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bookmaker def Elections BC is drawing scrutiny which threatens to undermine taxpayer’s faith in our elections. That’s a problem. Here’s the solution: call a public inquiry into Elections BC, not a politicised process through legislative committees working behind closed doors. There is nothing to suggest the B.C. provincial election was stolen. There is nothing to suggest Elections BC was in cahoots with one party or another. But that doesn’t mean we can afford to turn a blind eye to its mishandling of the most important day in our democratic cycle. In a democracy, taxpayers must have faith in elections and repeated errors from Elections BC erodes that trust. And make no mistake, Elections BC did mess up its handling of the provincial election. The problems with Elections BC range from bad to worse. It took Elections BC more than a week to finish the preliminary tally of votes. Voting closed Oct. 19, but the final count didn’t occur until Oct. 28. British Columbians shouldn’t be left in limbo because Elections BC workers didn’t stay late to count votes. And it shouldn’t take an extra week for the final count to begin. Then came the revelation that Elections BC officials were storing ballots in their personal homes. Think about that for a moment. When you cast your ballot, did you imagine it would find its way into the basement of someone’s home? British Columbians generally believe Elections BC acts in good faith. But why allow questionable chains of custody for the most important pieces of paper in a democracy? Why risk storing ballots in home basements instead of secure government buildings? In three-quarters of B.C.’s 93 ridings, mistakes by Elections B.C. led to unreported votes. That’s unacceptable. To be fair, all the votes were eventually accounted for and counted. But our elections are too important to risk with these kinds of blunders. Both the ruling NDP and Opposition BC Conservatives agree there needs to be an investigation into Elections BC’s mistakes. The NDP wants an all-party committee made up of MLAs to probe Elections BC. But that’s not good enough. Legislative committees are political and are made up of politicians fighting for the spotlight. They can hide behind in camera meetings the public doesn’t have access to. For the public to have faith in our elections, the public needs to be involved in the inquiry. That’s what the BC Conservatives are calling for: an independent public review. British Columbians need to have faith in our elections, so the public must be a part of the investigation. This is far too important an issue for taxpayers to be shunted off to the side while politicians play partisan games. Carson Binda is the B.C. director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.It's not an easy time to be a Cityzen, with Manchester City lost in a malaise of draws and losses the likes of which the Pep Guardiola era has never seen. So to cheer up supporters this holiday season (and quite possibly to just start looking ahead to next year), the club and Puma have released a text-to-image AI kit generator to fans as a contest to design the club's 2026-27 third kit. The cynical among you might look at that intro and think "you know, it sounds like Puma and City are finding a way for fans to do work for them while activating a partnership with an AI company," but just look at what Manchester City players Éderson , Stefan Ortega , and Rico Lewis have already created with the AI generator tool! A net. For a goalkeeper kit? Groundbreaking. This particular text-to-image AI generator is made in partnership with DeepObjects , which describes itself as building "the first truly decentralized design studio" in their Twitter/X bio. One of the most common concerns with AI image generation at large are the library of images these programs use to "learn" and the blurry line of plagiarism they create. Editor's Picks AC Milan's exquisite 125th anniversary retro kit unveiled by Pulisic 5d Chris Wright Where does latest Man City-Liverpool clash rank in their recent rivalry? 8d Chris Wright De Bruyne's return helps Manchester City break winless run, but problems persist 6d Rob Dawson There isn't much info on how DeepObjects and Puma trained this kit creator, but the generator's site does require users to check an agreement which lets Puma and City make adjustments to your generated design. Presumably, to make sure any image copyright issues are resolved, along with ensuring the kit looks good and sponsors and badges remain legible. As for the generator itself, it certainly steers clear of much in the way of obvious cultural touchstones (my prompt to make a kit using the final scene of Martin Scorsese's The Departed only returned variations on a Gilded Age candlelit dinner), and it can be a little finicky to get what you want if you have really specific images in mind. Trying to create a pattern out of a crowd of people all dressed like Morning Glory-era Liam Gallagher returned several kits made of cartoon women in headscarves, as opposed bucket hats and anoraks. If you're clever, people that are possibly not City fans can sneak in some less-than-kind references to the club, like the financial charges brought against the club by the Premier League . If we had to guess, we'd say City isn't going to use this design. Anyone that wants to enter the competition can do so by entering prompts in the Puma AI Creator, adjusting the pattern size, colors, collar type, sponsor and badge colors, and more. Once you've registered with the site, you're given 15 Design Credits, and each text prompt you enter uses one Design Credit. You can gain more Design Credits by reviewing other people's designs, allowing them more bites at the apple of AI kit design. For every text prompt you enter, you'll get up to four variations on your prompt, and with 15 Design Credits by default, that's a lot of potential designs. However, contestants only get two official entries into the kit design competition by default -- a number which can also be increased by reviewing other fan designs. A shortlist of the best designs will be created by a combination of fan reviews and kit experts from Manchester City and Puma, who will create their list of 10 favorites. From there, a public vote will be held to determine the winning kit fans will see on the pitch in 2026-27. Cityzens that want in on the contest will have until Dec. 20 to enter their designs. The public voting on finalists designs will begin in Jan. 2025. At the end of it all, a real-life kit will emerge next season. Ivan Dashkov, Puma's Head of Emerging Marketing Tech, called the kit creator a way for "emerging technology bringing fans closer to the game they love." But to be perfectly honest, most fans will probably be satisfied with a design that doesn't include hands with too many fingers.Small businesses are taking up the digital world’s frontline of defense. CMMC is changing the game for 300,000 US companies, turning cybersecurity from a tedious must into a strategic business. It’s not just a paperwork exercise. The Department of Defense has created a blueprint for rock-solid digital protection. What if you turned your company into a secure fortress that stands apart from competitors? CMMC is more than just protecting data. It helps small businesses stand out in a constantly changing cyber threat landscape. It protects sensitive information while giving customers the confidence that you take security seriously. Here, you’ll learn the benefits of CMMC to small businesses. Benefits Of CMMC Standards 1. Access to Lucrative DoD Contracts Businesses working with the Department of Defense (DoD) must be CMMC certified. From December 16, 2024, contractors must demonstrate that they can protect sensitive information . In other words, they must meet certain security levels according to the data type they handle. This certification is one that you can’t afford to miss out on, as it is a huge business opportunity. According to the DoD, about 8,350 companies will require Level 2 certification, which requires professional security assessments. It's a sort of security passport on the government work front. Picture the DoD as a selective employer. They want to work with businesses that can keep their information safe. These standards help implement the best security for sensitive data. It’s massive in terms of financial upside. By 2025, the DoD budget for defense contracts could reach $800 billion. For small businesses, this means: Potential for a lot of revenue Opportunities to work on high-tech projects How to build a strong reputation in the defense industry A small cybersecurity firm that meets CMMC requirements could snag advanced defense technology contracts. It's not about short-term money but long-term business credibility and growth. CMMC certification is your business’s golden ticket to a world of government contract opportunities. 2. Enhanced Cybersecurity Posture Adoption of CMMC standards can help small businesses dramatically improve their cybersecurity. That means practicing with robust security tools like multi-factor authentication, which provides an extra layer of security on top of passwords. Advanced encryption and constant monitoring can help businesses defend themselves against data breaches and unauthorized access. As per the CMMC framework, companies must adhere to 110 security practices established by government standards. These are not just checkboxes but fundamental strategies to protect digital assets. A proactive approach to cybersecurity can significantly impact a company’s attack risk. Businesses conducting regular self-assessments can find and fix security weaknesses before hackers can access them. Cybercrime is a vast and growing problem. Damages from global cybercrime are expected to top $10.5 trillion. Driving more cultural awareness around cybersecurity and having solid incident response plans enables small businesses to stay in business even when threats occur. 3. Competitive Advantage CMMC certification is today like a golden badge of honor for small businesses. It lets potential clients know that you’re concerned about security and will do anything to protect sensitive information. Imagine being a defense contractor who can instantly stand out from competitors. Showing your CMMC certification in marketing material makes you more attractive to clients who value security deeply. This certification can be the key to winning crucial contracts. CMMC certification is like a business trust signal — a way to prove you’re a reliable, security-conscious partner. Data breaches are everywhere. In the first half of 2023, over 1,800 breaches exposed millions of records. CMMC certification is your way of saying to your clients, ‘We have your back.’ This certification protects information and creates long-term relationships. As more businesses realize the cybersecurity risks, they want to partner with those who can demonstrate their stringent security standards. If you are CMMC certified, you are not just a vendor but a trusted ally. 4. Cost-Effectiveness of Compliance For small businesses, CMMC 2.0 has good news. Companies can now do Level 1 self-assessments without the expense of a costly third-party review. This approach helps businesses: This approach means one thing. You start where you can and build strength over time. This journey isn’t only for small businesses. Several financial programs help reduce CMMC compliance costs. Small contractors can get grants from the Department of Defense to help them upgrade their cybersecurity. Such resources are a safety net, so businesses can meet security standards without burning a hole in the bank. The idea is to reduce the cost and accessibility of protection for every business. 5. Improved Risk Management Small businesses can easily manage online risks with CMMC. Moreover, this step-by-step approach allows organizations to create security policies that suit their needs. Businesses aren’t faced with a one-size-fits-all solution but can build a custom defense strategy that protects their digital landscape. It’s not just about following rules when investing in strong cybersecurity. That's about securing your business's future. By adopting CMMC standards, companies can: Like business insurance, cybersecurity helps you be prepared for unexpected risks and stay resilient and competitive. 6. Streamlined Compliance Process The CMMC compliance process is meant to help small businesses succeed without feeling overwhelmed. Organizations can adopt the strategy of meeting requirements individually instead of trying to meet them all at once. This allows businesses to breathe, adapt, and improve. Assessors and contractors will be trained and supported in the compliance journey. Like learning a complex skill, you don’t get it all overnight. MSPs can be game changers for small businesses navigating compliance. These experts provide specialized guidance to companies in implementing security controls and managing certification documentation. By partnering with an MSP, businesses can: This is especially helpful when you’re beginning preparation, and new requirements can seem daunting. MSPs are trusted solutions that guide businesses on a clear path to certification. Conclusion Cybersecurity is not a cost. It’s your business’s future. CMMC standards are your way of distinguishing yourself in the defense industry. These guidelines aren’t just data. They are opportunities. So, don’t wait. Take control now. Become CMMC certified and turn your small business into a digital fortress from a potential target. This is where you start to gain your competitive edge. (Disclaimer: Devdiscourse's journalists were not involved in the production of this article. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Devdiscourse and Devdiscourse does not claim any responsibility for the same.)

NoneNSW to 'throw everything' at anti-Israel vandalism investigation as 'hate crime' condemnedCatalysing climate actionThe top 10 accessories for your smartphone this Black Friday

Unions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachersManchester City blow three-goal lead as Feyenoord produce stunning fightback

Ole_CNX Uranium is a naturally occurring, radioactive chemical element. Uranium has many applications, including nuclear power, medical, military, consumer products, agricultural, space exploration, marine propulsion, scientific research, and others. As the world searches for new energy sources, enriched uranium is a critical The Hecht Commodity Report is one of the most comprehensive commodities reports available today from a top-ranked author in commodities, forex, and precious metals. My weekly report covers the market movements of over 29 different commodities and provides bullish, bearish, and neutral calls, directional trading recommendations, and actionable ideas for traders and investors. I am offering a free trial and discount to new subscribers for a limited time. Andrew Hecht is a 35-year Wall Street veteran covering commodities and precious metals. The Hecht Commodity Report Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. The author always has positions in commodities markets in futures, options, ETF/ETN products, and commodity equities. These long and short positions tend to change on an intraday basis. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Pro-Russian Presidential Candidate Denies He Wants Romania Out Of NATOBRIAN Dowling has thanked his "incredible team" as he reached a major TV milestone. The 46-year-old joined The Six O'Clock Show as a main-stay host exactly one year ago today. Brian and his co-host Katja Mia took over for Karen Koster and Greg O'Shea after they both stepped down. The dad-of-two took to Instagram to mark the special day as they reached the one year mark on TV. The Kildare native shared some stunning photos of himself and Katja sitting on the iconic green couch on set together. Brian certainly dressed for the occasion wearing a brown suede blazer, black t-shirt, black trousers, funky pattern socks and black loafers. While Katja looked glamorous in a pair of denim straight leg jeans, an eye-catching pink blazer and matching pointed toe heels. Brian reflected over the past year and thanked his loyal viewers as he captioned his post: "This evening Katja and I turned 1 year old. "It’s been a whole year since we hosted The Six O'Clock Show together. "Time certainly flies when you are having so much fun. "We love what we do and thank you so much to all of you who decide to join us every evening LIVE on the telly. "We never take for granted what we do and we get to work with such an INCREDIBLE team. BRING ON 2025!!!" Katja also wrote: "ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY with my fabulous partner in crime Brian! So grateful that we get to do what we do." While Brian's husband Arthur Gourounlian paid a special tribute on his social media saying: "Happy one year anniversary you beauties. "You both rock The Six O'Clock Show. We adore you." Brian's friends and fans all flooded his comment section with love and support. Sarah wrote: "Living the dream, happy anniversary guys." David commented: "What a duo! Congrats to both of you legends." Aoife remarked: "You’re both amazing, happy anniversary." Brendan added: "Massive congrats, you’re both the absolute best (and maddest!)."

How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Wednesday, November 27NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma appears to have borrowed from the past to cure its recent offensive ills. The Sooners , best known this century for a passing prowess that has produced four Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, took it back to the 20th century against then-No. 7 Alabama. Oklahoma ran 50 times for 257 yards while only throwing 12 times in a 24-3 win over the Crimson Tide that took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat. The Sooners more resembled Barry Switzer’s squads that dominated the old Big 8 with the wishbone offense in the 1970s and ’80s than the more recent Air Raid teams. Venables said the change was a matter of necessity for a unit that has been besieged by injuries at receiver and offensive line. “I think this staff has done a really good job with trying to figure that out, get better every week, put together a great gameplan but also figure out, ‘OK, what does this group of guys, what does this team — what do we need to do?'” Venables said. To make it work, Oklahoma needed to trust that such a change would work in the modern Southeastern Conference. They had to implement it with an interim play-caller in Joe Jon Finley, who stepped in after the Sooners fired Seth Littrell last month. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) pulled it off, and LSU coach Brian Kelly has taken notice ahead of their game on Saturday. “This is now much more about controlling the football, running the football, playing with physicality," Kelly said. "They've got perimeter skill, but I think it's centered around much more of a run-centric, quarterback run and take care of the football." The Sooners started to see success on the ground against Maine. They ran 52 times for 381 yards in a 59-14 win that got the wheels turning. Jovantae Barnes ran for career highs of 203 yards and three touchdowns that day. Venables said the timing of the opportunity to play that non-conference game against Maine in early November and figure some things out was perfect. “Everybody has some degree of vulnerability and maybe some self-doubt,” he said. “And just developing some confidence and putting something on tape other than practice, like, ‘Man, look, see what you’re capable of?’ And executing against, again, a well-coached team — certainly, we played off of that in all the right ways like you would expect us to. And so there’s a real place for that.” After a bye week, the Sooners tried the same approach against Missouri. It wasn't as successful — they ran 36 times for 122 yards — but they hung tough before losing 30-23 . The Sooners went all in against Alabama. Jackson Arnold — the same guy who threw 45 times in the Alamo Bowl last year, ran 25 times for 131 yards and threw just 11 passes. The Sooners found something in running back Xavier Robinson. With Barnes out with an injury, Robinson carried 18 times for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns. Suddenly, a team that had been forcing the pass and getting sacked at an alarming rate was moving the line of scrimmage and controlling the tempo. Oklahoma had the ball for more than 34 minutes against the Crimson Tide, lending support to a talented defense that had been spending way too much time on the field. The new approach could be helpful on Saturday — LSU (7-4, 4-3) ranks 14th out of 16 conference teams against the run. Venables said the Sooners still need to throw the ball well to win, but he's glad to know his squad can run with force when necessary. “I think that’s the art of having a system that’s adjustable, flexible, adaptable, week in and week out, but also has an identity — toughness, physicality," he said. "You’ve got to be able to run the ball at every level of football, but you do have to throw it. You can’t just do one thing. But we need to be efficient.” 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-footballNEW DELHI: The government has taken several measures for ease of doing business and reducing the compliance burden for fintech companies , financial services secretary M Nagaraju said Tuesday, while noting that that was essential to maintain a balance between fintech innovation and regulatory compliance. "Digital growth has shown some challenges, and it is important to ensure that innovation does not outpace the necessary safeguards," he said, pointing out that areas such as cybersecurity, data privacy, identity theft and digital financial frauds require the attention of the fintech industry. In his address at CII 's Financial Inclusion and Fintech Summit , Nagaraju said all stakeholders-government, regulators and industry-should work together to balance innovation, regulatory compliances and consumer safeguards. Nagaraju said the public sector banks (PSBs) were performing extremely well and will launch several new products in the next three-four months. Financial literacy and awareness at the ground level is crucial, not just for young people but also for the older generation, he said observing that the country's fintech industry is the third largest in the world, spread across sectors such as agriculture, lending, payments, wealth management and disaster management. Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Leadership Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Leadership Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Leadership Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Addressing the event, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) chairman Shaji KV said cooperative banks and regional rural banks (RRBs) have not reaped the benefits of digitalisation as others. It is important that stakeholders make efforts to include these banks in new digital initiatives as they lack the financial resources to invest in new technologies, which is crucial for democratic growth, he added. Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is November 30, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Former Texas Coach Mack Brown Fired by North Carolina on TuesdayBrits poke fun at US homes for lacking switched plug sockets, calling it 'dark ages' technologyBeatrice Public Schools recently released data from the AQuESTT Classification Report. Accountability for a Quality Education System, Today and Tomorrow information is released from the Nebraska Department of Education at the end of November each year. The measurements in proficiency, graduation rate and absenteeism are from the previous school year. The website notes a belief “that by integrating components of accountability, assessment, accreditation, career education, and data into a system of school improvement and support, we build a broader, bolder, and better education system for all Nebraska students.” Overall, the district was classified as "good." Other possible classifications were "excellent," "great" and "needs support to improve." Jackie Nielsen, assistant superintendent, noted that from the data the district has developed two goals. People are also reading... Nebraska transportation director: Expressway system won't be done until 2042 27-year-old Beatrice man sentenced for May assault At the courthouse, Dec. 7, 2024 Stabler scores 22 in Lady O's season opening win Holiday lights travel through downtown Beatrice for annual parade Orangemen open season with win over Nebraska City P.E.O. sponsors Holiday Tour of Homes Mother to Mother supporting families Gage County Sheriff's Office helps catch Fairbury suspect At the courthouse, Nov. 30, 2024 Camper total loss after fire north of Beatrice Beatrice Regional Orchestra to perform Sunday Clarissa Ruh Missouri man sentenced for attempted sexual assault Community Players open holiday play “The first goal that we have is to create a strong multitiered system of support in behavior and academics,” she said. “What that means is that we have layers of supports for students so they can be successful. It’s consistent support in all areas to build kids up.” Nielsen explained that there were different skills targeted that are dependent on the need of the student. “The second goal is to ensure 75% of students are proficient in reading by 2030. This is a state goal and so we have made it our goal. A few years ago, it was 100%. This is more attainable,” she said. She noted that this was something that was happening at all grade levels. Some of the accomplishments the district identified were: * Creating systems in academics and behavior to provide consistency. * Identifying interventions. * Ensuring all students in classrooms rather than pulled out. * Adopting a high-quality math resource for kindergarten to fifth grade. Nielsen noted that some of the accomplishments have been more challenging than others. “Our special education and title teachers are amazing. They are specialists. But students need to be receiving core education from classroom teachers. We want to continue to challenge our kids and make them realize they can do more than they think they are capable of,” she said. Some of the areas of growth include: * Building consistency from classroom to classroom. * Understanding how interventions — behavior and academics — are a part of the Tier 1 process. * Implementing strong interventions and evaluating data from the common formative assessments to drive student success. * Ensuring all students have access to core content. * Adopting a high-quality reading resource for kindergarten to fifth grade. “We are trying to go deeper into what is missing. For example, we might see a student that is solving a math problem incorrectly. When we look closer, they are doing the work but maybe there is an error in computation. We’re breaking down the process to find what is missing and where,” she said. Another strategy that the district has implemented is including “The Power of ICU” at the high school. It has previously been successful at that middle school level. Principal Andrew Haake described the strategy. “What is ICU? ICU stands for intensive care unit, just like in a hospital,” he said. “ICU is an academic support system for students and communication tool for teachers and parents and is built around a schoolwide electronic database that tracks missing assignments. All students completing all assignments is the foundation of this program. Students learn quickly if they have one missing or poor-quality assignment, their grade is sick and needs attention.” He said students are asked by a