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Unless you’re planning to whisk them away on a camping trip, fishing excursion, biking tour or safari, finding the right gifts for outdoorsy people can feel like an uphill climb (pun intended). If you’re not the take-a-hike type yourself, don’t worry — all it takes is a little bit of getting your head in the game. The key is to think of practical presents that tap into their wanderlust or connect with their call of the wild, whether it’s something incredibly useful or delightfully adventurous. GSI Outdoors Spice Missile America the Beautiful Pass - 2024/2025 AllTrails+ LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Nomadix Ultralight Towel Beloved Landscape Custom Collage Print All Gender ReEmber Slippers/Sneakers Darn Tough Sunset Ridge Micro Crew Lightweight Socks Mountain Summit Gear Deluxe Roll Top Kitchen HotHands Hand Warmer Value Pack, 10 Count Intex Challenger K1 Inflatable Kayak Petzl Tikka Core Rechargeable Headlamp Uco Stormproof Match Kit Jolly Green Products Rotating + Telescoping Roasting Sticks, 5-Pack AeroPress Original Portable Coffee and Espresso-Style Maker Jetboil Flash Camping Stove Cooking System Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 Kaenon Mens Burnet Mid Sunglasses License to Train Short-Sleeve Shirt Atomic Bear Paracord Bracelet, 2-Pack Solo Stove Lite Gear Kit YetiRoadie 32 Wheeled Cooler National Park Sculpture Necklace Buff Original EcoStretch Neck Gaiter Vuori Halo Essential Hoodie Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover Lone Peak Hiker 2 Hiking Boots REI Kindercone Sleeping Bag Camelbak Kids' Scout Hydration Pack Guardian Bike Kelty Mistral Sleeping Bag REI Co-op Trailsmith Fleece Jacket - Kids In my pre-mortgage, pre-kid days, I spent more time under the stars than under a roof, and I was always "between jobs" as I chased my next big foray. So trust me — I know what the nature enthusiast on your list will love this holiday. Here are my all-time favorite gifts for outdoor lovers, plus new finds that have me (and my fellow adventurers) hoping to make an extra good impression on Santa this year. On one camping excursion a friend broke this little baby out and it was met with gasps and awe. It's so compact! It's so practical! It's such a smart design! Any camper who isn't satisfied eating reconstituted mac and cheese knows that spices can make or break a backcountry meal. We all want to be rustic — but bland food? We aren't animals. There is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to this lightweight little doodad. It breaks into three double-sided compartments, so you can carry SIX spices with you on the trails. Give them the gift of exploration! This all-access pass offers entry to over 2,000 recreation areas managed by six federal agencies, including the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management. It's valid for 12 months, offering up to 365 days of outdoor goodness. Whether they are hikers or backpackers or just love to explore short strolls in the woods, this is the penultimate trail map app. AllTrails+ will take their exploration to the next level while keeping them safe along the way. With over 450,000 trail maps worldwide, it’s a must-have for any adventurer. The Plus membership lets them download offline maps, get real-time turn alerts (for when they go off-trail), receive weather updates, and access 200+ National Park guides. Problem: Carrying a sufficient amount of water on any major outdoor excursion is heavy. Solution: This lightweight filter that makes suspect streams, nasty ponds and just about any water source you might encounter instantly potable. This simple-to-use doodad removes 99.99999% of parasites, bacteria, microplastics and all of that silt and cloudiness that makes certain water too scummy to drink. A potentially life-saving gizmo that's perfectly-sized to stuff a Christmas stocking? Sold. This travel towel is the best of all worlds — it's made of super soft and ultra-absorbent micro suede. It repels sand and, while it sucks up water faster and more efficiently than typical terry cloth, it rapidly dries in the sun. It's lightweight and packs down to about the size of a 6-inch submarine sandwich, making it highly portable as well. For a thoughtful and sentimental gift for the outdoorsy person in your life, this customizable collage celebrates what's most important to them in a sweet and unique work of art. The one-of-a-kind piece is handmade by the artist and can be personalized with details like hair color, pack colors and names — and you can even include pets! The result? A beautifully unique keepsake that they can admire and daydream over. After a long day of adventuring outdoors, these comfy slides are a well-deserved campsite or trailhead treat for your feet. The flexible, cushiony footbed is a salve for your sole. (Soul? Nah, sole.) But my favorite part? The back of the shoe is soft and collapsable, so they convert from sneaker to slipper in seconds. Great for those middle-of-the-night runs to the loo when you don't want to fuss with laces, but the ground is too cold for shower shoes. Sure, people may argue that socks are a boring gift, but any outdoors person will tell you we live for a great pair. This Vermont-made brand makes some of the most talked about socks on the market (a sentence I never thought I'd write): They're cushiony without being restricting; they're warm but lightweight and never make your feet feel sweaty. And they dry quickly, for when your traverse across a stream ends in disaster. The best gift I ever got my husband was this collapsible camp kitchen. Prepping dinner on a dirty campsite table is chaotic and — let’s be real — pretty gross. This setup is the ideal height to keep little hands and paws away from the action and has just the right amount of