B.C. neighbourhood When he first moved to his urban neighbourhood, Barry Devonald was surprised to be welcomed by a whole flock of new neighbours. Vancouver Canadian border agents seize 246 kilos of cocaine in B.C. Canadian border officials in British Columbia have seized nearly a quarter-tonne of cocaine that was coming into the province in three separate smuggling incidents in recent weeks, according to the agency. Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Two weeks after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff run ended in the first round, the team has fired head coach Vanni Sartini. Toronto Doug Ford government passes bill to limit bike lanes Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government has passed a controversial law that will force municipalities to seek approval for installing new bike lanes on arterial roads and could see some existing bike lanes torn up. Toronto mother now facing murder charge in death of four-month old baby Toronto police say they have charged a mother with second-degree murder following the death of her infant, who was found with critical injuries in midtown Toronto last week. 'Embarrassing:' NHL team ditches bus and walks to Scotiabank Arena amid gridlock The Utah Hockey Club got the full Toronto experience Sunday night ahead of their first-ever matchup against the Maple Leafs—bumper-to-bumper traffic that forced the team to walk to the game. Calgary Alberta seeks to 'de-risk' oil, gas pipeline investments in wake of Trump victory Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is looking for ways to encourage pipeline companies to boost capacity and increase Alberta's oil and gas export volumes to the U.S. $3.69M Calgary mansion with basketball court for sale in Aspen Woods If you've ever dreamed of having a home with a basketball court, now's your chance. 'We need an industry': Crowsnest Pass residents voting on support for new coal mine It's been more than 40 years since coal was king in the scenic Crowsnest Pass of southwestern Alberta, but a referendum vote Monday could sway a contentious debate on bringing it back. Ottawa FREEZING RAIN WARNING | 1 to 3 mm of freezing rain possible in Ottawa-Gatineau tonight Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning for Ottawa as a low-pressure system moves across eastern Ontario on Monday. OC Transpo well below punctuality targets on 'less frequent' routes OC Transpo is well below its punctuality targets for less frequent bus routes, data presented to the city's Transit Commission show. Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont. A large cargo ship remains stuck in the St. Lawrence River after running aground on Saturday afternoon. Montreal Montreal mayor says Friday pro-Palestinian protests were taken over by 'professional vandals' Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante told journalists 'professional vandals' took over protests and smashed windows at the Palais des Congres. Teen girls engage in more risky behaviour than boys: Quebec study Fewer young people in Quebec secondary schools are drinking alcohol, consuming sugary drinks and eating junk food, but not all their habits are improving. More of them are also inactive, taking action to change their weight and not eating breakfast before going to school, according to a recent study. More people hurt in Quebec road accidents after fall time change, data shows New data from Quebec's auto insurance board shows that evening road accidents -- including those involving pedestrians -- rise sharply in the 30 days following the fall time change, when the sun sets earlier. Edmonton LIVE @ 2 P.M. | Edmonton police to provide update on investigation into arsons The Edmonton Police Service will hold a news conference on Monday afternoon to provide an update on its investigations into potential arsons in southeast and southwest Edmonton. Death of worker in Edmonton smokehouse leads to 26 charges against food processing company An Ontario-based food processing company is facing 26 charges under Alberta Occupational Health and Safety legislation in connection with the death of a worker at an Edmonton facility in 2023. The story of Alberta's rural long COVID program that never was As better diagnosis and symptom management emerged for people with long COVID, researchers in Alberta set to work creating a program that could remotely connect urban specialists and rural patients. Between development and clinical implementation, the project was shelved. Atlantic 'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit. Man charged with unsafe storage of a firearm in Tyson MacDonald homicide: RCMP A 61-year-old man is facing unsafe storage charges in connection with the homicide of 17-year-old Tyson MacDonald on P.E.I., last December. From cellphones to dentures: Inside Halifax Transit’s lost and found Every single item misplaced on a bus or ferry in the Halifax Regional Municipality ends up in a small office at the Halifax Transit Bridge Terminal in Dartmouth, N.S. Winnipeg Winnipeg police shoot, kill suspect after officer stabbed in the throat Manitoba’s police watchdog is investigating a deadly police shooting at Winnipeg's Unicity Shopping Centre Sunday evening. Mounties looking for missing car in connection with suspicious death Manitoba RCMP are looking for a missing car connected to an investigation into human remains discovered north of Winnipeg. $4.2M from feds to create Indigenous-led family care centre in Winnipeg