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For the third year in a row, Elon Musk’s charitable foundation did not give away enough of its money. And it did not miss the mark by a small amount. New tax filings show that the Musk Foundation fell $421 million short of the amount it was required to give away in 2023. Now, Musk has until the end of the year to distribute that money, or he will be required to pay a sizable penalty to the IRS. Musk, in his new role as a leader of what President-elect Donald Trump is calling the Department of Government Efficiency, is promising to downsize and rearrange the entire federal government — including the IRS. But the tax records show he has struggled to meet a basic IRS rule that is required of all charity leaders, no matter how small or big their foundations. Musk’s is one of the biggest. His foundation has more than $9 billion in assets, including millions of shares in Tesla, his electric vehicle company. By law, all private foundations must give away 5% of those assets every year. The aim is to ensure that wealthy donors like Musk use these organizations to help the public instead of simply benefiting from the tax deductions they are afforded. Musk’s group has fallen further and further behind. In 2021, his foundation was $41 million short, then $234 million the following year. Now, the hole is deeper still. Private foundations do have a way to solve the problem if they do not give away enough money. They can distribute more the following year as a make-good. Musk could choose to do so in 2024. Musk did not respond to requests for comment. His foundation, which is required to make its tax filings public, provided the 2023 document to The New York Times. The IRS appears to be among Musk’s early targets as a leader of Trump’s government efficiency initiative. The tax agency serves as the federal government’s charity regulator and thus oversees Musk’s foundation. Last month, Musk used X, his social media platform, to ask users if the IRS’ budget should be increased, kept the same, decreased or “deleted.” His followers chose “deleted.” Musk, who on Wednesday became the first person with a net worth of over $400 billion, has been an unusual philanthropist. He has been critical of the effectiveness of large charitable gifts, and his foundation maintains a minimal, plain-text website that offers very little about its overarching philosophy. That is different from some other large foundations that seek to have national or even worldwide impact by making large gifts to causes like public health, education or the arts. The Musk Foundation’s largesse primarily stays closer to home. The tax filings show that last year the group gave at least $7 million combined to charities near a launch site in South Texas used by Musk’s company SpaceX. Other large charitable foundations have also failed to distribute the IRS’ minimum required amount in recent years, sometimes by more than $100 million, according to tax filings compiled by the company CauseIQ, which analyzes charity data. But Musk’s foundation is unusual even among those, both for the amount of its shortfall and the speed at which it is increasing. In 2022, the last year for which full data is available, the Musk Foundation had the fourth-largest gap of any private foundation in the country, according to CauseIQ data. Musk’s charity, which he founded in 2002, has never hired paid employees, according to tax filings. Its three directors — Musk and two people who work for his family office — all work for free. The filings show they did not spend very much time on the foundation: just two hours and six minutes per week for the past three years. But the board’s task grew enormously in 2021 and 2022, when Musk tripled the foundation’s assets by giving it billions of dollars’ worth of Tesla stock. Tax experts said if he claimed those donations on his personal taxes in the year given, those gifts would have been very beneficial to him. Because of the deductions allowed for charitable gifts, they potentially saved Musk as much as $2 billion on his tax bills. Because of the skyrocketing growth in assets, the three-person board had to give away hundreds of millions of dollars per year just to meet the minimum. That group entered 2023 needing to pay off the previous year’s $234 million shortfall, or it would have to pay a penalty tax of 30% on whatever was left at the end of the year. The foundation met that, giving away a total of $236 million and avoiding the penalty. But it also had to give away an additional $424 million to meet its obligation for 2023. The filings show it did not come close, leaving an even bigger deficit to make up this year. “The distributions made by the foundation are meeting the bare minimum to avoid penalties,” said Brian Mittendorf, an accounting professor at the Ohio State University who studies nonprofits. “It is clear that the organization is not in a hurry to spend its money.” In 2023, as in other years, many of the foundation’s gifts went to organizations that were closely tied to Musk or his businesses. In 2023, for instance, he gave $25 million to a donor-advised fund, a separate charitable account over which Musk retains effective control. Musk began donating to schools in the Brownsville, Texas, area just after his company’s reputation took a major hit: One of its rockets exploded, showering the area with twisted metal. The foundation’s largest gift for the year — $137 million in cash and stock — went to a nonprofit called The Foundation. That charity, run by Musk’s close associates, has set up a private elementary school in Bastrop, Texas. The school is a short distance from large campuses operated by Musk’s businesses and a 110-home subdivision planned for his employees. Related Articles Business | Australian Senate debates social media ban for under-16s Business | California commission that approves rocket launches is anti-Elon Musk, claims SpaceX lawsuit Business | SpaceX blasts past 100 launches in 2024 with 101st from California Business | Tesla Optimus bots were remotely operated at Cybercab event in Burbank Business | In engineering feat, SpaceX ‘arms’ catch Starship rocket booster back at launch pad Mittendorf noted that Musk gave that school $102 million on Dec. 28 — days before the deadline to give away the unspent millions from the year before. The Musk Foundation’s gifts for 2023 gave little hint of the political transformation that would follow this year, as he spent hundreds of millions of dollars to support Trump’s presidential campaign. Throughout 2023, Musk became increasingly right-wing in his public statements, especially on issues like crime and immigration. But his foundation’s only gift with an apparent political tilt was a small one: The Musk Foundation gave $100,000 to a libertarian think tank in Utah. This article originally appeared in The New York Times .(Bloomberg) -- Whether you want to relax on a beach or kill time during a snowstorm (or just need an excuse to avoid over-talkers), it’s never a bad idea to have a few books around for the holidays. From page-turning sci-fi and real-life accounts from the wildfire frontlines to a thought-provoking look at the history of electric vehicles, the Bloomberg Green team has you covered. Here are 10 books worth packing this December for your holiday reading or snagging as a last-minute gift. It’s by no means exhaustive so if you have a favorite climate-themed read or list, please share it with us on Instagram or Bluesky!) The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler The Mountain in the Sea is more than climate fiction (cli-fi), it’s anthropocene-fi. OK so that’s a clunky term unlikely to catch on. But it aptly describes Nayler’s novel, which is set in a future where humans have reshaped the Earth not just through heating the planet but also through overfishing and technological development. The new world and the systems that wrought it are the backdrop for a fascinating exploration of what it means to be conscious and our relationship with nature. I couldn’t put it down, and I’ll also never look at octopi the same way again. (And I already held them in pretty high regard!) – Brian Kahn Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver In this 2012 novel by a Pulitzer Prize winner, Dellarobia Turnbow, a frustrated, poverty-stricken farmer’s wife, is enchanted by the unprecedented arrival of millions of monarch butterflies in the trees near her Appalachian home. Displaced from their winter habitat in