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A collection of progressive pressure groups have called on the UK Labour government to ‘think differently’ when it comes to childcare. This is based on new analysis that reveals the English local authorities with lowest numbers of childcare places. The survey shows Walsall ranked worst. The associated report extrapolates the data and predicts that at current rate of decline, there will be no childminders left by 2033. The report comes from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) – an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society and Save the Children, which is active in one hundred countries. Concluding the report The childcare challenge: How can the new government deliver a real early education and childcare guarantee? , the campaign organisations state that the UK government must ensure deprived and rural areas are not left behind in forthcoming childcare expansion. In other words, public policy needs to focused on equalising the disparity throughout the UK. The report indicates that the expansion of free childcare currently underway is at risk of not delivering for poorer families. Amongst the poorest fifth of parents with young children, only a third (36 per cent) use formal childcare, compared to double that (73 percent) of the highest earning households. The analysis indicates how the use of formal childcare is highly defined by social class . Over two-thirds of parents of young children who work in professional jobs such as lawyers, doctors and architects use it, compared to less than half of parents in elementary occupations such as cleaners, care workers and hairdressers. Further analysis by the think tank of local access to private and voluntary nurseries as well as childminders – who deliver nearly all provision for children under three years of age – finds significant variation in access to childcare within a reasonable travel time by local authority, with deprived and rural areas the worst off. The more deprived or more rural a local area is, the fewer and lower-quality childcare options families tend to have. The most deprived areas have 32 percent fewer places per child and 25 per cent fewer good places compared to the most affluent areas. Rural areas have 31 percent fewer places and 29 per cent fewer good places compared to inner cities and town centres. For example, three in four children in Walsall live in areas that have some of the worst access to childcare in England. There are significant regional and local variations. For example, parts of the North-East have five times the average ratio of childcare places to children. However, other parts of the same Combined Authority are amongst the least well served in the country. Part of this problem is driven by the falling numbers of childminders. At the current rate – a drop of around 3,000 childminders per year. Another issue is the lack of places in school-based nurseries. Whilst the number of schools offering nursery provision has grown since 2018, the headcount of children in primary school nurseries has reduced by 14 percent (the equivalent of 42,000 children) between 2015/16 and 2023/24. To remediate the situation, the report urgest the Starmer government to adopt progressive and leftwing policies, such as: • Establishing new not-for-profit nursery trusts to rival private equity backed for-profit chains, with the aim of helping smaller childcare providers with business support, best practice and achieve the same economies of scale as larger groups. • Reinvigorating the role of local authorities including by pooling funding to secure new childcare in the areas of greatest need and more actively brokering the new schools-based nursery expansion. • Growing and supporting the supply of childminders by developing a new long-term national strategy which sees them paid monthly to deliver funded entitlements and explores a new childminder friendly national digital platform. • Increasing funding for deprived areas and children through raising the Early Years Pupil Premium and increasing weighting for Additional Need in the national formula. • Reforming the funding system , giving greater recognition to emerging needs in early years within mainstream funding. These proposals attempt to deal with childcare deserts, a lack of funding and the patchwork of commissioning services. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.Tax reform bills should not be politicised – TUC president
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Gov. Gavin Newsom embarked on a public relations tour of Central Valley desperately trying to rebrand his image of being out of touch to hard working Californians who have rejected his agenda. Born and raised in the Central Valley, I’m proud to call this region my home. Unfortunately for Gov. Newsom, our reasons for spurning his policies are grounded in the reality we see and the consequences of his actions. No amount of rhetoric can deflect from the damage we have endured. The challenges we face and the frustration we feel exist through California and have national and global impacts. The list of flawed policies continues to grow but let’s examine a few critical areas. With the energy production of California, the consequences are ever present as Californians endure rising gas prices and energy costs. This reality is a direct