PAP must continue to represent all Singaporeans, earn strong mandate in next GE: DPM HengNone
ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted while being led into court Tuesday as new details emerged about his possible motivation behind the ambush. In his first public words since a five-day search ended with his arrest at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania, Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car shouting about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside a courthouse. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York so that he can face a murder charge in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson , who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. In social media posts, Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski — who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology — a “political revolutionary,” according to the police bulletin. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione to New York, but at a brief hearing Tuesday, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said his client will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released. He mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally looking at papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. “You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” Dickey said afterward. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald's while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said a three-page, handwritten document found with Mangione included a line in which he claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus. Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege. His grandfather was a self-made real estate developer and philanthropist. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. "There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago. ___ Scolforo reported from Altoona and Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Contributing were Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio and Jennifer Peltz in New York; Michael Rubinkam and Maryclaire Dale in Pennsylvania; Lea Skene in Baltimore; Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio.
16,580 Shares in International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) Acquired by B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. Holding AGFor all of you who continue to moan and object to the casualties in Gaza, here is some historical perspective as well as some common-sense perspective. All wars produce civilian casualties, some inadvertent and some intentional. In World War II just prior to D-Day, the allies bombed numerous French cities in the area hoping to get at the German army. Many towns were destroyed, and thousands of Frenchmen were killed and wounded. Germany was repeatedly carpet-bombed, destroying cities and thousands of civilians. And then we have Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a deliberate attack on civilians in an attempt to convince the Empire of Japan that continuing the war was futile. These were not acts of genocide, but the gas chambers and ovens were. Hamas attacked Israel and Israel went to war with Hamas, the political terrorist government of Gaza whose people overwhelmingly support Hamas. It is Hamas who advocates genocide with their stated intention to wipe Israel from the face of the earth. Wake up! Dennis Abrams Northwest 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!
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At least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank around the city of Tulkarem on Tuesday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including three people it said were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a second somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza, with most festivities cancelled and crowds of tourists absent. Israel's bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. Winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on southern Israel in October 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Around 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza , although only two thirds are believed to still be alive. Here’s the latest: NUR SHAMS REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in and around the city of Tulkarem in the northern West Bank on Tuesday. The ministry reported three of the dead were killed by airstrikes. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. An Associated Press photojournalist captured images of Israeli forces detonating an explosive device planted by Palestinian militants during a raid in the Nur Shams refugee camp. Israel has carried out several large-scale raids in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. While airstrikes were once rare in the West Bank, they have grown more common since the outbreak of war as Israeli forces clamp down, saying they aim to prevent attacks on their citizens. Israeli fire has killed at least 800 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since October 2023, Palestinian health officials say. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. SAYDNAYA, Syria — A large crowd of Syrians gathered near a historic monastery in Saydnaya on Christmas Eve to witness the lighting of a towering tree adorned with glowing green lights. Tuesday's celebration offered a rare moment of joy in a city scarred by over a decade of war and an infamous prison , where tens of thousands were held. Families and friends stood beneath the illuminated tree — some wearing Santa hats, others watching from rooftops — while a band played festive music and fireworks lit up the sky “This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,” said Houssam Saadeh, one attendee. Another, Joseph Khabbaz, expressed hope for unity across all sects and religions in Syria, dismissing recent Christmas tree vandalism as “isolated incidents.” Earlier in the afternoon, pilgrims visited the historic Our Lady of Saydnaya Monastery, one of the world’s oldest Christian monasteries, believed to be built in the sixth century. In Homs, a similarly grand Christmas tree was illuminated as security officers patrolled the area to ensure a safe and peaceful gathering, according to Syria’s state media. UNITED NATIONS -- Recent attacks on hospitals in North Gaza, where Israel is carrying out an offensive, are having a devastating impact on Palestinian civilians still in the area, the U.N. humanitarian office says. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs expressed deep concern at reports that the Israeli military entered the Indonesian Hospital on Tuesday, forcing its evacuation. The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, also expressed deep concern at attacks reported in recent days in and around the two other hospitals in North Gaza that are minimally functioning – Al Awda and Kamal Adwan. OCHA said the Israeli siege on Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia and parts of Jaballiya in North Gaza continued for a 79th day on Tuesday, and while the U.N. and its partners have made 52 attempts to coordinate humanitarian access to besieged areas in December 48 were rejected by Israel. While four missions were approved, OCHA said the U.N. and its partners faced impediments as a result of Israeli military operations and “none of the U.N.-coordinated attempts to access the area have been fully facilitated.” Throughout the Gaza Strip, OCHA said that Israeli authorities facilitated just 40% of requests for humanitarian movements requiring their approval in December. WASHINGTON — A leading global food crisis monitor says deaths from starvation will likely pass famine levels in north Gaza as soon as next month. The U.S.-created Famine Early Warning System Network says that’s because of a near-total Israeli blockade of food and other aid in that part of Gaza. The finding, however, appears to have exposed a rift within the Biden administration over the extent of starvation in northern Gaza. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, disputes part of the data used in reaching the conclusion and calls the intensified famine warning “irresponsible.” Northern Gaza has been one of the areas hardest-hit by fighting and Israel’s restrictions on aid throughout its 14-month war with Hamas militants. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s foreign minister has requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to condemn recent missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, and to condemn the group's Iranian allies for allegedly providing the group with weapons. Gideon Saar said in a letter Tuesday to Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States, which holds the council presidency this month, that the Houthis are violating international law and council resolutions. “This Iranian-backed terrorist group continues to endanger Israel’s and other nations’ security, as well as the freedom of maritime navigation, in flagrant violation of international law,” Saar said. “All of this malign activity is done as part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.” The U.S. Mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to an email asking when the council meeting will be held. The Houthis have said they launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea – and on Israel -- with the aim of ending Israel’s devastating air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli war in Gaza followed Hamas’ deadly October 2023 attacks in southern Israel. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli military investigation has concluded that the presence of troops inadvertently contributed to the deaths of six hostages killed by their Hamas captors in Gaza. The hostages' bodies were discovered in a tunnel in late August, an event that shook Israel and sparked some of the largest anti-war protests since the war began. The investigation found that the six hostages were killed by multiple gunshots from their captors after surviving for nearly 330 days. The Israeli military’s “ground activities in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence on the terrorists’ decision to murder the six hostages,” the report found. According to the investigation, the Israeli military began operating in the area where the hostages were being held in southern Gaza about two weeks before their discovery, under the assumption that the chances of hostages in the area was medium to low. On August 27, hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi was found alone in a tunnel , causing the Israeli military to halt operations for 24 hours to determine if there could be other hostages in the area. The military discovered the opening leading to the tunnel where the bodies of the six hostages were located on August 30. A pathological report estimated the six hostages were killed on August 29. The six hostages killed were Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin , whose American-Israeli parents became some of the most recognized spokespeople pleading for the hostages’ release, including addressing the Democratic National Convention days before their son’s killing. “The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal,” the Hostages Families Forum said in response to the investigation. “Every passing moment puts the hostages’ lives in immediate danger.” JERUSALEM — The Israeli negotiating team working on a ceasefire returned from Qatar to Israel on Tuesday, the prime minister’s office said, after what it called “a significant week” of talks. After months of deadlock, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt resumed their mediation efforts in recent weeks and reported greater willingness by the warring sides to reach a deal. According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, the proposed agreement would take place in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of captive Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel says Hamas is holding 100 hostages, over one-third of whom are believed to be dead. On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “some progress” in efforts to reach a deal, but added he did not know how long it would take. CAIRO — Israeli soldiers took control of a hospital in isolated northern Gaza after forcing all the patients and most of the doctors to leave, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday. Some of the patients had to walk to another hospital while others were driven by paramedics, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Zaher al-Wahidi. He did not specify how many patients had evacuated. The Israeli military confirmed its troops had entered the Indonesian Hospital in the town of Jabaliya as part of an operation searching for Hamas fighters. The army later said its soldiers had left the hospital. The military said it had assisted with evacuating the patients and had not ordered the hospital closed. However, al-Wahidi said only one doctor and maintenance person were left behind. The Indonesian Hospital is one of three hospitals left largely inaccessible in the northernmost part of Gaza because Israel has imposed a tight siege there since launching an offensive in early October. The Israeli army said Tuesday’s operation at the Indonesian Hospital came after militants carried out attacks from the hospital for the past month, including launching anti-tank missiles and planting explosive devices in the surrounding area. The Health Ministry accused Israel of “besieging and directly targeting” the three hospitals in northern Gaza. Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said Israeli drones detonated explosives near the hospital and that 20 people were wounded, including five medical staff. The Israeli military declined to comment on the operation around the hospital. DAMASCUS — Scores of Syrian Christians protested in the capital Damascus on Tuesday, demanding greater protections for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama a day earlier. Many of the insurgents who now rule Syria are jihadis, although Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and spent years depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance. It remains unclear who set the Christmas tree on fire Monday, which was condemned by a representative of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community. “This act was committed by people who are not Syrian, and they will be punished beyond your expectations," the HTS representative said in a video widely shared on social media. "The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.” On Tuesday, protesters marched through the streets of Bab Touma in Damascus, shouting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses. “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country,” said Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church as he addressed the crowd in a church courtyard, assuring them of Christians’ rights in Syria. Since HTS led a swift offensive that overthrew President Bashar Assad earlier this month, Syria’s minority communities have been on edge, uncertain of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government. “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation,” another protester said. “We stand united — Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.” DOHA — Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said that ceasefire negotiations to end the war in Gaza were ongoing in Doha in cooperation with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators. “We will not leave any door unopened in pursuit of reaching an agreement,” said Majid al-Ansari, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday. Al Ansari added that rumors the ceasefire would be reached before Christmas are “speculation.” The ceasefire negotiations come at a time when winter is hitting the Gaza Strip and many of the nearly 2 million Palestinians displaced by the devastating 15-month war with Israel are struggling to protect themselves from the wind, cold and rain. Families of the approximately 100 hostages who have been held for 445 days in Gaza are also worried their loved ones will not survive another winter. In a press conference, al-Ansari also called on the international community to lift sanctions on Syria as quickly as possible on Tuesday. “The reason was the crimes of the previous regime, and that regime, with all of its authority, is no longer in place, therefor the causes for these sanctions no longer exist today,” he said. DAMASCUS, Syria — American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group. Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead. Zakka told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad. He added that U.S. President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive. Zakka said he believes Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating. Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip. Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, although he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status. TEL AVIV, Israel — Hannah Katzir, an Israeli woman who was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and freed in a brief ceasefire last year, has died. She was 78. The Hostages Families Forum, a group representing the families of people taken captive, confirmed the death Tuesday but did not disclose the cause. Her daughter, Carmit Palty Katzir, said in a statement that her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering since Oct. 7.” Katzir’s husband, Rami, was killed during the attack by militants who raided their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Her son Elad was also kidnapped and his body was recovered in April by the Israeli military, who said he had been killed in captivity. She spent 49 days in captivity and was freed in late November 2023. Shortly after Katzir was freed, her daughter told Israeli media that she had been hospitalized with heart issues attributed to “difficult conditions and starvation” while she was held captive. TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel's military said the projectile was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory, but it set off air raid sirens overnight in the country's populous central area, sending residents looking for cover. Israel’s rescue service Magen David Adom said a 60-year-old woman was seriously wounded after being hurt on her way to a protected space. There was no immediate comment from Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. It was the third time in a week that fire from Yemen set off sirens in Israel. On Saturday, a missile slammed into a playground in Tel Aviv, injuring 16, after Israel’s air defense system failed to intercept it. Earlier last week, Israeli jets struck Yemen’s rebel-held capital and a port city, killing nine. Israel said the strikes were in response to previous Houthi attacks.Share this Story : LIVING ON THE EDGE: Do the Ottawa Senators need Brady Tkachuk to tone down his emotion? Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Ottawa Senators Sports Hockey NHL Senators Extra LIVING ON THE EDGE: Do the Ottawa Senators need Brady Tkachuk to tone down his emotion? When he plays like a Tasmanian devil, it can be reckless at times. But it's what he does, it's who he is. And that's OK with Senators head coach Travis Green. Author of the article: Tim Baines Published Nov 24, 2024 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 5 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk fights with Vancouver Canucks centre Dakota Joshua during the third period on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Photo by Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content The conundrum for the Ottawa Senators: Do you let Brady Tkachuk continue to be Brady Tkachuk? We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . LIVING ON THE EDGE: Do the Ottawa Senators need Brady Tkachuk to tone down his emotion? Back to video We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . Play Video Or do you try to change his all-out, sometimes reckless mindset? Do you risk having your team captain spend time in the penalty box when he sticks up for teammates or tries to use his physical presence to shift the momentum of a game? The answer, apparently, is yes. In Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks , the fifth straight setback for the Ottawa Senators, Tkachuk took 21 minutes in penalties. Three of the infractions were minors — roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct and cross-checking. The last of those two-minute penalties came on a delayed penalty call against Ottawa, leaving the Senators with a two-man disadvantage for a full two minutes. 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Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content There was also a fighting major against Vancouver’s Dakota Joshua and a misconduct that knocked him out of the game in the third period. So, while the Senators were trying to battle back from a 4-1 lead (they scored two goals in the final four minutes), their captain was in the dressing room. You want Tkachuk, who has scored more than 30 goals three times in his first six NHL seasons and already has 10 this year, on the ice as much as possible; he can’t contribute offensively if he’s in the penalty box or in the dressing room. A year ago, he had 134 penalty minutes; this year, he has 48. He drops the gloves, he runs over people, he takes penalties. It’s good, yet sometimes it’s bad. But with Brady Tkachuk, there’s a fine line. With Brady Tkachuk, you’re getting somebody who will do whatever he thinks it takes to help his team win, to protect his teammates. Sometimes frustration and emotion get the better of him. But he gives a crap, he cares. Maybe more guys on the team need to find that edge. On Saturday, Tkachuk tried to light a fire under his teammates, who weren’t playing well enough. That’s what leaders do. Sports Get the latest sport headlines and breaking news. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sports will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content When he plays like a Tasmanian devil, it can be reckless at times. But it’s what he does, it’s who he is. And that’s OK with Senators head coach Travis Green. “Whatever Brady and I talk about is between Brady and I,” Green said Saturday. “But he’s an emotional guy. I’m not going to take away his passion and his emotion. We’re going to coach Brady. Every player, you coach a bit differently. I’m not going to harness or take away his passion, his emotion. Quite frankly, it might have gotten us back into the game ... a bit.” His teammates appreciate Tkachuk and what he does. “Not many guys play the game the way he plays it,” defenceman Thomas Chabot said. “He’s got so much character. We all love him. He brings it every single night. It’s not always going to be perfect, it’s never perfect for any of us. He’s been speaking up and embracing his role (as captain), and we all follow that. “Being the captain, he puts a lot of pressure on himself. We want him to know it’s not all on his shoulders. When times are tough, there are emotions. That’s the game, it’s played with emotion and passion.” FIVE AND COUNTING: The Senators should have been able to beat the very short-handed Canucks. Look at the lineups and you’d give Ottawa the edge. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content But, Saturday, the Canucks were better. “We fell behind, we had a good push at the end, but we have to have that push when the game starts,” winger Claude Giroux said. “I strongly believe we’re right there. But we have to be better, we will be better. We’re a better team than this.” For the Senators, it’s back to the drawing board, with a home game Monday against the Calgary Flames , then a three-game western road swing that lands in San Jose, Los Angeles and Anaheim. Green was short with the media following Sunday’s skate at the Bell Sensplex; his patience has to be wearing thin. When asked what has to happen, what has to change for the Senators on Monday, Green said, “Play better.” “You don’t just magically win because you want to,” Green said Saturday. “The other team has a say in who wins and who loses as well. As I’ve said, you can play well and lose, play bad and win.” Asked if Ottawa had a lack of emotion early in Saturday’s game, Green said: “That’s easy to say from the outside looking in. What is emotion? Is it the building getting loud? Is it scoring goals? Play good hockey and everyone thinks you have emotion, I guess. Did we have emotion in Boston (a 3-2 win) or Toronto (3-0 win)? No, we just played better. That’s the reality.” Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Asked how the Senators can regain the confidence they seemed to be showing earlier in the season, he said: “The guy that gets the answer to that is going to make a lot of money. It’s not like you tell someone to be confident. You can pat him on the back, give him a little kick in the butt, but confidence comes from within. Each guy finds confidence his own way and we’re trying to help our guys with that. This is not just a teaching league. You’re here to play.” Asked if had the impression the Senators played not to lose instead of playing to win Saturday, Green said: “No, I didn’t. I got the impression we gave them four easy goals and didn’t play well enough to win the game.” Asked about his veteran players, Green said: “Some guys haven’t played good enough and have to play better.” To throw in a Yogi Berra quote, is this “deja vu all over again?” Giroux doesn’t think so. “We’re a different group than we were in the past,” he said. “We’re going to turn this around, I strongly believe that.” ICE CHIPS: Don’t go flipping around your TV channels looking for Monday’s game to be on TSN: it’s not. Senators versus Flames is the featured game on Amazon Prime Monday Night Hockey. If you don’t have Prime, TSN 1200 radio is a great option ... The game starts at 7:30 p.m. ... Artem Zub missed practice Sunday; when a player is OK to go the next day, the Senators usually call it a “maintenance day.” They didn’t call Zub’s absence that ... Winger Zack MacEwen was put on waivers and Zack Ostapchuk was recalled from Belleville. Recommended from Editorial TAKEAWAYS: Ottawa Senators lose again, even after best Vancouver Canucks player kicked out AT THE QUARTER MARK: New faces, but it's the same old story for Ottawa Senators Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : LIVING ON THE EDGE: Do the Ottawa Senators need Brady Tkachuk to tone down his emotion? Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending Wife of abusive CFB Petawawa soldier seeks $12 million in damages from military Local News Government auctioning off 'rare' Pokémon card from surplus list Public Service Ottawa's death toll from drug overdoses appears headed for new record in 2024 News Ottawa councillor's profane outburst with daycare staff 'bullying and intimidation' News TAKEAWAYS: Ottawa Senators lose again, even after best Vancouver Canucks player kicked out Ottawa Senators Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local Savings
Since 2018, Colorado taxpayers have benefited from two reductions to the state income tax that together have brought the rate from 4.63% to 4.4%, for an aggregate reduction of 0.23%. These reductions have been much heralded by state government leaders and have elicited approving comments from a wide range of observers. The applause for these tax cuts, however, has obscured a separate tactic that state leaders increasingly have used to extract revenue from Coloradans in amounts that dwarf the income tax reductions. During the last two decades, Coloradans have seen a steady increase in the fees paid to a wide range of state enterprises. The pattern has accelerated dramatically since 2018. According to a recent Common Sense Institute study, fee-based revenue to enterprises has increased since 2018 by an amount equivalent to a 0.51% increase in the state income tax — so, more than double the recent tax cuts. If Colorado’s fee enterprises, minus higher education, were instead funded by the state income tax, the state income tax would increase to 7.68%, a 75% increase over the current rate of 4.4%. Why the transition to fee-based revenue? In part, because it enables legislators to raise revenue, and spending, without obtaining voter approval. Under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), a part of Colorado’s state constitution since 1992, voter approval is required for tax increases and for spending that exceeds population growth plus inflation. Since TABOR was enacted, voters at the county and municipal level have in fact, on hundreds of occasions, approved tax increases and spending that exceeded these limits, and in 2005, voters statewide approved a five-year suspension of TABOR to fund education, health care, and transportation. In these instances, proponents of increased taxing and spending successfully advocated to voters. In other words, TABOR yielded a dialogue between voters and their elected representatives, in which elected representatives earned the trust of citizens to tax and spend in excess of normal constitutional limits. But by collecting revenue via fee-based enterprises, leaders circumvent the requirement for voter approval, and avoid this dialogue. Under TABOR, an “enterprise” is a government–owned business that receives revenue in return for the provision of a good or service. Enterprise fees do not require voter approval. Nor