Mexico, the insects’ presence is first seen as a miracle but gradually comes to be understood as a harbinger of climate change. Dellarobia’s awakening to the enormity of planetary illness mirrors her personal evolution — and both are juxtaposed with humor and hope against the prosaic details of her daily struggles. – Danielle Bochove Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver If nonfiction is more your thing, Kingsolver also offers that with this 2007 book. The book outlines her attempt to feed her family for one year entirely from home-grown, local food. A garden is nurtured, chicks raised, cheese made — then winter arrives. The family must survive on preserves, root vegetables and modest portions of humanely raised and slaughtered meat. Part personal account, part how-to manual, the book illuminates the miracle of food and what is required to bring it to the table sustainably. – Danielle Bochove Orbital by Samantha Harvey This slim and thoughtful novel, which won the UK’s Booker Prize this year, imagines a day in the life of six crew members on the International Space Station as they orbit the Earth while a climate change-charged typhoon rages below. They reflect on their lives, the decisions that sent them into space and the consequences of humanity’s constant push for more. Despite taking place on a spacecraft traveling at 17,500 mph, it manages to be a moving, dreamy meditation on the beauty and fragility of both humans and the planet we call home. – Olivia Rudgard A Just Transition for All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon-Free Future by J. Mijin Cha Half a century ago the US transition from a manufacturing economy decimated entire communities, especially in the Rust Belt. While the economic changes were likely inevitable, Cha argues persuasively that the suffering that came with it was not. Rather, it was policies — or the lack thereof — that failed to help people adjust to a different kind of economy. Now, the country is undergoing another transition, this time away from fossil fuels. Cha makes the case that the US is on track to repeat the same mistakes. But, by weaving together stories from communities at the center of the energy transition with social science research, she also shows how communities and political leaders can chart a new, just path. – Kendra Pierre-Louis Car Wars: The Rise, the Fall, and the Resurgence of the Electric Car by John J. Fialka As someone who hates driving, I never imagined myself reading, let alone enjoying, a book about cars. But Fialka had me hooked. Instead of declaring electric vehicles as 21st-century transportation, Fialka looks into the rearview mirror at the global EV industry over the last century. His writing takes readers back to the early 1900s when hundreds of electric cabs zipped along the streets of Manhattan; and the almost simultaneous rise of Henry Ford’s gasoline-powered invention as it grabbed the attention of 8,000 onlookers at a race track in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Nerdy, yes. But also gripping. – Coco Liu Fire Weather by John Vaillant Wildfires may seem otherworldly as they huff and puff smoke and churn out their own weather. But through the story of 2016’s catastrophic Fort McMurray wildfire, the most expensive natural disaster in Canadian history, Vaillant expertly details how humans and fire are inextricably linked. He writes with empathy and humanity about the people faced with impossible decisions in the path of a roughly 1.5-million-acre fire. But he takes no prisoners in detailing the hubris that led to the ravaging of the Canadian oil city — not least that of the fossil fuel industry that both made Fort McMurray rich beyond imagination and led to its ruin. – Olivia Rudgard The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E. K. Johnston A paradox of climate change is that even as it wreaks havoc it’s eerily invisible: We can only see its impacts. The Story of Owen upends that context by delightfully braiding fantasy with modern life. It’s set in a small Canadian town where dragons are real and capable of destroying entire cities — and they feed off carbon emissions. But instead of reining in CO2, society has chosen to enlist teenagers as dragon slayers. Set from the perspective of Siobhan, a teenage music prodigy who befriends Owen, a classmate who comes from a long line of dragon slayers, this young adult novel explores big ideas around friendship, society and who we are willing to sacrifice to maintain the status quo. It’s also a not-so-thinly-veiled allegory about leaving future generations to solve climate change. – Kendra Pierre-Louis Charleston: Race, Water and the Coming Storm by Susan Crawford Every place needs a book like Charleston , a city history focused on centuries of contradiction — flooding and development, wealth and slavery, privilege and poverty. Crawford maps those complexities onto a future of higher temperatures and rising seas. Coastal cities may all share familiar and limited options, but their unique histories and composition leave them with very local headaches. (Witness the different strategies and issues — and financial resources — at play from Miami to Lagos.) Charleston is history resurfaced and recast with great urgency as the question, what will they do next? – Eric Roston Open Throat by Henry Hoke The narrator of this slim and inventive novel is a queer mountain lion living under the Hollywood sign in Griffith Park, above the city they call “ellay.” Desperately hungry and thirsty as drought ravages one of Los Angeles’ few remaining wild landscapes, the mountain lion spends their days eavesdropping and commenting on the conversations of hikers that are oblivious to the narrator’s presence (and the climate crisis). When the cougar is driven into the city by wildfire, the novel takes an even more fantastical and haunting turn. – Todd Woody
Larson Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in CVR Energy, Inc. ( NYSE:CVI – Free Report ) by 640.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,119 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock after purchasing an additional 2,698 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in CVR Energy were worth $72,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of CVR Energy by 14.6% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 639,138 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $14,719,000 after acquiring an additional 81,590 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in CVR Energy during the third quarter worth about $231,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of CVR Energy by 37.2% in the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 352,075 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $8,108,000 after purchasing an additional 95,371 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of CVR Energy by 1,034.9% during the 3rd quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 39,550 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $911,000 after purchasing an additional 36,065 shares during the period. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in CVR Energy by 10.9% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 26,841 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $618,000 after buying an additional 2,639 shares in the last quarter. 98.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes CVI has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of CVR Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Mizuho cut their price objective on CVR Energy from $27.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, September 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on CVR Energy from $26.00 to $23.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 2nd. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. lowered CVR Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on CVR Energy from $25.00 to $21.00 and set a “sector underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and two have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $24.75. CVR Energy Stock Up 0.6 % Shares of NYSE CVI opened at $19.38 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.84, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.33. CVR Energy, Inc. has a 1 year low of $15.60 and a 1 year high of $38.07. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $21.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $24.38. The firm has a market cap of $1.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.86 and a beta of 1.52. CVR Energy ( NYSE:CVI – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The oil and gas company reported ($0.50) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by ($0.41). The business had revenue of $1.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.91 billion. CVR Energy had a net margin of 0.89% and a return on equity of 2.88%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 27.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.89 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that CVR Energy, Inc. will post -0.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CVR Energy Profile ( Free Report ) CVR Energy, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the petroleum refining and marketing, and nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing activities in the United States. It operates in two segments, Petroleum and Nitrogen Fertilizer. The Petroleum segment refines and supplies gasoline, crude oil, distillate, diesel fuel, and other refined products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for CVR Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVR Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