result of the actions of the Newsom Administration. Countless permits sit before the governor’s desk that would increase our production of oil and gas to increase affordable energy supplies. Gov. Newsom’s inaction has forced California to import energy from countries that don’t share our interest. Gov. Newsom has intentionally taken steps that have reduced our refining capacity that risks gasoline shortages. His words touting carbon capture are empty ones when his actions limits its use in oil exploration and prevents the needed construction of infrastructure needed for new technology to flourish. The reality of Newsom’s energy agenda is jobs are lost, business have left California, and residents struggle with growing costs. As the food production capital of California, the damage is just as stark. Gov. Newsom’s bureaucracy has limited the flow of water supplies to our businesses, farms and homes. Needed water storage projects languish in red tape and lack of investment. Pest outbreaks occur because inept bureaucrats limiting the use of needed tools to respond. California’s vibrant agriculture industry continues to persevere from the burdens of inaction and bad policies. The result is higher food costs and the loss of critical food products that we consume every single day. Gov. Newsom’s unworkable mandates on trucking, rail and port operations threaten our entire supply chain. Technologically infeasible regulations by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to force electrification of truck and rail fleets could result in the majority of trucks and locomotives being unable to operate in California. This massive disruption only leads to higher costs for every single Californian. And as our region fights for more highway and road expansion, Gov. Newsom continues to be an obstacle preferring to throw billions of dollars at the mismanaged California High Speed Rail project instead of expanding our rural and urban roads and highways. Related Articles Commentary | The FBI has been political from the start Commentary | A new Legislative session: Time for pocketbook pragmatism Commentary | Climate activists should pivot from costly pipe dreams to realistic solutions Commentary | Privacy agency oversteps authority, jeopardizes California’s opportunity to lead in AI Commentary | Newsom’s wrongheaded special session is a misuse of gubernatorial power We see the rising crime in our neighborhoods resulting from Newsom’s soft on crime approach. We see the fentanyl and human trafficking from his sanctuary state policies. We see businesses and residents leaving California because of the growing burdens of taxes and regulations. Gov. Newsom demonizes our industries and drives jobs away from our neighbors. This is why more and more Californians are waking up saying enough is enough and I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration to expand energy production, enhance our water supplies, secure our supply chain, and revitalize our economy. Our communities don’t need a lecture on how to feed and power the state and nation, we need Gov. Newsom to listen and undo his out of touch policies. Vince Fong represents California’s 20th congressional district.Trump claims he’ll target ‘criminals’ for mass deportations – but also vows to end birthright citizenshipJERUSALEM (AP) — Israel approved a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes meanwhile carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 24 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities, as Israel signaled it aims to keep pummeling Hezbollah before the ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. Israel's security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday after it was presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. An Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza, where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed a series of accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran, which backs both groups. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor all sides’ compliance. But implementation remains a major question mark. Israel has demanded the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations. Lebanese officials have rejected writing that into the proposal. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday that it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.” of Lebanon, he said. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Even as Israeli, U.S, Lebanese and international officials have expressed growing optimism over a ceasefire, Israel has continued its campaign in Lebanon, which it says aims to cripple Hezbollah’s military capabilities. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in the central Beirut district of Basta — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near the city’s downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs killed at least one person and wounded 13, it said. Three people were killed in a separate strike in Beirut and three in a strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Lebanese state media said another 10 people were killed in the eastern Baalbek province. Israel says it targets Hezbollah fighters and their infrastructure. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site that is around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets in Beirut and other areas linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously have not been targeted. The warnings, coupled with fear that Israel was ratcheting up attacks before a ceasefire, sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, and some cars had mattresses tied to them. Dozens of people, some wearing their pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed loudly overhead. Hezbollah, meanwhile, kept up its rocket fire, triggering air raid sirens across northern Israel. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told The Associated Press that peacekeepers will not evacuate. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have been exchanging barrages ever since. Israel escalated its campaign of bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, contributed. Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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The documentary War Game films a simulation of a military coup after a disputed presidential election. The 2024 election ended decisively in favor of Donald Trump , who will take office in January. Directors Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber filmed the scenario designed by Vet Voice Foundation CEO Janessa Goldbeck in which a fictional president, not then-candidate Joe Biden, deals with the contested election. Goldbeck said at Deadline’s Contenders Documentary event that even though the 2024 election was not contested like the 2020 election, experts in both political parties remain concerned about future violence. “Veterans are particularly targeted for recruitment into extermist groups because of our cross-partisan appeal on both sides of the aisle,” Goldbeck said. “The No. 1 threat to safety and security of Americans for the last several years identified by the Department of Homeland Security has been domestic extremists, with an emphasis on right wing Christian nationalism. I think it’s very important that, even though we are a nonpartisan organization, to be able to call out things that exist.” Retired Marine Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman also consulted on the scenario and appears in the film. At Contenders, Vindman expressed concern to Deadline’s Matthew Carey that reservists could be weaponized by future presidents. He added that scenarios like Goldbeck’s war game help the military and government “figure out where the weaknesses and the strengths are.” RELATED: The 2025 Oscars: Everything We Know So Far About The Nominations, Ceremony, Date & Host “I think what we realized is that there is a vulnerability with extermists within the ranks,” Vindman added. “It’s our duty and obligation as folks that focus on veterans and defense issues and national securiy to examine these issues and figure out where the vulnerabilities are and how to harden ourselves against those challenges.” Gerber and Moss filmed the scenario on January 6, 2023, the two-year anniversary of the Capital riot. Former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock plays fictional President John Hotham. Retired Army Officer Wesley Clark, former North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp and former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones are among actors in the scenario. Gerber hopes Bullock’s portrayal of a president who considers reasonable options sets a positive example for future leaders. “Folks can then realize what a reasoned, rational president is capable of in terms of listening, in terms of process,” Gerber said. “Democracy is a process at the end of the day. It’s not just about results. It’s a process. I think our film is a rallying cry for reasoned leadership.” RELATED: 2024-25 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Oscars, Spirits, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More The Insurrection Act becomes a focal point of Hotham’s response. The 1807 law empowers a president to deploy the military and National Guard in the event of an insurrection, on the state or federal level. Goldbeck said exploring the Insurrection Act makes War Game relevant to any future administration. “We wanted to design an exercise that really got to the heart of what that authority is for a president to have and use, what it would mean if members of the military engaged in political conflict or political violence,” Goldbeck said. Moss said he and Gerber were pointed to Goldebck’s exercises by three former generals sharing an article about past war games in the Washington Post . The generals wanted Moss and Gerber to investigate extremism in the military. The filmmakers agreed that the war game provided a way to discuss fraught political issues. RELATED: Contenders Documentary — Deadline’s Complete Coverage “We’re a little traumatized by our political discourse,” Moss said. “This approach, Janessa’s exercise, the participation of people across political spectrum was really inviting to me and I hope inviting to audiences. It’s playful in form. It’s also really serious but I think it gives us some critical distance to think about these profound questions, the erosion of norms, the military and its relationship to our civil political leadership.” Check back Monday for the panel video.She's been at the centre of a lot of speculation this week, having erased every trace of I'm A Celebrity from her social media accounts and now