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Blame it on the food and drink?Supreme Court doesn't seem convinced FDA was unfair in blocking flavored vapes as teen use increased

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) securities between January 25, 2024 and October 28, 2024. Xerox and its subsidiaries offer workplace technology that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, and internationally. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Prospects According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) after a large workforce reduction, the Company’s salesforce was reorganized with new territory assignments and account coverage; (2) as a result, the Company’s salesforce productivity was disrupted; (3) as a result, the Company had a lower rate of sell-through of older products; (4) the difficulties in flushing out older product would delay the launch of key products; and (5) therefore, Xerox was likely to experience lower sales and revenue. Plaintiff alleges that on October 29, 2024, Xerox revealed “lower-than-expected improvements in sales force productivity” and “delays in the global launch of two new products” had led to “sales underperformance.” The Company disclosed that for third quarter 2024, quarterly revenue was down 7.5% year-over-year to $1.53 billion, net loss fell to -$1.2 billion (down $1.3 billion year-over-year), and equipment sales declined 12.2% year over year to $339 million. In a corresponding earnings call, the Company’s COO revealed the product delay was in fact a “forecasting issue” where the Company “had higher expectations that we were going to flush through the older product” which it needed to “sell through” in order to “make those transitions.” On this news, the Company’s share price fell $1.79, or 17.41%, to close at $8.49 per share on October 29, 2024. What Now : You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP : Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/513fb6e4-a34e-4150-8fe5-2c133087d380

A Portland program that aims to protect low-income residents during dangerous heat waves will undergo a massive expansion after city leaders Tuesday authorized an additional $10.3 million in funding. The Cooling Portland initiative now plans to distribute 25,000 portable air conditioners and heat-pump-cooling-unit combos to vulnerable city dwellers free of charge by the end of 2026, up from an initial goal of 15,000.Samsung to Unveil Galaxy Ring 2, AR Smart Glasses, and Galaxy S25 at Next Year’s Launch EventRavens’ John Harbaugh doesn’t rule out bringing in kicker to compete with Justin TuckerFox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Snoop Dogg loves his kids. During a recent appearance on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" with his daughter, Cori Broadus, the two played a game called "Snoop & Cori's Confessions," in which the two answered questions about the other. One of the questions host, Jennifer Hudson asked, was what the most expensive gift Snoop ever gave his daughter was. "It's the truth, but the only thing about this gift is she never got to open it, or she hasn't opened it yet," he shared during the episode on Monday. "It was a million dollars for her wedding." Snoop jokingly added that if this was his wedding, it would have cost "$100 and $900 would have gone in my pocket." Snoop revealed he gave his daughter $1 million as a gift for her wedding. (Chris Haston/WBTV via Getty Images) SNOOP DOGG CELEBRATES WITH US SWIMMER'S WIFE DURING GOLD MEDAL RACE IN HEARTWARMING MOMENT Broadus and her fiancé, Wayne Duece, got engaged in November 2022, and had planned on getting married earlier this year. However, their plans were pushed back when Broadus — who was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 6 — suffered a stroke in January 2024. The road to planning the wedding and the highs and lows the couple experienced during the process were documented in the upcoming three-part E! docuseries, "Snoop's Fatherhood: Cori and Wayne's Story." "It's the truth, but the only thing about this gift is she never got to open it, or she hasn't opened it yet. It was a million dollars for her wedding." When it comes to his daughter's fiancé, Snoop couldn't help but gush about how much he loves him, saying he has called him his son-in-law for a while now. He even revealed he often takes Duece's side over his daughter's when they argue, explaining, "He's always in the right." "I know he's the one," he said. "As a father, you know. I'm gonna speak for him because, as a father, one thing you know is when it's your baby girl, you ain't gonna hand her off to nobody who ain't gonna handle her with care." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Snoop Dogg approves of his daughter's fiancé. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for MTV) After getting emotional while speaking about the love his daughter and Duece share, Snoop told Hudson, "I watched her from creation to now so I'm supposed to get emotional about it." The proud father mentioned another expensive gift he once gave his daughter, while answering a different question earlier in the game, revealing he bought her a G Wagon for her sixteenth birthday. "I don't know what happened, but I bought her a G Wagon for her 16th birthday, and all of a sudden, the mama had a G Wagon," Snoop said. After Hudson asked if Broadus gave her mom the car, Snoop clarified, saying, "She didn't give it to her, she took it away. Her grounding was taking it away." "She was driving me to the nail shop, I'm like, ‘Mom, you cold. You cold,’" Broadus added, also noting she couldn't divulge what she got in trouble for at the time. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Broadus is thankful for the way her parents raised her. (David Livingston/Getty Images) When it comes down to it, Broadus admits she could not have asked for better parents , recognizing that their parenting methods made her the person she is today. "I think the best thing is he's just so supportive," she said of her dad. "Sometimes I'm like, 'Wait, this is my dad?' He's such this legend, but he's always there for me and shows me everything that I need to know in life." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Lori Bashian is an entertainment production assistant for Fox News Digital.

Young Sheldon Season 8: CBS shares glimpses of Thanksgiving episode - Mary, Meemaw, Missy, and GeorgieAtmos Energy Corp. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors

Are you wanting to make new additions to your income portfolio in January? If you are, then it could pay to listen to what analysts are saying about the ASX dividend stocks in this article. They have recently been named as buys by analysts and tipped to offer attractive . Here's what you need to know about them: ( ) The team at Bell Potter thinks that agribusiness company Elders could be an ASX dividend stock to buy in January. It was pleased with the recent announcement of a new acquisition and feels it is another reason to buy. Especially given its belief that the market is underestimating the synergies on offer with the acquisition. Outside this, it thinks that Elders' shares are trading at a discount to fair value. The broker explains: Our Buy rating is unchanged. The acquisition of delta looks a relatively low-risk stepout with upside to the synergy target based on the 15% ROIC target (i.e ~$70m EBIT vs. 3yr target of ~$55m) largely through increased backward integration in crop protection. Trading at ~7.4x PF25e EBITDA, ELD trades at a reasonable discount to its through-the-cycle EBITDA multiple of 8.5x. Bell Potter is expecting Elders to pay fully franked dividends of 38 cents per share in FY 2025 and then 43 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the current Elders share price of $7.23, this will mean of 5.25% and 5.95%, respectively. The broker has a buy rating and $9.45 price target on its shares. ( ) Another excellent ASX dividend stock for income investors to consider buying in January is Smartgroup. It is an industry-leading provider of employee benefits, end-to-end fleet management, and software solutions. Smartgroup currently has over 400,000 salary packages and 64,000 novated leases under management. Bell Potter is also positive on the company. It believes its shares are undervalued, particularly given its defensive qualities and favourable industry tailwinds. The broker said: Our favourable investment view is predicated on: (1) defensive customer segments with strong forecast occupational growth within the disability and aged care services; (2) the Electric Car Discount Bill (2022) which exempts new energy vehicles from Fringe Benefits Tax; and (3) a greater availability and selection of new energy vehicles, particularly in the mid-to-large Sports Utility segment. In respect to income, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 59.7 cents in FY 2025 and then 62.7 cents in FY 2026. Based on its current share price of $7.74, this will mean big dividend yields of 7.7% and 8.1%, respectively. The broker currently has a buy rating and $10.00 price target on Smartgroup's shares.Spurred on by a New York Post story about Pope Francis opening "five sacred portals" this Christmas, the goofier corners of the social media world are breathlessly sharing warnings that the Pope is planning to open the "Tomb of Lucifer," or the Devil's Tomb this holiday season. The TikTok video below, from GraceXDigital, has been viewed more than 2 million times and explains the whole conspiracy theory. Grace is asking the Pope important questions, like "Why are you doing this this year, in this economy?" While The Pope is opening five portals to close out 2024, I regret to inform you that His Holiness is not planning to open the Tomb of Lucifer—nothing that awesome ever happens. There is a tomb of Lucifer under the Vatican, but it's not as cool as you'd hope. Nothing in this story is not as cool as you'd hope. What are these portals the Pope is opening? The Pope is actually going to be opening five sacred portals as part of a ritual this year, but "portal" just means "door," and four of the five doors lead to well known basilicas. Despite what some internet cranks are saying, it's not the first time this has happened either: The ritual happens every 25 years, and is meant to usher in a year “renewed in hope” for Catholics. So basically, it's the Pope doing Pope junk. The only never-happened-before part of the story is Pope Francis putting his own spin on the ritual by opening a fifth door inside the Roman prison Rebibbia on Dec. 26. It's meant to offer prisoners a sign to "look to the future with hope and a renewed sense of confidence." The door opening is symbolic, so the prisoners will not be freed to run rampant in Rome. The Tomb of Lucifer and the Vatican Necropolis The one slightly cool part of the story: There is a city of the dead under the Vatican that has a tomb of Lucifer, and you can visit it . The Vatican Necropolis lies 15 to 24 feet below Saint Peter's Basilica, near the site of the Circus of Caligula . Originally an open-air cemetery, the necropolis dates back to the Roman Empire and supposedly contains the remains of the Apostle Peter along with the skeletons of various Popes and other prominent early Catholics. Also found here: the Tomb of Lucifer. But it's not the Lucifer, the Morning Star, the fallen angel who became the head of the demons. That Lucifer's ultimate fate is murky. Maybe he's still alive, subtly convincing people to cheat at Monopoly, or maybe he's in Heaven because he found redemption, or maybe he's in Newark. (According to Dante, Lucifer is in the deepest circle of the abyss, frozen in ice and forced to beat his wings for eternity to power Hell, so I'll go with that.) In any case, the angelic Lucifer isn't a person, so he doesn't have a tomb. According to the Vatican's own Necropolis map , Tomb U is labeled "Lucifer." The Vatican says: "The entrance to the tomb has been reduced because of a fault in the architrave. It is possible, however, to glimpse some of the niches with their characteristic red background and several arcosoli." Red backgrounds? It's gotta be Satan. But nah: The construction of this tomb pre-dates the association of the name "Lucifer" with the devil. We don't actually know why it's called the Lucifer tomb. It might be a reference to some graffiti found around there , or a reference to an important Catholic with that name. It's not referring to the devil, though. Why are there so many Catholic conspiracy theories anyway? Why the Pope opening some doors in Vatican City became a conspiracy theory on TikTok is a complex question. America's history of anti-Catholicism dates back to before the United States was even a thing . While those deep cultural and historical biases are probably part of it, I think the main reason people traffic in this sort of conspiratorial thinking is more innocent: the Catholic Church is really old and really weird, and people like a little spice in their Christmas eggnog. People also like putting together puzzles, and the Catholic Church gives you a lot of pieces to play with. The Vatican is an ancient city full of tunnels, crumbling Roman ruins, and a Necropolis under a basilica. The Pope controls a city-state, can speak with God's voice, and wears some very impressive hats. It's the kind of set-up where anything seems like it could be happening at any time, including the Pope digging up Satan's grave, maybe so they can fight. Like many conspiracy theorists, the author Dan Brown, and the developers of the Assassin's Creed video games, I want the awesome things to be real too. I want a flashy showdown in Vatican City between angels and demons ( and aliens ). But good and evil don't work that way in real life. Even if you dress up the "good guys" in elaborate headgear, they're still fallible old men—51% good on a good day. Evil doesn't reside in a tomb and come at you with flaming swords. It would be cool if the Pope could call on the power of his big buddy God to smite those who need smiting, but despite the hats, scepters, and symbolic authority, the best the Pope can do is throw open some old doors in the papal palace and maybe try to get people to maybe think about the plight of prisoners.

Building a state-of-the-art criminal justice center with just three guysPlayers must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

Pyrotechnic, or rocket-propelled, line throwers have existed in maritime for centuries and remain a common feature in the industry today, but there are good reasons why users have pushed for a practical alternative. According to Petter M. Olsen, Chief Marketing Officer, Restech Norway, development of the pneumatic line thrower (PLT®) began when a sea captain requested a solution that was free of explosives, reusable, and robust enough for deployment in rough weather. Petter M. Olsen, Chief Marketing Officer, Restech Norway “Restech Norway was established to make this vision a reality,” he says, as the company celebrates the 45th anniversary of its pneumatic system. “The PLT® has since become a fixture in the maritime and offshore markets thanks to its superior safety and practicality,” adds Olsen. Using compressed air to launch projectiles, the PLT® works without explosives or gunpowder, meaning it is safer to store and deploy than pyrotechnic systems. The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (Solas) covering the carriage of life-saving appliances (LSAs) includes a requirement for line-throwing apparatus (LTA) on board vessels. It applies to vessels of 500 gross tonnage and above or with capacity for more than 12 people. Providing “more specific technical requirements for the manufacturing, testing, maintenance, and record keeping” of LSAs, the Convention’s LSA Code for rescue lays out the accuracy, reach, and strength needed by the LTA, while storage requirements reflect the use of pyrotechnic types. Lower-risk PLT® “There are obvious safety risks associated with the storage and use of pyrotechnics on board a vessel, and in certain situations, these risks are exacerbated,” notes Olsen, who points to the example of a tanker, where pyrotechnics pose a fire or explosion hazard and complicate rescue operations. “Even if the stricken vessel is not a tanker, gas may be present in a distress situation due to a fire, in which case, using pyrotechnics would be extremely dangerous.” Outside of rescue operations, LTA are used for bunkering and ship-to-ship transfer in the offshore oil and gas sector, and in this case, pneumatic systems are now mandatory, Olsen explains. This is not only for reasons of safety, he says, but also due to accuracy. “In offshore locations such as the North Sea, pyrotechnic LTA have been shown to lack precision,” he says. “Being self-propelled, the projectiles are easily pushed off course by wind, whereas projectiles propelled by compressed air are less susceptible to the effects of weather, making them considerably more accurate. In fact, studies demonstrate that the PLT® can repeat a shot within five to eight metres of a target up to 240 metres away in a strong crosswind.” Another application for the PLT® is to help large vessels moor safely and efficiently in rough conditions. “A rocket-propelled projectile is designed to fly 450 metres, so when it reaches port at a shorter distance, it will continue to fly around until it burns out,” comments Olsen. “This is a clear safety risk and one reason the PLT® has found favour with container and cruise ships, whose size makes mooring in high winds a challenge.” Cruise lines are also opting for the PLT® for environmental reasons, with Costa Cruises a notable example. Olsen explains that, under local regulations, crew on board Italian-flagged vessels have to practise with LTA biannually – and having previously used pyrotechnics, Costa noticed that small pieces of plastic were falling into the sea whenever a projectile was launched. The company decided to switch to the PLT®, which contains no loose components and therefore has no negative impact on the marine environment. “Every time a pyrotechnic LTA is used or expires, it has to be replaced, creating waste, causing lifecycle costs to mount up, and making training and testing impractical,” continues Olsen. “The PLT® is reusable, meaning it can be tested and trained with as often as needed. Furthermore, whereas rocket-propelled systems have to be replaced every three years even if unused, the PLT® has no expiry date. Over the course of a cruise ship’s lifespan, which can exceed 40 years, the payback on pneumatic LTA compared to pyrotechnic versions is enormous.” In addition, since pneumatic systems are not classed as dangerous goods, no special provisions are required for their transport. Shipping pyrotechnics, conversely, requires permits and specially adapted storage solutions, which delays delivery and adds to total cost of ownership. “Disposal presents a further headache for users of pyrotechnic systems,” says Olsen. “As dangerous goods, pyrotechnics need to be taken to special disposal sites. However, these are few and far between, which can mean keeping unstable explosives on board for extended periods. Manufacturers may offer a disposal service, but again, this just adds to cost.” The advantages of the PLT® over pyrotechnic LTA are significant and numerous, but Olsen stresses that Restech’s system is not the only pneumatic option on the market. “Other brands are available,” he says. “What sets Restech apart is that we are the inventor of the original system. As such, we possess unparalleled experience in its development, application, and testing. This is a life-saving technology, so there can be no compromise on quality.” Restech’s product portfolio caters to a range of requirements based on the type and size of the vessel and the operations it undertakes. For vessels under 500 GT or with capacity for fewer than 12 people, Restech offers a small, lightweight LTA: PLT® Mini. With a launching distance of 30–100 m depending on the line and projectile used, PLT® Mini is commonly deployed in both work and rescue operations. PLT® Solas, meanwhile, is a low-cost solution designed exclusively to support compliance with the LSA Code. In accordance with regulations, it comes equipped with four projectiles, achieves a launching distance of 230–250 m, and has a line breaking strength of 2,000 Newtons. Restech’s best-selling system, PLT® Multi, is centred on the PLT® Launching Unit, which comprises three launching tubes and allows operators to select from a toolbox of nine projectiles. With PLT® Multi, users can comply with Solas rules while addressing more specific launching requirements for line transfer, mooring operations, back-up for towing, and life buoys, for example. Reflecting on the regulatory landscape around LTA, Olsen calls for the rules to be updated to shift the focus from only pyrotechnic to include other technologies like pneumatic systems and make regular training mandatory: “It’s a matter of addressing the weak link in rescue operations. Every other piece of life-saving equipment may be optimal, but if you can’t transfer a line because of safety concerns, a lack of precision, or insufficient training, the entire operation will be compromised,” he concludes. Source: By Petter M. Olsen, CMO/Chief Marketing Officer, RestechPALERMO, Calif. (AP) — There was a shooting Wednesday at a Northern California elementary school and the suspect is dead, sheriff’s officials say. Deputies were “on scene of an active incident involving a shooting” at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said on the social platform X. It wasn’t immediately known if anyone at the school was hurt. “The suspected shooter is deceased,” the post said. A phone call and email to the sheriff’s department were not immediately returned. A representative from the Butte County Fire Department did not immediately have any information about the shooting. Students were being taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. Palermo — home to about 5,500 people — is about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. The Associated Press

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To The New York Times, it was a standard journalistic practice done in the name of fairness — asking someone involved in a story for comment. To the mother of the nominee for secretary of defense, it constituted a threat. On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth's mother accused the Times of making “threats” by calling about its story on an email she had sent to her son six years earlier that criticized his treatment of women. Penelope Hegseth sought and received an interview on Fox News Channel to support her son, whose confirmation chances are threatened by a series of damaging stories about his personal conduct. At one point, she said she wanted to directly tell President-elect Trump that her son “is not that man he was seven years ago.” She also called the Times “despicable” and attacked a basic tenet of journalism: giving someone the chance to speak for a story about actions that could be seen in a negative light. The Times' story, published Saturday , quoted from a private email that Penelope Hegseth sent to her son in 2018 while he was in the midst of divorcing his second wife. She criticized his character and treatment of women, suggesting that he get some help. “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego,” she wrote to her offspring. “You are that man (and have been for many years).” She told the Times for its story that she had sent the email in a moment of anger and followed it up two hours later with an apology. She disavows its content now. When the Times called her for comment on the story, Hegseth told Fox News that, at first, she did not respond. She said she perceived the calls as a threat — “they say unless you make a statement we will publish it as is and I think that's a despicable way to treat anyone,” she said. “I don't think a lot of people know that's the way they operate,” she said, speaking about the story. She accused the newspaper of being in it "for the money. And they don't care who they hurt, families, children. I don't believe that's the right way to do things.” Charles Stadtlander, a spokesman for the Times, said Hegseth's claim “is flatly untrue,” and she was in no way threatened. “The Times did what it always does in reporting out a story, simply reaching out and asking for a comment, which we included,” he said. Such a call is the opposite of a threat — it's an attempt to be fair, said Tom Rosenstiel, a University of Maryland professor and co-author of “Elements of Journalism: What News People Should Know and What the Public Should Expect.” “She's basically saying that brake lights are a threat because they alert you that the car ahead of you is about to stop," he said. But many Americans would perceive that call as a threat, or certainly as rude and a violation of privacy, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. “She didn't write that email to be on the front page of The New York Times,” he said. A secondary question is the newsworthiness of publishing the content of the private email, one that Hegseth said she almost immediately regretted sending and doesn't reflect how she perceives her son. Graham suggested that the newspaper wouldn't do the same for the nominee of a Democratic president-elect. “The New York Times is out to destroy these nominees,” he said. In its initial story, the Times wrote that it had obtained a copy of the email “from another person with ties to the Hegseth family.” “This was a piece of independently reported journalism published in the name of public awareness of the nominee to lead the largest department in the federal government,” Stadtlander said. “We stand behind it completely.” In many circumstances, an email from a mother to her son would be considered a private matter and out of bounds to a news organization, Rosenstiel said. But in this case, Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host chosen by Trump to lead the Pentagon, has built himself into a public figure and is up for a very important job — and one that leads the military, which involves waging war and in which character is considered a fundamental trait. “It makes this news, honestly,” Stadtlander said. The Times wrote about Penelope Hegseth's Fox interview on Wednesday, leading with her saying her son “was not the same man he was in 2018 when she fired off an email accusing him of routinely abusing women and lacking decency and character.” There was some question about whether Hegseth would appear for an interview at his former network on Wednesday, after CNN's Kaitlan Collins posted on X the night before that “multiple people” said that was expected. A Fox News representative said that no such interview had been scheduled, and the nominee was on Capitol Hill meeting with senators. He has faced a flurry of other damaging reports, including stories about a sexual assault allegation reported to police in 2017. No charges were filed then, and Hegseth said the relationship was consensual. The New Yorker magazine wrote about reports of financial mismanagement , sexist behavior and excessive drinking when Hegseth ran a veterans' organization, and NBC News wrote about people at Fox News concerned about his alcohol use. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.