variety of staff members: "Who do you owe?" "What do you owe?" "What do you need?" "How can I help?" Staff members reteach content material and provide students with extra assistance to complete their work: before school, during lunch, after school, etc. Names are removed from the ICU list when assignments are completed and quality work has been done. Nielsen said the graduation rate is at 84%, so the high school is targeting the ninth graders. “There is research that shows that if freshman have all their credits at the end of the first year of high school, they are more likely to graduate on time. That is a piece we are working on,” she said. Another area of concern is the chronic absenteeism rate. On the district level, the rate has gone from 20.39% to 22.38% in the last year. The high school rate jumped from 30.45% to 34.01% and in the middle school the rate increased from 17.46% to 21.59%. Nielsen said that it was important to help families understand that school attendance was vital. “It affects their academic performance, their ability to learn and their social skills,” she said. A new measure in the report this year is student discipline. As a district, 93.38% of students who were referred to the office for behaviors were not given out-of-school suspensions or expelled. Nielsen said that one area the district is working on is consistency. “Consistency can happen in the one elementary building. Supports are available. We know we need to continue to improve. Everyone does and this will be our focus in the coming years,” she said. Proficiency is also measured in English Learner, science and math. More information on the scores can be found at https://aquestt.com . More information on the report will be presented at the Jan. 13 Board of Education meeting. How the districts in the county performed on the 2023-24 classification report. * The 12 districts considered similar to Beatrice based on community characteristics and other variables. Norris is the only peer district on this list. English, math and science scores are percentage of students in grades 3-8 and third-year high schoolers scoring in the upper two of three proficiency levels. Source: Nebraska Department of Education Inside: How Gage County's school districts did on the annual report. 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Two weeks before the Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments over TikTok's future, President-elect Donald Trump has asked the justices to delay a Jan. 19 deadline for the app to be sold to a new owner or face a ban in the U.S. An filed by Trump's nominee to be solicitor general, John Sauer, is asking the court to grant a stay delaying the deadline so that the incoming president can work out a "negotiated resolution" that would save the app. The filing casts Trump as someone who "alone possesses the consummate dealmaking expertise, the electoral mandate, and the political will to negotiate a resolution to save the platform while addressing the national security concerns expressed by the Government." Trump's brief says he "opposes banning TikTok in the United States at this juncture," but does not express the view that the law requiring the sale violates the First Amendment, saying he takes no position on the merits of the case. Instead, the filing from Sauer asks the court to put the deadline on pause to allow Trump's incoming administration "to pursue a negotiated resolution that could prevent a nationwide shutdown of TikTok, thus preserving the First Amendment rights of tens of millions of Americans, while also addressing the government's national security concerns." TikTok, which has over 170 million U.S. users, has sued over the law requiring it to be sold by its current Chinese-based owner ByteDance by Jan. 19 or be banned in the U.S. A federal appeals court earlier this month for an emergency pause in the deadline. The Supreme Court is in the case on Jan. 10. President Joe Biden , which was part of a massive, $95 billion foreign aid package passed by Congress, on April 24. Biden and some congressional leaders argued that the ultimatum against TikTok was necessary because of security concerns about ByteDance and its connections to the Chinese government. Trump originally tried to ban TikTok in his first term, but has since reversed course, vowing during the 2024 presidential campaign to "save" the app. In Trump’s amicus brief, Sauer raised the idea of social media censorship, invoking Brazil’s recent month-long ban of social media platform X, the treatment of the Hunter Biden laptop story and government efforts to stamp out COVID-19 misinformation as incidents that should give the justices pause. “This Court should be deeply concerned about setting a precedent that could create a slippery slope toward global government censorship of social media speech,” Sauer wrote in the filing. “The power of a Western government to ban an entire social-media platform with more than 100 million users, at the very least, should be considered and exercised with the most extreme care—not reviewed on a ‘highly expedited basis.’” While Sauer acknowledged that TikTok may pose national security risks while it remains under ByteDance’s control, he also urges the justices to be skeptical of national security officials, whom, he said, “have repeatedly procured social-media censorship of disfavored content and viewpoints through a combination of pressure, coercion, and deception.” “There is a jarring parallel between the D.C. Circuit’s near-plenary deference to national security officials calling for social-media censorship, and the recent, well-documented history of federal officials’ extensive involvement in social-media censorship efforts directed at the speech of tens of millions Americans,” Sauer wrote.MAI Capital Management Sells 808 Shares of UFP Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI)

Rep. Michelle Steel , a two-term incumbent in California’s 45th congressional district, appears to have conceded to Derek Tran Wednesday afternoon after a long slog of a race that is one of the nation’s closest remaining contests yet to be called. “From the moment I came to the United States, I knew that giving back to the country that welcomed me with open arms would be part of my future,” said Steel, who made history in 2020 as one of the first Korean American women to be elected to Congress. “The journey to work on behalf of legal immigrants and struggling families took me somewhere I never could have imagined — and for which I will always be grateful — the United States Congress,” she said. “Everything is God’s will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin.” Tran’s lead over Steel on Tuesday edged up to 613 votes in the district that spans Los Angeles and Orange counties, continuing a trend that started last week when the Orange-based Democrat outpaced the Republican from Seal Beach. The race is one of two congressional contests in California and one of three nationally that have yet to be called. The outcomes of those three races will determine the size of the Republican Party’s advantage in the House. Tran declared victory Monday evening , saying the “victory is a testament to the spirit and resilience of our community. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, I understand firsthand the journey and sacrifices many families in our district have made for a better life.” He was vying to become the first Vietnamese American to represent the country’s largest Vietnamese community in Congress. Both Steel and Tran have already filed paperwork to run in the district again in 2026.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. “In life, all good things come to an end,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. Late in the first half, Indiana punter James Evans fumbled a snap and was buried at his own 7-yardline with the Buckeyes taking over. That turned quickly into a 4-yard TD run by Henderson that gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead. Early in the second half, Caleb Downs fielded an Evans punt at the Ohio State 21, raced down the right sideline, cut to the middle and outran the coverage for a TD that put the Buckeyes up 21-7. It was the first time a Buckeye returned a punt for a touchdown since 2014. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. “Our guys just played with a chip today, and that’s the way you got to play the game of football,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Indiana scored on its first possession of the game and its last, both short runs by Ty Son Lawson, who paced the Hoosiers with 79 rushing yards. Rourke was 8 for 18 for 68 yards. “We had communication errors, pass (protection), every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened," Cignetti said. Indiana's 151 total yards was its lowest of the season. And it was the most points surrendered by the Hoosier's defense. Indiana: Its special season was blemished by the Buckeyes, who beat the Hoosiers for the 30th straight time. Indiana was eyeing its first conference crown since sharing one with two other teams in 1967. That won't happen now. “Ohio State deserved to win,” Cignetti said. “They had those (third quarter scores), and we just couldn’t respond.” Ohio State: Didn't waste the opportunities presented by the Hoosiers when they got sloppy. The Buckeyes led 14-7 at the break and took control in the second half. An offensive line patched together because of multiple injuries performed surprisingly well. “We know what was at stake," Day said. “We don't win this game, and we have no chance to go to Indianapolis and play in the Big Ten championship. And that's real. We've had that approach for the last few weeks now, more than that.” Some voters were obviously unsure of Indiana because it hadn't played a nationally ranked team before Ohio State. After this one, the Hoosiers will drop. Howard made history by completing 80% of his passes for the sixth time this season. No other Ohio State quarterback has done that. He completed his first 14 passes in a row and finished with a 85% completion rate. “I think Buckeye nation is now seeing, after 11 games, that this guy is a winner, he's tough, he cares about his teammates, he's a leader,” Day said. Indiana hosts Purdue in the regular-season finale next Saturday. Ohio State hosts rival Michigan on Saturday. 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-footballShark FlexStyle 'as good as Dyson but half the price' has £200 discount