does enterprise fee revenue count toward the TABOR limit calculation. Thus, the revenue can be spent without triggering the requirement for voter approval of spending increases that are in excess of population growth plus inflation — or the requirement for taxpayer refunds if voters say no. To say that fee-based enterprise revenue has increased is a dramatic understatement. The first year after the passage of TABOR, there were four enterprises generating $742 million. As of 2023, there were 27 state enterprises, and their revenue had increased by over 3000%, far beyond population growth plus inflation, to $23.3 billion. Voters’ attempts to limit enterprise growth generally have been unsuccessful. Proposition 117, passed in 2020, required new enterprises projected to generate revenue above $100 million over their first five years to receive voter approval. Undeterred, the Legislature’s response was to establish eight enterprises and expand an existing enterprise. In a seeming attempt to skirt Proposition 117 requirements, four of these enterprises were created in the same 2021 bill, with revenue raised by each enterprise calibrated to fall just short of the $100M threshold that would have triggered the requirement for voter approval. Surprisingly to supporters of Proposition 117, the bill survived judicial challenge. All told, the expansion of enterprises since 2020 cost Coloradans $88.3 million in 2023. The massive growth of fee-based enterprises is of concern for at least two reasons. First, the growth of enterprise fees has occurred in concert with other cost increases impacting Colorado families and businesses. These include substantial increases in the cost of housing, insurance rates, and regulatory costs, as well as a sharp rise in property taxes, each of which are analyzed in Common Sense Institute reports published in 2023 and 2024. Property taxes, which will continue to increase despite a recent legislative compromise, albeit at a slower rate, are particularly onerous because they essentially are a tax on unrealized capital appreciation. Together, these cost-drivers increasingly have helped make Colorado a more expensive place to live and do business. Net inward domestic migration has slowed, as explained in a recent Common Sense Institute report. A 2024 CNBC ranking of America’s top states for business ranked Colorado 46th out of 50 states in cost of living (a grade of F), and 39th out of 50 states in cost of doing business (a grade of D+), both five-year lows. So, while Colorado remains an attractive place to live and work, particularly for well-compensated professionals in sectors such as professional services and technology, the cumulative impact of costly policy choices risks undermining our state’s competitiveness. Second, the growth of fee-based enterprises increasingly has disenfranchised Colorado voters. In 1996, only 46% of state spending was TABOR exempt ($5,027 per Coloradan in 2023 dollars), but in 2023, in large part due to the growth of enterprises, 71% of state spending was exempt, amounting to $8,442 per Coloradan. As increasing percentages of revenue generation and spending circumvent voter approval, citizens are losing an important input into how leaders are raising and spending revenue taken from family and business budgets. Given the chance, voters would perhaps have approved the creation of so many enterprises, the associated fees, and the increased spending. Or perhaps not. But Colorado’s leaders denied voters the opportunity to review these decisions. This disenfranchisement of voters has been exacerbated in recent legislative sessions by another development that reduces TABOR refunds. In the 2024 legislative session, for example, over 100 bills were introduced that would diminish TABOR refunds by redirecting funds toward targeted tax credits, tax incentives, and/or transfer payments. Collectively, the bills that did pass are projected to cut TABOR refunds by $3.5 billion over three years, a 55% cut. Perhaps voters would have approved these transfers as sound policy, if given the opportunity. But we will never know. What is clear is that legislators substituted their judgment for voters’ judgment regarding how to spend substantial sums that would otherwise have been refunded to taxpayers. TABOR refunds were transformed into TABOR redistributions. This stifling of taxpayer input would be less troubling if legislative actions appeared mostly in sync with public opinion on fiscal matters. But that might not be the case. To begin with, TABOR is popular; for example, a 2024 poll by the nonpartisan Colorado Polling Institute found 69% of respondents felt that instituting TABOR, with its revenue limits, refunds, and requirement that voters approve tax increases, was a “good thing.” Further indications that voters are less than satisfied with legislative actions regarding revenue generation and spending include the failure of Proposition CC in 2019; the passage of Proposition 117 in 2020; the strong rejection of Proposition HH in 2023, and the pressure of looming tax-cut ballot measures in driving the legislative compromise on property taxes in 2024. Colorado leaders would be wise to carefully consider the net impact of their actions in driving up costs for Coloradans, and how those costs impact our competitiveness. Colorado voters and interested outside observers, meanwhile, should consider the aggregate impact of our leaders’ policy choices. Income tax cuts are a positive, but in Colorado they do not tell the whole story of government’s impact on family and business budgets. Lang Sias, who represented District 27 in the Colorado state House from 2015 to 2019, is a Mike A. Leprino Fellow with the Common Sense Institute. He has served in the Navy as a fighter pilot and Topgun instructor and holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from the University of Michigan.
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