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Acclaimed Afro-Indie singer Njerae is back to serenade the airwaves with her latest love song, “Nyumbani”, set for release this Friday. The track, a heartfelt ode to love and belonging, is produced by the renowned Wonda Magik, while the captivating visualizer is directed by the talented King Khassidy. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp “Nyumbani,” meaning “home” in Swahili, promises to be a soulful and intimate offering that showcases Njerae venturing a profound and warm Amapiano sound—a seamless blend of rich Afro-inspired melodies and contemporary indie vibes. This highly-anticipated release comes at an exciting time in Njerae’s career. The singer recently hit a major milestone of 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, solidifying her place as a rising star in the Kenyan music scene. Adding to her growing accolades, Njerae has also earned a continental nomination at the prestigious Africa Choice Awards (ACA), set to take place in Lagos, Nigeria on December 8th. Njerae expressed her excitement about the upcoming release, saying, “‘Nyumbani’ is a song that speaks to the universal longing for love and the comfort of home. It’s a celebration of connection, and I can’t wait to share it with the world” she mentions. Fans can expect a visualizer as compelling as the song itself, with King Khassidy bringing his visionary direction to the project. The collaboration with Wonda Magik and Khassidy marks another milestone in Njerae’s journey, as she continues to collaborate with some of the most talented creatives in the industry. “Nyumbani” will be available on all major streaming platforms this Friday. Follow Njerae on her social media platforms for updates and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars
Voters spoke in the 2024 elections, and what they said was bring prices down and get immigration under control. Some beneficiaries of the 2024 election heard a different message. “On November 5, voters decisively elected Donald Trump with a mandate for sweeping change,” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are running Trump’s government-efficiency commission, wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 21. “They deserve to get it.” Some voters here and there might want sweeping change, but that’s not what a majority of the electorate is looking for. Trump beat incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris in the popular vote by a mere 1.6 percentage points , and his margin in the key swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin was less than that. There was no “ coattail ” effect in the House of Representatives, which Trump’s Republicans will control with the same narrow margin they have now. In post-election polls, 41% of voters said inflation was their top voting concern, followed by 35% citing immigration, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris survey . After that came the economy in general, women’s rights, healthcare, crime, and climate change. The only hint of dissatisfaction with the government was 13% who said the national debt was their top concern. That landed eighth. Yet Musk and Ramaswamy are set to remake the government in much the same way that Musk tore into Twitter after he bought it in 2022, slashing payroll, charging new user fees, and rebranding it as X. Musk and Ramaswamy will run a new “Dept. of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, that will be outside the government but work with the Trump White House to streamline the federal bureaucracy and zap redundancies. In their Wall Street Journal op-ed, the two business gurus said they’d target three types of reform to cut $500 billion in annual spending: killing excessive regulation, reducing administrative bloat, and saving taxpayers money. In other remarks, they’ve sounded more draconian. On Nov. 1, Musk, the CEO of Tesla, said spending cuts likely to come from his commission’s work would involve “temporary hardship ” for many Americans. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, has called for an across-the-board cut of 75% of federal government workers . For the DOGE Bros, these are the heady days of half-baked plans and exaggerated ambitions that haven’t yet collided with reality. So the hyperbole may be harmless. But voters didn’t ask for anything of the sort that Musk and Ramaswamy seem to have in mind. The two bureaucracy bashers are projecting their own desires onto voters and claiming that Trump’s modest win gives them a blank check to do something voters haven’t asked for. There are three possible outcomes to this assault on Uncle Sam. One is that the efficiency commission proposes deep cuts and painful reforms that never end up happening, as many other commissions have done. Congress holds almost all of the authority for spending and would have to get with the program, which it usually doesn’t. In a recent analysis, investing firm Evercore estimated that DOGE might be able to identify “hundreds of billions” of dollars in possible spending cuts over a decade, far less than the $500-billion-per-year target. Even then, Congress is likely to increase spending on defense and border control while cutting government revenue through lower taxes. All told, that’s the formula for yet another commission that doesn’t make a dent. Another possibility is that the Trump administration tries to slash the government without Congress’s approval, which would surely provoke a superstorm of litigation. Some Trump aides say a 1974 law on “impounding” federal funds could let Trump strangle targeted agencies by simply refusing to spend money Congress appropriated to fund them. The result would probably be chaotic until the Supreme Court settled the question of whether Trump actually has such authority. But that could be a de facto diminution of government, at least until then. Third, Congress could broadly go along with the DOGE commission and grant most of the spending cuts and agency executions it calls for. This seems very unlikely, since members of both political parties exercise power by overseeing the very spending Musk wants to cut. But who knows, Musk might cast a spell that temporarily blocks the self-preservation function on Capitol Hill and allows the unthinkable. Drop Rick Newman a note , follow him on Twitter , or sign up for his newsletter . The bigger question is, how would any of this benefit voters? One way would be if Musk identifies massive spending cuts, Congress enacts them, and Americans get a refund check from the federal government for all the money it is no longer spending. That’s not in Musk’s Twitter template, however, and the amount of savings required to materially lower taxes — without pushing the gigantic national debt even higher — is mathematically fantastical. What is in the Twitter template is a cutback in services that alienates users and a degradation of value that costs investors. Applied to the government, this would mean Trump and his Boys Wonder fire thousands of people who answer questions at the Social Security office, process passports, administer farm aid, manage national parks, oversee highway repair, enforce workplace safety, staff air traffic control towers, and take care of veterans. The federal government surely is bloated, like many big organizations. But it also provides valuable services to millions of Americans who may not even realize that their customer service agent is a villainous bureaucrat. About 3 million people work for the government. If you fired one-third of them, the unemployment rate would jump from 4.1% to 4.7%. Musk says the plan is to resettle these federal exiles in the private sector, but that wouldn’t happen immediately and for some people it wouldn’t happen at all. That would be a million families applying for unemployment insurance and tightening up their spending in the face of sudden career uncertainty. Coffee shops, dry cleaners, barbershops, and many other small businesses in the vicinity of affected agencies would lose customers, and some would shut down. Many federal agencies are spread around the country, way beyond Washington, D.C., including some in underdeveloped areas that don’t have other big employers. Maybe they could apply for the farm work likely to be available when Trump deports millions of undocumented migrants. This is the “temporary hardship” Musk is talking about. Do voters want this? Ramaswamy thinks so. “Do we want incremental reform, or do we want revolution?” he asked during his own brief presidential bid , the point being revolution, of course. Then he got Trump’s ear. It remains to be seen if Trump heard the voters who simply want a break on the rent and a cheaper fill-up at the gas station. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance . Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman . Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices . Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo FinanceA regional council has sacked its chief executive officer in a stunning move, dumping the local government leader after a decade of service. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Yass Valley Council called an extraordinary meeting earlier this week where councillors voted to sack Chris Berry with immediate effect. The council's director of planning and environment Julie Costa will be the acting CEO until a full-time replacement is found. Yass mayor Jasmin Jones said it would be "business as usual" for ratepayers and residents, but did not give a reason for promptly sacking the former chief. "For our customers, residents and ratepayers, it will be business as usual, and I can assure our community that there will be no interruptions to service delivery during this transition period," Cr Jones in a statement. "Our councillors, management and staff remain firmly focused on improving council's financial performance and achieving positive outcomes for our customers and community." An aerial view of Yass. Picture Yass Valley Council. According its website, Mr Berry had worked for the council since 2014, including a stint as planning director. The Yass council website trumpets Mr Berry's achievements during his tenure. "Chris has risen to the challenge associated with growth in the local government area and the pressures associated with our close proximity to Canberra," his council profile reads. READ MORE: Authorities promise Thursday will be better, after MyWay+ rollout 'teething issues' The APS's biggest bullies revealed Like smoking 15 cigarettes a day " Some of his biggest achievements have been the completion of the settlement strategy for the future growth of Yass valley and finalising the rural lands planning proposal." He was previously general manager of the neighbouring Goulburn council. Earlier this month, Goulburn Mulwaree Council's CEO Aaron Johansson quit, citing an untenable relationship with the mayor Nina Dillon. He cited "differences of opinion" between himself and the mayor over the health of council finances as a key reason. But "multiple factors" played a role. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Jacob McArthur Producer Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record. Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record. More from Canberra Gladiator II vs Wicked: How 'Glicked' is bringing back Barbenheimer buzz 17m ago Council abruptly sacks chief, but it's 'business as usual', says mayor 32m ago No comment s Authorities promise Thursday will be better, after MyWay+ rollout 'teething issues' No comment s We could ease cost-of-living pain on poorer households, but it would be awkward No comment s 'Extraordinary' scale of leaders' phone hacks spark warnings for lead-up to election No comment s Raiders tap into Storm success as coaching set-up reshuffled No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... WEEKDAYS The evening wrap Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Loading... 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TWICE WEEKLY The Informer Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Loading... WEEKLY Motoring Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Loading... TWICE WEEKLY Voice of Real Australia Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Loading... AS IT HAPPENS Breaking news alert Be the first to know when news breaks. Loading... DAILY Today's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Loading... DAILY Your favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Loading...SACRAMENTO, Calif. , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, help give the drivers in your life the gift of convenience and control with the Reviver RPLATE ® — the exclusive digital license plate of the Sacramento Kings. 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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DiCello Levitt LLP announces that it is investigating whether Sezzle Inc. (“Sezzle” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SEZL) complied with federal securities laws. The Firm’s investigation focuses on whether the Company violated the federal securities laws and issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information required to be disclosed to investors. Investors who purchased Sezzle securities and those with information about the allegations are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the Firm’s investigation by contacting DiCello Levitt attorneys Brian O’Mara or Ruben Peña by calling (888) 287-9005 or at investors@dicellolevitt.com . No Case Has Been Filed and No Class Has Been Certified. Until a case is filed and a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. Investigation Details: Sezzle is a technology-enabled payments company that offers flexible financing option to consumers and merchants through a ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ service. Approximately 52% of Sezzle’s revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 came from “transaction income,” which includes, among other things, merchant processing fees and consumer fees. In the same period, Sezzle derived 33% of its revenue from its two “subscription” offerings. On December 18, 2024, Hindenburg Research published a critical research report titled “ Sezzle: A Failing ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Platform Playing Short Term Tricks As Insiders Cash Out Via Stock Sales And Margin Loans ,” alleging, among other things, that it found “ Sezzle is borrowing expensive capital to make extremely risky loans through a struggling platform that is rapidly losing customers and merchants ” and, at the same time, “ insiders are selling stock or cashing out through a massive margin loan .” According to the report, Hindenburg Research claims that “Sezzle borrows at a 12.65% interest rate to lend to extremely high-risk consumers” with bad credit despite its merchant and customer base declining by 51% and 20% since 2021. The report further states that Sezzle is actively “boosting its near-term subscription numbers” by “enrolling users into recurring monthly subscriptions without their awareness.” After extensive research, Hindenburg Research has concluded that Sezzle’s optimistic revenue numbers are obtained using short-term strategies to give the Company’s insiders an opportunity to cash out over $71 million in stock. In response to the Hindenburg Research report, shares of Sezzle plunged to trade as low as $225 per share on December 18, 2024, falling more than 28% (or more than $90) from its close on December 17, 2024. About DiCello Levitt: At DiCello Levitt, we are dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil and human rights, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases – whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise – for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens’ rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations – and our capital – on the line for our clients. DiCello Levitt has achieved top recognition as Plaintiffs Firm of the Year and Trial Innovation Firm of the Year by the National Law Journal , in addition to its top-tier Chambers and Benchmark ratings. The New York Law Journal also recently recognized DiCello Levitt as a Distinguished Leader in trial innovation. For more information about the Firm, including recent trial victories and case resolutions, please visit www.dicellolevitt.com . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Media Contact Amy Coker 4747 Executive Drive, Suite 240 San Diego, CA 92121 619-963-2426 investors@dicellolevitt.comMcClain's 14 lead Texas Southern over Texas A&M-Kingsville 80-72
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Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) at Atlanta (6-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM NFL Odds: Chargers by 1 1/2 Series record: Falcons lead 8-4. Against the spread: Chargers 7-3-1, Falcons 5-6. Last meeting: Chargers beat Falcons 20-17 on Nov. 6, 2022, in Atlanta. Last week: Ravens beat Chargers, 30-23; Falcons had bye week following 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17. Chargers offense: overall (21), rush (13), pass (20), scoring (18). Chargers defense: overall (13), rush (10), pass (10), scoring (13). Falcons offense: overall (8), rush (14), pass (5), scoring (16). Falcons defense: overall (25), rush (19), pass (26), scoring (26). Turnover differential: Chargers plus-8, Falcons minus-3. RB Gus Edwards could move up as the lead back for Los Angeles as J.K Dobbins (knee) is expected to miss the game . Edwards was activated from injured reserve earlier this month following an ankle injury and had nine carries for 11 yards with a touchdown in Monday night's 30-23 loss to Baltimore. WR Drake London has 61 catches, leaving him four away from becoming the first player in team history to have at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. London has 710 receiving yards, leaving him 140 away from becoming the first player in team history with at least 850 in each of his first three seasons. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers run defense. Robinson was shut down by Denver, gaining only 35 yards on 12 carries, and the Atlanta offense couldn't recover. The Chargers rank 10th in the league against the run, so it will be a challenge for the Falcons to find a way to establish a ground game with Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. A solid running attack would create an opportunity for offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to establish the play-action passes for quarterback Kirk Cousins. Dobbins appeared to injure his right knee in the first half of the loss to the Ravens, though coach Jim Harbaugh did not provide details. ... The Falcons needed the bye to give a long list of injured players an opportunity to heal. WR WR KhaDarel Hodge (neck) did not practice on Wednesday. WR Darnell Mooney (Achilles), CB Kevin King (concussion), DL Zach Harrison (knee, Achilles) and WR Casey Washington (concussion) were hurt in the 38-6 loss at Denver on Nov. 17 and were limited on Wednesday. CB Mike Hughes (neck), nickel back Dee Alford (hamstring), ILB Troy Andersen (knee), TE Charlie Woerner (concussion) and ILB JD Bertrand (concussion) also were limited on Wednesday after not playing against Denver. C Drew Dalman (ankle) could return. The Chargers have won the past three games in the series following six consecutive wins by the Falcons from 1991-2012. Los Angeles took a 33-30 overtime win in Atlanta in 2016 before the Chargers added 20-17 wins at home in 2020 and in Atlanta in 2022. The Falcons won the first meeting between the teams, 41-0 in San Diego in 1973. Each team has built its record on success against the soft NFC South. Atlanta is 4-1 against division rivals. Los Angeles is 2-0 against the NFC South this season. The Chargers have a four-game winning streak against the division. ... Atlanta is 0-2 against AFC West teams, following a 22-17 loss to Kansas City and the lopsided loss at Denver. They will complete their tour of the AFC West with a game at the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 16. ... The Falcons are the league's only first-place team with a negative points differential. Atlanta has been outscored 274-244. The loss of Dobbins, who has rushed for eight touchdowns, could put more pressure on QB Justin Hebert and the passing game. Herbert's favorite option has been WR Ladd McConkey, who has four TD receptions among his 49 catches for 698 yards. McConkey, the former University of Georgia standout who was drafted in the second round, could enjoy a productive return to the state against a Falcons defense that ranks only 26th against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflNEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Spears and UTSA knock off Merrimack 76-74None