This Circle Round episode was originally released on October 5, 2021. There’s nothing like a little recognition – like, say, getting cheers and applause when you score a goal in your soccer game, or being praised for how hard you worked on a project. But as we’ll hear in this week’s story, when our desire for recognition outweighs our ability to achieve it, things can backfire in unexpected ways! Our story is called “Getting Skunked.” It was inspired by legends told by the Abenaki: Algonquin-speaking peoples from the northeastern part of what is now called North America. Voices in this episode include author and Emmy-Award-winning actor Terrence Terrell, star of the CBS comedy “B Positive.” His series of children’s books includes “Blacky,” “The Shes,” “The Crowned Kids,” and “My Little Black Book.” This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. This episode was adapted by Rebecca Sheir. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn. GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram , and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE. Now it’s your turn! What’s one compliment you can give someone today? Maybe you can compliment a teammate for trying so hard during a game. Or you can compliment a family member or neighbor for baking such delicious brownies. Think about your compliment and who you’ll give it to, then go out and do it. You’re bound to make someone else feel amazing... and you’ll likely feel amazing, too! Musical Spotlight: Slide Guitar Slide guitar refers to the technique of using a glass or metal slide, instead of your fingers, to play different notes on the guitar. Rather than push your fingers down on individual strings to get different notes, you glide the slide smoothly over all the strings. The result is a twangy and bluesy sound, capable of smooth bends and interesting vibrations. Some guitars are specially designed to be played with a slide, but with the proper technique you can play any regular guitar this way! Script: NARRATOR: Way way back in the olden times, the most beautiful of all the animals ... was Skunk . In modern times, Skunk is black, with white stripes on his back and snout, right? Well, back when our story takes place, Skunk’s silky fur was pure snowy white . Not only that, but Skunk didn’t spray ! He didn’t have those glands under his tail that spritz out chemicals that smell like rotten eggs or rancid garlic . This is the tale of how Skunk came to be the way he is today. It all started one especially cold winter. The snow had been falling nonstop for months, and with no sign of spring on the horizon, the people were worried. PERSON 1: Do you see how deep the snow is!?! PERSON 2: And it’s getting deeper by the minute! PERSON 3: Soon it’ll be higher than our rooftops! PERSON 4: How will we hunt for food?!? PERSON 1: How will we plant our crops?!? PERSON 2: And how will we gather wood for warmth?!? PERSON 3: ...Or for cooking?!? PERSON 4: Our children will go hungry! PERSON 1: Our houses will be icy! PERSON 2: I say we talk to Gluskabe! PERSON 3: Yes! PERSON 4: He’ll know how to help us! NARRATOR: Gluskabe was the kind, heroic giant who took care of the people and watched over them. So they approached Gluskabe and told him their problem. GLUSKABE: I understand your troubles, my people. First thing tomorrow I will journey to the top of the tallest mountain and visit Snow Bird; she’s the one who controls the snow. I will talk with her, and see what I can do. NARRATOR: But the next morning, just as Gluskabe was about to set off on his travels, who should pipe up... SKUNK: Um, Gluskabe...? NARRATOR: ...but Skunk! GLUSKABE: Well, hello there, Skunk! Your fur is so white, I didn’t see you there in the snow! What’s up, little one? SKUNK: Well, Gluskabe, I was wondering... is there any chance I could come with you to visit Snow Bird? Maybe help you sweet-talk her a little? NARRATOR: Before we go on, something you should know about Skunk. Though he was regarded as the most beautiful and sweet-smelling of all the animals, that was about it. He wasn’t praised for his smarts, or his bravery, or anything else, really. But Skunk dreamt of being hailed as a hero. And he figured joining Gluskabe’s quest could make his dream come true! Gluskabe, however, wasn’t exactly jazzed by the idea. GLUSKABE: Listen, Skunk, I appreciate the offer. But look at you. You’re so small! And this snow is so deep ! If you join me on this journey, how will you keep up? SKUNK: I can do it, Gluskabe! I can! Please let me come along...? Pleeeeeeeeeease???? NARRATOR: So Gluskabe gave in and he and Skunk took off toward Snow Bird’s mountain. As they ventured north, the blanket of snow grew deeper and deeper, and Skunk found himself leaping from one of Gluskabe’s footprints to the next. SKUNK: (leaping from footprint to footprint) NARRATOR: But the hulking giant had such a long stride that Skunk would occasionally miss a footprint... SKUNK: (jumping and missing) NARRATOR: ... then he’d go plummeting under the snow... SKUNK: Um, help....? NARRATOR: ...and Gluskabe would have to pull him back out. SKUNK: Phew! Thank you! NARRATOR: By the time the duo reached the peak of Snow Bird’s mountain, Skunk wasn’t feeling very heroic. Icicles hung from his white fur, and his teeth were chattering so hard he could barely speak! But when he and Gluskabe arrived at Snow Bird’s perch, the giant did all the talking. GLUSKABE: Snow Bird! NARRATOR: The massive white bird craned her neck toward Gluskabe. Tumbling down from her outstretched wings were millions of snowflakes. GLUSKABE: Snow Bird! You must close your wings and stop making all this snow! I mean, don’t get me wrong — the world needs your snow. It keeps the soil warm and moist until it’s time for planting crops. It keeps the lakes and rivers full of water. But this year you’re making too much ! Look at my little friend here! NARRATOR: Gluskabe lifted Skunk by the scruff of his frozen neck. GLUSKABE: ...He’s practically an ice cube! It’s time for spring to come, Snow Bird! It’s time for warmth, time for things to grow! So please... will you close your wings? NARRATOR: Snow Bird gave Gluskabe a long look. Then she nodded her head... folded in her wings... and the snow stopped. Now that their mission was accomplished, Gluskabe and Skunk made their way back down the mountain. By the time they reached the bottom, the sky was a shimmering blue and patches of grass were visible through the melting snow. When the people caught sight of Gluskabe, they clustered around him and cheered. PERSON 1: You did it, Gluskabe! PERSON 2: You got Snow Bird to close up her wings! PERSON 3: And now spring can come! PERSON 4: And we can plant! PERSON 1: And we can hunt! PERSON 2: And our children can run around play! PERSON 3: You’re our hero, Gluskabe! PERSON 4: We will always be grateful! PERSON 1: Thank you! NARRATOR: While the people sang Gluskabe’s praises, Skunk stood off to the side and grumbled. SKUNK: Oh, so Gluskabe’s the big hero , huh?!? I’m the one who froze my tail off to reach that kooky bird on top of her mountain, but Gluskabe gets all the glory?!? Instead of me?!?? No respect! No respect at all! NARRATOR: Skunk sighed and gazed up at the sky — the bright blue sky. And as he did, his mind suddenly clicked. SKUNK: Wait a minute! I know how