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The past week has seen significant developments in the tech industry, with AI at the forefront. OpenAI announced its transition to a for-profit entity, President-elect Trump appointed a new senior AI advisor, and Google faced intense scrutiny following the release of ChatGPT. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories. OpenAI’s For-Profit Transition Microsoft Corp.-backed MSFT OpenAI has revealed its plans to evolve into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). The company aims to balance shareholder and stakeholder interests while maintaining its public benefit mission. The transition is part of OpenAI’s mission to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of all humanity. Read the full article here. Trump’s New AI Advisor President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, as senior policy advisor for AI. Krishnan will work closely with David Sacks, recently named Trump’s "AI and crypto czar." The move is part of Trump’s efforts to ensure America’s technological dominance and foster scientific breakthroughs. Read the full article here. See Also: Microsoft Invested Nearly $14 Billion In OpenAI But Now It’s Reducing Its Dependence On The ChatGPT-Parent Google’s ‘Code Red’ Following the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL Google declared a “Code Red”. The tech giant faced criticism for lagging behind rivals like Microsoft in integrating ChatGPT-like capabilities into its products. However, Alphabet’s latest advancements in AI and quantum computing are rebuilding its reputation and investor confidence. Read the full article here. Palantir: The ‘Next Oracle’ According to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR could emerge as "the next Oracle" in the AI revolution. Despite its stock surging 395.42% in 2024, Ives maintains a strong conviction in the company's growth trajectory. Read the full article here. Microsoft’s Reduced Dependence on OpenAI Microsoft is reportedly planning to reduce its dependence on OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. The company is working on integrating internal and third-party AI models into its AI product, Microsoft 365 Copilot. Read the full article here. Peter Thiel’s Bet on AI Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel has shared his perspective on the evolving role of AI and its potential impact on math skills. Thiel suggested that the rise of AI could reduce the emphasis on math proficiency and lead to a societal transformation. Read the full article here. Read Next: NIO Announces Repurchase Opportunity For Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027 Photo courtesy: Shutterstock This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Rounak Jain © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory
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Despite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.A state-of-the-art golf simulator has been installed at a West Sussex prep school. The simulator at Windlesham House School, a day and boarding prep school in Pulborough, is said to be one of the first in the country. It gives pupils at the school access to more than 80 golf courses, including St Andrews, Pebble Beach, and Augusta National. The simulator is designed to be a learning tool, providing detailed analysis of each shot. The system tracks ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and club path. The school believes this technology will 'transform' the way pupils learn to play the sport. Professional PGA golf coach at Windlesham House, Rob Callaghan, who is also the Sussex County girls coach and England golf regional coach for the South-East, will use the simulator's advanced features to provide personalised instruction and develop tailored training programmes for each student. He said: "We've seen promising progress from our pupils since the installation. "The combination of professional coaching and immediate feedback from the simulator has helped our pupils to make rapid improvements in their technique and has boosted their overall understanding of the game. "Pupils can now review their swing mechanics in real-time and make adjustments based on precise data and expert guidance." The simulator provides year-round practice, regardless of weather conditions, making it an 'invaluable training resource' for the school. The technology has not only enhanced the golf programme but has also increased interest in the sport among pupils. This new addition complements the school's existing nine-hole physical golf course on campus.
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Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Raises Dividend to $0.25 Per ShareGordon Brown declares opposition to assisted dying lawThese are the four up-and-coming British companies I recommend investing in for real rewards next year and beyond, by shares guru JOANNE HART By JOANNE HART Updated: 16:55, 29 December 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Stock markets are intended to help companies grow. However, that theory has been sorely tested this year, with many firms hit by a cruel combination of economic uncertainty and investor apathy. Rachel Reeves's Budget made matters worse but this is no time for investors to turn their backs on Britain. Many UK stocks have huge potential. Often undervalued by the stock market, they have proved their resilience in recent