777jogo game
Messages of condolences have flooded social media following the passing of a long-time Steveston Super Grocer employee. Winston Lu, the brother of Super Grocer owner Sam Lu, passed away on Nov. 10. Sam told the Richmond News that his brother's passing was "unexpected," as Winston was young and had no major health issues. "My mother and our family are devastated at losing Winston," he said. "We miss him. Winston is missed by his fellow staff at Super Grocer as well as his customers." On Reddit , many described Winston as friendly, with some calling him "a central character" at Super Grocer. "My father knew him personally, and he'd always greet us really fondly whenever we'd see him -- ever since I was a kid. Rest in peace," commented Reddit user RaidedVillager. Another Reddit user recalled working with Winston at Super Grocer many years ago, describing him as a good guy. Sam expressed gratitude to the community for their condolences and prayers during this difficult time. "Please extend us the time to heal and recover," he said. Super Grocer has been a stable and iconic grocery store in the heart of Steveston Village. However, the store and pharmacy burned down on Jan. 26 resulting in a temporary store operating nearby and the pharmacy relocating to Chatham Street. Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected] . To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our daily headline newsletter . Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.Divisive Rhetoric On Religion Harms Constitutional Unity: Supreme Court Judge
How the stabilising global economy is shaping opportunities for growth in 2025A day after the US allegations of bribery involving Adani group and the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration in Andhra Pradesh surfaced, chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday promised action based on evidence as he offered his comments on the issue. Speaking in the state assembly, he termed the allegations "damaging" to Andhra Pradesh's reputation and said necessary steps would be taken. The allegations stem from court filings by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has alleged that industrialist Gautam Adani met the then CM Reddy in August 2021 after the state did not sign a power supply agreement with the government-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The US Justice Department claimed that an unnamed Andhra Pradesh government official was offered kickbacks of ₹1,750 crore to facilitate purchase of solar power by state distribution companies from SECI. Political tightrope "More facts are yet to come to light. The government is also thinking about what steps to take as facts are being unravelled as we speak. We will take stock of the situation, see what needs to be done and will take action accordingly," Naidu said in the assembly. "If there is wrongdoing, action must be taken. That's the only way to ensure the same mistake is not repeated." He further said, "The issue that has come out today has badly damaged brand Andhra Pradesh in the public forum. It makes me very sad." Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the BJP-led NDA, faces the tough challenge of being seen to be taking action against rival Jaganmohan Reddy and also not violating coalition dharma by playing the same tune as the opposition. The state BJP too took a stronger stand than on the previous day. The BJP X handle posted a photograph of Reddy waving goodbye with the caption "Namapally to New York" (alluding to Reddy being on his way from Namapally jail to New York). Contractual liability Naidu's apparent reluctance to initiate serious action appeared to be in stark contrast to his government's white paper on power which has red-flagged the power purchase agreements, according to people familiar with the matter. Under "inefficient governance", the white paper stated that the agreements would result in a financial burden of ₹62,000 crore over 25 years. "On 1st December 2021, Government of Andhra Pradesh, APDISCOMS and SECI entered into a tripartite agreement for procurement of solar power for a capacity of 7,000 MW from SECI at a tariff of ₹2.49/unit This solar capacity shall be connected to inter-state network and is scheduled to be commissioned in phases with 3,000 MW in September 2024, another 3,000 MW in September 2025 and the balance 1,000 MW in September 2026," said the white paper, released on July 9. "Considering the lowest tariff of ₹1.99/unit discovered at the time of signing of tripartite agreement, the additional tariff burden on consumers is around ₹850 crore per year... the total additional burden due to procurement of solar power from SECI is around ₹3,850-4,350 crore per year. Net present value of additional burden due to this for 25 years is around ₹62,000 crore." If the state government scraps the agreement, it would need to pay ₹25 lakh per MW as penalty to Adani group for 7,000 MW. However, it can be saved by the integrity pact that the private group has signed with SECI, said experts. In case of any violation of the pact (which includes the private company indulging in malpractices), the state government would not need to pay the penalty, they said. Focus On other projects Following the US indictment, trade unions brought into focus other projects including award of Krishnapatnam and Gangavaram port projects. CPI general secretary D Raja told ET, "There is deeper connivance here. The trade unions have been raising the issue of government resources like land being given away practically free or at very nominal rates to Adani group." (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )China's AIMA brand electric motorbike is now in Bangladesh
"The employment contract is the fundamental element for granting NISS to a foreign citizen", says the institute led by Octávio de Oliveira, in a note published on its website, highlighting that "it is not necessary for the NISS to be included in the contract of work". Thus, companies "do not need to wait for the worker to have the NISS to sign the employment contract". After granting the NISS by Social Security, the employer "must communicate the employment relationship through Direct Social Security, ensuring compliance with its contribution obligations", says the note, published in Portuguese and English. "The regularisation of the contribution situation is essential to guarantee access to the rights and benefits provided for in the social security system, contributing to the protection of workers and the sustainability of the system", he concludes. At the beginning of December, the Government met with employer confederations to discuss how labour migration works, having proposed a cooperation protocol, which will still be discussed with employers. Speaking to Lusa, the president of CAP indicated that the Government's proposal to move forward with setting maximum deadlines for granting a residence and temporary stay visa to foreign citizens who meet the necessary requirements, namely having a work contract. The Government also wants companies to commit to guaranteeing housing and training for immigrants. The proposal is being discussed by business confederations, which are expected to meet again with the ministry led by Antônio Leitão Amaro at the beginning of January.WASHINGTON — Austin Tice’s entire family visited Washington this week in a show of force to the outgoing Biden administration, asserting they have fresh, reliable information that he is alive and pressing top White House and State Department officials to leverage dramatic changes on the battlefield in Syria to secure a breakthrough in the case of the missing journalist. Tice’s parents, Debra and Marc Tice, have frequently visited the capital to advocate for their son, who went missing as a freelance journalist covering Syria’s civil war in 2012. But this visit was the first of its kind from the entire Tice family since he first disappeared over 12 years ago. Little progress has been made on Tice’s case over those years, spanning three presidents and a transformed Middle East. But a resurgence in Syria’s war over the past month after years of frozen frontlines has created new opportunities and perils for the American, a former U.S. Marine and Texas native. “Today is a day full of emotions. The news that we’re hearing from the Middle East – that kind of thing can unsettle a mom,” Debra Tice told reporters at a press conference at the National Press Club on Friday. “There are all kinds of ways this can go.” She told reporters that the family had a new source telling them that Austin Tice remains alive and healthy. The family is working to be able to share more information with the public, she said. “We have from a significant source that has already been vetted all over our government that Austin Tice is alive – Austin Tice is treated well,” Debra Tice said. Debra and Marc Tice both said the Biden administration is declining to make the new information public. U.S. officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the family’s statement. Syria erupted in civil war in 2011 following a brutal crackdown on democratic protesters by the Assad government. Tice traveled to the country to cover the conflict the following year for McClatchy, The Washington Post and other publications. U.S. officials believe he was detained at a Syrian government checkpoint southwest of Damascus on Aug. 14, 2012. A video emerged six weeks after his disappearance purporting to show him in captivity. With assistance from Russia and Iran, the Assad regime was able to push back an array of opposition forces that increasingly fractured throughout the war. The rise of Islamic State in the country also led to an international military offensive in northern Syria that culminated in 2017. Ever since, Assad’s hold on power has appeared stable. But a surprise offensive launched by a united front of rebel forces last month has put Assad’s army on the run for the first time in years. In a span of mere weeks, the Syrian army has retreated from Aleppo, Hama and Homs, cities where Assad spent years fighting to regain control. The offensive is being led by Tahrir al-Sham, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union. It is not immediately clear how the resurgence of military action in Syria might affect negotiations over Tice. But U.S. officials are watching the developments closely to monitor for any new opportunities to engage on his case, an official told McClatchy. Tice’s family met with State Department officials on Thursday and with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Friday, a White House official confirmed in a statement. “President Biden and his team have worked around the clock, often in partnership with key allies, to negotiate for the release of Americans held hostage or unjustly detained abroad so that they can be reunited with their families, and the administration will continue to do so throughout the remainder of the term,” the official said. Speaking to the press on Friday, Austin Tice’s father, Marc, said that Sullivan told the family the administration had done everything it could think of to reach a breakthrough in his case. But his family believes the government has exerted more effort to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans in Russia, Venezuela, Iran and Gaza than they have for their son. Similarly, at the State Department meeting, “there were complaints and finger pointing about who is preventing things from happening, and who’s responsible for doing what,” Marc Tice said. “We think this is a time of opportunity, actually, and there’s no time like now to start doing the right thing.” Last month, as Syrian regime lines were collapsing before the rebel advance, the White House said that Assad’s refusal to participate in a political process with the opposition, and his reliance on Russia and Iran, had “created the conditions now unfolding, including the collapse of Assad regime lines in northwest Syria.” “The United States, together with its partners and allies, urge de-escalation, protection of civilians and minority groups, and a serious and credible political process that can end this civil war once and for all with a political settlement,” Sean Savett, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in a statement. “We will also continue to fully defend and protect U.S. personnel and U.S. military positions, which remain essential to ensuring that ISIS can never again resurge in Syria.” Debra Tice was skeptical of the policy, questioning why the administration would support the rebel advance on Assad forces. Biden officials have made clear they are not a part of the offensive. “I don’t really understand what’s happening in Syria,” she said. “I’m upset by the fact that terrorists are tearing up Aleppo, killing people in Aleppo. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand why our government isn’t running in saying we are not going to allow a terrorist entity to take over Syria.” “There are people feeling like it’s possible this could be Austin’s release. I certainly pray that that’s it,” she added.” Long-stalled talks In August, marking 12 years since Tice’s disappearance, President Joe Biden issued a statement that his administration had “repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home.” “The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role informing the public and holding those in power accountable,” Biden said. “We stand in solidarity with Austin, his family, and all Americans wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. I will continue to do everything possible to advocate for and pursue his release and support his loved ones until he is safely returned home.” In 2022, Biden met with Tice’s parents at the White House and vowed to engage the Syrians directly over Tice. In a statement at that time, the president expressed “certainty” that Assad had held him in Syrian custody, without specifying when, where or in what condition. During the Obama administration, the CIA obtained Syrian government records indicating Tice had at one point been processed through the Syrian court system. Biden’s team had been hopeful the following year that quiet talks with Damascus could produce a breakthrough. But Hamas’ attack on Israel, and the war that followed in Gaza and Lebanon, disrupted the discussions. Officials in the first Trump administration also attempted to directly engage with the Syrians to secure Tice’s release, traveling to Damascus in an effort to do so. But Assad aides refused to acknowledge Tice’s case during that meeting, insisting the U.S. government renew its recognition of Assad as the leader of Syria – and a full withdrawal of U.S. troops in the country there to combat Islamic State – before even uttering his name, U.S. officials told McClatchy. In August, marking the anniversary, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Tice had been held in “unknown conditions” and issued a plea to Syria to open an honest dialogue on his case. “For more than a quarter of his life, Austin has been separated from his family and kept in unknown conditions,” Blinken said. “We know the Syrian government has held Austin, and we have repeatedly offered to find a way to bring him home.” “This has gone on for far too long,” Blinken added. “We call on the Syrian government to work with the United States to end Austin’s captivity.” U.S. officials told McClatchy this week that the government’s knowledge of Tice’s condition and whereabouts remain unchanged. ©2024 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:18 a.m. EST
Honda appears set to offer reheated leftovers at CES 2025
Key reason Franco Colapinto could have Red Bull edge as Sergio Perez influence clearA view of the Essaouira beach in the seaside city of Agadir, one of the hottest tourist sites in Morocco. (Photo by Yang Feiyue/China Daily) China and Morocco share a longstanding positive relationship, with the synergy fostered under the Belt and Road Initiative holding great promise for both nations, said Abdelkader El Ansari, Morocco's ambassador to China. Ambassador El Ansari, who began his tenure in February, has visited several places across China, including Shandong province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. "Everywhere I've visited, I've seen significant dynamism, growth and ongoing projects. It reflects a national momentum," El Ansari told China Daily. "The infrastructure and major companies I've visited across various provinces highlight the tremendous potential for deeper economic cooperation between our two countries. This aligns perfectly with Morocco's role in the Belt and Road Initiative." With its strategic position as a gateway to Africa and its proximity to European markets, Morocco has naturally emerged as a key partner in the BRI. "Morocco will be a main pillar in implementing this initiative in our region," Ansari said. In 2017, Morocco and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly advance the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2022, Morocco became the first country in North Africa to sign an implementation plan for the BRI. Currently, China is Morocco's largest trading partner in Asia and third-largest globally. Morocco is a key trade partner for China in Africa. In 2016, the two countries decided to establish a China-Morocco strategic partnership. One of the key projects in the partnership with China is the Mohammed VI Tangier Tech City, launched in 2017. It is expected to host around 200 Chinese companies and include a 1,000-hectare industrial acceleration zone, Morocco World News reported. "In this smart city, we hope to welcome Chinese companies to implement next-generation projects with high technological value, particularly in the automotive, electronics and robotics sectors," he said. Morocco's automotive exports surged to 160 billion dirhams ($16 billion) in 2023, according to a report from the Exchange Office, the country's foreign trade regulator. Morocco has become a leading auto exporter "thanks to a conducive business environment", Ansari said. Electric vehicles are one of the many sectors where Moroccan and Chinese companies have built strong synergies, he said at a forum organized last week by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China. "In Morocco, we have the human resources and the raw materials needed for electric vehicles and, especially, the batteries. To produce electric vehicles, you need raw materials, technology and skilled labor — elements that Morocco possesses — along with access to other markets." Chinese EV battery giant Gotion High-Tech signed a $1.3 billion agreement in June with the Moroccan government to build a gigafactory in Kenitra. On Nov 13, an MoU was signed between Gotion and Morocco's state-owned investment fund to advance the project. Morocco is aligning its development strategy with the BRI across 14 sectors, including infrastructure, energy, health, education and tourism. "The initiative represents a comprehensive cooperation program between Morocco and China," Ansari said. In 2016, Morocco introduced a visa waiver policy for Chinese citizens, quickly becoming a popular destination for Chinese tourists. Before the visa waiver program, Morocco received about 15,000 Chinese visitors every year. Three years after the policy, the number surged to 200,000. "I am confident that within the next three to four years, we will reach the target of 500,000 visitors," he said. Ansari also highlighted his active participation in key events, such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. "These platforms provide an excellent framework for China, African and Arab partners to celebrate shared friendship and solidarity, discuss mutual interests and build a common vision for the future," Ansari added.A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021
The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, Mountain Standard Time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.