compartments to keep everything organized and within reach. It folds flat for easy travel and, best of all, it’ll inspire whoever you gift it to to handle all the cooking. Win! These things are the best. Yes, they are a must-have on ski slopes and during ice climbs, but they are also a very-nice-to-have during camping trips or post surf-sessions when they are trying to bring their body temps back up to normal. They're a First Aid kit gem. Ten come in this pack, so your recipient can be a little indulgent. Maybe they're new to kayaking. Maybe they're short on space. Either way, this inflatable is the gift they need to get all of the seafaring adventures they dream of underway. This all-in-one setup is easy to assemble and will have them in the water in no time. It's highly rated for stability, in case they're not quite expert-level and more kayaking-curious. And if you're gifting a couple, there's a ! Weather resistant with enough power to last 110 (!!) hours, this genius headlamp has a dual battery system, allowing you to juice it up but bring AAAs for longer excursions. Choose from three white levels and a red light (particularly useful as a safety feature, should the user get lost in the woods). A charge indicator lets you know when battery is running low and a lock function ensures it won't accidentally turn on when it's hanging out at the bottom of your bag. Up to 450 lumens of light can cut through even the most dense fog. Plus, the design lets it sit as comfortably on your forehead as it will on a bike or ski helmet. This is the créme de la créme of headlamps — you'll find others that cost more, but this is a beast with all the bells and whistles they could ever need. Picture this: The sun is setting, an invigorating chill is in the air, the s'mores fixings are ready — and the darn fire won't start. This kit has everything they need to get cookin' — stat — in one convenient, packable package. They'll receive matches in a waterproofed shell, a fire-starting flint and some cotton kindling to get those flames roaring faster than someone can say, "pass the chocolate!" In case you haven't noticed a trend in my gift suggestions, I'm very into s'mores. There's something to be said for finding the perfect stick to skewer your marshmallows, but that all goes when your trusty tool catches fire. These telescoping, dual-pronged sticks are ideal for getting your marshmallows, hot dogs, veggies — whatever — roasting at a respectable (and safe) distance, and they'll never turn into accidental kindling if your attention veers off. Each has a rotation wheel that ensures even roasting. When done, the whole set of five collapses and fits into a handy storage bag. What if we told you their campsite coffee game is about to get a whole lot better? It's time for them to ditch that muddy instant brew. The Aeropress is the ultimate for traveling light — and it makes a truly fantastic, full-bodied cup of joe (seriously, love this thing). Compact and convenient, it'll elevate every sunrise. While we're on the subject of coffee, they'll need speedy access to piping hot water to get a great cuppa going on a cold morning. Boiling H20 over a camp stove can be a grueling and arduous task when you've got cold fingertips. This super-fast gadget can boil water in 100 seconds — even in sub-zero temperatures. Plus, it's lightweight and breaks down to be compact enough to backpack with. Not a coffee fan? They'll love you for helping them have hot water at the ready when they're prepping their or . This small pad is something folks wouldn't think to buy for themselves, but once they try it they'll be hooked. It's lightweight, packs small and cleans up easily. I could go on about the virtues of this unassuming yet indispensable piece of equipment, but I'll let a reviewer explain why it's so great. "I use mine to sit on, as a back rest, as a clean surface area when preparing food, to stand on when changing pants (so sock or barefoot doesn't get dirty), to rest my bare feet on outside the tent when removing boots (again, preventing them, and the inside of the tent, from getting dirty), as an extra sleeping pad layer under my hips (side sleepers rejoice!), as a wrap, around my dirty/wet sandals when affixing to the outside of my pack and on and on." The great outdoors lends itself to unplugging and getting away from tech but — pics or it didn't happen. This handy clip is small, rugged and attaches to any backpack strap to turn it into a handy camera mount. Why does your resident shutterbug need this? Carrying an SLR or DSLR around your neck can cause fatigue, plus, it puts a camera in a precarious spot where precious lenses can get knocked around. This keeps the camera stable and secure, and eager to grab the second that must-get shot comes into view. The glare of the sun on sand, snow or surf can be a real downer on an outdoorsy day. These ultra-polarized sunnies are featherweight yet highly protective. The brand's make for some incredible eye protection that will have them ditching their Oakleys — for real. A combo of crisp clarity and superior glare reduction make for a pretty fantastic optical experience. Add to it the impact and scratch-resistant lenses and you get adventure-ready specs that should last for years. The thing that makes these stand out from the pack? They're astonishingly lightweight. It's tough to get this kind of protection with non-glass lenses, but these pull it off, making them an excellent choice for long days of wear. Since they are so lightweight, may we suggest so they don't fly off? Feeling swampy when adventuring is a deal-breaker — no matter what his activity of choice, staying dry is key to staying comfortable. This quick-drying, super-soft workout shirt has an anti-stink, anti-cling design that's ideal for the guy who likes to push himself while exploring the world. Plus, the odor-busting technology is a game-changer for when he's packing light and needs a top that'll withstand numerous wears before being washed. Your outdoorsy friend doesn't want a tennis bracelet. Instead gift them a (sorta) piece of jewelry that will help them be prepared for the elements. A fully functioning compass, a fire starter, a loud whistle (should they get lost) and paracord make this a wildly practical survival tool. For the camper who loves to whip up meals, this portable kitchen system takes Solo Stove’s signature smokeless fire pit and shrinks it down to a compact, go-anywhere size. The kit comes with everything they'll need: a 900ml cook pot, windscreen, carry case, alcohol burner and fire striker. Weighing just over half a pound, this lightweight, fuel-free option is basically s'mores-ready (see, I'm talking about s'mores again!). Carrying a cooler is backbreaking work. This 32-gallon wheeled winner will let them roll into the party with up to 50 cans. It's big enough to store everything they need for a campout or tailgate but small enough to fit in the trunk of a Prius (tested by yours truly). I can attest that everything will stay cool (from said cans to hot dogs and anything else) for up to 48 hours. Maybe she can't always get to the mountains, but this lovely charm will always remind her where her heart is. Each one of these wearable pieces of art is handcrafted from clay to show a vignette of one of nine national parks — from Joshua Tree to Grand Teton. This is a slam-dunk gift. The breathable, quick-dry, SPF 50 neck and head covering can scrunch down to be a scarf on cooler days or accordion out on scorchers. They can dip it in water to keep cool, cover their nose on dusty trails and pull it over their hair to tame sweaty strands. It's indispensable and comes in dozens of colors and styles. This top is so soft you'll feel like you're slipping into silk — yet it performs better than silk ever could on a trail. The breathable fabric will keep them warm without overheating no matter what adventure they may find themselves on — and it dries quickly, should they work up a sweat. This piece is ideal for layering and makes a perfect mid-layer for shoulder season hikes. Doesn't matter if they already have a fleece — this gorgeous pullover is the upgrade they didn't know they needed. It's warm, it's well-made and, quite frankly, the print is stunning. Made by Patagonia (a darling in the outdoorsy community), it's almost entirely made of recycled double-sided fleece, ensuring supreme softness inside and out. Like all Patagonia gear, it's made responsibly in a fair trade-certified factory. We're big fans of the chevron-style pattern, but if you think their style veers elsewhere, it comes in nine other options. True story: I thought my hiking days were behind me. A series of ankle rolls meant I needed a highly structured boot. In my experience that tended to translate as restrictive and blister-inducing, which ruined the experience. My friend Karilyn Owen, a travel blogger at with a strong focus on backpacking and hiking, recommended I try these and I’m so glad I did. Not only are they highly supportive, they are ludicrously comfortable. Unlike many competitors they maintain enough cushion to keep you comfortable even during multi-day treks. But that cushioning doesn’t become a liability: You can actually feel the ground beneath you, which is so important when navigating hidden roots and rocks. And the soles are grippy — they can almost double as rock climbing shoes. I’ve tried them all: Hokas, Merrills, Vasques, Salomons — not only are these the most comfortable (and blister-free!), they're the most stable. Rarely would I recommend you gift something so subjective as a hiking boot, but — for these — I’ll make an exception. In a previous life I tested outdoor gear for a living. When it came to kids' sleeping bags, year after year after year and test after test after test, the REI Kindercone came out on top. Its size makes it ideal for little ones under 5 feet tall, and it has loads of kid-friendly features, like an anti-snag zipper, an adjustable mummy hood and an extra-puffy draft tube to keep cold air out and warm air in. It's machine washable, which is clutch when you're potty training or a mischievous sweet tooth sneaks their s'mores into the sack and falls asleep with it. (MY kid.) All that is well and good but my favorite feature? The attached stuff sack, so it'll never get lost, no matter what level of chaos your child courts. A small pack is essential for keeping half-pints happy on the trails, and this one is just the right size. The internal bladder helps teach little adventurers to stay hydrated early on. It has enough pockets and daisy chains to keep things organized without going crazy with compartments. This thing is built to last; my kid has had his for four years and it's held up beautifully. Know a kid who's struggling with biking? Guardian models are made just for this purpose. The brake design and pedal system allow little ones to put all of the pieces together to gain the confidence they need to soar. The patented Sure Stop brake system ensures they won't flip over the handlebars and the ultra-lightweight frame makes it a snap to maneuver. Yup, another sleeping bag. Got a kid encroaching on (or maybe surpassing) the 5-foot-tall mark? The Kelty Mistral has been my son's favorite since his last growth spurt and, at 5'2", it's my pick too. (It's so affordable I got one for myself!) Sleeping in this bag is nothing short of cloud-like. The extra-long, 19-inch footbed allows for plenty of growth spurts before you need to size up. Until then, it's a great spot for extra clothes, stuffies, a book, a water bottle, or any other "must-have" comforts your kid is angling for before bed. Need a gift for an on-the-go kid in your life? No outdoor gear arsenal is complete without a great fleece. Warm, breathable, durable and fast-drying, this well-made top is designed with 80% postconsumer recycled content so you can feel good about the purchase. And it's so cute!online game casino 。

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Starbucks: will raise its prices in 2025? This said Brian Niccol, the brand’s CEO-- Reduces total emissions by approximately 14 percent since base year -- -- Decreases water withdrawal by approximately 17 percent since base year -- -- Achieves lost-time injury rate of 0.28, representing an approximate 32 percent reduction from prior year -- MORRISVILLE, N.C. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX), a global value-added agricultural company, today published its Fiscal Year 2024 Sustainability Report detailing the measurable impacts of the Company's sustainability initiatives as it progresses toward achieving its global targets. "Fiscal year 2024 was an exceptional year for Pyxus and this report highlights the positive impacts of our environmental and social initiatives, including collaboration with our contracted growers to reduce scope 3 emissions, improvement of our employee health and safety practices, and providing support to those in need," said Pyxus President and CEO Pieter Sikkel . "We remain committed to viewing all aspects of our business through a sustainable lens, helping us progress against our targets while delivering value to our stakeholders, the environment and the communities in which we operate." Notable fiscal year 2024 sustainability achievements include: Minimal Environmental Impact Support for People and Communities Ethical and Responsible Business In preparation of this year's report, Pyxus externally verified 11 global key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with its targets, up from three KPIs in the prior year. The report was prepared with reference to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards, aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and discloses the Company's sustainability performance from April 1, 2023 , to March 31, 2024 . About Pyxus International, Inc. Pyxus International, Inc. is a global agricultural company with more than 150 years of experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purpose—to transform people's lives, so that together we can grow a better world—Pyxus International, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable, and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pyxus-releases-fiscal-year-2024-sustainability-report-302329534.html SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc. Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter Today

DENVER — A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to compete in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship opening this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews' ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender" player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. San Jose State will "continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said in a statement, confirming that all its student-athletes are eligible to participate under NCAA and conference rules. “We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week." The conference did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The players filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Crews said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a loss in league standings. He also refused a request to re-seed the tournament without the forfeited losses. The judge said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 -– making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her reported identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a major election year. Crews' ruling also said injunctions are meant to prevent harm, but in this case, he argued, the harm has already occurred. The games have been forfeited, the tournament has been seeded, the teams have made travel plans and the participants have confirmed they're playing. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. Colorado State is seeded first and San Jose State, second. The teams split their regular-season matches and both get byes into Friday's semifinals. The conference tournament winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. San Jose State coach Todd Kress, whose team has not competed in the national tournament since 2001, has said his team has been getting “messages of hate” and that has taken a toll on his players. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official conference standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without elaborating. Nevada did not qualify for the conference tournament. The nine current players and others now suing the Mountain West Conference, the California State University Board of Trustees and others include San Jose State senior setter and co-captain Brooke Slusser. The teammate Slusser says is transgender hits the volleyball with more force than others on the team, raising fear during practices of suffering concussions from a head hit, the complaint says. The Independent Council on Women’s Sports is funding a separate lawsuit against the NCAA for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Both lawsuits claim the landmark 1972 federal antidiscrimination law known as Title IX prohibits transgender women in women’s sports. Title IX prohibits sexual discrimination in federally funded education; Slusser is a plaintiff in both lawsuits. Several circuit courts have used a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to conclude that discriminating against someone based on their transgender status or sexual orientation is sex-based discrimination, Crews wrote. That means case law does not prove the “likelihood of success” needed to grant an injunction. An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women’s sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. Crews was a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him as a federal judge in January. ___ Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.NEW DELHI: The controversy over Union home minister Amit Shah's alleged "insult" of Ambedkar will figure prominently in the special CWC meeting called in Belagavi to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi becoming the Congress president, the party said, as it named the public meeting to be held on the second day as "Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan" rally. AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and spokesperson Pawan Khera said the "nav satyagrah baithak" to be held on Dec 26-27 will decide the party's action plan for the coming year. As part of 'Ambedkar Samman Saptah' to protest against Shah, Congress district units Tuesday took out "Ambedkar samman march" and submitted memorandum to district collectors urging the President of India to sack Shah as home minister. Earlier, the party held press conferences in 150 cities as part of the protest. Congress said like the chintan shivir in Udaipur and AICC session in Raipur, the Belagavi session will bring out historic decisions that will set the course for the party's activities in the new year. The CWC will pass two resolutions in the meeting, with one being political. Besides the political concerns and action plan focussing on the "challenges facing the country under the Modi govt", Congress will also follow up on the Shah-Ambedkar row, as the party plans to intensify its protest. Ramesh said RSS could never accept the Constitution and Ambedkar, and has been trying for years to change the Constitution. "When PM Modi became an MP and entered Parliament, he prostrated on the steps. The result was that the old Parliament building was abandoned and the new building was inaugurated. On Nov 26 this year, the PM prostrated before the original copy of the Constitution, which means a new Constitution will be brought," he said. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .Browns defensive backs have harsh words for George Pickens: ‘I don’t respect it'

With China’s and India’s trade on the table, the Port of Vancouver is under pressure to deliver for Canada

Joel Dahmen makes most stressful putt of career to keep alive chance at 2025 PGA Tour cardPride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come outMaryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott hope a newly planned weeks-long festival will draw more fans, and revenue, to the Preakness Stakes and the area as the city prepares to host the second jewel of the Triple Crown. The biggest event on Baltimore’s spring calendar has lost money in recent years. Crowds have dwindled from an average of more than 100,000 in the decade before the coronavirus pandemic to 63,423 on Friday and Saturday last May. Young people have turned away from thoroughbred racing and the signature event, despite the presence of headlining musical acts such as and . Moore and Scott hope to turn the tide leading up to the 150th running of the race on May 17 — the final turn around the current version of the soon-to-be renovated Pimlico Race Course. “Preakness is a chance for Baltimore to show off,” Moore said at a presentation Wednesday on the sixth floor of the warehouse at Camden Yards. “And that’s what’s going to happen with Preakness 150.” Shortly after next year’s race, bulldozers and wrecking balls will begin demolishing the dilapidated facility as part of a expected to have a new Pimlico ready to host the Preakness by 2027. The refurbished track, in tandem with a new off-site training facility, is expected to become the headquarters for Maryland thoroughbred racing by the end of that year. Wednesday’s presentation was short on specifics, with festival organizers saying only that the buildup to the Preakness will last for months and that a list of events — including free and ticketed cultural gatherings, arts activities, and a headline concert — will be released in early 2025. But the co-chairs of the initiative are heavy hitters, from the first lady Dawn Moore to Orioles owner David Rubenstein to Stronach Group CEO Belinda Stronach, whose Canadian company still owns the Preakness despite having sold Pimlico to the state earlier this year. They said its events will “deliver experiences that equitably enhance economic growth, promote tourism and inspire civic pride through collaborative work with small-, minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.” Dawn Moore said the seed of the idea hit her after she and her husband visited the Kentucky Derby two years ago and recognized that the parties and community events leading up to the first jewel of the Triple Crown take over Louisville for weeks leading up to the actual race. Dec 11, 2024: Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott speaks at a media event at the Warehouse at Camden Yards previewing plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, a Preakness Festival and future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community. Listening are Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, Governor Wes Moore and David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore speaks at a press event to preview plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. A Preakness Festival, future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community were highlighted at the event held at the Warehouse at Camden Yards. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore speaks at a press event to preview plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. A Preakness Festival, future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community were highlighted at the event held at the Warehouse at Camden Yards. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott helped announce the creation of a new weeks-long festival designed to draw more attention to the Preakness Stakes. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks at a press event about plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes including a Preakness Festival, future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community. (Kim Hairston/Staff) From left, Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission and president of Sports and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, Governor Wes Moore, First Lady Dawn Moore and David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles, watch a video promoting the Preakness Festival for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. The press event is held at the Warehouse at Camden Yards. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks at a press event about plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes including a Preakness Festival, future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Terry Hasseltine, executive director of the Maryland Sports Commission and president of Sports and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland speaks about plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes during a press event at the Warehouse at Camden Yards. (Kim Hairston/Staff) Dec 11, 2024: Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott speaks at a media event at the Warehouse at Camden Yards previewing plans for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, a Preakness Festival and future plans for Pimlico Race Course and the Park Heights community. Listening are Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, Governor Wes Moore and David Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles. (Kim Hairston/Staff) “We could do it better,” she recalled telling the governor. “Well, go do it then,” she remembered him responding. One of the festival’s other co-chairs, Stella May Contracting chief financial officer Christian Johansson, noted that the Derby generated $396 million in economic impact for Kentucky in 2023 while the most recent study on the Preakness showed it generated just $41 million for Maryland. “The main reason is the Derby isn’t one or two days,” Johansson said. “Maryland historically has not fully captured the economic impact the Preakness could have.” Rubenstein donated to supplement funds from the Maryland Lottery’s major events fund to help get the new festival off the ground. The Orioles owner said he was dining with the Moores when the first lady ran the play by him. “That’s a pretty clever idea,” Rubenstein recalled thinking. “How come nobody else thought of that before?” He noted that he grew up a mile from Pimlico but never visited the track as a child because he wasn’t old enough. He promised to be there to celebrate the winner in 2025. Related Articles Scott grew up even closer, in Park Heights, but recalled not feeling welcome at the Preakness, which he did not attend until 2019. He said that this new initiative is about forging deeper connections between the event and the community around it. He and Moore noted that the Pimlico rebuild project includes $10 million for affordable housing and job creation in surrounding neighborhoods and that the festival will play off that mission. “We want to show the world the real and true Baltimore,” the mayor said. “One that is resilient, fun and on the rise, one that is the home of excellence but in particular, this Old Bay-sprinkled Black excellence. “That’s not what Preakness has always been. It hasn’t always been a place where we felt welcome. It was held in Northwest Baltimore, but it was very clear that it wasn’t Northwest Baltimore. But over the past few years ... we’ve begun to change that narrative.”

Capitals, finding their way without Alex Ovechkin, tangle with DevilsThe celebrity look-alike contest trend continues: Glen Powell and Gordon Ramsay are latest stars to surprise their doppelgängers.SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items off grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. In Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Aerial footage showed cars bumper-to-bumper heading to higher ground Thursday morning on California highways 1 and 92 in the Half Moon Bay area south of San Francisco. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 near the Oregon border. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Cindy Vosburg, the executive director for the Crescent City-Del Norte County Chamber of Commerce, said she heard alarms sound just before shaking began and the city's cultural center downtown started to creak. “The earthquake seemed to go on for quite a few seconds. It was a rolling earthquake,” Vosburg said. “Just as it would start to subside, the building would roll again.” Vosburg, a former resident of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Central Valley, said it was the strongest earthquake she felt since the 1989 Loma Prieta quake struck Northern California. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. White House Spokesperson Jeremy Edwards said President Joe Biden was briefed on the earthquake and that FEMA officials are in touch with their state and local counterparts in California and Oregon. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?" The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess," he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Christopher Weber, Jaimie Ding and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California; and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report.

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A lopsided, shutout loss has left the beat-up New Orleans Saints limping into the final two games of a lost season — and into a rather cloudy future beyond that. Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi figured that a visit to playoff-bound Green Bay would be a tall order for his injury-riddled squad, whose prominent missing players included starters at quarterback, running back and receiver. And when New Orleans’ mostly healthy defensive front struggled against a Packers ground game led by running back Josh Jacobs, the rout was on. Nothing “stuck out on film other than a lack of execution and lack of playmaking,” Rizzi said Tuesday after reviewing video of Monday night’s 34-0 loss at Green Bay. “We played against a playoff team, at their place, that has very few holes on their team,” Rizzi added. “It was a little bit of a perfect storm.” Rizzi, a special teams coordinator who has made no secret that he sees his eight-game interim stint as an opportunity to further his head-coaching ambitions, has two more games left in what has been an up-and-down audition. The Saints are 3-3 on his watch, which includes one of New Orleans’ most lopsided losses since the turn of the century. With the playoffs unattainable, and with a lot of reserves pressed into service, the final two weeks will serve primarily as a player-evaluation period heading into the offseason, when there are bound to be myriad changes on the roster and perhaps the coaching staff. Rizzi said the Saints, realistically, have been in evaluation mode “for the last month or so,” but added that there maybe be additional young or practice-squad players getting longer looks in the final two games. “My big thing this week is to see how we can respond,” Rizzi said. “We’re going to find out a lot about a lot of people.” What’s working Of the Saints’ four punts, three were inside the Green Bay 20 and New Orleans did not allow a single punt return yard. The punt team might have been the only unit that executed its job (even the kickoff unit allowed a 38-yard return). What needs help The Saints had trouble protecting the quarterback (three sacks) and protecting the football (two turnovers). They couldn’t run the ball (67 yards). They couldn’t stop the run (188 yards allowed). They couldn’t pass the ball consistently (129 yards) or stop the pass when they needed to. As former Saints coach Jim Mora once said, they couldn’t do “ diddly poo.” Although rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler largely struggled and was responsible for both New Orleans turnovers, he had enough highlights — including a jumping, first-down pass on third-and-long — to keep him penciled in as the starter if the injured Derek Carr remains unable to play, Rizzi said. “It was definitely a performance where we got to take the good with the bad,” Rizzi said. “We’ve got to get rid of those negative plays.” Stock up New Orleans native Foster Moreau has emerged as one of the Saints’ most reliable offensive players. The sixth-year NFL tight end made two catches for a team-high 33 yards on Monday night, giving him 25 catches for 335 yards this season. His four TDs receiving entering the game remain tied for the team lead. Stock down Rizzi was riding high after two wins to start his interim term as head coach, but Monday night’s ugly loss is the club’s third in four games and took a lot of luster off his candidacy for a longer-term appointment. Injury report Center Erik McCoy left the game with an elbow injury, while guard Lucas Patrick hurt his knee in the closing minutes. Rizzi said McCoy won’t need surgery but could miss the rest of the season. The coach said Patrick needs more tests but is not expected to play again this season. While the chances of Carr (non-throwing, left hand) or top running back Alvin Kamara (groin) playing again this season appear slim, the Saints have declined to rule that out. Rizzi said Carr is getting closer to being able to play and wants the opportunity to go against his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders. Meanwhile, Rizzi said Kamara “is working his tail off to try to come back” this season. “Alvin told me this morning, in my office, that he really would like to play again,” Rizzi said. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 24 — The number of years since the Saints suffered a more lopsided shutout loss, 38-0 against San Francisco in 2002. Up next The Saints’ home finale against lowly Las Vegas will be an anticlimactic affair bound to generate a level of fan interest similar to, if not less than, a preseason game. But the game will be important to the current regime, which needs victories in each of the club’s final two games to avoid the franchise’s worst record since it was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and went 3-13. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementUS: Real reason iPhone, Android users should stop texting each other — FBI

Lopsided loss sinks the reeling Saints further into evaluation modeDES MOINES — Sen. Janice Weiner, of Iowa City, has been chosen by her colleagues to lead the Democrats in the Iowa Senate, the caucus announced late last week. Weiner replaces Pam Jochum, who earlier this year announced her retirement from the Iowa Senate after serving 31 years in the Iowa Legislature. Jochum became the Senate Democratic caucus leader in 2023 when the group voted to make a change from its previous leader, Sen. Zach Wahls, of Coralville. Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City Weiner was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022. Her district, Senate District 45, includes most of Iowa City and University Heights. Prior to the Senate, Weiner served on the Iowa City Council and worked for 26 years as a Foreign Services Officer with the U.S. State Department abroad and in Washington, D.C., according to a Senate Democrats news release. Weiner assumes the top leadership position of a Democratic caucus that in recent elections has dwindled to just 15 members in the 50-member Senate. That’s the smallest number of Senate Democrats since 1972. “I have spent countless hours talking to Iowans all over our state — from small towns to urban centers, from the suburbs to our rural communities. I listened to Iowans describe their struggle to make ends meet, their challenges accessing health care, and their concerns about inadequate resources and a lack of funding for their kids’ public schools. It is clear we have a lot of work to do for the people of Iowa,” Weiner said in a news release. “As I look ahead to 2025 and beyond, Senate Democrats will fight to ensure opportunity for all Iowans — every worker, every family, and every child,” Weiner added. “We will hold those in power accountable, and work to preserve and protect Iowans’ freedoms.” Senate Democrats also elected the remainder of their leadership team: Sen. Bill Dotzler, of Waterloo, as Democratic Whip; and as assistant leaders, Sens. Cindy Winckler, of Davenport; Molly Donahue, of Cedar Rapids; Claire Celsi, of West Des Moines; and Izaah Knox, of Des Moines. The 2025 session of the Iowa Legislature begins Jan. 13. Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst has announced the creation of the Senate DOGE Caucus, a group of Republican Senators that plans to work with President-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst The new department, whose creation and mission is being led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, has pledged to reduce federal spending by trillions of dollars. Ernst said the Senate DOGE Caucus will expose “trillions in waste, fraud, and abuse.” “Iowans elected me with a mandate to cut Washington’s pork and make ’em squeal,” Ernst said in a news release, making a reference to her 2014 campaign slogan. “From billion-dollar boondoggles to welfare for politicians and trillion-dollar slush funds, my decade-long investigations have exposed levels of abuse that are almost too insane to believe. The tables are finally turning, the knives are out, and waste is on the chopping block.” The news release from Ernst’s office included a statement of support and thanks from Ramaswamy. Ernst said the Senate DOGE Caucus will include Republican Sens. John Cornyn, Texas; Ted Budd, N.C.; Mike Lee, Utah; Rick Scott, Fla.; Roger Marshall, Kan.; and James Lankford, Okla. A House DOGE Caucus also has formed, Ernst said, and is led by Republican Reps. Aaron Bean, Fla.; and Pete Sessions, Texas. Ernst’s office said this week she will release a “Thanksgiving menu of trillions of dollars of cuts to be carved out of Washington’s budget.” Led by Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke, a 16-member delegation recently completed a nine-day trade mission to Japan and Taiwan, according to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the state agency that coordinated the trip. Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Grant Menke (Contributed photo) The Iowa delegation visited Taipei, Taiwan, and Tokyo and Osaka in Japan from Nov. 15 to Nov. 23, according to IEDA. The delegation included representatives from Iowa’s meat production, grain, and meat processing industries, and the trip’s purpose was to “encourage trade development, bolster partnerships and identify opportunities to expand export markets,” according to IEDA. The representatives included officials from the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Corn, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Iowa Soybean Association. Iowa companies in 2023 exported $1.3 billion in agricultural goods to Japan and $225.1 million to Taiwan, according to IEDA. Japan is Iowa’s fourth-largest export destination and Taiwan the state’s 13th-largest, according to IEDA. “Iowa is an agricultural production powerhouse, so it is vital for our state’s farmers and agribusinesses to be able to share our abundance with the world through trade and to seek new market opportunities for Iowa ag products through participation in international trade missions,” Menke said in a news release. “This North Asian mission allowed our well-rounded ag delegation to build on Iowa’s long-standing friendship and partnership in trade with both Japan and Taiwan — strong, stable markets that depend heavily on imports for their food and agriculture needs and deeply value the reliability and premium quality of Iowa’s meat products and commodities,” Menke added. Women hang a Democratic Party flag at Armored Gardens during the Scott County Democrats election night watch party on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. Josué Rodriguez, running for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives, checks his phone during the Scott County Republicans watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Davenport. County Chair Kay Pence speaks at the Scott County Democrats watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. A couple poses for photo at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters' watch party on Tuesday, Nov. 5, in Davenport. Matt Trimble, running for Scott County Auditor, speaks at the Scott County Democratic watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane chats with people at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters' watch party on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. The Scott County Democrats held a watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. People watch coverage of the presidential election at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. People gather at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters to watch election coverage on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. People gather at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters to watch election coverage on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. The Scott County Democrats held a watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. The Scott County Democrats held a watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. The Scott County Democrats held a watch party at Armored Gardens on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. A couple poses for photo at the Scott County Republican Party Headquarters' watch party on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. Josué Rodriguez, running for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives, checks his phone during the Scott County Republicans watch party on Tuesday, November 5, in Davenport. Special Counsel Jack Smith explains to the court that he has conferred with Trump's legal team, which does not object to the motion for dismissal. (Scripps News) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

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