Letters to the Editor | December 14, 2024NoneRanchi: “Ek hi naara, Hemant dobara” -- this slogan coined by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for the state Assembly elections has resonated triumphantly in the state as the four-party alliance led by Hemant Soren has not only retained power but also set two historic records in Jharkhand's 24-year political history. First, this marks the first time a government has been re-elected for a second consecutive term. Second, no alliance had ever surpassed the milestone of winning 50 seats until now. Official figures from the Election Commission show the JMM-Congress-RJD-CPI(ML) alliance will secure about 55 seats in the 81-member assembly. About The game Changer In This Record-Breaking Win For JMM The game changer in this record-breaking win for the JMM is the Hemant Soren government’s Maiya Samman Yojana, launched in August this year. Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 is transferred monthly to the accounts of 57 lakh women aged 18 to 50 years. This initiative resonated deeply with women voters, who overwhelmingly supported the Soren-led government. Women outvoted men in 68 of the 81 assembly constituencies, with their total turnout exceeding men’s by 5,51,797 votes in a record voter turnout of 1.76 crore. Acknowledging this support, Hemant Soren expressed gratitude to women voters after the final phase of polling on November 20. On social media, he wrote, “Our Maiya has blessed us in historic numbers for dignity, respect, and rights.” Apart from Maiya Samman Yojna what other factors worked for Hemant Soren included waiving overdue electricity bills for about 37 lakh defaulters and farmers’ loan waivers of up to Rs 2 lakh. These measures particularly benefited rural areas, contributing to an unprecedented voter turnout in villages. Kalpana Soren Emerges As A Political Force In Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 Kalpana Soren, Hemant Soren’s wife, emerged as a political force during this campaign. Entering politics after Hemant Soren faced legal troubles earlier this year, Kalpana addressed 105 election rallies as the alliance's star campaigner. Her relatable style and charisma helped JMM appeal to urban voters, a notable shift for a party traditionally rooted in rural constituencies. Her rapid rise has been likened to a political comet, earning her widespread recognition. BJP, on the other hand, launched an aggressive campaign accusing JMM of corruption, even terming him and Kalpana Soren ‘Bunty and Babli’. The tribal community, a key constituency in Jharkhand, largely stood by JMM. BJP’s attempts to court them failed, partly due to tribal anger over Hemant Soren’s imprisonment and dissatisfaction with BJP's policies. The BJP’s focus on issues like alleged Bangladeshi infiltration in the Santhal Pargana region also failed to gain traction among the masses. Their decision to rely heavily on out-of-state leaders like Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan backfired, as the election became a direct contest between Hemant Soren and Himanta. Jharkhand voters rejected the BJP’s strategy, branding Sarma an outsider, seeing the entire electoral battle as Hemant vs Himanta. With the blessing of Maiya and Kalpana Soren’s dynamic campaigning, JMM has not only shattered historical records but also reinforced its image as a people's party. This victory cements Hemant Soren's leadership and sets a transformative precedent in Jharkhand's political narrative. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
US senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary'In this article KSS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Incoming Kohl's CEO Ashley Buchanan and current CEO Tom Kingsbury. Courtesy: Michael's | Kohl's Kohl's is getting a new CEO, its third since 2018. The off-mall department store's current CEO Tom Kingsbury is stepping down effective Jan. 15. He will leave the position he held first on an interim basis starting in late 2022, and then permanently since early 2023. Michaels CEO Ashley Buchanan will take over the top job at Kohl's as Kingsbury departs, after leading the crafting retailer since 2020. Prior to his time at Michaels, Buchanan was at Walmart and its Sam's Club division for 13 years. Kohl's shares fell about 3% in extended trading following the announcement. At the world's largest retailer, he held the roles of chief merchandising and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S. e-commerce and chief merchant at Sam's Club before that. Buchanan is currently on the board of Macy's, but will be stepping down from that role. Kingsbury will remain with Kohl's in an advisory role to Buchanan and stay on the board until he retires in May. Kohl's doesn't intend to replace Kingsbury and will reduce the board size by one seat. Buchanan will step in just after the critical holidays end and as the retailer closes its fiscal year. There's a lot of work to be done at a time when department stores are struggling to resonate with shoppers who have more options than ever before. While Kohl's off-mall physical format has insulated it a bit more than other department stores, it has had a difficult several years. Kohl's shares fell 17% during Kingsbury's interim period from Dec. 2, 2022 to Feb. 2, 2023 and then dropped a further 45% since. Kingsbury hasn't been able to return sales to growth at Kohl's. Its comparable store sales, a key metric for retailers, have fallen for the past 10 quarters. Kingsbury took over as CEO after Michelle Gass left Kohl's to become president and then eventual CEO of Levi Strauss. Kingsbury had been a member of the Kohl's board since 2021. He previously served as CEO of Burlington Stores from 2008 to 2019.
The top job at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) is to be axed as part of a ‘restructure’ - as its chief executive is set to retire. TVCA's group chief executive, Julie Gilhespie, is stepping down, Teesside Live understands. The organisation is now expected to undergo an overhaul which will see the role abolished. In documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a “revised senior management structure” is proposed “in response to the group chief executive’s declared intention to retire from the organisation within the next 12 to 18 months.” Ms Gilhespie was appointed chief executive of TVCA in November 2018. In May 2020, she became the group chief executive for both the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) and TVCA. She was also a director of Teesworks Limited (TWL) from July 2020 until this month. She was removed from this position at the STDC board meeting on December 5. The document explains that the group chief executive post is to be deleted and “the separation between the roles of the chief executive of TVCA and STDC” will be re-established. It is believed that this move “will assist in managing any perception of conflict of interest between the roles” and allow the TVCA to focus on the upcoming devolution agenda. The reference to a “perception of conflict of interest” almost mirrors the wording used in the Teesworks review (formally known as the Tees Valley Review), which was undertaken and made 28 recommendations when it was published in January this year. The document detailed the proposed changes, saying: “It is considered appropriate that the required changes are made expeditiously and so the proposal is to make the changes with effect from April 1, 2025.” This timeline is deemed to minimise disruption to the organisation and “minimise any uncertainty to staff and stakeholders that the changes may cause. “The head of operations role that directly supports the group chief executive is also proposed to be deleted,” the document explained. “It is anticipated that STDC Board will be asked to consider regrading the existing chief operation officer of STDC to chief executive”. This action would mean that the chief executive of STDC would gain all of the responsibilities that the group chief executive had “in respect of STDC and its subsidiaries”. John Barnes is the chief operating officer at STDC and likely to be regraded as chief executive of STDC. At a meeting of the STDC board, on Thursday December 5, the board voted to appoint him as director of South Tees Developments Limited, and as a director of South Tees Site Company Limited. He was also appointed to be STDC’s nominated director of TWL, replacing Ms Gilhespie in the process. The Tees Valley Review said: “The interests of TWL haven't always been aligned with those of either TVCA or STDC, particularly after the re-distribution of share ownership and this gives rise to potential/perceived conflicts of interest which could be avoided by another TVCA, or an officer from a constituent authority, undertaking the TWL director role in place of the chief executive.” It is not clear who will become TVCA chief executive. Neither TVCA nor the Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen wished to comment. Teesside Live is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our community. Through the app, we'll send you the latest breaking news, top stories, exclusives and much more straight to your phone. To join our community group, you need to already have WhatsApp. All you need to do is click this link and select 'Join Community' . No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Teesside Live team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'Exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Click here to join our WhatsApp community . For a North East politics and regional affairs digest direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to the free Northern Agenda newsletterPerth couple Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan and Sabrina Ahmed die trying to save daughter from drowningBy JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate . Related Articles President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday’s 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy’s motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn’t quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he’d allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden’s administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what’s been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone’s Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald’s and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump’s transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper’s perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime,” said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century,” Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”
NoneMOUNT PLEASANT, MI - A trip to Ford Field was at stake on Saturday, Nov. 23. Frankenmuth faced Grand Rapids Catholic Central for a MHSAA Division 5 state semifinal high school football game held at Mount Pleasant High School. After the first half, the Frankenmuth Eagles held the lead 28-7. They held the lead the rest of the game. Frankenmuth took home the win with a final score of 42-35. They will play Pontiac Notre Dame Prep in the championship game at Ford Field next Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. MLive was there to document the action, both on and off of the field. Check out photos from the game in the gallery above. Click here for a direct link to the gallery . You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the “Get photo” link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link.
Oddsmakers Do Not See the Minnesota Wild as a Stanley Cup ThreatCHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) (“LanzaTech” or the “Company”), the carbon recycling company transforming above-ground carbon into sustainable fuels, chemicals, materials, and protein, today announced the appointment of Thierry Pilenko, former Executive Chairman of TechnipFMC plc (“TechnipFMC”), to its Board of Directors. With more than 40 years of experience in the energy and industrial sectors, Pilenko brings invaluable expertise and leadership related to large-scale infrastructure development, technology deployment, and profitable growth. Pilenko’s extensive experience and industry acumen are expected to provide valuable guidance as LanzaTech advances the commercial deployment of its technology and accelerates its timeline to profitability. “We are thrilled to welcome Thierry to our Board of Directors,” said LanzaTech Chair and CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren. “His proven track record of deploying innovative technologies and driving large-scale infrastructure projects will bring key insights as we execute LanzaTech’s ambitious growth strategy. Thierry spent the first 20 years of his career with Schlumberger Limited, deploying technologies on five continents. He then continued on to become a seasoned public company executive who successfully led TechnipFMC, Technip, and Veritas DGC. Throughout his exceptional career, Thierry developed a deep understanding of the global industrial landscape and the evolving competitive dynamics of the energy industry and the energy transition. Thierry’s operational leadership in global, complex and capital-intensive industries is central to advancing our mission to provide resilient, reliable technology that advances above-ground carbon recycling and produces commercial-scale ethanol that can be used in a wide range of applications, including sustainable aviation fuel.” During his tenure as Executive Chairman of TechnipFMC, and Chairman and CEO of Technip, Thierry led a large global team delivering energy solutions across 45 countries and was pivotal in overseeing Technip’s transformation and merger with FMC Technologies. This merger demonstrated the power of integration to significantly reduce costs and improve economics of large-scale projects while reducing corporate overhead costs. Under Pilenko’s leadership, Technip successfully executed landmark projects such as Shell’s $12 billion Prelude floating LNG facility and the $20+ billion Yamal LNG project. “It is an honor to join LanzaTech’s Board of Directors and contribute to the company’s pioneering and commercially proven carbon management solution,” said Pilenko. “Having spent my career in the energy sector, I understand the critical importance of deploying replicable technology solutions and know first-hand what it takes to successfully put steel in the ground and achieve desired returns. LanzaTech’s innovative approach to carbon reuse offers a unique and proven solution that will have a substantial impact on the energy transition. I am deeply committed to advancing these technologies and ensuring their widespread adoption for a more sustainable future.” In addition to joining LanzaTech’s Board, Pilenko currently serves on the boards of Arkema, a leading specialty materials company, and Trident Energy, an oil and gas production company. He is also the Board Chair of Rely, a green hydrogen-focused joint venture, and a co-founder of P6 Technologies, a SaaS platform for carbon lifecycle analysis. The appointment of Pilenko as an independent director increases LanzaTech’s board of directors to seven members, filling a previously vacant seat and further strengthening the Company’s corporate governance. About LanzaTech LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) is the carbon recycling company transforming waste carbon into sustainable fuels, chemicals, materials, and protein for everyday products. Using its biorecycling technology, LanzaTech captures carbon generated by energy-intensive industries at the source, preventing it from being emitted into the air. LanzaTech then gives that captured carbon a new life as a clean replacement for virgin fossil carbon in everything from household cleaners and clothing fibers to packaging and fuels. By partnering with companies across the global supply chain like ArcelorMittal, Coty, Craghoppers, REI, and LanzaJet, LanzaTech is paving the way for a circular carbon economy. For more information about LanzaTech, visit https://lanzatech.com . Forward Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, the plans, strategies, and prospects, both business and financial, of LanzaTech. These statements are based on the beliefs, assumptions, projections and conclusions of LanzaTech’s management. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are outside LanzaTech’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. LanzaTech cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and you should not rely on forward-looking statements. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including those concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” “intends” or similar expressions. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: timing delays in the advancement of projects to the final investment decision stage or into construction; failure by customers to adopt new technologies and platforms; fluctuations in the availability and cost of feedstocks and other process inputs; the availability and continuation of government funding and support; broader economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions, employment conditions, and competitive pressures; unforeseen technical, regulatory, or commercial challenges in scaling proprietary technologies, business functions or operational disruptions; and other economic, business, or competitive factors, and other risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors and other information contained in LanzaTech’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other existing and future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement herein is based only on information currently available to LanzaTech and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. LanzaTech undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investor Relations Kate Walsh VP, Investor Relations & Tax Investor.Relations@lanzatech.com Media Relations Kit McDonnell Director of Communications press@lanzatech.com
A little more than a month has passed since Philly's Portal art installation debuted at LOVE Park, connecting visitors via livestream to identical sculptures in Ireland, Poland and Lithuania. The Portal would never have come to Philly without the backing of Joe Callahan, a Drexel University graduate on the board of the global Portals Network. Callahan is the founder of spatial computing company Ciright Systems, which makes virtual reality models for industrial training. His company also owns Sansar, a virtual reality network where creators build visualizations of various environments. MORE : Kylie Kelce to host weekly podcast featuring interviews with 'fascinating people' "It's a creative community where people can make games, clothing and objects inside our network," Callahan said. To promote the Portal in Philly, Callahan developed an online game where his character – wearing an Eagles jersey – explores a virtual LOVE Park. Callahan's avatar can walk through the park's spray ground, do silly dances, and play beer pong and corn hole. It takes a little bit of practice to get the mechanics down, but it's a fun way to interact with LOVE Park. It's also possible to walk through the Portal and virtually travel to Dublin, Ireland, and see the area surrounding that city's video sculpture. "The whole purpose of gamifying it is really to put Philadelphia in a global showpiece for people to see how great it is, without negativity," Callahan said during an interview Monday. "I'm so proud of being from Philadelphia. I call it the forgotten city. People have forgotten how many firsts came out of Philly – the first computer with the ENIAC, the first hospital, the first public school system, the first library." Sansar hosts more than 5,000 virtual reality worlds that are open to the public, and there are more 400,000 users in the company's global network. Its most popular worlds depict the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and the moon. Sansar's history traces back to San Francisco's Linden Labs, the company that created the popular virtual-reality game "Second Life." Linden sold off Sansar, and it had other owners before Callahan took control. The worlds on Sansar are best explored using an Oculus VR headset, but they also can be viewed on a Windows desktop computer. (The LOVE Park demo is accessible on Mac OS because of a technical patch, Callahan said, but the company is working on making its worlds more broadly available for Mac users). The Portal sculpture that's now in Philly formerly was installed in New York City. When the decision was made to move it, Callahan got in touch with Michael Newmuis, the director of Philly's 2026 semiquincentennial celebration, to discuss bringing it to LOVE Park. "I said I can get it to Philly. I can make the donation. All I need is the support for programming and activations that give us the ability to highlight Philadelphia," Callahan said. "It was probably the most efficient thing that ever happened in Philadelphia." For now, the Portal is still in the early stages of event programming. Last week, before the Eagles played the Washington Commanders on "Thursday Night Football," the Portal held a live pre-game show with former player Brian Mitchell. It was streamed to the portals in Vilnius, Lithuania, and and Lublin, Poland. "It was really just a test to see how it would come off, and we were really surprised with the quality of the livestream and the interaction with the people who showed up," Callahan said. "Now we know we have a platform to do live streaming at the Portal." Callahan has been pleased with Philly's engagement with the Portal so far. The sculpture is temporarily located next to the visitor center at LOVE Park, at 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, to make room for the annual Christmas Village. It will be moved back to its original location in the park after the holidays, and Callahan said the Portal may ultimately find a permanent home at Dilworth Park. Callahan said the Portals Network will be developing more upcoming events to foster connections between host cities, and Brazil and Ethiopia are expected to get portals that will be linked to Philadelphia.
VANCOUVER — A confidence agreement between British Columbia’s New Democrats and the provincial Green Party stabilizes David Eby’s bare-majority government, while putting Green election promises on the legislative agenda. The agreement announced Friday outlines the basis on which the Greens’ two-member caucus will provide confidence to Eby’s party, which won election with 47 seats in B.C.’s 93-seat legislature in October’s provincial election. The deal features key elements of the Greens’ election platform, including a commitment to growing a community health centre model for primary care and expanding public coverage of psychology services at a cost of $50 million. Deputy premier Niki Sharma said the framework focuses on areas of agreement between the two parties, while recognizing their positions won’t always align. The balance struck is “a way to keep government stable for four years ... without erasing the distinct identity that we both have as political parties,” she said Friday. The seven-page agreement says the house leaders of the NDP and the Greens “agree to establish a relationship of trust based on good faith and no surprises.” While set to last four years, it is subject to annual agreement at each parties discretion. It was important to the Greens throughout the negotiations to be able to disagree with government positions, Sharma told a news conference. “I know that we’ll have differences of opinions moving forward, but the fact that we can show a pathway where two political parties in a time of great polarization can come together for British Columbians, I think is a profound thing.” The October election saw two new Green members win seats, lawyer Rob Botterell, representing Saanich North and the Islands, and geological engineer Jeremy Valeriote in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky, while the B.C. Conservatives won 44 seats. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said after the election that he would work to bring the NDP government down if it continues with its “destructive policies.” When he was asked about the agreement on Friday, Rustad said he has always assumed the Greens would back the NDP. Eby is “fooling himself” if he thinks having the support of the Green Party is going to make it easier to pass legislation, Rustad said in an interview. “We are going to make it very difficult for him to move anything through the legislature that is continuing the destruction of British Columbia,” he said. “A week can be a long time in politics, so we’ll see what January brings. I don’t want to say anything further at this point.” The stability of Eby’s government had appeared shakier earlier this month when New Democrat Grace Lore announced she was temporarily stepping away due to a cancer diagnosis, though she said she intended to participate in important votes. Eby said in a statement Friday that the agreement with the Greens will “strengthen the stability of government and help deliver on the priorities of British Columbians.” While his party and the Greens are distinct and won’t always agree, the premier said they have “many shared values.” He said the deal sets out specific areas of action they will work together on, including health care, affordable housing, creating livable communities and growing a strong, sustainable economy. “We will continue to work with all MLAs who want to make the legislature work for people,” Eby said. Additional policy commitments outlined in the deal that reflect the Green platform include expanding access to housing aid for elderly renters and building 30,000 more units of non-market housing than the government had pledged. The agreement also commits to a review of B.C.’s forests to “address concerns around sustainability, jobs, environmental protection an the future of the industry.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Brenna Owen, The Canadian PressJason McDonell, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our fourth quarter results were in line with our revised expectations on the top-line, and we saw strong performance in our Pro segment with some continued softness in store traffic and larger-ticket and discretionary categories. Profitability was affected by deleverage from the sales decline and a one-time contract item, though we have remained disciplined on SG&A expenses.” McDonell added, "While we continue to operate in a dynamic environment, which has been felt acutely across the pool industry for the last two years, I see a bright future and compelling opportunities for Leslie's. Since joining Leslie's in September, I've been in the market talking with customers, vendors, and associates and it's clear that Leslie's is a trusted brand with a rich legacy and a strong market leadership position. I see meaningful opportunities to enhance these attributes and build on our competitive advantages by putting the customer at the center of everything we do. With the customer as our north star, we are developing and beginning to execute on the strategy and initiatives to drive long-term profitable growth. I look forward to detailing our strategic roadmap in the coming quarters and thank all of our stakeholders for their support as we build a stronger future together.” Fourth Quarter Highlights The Company expects the following for the first quarter of fiscal 2025: Conference Call Details A conference call to discuss the Company's financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2024 is scheduled for today, Monday, November 25, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 877-407-0784 (international callers please dial 1-201-689-8560) approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/. A recorded replay of the conference call will be available within approximately three hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed online at https://ir.lesliespool.com/ for 90 days. About Leslie's Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of over 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie's whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie's consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Measures In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP”), we use certain non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures, including comparable sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. These non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for our results as reported under GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures and other operating measures are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be appropriate measures for performance relative to other companies. Comparable Sales Growth We measure comparable sales growth as the increase or decrease in sales recorded by the comparable base in any reporting period, compared to sales recorded by the comparable base in the prior reporting period. The comparable base includes sales through our locations and through our e-commerce websites and third-party marketplaces. Comparable sales growth is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest (including amortization of debt issuance costs), taxes, depreciation and amortization, management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash or discrete items. Adjusted EBITDA is a key measure used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. We use Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, and to compare our performance against that of other companies using similar measures. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure of financial performance under GAAP but is used by some investors to determine a company's ability to service or incur indebtedness. Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies, and accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an indicator of a company's operating performance in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flows from operations or cash flow data, all of which are prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA solely as supplemental disclosure because we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered more meaningful than, or as an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP. In the future, we may incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted EBITDA. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by these items. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are additional key measures used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are also frequently used by analysts, investors, and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry, when considered alongside other GAAP measures. Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) adjusted to exclude management fees, equity-based compensation expense, loss (gain) on debt extinguishment, loss (gain) on asset and contract dispositions, executive transition costs, severance, costs related to equity offerings, strategic project costs, merger and acquisition costs, and other non-recurring, non-cash, or discrete items. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is defined as Adjusted net income (loss) divided by the diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, value proposition, legal proceedings, competitive advantages, market size, growth opportunities, industry expectations, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "contemplate,” "continue,” "could,” "estimate,” "expect,” "intend,” "may,” "plan,” "potential,” "predict,” "project,” "should,” "target,” "will,” or "would,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Our actual results or outcomes could differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, among others: In addition, statements that "we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this press release, and while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on events or circumstances as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information, changed expectations, the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, outcomes or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments. Contact Matthew Skelly Vice President, Investor Relations Leslie's, Inc. [email protected] (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) 2024 2023 2024 2023 (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) 2024 2023 2024 2023Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time