to make them respect me! ‘Cuz I’m gonna do something they’ll never forget! NARRATOR: What do you think Skunk is planning? We’ll find out what it is, after a quick break. [BREAK] NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. I’m Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called “Getting Skunked.” NARRATOR: Before the break, Gluskabe trekked to the top of the tallest mountain and convinced Snow Bird to close her wings and stop the snow. Sweet-smelling, white-furred Skunk insisted on coming along. But when Skunk and Gluskabe returned from their mission, the grateful people hailed Gluskabe as their hero — and ignored Skunk completely! SKUNK: No respect! No respect at all! NARRATOR: Craving attention — and admiration — Skunk began concocting a plan. He found a big ball of twine, and set off toward a mountain nearly as tall as Snow Bird’s. At the top of this mountain... was Day Eagle. And if Snow Bird brought the snow , what do you think Day Eagle brought? That’s right! The day! When her great, wide wings were open, light came streaming out of them, and bathed all of earth. When she closed her wings, the light disappeared and the whole world was dark. By the time Skunk reached Day Eagle’s lofty perch, the enormous bird had tucked in her wings and nodded off for the night. Squinting through the darkness, Skunk began wrapping his twine around Day Eagle’s wings. SKUNK: Ha-ha! This will teach them not to underestimate me!!! NARRATION: Skunk worked swiftly and silently, wrapping the twine this way and that, tying it in knot after knot. Then he scurried back down the mountain. The next morning... there was no morning! Day Eagle’s wings were bound so tightly, she couldn’t open them and shine light upon the earth! But the people didn’t know that. PERSON 1: The light!! PERSON 2: Where is the light?!? PERSON 3: Why hasn’t Day Eagle opened her wings?!? PERSON 4: Will it be dark on earth forever?!?? NARRATOR: Gluskabe was every bit as worried and puzzled as the people were. He headed straight to the top of Day Eagle's mountain, where he found her wrapped in twine! The poor bird was contorting her body as she tried to unknot the string with her break. GLUSKABE: Day Eagle! What has become of you? Who tied you up like this? DAY EAGLE: I don’t know, Gluskabe! Someone must have snuck over while I was asleep! NARRATOR: Gluskabe set to work undoing the knots, but there were so many, and they were tied so tightly, he could only free one of Day Eagle’s wings! GLUSKABE: I’m sorry, Day Eagle. It’s the best I can do! From now on, I’m afraid one half of the world will be light, while the other half is dark. All I ask is that you keep turning around on your mountaintop so that both sides of the earth get their fair share. Can you do that? DAY EAGLE: I can! NARRATOR: And indeed, ever since, when it’s daytime on one side of the earth, it’s nighttime on the other. And vice-versa. As Gluskabe rolled the twine back into a ball, he noticed something. Stuck to the string were bits of fur. White, silky fur. GLUSKABE: A- ha ! Skunk!!! NARRATOR: Gluskabe went barreling down the mountain and straight to Skunk’s den. The silky white critter was curled up next to a crackling bonfire, and was snoozing away. GLUSKABE: Skunk! What were you thinking?! You nearly threw the world into nighttime forever!! NARRATOR: At the sound of Gluskabe’s deep voice, Skunk’s eyes snapped open. SKUNK: Gluskabe! What are you doing here? And why is it so light outside? I thought that when I tied up Day Eagle, I — Oops. GLUSKABE: So you did do it, you little rascal! NARRATOR: All at once, Gluskabe grabbed a handful of ashes from the fire and smeared them across Skunk’s face and back. SKUNK: My fur! My beautiful white fur! GLUSKABE: From now on, just one glance at you and everyone will remember your mischief, my friend. And as for that sweet smell of yours... NARRATOR: Gluskabe breathed in some of the fire’s smoke... then blew it all over Skunk’s body. GLUSKABE: From now on you will smell of rotten eggs and rancid garlic ! People will see you and run away, for fear of getting your stink! NARRATOR: But Gluskabe! GLUSKABE: No “buts!” However... since you did want to bring on never-ending darkness, from now on you will only come out at night . No one will see you during the day. Of course, given your smell, I doubt they’ll want to see you, anyway! NARRATOR: Skunk hung his streaked head. All he had wanted was to be admired and adored. Instead now he had a striped body, a nocturnal sleep cycle, and a smell so strong, it would send anyone running... and so it is to this day. Now to be fair, Skunk only sprays his spray when he feels threatened, or in danger. But, word to the wise? Unless you’re a big fan of rotten eggs or rancid garlic... I wouldn’t get too close.I don’t fault President Joe Biden for pardoning his son Hunter. That’s why parents aren’t allowed to negotiate with terrorists. Parents would give away the nuclear codes to help a child who is facing an execution. Others may die because parents give millions of dollars to save a child held by a terrorist, but a parent can’t see the consequences of their actions. They are singly focused on saving their own child. Biden did the same thing for his child in a way. Facing certain jail time, Hunter Biden was not a hostage, but he was found guilty of several federal crimes. Maybe a president should not have the power to pardon his or her own family, but to change that would take a Constitutional amendment. In his statement giving Hunter Biden a pardon for every federal offense known or unknown between Jan. 1, 2014 and now, President Biden said, “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice ...” If Biden believes the system has been infected by politics, then why can’t Donald Trump make the same claim? Since Biden appointed the leadership of the Department of Justice, it’s hard to say just how politics infected the process. Hunter Biden’s infractions would be prosecuted if anyone else did the same things he did. That cannot be said about Trump. The charges against him are what legal experts call “novel.” What they mean by that is these cases have never been presented against anyone before under creative charges and interpretations of the law. The two New York cases, one civil and one criminal, would never be charged against anyone else but Trump. The civil case didn’t even have a plaintiff. No one claimed Trump harmed them by claiming what his properties were worth. The banks that loaned him money were all repaid with interest and were willing to do additional loans to the Trump organization. But Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, ran for office claiming she would find something to charge against Trump. They dug. And dug. And dug. And the best they could find was how Trump valued his properties on loans. Those same papers told the lenders they should seek their own appraisals. The New York court rejected expert testimony that stated Trump’s company kept very good records and that the valuations were completely legitimate. The expert witness was not some Trump insider. The witness had testified in multiple white-collar cases in the same courtroom, and his testimony was the basis for several other rulings. But not this one. All of a sudden his testimony was biased. The result was a record-shattering, unprecedented $350 million fine. When the State of New York brings a case against someone without a plaintiff, without a victim, without precedent for any case very being brought, then it is safe to say that “raw politics” have infected the process. In the criminal case against Trump, District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who also ran on a platform that he would get Trump, created a charge of Trump misfiling a legal expense to Stormy Daniels even though the statute of limitations had run out on the case, and he used a “novel” claim that Trump did this to benefit his run for office, even though he was already president when the non-disclosure arrangement was legally made, so he could turn a misdemeanor into a felony, and then he duplicated the charge 37 times. Again, it is clear this was “raw politics” infecting the process. Trump maintained his innocence, but a jury in the deep blue district found him guilty, giving the Democrats what they wanted – Trump was a convicted felon. It’s not clear at all whether or not those charges are going to stick. Judge Merchan has granted the Trump defense team a motion to have the charges and the conviction tossed, and even if he eventually denies the motion, it is almost assured that the appellate court will vacate the case. To this day I still have online exchanges with those who refer to the re-elected president as “convicted felon Donald Trump.” Justice has nothing to do with either of these judgments. Hunter Biden’s convictions for very clear violations of federal law, however, were only skewed in Hunter’s favor. The prosecutor first tried to get Hunter’s charges dismissed in a plea agreement that the judge had never heard before. The DOJ eventually exposed that the wrap on the wrist didn’t apply to all charges, and that led Hunter’s team to withdraw their agreement to pleading guilty to lesser charges. Did politics come into play? Sure, but in Trump’s case it was against him, and in Hunter’s case it was for him. The problem is the Justice Department now has two presidents claiming politics have infected the pursuit of justice. Like any parent, Biden doesn’t care about the fallout. He only wants his son to be protected from jail time. And he made Trump’s case that the system is rigged for the politically connected and against everyday people. Trump is appointing people to rid these departments of the abusers while keeping the legitimate agents who truly seek justice. Trump could not have had a better example than what Biden just did and how he justified his pardon. Trump believes others have been maliciously prosecuted for political reasons including many who were involved in a riot at the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021. Much like Bragg’s attempt to pile on a misdemeanor and turn it into a felony, Biden’s Department of Justice sought to turn a riot into an insurrection. And they went hard after anyone and everyone they could who was even standing outside that day. Trump has stated that he would pardon what he called “political prisoners” when he ran for re-election. And he still won the Electoral College and the popular vote. Now he has the endorsement of Biden to do it and under the exact same circumstances Biden used – raw politics have infected the process. Earl Watt is the owner and publisher of the Leader & Times in Liberal. Watt started his career in journalism in 1991 at the Southwest Daily Times. During his career, the newspaper has won a total of 17 Sweepstakes awards from the Kansas Press Association for editorial content and 18 Sweepstakes awards for advertising. Watt has been recognized with more than 70 first place awards for writing in categories from sports and column to best front pages, best sports pages and best opinion pages. Watt is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and is the descendant of several patriots who fought for America’s freedom and independence.
Louise Haigh's photo of stolen phone 'taken after alleged theft'WASHINGTON – Meta, the social media giant , donated $1 million to inaugural fund, as the company tries to mend fences ahead of a second administration that could oversee major social media regulations. The donation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday and confirmed by USA TODAY, is the latest move by indicating that he would like to work closely with Trump. Zuckerberg has sought to repair his relationship with Trump and other Republican leaders over the last few months after he received blowback in 2021 for on Meta’s platforms following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump has since lashed out against Meta and in one interview earlier this year described its site Facebook as “ But, in the past few months, Zuckerberg has appeared to try and curry favor with the Republican leader. The CEO praised Trump’s response to being shot in the ear at a Butler, Pa. campaign rally as “ ” in the run-up to the 2024 election. He later congratulated Trump on his “ ,” in a post on the Meta platform Threads and met with the President-elect in the weeks following his win. Casey Burgat, director of the legislative affairs program at the George Washington University Graduate School of Management, said Meta and Zuckergberg’s actions are similar to those of other tech giants who have previously criticized Trum and now are trying to get in his good graces. “We've seen this with Trump and people who have been formally critical, all of a sudden they turn willing to praise the former president and he welcomes them back in the fold,” Burgat said. “Zuckerberg and Meta are making the calculation that that can be true for them as well.” Meta could have a lot riding on Trump’s presidency. Lawmakers in Congress have sought in recent months to crack down on how social media companies operate – from proposing a to legislation requiring sites to enhance Republican senators, in particular, have also expressed interest in companies play in American society. Not to mention the fact that Trump and his close adviser, , both own two of Meta's competitor social media platforms. and , formerly known as Twitter. Burgat suggested that, while the $1 million donation might seem like a pay-to-play scheme, it’s more of a “signal” of a willingness to cooperate. “It doesn't buy you a way into the room. But the calculus on a lot of these companies, is that it is a necessary precondition to be invited,” into policy discussions, Burgat said. Meta’s donation marks a sharp departure from its past actions. The company notably did not donate to Trump’s inaugural fund in 2016 or to in 2020.Katie Holmes has offered a rare comment regarding her teen daughter, Suri Cruise. Holmes has posted a screen grab of a Daily Mail article, which reported that her 18-year old daughter, whose father is Tom Cruise, is now a "millionaire" after receiving access to an alleged trust fund from Cruise. "Completely false," was written across the image posted on Holmes's verified social media. "Daily mail you can stop making stuff up." In the caption Holmes simply wrote, "Enough." CNN has reached out to the Daily Mail for comment. Holmes and Tom Cruise were married from 2006 to 2012. Their daughter, the only child they share, was born on April 18, 2006. The teen and Holmes have largely remained out of the spotlight, with the actress working to protect her daughter's privacy. A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes) Four years ago, the "Dawson’s Creek" star posted birthday wishes to her daughter. "Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!!!!!," Holmes wrote in the caption. "I am so blessed to be your mom. May this year be incredible!" A post shared by Katie Holmes (@katieholmes) window.addEventListener('load', function() { (function(c, id, p, d, w){ var i = d.createElement('iframe'); i.height = '0'; i.width = '0'; i.style = { display: 'none', position: 'absolute', visibility: 'hidden' }; i.src = "https://newsource-embed-prd.ns.cnn.com/articles/cnnvan-stats.html?article_id="+id+"&category="+c+"&publisher="+p+"&url=" + encodeURI(w.location); d.body.appendChild(i); })("Entertainment", "L19jb21wb25lbnRzL2FydGljbGUvaW5zdGFuY2VzL2NtNGg0czZ6eTAwNHIyNnFkM3I0cWVwYWg%3D", "3244", document, window)})
A stuttering Aberdeen will be hoping for some post-Christmas cheer when they travel to the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Thursday. The hosts will kick off Boxing Day in ninth place with 18 points in as many games, while the visitors are now third in the league standings with 34 points after 17 matches. After flying out the starting gate with 10 wins and just one draw in their first 11 matches of the season, the wheels now look as though they are starting to come off for Aberdeen in recent weeks. The Dons took an early lead last weekend at home to Hibernian thanks to a Topi Keskinen goal in the 14th minute, but that lasted just four minutes, and by half time they were a goal down before eventually losing the match 3-1. That result marked Jimmy Thelin 's side's sixth consecutive league match without victory, and saw them forced out of second place by Rangers, who edged Dundee to a 1-0 win the following day. Cracks are starting to appear across the pitch for the Dandies too, with their defence failing to keep a clean sheet in nine matches on the bounce, while the midfield duo of Graeme Shinnie and Sivert Nilsen have been much less effective recently than they were earlier in the campaign. However, the visitors have still only lost once on the road this season and may feel that this could be the match in which they start to turn things around, having beaten this opponent fairly comfortably in their last encounter. Meanwhile, after finishing in fourth place last