Tulisa Contostavlos has confirmed she won't be at the final on Sunday night. In the first few days of the ITV show returning for a new series, with the N-Dubz singer and former X Factor judge in its line-up, Tulisa, 36, was seen a potential contender for victory; with viewers at home loving her double act with Alan Halsall in the launch episode, as they won the challenge to become the first leaders of camp. Tulisa continued to get a lot of positive comments online during the first two weeks of I'm A Celebrity' s latest run, despite not getting too much airtime; so it came as a bit of a surprise that she ended up being voted out so early, as the third star to be eliminated on Monday. Things then took a mysterious turn when Tulisa 'snubbed' the chance to be on I'm A Celeb spin-off Unpacked and also deleted all the I'm A Celebrity related posts from her Instagram grid. It was then reported that the star had clashed with two friends behind the scenes, included best pal Michelle McKenna who was there to greet her at the end of the bridge after her exit interview with Ant and Dec. Tulisa strenuously denied any claims of a fallout, telling press to 'leave her friends alone.' However, the plot thickened again on Sunday as, while she has now uploaded her I'm A Celebrity best bits to her Insta grid, she also used the platform to confirm she will play no part in the I'm A Celebrity final. The Londoner told fans: L"ooking back at some of my favourite moments from the @Imacelebrity jungle. It’s been a whirlwind. Thank you to @itv for the experience and sending so much love to my Jungle Fam before the final tonight. Sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you all "
Marian Rivera, Dingdong Dantes renew vows on 10th wedding anniversaryIntel will sell 150-acre campus in California, assessing future of 50-acre Hillsboro siteWASHINGTON (AP) — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! WASHINGTON (AP) — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — The House shut down Democrats’ efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It’s unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers only have a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It’s the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee’s five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump’s announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump’s choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. ___ Advertisement Advertisement
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Team officials said they had agreed on a memorandum of understanding involving the amount of taxes to be paid for the former site of the Arlington International Racecourse. The village and local school boards still need to approve the agreement, which could happen next month. While it does not guarantee the team will build a stadium in Arlington Heights, the deal does shift some momentum back toward the suburban site and keeps the team’s options more open than before. “The Chicago Bears remain focused on investing over $2 billion to build a publicly owned enclosed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront while reevaluating the feasibility of a development in Bronzeville,” Bears officials said in a team statement released Monday. “That being said, we remain significant landowners in Arlington Heights and establishing a framework for potential future development planning, financing and property tax certainty has been a priority since the land was purchased. We continue to have productive conversations with the village and school districts and are aligned on a framework should we choose to explore a potential development.” Details of the deal were not released Monday. The Bears and the suburban taxing districts have been at loggerheads over the valuation of the Arlington Heights property, which the Cook County Board of Review set at about $125 million. The Bears have countered with appraisals ranging from $60 million to $71 million and categorizing the property as vacant residential land, which gets taxed at 10% of market value. Local school officials have said the land should be valued at $160 million and classified for commercial use, which puts it into a 25% tax bracket. Despite those differences and the team’s focus on building a new stadium in Chicago , the Bears has never closed the door on the Arlington Heights site, especially as the lakefront proposal has withered due to opposition from state leaders . Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes called the deal a “significant step.” “We’ve had productive conversations with the Bears and the school districts, and we believe we’re in agreement on a framework for moving forward on the previously unresolved tax issues,” Hayes said. “I do anticipate this agreement would be formalized in the near future. It outlines a more clear path forward.” In addition to the site next to Soldier Field and the Arlington Heights property, which the team purchased last year, another site the Bears are looking at is the land once occupied by Michael Reese Hospital in Bronzeville near Lake Michigan. The Bears previously dismissed the old Michael Reese site as being too small and said the site also was unworkable because it’s next to Metra train tracks that pose a security risk, all of which Hayes pointed to as reasons he is bullish on Arlington