vegas777 casino
vegas777 casino
Reaves scores 20 points as Iona secures 79-73 victory over ColgateAmerican Electric Power: Light Up Your Income Portfolio With This Mission Critical Utility
This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Alphabet spikes after Google announces 'breakthrough' quantum chip Shares of Google's parent company Alphabet rose 6% on Tuesday, a day after the company hailed its latest quantum computing chip as a "breakthrough." On Monday, Alphabet revealed its "Willow" chip, which performed a computation in under five minutes that would take one of today's fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years — that's 1 followed by 25 zeros — Google said. South Korea's ex-defense minister attempts suicide; police raid presidential office The fallout from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law continues amid reports of his office being raided and his former defense minister attempting suicide. Police reportedly searched the president's office on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the six-hour martial law declaration . Separately, ex-defense minister Kim Yong-hyun reportedly made an attempt on his own life in his eastern Seoul detention facility. China ramps up Wall Street meetings ahead of Trump inauguration Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has met with several U.S. finance executives in the last month as Beijing seeks to build relationships ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's planned tariffs on China . Some of the meetings are with top executives from Blackrock, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup. Dow notches fourth straight day of losses U.S. markets fell on Tuesday as the S&P 500 lost 0.3% and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.25%, with both indexes notching back-to-back losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined for a fourth day, slipping 0.35%. Asian markets were mixed , with most major indexes staying range-bound. [PRO] Trump's proposed tariffs could cause unintended consequences: Bernstein Trump's proposed tariffs could have unintended consequences for certain brands, such as negative sentiment from Chinese consumers that could hurt U.S. companies' sales in that country, Bernstein found. Money Report Auto giants endured a torrid time of it this year — and few expect 2025 to be much better Greece's ghost towns offer a glimpse of a country struggling with ‘existential' population collapse What is quantum computing, and how does it work? In classical computing, information is stored in bits. Each bit is either a one or zero. Quantum computing uses quantum bits or qubits which can be zero, one or something in between. If you thought that sounded like something out of the Marvel multiverse, you are not alone. Every time a company comes up with a quantum computing breakthrough, such as Alphabet's Willow chip, the million-dollar question is: "What can it be used for?" Will we see faster laptops, faster smartphones, or can quantum computing be used for artificial intelligence applications? Will we be able to say "Open the pod bay doors please, HAL?" to a quantum computer? Proponents of quantum computing claim it will be able to solve problems that current computers can't. The theory is that quantum computers will be able to process much larger volumes of data, leading to potential breakthroughs in areas like medicine, science and finance. Shares of Alphabet surged 6% on Tuesday, but could this enthusiasm be unfounded? After all, if there are currently no real world uses for quantum computing, the solution cannot be put to solving problems, let alone commercialized. In short, quantum computing needs to have a purpose. It needs a "ChatGPT moment", as an analyst told CNBC , where people can utilize the technology such as how the chatbot allowed the world to tangibly experience artificial intelligence. HAL may just have to wait a while. Which as fans of Stanley Kubrick's epic "2001: A Space Odyssey" might know, isn't necessarily a bad thing. — CNBC's Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report. Also on CNBC Is quantum computing viable? Tech firms take center stage Tech firms in the spotlightAs Trump's Nominees Face Scrutiny Before Senate Confirmation, Kash Patel Vows to Target 'Deep State' Share This article WASHINGTON – With less than two months before his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees are meeting with lawmakers ahead of their confirmation hearings. A few key picks are facing new allegations and will likely face tough questions on Capitol Hill. Some senators are pushing for all of Trump's cabinet nominees to undergo full FBI background checks. This step would ensure the standard vetting process isn't bypassed. It comes as Congress returns to Capitol Hill after Thanksgiving with a lot on the table. Trump's picks are working to win support from lawmakers ahead of their hearings. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) says, "I have an open mind about all the nominees. Once again, that's why we have confirmation hearings." Pam Bondi, Trump's Attorney General nominee, is meeting with Republican senators after former Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration. Bondi said, "Should I earn the trust and the nomination from all of the senators; I will do my best every day to work tirelessly for the American people." Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) praised Bondi, saying, "She's a great choice and a long-time friend. I think the right person at the right time." Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth is facing new allegations, including accusations of sexual assault. In addition, The New Yorker reports that the Army veteran was forced to step down from leading two veterans' groups due to mismanaging funds and abusing alcohol while on the job. Hegseth's lawyer has called the claims "outlandish." Meanwhile, Republicans are bracing for what could be the biggest Senate confirmation battle. FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, a known Trump ally, is under scrutiny for his promises to overhaul the FBI and dismantle what he calls the "deep state." Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned, "What you don't want are people politicizing them for personal retribution... And that's going to be the concern of everybody." As allegations and plans to restructure agencies take center stage, Trump's nominees are certain to face tough questioning in the coming weeks. Share This article About The Author
On 16 October 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) published a comprehensive guidance regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in employment. The guidance, entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Worker Well-being: Principles and Best Practices for Developers and Employers” 1 (the DOL AI Guidance), builds on the DOL’s May 2024 AI guidance (the May Guidance) and fulfills the agency’s obligations under President Biden’s October 2023 executive order on AI. 2 The DOL AI Guidance also follows the agency’s endorsement of the Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)’s AI & Inclusive Hiring Framework, 3 as well as publications by DOL subagencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 4 and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). 5 The DOL makes clear in its disclaimer that the DOL AI Guidance is not binding and does not supersede, modify, or direct an interpretation of any statute, regulation, or policy. However, the publication is the DOL’s most comprehensive AI publication to date, and following the guidance will help employers use AI without running afoul of existing equal employment opportunity and other laws. Principles and Best Practices The DOL AI Guidance expands on the eight AI principles (Principles) contained in the May Guidance by providing best practices (Best Practices) that employers 6 can follow to implement these Principles. Centering Worker Empowerment First, to “center worker empowerment” by ensuring that “[w]orkers and their representatives, especially those from underserved communities, [are] informed of and have genuine input in the design, development, testing, training, use, and oversight of AI systems in the workplace,” employers should regularly integrate input from workers. By incorporating the worker into the process, from design to use, employers can balance the benefits of AI with worker protection and strive to use AI to improve workers’ job quality and enable businesses success. Ethically Developing AI Second, to ethically develop AI, employers should develop a strong foundation consisting of ethical standards, guidelines, and an internal review process to help “ensure AI and automated systems...meet safety, security, and trustworthy standards for their customers, customers’ workers, and the public.” To do this, employers should do the following: Carry out impact assessments and independent audits of the AI programs and publish the results. Assess the risks of algorithmic discrimination. Document negative impacts on workers’ job quality and well-being. Monitor the AI programs on an ongoing basis and prioritize human oversight over the tools and employment decisions that involve those tools. Ensure that any jobs created to review and analyze AI comply with domestic and international labor standards. Establishing AI Governance and Human Oversight Third, to establish sufficient AI governance and appropriate human oversight of AI tools, employers should do the following: Establish empowered governance structures to incorporate input from workers in the decision-making process to continually review and evaluate worker-impacting AI systems. Offer appropriate training on AI systems to a broad range of employees, including processes for raising concerns. Not rely solely on AI and automated systems, or the information collected through them, to make significant employment decisions. Identify and document the types of significant employment decisions informed by AI systems, including procedures for human consideration and remedies for decisions that adversely impact employees. Ensuring Transparency in AI Use Fourth, to ensure transparency in AI use, employers should do the following: Provide workers and representatives advance notice and appropriate disclosure that AI systems are in use. This information should be clear and accessible, conspicuously notify workers what data will be collected and stored about them, and what that data will be used for. Allow employees to view, dispute, and submit corrections for their individually identifiable data without fear of retaliation. According to the DOL, this transparency will “foster greater trust and job security, prepare workers to effectively use AI, and open channels for workers to provide input to improve the technology or correct errors.” Protecting Labor and Employment Rights Fifth, to ensure AI tools do not interfere with employees’ labor organizing, cause reductions in employees’ wages, or put employees’ health and safety at risk, employers should do the following: Not use AI tools to reduce wages, break time, or benefits. Audit AI systems for disparate or adverse impacts on individuals with protected characteristics to comply with anti-discrimination requirements, including offering reasonable accommodations when requested. Using AI to Enable Workers Sixth, to use AI to enable workers, employers should do the following: Create AI pilot programs for employees to use and test tools before conducting large-scale rollouts to ensure the tools are assisting and complementing workers and improving job quality. Not use AI tools to engage in invasive monitoring of employees, especially when assessing worker performance. Consider how to balance enhanced productivity through the use of AI tools while benefiting workers, such as through “increased wages, improved benefits, increased training, fair compensation for the collection and use of worker data or reduced working hours without loss of pay.” Supporting Workers Impacted by AI Seventh, to support workers impacted by AI, employers should do the following: Train employees on AI systems to upskill workers instead of replacing them. Work to preserve jobs for those at risk of displacement due to AI by offering training, education, and professional development opportunities for workers to learn how to use and work with AI systems. Ensuring Responsible Use of Worker Data Eighth, to ensure responsible use of worker data, employers should do the following: Develop safeguards for protecting employee data from internal and external threats, with an emphasis on mitigating privacy risks for workers. Ensure that AI tools have “safeguards for securing and protecting data.” Avoid collecting unnecessary data. Not share data outside of the business. Takeaways The DOL stresses that employers should utilize each of these eight Principles “during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing.” Further, the DOL clarified in its DOL AI Guidance that the eight Principles and the Best Practices it outlined are not intended to be an “exhaustive list” and, as noted above, are not binding. However, the document provides an integral “guiding framework” employers can follow as they refine how best to use AI in employment decisions. Recommendations Employers that are implementing or considering implementing AI systems and procedures should examine the DOL AI Guidance to ensure their systems and procedures track the purposes and policies outlined in the Principles and Best Practices. Employers also should continue examining requirements of other federal agencies—such as the EEOC and the OFCCP, if applicable—as well as state laws to ensure their systems meet all appropriate legal requirements. Footnotes 1 https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/general/ai/AI-Principles-Best-Practices.pdf . 2 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/ . 3 K&L Gates’ alert on the EEOC’s 24 September 2024 endorsement of the PEAT framework is available here: https://www.klgates.com/DOLs-AI-Hiring-Framework-Offers-Employers-Helpful-Guidance-on-Combatting-Algorithmic-Bias-11-12-2024 . 4 K&L Gates’ alert on the EEOC’s 18 May 2023 nonbinding guidance is available here: https://www.klgates.com/EEOC-Issues-Nonbinding-Guidance-on-Permissible-Employer-Use-of-Artificial-Intelligence-to-Avoid-Adverse-Impact-Liability-Under-Title-VII-5-31-2023 . 5 K&L Gates’ alert on OFCCP’s 29 April 2024 nonbinding guidance is available here: https://www.klgates.com/OFCCP-Guidance-Expands-Federal-Scrutiny-of-Artificial-Intelligence-Use-by-Employers-7-16-2024 . 6 The DOL AI Guidance is also directed at AI developers. However, this alert is focused on its relevance to employers.Spring Place Ruritan Club receives awards
Health rethink needed as aging will escalate Canada costs significantly: report
TORONTO , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - IsoEnergy Ltd. (" IsoEnergy ") (TSX: ISO) (OTCQX: ISENF ) is pleased to announce shareholders of the company (the " Shareholders ") have overwhelmingly approved two resolutions at the Special Meeting of Shareholders (the " Meeting ") held today. These include the ordinary resolution (the " Share Issuance Resolution ") to approve the share issuance in connection with the previously announced arrangement (the " Arrangement ") involving IsoEnergy and Anfield Energy Corp. (" Anfield ") and the special resolution (the " Share Consolidation Resolution ") approving the discretionary consolidation of IsoEnergy shares. The Share Issuance Resolution was required to be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by Shareholders virtually in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting and the Share Consolidation Resolution was required to be approved by at least two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the votes cast by Shareholders virtually in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting. A total of 116,633,626 Common Shares, representing approximately 65.23% of votes entitled to be cast at the Meeting, were represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Approximately 99.56% of the votes eligible to be cast were voted in favour of the Share Issuance Resolution and 99.19% in favour of the Share Consolidation Resolution. The report of voting results will be made available under IsoEnergy's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . In addition to the approval by IsoEnergy Shareholders, Anfield shareholders approved the Arrangement at its special meeting today. Anfield will seek a final order approving the Arrangement from the Supreme Court of British Columbia on December 6, 2024 . Closing of the Arrangement remains subject to satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including receipt of final court and stock exchange approvals. Subject to the satisfaction of these closing conditions, the parties currently expect to complete the Arrangement in December 2024 . IsoEnergy is also pleased to announce that the parties have received written notice from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that it has concluded its review of the Arrangement and determined that there are no unresolved national security concerns with respect to the Arrangement. Further details regarding the Arrangement, including the principal closing conditions and the anticipated benefits for Shareholders, can be found in the Company's management proxy circular dated October 31, 2024 , in respect of the Meeting, which can be found under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca . None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Arrangement have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and any securities issuable in the Arrangement are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Arrangement, including statements with respect to the consummation of the Arrangement and the timing thereof; satisfaction of conditions to closing of the Arrangement, including receipt of final court and stock exchange approvals; and any other activities, events or developments that the companies expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at the time, are inherently subject to business, market and economic risks, uncertainties and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, assumptions that IsoEnergy and Anfield will complete the Arrangement in accordance with, and on the timeline contemplated by the terms and conditions of the relevant agreements; that the parties will receive the required court and stock exchange approvals and will satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Arrangement; and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner . Although IsoEnergy has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such statements represent the current views of IsoEnergy with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by IsoEnergy, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following: the inability of IsoEnergy and Anfield to complete the Arrangement; a material adverse change in the timing of and the terms and conditions upon which the Arrangemen tis completed; the inability to satisfy or waive all conditions to closing the Arrangement; the failure to obtain shareholder, regulatory, court or stock exchange approvals in connection with the Arrangement; unanticipated changes in market price for IsoEnergy Shares and/or Anfield shares; changes to IsoEnergy's and/or Anfield's current and future business plans and the strategic alternatives available thereto; growth prospects and outlook of Anfield's business; regulatory determinations and delays; stock market conditions generally; demand, supply and pricing for uranium; and general economic and political conditions in Canada , the United States and other jurisdictions where the applicable party conducts business. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in IsoEnergy's most recent annual information form, the Circular and IsoEnergy's other filings with the Canadian securities regulators which are available, respectively, on each company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . IsoEnergy does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE IsoEnergy Ltd.
Porter's 26 lead Middle Tennessee over South Florida 95-88A PIVOTAL step toward advancing the salt industry in Ilocos Norte (Region 1) through the One in Accelerating Salt Innovations (OneASIN) initiative was achieved following the signing of a memorandum of understanding by stakeholders recently at Sola Hotel, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The Department of Science and Technology Region 1 (DOST-1) will spearhead the program in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute, Department of Trade and Industry, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) and Mariano Marcos State University. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister whose economic reforms made his country a global powerhouse, has died at the age of 92, current leader Narendra Modi said Thursday. India "mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders," Modi posted on social media platform X shortly after news broke of Singh's passing. "As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people's lives." Singh was taken to a hospital in New Delhi after he lost consciousness at his home on Thursday, but could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead at 9:51 pm local time, according to a statement by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Singh, who held office from 2004 to 2014, is credited with having overseen an economic boom in Asia's fourth-largest economy in his first term, although slowing growth in later years marred his second stint. "I have lost a mentor and guide," opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a statement, adding that Singh had "led India with immense wisdom and integrity." "Millions of us who admired him will remember him with the utmost pride," said Gandhi, a scion of India's powerful Nehru-Gandhi dynasty and the most prominent challenger to Modi. Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the opposition in parliament's upper house, said "India has lost a visionary statesman, a leader of unimpeachable integrity, and an economist of unparalleled stature." President Droupadi Murmu wrote on X that Singh will "always be remembered for his service to the nation, his unblemished political life and his utmost humility." Born in 1932 in the mud-house village of Gah in what is now Pakistan, Singh studied economics to find a way to eradicate poverty in India and never held elected office before taking the vast nation's top job. He won scholarships to attend both Cambridge, where he obtained a first in economics, and Oxford, where he completed his PhD. Singh worked in a string of senior civil posts, served as a central bank governor and also held various jobs with global agencies including the United Nations. He was tapped in 1991 by then Congress prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao to reel India back from the worst financial crisis in its modern history. In his first term Singh steered the economy through a period of nine-percent growth, lending India the international clout it had long sought. He also sealed a landmark nuclear deal with the United States that he said would help India meet its growing energy needs. Known as "Mr Clean", Singh nonetheless saw his image tarnished during his decade-long tenure when a series of corruption cases became public. Several months before the 2014 elections, Singh said he would retire after the polls, with Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul earmarked to take his place if Congress won. But Congress crashed to its worst-ever result at that time as the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Modi, won in a landslide. Singh -- who said historians would be kinder to him than contemporary detractors -- became a vocal critic of Modi's economic policies, and more recently warned about the risks that rising communal tensions posed to India's democracy. bjt/mlm
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson was carted off the field and taken to a hospital with a neck injury late in the first half of Saturday's game at No. 24 Missouri. Jackson appeared to injure his neck while trying to tackle Missouri running back Jamal Roberts. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Big Data Institute (BDI), a public organisation, is set to launch the initial phase of the national big data platform in 2025 through the further development of four existing key platforms -- the Health Link, Envi Link, Travel Link and the Smart Data Analytics platforms. BDI president Tiranee Achalakul said the move will pave the way to transform the BDI to become the central intelligence organisation in the future. The launch of the national big data platform is part of the institute's strategic roadmap for 2025–27. The BDI targets generating over 1 billion baht in combined economic, social and environmental impact via big data and related technologies in 2025. Moreover, it aims to create more than 10,000 new data-related jobs in 2025. The draft of the strategic roadmap is under the review of the National Economic and Social Development Council. The roadmap contains four key strategies: creating and utilising the national big data platform, promoting the creation of a data value chain, building a data talent pool, and advancing artificial intelligence (AI) development and utilisation. Ms Tiranee said that next year the BDI will focus on expanding the connectivity of the Health Link national health data platform to cover more health units registered with the National Health Security Office, ensuring the link's nationwide coverage. It will also expand coverage of Envi Link, the environmental data service platform for smart cities. Moreover, it will expand the operation of the Travel Link national tourism intelligence platform to include additional key tourist destinations. The platform is entering its second phase of development. It will foster the Smart Data Analytics platform, which is dedicated to advancing smart city development. The platform creates data solutions tailored to the specific characteristics of at least five additional provinces: Nan, Uttaradit, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla and Nakhon Si Thammarat. "The four key platforms are being maximised and centralised to become the initial phase of the national big data platform in 2025," Ms Tiranee said. "The primary objective of the national big data platform is to provide the government with a secure and centralised big data system, enabling seamless and safe data integration across agencies working on shared issues." This will facilitate advanced data analysis and promote the broader utilisation of data in the future, Ms Tiranee said. The BDI is actively supporting the incubation of skilled professionals in the public and private sectors. She added that the Thai Large Language Model (ThaiLLM) project, funded by the Office of National Digital Economy and Society Commission, aims to develop and enhance language models using vast amounts of Thai-language sources. The BDI, in collaboration with key partners such as the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurs Association of Thailand, the Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand, Chulalongkorn University and Mahidol University, is advancing the development of the ThaiLLM V.1 model. The initial phase focuses on building a foundation model to enable further applications, along with specialised models tailored to healthcare and environmental sectors.NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that dismissal is warranted because of the extraordinary circumstances of his impending return to the White House. “Wrongly continuing proceedings in this failed lawfare case disrupts President Trump’s transition efforts,” the attorneys continued, before citing the “overwhelming national mandate granted to him by the American people on November 5, 2024.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse the conviction, which involved efforts to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels, whose affair allegations threatened to disrupt his 2016 campaign. He has denied any wrongdoing. Trump takes office Jan. 20. Merchan hasn’t set a timetable for a decision. A dismissal would erase Trump’s historic conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office. Merchan could also decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option.
Springfield, IL (Capitolnewsillinois.com) A conservative Catholic legal group is suing Illinois over a landmark state law enshrining a "fundamental right" to abortion care and requiring insurance companies to cover abortion and other reproductive health care. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Chicago by the Thomas More Society, seeks to prevent the state from requiring insurers to cover abortion coverage by arguing that doing so violates the First Amendment and 14th Amendment rights of its plaintiffs. It also argues that the state is in violation of the Comstock Act, which criminalizes mailing abortion-related materials, because it requires health insurers to cover providers who send abortion medication in the mail. This federal provision, which hasn't been widely enforced against abortion providers in decades, has been discussed among anti-abortion activists and conservative politicians as one way to crack down on abortion access. The lawsuit also relies on the Coats-Snowe Amendment and the Weldon Amendment, which prevent states that receive federal funding from discriminating against health care entities because they don't provide abortions. It was filed on behalf of six organizations and six individuals against Gov. JB Pritzker, Illinois Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie and Attorney General Kwame Raoul. "Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his administration are on an uncompromising campaign to transform the Land of Lincoln into the nation's abortion capital," Thomas More Society's head of litigation Peter Breen said in a statement. "In doing so, they have shown little-to-no regard for the rights of those who believe that all human life is worth protecting." The plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit include three anti-abortion advocacy groups, a church, a private Christian school, a DuPage County machining business and six individuals. The law at the center of the legal complaint, the Reproductive Health Act, passed in 2019 and was meant at the time as a protective measure ahead of the expected overturning of Roe v. Wade. It has been strengthened several times in the years since. The legal complaint alleges the law forces Illinoisans "to choose between paying for other people's elective abortions with their premiums or forgoing health insurance entirely." The lawsuit equated that to a choice of struggling to recruit staff by not offering insurance on principal or subjecting themselves to "charges of hypocrisy" by offering insurance that covers behaviors they condemn. They argue this prevents them from being able to engage in "expressive association" as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The Thomas More Society previously but unsuccessfully challenged Illinois' abortion insurance requirements in state court on behalf of the Illinois Baptist State Association. In 2020, it sued the state's Department of Insurance and Pritzker in another attempt to prevent them from enforcing the Reproductive Health Act. That lawsuit claimed the law violated the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protects individuals' right to freedom of religion, and the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which allows doctors and other practitioners to conscientiously refuse to provide medical treatments, including abortion. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Chris Perrin ruled in favor of the state in September of this year, noting that the claim in that case failed because the plaintiffs did not demonstrate that the Reproductive Health Act "imposes the type of coercive choice necessary to establish a substantial burden." State and federal law often rely on different legal standards, so whether a federal judge will reach the same conclusion is still untested. In the meantime, the Thomas More Society has filed an appeal in the state case. At the time of the Sangamon County decision, Attorney General Kwame Raoul said it was "a win in a years-long fight that is by no means over." On Wednesday, he said that remains true. "And I remain steadfast in my commitment to protecting reproductive rights in the state of Illinois," Raoul said in a statement. Other abortion rights advocates reacted to the legal challenge with confidence that abortion access will prevail in the case. Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said the federal case was "a pathetic retread of a case that they lost." Cassidy was the chief sponsor of the Reproductive Health Act and is a longtime champion of abortion protections at the Statehouse. "Fundamentally, without appropriate access, a right isn't a right," Cassidy said. "So this is fundamental to ensuring that we truly have an accessible system here in Illinois. If it's only available to those who can afford it, it's not a right." This story is provided as a service of the Institute for Nonprofit News’ On the Ground news wire. The Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) is a network of more than 475 independent, nonprofit newsrooms serving communities throughout the US, Canada, and globally. On the Ground is a service of INN, which aggregates the best of its members’ elections and political content, and provides it free for republication. Read more about INN here: https://inn.org/ . Please coordinate with jrogers@capitolnewsillinois.com should you want to publish photos for this piece. This content cannot be modified, apart from rewriting the headline. To view the original version, visit: https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/new-federal-lawsuit-from-conservative-legal-group-challenges-illinois-abortion-protections/Green and Jamiel score long TDs and Lehigh rallies to defeat Richmond 20-16 in FCS playoff openerEva Longoria celebrates Christmas with ‘out of office’ bikini snaps
By Leah Nylen and Jaewon Kang | Bloomberg A judge blocked Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. , finding the takeover would lessen competition for US grocery shoppers, in a ruling that marks a likely death knell for the deal. In a decision filed in Oregon federal court Tuesday, US District Judge Adrienne Nelson found in favor of the US Federal Trade Commission. The agency had argued that the proposed tie-up violates US antitrust law and that a division of hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. wouldn’t do enough to replace the lost competition. Also see: Biggest question from Kroger-Albertsons trial: What’s a grocery store? “There is ample evidence that the division is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete with the merged firm and is structured in a way that will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” Nelson wrote. “The deficiencies in the disvestiture scope and structure create a risk that some or all of the divested stores will lose sales or close, as has happened in past C&S acquisitions.” Nelson’s decision is a major victory for the FTC and its outgoing Chair Lina Khan, who came under harsh criticism from conservatives and business groups for stepped-up antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration. “Today’s win protects competition in the grocery market, which will prevent prices from rising even more,” said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar. “This statement makes it clear that strong, reality-based antitrust enforcement delivers real results for consumers, workers, and small businesses.” Also see: Albertsons would have shed these 63 California stores A C&S Wholesale spokesperson said the company is disappointed by the court’s decision and that it looks forward to seeing how Kroger and Albertsons will determine the next steps of the proposed deal. Kroger and Albertsons didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the companies have said the acquisition would probably be called off if the judge ruled against the deal. Kroger shares jumped as much as 6.1% in New York trading on Tuesday, extending earlier gains. Albertsons slumped as much as 10%. Specific Market Nelson agreed with the FTC that supermarkets constitute a specific market, countering the companies’ argument that the market extends to online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. “Supermarkets are distinct from other grocery retailers,” Nelson wrote. “Supermarkets offer a larger selection of fresh and non-perishable items, a one-stop shopping experience that appeals to a particular consumer’s preference to meet all their grocery needs in one location, and a customer service focus with deli, bakery, meat, and other specialized departments.” The ruling marks a disappointing end to a two-year odyssey by Kroger and Albertsons, which sought to become a bigger player with a more substantial national footprint to better compete against larger, non-unionized rivals including Walmart Inc. Kroger and Albertsons agreed to combine in October 2022 in what would have been the biggest US grocery deal in history, bringing together more than 4,000 stores across 48 states and Washington, DC. Kroger will likely turn its focus back to improving and investing in its existing network of about 2,750 stores. Albertsons, on the other hand, could emerge again as a deal target, but is expected in the near term to invest in its roughly 2,270 stores and technology. The proposed deal has been a political hot potato, drawing pushback from elected officials, union groups and consumer advocacy firms. The companies vowed to spend $1 billion to cut prices, $1.3 billion to improve store conditions and $1 billion to raise worker wages and benefits following the deal. The FTC has increased antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration, though the results in court have been mixed. The FTC lost a challenge to Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. and won against Illumina Inc. over its purchase of startup Grail and against Tapestry Inc.’s planned $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings Inc. The companies and the agency fought their case in court for three weeks over the summer in Oregon, as grocery inflation came back into the political spotlight ahead of the US presidential election. Grocery inflation hit a four-decade high in 2022 due to higher costs of labor, transportation and ingredients. Price increases have moderated and are expected to stay within historical ranges, though many American shoppers still say expensive groceries continue to squeeze their ability to spend. The FTC argued that the deal would harm consumers by eliminating competition on prices and quality, making the combined entity less likely to improve its services by offering flexible hours and pickup services. It said the grocers would have more leverage over workers, which would slow wage growth and worsen benefits, and that the proposed divestiture would be inadequate. The agency tried to depict Kroger and Albertsons as the most direct competitors. It said the deal would combine the two largest “traditional supermarkets” in a market that includes Walmart and Target, but does not include Amazon, Costco, Aldi and dollar stores. The companies argued that such a definition is “antiquated” and no longer describes how people shop and pointed to various changes they have made in response to newer threats. The grocers also said joining forces would help them increase market share and improve technology to compete with Amazon, Walmart and other companies. The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger Co., 24-cv-00347, US District Court, District of Oregon (Portland). Related Articles Retail | Fear of Trump tariffs sending Americans into debt as pantry stockpiling rises Retail | Costco’s popular Kirkland diapers shifting suppliers Retail | Status Update: Gifts urgently needed for OC Rescue Mission children, adults Retail | Status Update: Barnes & Noble returning to Orange, but with a twist Retail | Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year’s biggest day for online shopping
- Previous:
- Next: hand 777 slot