season, Kilmarnock have experienced a significant downturn this term, having managed just four wins in 18 games to date, and currently just four points above basement club St. Johnstone. However, after a winless November and a thumping 6-0 defeat to Rangers at the start of this month, Killie are starting to show some signs of life, now unbeaten in their last three matches (W1 D2 L0). Their most recent fixture saw them come back from a goal down to finish 1-1 against Motherwell on the road thanks to a 74th minute goal by Liam Polsworth - their first from open play since the 3-3 draw against Dundee last month. Indeed, a lack of consistent goals has been the major downfall for Derek McInnes 's side this season, as they have only managed to find the back of the net 19 times to date, which is the second-lowest tally in the division behing Ross County (14). The hosts have earned only two wins in seven home games this season, but given his former employer's struggles of late, McInnes will likely feel his side may be able to sneak a result here. Kilmarnock will be able to welcome Robbie Deas back to the squad this week, with the defender having now served his suspension for the red card he was shown against Hearts earlier this month. That means the hosts are only expected to be without one first-team player for this match in the form of Stuart Findlay , who is still on the road to recovery from an ankle injury sustained last month. For the visitors, Vicente Besuijen and defender Jack Milne both sustained injuries during the 1-1 draw against St Johnstone a couple of weeks ago, and Thelin confirmed earlier this week that the pair are expected to remain sidelined for four and three months respectively. Dimitar Mitov (hamstring) and top-scorer Pape Habib Gueye (muscle) are also ruled out until the New Year, meaning Ross Doohan will continue between the sticks and Ester Sokler will lead the line this week. Kilmarnock possible starting lineup: O'Hara; Mayo, Wright, Ndaba; Watson, Lyons, Polworth, Murray, Anderson; Vassell, Watkins Aberdeen possible starting lineup: Doohan; Devlin, Rubezic, Molloy, Mackenzie; Shinnie, Nilsen; Keskinen, Clarkson, McGrath; Sokler After an incredible start to the season, Aberdeen have now gone six matches without victory and are missing their first-team goalkeeper and top-scorer due to injury. Kilmarnock, meanwhile, are a long way from the type of form we saw last season, currently the second-lowest-scoring team in the top flight. This is a match that both sides will likely feel they can win, but given their current form and recent league records, we feel there will be nothing to split them at the final whistle. For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here .
Santa Claus is coming to Humboldt( MENAFN - Live Mint) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks“productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders' hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of“an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed“many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the“Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers” and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made“a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation” of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said,“will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic.” The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 - and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau“weak” and“dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There's no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump's team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a“win win” for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada's exports go to the U.S. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto. MENAFN30112024007365015876ID1108942014 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Cardinals' sudden 3-game tailspin has turned their once solid playoff hopes into a long shot The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. David Brandt, The Associated Press Dec 9, 2024 2:52 PM Dec 9, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks for a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. The Cardinals could have moved into a tie for first place in the NFC West with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Instead, they were thoroughly outplayed in a 30-18 loss and are now tied for last in the tightly packed division. Arizona has lost three straight and will face an uphill battle to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Seahawks (8-5) are in first place, followed by the Rams (7-6), Cardinals (6-7) and 49ers (6-7). Even more daunting for their playoff hopes, the Cardinals lost both of their games against the Seahawks this season, meaning a tiebreaker would go to Seattle. Four games remain. “I just told them we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole now, but all you can do is attack tomorrow, learn tomorrow and have a good week of practice,” second-year coach Jonathan Gannon said. There are plenty of reasons the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks, including Kyler Murray's two interceptions, a handful of holding penalties, a porous run defense and a brutal missed field goal. It all adds up to the fact Arizona is playing its worst football of the season at a time when it needed its best. “I’m sure we’ll stick to our process, but we have to tweak some things,” Gannon said. "I have to tweak some things.” What’s working It's probably faint praise, but the Cardinals did make the game interesting in the second half while trying to fight back from a 27-10 deficit. Murray's shovel pass to James Conner for a 2-yard touchdown and subsequent 2-point conversion cut the margin to 27-18. The Cardinals had a chance to make it a one-score contest early in the fourth quarter, but Chad Ryland's 40-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright. “I thought we spotted them a lot of points there, but then we battled back,” Gannon said. “I appreciate their effort. That was good. We battled back there, had a couple chances to even cut the lead a little more, but ultimately didn’t get it done." What needs help Murray's in a bit of a mini-slump after throwing two interceptions in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He also didn't do much in the run game against the Seahawks, with 16 yards on three carries. The quarterback's decision-making was nearly flawless for much of the season and the Cardinals need that good judgment to return. “I’m not looking at it like I have to try to be Superman,” Murray said. “I don’t think that’s the answer. I just need to play within the offense like we’ve done for the majority of the season. Today, I didn’t. Like I said, throwing two picks puts yourself behind the eight ball.” Said Gannon: “I thought he stuck in there and made some big time throws, though, but he has to protect the ball a little bit better. That’s not just him, that’s all 11. So there’ll be a lot of corrections off those plays." Stock up The defense didn't have its best day, but it's not Budda Baker's fault. The two-time All-Pro safety is having another phenomenal season and was all over the field against the Seahawks, finishing with 18 tackles. Baker's energy is relentless and he's the unquestioned leader of a group that has been better than expected this season, even with Sunday's mediocre performance. Stock down Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. had a tough day, getting flagged for holding three times, though one of those penalties was declined by the Seahawks. The second-year player moved from right tackle to the left side during the offseason and the transition has gone well, but Sunday was a step backward. Injuries The Cardinals remain fairly healthy. DL Roy Lopez (ankle) and P Blake Gillikin (ankle) left Sunday's game, but neither injury is expected to be long term. Key number 9 — It looks as if the Cardinals will go a ninth straight season without winning the NFC West. The last time they won the division was 2015 with coach Bruce Arians and a core offense of quarterback Carson Palmer, running back David Johnson and receiver Larry Fitzgerald. What’s next The Cardinals are in must-win territory now for any chance at the playoffs. They'll host the New England Patriots on Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL David Brandt, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) The Saints are making contingency plans to play without QB Derek Carr as they try to stay alive Dec 9, 2024 3:07 PM Cowboys set to host Bengals under open roof after falling debris thwarted that plan against Texans Dec 9, 2024 2:57 PM The 49ers' playoff hopes are still teetering even after get-right game against the Bears Dec 9, 2024 2:49 PMBlack Friday is inching closer, but shoppers may want to lower their expectations for the biggest shopping day of the year. Personal finance website WalletHub said that 41% of products offer no greater savings on Black Friday compared to prices in the days and weeks before. That isn't to say you won't find great deals on Black Friday, but it can vary depending on where you look. WalletHub said jewelry had the best savings at 37% off, followed by apparel and accessories at 31%. Discounts on toys are generally about 23%. Consumer electronics generally have discounts of less than 20%. “WalletHub found that around 41% of Black Friday items offer no real savings for consumers compared to their usual prices, but the items that are on sale are an average of 24% off, with the highest markdown at 89%," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst said in the report. RELATED STORY | Forget about Black Friday; plumbers are getting ready for Brown Friday Last year, a record 200.4 million consumers shopped over the five-day holiday weekend from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, according to the National Retail Federation. On Black Friday itself, over 76 million Americans shopped in person while more than 90 million people shopped online. Of those who shopped during Thanksgiving weekend last year, 49% purchased clothing and accessories. The National Retail Federation expects Black Friday to be quite busy again this year with 131.7 million people to shop online, in-person or both the day after Thanksgiving. RELATED STORY | Thanksgiving meals expected to be cheaper in 2024 as turkey prices drop Retailers say it's not just deals that attracts customers. There is a social aspect involved with shopping on days like Black Friday. “Younger shoppers are most likely to take advantage of Thanksgiving weekend deals this year, with 89% of young adults between 18-24 planning to shop over the weekend,” Prosper Insights & Analytics Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist said. “The social aspect of holiday shopping is also enticing to this age group, and they are most likely to shop because it’s a group activity that can be enjoyed with friends and family (20%).”
Happy Holly-days: Treats and recipes from the Union-Bulletin newsroomThe Mahayuti Alliance surpassed all predictions in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Polls, securing 235 out of 288 assembly seats, leaving pollsters stunned. The Bhartiya Janata Party singlehandedly secured 132 seats, falling 12 short of the halfway mark. Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena clinched 57 seats, and Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party took home 41 seats. Interestingly, 15 candidates with the highest victory margins of over one lakh votes belong to the aforementioned three parties: eight from the BJP, four from the NCP, and three from the Shiv Sena. Kashiram Vechan Pawara of the BJP won from Shirpur with the highest margin of 1,45,944 votes, followed by BJP's Shivendraraje Bhonsale, who won Satara by 1,42,124 votes. Among prominent leaders, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emerged victorious with a margin of over one lakh votes, securing the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency by 1,20,717 votes. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar defeated his nephew and NCP-Sharad Pawar faction candidate Yugendra Pawar by 100,899 votes in Baramati. The deputy chief minister won the same seat in 2019 with a margin of 1.65 lakh votes. BJP candidate Shankar Jagtap from the Chinchwad seat in Pune received 2,35,323 votes—the most for any candidate. BJP's Mahesh Landge from the Bhosari seat came second with 2,13,624 votes, followed by NCP's Dhananjay Munde from the Parli seat with 1,94,889 votes. On the other hand, four candidates won their constituencies with a bare margin of less than a thousand votes. Mufti Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won the Malegaon Central seat with a slim margin of 162 votes, beating Asif Shaikh Rasheed of the Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra. Similarly, the state Congress President, Nana Patole, barely scraped through to win the Sakoli constituency with a margin of 208 votes, edging out BJP's Avinash Brahmankar. Meanwhile, Manda Mahtre of the BJP claimed the Belapur seat in Navi Mumbai with a margin of only 377 seats, upending Sandeep Naik of the NCP Sharad Pawar faction.Vail Resorts: Fiscal Q1 Earnings SnapshotCardinals' sudden 3-game tailspin has turned their once solid playoff hopes into a long shot The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. David Brandt, The Associated Press Dec 9, 2024 2:52 PM Dec 9, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon looks for a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. The Cardinals could have moved into a tie for first place in the NFC West with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Instead, they were thoroughly outplayed in a 30-18 loss and are now tied for last in the tightly packed division. Arizona has lost three straight and will face an uphill battle to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Seahawks (8-5) are in first place, followed by the Rams (7-6), Cardinals (6-7) and 49ers (6-7). Even more daunting for their playoff hopes, the Cardinals lost both of their games against the Seahawks this season, meaning a tiebreaker would go to Seattle. Four games remain. “I just told them we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole now, but all you can do is attack tomorrow, learn tomorrow and have a good week of practice,” second-year coach Jonathan Gannon said. There are plenty of reasons the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks, including Kyler Murray's two interceptions, a handful of holding penalties, a porous run defense and a brutal missed field goal. It all adds up to the fact Arizona is playing its worst football of the season at a time when it needed its best. “I’m sure we’ll stick to our process, but we have to tweak some things,” Gannon said. "I have to tweak some things.” What’s working It's probably faint praise, but the Cardinals did make the game interesting in the second half while trying to fight back from a 27-10 deficit. Murray's shovel pass to James Conner for a 2-yard touchdown and subsequent 2-point conversion cut the margin to 27-18. The Cardinals had a chance to make it a one-score contest early in the fourth quarter, but Chad Ryland's 40-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright. “I thought we spotted them a lot of points there, but then we battled back,” Gannon said. “I appreciate their effort. That was good. We battled back there, had a couple chances to even cut the lead a little more, but ultimately didn’t get it done." What needs help Murray's in a bit of a mini-slump after throwing two interceptions in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He also didn't do much in the run game against the Seahawks, with 16 yards on three carries. The quarterback's decision-making was nearly flawless for much of the season and the Cardinals need that good judgment to return. “I’m not looking at it like I have to try to be Superman,” Murray said. “I don’t think that’s the answer. I just need to play within the offense like we’ve done for the majority of the season. Today, I didn’t. Like I said, throwing two picks puts yourself behind the eight ball.” Said Gannon: “I thought he stuck in there and made some big time throws, though, but he has to protect the ball a little bit better. That’s not just him, that’s all 11. So there’ll be a lot of corrections off those plays." Stock up The defense didn't have its best day, but it's not Budda Baker's fault. The two-time All-Pro safety is having another phenomenal season and was all over the field against the Seahawks, finishing with 18 tackles. Baker's energy is relentless and he's the unquestioned leader of a group that has been better than expected this season, even with Sunday's mediocre performance. Stock down Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. had a tough day, getting flagged for holding three times, though one of those penalties was declined by the Seahawks. The second-year player moved from right tackle to the left side during the offseason and the transition has gone well, but Sunday was a step backward. Injuries The Cardinals remain fairly healthy. DL Roy Lopez (ankle) and P Blake Gillikin (ankle) left Sunday's game, but neither injury is expected to be long term. Key number 9 — It looks as if the Cardinals will go a ninth straight season without winning the NFC West. The last time they won the division was 2015 with coach Bruce Arians and a core offense of quarterback Carson Palmer, running back David Johnson and receiver Larry Fitzgerald. What’s next The Cardinals are in must-win territory now for any chance at the playoffs. They'll host the New England Patriots on Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL David Brandt, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) The Saints are making contingency plans to play without QB Derek Carr as they try to stay alive Dec 9, 2024 3:07 PM Cowboys set to host Bengals under open roof after falling debris thwarted that plan against Texans Dec 9, 2024 2:57 PM The 49ers' playoff hopes are still teetering even after get-right game against the Bears Dec 9, 2024 2:49 PM
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Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
I find the possible actions of the Trump Administration and Republican controlled Senate/House to be frightening, but I am aware that there is little I can do to alter those actions. My attention is focused on Arizona State politics. Fortunately this paper provides us with Howard Fischer’s excellent coverage of Arizona state politics. Due to current Legislative Districts' voter registration imbalances, little can be done in the next two Legislative elections to wrest control away from the Republicans. The next Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) meets in 2031 to establish revised voter balances in the 30 Districts. The districts, as created in 2021, assure Republican control of the Legislature until the 2031 IRC redraw. In 2026, the Governor’s office is up for election. Which Party wins that office will have a major impact on the selection process of the five 2031 IRC members ... most importantly the one independent member. Because of this, if change is to occur, it is imperative that a Democratic governor is elected in 2026. Randy Garmon North side Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star. Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning from the Knights to become the new offensive coordinator at Florida State , sources confirmed to CBS Sports' John Talty. Malzahn posted a 28-24 record in four seasons with the Knights but had consecutive losing seasons after joining the Big 12. Malzahn is tasked with repairing a Florida State offense that struggled mightily during a lifeless campaign. The Seminoles finished No. 131 in the nation in total offense and scoring offense, mustering only 15.8 points per game against an ACC schedule one year after going 13-1 with a conference championship. The Knights were seen as a potential dark horse heading into the Big 12, but they've struggled with quarterback issues. Four different players took major snaps in 2024 as the Knights finished only 2-7 in conference play and 4-8 overall. The record was the worst at UCF since 0-12 in George O'Leary's final season in 2015. CBS Sports will update this breaking news story as more information becomes available.
DELAWARE 72, RIDER 66Social Security checks are going to change forever in 2025. Unfortunately, life for retirees is not going to get that much better
Analysis: Eagles WRs DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown complain about offense entering Steelers gameAP Sports SummaryBrief at 2:06 p.m. EST
As New York City prosecutors worked Thursday to bring murder charges against Luigi Mangione in the brazen killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , supporters of the suspect are donating tens of thousands of dollars for a defense fund established for him, leaving law enforcement officials worried Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Several online defense funds have been created for Mangione by anonymous people, including one on the crowdfunding website GiveSendGo that as of Thursday afternoon had raised over $50,000. The GiveSendGo defense fund for the 26-year-old Mangione was established by an anonymous group calling itself "The December 4th Legal Committee," apparently in reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and gunned down Thompson in Midtown Manhattan as the executive walked to his company's shareholders conference at the New York Hilton hotel. "We are not here to celebrate violence, but we do believe in the constitutional right to fair legal representation," the anonymous group said in a statement. The crowdfunding campaign prompted donations from more than 1,500 anonymous donors across the country, many of them leaving messages of support for Mangione, including one person who called themselves "A frustrated citizen" and thanked Mangione for "sparking the awareness and thought across this sleeping nation." The GiveSendGo fund for Mangione appeared to be briefly taken down before it was restored on Thursday. GiveSendGo did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment. Other crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe have also taken down campaigns soliciting donations for Mangione's defense. "GoFundMe's Terms of Service prohibit fundraisers for the legal defense of violent crimes," the crowdfunding website said in a statement. "The fundraisers have been removed from our platform and all donors have been refunded." Amazon and Etsy have removed from their websites merchandise featuring Mangione, including T-shirts and tote bags reading "Free Luigi" and the phrase "Deny, Defend, Depose," words police said were etched in the shell casings discovered at the scene of Thompson's homicide. "Celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. It's deeply disturbing," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg told ABC News senior investigative reporter Aaron Katersky in an interview Wednesday night. "And what I would say to members of the public, people who as you described are celebrating this and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant and we will hold people accountable. We are at the ready." Prosecutors at the Manhattan district attorney's office have begun presenting evidence to a grand jury as they work to try to secure an indictment against Mangione, sources told ABC News on Thursday. Mangione's attorney, Thomas Dickey of Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested Monday following a five-day manhunt, said his client is presumed innocent and will plead not guilty to any charges filed against him. Mangione is contesting extradition to New York. Asked about people contributing to Mangione defense funds that have popped up, Dickey said, "People are entitled to their opinion and, like I said, if you're an American and you believe in the American criminal justice system, you have to presume him to be innocent and none of us would want anything other than that if that were us in their shoes. So, I'm glad he had some support." But law enforcement officials have expressed concern that Mangione is being turned into a martyr. Someone this week pasted "wanted posters" outside the New York Stock Exchange naming other executives. A bulletin released Wednesday by the Delaware Valley Intelligence Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence-sharing network based in Philadelphia, included a photo of a banner hanging from an overpass reading, "Deny, Defend, Depose." "Many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of CEOs with some aiming to spread fear by posting 'hit lists,'" the bulletin, obtained by ABC News, reads. Meanwhile, New York Police Department investigators continue to build a murder case against Mangione, who is being held in Pennsylvania on charges stemming from his arrest there, including illegal possession of ghost gun and fraudulent identification. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania. On Wednesday, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the three shell casings recovered at the scene of Thompson's shooting matched the gun found in Mangione possession when he was arrested. She also confirmed that Mangione's fingerprints were recovered from a water bottle and the wrapper of a granola bar found near the crime scene.