maths genie past papers
2025-01-13 2025 European Cup maths genie past papers
News
genie lyrics
Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”Arsenal climbed to second in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Friday night. It wasn't a straightforward victory by any means and the Gunners were made to work hard for the three points. It wasn't pretty, but they got the job done and several players stepped up. One player in particular who shone against the Tractor Boys and is rewarding Mikel Arteta for his recent trust in him is Myles Lewis-Skelly. The youngster made his third league start in a row for Arsenal against Ipswich and showed why he was being handed the opportunity, with a fine display. It was far from a classic but Arsenal finished off their 2024 home fixtures with three points Myles Lewis-Skelly Against Ipswich Throughout his time as a prospect, Lewis-Skelly was known more for his work as a midfielder, but he's earned an opportunity with Arsenal playing at left-back. He's adapted to the position very well. His performance against Ipswich was indicative of that as he did a superb job keeping Omari Hutchinson quiet. Throughout the game, he recorded two clearances, three tackles, won eight of his nine ground duels and finished with a pass success rate of 98%. He rarely put a foot wrong and justified Arteta's decision to start him at left-back over the more experienced Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori. In terms of his SofaScore rating, only Jurrien Timber (8.0) earned a higher score than Lewis-Skelly (7.9). The performance caught the attention of Arsenal fans too and they were quick to jump on social media and share their excitement and appreciation for the youngster. The Emirates faithful couldn't hide their excitement about his potential. One fan simply posted: "Myles Lewis-Skelly. What a player." Another supporter was filled with superlatives for him and said: "Myles Lewis-Skelly is a perfect blend of bravery, doggedness and strength, and an incredibly smooth technician on top. Few players can protect the ball like him, and he confidently stamped his passing identity on the game. Every Arsenal player trusts him; 18 going on 28." A third fan claimed the youngster was seizing control of the left-back position and Calafiori had a lot of work to do to earn a spot in the starting lineup again, saying: "Myles Lewis-Skelly with this current tremendous performances in the defence will definitely cement his position in the Left-Back. Calafiori isn't ready." Arsenal have a very deep squad this season, but the 18-year-old is emerging as one of the club's most promising players. It takes some serious talent to keep the likes of Calafiori, who was one of the Gunners' marquee signings in the summer, out of the side. All statistics courtesy of SofaScore and accurate as of 27/12/2024
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein will be activated from injured reserve and will play against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Friday that Zuerlein is returning after missing seven games with a knee injury to his left, non-kicking leg. He had been shaky before the injury, but the Jets have since been unsettled at the position, with Riley Patterson, Spencer Shrader and Anders Carlson all filling in. “He came back, looked healthy, kicked the ball well this week,” Ulbrich said of Zuerlein. “So, he’ll be our guy going forward here.” Zuerlein is officially listed as questionable to play, but was a full participant the final two practices. Wide receiver Davante Adams is also questionable , but likely to play after participating on a limited basis Friday because of a hip ailment that held him out Thursday. Adams, acquired from Las Vegas in October, has 56 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns on 94 targets in nine games for the Jets. He’s 72 yards away from his fifth straight 1,000-yard season and sixth of his career. “I think at this point, it would be a crying shame to not be able to get that,” he said. Adams and Aaron Rodgers are also tied with Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most TD connections (82), including playoffs, by a quarterback-wide receiver duo. Rodgers needs one touchdown pass to become the fifth player in NFL history to get 500 in the regular season — and Adams said he would “love” to be on the receiving end of the milestone. “I got 200, I got 400," he said of Rodgers' TD passes while they were teammates in Green Bay. “So it would be dope to get 500 as well. I think his 200th was my first, so we got some special connections in the past, so it'd be great.” Adams said he was injured early in the game against the Rams, but was still able to catch seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He said he was optimistic about his chances of playing at Buffalo. “We’re still working on it,” Adams said. “We’re treating it, trying to get it right so we can hopefully be there and ready by game time.” Cornerback Sauce Gardner is also questionable with a hamstring injury that sidelined him in the second half of New York's loss to the Los Angeles Rams . Zuerlein, who re-signed with the Jets last offseason on a two-year deal, made just nine of 15 field goal attempts and missed one extra point in the first eight games this year. He had been one of the NFL's most consistently reliable kickers the previous two seasons with the Jets. Patterson kicked in one game after the Jets placed Zuerlein on IR. Shrader also kicked in one game before he was signed off the practice squad by Kansas City. Carlson had been the kicker the past five games, but missed a field goal and an extra point against the Rams and the Jets signed Greg Joseph to the practice squad to provide competition. Ulbrich said earlier in the week Zuerlein would also be in the mix after a long layoff. "I think sometimes that can be powerful, an opportunity just to take a deep breath, get his body healthy again and get a restart," Ulbrich said. “So I’m excited for him to do his thing these last two games and really demonstrate to everybody who he is as a kicker.” Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams could return after missing last week with a hamstring injury. He was listed as questionable and was limited at practice all week. Also questionable but expected to play are right tackle Morgan Moses (knee), safety Tony Adams (ankle), cornerback Michael Carter II (back), defensive end Haason Reddick (neck) and defensive lineman Braiden McGregor (ankle). Defensive tackle Leki Fotu was ruled out with a knee injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State's Michael Van Buren Jr., Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke and Cal's Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah, a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining, told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men's basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils (9-3) will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Mensah, viewed as one of the top players in the portal, threw for 2,723 yards and 22 touchdowns and completed 65.9% of his passes. He led the Green Wave to a 9-4 record and the American Athletic Conference championship game, where they lost 35-14 to Army. Tulane will play Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl on Sunday. Van Buren, Mendoza and Locke announced on social media they had entered the portal. Van Buren started eight games as a true freshmen for the Bulldogs. He threw for 1,886 yards on 55% passing with 16 total touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Bulldogs (2-10, 0-8 Southeastern Conference). He took over as the starter when Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in a 45-28 loss to Florida on Sept. 21. Shapen has said he plans to return next season. Van Buren, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound passer from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, had two 300-yard performances for the Bulldogs, including 306 yards and three touchdown passes in a 41-31 road loss against Georgia. Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards in 2024 with 16 TDs, six interceptions and a 68.7 completion percentage. "For the sake of my football future this is the decision I have reached," he posted. Locke passed for 1,936 yards with 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for Wisconsin this season. He said he will have two years of eligibility remaining at his next school. ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan cornerback Will Johnson has joined defensive tackle Mason Graham in the NFL draft. Johnson declared for the draft on Wednesday, one day after Graham decided he would also skip his senior season with the Wolverines. Both preseason All-America players are expected to be first-round picks. Johnson was limited to six games this year due to an injury. He had two interceptions, returning them both for touchdowns to set a school record with three scores off interceptions. Johnson picked off nine passes in three seasons. Graham played in all 12 games this season, finishing with 3 1/2 sacks and seven tackles for losses. He had 18 tackles for losses, including nine sacks, in his three-year career. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson is The Associated Press offensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference and South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the top defensive player. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia was voted the top newcomer on Wednesday while the Gamecocks' Shane Beamer is coach of the year in voting by the panel of 17 media members who cover the league. Sampson led the SEC and set school records by rushing for 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. He is tied for third nationally in rushing touchdowns, recording the league's fifth-most in a season. Sampson was chosen on all but two ballots. Mississippi wide receiver Tre Harris and his quarterback, Jaxson Dart, each got a vote. Kennard led the SEC with 11-1/2 sacks and 15-1/2 tackles for loss. He also had 10 quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles. Beamer led the Gamecocks to just their fifth nine-win season, including a school-record four wins over Top 25 opponents. They've won their last six games and ended the regular season with a win over eventual ACC champion Clemson. South Carolina plays Illinois on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Pavia helped lead Vandy to its first bowl game since 2018 after transferring from New Mexico State. He passed for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions. He ran for another 716 yards and six touchdowns, directing an upset of Alabama. AMES, Iowa — Matt Campbell, who led Iowa State to its first 10-win season and became the program's all-time leader in coaching victories, has agreed to an eight-year contract that would keep him with the Cyclones through 2032. University president Wendy Wintersteen and athletic director Jamie Pollard made the announcement Wednesday, four days after the Cyclones lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game. “Given all the uncertainty currently facing college athletics, it was critical that we moved quickly to solidify the future of our football program,” Pollard said. “Matt is the perfect fit for Iowa State University and I am thrilled he wants to continue to lead our program. Leadership continuity is essential to any organization’s long-term success." The Cyclones won their first seven games for their best start since 1938 and are 10-3 heading into their game against Miami in the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 28. BRIEFLY FLAG PLANT: Ohio Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. MALZAHN: Gus Malzahn, who resigned as UCF’s coach last month to become Mike Norvell’s offensive coordinator at Florida State, said he chose to return to his coaching roots rather than remain a head coach distracted by a myriad of responsibilities. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Defending national champion South Carolina is No. 1 in the Top 25 preseason women's basketball poll, released Tuesday by The Associated Press. Coach Dawn Staley's Gamecocks return four starters from last season's undefeated team and received 27 of the 30 first-place votes. South Carolina now has captured the top spot in the preseason poll in four of the past five seasons. "We knew we'd have a target on our backs this season as the reigning champions and this preseason ranking just confirms that," Staley said, per the school's athletic department website. "We appreciate the recognition, but I know our coaching staff and our team are more focused on what we see in the gym every day. And that's every player working extremely hard to get better individually and as a team." South Carolina tips off the regular season against Michigan on Nov. 4 in Las Vegas. No. 2 UConn collected two first-place ballots and is ranked in the preseason top 10 for the 30th consecutive year. No. 3 Southern California received the other top vote, with Texas and UCLA also in the top five. Notre Dame, LSU, Iowa State, North Carolina State and Oklahoma round out the top 10. Iowa, which fell to the Gamecocks in the national title game last season, is not ranked following the departure of superstar Caitlin Clark to the WNBA. The Hawkeyes are first among the group of "others receiving votes." Stanford, meanwhile, is unranked in the preseason for the first time since 1999 following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer. The Southeastern Conference leads with seven teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference each have six and the Big 12 has four. The rest of the women's AP Top 25 preseason poll: 11. Duke 12. Baylor 13. Kansas State 14. Ohio State 15. North Carolina 16. West Virginia 17. Louisville 18. Maryland 19. Florida State 20. Ole Miss 21. Creighton 22. Kentucky 23. Nebraska 24. Alabama 25. Indiana --Field Level MediaThe Liberal government is pulling out the federal wallet to put more money into people’s pockets over the holidays, but its recently announced affordability measures create winners and losers. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Thursday that the federal government will remove the goods and services tax on a slew of items for two months, starting Dec. 14. But in provinces where the provincial and federal sales taxes are blended together into a harmonized sales tax, Canadians will get a larger break. The federal government also plans to send $250 cheques to Canadians who were working in 2023 and earned up to $150,000. That means Canadians who were not working in 2023, including those who were receiving social assistance or were in retirement, will not be sent a cheque in April. In the House of Commons on Friday, NDP MP Peter Julian called the government out for not including Canadians with fixed incomes. “Why are Liberals excluding seniors and people with disabilities from the real help they need this holiday season? Why won’t Liberals help them, too?” Julian asked during question period. At a news conference on Friday, Trudeau said that the federal government has already stepped up to help the most vulnerable Canadians and that it is now time to give a hand to workers. “Over the past number of years, we have been extraordinarily present in helping the most vulnerable Canadians,” Trudeau said, mentioning the boost to old-age security for seniors aged 75 and older and the Canada Child Benefit. “But as I travel across the country, I do regularly hear from working Canadians who are having trouble making ends meet, but saying, ‘look, I don’t have kids. I’m not a senior yet, and I’m facing challenges.’” The GST break, which is expected to cost the federal government $1.6 billion, will apply to a number of items including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals and beer and wine. It also applies to Christmas trees — both natural and artificial — along with a variety of snack foods and beverages, and video game consoles. Meanwhile, 18.7 million people will receive a check this spring, costing the government about $4.7 billion.