Heights. “If the Bears come back, it’s going to be a much easier road,” Hayes said about the suburban site, adding he hopes progress is made between the taxing bodies and the team in the first half of next year. “We’re on the same sheet of music. All sides are ready to pursue the opportunity when the Bears turn back in our direction. I’m encouraged something could happen in the spring to enable a new stadium in Arlington Heights.” After the Bears released their statement, the three local school districts — Community Consolidated School District 15 in Palatine, Arlington Heights-based Township High School District 214 and Palatine-based High School District 211 — released a joint statement of their own Monday: “We continue to believe Arlington Heights remains an incredible opportunity, and we have a common understanding with the team on how to create a framework for potential development, financing, and property tax certainty in Arlington Heights that works for all parties. We look forward to future conversations.” The Bears bought the 326-acre former Arlington Park in 2023 for $197 million and announced plans for a $2 billion enclosed stadium as part of a $5 billion mixed-use development. But after new team President Kevin Warren took over that year, he said that local schools’ proposals for taxes on the site were a deal-breaker, and turned the team’s attention back to the city. With Mayor Brandon Johnson’s support, the team earlier this year proposed contributing $2 billion toward a $3.2 billion enclosed, publicly owned stadium to replace Soldier Field. That $3.2 billion figure doesn’t include the $1.5 billion in infrastructure money funded by the public that the team says would be needed to fully realize its vision for a year-round venue and surrounding park space. Gov. JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have thrown cold water on the idea , saying the state has priorities other than providing major funding to a private business. Both the lakefront and Arlington Heights plans would involve public dollars, something lawmakers have been cool on for both sites. But some northwest suburban state lawmakers said the recent developments were encouraging. Democratic state Sen. Mark Walker of Arlington Heights said that despite the team’s agreement with the school districts, bigger financial issues as to how the project would be paid for still need to be resolved. Team officials have said they would need public funding to help pay for infrastructure such as new expressway ramps for the Arlington Heights site. A previous proposal for a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, in which the long-term taxes would be addressed, would require state legislation. But funding concerns could be exacerbated by a projected state budget hole of nearly $3.2 billion for the next fiscal year that would prevent the lawmakers from granting significant taxpayer subsidies. The concerns also include Johnson’s struggles to balance his proposed $17.3 billion budget, with aldermen earlier this month voting unanimously to spike his plan to implement a $300 million property tax hike. “I would think that the local communities, especially Arlington Heights, have more flexibility on providing property tax relief than would the city (of Chicago) at this point,” said Walker. “But the issues of capital and state funding are still out there and ... my guess is that the Bears would have to find another source for the big capital.” State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, who has continued to advocate for the Bears to move to Arlington Heights, called the memorandum of understanding “a positive step forward.” “I think this is a great opportunity and I think that they could do a lot of good here. They have the opportunity to be really good neighbors,” Canty, an Arlington Heights Democrat, said of the Bears. “I’ll be anxious to see what the boards have to say when they go over it in their meetings as I’m sure they’ll be required to do. But I think everybody is coming to the table thinking positively and also thinking about what does the community need, what does the community want and how can we deliver on those things in a way that moves everyone forward.” The agreement would cover taxes going forward, but the Bears continue to appeal the team’s 2023 tax bill to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. The team also demolished the former race track stadium to lower its taxes, leaving the site vacant. Suburban school officials have always doubted the taxes were the determining factor in the team’s decision to play in Arlington Heights since they offered less than the estimated $9 million tax bill, a relatively small amount in what would be a multibillion-dollar deal. The taxes were raised after Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi raised the property’s assessed valuation to near the site’s $197 million purchase price. Ultimately, the assessor would have to approve any agreement on taxes.Crystal Palace attacker Eddie Nketiah closing in on hamstring recovery
Has GTA 6 Been Stuck in Development Hell for a Decade? A Veteran Games Journalist InvestigatesBiddeford High School eighth-grade students took part in an electrical session at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology as part of Trades for ME. Contributed / Biddeford School Department Biddeford Regional Center of Technology hosted 75 Biddeford High School eighth-grade students for a “Trades for ME” event on Nov. 14. The program is made possible through New Ventures Maine and empowers girls and gender-expansive youth to learn about non-traditional careers in the trades through hands-on learning experiences. Students began the day hearing from Christina Consigli, senior project manager from Consigli Construction, and Joyce Taylor, chief engineer from the Maine Department of Transportation, according to a school department press release. The speakers shared information about their current positions in their fields as well as how they chose their pathways. Following the opening address, students attended three different women-led workshop sessions. Sessions included Auto Collision, Auto Technology, Carpentry, Electrical, Engineering, Fire Fighting, Heavy Equipment, Manufacturing/Machining, Police and Welding. Students learned how to change tires, build toolboxes, wire light switches, don the gear of firefighters, and much more. Feedback from students who participated was positive. “I enjoyed learning how to fix a car. It is a useful life tool even if I do not go into that trade,” student Emily Donovan said. Following the event another student, Mi Le said, “I enjoyed hearing about different career paths.” Bonnie Petry of Great Falls Construction co-led the carpentry session. “The one thing I loved was the transformation from the very beginning of each workshop to their sense of accomplishment and pride being able to bring home a toolbox that they built with their own two hands,” she said. “I really want to do carpentry,” student Domoa Saiwan said. “It’s really fun to build stuff.” “It was great to see students who were nervous or reluctant at the start of their sessions roll up their sleeves and fully engage as they tried something new,” said Kim Bennett, assistant director of Biddeford Regional Center of Technology. “Many of the girls shared that they were excited to go home and tell their parents about what they were able to do. We hope many of the students consider enrolling in BRCOT programming in the future.” For more information about Trades for ME, visit newventuresmaine.org. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
Radharamn Das warns of violence against ISKCON devotees in BangladeshWheel of Fortune contestants whiffing their bonus puzzles is nothing new, but on December 4’s episode, a player came up short on a $40,000 puzzle that left fans joking that she may never want to visit a Disney theme park again. The game show’s latest big miss involved Vandana Patel, an Indian fusion food expert from Chicago. She won the episode and proceeded to the coveted bonus round with $20,600, a trip to Florida, and the selection of “What Are You Wearing?” as her category. Joined by host Ryan Seacrest and the off-side support of her waving mom, daughter, and husband, she faced the two-word puzzle. Choosing a “DMH” and “A,” Vanna White added a mere “H” to the first word. “We want more!” Seacrest chanted. With that tough break, the 10-second timer began. The puzzle read as, “‘_ H _ T E’ ‘_ L _ _ E S.'” A stern Patel did her very best to concentrate on cracking it, successfully saying “White” was the first word. But she couldn’t figure out the second word, and the timer ran out. The full puzzle was unveiled, “WHITE GLOVES.” Seacrest revealed the gold envelope contained the $40,000 amount and put a consoling arm around Patel’s shoulder. “This was on your bucket list!” he told her. “It was,” she replied. The game show shared the big miss on Youtube, where fans reacted to the loss with the top comment being about how the contestant will likely never want to see Mickey Mouse, or Mario of the Nintendo games, again given their white gloves. “Now she never wants to see mickey or mario again,” the fan wrote scoring 20 likes. “Or the keeper of the Stanley Cup,” replied another. A third fan wrote, “I knew it said WHITE GLOVES and I even solved it before the timer was displayed.” A fourth penned, “Don’t worry, Vandana, I was stumped too. I got the first word, but not the second. That’s alright, you’re a winner regardless. $20K is nothing to sneeze at. Great job! A fifth said, “I knew gloves from the initial and her h got me white. Tough puzzle “Wow. At least it wasn’t the hundred thousand dollar wedge,” wrote one more. Meanwhile , Seacrest, of course, had huge shoes to fill replacing the legendary Pat Sajak after four decades for Season 42. His debut month was the strongest ratings month for WoF in the past three years, and viewers were already treated to a viral moment (via a round of sausage) . That said, there have been some questionable hosting moments. In September, Seacrest suffered what fans dubbed his “first blooper” , involving a prolonged reaction to rewarding a bonus round. Fans also called out the host for ruling against another player before the timer was up. Most controversially, last month, fans called out the host for not reminding a player to pick a letter , leading to him losing the game in a misunderstanding and by a mere $147. This past two weeks, a more puzzling issue has come to light, which is that there has been a mere one bonus puzzle win out of the last eight episodes , many fans blaming the players and not the host. Wheel of Fortune , Weeknights, Check your local listings More Headlines: