Another adjournment for P.E.I. school guidance counsellor accused of child sex crimesHundreds detained in Northern Ireland trying to travel into Britain after crossing Irish Border
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz , withdrew his name from consideration. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused — but not convicted — of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden . Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. She’s been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,” Trump said in a social media post. “Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1,” he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he looks “forward to continuing the fight to save our country,” adding, “Just maybe from a different post.” Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” Last week, Trump named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible attorney general contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Bondi, too, is a longtime loyalist. She has been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump as well as Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Trump in two federal cases. In one radio appearance, she blasted Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump as “horrible” people she said were trying to make names for themselves by “going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system.” If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would instantly become one of the most closely watched members of Trump’s Cabinet given the Republican’s threat to pursue retribution against perceived adversaries and concern among Democrats that he will look to bend the Justice Department to his will. A recent Supreme Court opinion not only conferred broad immunity on former presidents but also affirmed a president’s exclusive authority over the Justice Department’s investigative functions. Bondi would inherit a Justice Department expected to pivot sharply on civil rights, corporate enforcement and the prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol — defendants whom Trump has pledged to pardon . It’s unlikely that Bondi would be confirmed in time to overlap with Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Trump that are both expected to wind down before the incoming president takes office. Special counsels are expected to produce reports on their work that historically are made public, but it remains unclear when such a document might be released. In 2013, while serving as Florida attorney general, Bondi publicly apologized for asking that the execution of a man convicted of murder be delayed because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. Bondi said she was wrong and sorry for requesting then-Gov. Rick Scott push back the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks. Before she ran for state attorney general in 2010, Bondi worked for the Hillsborough County state attorney. Don't let this be the end of the free press. The free press is under attack — and America's future hangs in the balance. 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Log in to hide these messages. _____ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report. Related From Our PartnerBRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Monday said regional countries stand to benefit significantly from early warning systems (EWS) that are tailored to the unique geographic, demographic and infrastructural factors of each island. It said that by designing and customising these systems to address the specific challenges and needs of individual nations, disaster risk management and resilience can be enhanced ensuring that each country is better prepared to respond effectively to natural hazards. The CDB said that a high-level panel of experts explored the ideas in a discussion on ”Strengthening Hydro-meteorological & Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean” at the just concluded United Nations Conference of Parties (COP 29) in Azerbaijan. It said the panel emphasised the critical role of early warning systems in mitigating the impacts of climate change, particularly the increasing intensity of hurricanes and other extreme weather events. The experts also highlighted the need for a long-term, sustainable strategy focused on building resilience at both national and regional levels. In 2022, the United Nations launched Early Warnings for All, an initiative designed to ensure that everyone is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through life-saving early warning systems by the end of 2027. The CDB said that it has been working with regional and international partners to strengthen the region’s disaster risk management capacity, providing technical assistance and financial support for the development of robust early warning systems. Acting CDB’s Vice President of Operations, Therese Turner-Jones, noted the importance of incorporating the unique characteristics of each island into the design of EWS in the region to reduce loss of life and property and enhance preparedness for climate-related disasters. “Early warning systems are just like having a smoke alarm in your home when something bad is about to happen. It is important for countries to recognise that the system must be country-specific because the islands of the Caribbean, while sharing commonalities, also have distinct features. “While there is a lot of homogeneity, there are also many idiosyncratic features. For example, Grenada with the Grenadines, the Bahamas with family islands, and Guyana with indigenous communities that are remote. We need to design systems that can reach everyone,” said Turner-Jones. The Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Elizabeth Riley, highlighted the significance of standardised tools, deeper understanding of risk and the need for strong national and regional policy frameworks that take into account gender considerations. “Early warning systems are people centred and are about keeping people safe. These systems must be grounded in strong governance and require coordination among multiple actors at both the national and regional levels. “We have worked extensively on developing policies and legislative frameworks for early warning systems in the region,” said Riley. Other panellists in the discussion underscored the need for a sustainable, long-term approach that goes beyond addressing immediate hazards and emphasised the importance of stronger partnerships, improved financing mechanisms, better data systems, and more integrated approaches to disaster risk management and climate adaptation. The head of the Climate Risk and Early Warning System Secretariat (CREWS) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), John Harding pointed to the responsibility of national governments for issuing warnings and stressed the need for long-term financing solutions while noting that current funding mechanisms often rely on short-term, project-based approaches. “We need better financing solutions to ensure these systems are not just reactive but proactive in addressing the growing climate risks. Technological advances such as mobile alerts are making these systems more effective and accessible but we need continued support to bridge the financing gap,” said Harding. The Chief Climate Change Officer at Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change in Belize, Edalmi Pinelo shared insights into the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness through its participation in the Green Climate Fund (GCF). She emphasised the importance of improving disaster knowledge and ensuring public outreach. “In Belize, we are focusing on prevention and preparedness, integrating climate change education into our school systems to equip future generations with the knowledge to adapt,” said Penelo. The CDB said it was recently upgraded by the GCF to support projects up to US$250 million. It said it has supported implementation of EWS in countries across the region and has indicated its interest in supporting more following the upgrade by the GCF.Comstock Resources, Inc. ( NYSE:CRK – Get Free Report ) Director Elizabeth B. Davis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.98, for a total value of $169,800.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 107,632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,827,591.36. The trade was a 8.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Comstock Resources Stock Up 2.6 % Comstock Resources stock opened at $17.09 on Friday. Comstock Resources, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $7.07 and a fifty-two week high of $17.79. The company has a market cap of $4.99 billion, a PE ratio of -94.94 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $14.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $11.91. Comstock Resources ( NYSE:CRK – Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The oil and gas producer reported ($0.17) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.16) by ($0.01). Comstock Resources had a negative return on equity of 3.88% and a negative net margin of 4.93%. The business had revenue of $304.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $308.75 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.04 EPS. Comstock Resources’s quarterly revenue was down 19.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Comstock Resources, Inc. will post -0.44 EPS for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have commented on CRK shares. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Comstock Resources from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 4th. Siebert Williams Shank downgraded shares of Comstock Resources from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $9.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Bank of America assumed coverage on Comstock Resources in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price target on the stock. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Comstock Resources from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Comstock Resources from $12.50 to $15.50 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 6th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $11.78. Read Our Latest Analysis on Comstock Resources About Comstock Resources ( Get Free Report ) Comstock Resources, Inc, an independent energy company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. Its assets are located in the Haynesville and Bossier shales located in North Louisiana and East Texas. The company was incorporated in 1919 and is headquartered in Frisco, Texas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Comstock Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Comstock Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Human remains found buried along the Eel River near the northern border of Mendocino County more than a decade ago have been identified as those of a Washington State man missing since 1986, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported. According to the MCSO, deputies were informed in late October of 2012 that “human remains had been discovered buried in a shallow grave” near Piercy, located near the southern Humboldt County line. In a press release emailed Monday, the MCSO explains that “detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Investigations Bureau (then) responded to the 83000 block of Highway 271 in Piercy, and were provided with a plastic bag containing human foot bones. Photographs taken by the reporting party were also provided to investigators at this time.” MCSO personnel then used kayaks to paddle “approximately 1/4 mile (on the Eel River) to the location where the remains had been discovered, (requesting assistance from) Forensic Anthropologists from California State University ... for the excavation/preservation of the buried skeletal remains.” The remains were reportedly found not under water, but “in the high water line.” According to the MCSO, “the Forensic Anthropology team unearthed human skeletal remains, which were absent the head. It appeared the remains located within the shallow grave had been there for an extended time, and the partial articles of clothing collected suggested 1980s styles.” The case was initially labeled as a “John Doe homicide, (and later) multiple attempts to identify the remains of the buried skeletal remains were made, but ultimately unsuccessful.” Then in spring of 2024, the MCSO reports that it “sent forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas,” where scientists reportedly “successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man (and) ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement. The investigative leads presented genealogical findings for a Warren David Hawkins,” a 21-year-old man last seen in the summer of 1986. The MCSO reports that its investigation revealed that Hawkins, born on Jan. 1, 1965, “had been reported missing by his sister (Paula Hawkins) to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in Washington State, (with) the last reported sighting of Hawkins being in July of 1986 when his now deceased mother dropped off 21-year-old Hawkins and another unknown male at a bus station. (His sister) Paula provided a DNA reference sample to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, which was provided to Othram Technology and later used for his identification. An additional DNA sample was obtained from Paula in 2024 by the Gresham Police Department in Oregon.” When asked Monday how much the identification work cost, MCSO spokesman Capt. Quincy Cromer said “the cost for the services performed by Othram is $10,000, (and) this particular case was crowd-funded by Othram, so it did not cost anything for Mendocino County.” The MCSO notes that though “the remains of Warren David Hawkins can now be returned to his family, (the case) is still an active and ongoing homicide investigation, (and) anyone with information related to this case is requested to call the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086. The MCSO thanked the following agencies for their assistance: Othram Technology, California State University – Chico Anthropology Department, NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System), Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in Washington and the Gresham Police Department in Oregon.”
Amber Portwood has returned to social media following the demise of her most recent relationship, and she doesn’t seem to be doing well. Over the last several weeks, the Teen Mom: The Next Chapter star has opened up on TikTok live. In one of her more recent Live events, she’s made some seriously troubling claims against the father of her oldest child, Gary Shirley. MTV fans are worried about the reality TV star and her relationship with her children. Amber Portwood makes serious claims against Gary Shirley in TikTok Meltdown Amber Portwood took to TikTok Live in a rage earlier this week, and her main target was Gary Shirley. During the troubling live event, Portwood called Shirley a “pedophile” and pointed at their ages when they started dating. She was 15, and he was 18. Aside from calling Gary Shirley a “pedophile,” the mother of two went on to allege he raped her but didn’t elaborate further. The Ashley Reality Roundup Group theorizes that Portwood is suggesting the conception of their daughter was statutory rape because Portwood was just 17 at the time, and Shirley was 20. Portwood also suggested that Shirley has purposefully alienated her from her daughter. In the same TiKTok meltdown, Portwood insists that Leah Shirley’s attachment to Kristina Shirley, Gary’s wife, has little to do with an organic bond. She claims Gary “pushed” Leah to form a relationship with Kristina. Portwood insists her ex-fiance did so to “silence” her and keep her away from her child. Gary Shirley has not responded to Amber Portwood’s claims. The father of two has remained mostly quiet on social media recently. Still, he is attached to the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter . Season 2B is set to premiere in late January. Why are Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley on bad terms? It is clear that the once-civil relationship Amber Portwood and Gary Shirley enjoyed is over. It’s unclear exactly what event completely unraveled their relationship, but it seems Portwood has taken claims that she’s a “deadbeat mom” to heart. Since her return to social media, Portwood has touched on her custody and child support situation several times. She insists that while her two children don’t live with her, she does support them financially. Portwood’s desire to defend herself appears to stem from rumors that Gary Shirley claims Portwood hasn’t paid child support in years. Gary has also taken swipes at Portwood recently, insisting she hasn’t seen her daughter. While Shirley and Portwood’s drama will likely play out in the upcoming season of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter , Portwood has an unlikely ally who is staying away from reality TV. Us Weekly caught up with Andrew Glennon, the father of Portwood’s youngest child, earlier this month. Glennon insists that he personally witnessed Portwood paying Shirley support for Leah. He told the publication that he doesn’t believe Portwood would financially desert her daughter. He also seems skeptical that she’d ignore her. Glennon said Portwood is in regular communication with their shared child, James Glennon. Glennon and Portwood ended their relationship in 2019. Andrew Glennon now lives with James in California.