New guidance on the ethical use of AI in public sector workplaces has been shared by Wales' Workforce Partnership Council. The guidance, laid out in two reports, was created collaboratively by the Welsh Government, public sector employers, and trade unions. It aims to harness the benefits of emerging technologies while safeguarding against potential risks to the workforce. The reports provide a framework for AI implementation, focusing on checks and balances, responsible implementation, and post-adoption evaluation. Welsh Government minister for social partnership, Jack Sargeant, said: "As AI continues to shape the future of our workplaces, it is crucial that public service workers and organisations alike benefit from this continued innovation. "Our approach ensures that AI adoption in public services is transparent and underpinned by human oversight." The guidance has been strongly supported by the Social Partnership Council and other key stakeholders. The Centre for Digital Public Services (CDPS) is also developing complementary resources to further aid public sector bodies in the ethical use of AI. Shavanah Taj, general secretary of TUC Cymru, said: "To get the best from AI systems which manage workers, workers must have a strong voice in their design and use. "TUC Cymru and the public sector unions welcome the publication of 'Managing Technology That Manages People' because it will ensure that workers share the benefits that AI could bring." The Welsh Government and social partners will now implement a comprehensive communications programme to ensure these materials, approaches, and recommendations are effectively embedded in workplaces across Wales.David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
TAMPA, Fla. — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Barrett, who also won a Super Bowl during a four-season stint with the Denver Broncos, decided to unretire last month. He signed with the Bucs after clearing waivers earlier in the week. Whitehead has missed the past four games with a pectoral injury. His return comes of the heels of the Bucs placing safety Christian Izien on IR with a pectoral injury. On Saturday, the Bucs also activated rookie wide receiver Kameron Johnson from IR and elevated punter Jack Browning to the active roster from the practice squad.
Corsight AI facial recognition helps confirm Jesse James photos are genuineFrom now through December 24th, Apple will be offering free two-hour delivery from your local for last minute holiday gifts. This offer yesterday. Of course, you have to live close to an in an eligible area in the US & Canada to take advantage of this offer, and your nearest store would need to have the products in stock. This free delivery offer is only available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats, which should cover most peoples needs. Normally, this 2 hour delivery service costs an extra $9. Apple partners with local couriers such as DoorDash and Uber to make this service possible. If you want to pick up an for a loved one, now would be the time to do so! Apple doesn’t offer the best deals most of the time, but this is a surefire way of making sure your gift arrives in time for the holidays. I’ve also gathered a list of good Apple deals on Amazon that should deliver before Christmas at the time of writing, though your mileage may vary. These prices will be lower than what Apple currently offers: From now through December 24th, Apple will be offering free two-hour delivery from your local for last minute holiday gifts. This offer yesterday. Of course, you have to live close to an in an eligible area in the US & Canada to take advantage of this offer, and your nearest store would need to have the products in stock. This free delivery offer is only available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, Apple TV, and Beats, which should cover most peoples needs. Normally, this 2 hour delivery service costs an extra $9. Apple partners with local couriers such as DoorDash and Uber to make this service possible. If you want to pick up an for a loved one, now would be the time to do so! Apple doesn’t offer the best deals most of the time, but this is a surefire way of making sure your gift arrives in time for the holidays. I’ve also gathered a list of good Apple deals on Amazon that should deliver before Christmas at the time of writing, though your mileage may vary. These prices will be lower than what Apple currently offers: