real casino games win real money
real money casino app no deposit
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell gets new 8-year deal
Alberta RCMP officer charged with sexual assault after 2022 hotel partyA Ministry of Digital Economy could drive the expansion of e-governance, enabling citizens to access essential services like tax payments, business registrations, and public procurement online The establishment of a Ministry of Digital Economy in Sri Lanka signals a bold step towards embracing the opportunities of the 21st century. This strategic move aligns the country with global trends and positions it to harness the transformative power of digital technologies. As nations worldwide increasingly depend on digital economies for growth and innovation, Sri Lanka’s decision to create this focused ministry is a testament to its commitment to modernising its economic landscape. In an era where technology drives economic progress, the digital economy is no longer an option, it is a necessity. Nations across the globe are leveraging digital platforms and innovations to accelerate growth, improve governance, and create jobs. Sri Lanka, with its strategic location and a talented workforce, stands at a crucial juncture to harness this potential. A bold step in this direction is the country’s goal of building a $ 15 billion digital economy, alongside the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Digital Economy to lead this transformation. The digital economy, encompassing activities driven by digital technologies such as e-commerce, fintech, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing, is reshaping the global landscape. In developed nations, it contributes significantly to GDP, while for developing economies like Sri Lanka, it represents a game-changing opportunity. At a time when Sri Lanka is navigating economic recovery, a thriving digital economy could unlock unprecedented growth, attract investment, and empower citizens. Achieving a $ 15 billion digital economy requires a focused and strategic approach. The creation of a Ministry of Digital Economy is crucial to driving this agenda forward. A centralised authority dedicated to the digital economy would align policies across sectors and create a unified strategy for digital transformation. With such a ministry, Sri Lanka could better coordinate efforts among government bodies, private enterprises, and international organisations to ensure impactful initiatives. The foundation of a digital economy lies in robust infrastructure. Investments in high-speed internet, 5G networks, and digital public platforms are essential. A Ministry of Digital Economy could prioritise these efforts, ensuring equitable access to digital infrastructure across both urban and rural areas. By bridging the digital divide, the Government can empower all citizens to participate in and benefit from this new era of economic activity. Sri Lanka’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of the economy, are vital to achieving the $ 15 billion target. Many MSMEs, however, lack the tools and knowledge to embrace digitalisation. A Ministry of Digital Economy could spearhead initiatives to train businesses, provide access to affordable digital tools, and open pathways for these enterprises to access global markets. Additionally, startups could benefit from tailored support programs, including funding and mentorship, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship that drives growth. Financial inclusion will be another critical factor in achieving the $ 15 billion digital economy. Despite progress in the financial sector, many Sri Lankans remain unbanked or underbanked. Fintech solutions and digital payment systems can address these gaps, integrating more people into the formal economy. A Ministry of Digital Economy could collaborate with fintech companies to expand mobile banking, promote digital wallets, and implement microcredit schemes, ensuring financial services reach even the most underserved communities. The digital economy cannot grow without a skilled workforce. Developing digital competencies across all levels of society is essential, from basic computer literacy to advanced expertise in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. A dedicated ministry could lead nationwide initiatives to upskill Sri Lanka’s workforce, partnering with educational institutions and the private sector to create targeted training programs. E-governance and digital public services are vital for efficiency and transparency. Digital platforms can simplify Government processes, reduce corruption, and improve service delivery. A Ministry of Digital Economy could drive the expansion of e-governance, enabling citizens to access essential services like tax payments, business registrations, and public procurement online. These advancements would not only increase efficiency but also enhance public trust in Government institutions. Sri Lanka is strategically positioned to become a regional hub for technology and innovation. With its location bridging South Asia and Southeast Asia, along with a growing tech-savvy workforce, the country has the potential to attract significant foreign investment in IT services, software development, and digital innovation. Establishing a Ministry of Digital Economy signals Sri Lanka’s commitment to digital transformation, strengthening investor confidence and fostering global partnerships. As the digital economy grows, so do associated risks like cyberattacks and data breaches. To achieve its $ 15 billion goal, Sri Lanka must prioritise cybersecurity and data protection. A dedicated ministry could lead the way in creating robust frameworks to safeguard businesses and citizens from digital threats. This is essential for building trust in digital platforms and ensuring long-term sustainability. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital solutions in maintaining economic resilience. Remote work, e-learning, telemedicine, and e-commerce played pivotal roles in helping economies weather the crisis. A Ministry of Digital Economy could integrate digital technologies into key sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education, ensuring Sri Lanka is well-prepared for future disruptions. Achieving a $ 15 billion digital economy will have a transformative impact on Sri Lanka. It will boost exports through e-commerce and digital services, create jobs in technology-driven industries, improve governance and public service delivery, and enhance financial stability. Moreover, it will drive inclusive development by empowering marginalised communities, women, and youth, while also supporting environmental sustainability through efficient resource utilisation and reduced carbon footprints. However, building a thriving digital economy is not without challenges. Sri Lanka must address issues such as inadequate digital infrastructure, limited technology access in rural areas, and resistance to change in traditional sectors. Overcoming these obstacles will require significant investments in broadband expansion, 5G deployment, and digital public infrastructure. National campaigns to improve digital literacy, encourage public-private partnerships, and engage international expertise will be critical to success. The establishment of a Ministry of Digital Economy is more than a policy shift—it is a bold declaration of intent. It symbolises Sri Lanka’s commitment to embracing the future, positioning itself as a competitive player in the global digital economy. By focusing on achieving a $ 15 billion digital economy, the nation can unlock new avenues of growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for its citizens. With visionary leadership and a coordinated effort, Sri Lanka can harness the power of the digital economy to build a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous future.
J.Jill, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results
The NBA got viewers for Christmas, even while going up against NFL games. The NBA's five-game Christmas lineup was the league's most-watched in five years, with the games averaging about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, the league said Thursday based on Nielsen's preliminary numbers. It's an 84% rise over the NBA's Christmas numbers from 2023. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBANEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A high school in Newark's South Ward is experiencing a remarkable string of recent achievements, both in the classroom and on the football field. On Wednesday the Malcolm X Shabazz Bulldogs will take to the field to compete for the first time ever for a state championship. The game will feature Rumson-Fair Haven and Malcolm X Shabazz of Newark. The team has won its last six games on the road, a major milestone. The success comes at the same time as the school's enrollment is surging, its graduation rate increasing - from 58 to 70 percent since 2021 - and more students are heading to college. Some are crediting the school's new principal, Atiba Buckman, and athletic director for the string of successes. Buckman, a Brooklyn native, understands the challenges facing inner-city public schools. "I think a lot of it was people moving from the neighborhood, stereotypes around the southward, things of that nature," Buckman said. Shabazz was once near historic lows with only 170 students and poor attendance, now the student body is near 600 and growing. Every student must take the SAT and dozens of students scored over 1000. "I like the environment, and I like the way the teachers push me to do my best," Senior Jazmine Washington said. Jazmine received extra support, took classes on Sunday and scored a 1310 on her SAT. Jazmine wants to attend Princeton. Shabazz has become a school that stresses a whole family approach. "We know everyone by name, staff members really do take kids home, they really do, because they're here until 6, 7 in the evening. The building is open 7 days a week," Buckman said. Public schools in inner cities have lost students because of the growth of charter schools and private schools recruiting the best athletes. Now those students are returning home. Zaiden McDonald plays cornerback on the football team, with his work in class and on the field, he is looking at schools like Stanford and Ohio State. "I'm taking AP lit, all these kids see that and they're very inspired and motivated and we also try to lead the school as well," McDonald said. Omari Gaines, on the football team, is going to Stanford in the fall. "My parents are always just always preach student first, athlete second so it really wasn't hard to transition into high school," Gaines said. The coaches take the responsibility of helping young people become productive in life, not just on the field. "I will sacrifice wins in order for my players to understand the importance of academics," Shabazz football coach, Naz Oliver said. Shabazz is the only inner city school going for a championship and it could be Newark's first. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New Jersey news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.Letters to the Editor | Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Eva Mendes Shares The $6 Stocking Stuffer That Everyone Will LoveFrench President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address on Thursday evening that he will finish his five-year mandate which ends in 2027 despite pressure for him to resign amid the fall of the government. The government was toppled Wednesday after the parliament gave a no-confidence vote in Prime Minister Michel Barnier. It marks the first time a French government has been voted down by parliament in more than 60 years, since the defeat for Georges Pompidou’s government in 1962. The worst enemies in French politics, Marine Le Pen’s far right and the leftist New Popular Front – who nevertheless share a penchant for populism — came together to prompt the fall of Barnier’s government after he used special powers to force through an austerity budget for next year without a vote. A total of 331 voted in support of the motion, exceeding the 288 required for it to pass. The government “has been censured,” said Macron, “for the first time this has happened in 60 years, because the far right and the far left have united in an anti-republican front. I will never assume the irresponsibility of others, and in particular of the members of parliament who consciously chose to bring down the budget and government of France just a few days before Christmas,” said Macron. Barnier, a former Brexit negotiator appointed Prime Minister three months ago, submitted his resignation on Thursday. The shortest-lived of the Fifth Republic, Barnier’s government was created in the aftermath of snap parliamentary elections . These were called by Macron who decided to dissolve the lower Parliament following the European elections which saw the far-right party Rassemblement National gain historic grounds and dominate by a landslide. While the leftist coalition Nouveau Front Populaire (including the radical left party La France Insoumise) surprisingly scored more seats than the far right, no political party come close to a majority in the second round of the parliamentary elections. Yet, the appointment of Barnier, a renowned conservative figure belonging to the Republican party, sparked uproar within the left-wing political class who accused Macron of being undemocratic and disregarding the result of the parliamentary ballots. France’s current political chaos is a reflection of how fragmented the national assembly has emerged in the wake of these elections. The country is also facing a budget deficit of €157.39 billion as of October. As such, Barnier’s unpopular budget included €60 billion in deficit reduction. “I will entrust (this new Prime Minister) with the task of forming a government of general interest, representing all the political forces of an ark of government that can participate in it, or at the very least not censure it,” said Macron, who added that the Prime Minister’s “priority will be the budget.” Macron, who deemed the vote of no-confidence “censorship,” said a temporary bill will be tabled in parliament before mid-December in order to “ensure the continuity of public services and the life of the country, as required by our Constitution.” “This exceptional bill will allow for the decisions taken in 2024 to be applied in 2025,” he said, adding that he’s “counting on a majority to adopt it in Parliament.” He also expects the new government to prepare a new budget at the start of 2025.
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray told bureau workers Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden's term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought,” roughly three years short of the completion of a 10-year term during which he tried to keep the FBI out of politics even as the bureau found itself entangled in a string of explosive investigations, including two that led to separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation was not unexpected considering that Trump had settled on Patel to be director and had repeatedly aired his ire at Wray, including in a television interview broadcast Sunday. But his departure is nonetheless a reflection of how Trump's norm-breaking style has reshaped Washington, with the president-elect yet again flouting tradition by moving to replace an FBI director before his term was up and Wray — by resigning before he could be fired — opting to avert a collision with the incoming Trump administration that he said would have plunged the FBI into political fighting. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Wray told agency employees. "In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” The resignation would clear the way for Patel's ascension, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. A White House staffer during Trump's first term, Patel has insisted that the federal government should be rid of “conspirators” against Trump. The comments have stirred alarm that he could seek to use the FBI for retribution against perceived enemies despite longstanding guardrails meant to ensure investigations have a proper basis. It's extremely rare for FBI directors to be ousted from their jobs before the completion of their 10-year terms, a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations. But Trump has done it twice, placing Wray in the job in 2017 after firing Director James Comey amid an investigation into ties between Russia and the Republican president’s campaign. Despite having appointed Wray, Trump had telegraphed his anger with the FBI director on multiple occasions. Trump said in the recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I can’t say I’m thrilled with him. He invaded my home,” a reference to the FBI search of his Florida property , Mar-a-Lago, two years ago for classified documents from Trump’s first term as president. That search, and the recovery of boxes of sensitive government records, paved the way for one of two federal indictments against Trump. The case, and another one charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election, have both been dismissed. Trump applauded the resignation news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice.” and complaining anew about the Mar-a-Lago search. Attorney General Merrick Garland, meanwhile, praised Wray for having “served our country honorably and with integrity for decades.” He said: “Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law.” Natalie Bara, the president of the FBI Agents Association. said in a statement Wray had led the FBI “through challenging times with a steady focus on doing the work that keeps our country safe. ” Throughout his seven years on the job, Wray brought a workmanlike approach to the job, repeatedly preaching a “keep calm and tackle hard” mantra to bureau personnel despite a steady drumbeat of attacks from Trump and his supporters. In fact, Wray was quick to distance himself and his leadership team from the FBI’s Russia investigation that was well underway when he took office. On the same day of a harshly critical inspector general report on that inquiry, Wray announced more than 40 corrective actions to the FBI’s process for applying for warrants for secret national security surveillance. He said mistakes made during the Russia inquiry were unacceptable and he helped tighten controls for investigations into candidates for federal office. FBI officials actively trumpeted those changes to make clear that Wray’s leadership had ushered in a different era at the bureau. Even then, though, Wray’s criticism of the investigation was occasionally measured — he did not agree, for instance, with Trump’s characterization of it as a “witch hunt” — and there were other instances, particularly in response to specific questions, when he memorably broke with the White House. In 2020, he said that there was “no indication” that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election, countering a frequent talking point at the time from Trump. When the Trump White House blessed the declassification of materials related to the surveillance of a former Trump campaign aide, Wray made known his displeasure. Wray also angered Trump for saying that antifa was a movement and an ideology but not an organization. Trump had said he would like to designate the group as a terrorist organization. Then came the FBI's Mar-a-Lago search, which officials defended as necessary given the boxes of documents that were being concealed at the Palm Beach property and the evidence of obstruction that the Justice Department said had been gathered. Trump railed against the FBI over that action and has kept up his criticism ever since, including after Wray said at a congressional hearing last summer that there was “some question about whether or not it’s a bullet or shrapnel” that struck Trump's ear during an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. The FBI later stated unequivocally that it was indeed a bullet. Before being named FBI director, Wray worked at a prestigious law firm, King & Spalding, where he represented former Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., during the “Bridgegate” affair. He also led the Justice Department’s criminal division for a period during President George W. Bush’s administration.
WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison.Reniya Kelly scores 18 and No. 16 North Carolina women beat 14th-ranked Kentucky 72-53
MITCHELL — Nothing could’ve prepared Alex Kretzschmar for the experience the last several months has brought. But after a full season at the helm of the Dakota Wesleyan University football team, Kretzschmar is ready to turn the page to 2025. ADVERTISEMENT Kretzschmar, who has served on the Tigers coaching staff since 2022, has officially been the Tigers’ head coach since February, following former head coach Ross Cimpl’s promotion to become DWU’s athletic director. Under his guidance, DWU overcame an 0-3 start to finish the season at 4-7, playing .500 football from the team’s bye week on Sept. 21 to the end of the year. Overall, the Tigers’ ground game averaged the third-most rushing yards per game among Great Plains Athletic Conference teams, while also having five players garner all-GPAC recognition for their performances this season. With the 2024 campaign in the rear view, Kretzschmar recently sat down with the Mitchell Republic to reflect on his first season as head coach along with the team’s offseason plans, with his answers below, edited for clarity: Q: Overall, for you personally, how did your first season as DWU football’s head coach go? AK: It was definitely a learning experience, and being a first-time head coach, there’s a learning curve. I didn’t make any decision haphazardly or lightly, analyzed it and got feedback from my coaches with everything we did. There’s a reason for everything we did and why we did. Sometimes, some things worked and some things didn’t, and that’s the way it is. I’m sure any head coach would say that. I enjoyed it. It was a lot different than being a coordinator, an assistant, and being a position coach. Q: What’s been the biggest piece of advice you received that’s helped you along the way as the season progressed? ADVERTISEMENT AK: “Go with what your gut is telling you and don't try to overthink it. Whatever happens, own it, move on and then try to make it better. Make decisions as they come.” Obviously, you always want to kind of be looking a few steps ahead and being ready for any different possibilities. Ultimately, you can't predict the future. You have to make decisions with the information you have and go forward. If that information changes, then you adjust, reassess and move forward from there. Q: This season, the Tigers finished 4-7 after an 0-3 start. Looking back, what was one thing about this group that stood out the most? AK: They were willing to take that look in the mirror and say, “What do we need to do to be better? What is truly holding us back?” Those are hard conversations for some guys but to their credit, the whole team was like, “We have to change. Otherwise, it's going to be more of the same.” Our bye week practices were intense because the guys were putting in full effort and competing. It made those three practices extremely fun. We had to make that correlation of why they’re having fun is because they were out there competing and that's what we needed to continue to do throughout the season and we'd start to see the results. Q: Which game this year is the most memorable from the standpoint of the players executing the game plan to how everyone acted throughout the full 60 minutes? AK: From the standpoint of "Let’s go out here and get this done," that was our Oct. 5 win against Hastings. The guys had a little bit of a different fire behind them. They were ready to go out there and compete. We ran into some adversity prior to the start of the game and the guys responded well. We were able to cause a turnover on defense and get the ball back. On that next drive, we were able to go down and score, and that kind of spawned everything. In the second half, we started with the ball, ran three plays for 70 yards, and kind of just went from there. ADVERTISEMENT Q: Looking ahead, what did you tell the Tigers players to focus on during the offseason, and how do you see potential recruits fit in with what the team is trying to achieve? AK: We're going to play the best players that we can. Even the guys that were starters realized they have to level their game up and work to get better. It starts in the weight room and working on skill development outside of the weight room, such as getting faster, getting quicker, all that type of stuff and getting in better shape. We're recruiting high-character individuals who will represent our program at the university well and trying to recruit the best football players we can. One of the greatest compliments anyone that plays this sport can get is, “That guy's a football player.” You have to be able to have guys that can play certain positions, but ultimately, we're looking for young men that want to go out there and compete. Q: What do you ultimately want to take away from this season? AK: You never know when you're going to be called to do something, and when you are, you have to be all in. Last year at this time, I would never have thought that I was going to become the head coach. This opportunity presented itself because of an opportunity that was presented to coach Cimpl. There's always things that you can do better. There's always things that you can continue to work on and make your strengths stronger and, but then also continue to work on your weaknesses and turn them into strengths. That doesn't happen unless you go all in. All the credit goes to the players. They worked hard, got better, and grew as individuals, teammates and as a team. The reason why coaches get into this is because of seeing that growth in players and seeing them reach their full potential. ADVERTISEMENTChris Kondrich wasn’t shocked to learn a sinkhole had opened a street away from his Upper Marguerite home in Unity. A former firefighter and longtime hazardous materials volunteer, Kondrich said he has seen plenty of mine-subsidence incidents. Kondrich lives on Lemmon Road, about a quarter-mile away from where Elizabeth Pollard, 64, of Unity, is believed to have been swallowed by a sinkhole Monday evening . She remained missing Wednesday evening. The woods surrounding the sinkhole show evidence of smaller mine collapses, Kondrich said. “You’ll just be walking and you’ll see ... a big circle 20 feet in diameter that’s sunk 5 feet, grass and weeds growing on it,” he said. “That’s commonplace here.” Kondrich, 64, has paid for mine-subsidence insurance for his home for more than 30 years. The township surrounds Latrobe, and it’s located between Greensburg and Ligonier. Though it used to be made up of old coal mining towns, Kondrich said Unity is now mostly residential, but it still has a lot of agriculture. “I think there’s always a concern,” he said of having to purchase the insurance. “If they’re gonna sell it to you, that means there was mining done in your area and something like this is possible.” Pennsylvanians can check their address in Penn State’s online mine map atlas and the DEP’s mine subsidence insurance map to see if their property sits above abandoned mines. The sinkhole opened in a grassy area behind Monday’s Union Restaurant. Investigators believe Pollard drove to the parking lot behind the restaurant, spoke with two hunters, handed them a flyer about her missing cat and walked into in the adjacent field when a sinkhole opened beneath her. Unity’s mining history The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Mine Safety was dispatched to the scene early Tuesday. Officials said they suspect the sinkhole was caused by the abandoned Marguerite Mine, which was last operated by H.C. Frick Coke Co. in 1952. The coal seam is about 20 feet from the surface, spokesperson Lauren Camarda said. Westmoreland County is one of the state’s 29 counties where underground coal mining has occurred, she said. Merle Musick, building code official with Unity, said the former entrance to the Marguerite Mine was a dilapidated red building near the sinkhole. “Western Pennsylvania’s full of mines, and not all of them are mapped,” he said. “All these little towns, they sprung up — they’re called (coal) patch towns,” Kondrich said. Ongoing search Pollard was reported missing at 1 a.m. Tuesday, and crews have been working nonstop since about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday to locate her. A camera dropped into the sinkhole revealed a shoe about 25 feet below ground level. The search in the sinkhole paused briefly Wednesday until it was better stabilized, but Mike O’Barto, chairman of Unity supervisors, confirmed it has resumed. “Since then, they have stabilized the hole or the situation, and they are currently digging some of the dirt out,” he said. “I do know that they were going to use some different technology such as drones, such as imaging, to see if they can indeed find Elizabeth Pollard.” Kondrich arrived at Monday’s Union Restaurant around lunchtime Wednesday to deliver food for those working on the scene. “The incident took place here on the property of Monday’s restaurant, but it’s not their responsibility to feed us,” he said. His donation was 100 pieces of chicken from Giant Eagle, which joined the donuts, coffee, hoagies, pizza and other offerings already available for the responders. There hasn’t been an organized effort to supply the food and drinks or any sort of push via social media; Kondrich said people have just shown up to help without being asked. “I think it’s just the community sense of responsibility or sense of need to help that people want to do something,” Kondrich said. “The responders ... they need to eat, they need stuff to drink, they need to stay warm.” When Kondrich was on the scene Tuesday night into Wednesday, he said there were at least 120 people working. “Monday’s is being gracious opening up their establishment here for a warm place to sit and have something to eat,” he said. Prior to showing up with chicken, Kondrich asked the restaurant on Wednesday what people had already donated so as not to bring duplicates. “I actually stopped in and said, ‘What do you need?’” Kondrich said. “I would say the best thing to do is to call.” Mining concerns Unity was a longtime hotspot for coal mines, O’Barto said, and the sinkhole has caused a stir among residents. “There are a lot of people in the community that have concerns that if they live close — especially to an area that had coal mines at one time,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons why we need to look at these areas, so a situation like this never happens again.” The main course of action should be talking to Pennsylvania lawmakers and mine safety organizations, O’Barto said. “We have to get together with our state legislators to see what type of funding may be out there to prevent something like this from happening again,” he said. As a Unity homeowner, O’Barto said the situation concerns him personally. “There have been sinkholes before, and they were cases that would come up every so often, but never one where a person fell into one,” he said. “My heart goes out to the family.”Trump says he's a 'believer' in polio vaccine, and other news conference takeaways
Macquarie Asset Management launches Outlook 2025Assessing Barrett Bus Servs: Insights From 4 Financial Analysts
WASHINGTON — The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty. Matt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate Nov. 14 in Palm Beach, Fla. The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort. Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member’s resignation, it is extremely rare. Shortly before the votes took place, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release, said that if Republicans reject the release, they will have “succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug.” Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims. Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see the light of day as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins. It's the culmination of weeks of pressure on the Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers. The status of the Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in the Cabinet. It is standard practice for the committee to end investigations when members of Congress depart, but the circumstances surrounding Gaetz were unusual, given his potential role in the new administration. Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the committee chairman, said Wednesday that there is no longer the same urgency to release the report given that Gaetz has left Congress and stepped aside as Trump's choice to head the Justice Department. “I’ve been steadfast about that. He’s no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination to be the attorney general,” Guest said. The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on the bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the panel, publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing a previous meeting to the press. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year that the Justice Department’s separate investigation against him into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls ended without federal charges. His onetime political ally Joel Greenberg, a fellow Republican who served as the tax collector in Florida’s Seminole County, admitted as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in 2021 that he paid women and an underage girl to have sex with him and other men. The men were not identified in court documents when he pleaded guilty. Greenberg was sentenced in late 2022 to 11 years in prison. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
̂w`K~==a,-0C.6">
play zone casino real money
real money casino android app download
free 100 gcash casino 2023 real money