A new Indigenous-led family care centre will be coming to Winnipeg, with more than $4.2 million for the project coming from the federal government. Regina Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech The Saskatchewan Party government said it will prioritize affordability in the coming months during its Throne Speech on Monday, that officially kicked off a short two-week sitting inside the legislature. Regina commits to clearing all 'high priority roads' of snow by Tuesday morning Following a second significant dump of snow in less than a week, the City of Regina says it plans to have all high priority roadways cleared by 7:00 a.m. Tuesday. Canada Post says progress 'limited' at negotiating table as strike continues Canada Post says they have made 'limited progress' with the union at the negotiating table 11 days after the strike began. Kitchener Waterloo reviews most collision-prone areas to improve safety The City of Waterloo is trying to make its roads safer by putting together a report on some of the locations with the most crashes in the past five years. Driver warned after police receive complaints about car decked out in Christmas lights in Waterloo Drivers are being reminded not to take the holiday spirit too far after police received complaints about a distracting vehicle in Waterloo. Kitchener, Ont. doctor officially claims second Guinness World Record A Kitchener, Ont. emergency room doctor has officially earned his second Guinness World Records title. Saskatoon Sask. Party prioritizes affordability, civility with opposition in Throne Speech The Saskatchewan Party government said it will prioritize affordability in the coming months during its Throne Speech on Monday, that officially kicked off a short two-week sitting inside the legislature. Saskatoon's second big snowfall in a week won't trigger emergency response: City City crews and contractors are at it again — clearing roadways after another major snowfall. Two dead after crash on Saskatchewan Highway 4 Two people are dead following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 4 Friday evening. Northern Ontario Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog An intoxicated woman in Elliot Lake has been charged with breaking into her neighbour's apartment and choking their dog. Winter weather advisory in effect for most of northeastern Ont. Environment Canada has issued a winter weather advisory for areas in and around Greater Sudbury, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins. Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station Three people have been charged with numerous drug and weapons offences following an incident at a gas station in Bruce Mines, Ont., on Nov. 21. London 'I just knew something was up': London family recounts rushing to their burning home where pet perished A weekend house fire has left a family displaced and taken the life of a beloved pet. The blaze at 454 Alston Road broke out shortly after 12:30 p.m. Christmas tax break will be 'challenging' for small businesses, says gift shop owner Tom Fincher is all for a tax break for consumers but implementing the GST tax break announced by the federal government last week at his till will be easier said than done. Three of five former junior hockey players in attendance for court proceedings Three of the five players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team, charged as part of a 2018 sexual assault investigation, appeared in a London court room on Monday. Barrie 'James deceived us,' Slain Collingwood, Ont. woman's family speak ahead of husband's sentencing James Schwalm sat in the prisoner’s box Monday morning weeping as friends and family members told the court about the devastation he caused when he murdered his wife, Ashley Milne, two years ago inside their Collingwood, Ont. home. Novice driver charged with speeding 95km/h over limit on Hwy 11 accused of being impaired A Thornhill resident accused of driving at a high rate of speed along Highway 11 in Muskoka while impaired faces charges. 2 women hospitalized after being struck by vehicle, police seek witnesses Police are investigating a collision in Newmarket that sent two women to the hospital over the weekend. Windsor 'Active investigation' underway in Windsor Windsor police are on the scene of what's being called an, "active investigation." "Expect a sustained police presence in the area," read a post on social media. Alleged impaired mom found asleep at the wheel with two kids in the backseat Windsor police arrested two motorists for impaired driving in separate incidents over the weekend, including a mom with two small children in the backseat. Unknown man allegedly commits indecent act outside McKay Avenue home Windsor police are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect who allegedly committed an indecent act outside a McKay Avenue home. Vancouver Island Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago. Vancouver Whitecaps drop head coach Vanni Sartini Two weeks after the Vancouver Whitecaps’ playoff run ended in the first round, the team has fired head coach Vanni Sartini. Canadian border agents seize 246 kilos of cocaine in B.C. Canadian border officials in British Columbia have seized nearly a quarter-tonne of cocaine that was coming into the province in three separate smuggling incidents in recent weeks, according to the agency. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Lethbridge 'We need an industry': Crowsnest Pass residents voting on support for new coal mine It's been more than 40 years since coal was king in the scenic Crowsnest Pass of southwestern Alberta, but a referendum vote Monday could sway a contentious debate on bringing it back. Snow routes declared active for Lethbridge starting at 9 a.m. Monday Snow routes were declared active in Lethbridge, the city posted on its website. Starting at 9 a.m. Monday, parking restrictions will be in effect for streets declared to be snow routes. Hurricanes road misery continues with 6-3 loss to Winterhawks in Portland The Hurricanes dropped their third straight game on Friday night, losing 6-3 to the Winterhawks in Portland. Sault Ste. Marie Sault suspect charged with punching rideshare driver in the face twice A 24-year-old in Sault Ste. Marie has been charged with attacking a rideshare driver and a police officer. Drug bust after a suspect pointed handgun at victim at northern Ont. gas station Three people have been charged with numerous drug and weapons offences following an incident at a gas station in Bruce Mines, Ont., on Nov. 21. Elliot Lake, Ont., woman charged with choking neighbour's dog An intoxicated woman in Elliot Lake has been charged with breaking into her neighbour's apartment and choking their dog. N.L. As N.L. firm pivots, scientists say Canada's green hydrogen dreams are far-fetched A Newfoundland energy company's embrace of data centres is raising doubts about eastern Canadian hopes of harnessing the region's howling winds to supply Germany with power from green hydrogen. Canadian leads group pushing Vatican for zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy An international group led by a Canadian is in Rome this week to push the Catholic Church to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on abuse by clergy. Newfoundland wind-to-hydrogen company eyes data centre as international market lags A company hoping to build a multi-billion-dollar wind-to-hydrogen project in western Newfoundland is eyeing other options as Canada's plans to supply Europe with green energy have not yet materialized. Stay Connected
Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general's office, falsely claiming that it's proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report's finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.On December 1, President Joseph Biden announced a for his son, Hunter Biden, on charges of gun and tax violations, reversing his pledge not to pardon him if convicted. In , the president wrote: Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter ... The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election ... No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son ... I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice. With the pardon, many on both sides of the political aisle have become rankled. the pardon corrupt and warned of “irreparable damage,” while Donald Trump, the president-elect and effective leader of the Republican Party, argued in court that should be discounted. Meanwhile, some Democrats have been of the pardon, arguing Biden prioritized “himself over the party and even the country,” thus providing fodder for the Republican Party, or even . The judge presiding over the younger Biden’s case the pardon a rewriting of history. , long the paper of record, ran blaming Biden’s pardon for justifying “further abuses of pardon power and broader attacks on the integrity of the justice system” under Trump (apparently forgetting that Trump cares little for precedent). However, when it comes to the charges brought forth, this is no ordinary criminal case. Hunter Biden has had a long background of run-ins with the law and controversies stemming from drug abuse and depression, along with a history of being in the public eye in connection with allegations of corruption related to the Biden family’s purported dealings with Ukraine. The US Department of Justice (DOJ), through US Attorney for the District of Delaware (and Trump appointee) David Weiss, began investigating Hunter in for lying “about not using drugs on a [federal] form required for a firearm purchase.” The investigation continued well into President Biden’s term and expanded to encompass Hunter’s failure to pay taxes. In 2023, Hunter into a plea deal “to a pair of tax-related misdemeanors and enter into a pretrial diversion agreement that would enable him to avoid prosecution on one felony gun charge.” Following this, Republican legislators, government whistleblowers, and conservative commentators alleged Hunter was evading serious charges, despite some ’ claim to the contrary. Following the judge’s that Hunter’s attorneys and the DOJ rework discrepancies in the plea and diversion agreements, and their subsequent failure to come to an agreement, Weiss Hunter in both of the federal cases. Eventually, in June of 2024, Hunter was “of all three felony charges” related to his firearm purchase. The fact that Hunter was indicted after the DOJ had already come to a plea agreement raised that “Weiss’s thinking changed as the whistleblowers went public and criticism from Republicans intensified.” In effect, there are for the DOJ’s actions as it relates to the Hunter Biden investigation and prosecution: Number one is essentially incompetence: Prosecutors didn’t understand the implications of what they were promising. Number two is malfeasance: Prosecutors knew all along they were offering something more limited, but misled Hunter’s attorneys about what they meant. Number three is flip-flopping: Prosecutors initially made the broad promise, but reneged after political backlash from Republicans. It is not unreasonable to claim that Hunter Biden’s prosecution was because of his surname, his father’s position in government, the unfounded allegations made by Republicans about Biden-Ukraine, or the outcry from Republicans for judicial disparity. In fact, there is ample evidence to place blame on the DOJ for being too politically conscious and pursuing tougher sentencing due to Hunter’s prominence. Furthermore, Joe Biden’s pardoning of Hunter is not unlike other pardons by presidents from both parties and is far more justified than past pardons. It nowhere reaches the issued by Trump to insulate himself from the Russia investigation. It does not rise to the level of George H.W. Bush’s pardons to in Iran-Contra, which independent counsel Lawrence Walsh called “a grave disservice to the citizens of this country,” and arguably was meant to avoid incrimination. Nor was it like Andrew Johnson’s pardoning of Confederates in the aftermath of the Civil War. Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son is to address a wrong, correcting the political prosecution and persecution of his son who was only targeted for his father’s position in government and due to outcries from the vocal right wing. Hunter Biden has suffered more than enough for his crimes, being by Republican legislators in official committees, and by Trump supporters in the court of public opinion. It is even more likely he would face harassment by the incoming Trump administration. However, Hunter Biden is not the only person under threat of a second Trump administration; Kash Patel, the de facto nominee for FBI Director and a Trump loyalist, has developed that Trump should target and prosecute for alleged (and fictitious) crimes. These individuals include prominent Democrats like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris along with select Republicans, but also individuals from Trump’s previous administration including Bill Barr, Mark Esper, Jeff Sessions, and government employees like Robert Mueller, Jack Smith, and James Comey. These individuals are included on these lists because of a personal animus or because they took the oaths they made to the US Constitution seriously and spoke truth to power. If any individuals deserve pardons, then it is the individuals who are most at risk of a vindictive administration. Beyond these individuals, there are others who deserve pardons for their crimes. There are on federal death row, many of whom would face under Trump. There are a presumably substantial number of commissioned officers from the US Armed Forces who to be court-martialed for withdrawing from Afghanistan, under a deal by Trump. There are also numerous individuals whose criminal cases were fraught with bias, witness tampering, or other questionable legal tactics by judges and prosecutors; , , , and thousands of others remain in the federal criminal justice system who deserve pardons, clemency, and commutations. Furthermore, while in no way a surefire method of protection, Biden should grant clemency to the over one million eligible Dreamers, to at least provide a show of solidarity to the undocumented. In the days after Hunter’s pardon, pardoned 40 more individuals and granted clemency to nearly 1,500 others convicted of non-violent offenses, yet none of these were any individuals mentioned above. Naturally, issuing these pardons does not necessarily mean these individuals will be free from persecution. The Trump administration, it can be assured, regardless of , will go after its enemies and be vindictive. Yet, a pardon will certainly save some of these individuals’ lives, right wrongs that should have been done long ago, and provide another layer of protection to those whose safety and security, freedom, and liberty are at risk by the incoming administration. However, even if in some cases it proves infeasible or simply is a symbolic effort at reconciliation or solidarity, it nonetheless must be done and would be one last good deed from his presidency. If Joe Biden desires to have of impressive accomplishments maintained and remembered, then he should be conscious of the reality of Donald Trump and the threat he poses to more people than his own family. World court established at The Hague On December 13, 1920, the League of Nations Assembly, sitting in Geneva, approved the statute setting up the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague.Learn more about the . Visit the website of the Permanent Court's successor body, the . President Wilson arrives in France to negotiate WWI treaty On December 13, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France to negotiate a treaty to conclude World War I. Wilson was the first US President to visit Europe while in office. His meeting with the other Allied leaders would result in the , which created the League of Nations and redrew borders across Europe. The treaty, however, was rejected by the US Senate, thus preventing the U.S. from joining the League with the other major powers.
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Dating Don't miss out on the headlines from Dating. Followed categories will be added to My News. Creating a thumb-stopping dating profile can be hard enough, but what happens when you actually get a match? You then have to craft the perfect opening line and be charming enough to secure a date, which can often lead to overthinking, decision paralysis, and inevitably sending screenshots of messages to your friends in your group chat. This desire to stand out among countless matches has led people to take a rather creative approach as of late and turn to AI to help them in their dating lives. It’s something which is proving popular, yet naturally controversial. Singles have been using it for everything from crafting clever bios to analysing message exchanges – turning technology into a modern-day Cupid, albeit a digital one. For Sydney local Caitlin Morris, who has been single for a year, AI has become an unexpected ally in the often draining experience of dating apps. “I’ve used it in a few ways — from crafting an engaging profile that appeals to the type of person I want to attract, to asking ChatGPT to give feedback on my photos and whether they show me in the way I want to be seen online,” she said. A Sydney woman, Caitlin Morris, says she uses AI to improve her dating profile. Picture: Supplied Ms Morris’ decision to turn to AI wasn’t random, as she already used it at work. “I use it all the time for tasks like customer service and improving communication, so it seemed natural to use it for something similar in my dating life,” she explained. “Creating a dating profile can feel hard since you want to come across as funny, engaging, and attractive, without being too serious or too vague.” By giving ChatGPT prompts like, “Write a funny and punchy dating app bio about me to attract men, including that I work in sales, love the gym, am a foodie, love the ocean and travelling, enjoy a good glass of wine, and love my cat,” Ms Morris manages to save time and sidestep the self-critiquing spiral that often comes with designing a profile. But even with its help, she still makes sure to finetune the responses if it emphasises one aspect too much. “One first draft overly focused on my love of wine!” she laughed. When it comes to helping her in conversations, Ms Morris said she’s used it “once or twice.” “I used it to help break up with a guy and, when another guy was being really boring, I asked if AI could help me joke around without being insulting. But for the most part, it’s the real me talking.” Yet for all the help AI provides, Ms Morris has still been left disappointed by the apps. “Unless ChatGPT can make the guys’ responses more engaging, the experience is pretty similar after I hit ‘save’,” she admitted. Ms Morris’ ChatGPT-assisted bio. Picture: Supplied The AI assistants changing the dating game She’s not alone in her embrace of AI for dating. Apps like RIZZ, dubbed an “AI wingman,” have skyrocketed in popularity, with 7.5 million users globally, including 400,000 Aussies. Co-founders Roman Khaves and Josh Miller created the app after recognising the common problem of people sharing screenshots of awkward chats with friends, desperate for advice. RIZZ, which is now the fifth most downloaded dating app in the United States, promises to do everything Ms Morris described, but with a fun and gamified interface. It can generate everything from playful openers to NSFW, sexting-esque messages. Similar platforms, like PlugAI and WingGPT, also promise to help daters “up their game” by drafting responses. However, the growing trend of people using AI in the dating world has not been without criticism. Apps like PlugAI use the power of AI to help people in dating app conversations. Picture: Reddit RIZZ is another app that crafts witty responses using AI. Picture: Reddit Users on Reddit have slammed the trend as a sign of someone having “no personality,” with one commenter branding it “a new low.” Others worry that AI-generated charm could fall flat in real life. One Sydney dater told news.com.au, “It’s kind of scary that people could be using ChatGPT for their profiles and responses. It could feel quite disconnected in real life because their intelligence and conversation wouldn’t match in person.” Another argued that AI detracts from the authenticity of forming genuine connections and said, “Connection can’t be sustained since when AI gets stripped away, we still need to talk and promote ourselves.” People can choose the tone of the responses. Picture: Supplied Relationship expert weighs in on AI in dating Relationship and intimacy coach Susie Kim recognises the challenges many face on dating apps, from lacklustre conversations to people “ghosting” their matches. “A lot of clients come to me feeling sick of the dating app experience as a whole - boring, repetitive conversations, not getting replies, and feeling like they’re not meeting the right people,” she said. “Essentially, they feel like there is a whole lot of effort that is not translating to positive dating experiences in real life. Having said that, what I see is that a lot of people don’t have a practical dating strategy in place that makes the apps experience a more easeful, enjoyable one.” For some of her male clients, AI offers a helping hand. “They know women get flooded with likes and messages, so they want to improve their chat game,” Ms Kim, who is a relationship coach for high achievers, explained. “Personally, I think that anything that makes the dating experience easier is worth it, because one of the biggest problems I see is that people are on and off with dating itself. If you can find ways to make dating more sustainable, fun or easy for you, do it!” Ms Kim suggests her clients use it as a “source of inspiration” on fun ways to respond or ask interesting questions. “It’s never about being disingenuous, it’s about being yourself, amplified,” she explained. Relationship expert Susie Kim is in favour of her clients using AI while on dating apps and says that “anything that makes the dating experience easier is worth it”. Picture: Supplied For those looking to level up their dating profiles, with or without AI, Ms Kim encouraged people to be “authentic, not generic.” “Dial into some specific things about yourself, and dial it up a few touches,” she advised. “This means being specific about what you’re wanting and highlighting your interests but going beyond things that are obvious. If you can zero in on deeper interests or experiences that genuinely reflect your values and quirks, it will turn some people off, but also attract better-quality matches. People who want solid relationships are looking for authenticity and cut-through these days, and there is a big soup of same-same on the apps.” Critics have warned that there could be downsides to using AI while dating. Picture: iStock The future of AI in dating Despite mixed opinions, the use of AI in dating apps is just another way people are using technology to optimise their lives. For some like Ms Morris, it’s a harmless tool that helps make her dating life just that little bit easier. “To me, AI is the perfect assistant. It proofreads and organises my initial thoughts, turning them into something cohesive and engaging,” she said. “Those who look down on it might be missing out on the benefits of using it.” Whether you think it’s genius or a red flag, it’s clear the “AI wingman” has arrived and is here to stay. More Coverage Australia’s number one biscuit revealed Claudia Poposki Popular drink that’s worse than a Big Mac Originally published as The ‘sneaky’ dating app hack 400,000 Aussies have tried More related stories Dating If you’re guilty of this, you’ll never find love New data has revealed single Aussies are sick of a bad dating habit, spawning a new trend that proves “daters are no longer willing to settle”. Read more Dating ‘Inevitable’: Shock relationship truth exposed It happens in all relationships and is one of the main reasons couples struggle, but this is what you can do to turn things around. Read more
When Jimmy Carter embarked on his improbable campaign for the presidency in 1976, New Jersey was not all that keen about the Georgia peanut farmer and former governor from Plains. Carter — who entered hospice care in February of 2023 and died on Sunday at the age of 100, just over a year after his wife, Rosalynn — was not a favorite of state party leaders going into the National Democratic Convention that year. Even after winning the nomination, he would go on to win the presidency, but lose the state to Republican Gerald Ford. MORE: Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, has died at 100 Yet there are those from the state who remember the late president fondly, recalling small interactions and major policy decisions. From a wedding day kiss and a handshake with a teenager interested in politics, to residents helped through the work he did when he volunteered to fix storm-damaged houses in Union Beach for Habitat for Humanity when he was well into his 80s, Carter is warmly recalled. There was Jill Massara, whose big wedding at a Trenton church in 1977 was almost ruined by an unexpected presidential visit, but instead became a moment frozen in time for her when Carter kissed her after the ceremony. Twice. Piscataway Mayor Brian C. Wahler , then a 17-year-old Capitol Hill page, can still vividly recall sitting up at the front just to the right of Carter at the 1980 State of the Union address. He told the president who was then running for re-election that he would be turning 18 in July and would be voting for the first time. “I hope you’ll consider me,” replied the president with all seriousness, focused for a moment in the House chamber on a kid from New Jersey. Decades later, the former president came to the state as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to fix storm-damaged houses, wielding a hammer as a carpenter. Carter’s political ties to New Jersey harkened back to his close relationship with the late Gov. Brendan Byrne, who had his own issues with voter enthusiasm over the state’s unpopular income tax. Byrne was one of the few top Democrats in New Jersey who came out early for Carter when the 1976 presidential primaries began, kicking off a long friendship. “I was allegedly the first governor in the United States to support Jimmy Carter for president,” Byrne recalled in a 2007 interview for the Center on the American Governor at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers. “I brought him into Princeton to lecture or to speak to the Whig-Clio Society and Princeton’s student organization. He spoke the night after (U.S. Senator) Lloyd Bentsen spoke and made a better impression than Lloyd Bentsen, and I always thought that that was significant in putting him into the mix.” Byrne said he had a “little party” for Carter at Morven, the governor’s mansion at the time. “I’d raised some money for him early on. He credited me with being an early supporter, worked closely, helped them in the campaign,” he recalled. “Anyway, Carter and I were very close. I did things for him when he became president.” Other than Byrne, though, top party leaders in the state had been reluctant to support Carter going into the National Democratic Convention, some flirting with a possible late entry by former Vice President Hubert Humphrey as a spoiler in a crowded primary field. They sought to bring an uncommitted slate of New Jersey delegates that would presumably give the state more power if it turned into a brokered caucus. “Their attitude was there’s a lot of good candidates out there. New Jersey ought to be able to look at them all,” Byrne remembered. Losing the Jersey vote Retired Star-Ledger political editor Fred Hillman, who covered the campaign for the newspaper, remembered the backroom politics playing out at the time. Byrne was unpopular and was planning to run for re-election the following year. Hillman, interviewed in 2023, said the state’s Democratic power brokers thought the governor was “dead in the water” and they did not want to follow Byrne into what they thought would be a losing campaign. At the same time, he said the state itself was not enthralled with Carter either. “I don’t know why New Jersey didn’t like him. Maybe they didn’t trust someone who had been a peanut farmer in Georgia to understand New Jersey,” he said. Even as Democrats gathered for their national convention in New York, with Carter by then all-but-assured of a first-round nomination, New Jersey delegates still appeared cool in their support. Meeting with the state delegation at the Jade Room at the Waldorf-Astoria on an early morning pitch early in the convention, the presidential nominee-apparent arrived to mild applause, with only about two-thirds of the audience rising to greet him. The reception grew louder as Carter pledged to the uncommitted delegates that he would tie his November campaign in New Jersey to the re-election campaign of U.S. Sen. Harrison Williams Jr., who would much later fall in disgrace in the FBI’s undercover Abscam corruption sting. New Jersey Democratic Rep. Peter Rodino Jr., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee who two years earlier had presided over the impeachment hearings that led to the resignation of President Nixon, would be the one to place Carter’s name in nomination. “With honest talk and plain truth, Jimmy Carter has appealed to the American people,” said Rodino. “His heart is honest, and the people will believe him. His purpose is right, and the people will follow him.” Yet as Byrne noted, Carter lost New Jersey despite going on to beat Gerald Ford in the ‘76 general election, and then lost the state a second time when New Jersey in 1980 went to to Ronald Reagan. Still, Hillman said Carter knew how to connect with people. “He was the anthesis of what you would consider a New Jersey politician,” he said. “I spent 10 years covering the rough-and-tumble politics in New Jersey and here was a gentle, soft spoken southerner who was so unpretentious. The guy who taught Sunday school in Plains, Ga., was the same guy who sat in the White House.” His enduring memory of Carter came in 1977 when the president came into New Jersey to campaign for the governor as Byrne was closing on Republican challenger Ray Bateman. President Jimmy Carter was all smiles but Gov. Brendan Byrne seemed pained during a big rally in Trenton in 1977, as the governor campaigned with the president for re-election. Trenton Times “He came in on a very late evening to Newark for a rally at the Pines Manor in Edison,” said Hillman, who was offered a seat in the presidential limousine for an interview with Carter on the ride from the airport. “We sat in the back of the limo, just Carter and me. I was trying to take notes, but the car bounced so much I gave up,” he said, recounting the ride. “What started out as an interview turned into a conversation. He was very interested in the local politics.” Carter called Byrne “his friend” constantly on the 35-minute drive. “I really liked the guy, but like most Americans, I didn’t realize what a good and decent man he was until he left the presidency,” Hillman remarked. A learning experience Wahler, the Piscataway mayor, remembered Carter for how personable Carter was to a young high school student as a congressional page to House Speaker Tip O’Neill. Those selected for the program lived in Washington, attending classes with others in the page program in the early morning and working on Capitol Hill for members of Congress. He still marvels at the experience. “I saw history in the making. My personal life changed because of it,” he said. His face can be seen in photos of Carter’s 1980 State of the Union message, where he sat by the president. “He shook my hand,” said Wahler in 2023, describing the scene as Carter stepped up from the floor to the rostrum. “I said, ‘Mr. President, I turn 18 in July and I plan to vote.’” Carter told him he hoped to get his vote. Brian C. Wahler, then a 17-year-old Capitol Hill page, at the left during the 1980 State of the Union address in a photo autographed by the president. Courtesy of Brian C. Wahler Several months later, the president came to the graduation ceremony for the pages and remembered Wahler. “I was the class president and ran on the program that I’ll deliver the president for our graduation,” he laughed. While the graduation was held at the White House, there was often a stand-in for the president who would typically be attending the G-7 world economic conference in June. But working in O’Neill’s office, Wahler got to know the White House staff. How much that helped his campaign pledge is a question, but Carter did come. “We need new leaders out there,” the president told the class as he encouraged them all to go into public service. As for his first time in the voting booth, there was no question as to what he would do in November. “I did vote for Carter in 1980,” Wahler said. Brian C. Wahler getting his diploma in the East Room of the White House from President Carter in 1980. Courtesy of Brian C. Wahler Jill Massara has photos with the president as well. They are among her wedding memories. Speaking from her home in Arizona when Carter first entered hospice care, she recalled the weeks before she was to tie the knot with her fiancé, Dennis, at St. Joachim’s Roman Catholic Church in what was then Trenton’s predominately Italian section during its annual Feast of Lights festival in 1977. She learned that the president — who was planning to come to New Jersey to help Byrne campaign for re-election — was scheduled to be at the festival on the day of her wedding. And that meant major security headaches that threatened to spoil her day. “You’ve heard of Bridezillas? That was me,” said Massara on the phone. The 20-year-old went to the mayor’s office. She went to the governor’s office. And then the Associated Press heard about the story and wrote about whether the president’s trip would force the cancellation of a Jersey girl’s wedding. Soon she received a call from the White House. Could she reschedule the wedding? “I have 300 people coming,” she barked back. “No one was going to mess with me,” she explained. “I was a woman getting married.” On the day of the wedding, her own street was blocked off. But Gov. Byrne sent his limousine to pick her up. She said the Secret Service was in her house. And then two motorcycle cops escorted her in the limousine to the church, where Carter was to meet the newlyweds after the ceremony. “There were news people everywhere. ABC. NBC. CBS. My mother gets interviewed. My mother-in-law gets interviewed,” Massara said. As she stood in the back of the church, a Secret Service agent keeping track of the time for the meeting with the president asked the priest if he could shorten the service. “No,” he told them, she said. “But I can talk fast.” After the ceremony, Jill and Dennis walked among the crowds to meet Carter, who greeted the couple with a big smile. “May I kiss the bride?” he asked her husband. Sure, replied Dennis. They kissed. Then a photographer called out. “I didn’t get it. Can you kiss her again?” And he did. President Jimmy Carter kisses newlywed Jill Massara of Trenton, now of Lake Havasu, Arizona, in the Chambersburg section of Trenton, in this 1977 file photo. Her husband Dennis Massara is at center rear and Gov. Brendan Bryne is to the left. AP file photo Massara’s husband has since died, but she still has the photos of being kissed by the president, as Dennis and Byrne stood by and onlookers cheered. “You certainly have a big crowd for your wedding,” remarked the president. She saw him years later at a book signing and he recalled the story when she told him who she was. “He was just a nice, kind man,” she said. “I’m proud to have met him.” After his presidency, Carter would return several times to New Jersey in support of Habitat for Humanity, the non-profit group and helps build and renovate affordable housing for low-income families. In an April 1985 trip to Woodstown, he spoke about turning down hundreds of invitations to joins corporate and civic boards to join the philanthropic organization. “I’m just a worker,” he told reporters gathered at the First Baptist Church of Woodstown during a three-day trip to Salem County. “Although obviously the most famous one.” In 2013, he was back in the state in Union Beach with his wife, Rosalynn, after Hurricane Sandy roared through the Jersey Shore town leaving destruction in its wake. The former president rolled up his sleeves to help build homes devastated by the storm. “No matter where we go, people are the same,” said Carter, then 89, who worked along other volunteers to help rebuild a small bungalow that had been destroyed. “There are always volunteers whom come forth. We help people who have never known a decent place to live.” Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter . Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com . Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSLHealth Minister Mike Nesbitt has insisted that "everything that can be done" to cope with the severe pressure on hospitals is being done, as ambulances queue up outside packed A&Es across Northern Ireland. The Department of Health, in a statement on Sunday afternoon, said the health and social care system "continues to experience severe pressure on services". A Stormont spokesperson said priority will be given to "immediately life-threatening" cases as medics struggle to cope with the influx of patients. Read more: Northern Ireland ambulances queuing outside EDs as patients wait hours to be seen Read more: Details of all health and social care services available in NI over Christmas and New Year Mr Nesbitt pointed to flu and the need for "longer term solutions" including both wider reform of the health service and an increase in funding. Last night, patients waited up to nine hours on an ambulance as crews were forced to queue outside Emergency Departments to hand over patients. In a statement today, a spokesperson for the Stormont health department said: "The health and social care system continues to experience severe pressure on services. The system is working extremely hard to care for patients. Priority will always be...