years and shown they can move forward, even when conditions are tough. Midas top picks for 2025 include four such businesses, drawn from very different markets but all expected to deliver real rewards for shareholders next year and beyond. Assura The NHS is in a mess. More than six million people are waiting for treatment and half of them have been on waiting lists for four months or more. Cancer targets are continually missed, A&E waiting times are a national disgrace, and GPs are stretched to breaking point. To cap it all, the nation is becoming less healthy, with obesity levels rising, heart disease increasing, and life expectancy falling in the poorest parts of Britain. Change is needed – and Assura is helping to provide this. It designs, builds and manages healthcare facilities, from GP surgeries and NHS training centres to mental health units and private hospitals. Today, Assura has about 620 properties, two-thirds of which are GP surgeries, while private hospitals account for a quarter of the group. Many households regard private hospitals as greedy, price-gouging businesses. However, these are not just used by wealthy clients but also the NHS, helping to shorten waiting times and offering specialist services that the state simply cannot afford. Nuffield Health for example, Assura's largest customer on the private side, is a charity focused on community wellbeing. Assura designs, builds and manages healthcare facilities, from GP surgeries and NHS training centres to mental health units and private hospitals (picture posed by models) On the GP front, Assura surgeries are often modern and purpose-built, designed in consultation with doctors to create an environment that works for patients and medics alike. Chief executive Jonathan Murphy joined the group as finance director in 2013, rising to the top job four years later. Well regarded, Murphy is determined to build a business that improves Britain's health and delivers rewards for investors. Earnings and dividends have risen steadily over the past decade and last summer, Murphy spent £500 million on a portfolio of 14 hospitals, which are expected to drive growth for 2025 and beyond. Even after splashing out on the new assets, Assura is still forecast to increase dividends by 3 per cent to 3.3 p in the year to March 2025, putting the shares on a generous 8.5 per cent yield. Midas verdict: Property firms have been savaged recently and Assura is no exception, with its shares almost halving in value since 2022. This seems excessive. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is determined to make his mark and Assura is well positioned to benefit, as the government strives to ease pressure on the Health Service by encouraging greater use of GP surgeries and private hospitals. At 38p, the shares offer long-term growth and highly attractive dividends. Buy. Traded on: Main market Ticker: AGR Contact: assuraplc.com Telecom Plus American statesman Benjamin Franklin is credited with coining the phrase that nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes. But its first recorded mention was actually in a work by British playwright Christopher Bullock. For most of us today, though, another certainty is monthly bills. Never welcome, their number seems to increase on a regular basis – gas, electricity, broadband, mobile, insurance, plus numerous subscriptions to everything from TV to toilet paper. Telecom Plus aims to simplify customers' lives, with one bill covering energy, internet use, mobile phones and home insurance. Starting out from a pub in Henley-on-Thames in 1996, the company has more than a million customers and is valued on the stock market at almost £1.4 billion. Operating under the brand name Utility Warehouse, the group is focused on delivering top-tier service, ease of use and consistently competitive pricing. Accolades and awards suggest that the business is true to its word, as it has just been ranked number one for energy by Citizens Advice. Not only does Telecom Plus differ from peers in the range of services on offer, but it also acquires customers primarily by recommendations from existing users. Ordinary people – teachers, nurses, firefighters, police – tell friends, family or neighbours about Utility Warehouse and are rewarded for every person that they convert. Payment comes as a percentage of the new customer's bill – generally about 2.5 per cent – and for serial recommenders, known as agents, the rewards can be substantial, stretching to hundreds of pounds a year. The system is highly unusual but it works, with customer numbers – and profits – growing by more than 10 per cent a year for the past three years and set to continue. Chief executive Stuart Burnett is keen to double customer numbers to two million over the next five to seven years and add more services to his roster, with motor and pet insurance high on his list. Customers receive a loyalty card too, which takes money off their bill when they buy goods at chains such as Sainsbury's and Boots. Savings can run into hundreds of pounds for committed customers. The more customers join the group, the more profitable it becomes and the more dividends can be paid to shareholders. Shares guru Joanne Hart recommends that you buy and hold shares in Telecom Plus Brokers forecast a dividend of 94p for the year to March 2025, rising to £1.07 the following year and £1.18 in 2027. With the shares at £17.28, that puts Telecom Plus on a yield of almost 5.5 per cent. Midas verdict: Telecom Plus shares peaked at more than £25 two years ago, when energy prices were soaring and inflation was rampant. They have fallen 30 per cent since then to £17.28, with investors worried that new customers will be harder to find in today's environment. Evidence to date would suggest otherwise and the shares should bounce back in 2025 and beyond. Buy and hold. Traded on: Main market Ticker: TEP Contact: telecomplus.co.uk Distribution Finance Capital Staycations came into their own after the Covid pandemic and many holidaymakers decided they preferred them. More than 500,000 caravans trundle round the UK each year, demand for campervans and motorhomes has been soaring, and sales of new vehicles top 25,000 annually. Manchester-based Distribution Finance (DF) Capital oils the wheels of this market and its prospects are bright. The company provides finance to hundreds of dealers nationwide, via loans that are repaid as soon as vehicles are sold. Loans are subsidised by manufacturers so DF works with these firms as well, ensuring processes run smoothly from start to finish. Founded in 2016 by a trio of financial specialists who cut their teeth at US giant GE Capital, DF aims to stand out from larger competitors through a combination of top-tier technology and old-fashioned, personal service. Read More Where you should invest your money to set yourself up for a prosperous 2025, by JEFF PRESTRIDGE Rivals tend to be large banks, saddled with legacy IT. DF has built its own systems, which are easy to use by makers and dealers. Motorhomes and caravans account for about a quarter of DF's business. However, the group operates in several other areas too, from boats and motorbikes to pre-fabricated holiday homes and lodges for retirement communities. The latter are increasingly popular for older couples looking to downsize, release some funds and have fun in their senior years. Trading is brisk across the group. Working with almost 100 manufacturers and about 1,200 dealers, DF is growing fast. Chief executive Carl D'Ammassa revealed earlier this month that results for 2024 would be significantly ahead of expectations with profits of more than £18.5 million, a fourfold increase over 2023. There are high hopes for 2025 as well, with D'Ammassa planning to offer loans not just to dealers but to their customers too. The motor finance market has become enmeshed in scandal, with dealers and lenders accused of hiding commissions and overcharging customers. DF Capital will focus on specialist vehicles rather than cars, but should benefit as lenders across the industry struggle with past problems. D'Ammassa intends to start small as well, so he can be choosy in his choice of customers and keep credit quality high. DF runs a fully licensed savings bank too, financing its lending activity by offering consumers attractive rates, simple online processes and, again, friendly personal service for those who need it. Midas verdicT: Distribution Finance shares topped £1.30 in 2019. Today, they are 36p, hit by concerns about Covid, high interest rates and the collapse of a troublesome manufacturer, Royale Life, in 2023. That issue has been resolved, important lessons have been learned and DF shares have come off earlier lows. However, they are still too cheap at 36p and should deliver strong growth in 2025 and beyond. Buy. Traded on: Aim Ticker: DFCH Contact: dfcapital-investors.com IIG Gambling in China dates back at least 3,000 years, starting with an ancient precursor to chess, known as liubo. Today, however, most forms of gambling are illegal in the People's Republic, with two notable exceptions: the Welfare Lottery and the Sports Lottery, both of which are state-owned. Here too, there are restrictions, with lottery tickets historically available at just 200,000 designated shops, scattered across a country almost 40 times larger than Britain. Chinese New Year lottery tickets. About 100 million Chinese play the lottery today, out of a population of 1.4 billion Ten years ago, Englishman Daniel Levine and his Chinese colleague Frank Li Tong decided this presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drag Chinese lottery systems into the modern era and allow consumers to buy tickets online. The duo founded Hui10 to bring their idea to fruition and in 2023, UK-listed Intuitive Investments Group (IIG) acquired the business via a $365 million all-share deal. Aim-listed IIG boasts an impressive team. Chief executive Robert Naylor and chief investment officer Giles Willits have made serious money for shareholders in recent roles and hope to do the same again. Chairman Sir Nigel Rudd has a 40-year history of backing winners and believes Hui10 will turn IIG into a FTSE 100 business, so much so that he has persuaded top financiers to invest in the company. At the coalface, Levine and Tong have spent the past decade working with Chinese government bodies and local businesses. Now they are on the cusp of delivery. Systems have been approved and steps are under way to make China's lottery digital, including trial runs in certain parts of the country and promotional schemes with giants such as AliBaba, the Chinese equivalent of Amazon. A full roll-out is expected next year and the stakes are high. About 100 million Chinese play the lottery today, out of a population of 1.4 billion. If China were to follow the UK and America, those numbers could rise to at least 300 million over the next five years, sending IIG revenues from virtually nothing today to more than £1.5 billion, with profits running into hundreds of millions of pounds. Midas verdict: IIG shares are £1.10 today. If all goes according to plan, the stock could soar. Like any early-stage business, IIG is not without risk. But the board is top drawer, backers are savvy and Hui10 is determined to succeed. An appealing punt for the adventurous investor. Traded on: Aim Ticker: IIG Contact: iigplc.com Share or comment on this article: These are the four up-and-coming British companies I recommend investing in for real rewards next year and beyond, by shares guru JOANNE HART e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
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For nearly 70 years, a unique holiday tradition has captivated the imaginations of children and families worldwide: tracking Santa Claus as he journeys across the globe delivering gifts. This beloved initiative is spearheaded by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an organisation more commonly known for its critical role in monitoring aerospace threats. But on Christmas Eve, its radars, satellites, and volunteers are put to work tracking the most magical figure of the season. The origins of Norad’s Santa Tracker trace back to an unlikely and heartwarming incident in 1955. At the height of the Cold War, Colonel Harry Shoup, then director of operations at the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), received an unusual call on a top-secret phone line. A child’s voice asked, “Is this Santa Claus?” Initially taken aback, Shoup soon realised the child had mistakenly dialed the number printed in a local Sears ad encouraging kids to call Santa. Displaying quick thinking and a sense of humour, he responded with a hearty “Ho-ho-ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” The calls didn’t stop there. Due to a misprint in the newspaper, children’s Christmas wishes continued pouring in. Shoup, embracing the spirit of the season, instructed his team to answer the calls as Santa. In an ingenious move, he even contacted a local radio station, announcing that CONAD had identified an “unidentified flying object” resembling a sleigh. Thus, a global tradition was born. The original story, though heartwarming, has not been without its sceptics. Some journalists have questioned whether it was a misprint or a misdial that prompted the call. Others have pointed to variations in how Shoup himself recounted the tale over the years. Regardless, his quick thinking and festive cheer have left an indelible mark on the holiday season. In 1958, CONAD transitioned into Norad, and the Santa Tracker tradition carried on, growing in scale and sophistication with each passing year. What began as a local holiday gimmick has since evolved into a global phenomenon. Today, millions of children and adults worldwide participate in tracking Santa’s journey. In 2022 alone, volunteers at Norad’s Peterson Space Force Base fielded 78,000 calls from excited kids asking for updates on Santa’s location. The operation now involves an extensive setup, beginning every December 1. Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that Norad’s radar systems in Alaska and Canada — part of the northern warning system — first detect Santa as he leaves the North Pole. From there, Norad’s satellites equipped with infrared sensors track the heat emanating from Rudolph’s glowing red nose. “A little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose emits a significant heat signature, making it easy for us to track Santa’s sleigh,” Cunningham told AP . Norad’s tracking also involves a plexiglass map tradition that dates back to the 1950s. During those early years, staff members would humorously sketch Santa’s sleigh on the map, symbolically marking his progress. Today, cutting-edge technology has replaced the old plexiglass maps, but the whimsy and joy remain unchanged. Modern technology has taken the Santa Tracker to new heights. Norad’s website, www.noradsanta.org , goes live every December 1, offering real-time updates on Santa’s progress starting at 6 am ET on Christmas Eve. Families can also follow along through the Norad Santa Tracker app, available on both Apple and Google Play stores. The experience includes interactive games, videos, and a countdown to Santa’s departure from the North Pole. For those preferring a more traditional approach, Norad’s hotline at 1-877-HI-NORAD is staffed by volunteers ready to answer questions about Santa’s whereabouts from 8 am to 2 am ET on Christmas Day. In addition to Norad’s efforts, Google also offers its own Santa tracker with games and updates, adding to the holiday magic. Norad’s tracking has a uniquely immersive element: fighter jets often “intercept” Santa’s sleigh as it enters US airspace. Pilots tip their wings in greeting, and Santa — ever the jovial traveller — waves back. “When the jets intercept Santa, they tip their wings to say, ‘Hello Santa. Norad is tracking you again this year,’” a Norad spokesperson explained. One of the most enduring questions is how Santa manages to deliver gifts to millions of children worldwide in just one night. According to Norad, the only logical explanation is that Santa operates within a unique time-space continuum. “Santa does not experience time the way we do,” the agency notes. “His journey might take 24 hours for us, but to him, it could last days, weeks, or even months.” This explanation adds a touch of scientific intrigue to Santa’s age-old tale. As historian Gerry Bowler, author of “Santa Claus: A Biography,” told AP in 2010 that, Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, Norad, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. The Santa Tracker tradition is not just about high-tech tracking but also about spreading joy and fostering a sense of wonder. For Shoup’s family, it remains a cherished legacy. “I always wore a t-shirt that had a picture of my dad. It says: ‘My dad’s the Santa Colonel’,” Sky News quoted his daughter Terri Van Keuren, who recalls volunteering as a Santa Tracker operator herself for 10 years. Shoup’s children continue to receive letters from people around the world thanking their father for his contribution to holiday cheer. In addition to fostering holiday joy, the Santa Tracker highlights the importance of volunteerism. Each year, over 1,000 volunteers dedicate their time to fielding phone calls, managing the website, and ensuring the operation runs smoothly. Their efforts ensure that millions of families can share in the magic of Christmas. With inputs from agenciesNew Delhi, December 21: YouTube, the Google-owned platform, is preparing for a policy change to enhance user experience and trust. The company has announced plans to crack down on videos with misleading titles and thumbnails, which is known as "clickbait." The initiative will be rolling out in India in the coming months and aims to reduce misinformation and viewer frustration. YouTube is looking to strengthen its rules regarding videos that have titles or thumbnails that promise something that the actual content does not provide. It will be particularly for videos that discuss breaking news or current events but mislead its viewers about what they are watching. YouTube Expands Auto Dubbing Feature for More Creators To Break Language Barriers; Check Details and Know How It Works. Google emphasised that to give creators enough time to adapt to these new enforcement updates and they will begin by removing content that goes against their policy without giving any strike. Google will also continue to educate its creators about these changes as their enforcement will focus mainly on new video uploads in the future. What is Clickbait? Clickbait happens when a video's title or thumbnail makes promises or claims that the actual video does not fulfil. It is common with content related to breaking news or current events. When viewers encounter this, they may feel deceived, annoyed, or misled, particularly when they turn to YouTube looking for important or current information. Such experiences can be frustrating, as people expect to find reliable content that matches what was advertised in the title or thumbnail. YouTube New Feature Launched To Help Indian Viewers Find High-Quality Health Information From Health Professionals. Google explained that clickbait can be seen in examples like a video titled "the president resigned!" when the actual content does not discuss the president's resignation at all. Another instance is a thumbnail that claims "top political news" for a video that fails to provide any news coverage. These kinds of misleading titles and thumbnails can create confusion and disappointment for viewers who expect to find relevant information based on what they see. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2024 06:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans made claims about illegal voting by noncitizens a centerpiece of their 2024 campaign messaging and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there's one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas. That's because the state has been there, done that, and all but a few Republicans would prefer not to go there again. Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade ago that grew into one of the biggest political fiascos in the state in recent memory. The law, passed by the state Legislature in 2011 and implemented two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of more than 31,000 U.S. citizens who were otherwise eligible to vote. That was 12% of everyone seeking to register in Kansas for the first time. Federal courts ultimately declared the law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn't been enforced since 2018. Kansas provides a cautionary tale about how pursuing an election concern that in fact is extremely rare risks disenfranchising a far greater number of people who are legally entitled to vote. The state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the idea as a legislator and now says states and the federal government shouldn't touch it. “Kansas did that 10 years ago,” said Schwab, a Republican. “It didn’t work out so well.” Steven Fish, a 45-year-old warehouse worker in eastern Kansas, said he understands the motivation behind the law. In his thinking, the state was like a store owner who fears getting robbed and installs locks. But in 2014, after the birth of his now 11-year-old son inspired him to be “a little more responsible” and follow politics, he didn’t have an acceptable copy of his birth certificate to get registered to vote in Kansas. “The locks didn’t work,” said Fish, one of nine Kansas residents who sued the state over the law. “You caught a bunch of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” Kansas' experience appeared to receive little if any attention outside the state as Republicans elsewhere pursued proof-of-citizenship requirements this year. Arizona enacted a requirement this year, applying it to voting for state and local elections but not for Congress or president. The Republican-led U.S. House passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement in the summer and plans to bring back similar legislation after the GOP won control of the Senate in November. In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot. A federal judge declined to block the practice days before the election. Also, sizable majorities of voters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the presidential swing states of North Carolina and Wisconsin were inspired to amend their state constitutions' provisions on voting even though the changes were only symbolic. Provisions that previously declared that all U.S. citizens could vote now say that only U.S. citizens can vote — a meaningless distinction with no practical effect on who is eligible. To be clear, voters already must attest to being U.S. citizens when they register to vote and noncitizens can face fines, prison and deportation if they lie and are caught. “There is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, the leading sponsor of the congressional proposal, said in an email statement to The Associated Press. After Kansas residents challenged their state's law, both a federal judge and federal appeals court concluded that it violated a law limiting states to collecting only the minimum information needed to determine whether someone is eligible to vote. That's an issue Congress could resolve. The courts ruled that with “scant” evidence of an actual problem, Kansas couldn't justify a law that kept hundreds of eligible citizens from registering for every noncitizen who was improperly registered. A federal judge concluded that the state’s evidence showed that only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote from 1999 through 2012 — an average of just three a year. In 2013, then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who had built a national reputation advocating tough immigration laws, described the possibility of voting by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as a serious threat. He was elected attorney general in 2022 and still strongly backs the idea, arguing that federal court rulings in the Kansas case “almost certainly got it wrong.” Kobach also said a key issue in the legal challenge — people being unable to fix problems with their registrations within a 90-day window — has probably been solved. “The technological challenge of how quickly can you verify someone’s citizenship is getting easier,” Kobach said. “As time goes on, it will get even easier.” The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the Kansas case in 2020. But in August, it split 5-4 in allowing Arizona to continue enforcing its law for voting in state and local elections while a legal challenge goes forward. Seeing the possibility of a different Supreme Court decision in the future, U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt says states and Congress should pursue proof-of-citizenship requirements. Schmidt was the Kansas attorney general when his state's law was challenged. "If the same matter arose now and was litigated, the facts would be different," he said in an interview. But voting rights advocates dismiss the idea that a legal challenge would turn out differently. Mark Johnson, one of the attorneys who fought the Kansas law, said opponents now have a template for a successful court fight. “We know the people we can call," Johnson said. “We know that we’ve got the expert witnesses. We know how to try things like this.” He predicted "a flurry — a landslide — of litigation against this.” Initially, the Kansas requirement's impacts seemed to fall most heavily on politically unaffiliated and young voters. As of fall 2013, 57% of the voters blocked from registering were unaffiliated and 40% were under 30. But Fish was in his mid-30s, and six of the nine residents who sued over the Kansas law were 35 or older. Three even produced citizenship documents and still didn’t get registered, according to court documents. “There wasn’t a single one of us that was actually an illegal or had misinterpreted or misrepresented any information or had done anything wrong,” Fish said. He was supposed to produce his birth certificate when he sought to register in 2014 while renewing his Kansas driver's license at an office in a strip mall in Lawrence. A clerk wouldn't accept the copy Fish had of his birth certificate. He still doesn't know where to find the original, having been born on an Air Force base in Illinois that closed in the 1990s. Several of the people joining Fish in the lawsuit were veterans, all born in the U.S., and Fish said he was stunned that they could be prevented from registering. Liz Azore, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said millions of Americans haven't traveled outside the U.S. and don't have passports that might act as proof of citizenship, or don't have ready access to their birth certificates. She and other voting rights advocates are skeptical that there are administrative fixes that will make a proof-of-citizenship law run more smoothly today than it did in Kansas a decade ago. “It’s going to cover a lot of people from all walks of life,” Avore said. “It’s going to be disenfranchising large swaths of the country.” Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.