Last week, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot to death on a New York City sidewalk in what was clearly a thoroughly planned-out attack. Over the next few days, as authorities hunted for the killer, online progressives did not try hard to hide their delight that a millionaire health insurance executive like Thompson was killed. Social media was flooded with posts and videos—with different ranges of subtlety—suggesting that Thompson, at the very least, did not deserve to be mourned because of all the health care his company has denied to poor and working people. Progressives framed the shooting as an act of self-defense on behalf of the working class. Before the alleged killer was caught Monday, they promised not to snitch if they saw the shooter themselves and fantasized about a working-class jury nullifying all charges, leading to other CEOs getting gunned down with impunity if they oversaw price increases. The narrative that these online progressives clearly subscribe to and perpetuate is one where, in the United States, healthcare is a totally unfettered, unregulated industry; where—because of a total lack of government involvement—wealthy CEOs charge whatever prices they want and then refuse to provide customers what they already paid for without facing any bad consequences. The characterization of healthcare and health insurance companies charging absurdly high prices while treating their customers terribly without the risk of losing them is spot on. But the idea that what caused this was a lack of government involvement in the healthcare system is completely delusional. And this delusion conveniently removes all the responsibility progressives bear for the nightmare that is the US healthcare system. Today, healthcare is one of the most heavily government-regulated industries in the economy—right up there with the finance and energy sectors. Government agencies are involved in all parts of the process, from the research and production of drugs, the training and licensing of medical professionals, and the building of hospitals to the availability of health insurance, the makeup of insurance plans, and the complicated payment processes. And that is nothing new. The US government has been intervening heavily in the healthcare industry for over a century. And no group has done more to bring this about than the progressives. It really began, after all, during the Progressive Era, when the American Medical Association maneuvered its way into setting the official accreditation standards for the nation’s “unregulated” medical schools. The AMA wrote standards that excluded the medical approaches of their competitors, which forced half of the nation’s medical schools to close. The new shortage of trained doctors drove up the price of medical services—to the delight of the AMA and other government-recognized doctor’s groups—setting the familiar healthcare affordability crisis in motion. Around the same time, progressives successfully pushed for strict restrictions on the production of drugs and, shortly afterward, to grant drug producers monopoly privileges. After WWII, as healthcare grew more expensive, the government used the tax code to warp how Americans paid for healthcare. Under President Truman, the IRS made employer-provided health insurance tax deductible while continuing to tax other means of payment. It didn’t take long for employer plans to become the dominant arrangement and for health insurance to morph away from actual insurance into a general third-party payment system. These government interventions restricting the supply of medical care and privileging insurance over other payment methods created a real affordability problem for many Americans. But the crisis didn’t really start until the 1960s when Congress passed two of the progressive’s favorite government programs—Medicare and Medicaid. Initially, industry groups like the AMA opposed Medicare and Medicaid because they believed the government subsidies would deteriorate the quality of care. They were right about that, but what they clearly didn’t anticipate was how rich the programs would make them. Anyone who’s taken even a single introductory economics class could tell you that prices will rise if supply decreases or demand increases. The government was already keeping the supply of medical services artificially low—leading to artificially high prices. Medicare and Medicaid left those shortages in place and poured a ton of tax dollars into the healthcare sector—significantly increasing demand. The result was an easily predictable explosion in the cost of healthcare. Fewer and fewer people could afford healthcare at these rising prices, meaning more people required government assistance, which meant more demand, causing prices to grow faster and faster. Meanwhile, private health “insurance” providers were also benefiting from the mounting crisis. In a free market, insurance serves as a means to trade risk. Insurance works well for accidents and calamities that are hard to predict individually but relatively easy to predict in bulk, like car accidents, house fires, and unexpected family deaths. Health insurance providers were already being subsidized by all the taxes on competing means of payment, which allowed their plans to grow beyond the typical bounds of insurance and begin to cover easily-predictable occurrences like annual physicals. And, as the price of all of these services continued to shoot up, the costs of these routine procedures were becoming high enough to resemble the costs of emergencies—making consumers even more reliant on insurance. With progressives cheering on, the political class used government intervention to create a healthcare system that behaves as if its sole purpose is to move as much money as possible into the pockets of healthcare providers, drug companies, hospitals, health-related federal agencies, and insurance providers. But the party could not last forever. As the price of healthcare rose, the price of health insurance rose, too. Eventually, when insurance premiums grew too high, fewer employers or individual buyers were willing to buy insurance, and the flow of money into the healthcare system started to falter. The data suggests that that tipping point was reached in the early 2000s. For the first time since the cycle began back in the 1960s, the number of people with health insurance began to fall each year. Healthcare providers—who had seemingly assumed that the flow of money would never stop increasing—began to panic. Then came Barack Obama. Obama’s seminal legislative accomplishment—the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare—can best be understood as a ploy by healthcare providers and the government to keep the party going. Obamacare required all fifty million uninsured Americans to obtain insurance, and it greatly expanded what these “insurance” companies covered. Demand for healthcare shot back up, and the vicious cycle started back up again—which is why the bill enjoyed so much support from big corporations all across the healthcare industry. Before it was passed, economists were practically screaming that the Affordable Care Act would make care less affordable by raising premiums and healthcare prices while making shortages worse. Progressives dismissed such concerns as Reagan-era “free market fundamentalist” propaganda. But that is exactly what happened . Now, the affordability crisis is worse than ever as prices reach historic levels. And, because Obamacare brought American healthcare much closer to a single-payer system, the demand for healthcare far exceeds the supply of healthcare—leading to deadly shortages. There are literally not enough resources or available medical professionals to treat everyone who can pay for care. Also, the tax code and warped “insurance” market protect these providers from competition—making it almost impossible for people to switch to a different provider after their claims are unfairly denied. If it were simply greed, denying customers who already paid would be a feature in all industries. But it’s not. It requires the kind of policy protections progressives helped implement. And on top of all that, despite paying all this money, Americans are quickly becoming one of the sickest populations on Earth. This is one of the most pressing problems facing the country. A problem that requires immediate, radical change to solve. But it also requires an accurate and precise diagnosis—something that, this week, progressives demonstrated they are incapable of making. Related Articles Commentary | John Stossel: Your tax dollars not at work Commentary | After so many years of failure, time’s up for California Democrats Commentary | Vince Fong: We don’t need Newsom to lecture us. We need him to listen to us. Commentary | Deregulation rather than fossil fuel controls needed to fix California insurance market Commentary | The FBI has been political from the start The American progressive movement is responsible for providing the political class the intellectual cover they needed to break the healthcare market and transform the entire system into a means to transfer wealth to people like Brian Thompson. Now, they want to sit back, pretend like they’ve never gotten their way, that the government has never done anything with the healthcare market, and that these healthcare executives just popped up and started doing this all on their own—all so they can celebrate him being gunned down in the street. It’s disgusting. Brian Thompson acted exactly like every economically literate person over the last fifty years has said health insurance CEOs would act if progressives got their way. If we’re ever going to see the end of this century-long nightmare, we need to start listening to the people who have gotten it right, not those who pretend they are blameless as they fantasize online about others starting a violent revolution. Connor O’Keeffe ( @ConnorMOKeeffe ) produces media and content at the Mises Institute. This commentary is republished with permission from the Mises Institute.Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Resideo Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:REZI – Free Report ) by 14.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 165,748 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 20,723 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in Resideo Technologies were worth $3,338,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of REZI. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its stake in Resideo Technologies by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 205,720 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,609,000 after acquiring an additional 10,070 shares in the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Resideo Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $70,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd lifted its stake in Resideo Technologies by 14.5% in the 1st quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd now owns 16,566 shares of the company’s stock worth $371,000 after acquiring an additional 2,092 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Resideo Technologies by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 93,882 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,106,000 after acquiring an additional 5,299 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dynasty Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Resideo Technologies in the 1st quarter worth about $330,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.71% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Resideo Technologies in a research note on Friday, August 9th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $25.00 price objective for the company. Resideo Technologies Stock Up 3.2 % REZI opened at $27.21 on Friday. Resideo Technologies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $16.16 and a fifty-two week high of $27.33. The business has a 50-day moving average of $21.38 and a 200-day moving average of $20.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.82 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The company has a market capitalization of $4.00 billion, a PE ratio of 24.51 and a beta of 2.09. Insider Transactions at Resideo Technologies In related news, insider Robert B. Aarnes sold 98,829 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.16, for a total value of $2,585,366.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 458,928 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,005,556.48. This trade represents a 17.72 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock. Resideo Technologies Profile ( Free Report ) Resideo Technologies, Inc develops, manufactures, and sells comfort, energy management, and safety and security solutions to the commercial and residential end markets in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Solutions, and ADI Global Distribution. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding REZI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Resideo Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:REZI – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Resideo Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Resideo Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Sells 2,074 Shares of SPX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SPXC)
If planning to get festive with Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other holiday decorations, be aware of this new twist on an online purchase scam. Each year, BBB Scam Tracker receives complaints during the holiday season about false advertisements and phony promises for holiday décor. How the scam works You are searching online for some holiday decorations for your home or lawn. You find the perfect item through a social media ad or a search result. The photos on the website look great! The decorations are larger-than-life with incredible lights and features and, best of all, low prices. The payment is made and then the wait for the decorations to arrive begins. However, when the package is delivered, the product is nothing like what was depicted online. Instead, it’s a poorly manufactured miniature version of what was believed to have been purchased. In many cases, the product is not received at all. There is frequently no way to return the items or receive a refund. In fact, there probably won’t even be a way to contact the company. People are also reading... One consumer reported the following experience: “I ordered some very large Halloween displays at a great price. After more time than expected and several emails they said my order was shipped. I found a tracking # and tracked it to a very small town in NC and the package had been delivered to a mailbox via USPS. These would not fit in a mailbox and the company will not refund until the merchandise is returned." This consumer reported losing $98. How to avoid holiday décor scams • Do research before you buy. Before making a purchase on an unfamiliar website, check out the company. Make sure they have working contact information. This should include a telephone number, email address, and, preferably, a physical address. Look on other websites for reviews of the company and reports of scams. Consumers should always look for business ratings and customer reviews on BBB.org . • Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. Keep in mind that large decorations involving special lights and technology are expensive and may be costly to ship, too. If finding something amazing for a very cheap price, it could be a scam. • Don’t make quick purchases on social media. Scam advertisers can track a consumer's buying habits from social media ads and target accordingly with specific products they think would be of interest. Don’t buy anything on impulse while scrolling through social media. Do research first to avoid getting scammed. Be realistic when it comes to prices and products. • Always use your credit card for online purchases. Credit card companies allow you to dispute fraudulent charges, a resource that may not be available if making a purchase with a debit or gift card. If asked to pay via wire transfer, a prepaid gift card, or a digital wallet app, it could be a scam. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.BMW praises Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology on social media
Broncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up Raiders
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 in ASML To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 in ASML between January 24, 2024 and October 15, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against ASML Holding N.V. ("ASML" or the "Company") ASML and reminds investors of the January 13, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the issues being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than Defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than Defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) Defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis. On October 15, 2024, ASML published earnings for the third quarter of 2024, revealing quarterly bookings of €2.63 billion, a decline of 53% quarter-over-quarter. The Company also announced it expects full year 2025 total net sales to be between €30 billion and €35 billion, with a gross margin between 51% and 53%. On this news, ASML's stock price fell $141.84, or 16.26%, to close $730.43 per share on October 15, 2024, thereby injuring investors. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding ASML's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the ASML class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/ASML or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( www.faruqilaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de2601eb-12a6-4c86-acde-1ee2f3350b29 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.They can tell you things you didn’t consciously know Kidneys are quiet, lungs puff away unobtrusively, all other organs do their jobs under the surface. But human bellies can’t be ignored: growling, gurgling, grumbling without warning, bringing news of digestion and defecation. Rumbles: A Curious History of the Gut by Elsa Richardson sets out to tell the ‘secret story of the body’s most fascinating organ’. It traces the gastric saga since ancient Greece but it is a cultural history. Metaphor, simile and stories abound, because the stomach has always testified to the connection between mind and body. The gut has figured in debates over subjectivity, spirituality, even nationhood and identity. Physicians like Erasmus Darwin (grandfather of Charles) figured that stomach troubles were connected to fear and anxiety. The stomach was seen as a drafty corridor that mediates between the external world and the internal one. The gut’s relationships with the brain and the microbiome are being studied seriously now. Vagus nerve controls inflammation and aging. Enteric nervous system can operate independently of the brain. It is not a subdivision of the brain, but an independent kingdom in the viscera that can process info and send eloquent signals. A stomach flip, a quiver of the intestine can tell you things you didn’t consciously know. The idea that intelligence is embodied, disposed and multiple is at odds with the mind-body dualism of Western thought. Thinkers following Descartes insisted that the soul resided in the brain, and only humans had souls. Those who protested violence against animals were, unsurprisingly, feminists, who fought the idea that some bodies were worth more than others. The pre-modern world, though, was intrigued by all the themes that preoccupy us today, relationship between food and mood, ideal diet, and how the stomach speaks to the soul. Understandings of the stomach have tracked social change – in the early 20th century, the body was compared to a factory, oesophagus as a gleaming pipe, thyroid gland as industrial silo, heart as engine room, and so on. The digestive system was likened to cities, and chemical labs. For many influential thinkers, the stomach was not just physical but also metaphysical, chief seat of the vital force – which led to theological tensions about the god-given spark of life. The Romantics thought that poor digestion was a sign of a troubled artist or crabbed scholar. Meanwhile, the rhythms of the stomach were also created by society: lunch was a Victorian innovation, an essential break in the working day created by industrialisation. The book explores the idea of the exterior belly too, the paunch, and the industry dedicated to firming and flattening it. Paleo, Atkins, keto and other diets that drastically cut carbs have their origin in a ‘letter on corpulence’ by Victorian-era influencer William Banting. Associations between obesity and laziness or immorality, and shame around fat, were as evident then as now, dietary advice was presented not just as a way to shape the body but also to reform society. Over the last few decades, there has been an increase in gut-related disorders like Crohn’s disease, digestive cancers make up 30% of all cancer-related deaths, IBS afflicts a huge part of the population. Panics around processed foods and the right diet are running high. The book shows us, though, that there is nothing novel about current anxieties around what we eat, and how we evacuate it.
It was no exaggeration. Acting Sergeant William Smith had been stoned to death, left with one of his eyes hanging out of its socket, in a crime – the death of only the second Durham policeman in the line of duty – that incensed the district. Three local men were quickly arrested. Two were convicted and sentenced to death, but only one hanged, and he died protesting that the guilty man was getting away with murder. Indeed, as the case unfolded, gossip, rumours and indignation swept the area as the clamour grew over the flimsiness of the evidence that was sending a man to the gibbet. The victim, Sgt Smith, was, by all accounts, universally liked in the Gaunless Valley. He was originally a shoemaker from Stokesley, but had been in the Durham force for 16 years. He had served his early years at Barnard Castle and Egglestone, and had spent eight years stationed at Woodlands. Two months before the fateful night he had been promoted to acting sergeant and given the Butterknowle beat, which included policing the pubs. Closing time on Saturdays was 10pm, and on the night in question – February 23, 1884 – he was patrolling to ensure landlords were abiding by their licences. It was a dark, moonless night. "It was raining fast," said one witness. The Diamond Inn, Butterknowle, where, in 1884, the three miners had been drinking much of the day before the murder. Picture: Google StreetView Sgt Smith had just checked the Diamond Inn, on the main street in Butterknowle, where the day's pigeon shooting competition had just wound up. He then proceeded down the steep bank towards the Stag's Head in The Slack. On the side of the road stood the engine house of the abandoned Diamond Colliery, its huge pitheap overshadowing it. There he met his end. "The distinctive features of the place where poor Sgt Smith met his doom must remind the spectator of the favourite murder scenes of the modern sensational novel writer," reported a newspaper. "A wild country is the dreary expanse known as Cockfield Fell. As the visitor emerges from Cockfield village, a stupendous panoramic picture is opened up before him. The fell is in two huge parts, and at the bottom of the declivitous sides is a rivulet, taking a serpentine course far into the distance. "Clouds of white steam shoot continuously from occasional colliery chimneys; gaunt pit-shaft gear stands out conspicuously from the face of the valley; and the flame-emitting, conical-capped coke ovens of the Butterknowle Colliery Company add their quota to the singularity of the scene." The Northern Echo didn't have a photographer in 1884 so an artist drew the scene down Diamond Bank from Butterknowle where Sgt Smith was stoned On the night of the murder, Dr John Jamieson Middleton, physician and surgeon of Woodlands, was returning home with his assistant George Bowker Gorrick. Mr Gorrick was slightly ahead of the doctor as they toiled up the bank, and was startled when, in the shadow of the old engine house, he stumbled upon a sobbing man. "The poor polliss," sobbed the man. "He is killed." Then he fled. A stone with a mark on it on Diamond Bank is said to be the spot where Sgt Smith fell Mr Gorrick called Dr Middleton and, a few yards further up they came across Sgt Smith. Bricks and stones were strewn across the road, and Sgt Smith was barely breathing. One report said a piece of his skull came away in Dr Middleton's hand and one of his eyes was hanging from its socket. Hearing movement on the pitheap, Dr Middleton looked up. In the bright light of one of the coke ovens, he claimed he saw three distinct silhouettes. He went towards them, calling for help. Instead, he too was stoned, receiving "a staggering blow" to the chest. He turned and ran to the top of the bank screaming: "Murder!" The Slack seen from Cockfield Fell. Diamond Bank winds up the middle of the picture towards Butterknowle past the Diamond Colliery. It was from the colliery pitheap that Sgt Smith was stoned Despite the wet weather there were many people out that night, and a small group helped Dr Middleton and Mr Gorrick load Sgt Smith onto a door. They carried him back to his house near the Diamond Inn where, in the presence of his wife and with his six children still sleeping, he expired. He was 40. Police from Cockfield, Staindrop and Barnard Castle were quickly on the scene. Among the stones, teeth and blood, they found a pearl button, and within hours made three arrests. How The Northern Echo reported the attack on Sgt Smith Joseph Lowson, 25, and his brother-in-law William Siddle, 25, were found in bed together at Lands. Lowson had a speck of blood on his cheek and a pearl button missing from his shirt. Siddle was widely known to have been heavily fined the previous year for drunkenly attacking Sgt Smith at Woodlands Gala. The two were charged with murder, and Lowson allegedly whimpered: "Is he dead?" The third was Joseph Hodgson, 20, of Dent Gate, Langleydale. His clothes lay before the fire, various parts of them having been washed. All three were miners. All had been drinking most of the day in the Diamond. "There ought to be few difficulties in running the criminals to earth," said the Darlington and Stockton Times, showing how emotions were running high against the perpetrators. "Butterknowle is not London; the means of escape from justice are few. Several arrests have been made but, unless the police are tolerably certain that they have caught the bastards, there ought to be no hesitation whatever in placing every house in the entire district under strict surveillance." An inquest was held at the Royal Oak, just up the road from the Diamond Inn. The three men were committed for trial for murder at Durham Assizes – "I mean to say that man's telled nowt but lees," shouted Siddle as he was led away. The body was released for burial, with the funeral being held a week after the murder. The grave of murdered policeman Sgt William Smith in St John's Church, Lynesack Thousands watched the procession, a quarter-of-a-mile long, wind its way from Sgt Smith's house up to St John's Church, in Lynesack. At its head was the Woodlands Band, playing the funeral march; then came 82 policeman taking turns to carry the coffin. They were followed by Sgt Smith's 70-year-old father, struggling along, while his mother, wife and children rode in a carriage. Sgt Smith's headstone can still be seen in the churchyard. He was buried with his daughter, Elizabeth Jane, who died two years earlier. The trial began on May 1 before Judge Sir Henry Hawkins with the three prisoners in the dock. "Lowson is by far the most repulsive looking man of the three," reported a newspaper. "This morning he was dressed in a dirty brown Tweed suit, his black hair was cut close and his small menacing eyes were dull and heavy. Siddle, on the other hand, although bearing physical signs of having laboured hard, has by no means an unintelligent expression of features. Hodgson is a tall, silly-looking sort of lad who, when in drink, would readily come under the influence of evil companions." The court heard that at 9.50pm on the night in question the prisoners had "smurted", "snittered" or "sneatted" with Sgt Smith outside the Diamond Inn – the newspapers had trouble with the local dialect word for a verbal confrontation. It was alleged that Siddle, who had previous with the policeman, had been "fresh with liquor" and had been overheard to say: "If he follows us down I will lace him...let's go back and rib the polliss." The county analyst, William Stock of Darlington, confirmed that blood on Lowson's coat bore the "strongest possible resemblance" to human blood – although it could also have come from a pig! In his defence, Lowson called witnesses who had seen him that day cradling his young daughter who had a split lip. Looking up Diamond Bank where Sgt Smith was murdered Mr Stock also confirmed that the pearl button could have been ripped from Lowson's shirt, but the defence pointed out that it was the commonest kind of button on the market. Then the medical men took the stand. Dr Middleton's evidence began to fall apart when he identified the prisoners from the silhouettes he had seen in the light of the coke oven. But, pointed out the defence, no ovens were visible from the banked road. Dr Middleton and Mr Gorrick had been drinking. They had started at 3.30pm in Bishop Auckland and had arrived on the 8.10pm train at Cockfield Station. They had nipped into the Stag’s Head for a snifter but, despite having had five beers and a couple of whiskies, they claimed they were sober when they staggered up the bank at 10pm. The defence called witnesses from the Stag's Head who begged to differ, because they had seen the medical men boxing and sparring with each other on the tables in the bar. The jury deliberated for two hours. To a packed courthouse, with hundreds outside on the street, they announced that Hodgson was innocent and Siddle and Lowson were guilty. Justice Sir Henry Hawkins, who heard the case. One legal historian described him as "probably the worst judge on the English bench in the 19th Century". Picture: wikipedia Mr Justice Hawkins donned the black cap and passed sentence: "William Siddle and Joseph Lowson, you have been convicted of the crime of wilful murder. It was a cruel, cold-blooded, cowardly murder. Without one single moment's hesitation or warning you struck down your poor victim and hurried him to his end without any provocation. "The sentence upon you is that each of you be taken from the place where you now stand to the place from whence you came, and from thence to a lawful place of execution, and that there you, each of you, be hanged by the neck till you are dead. And may the Lord have mercy on your souls." Siddle and Lowson erupted, blaspheming in the dock. As Siddle was led away, he shouted to his friends: "They have sworn away my life lads; the thundering bloody liars and bastards." “Losing all control of themselves when found guilty, Siddle and Lowson conducted themselves in a most extraordinary and abominable manner, leaving room for no pity to be extended to them," said the Echo. "Foiled in their assertion of innocence, they gave vent to the most fearful imprecations against the Deity and the Court. The scene made all present shudder, Siddle calling forth the most blasphemous exclamations." How the Illustrated Police News depicted the stoning of the policeman The condemned cell at Durham jail was already occupied by William Smith, of Darlington, recently convicted of murdering his wife in Stockton, and so Siddle and Lowson were housed nearby. The date for their execution was set for May 19, the traditional three Sundays away from the verdict. Yet despite their foul language, and the foul nature of their crime, doubts were soon setting in. The D&ST reported: "The violent behaviour of the convicted prisoners will confirm the belief that they are ruffians of a very coarse type, and just the men to do the deed for which they are condemned to suffer. "The finding of the jury, however, is a strange one and those who read the evidence closely will have some difficulty in discovering the grounds on which they have decided. From the first, the case has been shrouded in mystery and the only evidence obtainable was circumstantial. "And so weak did some of the links in the chain appear that no surprise would have been felt had the jury hesitated to pronounce a verdict. There is no evidence as to who participated in the attack, who struck the fatal blows, yet the jury have sought out one man as innocent and sent two to the gallows." The day after the verdict, the colliery district was up in arms. West Auckland held the first 'Indignation Meeting'; 1,000 gathered at Willington, 600 at Bishop Auckland; Cockfield Fell was full for an open-air meeting. All denounced the "weak and contradictory nature" of the evidence and "condemned the action of the court". The Echo's sister newspaper, the Evening Echo, printed a purported interview with the freed man, Joseph Hodgson, in which he claimed to have seen Lowson and Siddle stone Sgt Smith. But it was fake news. The interview was a hoax. Hodgson was keeping his own counsel; he had seen nothing and now said nothing. The Echo's name quickly became mud and its reporters were threatened. Looking up Diamond Bank from The Slack. The murder was perpetrated just around the bend in the road, near the Diamond Colliery Gradually, through letters from prison, Siddle's case became known. He proclaimed his innocence, saying that he had tried to protect his sister's husband, Lowson, who had become a father for the third time while in custody. Such was the profound excitement in the Durham coalfield that, just one day before the execution, the Home Secretary, Sir William Vernon Harcourt, stayed it and sent a counsel, Mr Cliffe, to Darlington to review the case. The first witness Mr Cliffe heard in the King’s Head Hotel was a new one, Edward Wilkinson, an elderly coffee shop owner from Middlesbrough, who was a well known local fantasist. But the information he collected from more reliable sources enabled the Home Secretary to make a sensational intervention: on May 22, he pardoned Siddle. It was practically unprecedented: of the 180 people sentenced to hang in Durham in the previous 70 years, 100 had been executed and only two, in 1832, had received a free pardon like Siddle. What made it truly sensational was that Siddle had been fined the previous year for assaulting Sgt Smith, and it had been widely assumed that he was the most guilty of the trio. But he had gone free. The next development was that Lowson, in prison, suddenly named Hodgson, who had been cleared by the court, as the perpetrator. This also caused a sensation because Hodgson was the youngest of the three and it was widely assumed he had been led astray. But Lowson wrote: "I am not the man that started with him (Sgt Smith) first. Hodgson is him that started first. They cannot hurt him now. He is right enough if they do destroy my body." And they – the authorities – were determined to destroy his body. There is a real feeling that the authorities were determined to find someone to pay for the murder of the policeman and the miners were almost a sub-class who could afford to lose one of their number. Lowson saw his wife, Jane and children, including the baby, for the last time on May 24. "The prisoner could not forbear exhibiting symptoms of the depression which the knowledge of his rapidly approaching doom has inspired in him, as he lifted up his smiling and unconscious little ones and kissed them again and again," said the Echo. Executioner James Berry, who pulled the lever the wrong way when trying to despatch Joseph Lowson On May 26,executioner Joseph Berry arrived on the afternoon train at Durham having just seen off the Boston poisoner, Mary Lefley, at Lincoln. He was mobbed as he walked through the streets, one member of the crowd asking him if there would be a mishap. "No, I hope not," replied Berry, "and no baby business. I hung a woman this morning and she cried and shrieked just as if she was going to be murdered!" Lowson was already going through agonies in his cell. "Although to all appearance wishful to become a brave hero and face death with impunity, he is downcast and occasionally trembles somewhat violently, more especially when he is dressing himself, knowing that tomorrow morning he will dress for the last time on this earth," said the Echo. Lowson was 25, powerfully built and 5ft 7in tall. He had been married five years, worked at Copley Colliery and, "like many of his class", was a keen gambler. He was an eldest son, his mother having died when he was 14. "A few years ago his father, Robert, died under remarkable circumstances," reported the Echo. "He had got out of bed one night to get a drink and by mistake swallowed a quantity of acquofortis which he had in a cupboard. The effect of the poison was to some extent neutralised by the appliances of a medical man, who was at once in attendance, but the organs of the stomach were so weakened and impaired by it, that a short time afterwards he was choked by a piece of meat sticking in his throat." Lowson awoke at 6am on May 27 and took a good breakfast. At 7.45am "the harsh clang of the passing bell reverberated through the morning air, striking to the very soul of those within hearing". He was brought out of his cell at 7.55am and pinioned by the executioner. It was to be Berry’s third execution at the start of his seven year career in which he ended the lives of 131 convicts. And none, he said in his memoires, left such an impression as Lowson, who calmly joked as he pinioned him: "In a minute or two, I'll know more about (the afterlife) than any of you." The Northern Echo's special edition notes the composure of Lowson, which unnerved executioner Berry "Amid a silence, unbroken save by the tolling of the passing bell, the party proceeded upon their mournful journey, their footsteps sounding painfully distinct as they walked with slow and measured tread along the gloomy corridor," reported the Echo. "He walked with a firm and determined step, and seemed to have made up his mind to meet his fate without a murmur. "There was something awful and impressive in the solemnity of the occasion. The scene was one which a beholder can never forget. It was sad to contemplate that a young man just arrived at manhood's estate – a vigorous and healthy man – should be put to a violent and ignominious death. "Into the open air the procession passed. There in the middle of the gaol yard stood the grim scaffold, with the rope dangling from the beam. "On reaching the scaffold the culprit immediately placed himself in position and his cool, resolute bearing surprised all present. The executioner quickly adjusted the leg straps. As the white cap was placed over his face he said, in a calm voice: 'I wish to say that Hodgson struck the first blow and then I helped him. I hope that the country and the Crown will look after Siddle and see him safe home again'. "The executioner immediately pulled the lever and the unhappy man was launched into eternity. The length of drop was eight feet, death being instantaneous." Executioner Berry later remembered a different sequence of events. He had been so unnerved by Lowson’s nerveless composure that he pulled the lever the wrong way, sweat pouring off his brow as he tugged at it, until one of the warders pointed out the error of his ways. "Pulling it in the other direction, the doors went down with a clang and, still clinging to the lever, I saw Lowson plunge backwards and then disappear,” he wrote. "Releasing my hold, I dashed towards the wall and, panting for breath, I leaned against it." An hour later, Lowson's body was cut down, placed in a plain coffin and taken inside the prison for an inquest before burial. The Echo's reporter was present. "The face wore a perfectly calm, even smiling, expression and, but for being of a somewhat darkened hue, presented no appearance of his having died anything but a natural death," he wrote. "On the shirt neck being unfastened and turned down slightly by one of the jurymen, a narrow black indentation round the neck of the corpse where the fatal noose had been adjusted was all that indicated that death had been of a violent nature." Ten years later William Siddle died in the Winterton asylum at Sedgefield, aged 35. After being pardoned he worked at West Auckland Colliery. "Latterly he suffered considerably from a severe attack of influenza which so affected his mental condition as to necessitate his removal to the asylum where he died on Wednesday morning," said the Echo. He left a widow and family. In 2020, Lowson’s great-great-nephew Peter Lowson appeared, with Memories, on the BBC’s programme Murder, Mystery and My Family, and tried to convince two high court judges that his ancestor was innocent. They concluded that from this distance of time, it was impossible to say. READ MORE ECHO MURDERS:None
I’m A Celeb fans say campmate ‘deserves an Oscar’ after ‘faking tears’ and putting on award-winning performanceManchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus on Wednesday, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 advancing. Progressing to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2023 and has won the last four Premier League titles. But not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. City has won just one of its last 10 matches in all competitions, with goals by Dušan Vlahović and Weston McKennie inflicting the latest defeat and igniting Juventus' qualification hopes. City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan described the team's problem as a “mental issue.” Opponents “are able to break our rhythm with the smallest of things,” Gundogan said. "They don’t even need to do much and it has such a big effect on us right now.” Barcelona jumped into second place in the league standings, behind Liverpool, and is guaranteed to advance after a 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund. Raphinha and Ferran Torres, with two goals, scored for Barca. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 mainly thanks to two goals by Bukayo Saka to move into third place and be the highest of six teams on 13 points. The top eight qualify directly for the last 16 and the teams placed No. 9-24 go into a two-legged playoff. City has two games to save its faltering Champions League campaign and the first is against Paris Saint-Germain, another giant in trouble in 25th place — one spot out of the qualifying positions. Vlahović put Juventus ahead in the 53rd when he powered a header goalward straight at City goalkeeper Ederson, who could only parry the ball over his own line. Two American substitutes sealed the win for Juve, with McKennie volleying home from Timothy Weah's cross. Juventus moved into 14th place. Ferran Torres came off the bench to inspire Barcelona to a fifth win in six games and push Dortmund, last season's runner-up, out of the top eight. Torres came on in the 71st to replace Robert Lewandowski, who had a quiet game against his former club. Just four minutes later, Torres scored a goal on the rebound from Dani Olmo’s shot. Serhou Guirassy’s second goal of the game leveled the score at 2-2 but Torres scored again in the 85th off Lamine Yamal’s pass on the counter. Raphinha gave Barcelona the lead before Guirassy equalized from the penalty spot. Raphinha and Guirassy are tied for second place in the scoring chart on six goals, behind Lewandowski's competition-high seven. Arsenal secured a third straight home win without conceding in the league stage, with Saka scoring in the 34th and 78th minutes and sending in a shot that was turned into the net by substitute Kai Havertz in the 88th. Arsenal is ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Brest and Lille on goal difference. Lille won 3-2 at home to Sturm Graz on Wednesday. Man City could sure do with Julian Alvarez at the moment. With a brilliant curling finish to open the scoring, the Argentina striker helped Atletico Madrid beat Slovan Bratislava 3-1 and provide a timely reminder of what City is missing after selling him for more than $100 million in August. Alvarez has 12 goals for the season, with four coming in the Champions League. Antoine Griezmann scored Atletico’s other two goals at Metropolitano stadium as the Spanish team climbed to 11th place after a 10th straight win in all competitions. When Lukasz Lakomy gave Young Boys the lead against Stuttgart, he ran toward the sideline and held up teammate Meschack Elia’s jersey as others gathered around him. The gesture was a tribute after Elia’s son died unexpectedly this week after a short illness. Elia wasn’t playing as he was on his way to his native Congo, where his son died, to be with his family. Both teams wore black armbands and there was a moment of silence before the game, which was won 5-1 by Stuttgart. Tammy Abraham scored an 87th-minute winner as AC Milan beat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 to move one point off the top eight. Milan lost Alvaro Morata and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to muscle injuries in the first half. Benfica’s five-match winning streak ended with a 0-0 home draw against Bologna, and Feyenoord had a 4-2 win over Sparta Prague. Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80 AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerHow co-writing a book threatened the Carters' marriageThe dollar and gold gained Friday amid escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war, while stocks got a boost from data. Bitcoin pushed on further with its march towards the $100,000 mark, as the cryptocurrency benefits from US president-elect Donald Trump's pledge to ease regulation around digital tokens. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Online child exploitation spiked in B.C. in recent years. Police worry it's here to stayProgressivism and the murder of a health insurance CEOUnited Rentals Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market