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Elon's STATUS RISES with electionAn oil rig drills a well under moon light near Cremona, Alta., on Sept. 24, 2023. Drilling expertise runs deep in Alberta owing to the province’s long history with oil and gas, but industries that can lower greenhouse-gas emissions also rely on the technology. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press Alberta is hoping to attract geothermal, critical mineral, helium and carbon-capture companies to the province through a major new drilling hub. The public-private partnership, announced Monday, would become Canada’s first technology-agnostic, industry-led drilling hub. The province has earmarked $50-million from Alberta’s carbon tax on large emitters to develop the project, which is envisioned as a place where companies can test new drilling techniques and technologies to accelerate their development. Major companies in the drilling sector, including geothermal company Eavor Technologies Inc., Calgary-based Tourmaline Oil Corp. TOU-T and global oilfield service company Halliburton Co. HAL-N have already expressed interest in becoming anchor tenants. No binding contracts have been signed, but Premier Danielle Smith told media that tens of millions of dollars in private-sector capital investment could potentially be secured through the project. Drilling expertise runs deep in Alberta owing to the province’s long history with oil and gas. But industries that can lower greenhouse-gas emissions – including geothermal energy and carbon capture – also rely on the technology. So, too, does the production of critical minerals and helium – sectors that have been eyed as potential economic boons for Alberta and other provinces. The site for the Alberta Drilling Accelerator hasn’t yet been selected, but an April feasibility study led by Calgary-based Eavor, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors and the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association, identified various options. The province expects to announce the location in early 2025. Geothermal energy accounts for a mere 0.5 per cent of renewables-based electricity generation, heating and cooling globally, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. However, geothermal electricity generation grew around 3.5 per cent in 2021, and the technology’s use for heating and cooling grew by around 9 per cent annually between 2015 and 2020. The International Energy Agency has identified geothermal as an energy source with untapped potential, and in recent reports has underscored the need to rapidly increase support for the technology to help the world meet goals for net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions. While global growth in geothermal mostly stalled in 2022, according to the agency’s 2023 renewables report, the Paris-based energy watchdog says that’s likely to change, driven by a mix of market interest and government policy. That’s where Canada has a unique opportunity to repurpose existing oil and gas skill sets, as the world pivots to cleaner energy. A recent analysis by energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie estimated that investment in geothermal through 2050 could hit US$1-trillion, should there be broad global adoption of the technology. Eavor chief executive officer John Redfern said Monday there is something of a global “geothermal arms race” under way, exemplified by recent announcements about new geothermal test facilities in China, the United States, New Zealand, Iceland and others. The drilling accelerator would play a crucial role in Canada securing some of that global investment, he said. Drilling accounts for up to 90 per cent of geothermal project capital expenditure. Those high costs have been a major roadblock for the broad global adoption of geothermal energy, but Mr. Redfern said the hub could help address that barrier while attracting investment to the province. “There are incremental improvements we’re making with geothermal, but through things like the accelerator, we’re talking about fundamental new technology that can drastically reduce the cost of it,” he said. Ms. Smith said Monday that industries that rely on drilling are vital for Alberta to achieve its goal of net-zero by 2050, which is why the new accelerator is so important. “We’ll be expanding our already vast knowledge base, keeping Alberta out in front of the preferred global energy provider, and supporting the development of technology the world desperately needs to support a sustainability goal,” she said. She said the project would also support the long-term economic goal of operators being able to scale up and sell their homegrown expertise by developing and manufacturing drilling technology that can be used around the world. “There’s major interest in this project among Alberta’s industry players,” she said. The drilling accelerator is slated to begin operations in 2026, managed as a non-profit by a new industry association.District Attorney Erik Johnson has officially designated 2025 as the “Year of the Child” in District 22, an initiative aimed at enhancing the health, safety, and well-being of children throughout the district. This initiative underscores the vital role of the District Attorney’s Office in safeguarding children and fostering stronger support systems within the community. As District Attorney, Johnson and his office are dedicated to addressing cases involving child victims and witnesses, working closely with the Children’s Advocacy Center to prosecute incidents of physical and sexual abuse. “Our responsibility to protect children is paramount,” Johnson said. “Through rigorous investigations and thoughtful prosecutions, we aim to bring justice to vulnerable children and hold offenders accountable.” In addition to handling criminal cases, the District Attorney’s Office manages civil proceedings where children are neglected or deprived. These cases may ultimately lead to the termination of parental rights, ensuring children are placed in safe and nurturing environments. Johnson emphasized that his team remains steadfast in their commitment to the well-being of every child in District 22. Among the programs implemented in 2025 is the School-Based Family Services Program, in partnership with Oklahoma Human Services. This initiative aims to place social workers in every school district across District 22, providing essential services such as family support, academic assistance, mental health resources, and basic needs for students. This collaborative program, funded 80% by state grants and 20% by school districts, is designed to “build a bridge to support both educational achievement and home stability.” “By introducing school-based social workers, we enable teachers to focus on teaching while addressing the broader challenges students face,” Johnson said. “This program can improve attendance, reduce truancy, and strengthen the family support systems needed for children to thrive. With over 7,500 students in our district, I’m proud of the enthusiasm this initiative has received from local superintendents.” Another cornerstone of the “Year of the Child” is the expansion of the Care Cottage, the Children’s Advocacy Center in Ada that serves District 22. The Care Cottage provides a safe, child-friendly environment for victims of abuse to receive forensic interviews, counseling, and medical care. “This expansion will allow us to serve more children in crisis, ensuring that every child has access to the resources they need to begin healing,” Johnson said. The District Attorney’s Office will also continue to prioritize training for law enforcement on domestic abuse and child abuse investigations. Enhanced training will focus on improving report writing and case development, ensuring that the evidence gathered is strong enough to support successful prosecutions. “ By refining these skills, we can better protect children and hold offenders accountable,” Johnson said. Furthermore, the office will expand the District 22 Truancy Program, now operating in all three counties. The program, in collaboration with schools and social service agencies, helps at-risk students stay engaged in their education, addressing the root causes of truancy and ensuring long-term success for children and their families. To kick off the “Year of the Child,” Johnson will host a roundtable discussion in January 2025, bringing together social service agencies, educators, law enforcement, and community leaders. This forum will aim to enhance coordination and delivery of essential services to children across the district. “This is an opportunity for all stakeholders to get on the same page and ensure our efforts are operating at maximum potential,” Johnson said. By focusing on these comprehensive measures, District 22 is setting a powerful precedent for community collaboration and child-focused advocacy. “The ‘Year of the Child’ will be a year of action and commitment,” Johnson said. “It’s a chance for all of us to come together, support our children, and create a brighter future for every family in District 22.”slot machine gcash
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Some dividend stocks are famous throughout the investing community, and Realty Income ( O 0.10% ) is one of them. It refers to itself as "The Monthly Dividend Company," a nickname geared toward the investors who use its monthly dividend payouts to help pay their living expenses. Dividends are the primary draw for most Realty Income shareholders, but don't underestimate the stock's ability to generate life-changing wealth. The stock's lifetime (since 1994) total returns exceed 5,000%, more than double the S&P 500 's returns over that time. Can Realty Income still set you up for life? I think so. However, it might take some planning to maximize the stock's performance. Here is what you need to know if you want Realty Income to help you build a fortune. The key to unlocking Realty Income's potential Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT) , a company that acquires and leases real estate. This company is a net lease retail REIT specializing in single-tenant properties, such as grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, and other places where people frequently spend time and money. REITs must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders. That generally makes REITs a great place to find dividends. Realty Income currently yields an impressive 5.5%, and management has increased its dividends for 31 consecutive years -- every year since going public. Those dividends, or more specifically, reinvesting those dividends , are the key to getting the most out of the stock. Reinvesting the dividend buys you additional shares, which also pay dividends. It's like a dividend snowball that gets bigger and faster as it rolls downhill. Three things make Realty Income extra good for reinvesting dividends: Notice the difference below between Realty Income's returns from price appreciation alone and total returns. O data by YCharts. Realty Income can set an investor up for life, but only if they reinvest the dividends and wait long enough for that dividend snowball to grow big enough. Here is something you may not have considered There's some fine print that I think you'll want to read. American investors pay a tax rate between 0% and 20% (depending on your income) on qualified dividends . However, dividends from most REITs, such as Realty Income, are nonqualified . They're taxed as ordinary income instead. In other words, you'll pay whatever your tax bracket is, which could be as high as 37% in the United States. People generally don't think much about taxes when they're just starting their investing journey, but taxes can equate to thousands of dollars annually as investments grow. If you want to build your dividend snowball with Realty Income, consider doing it in a tax-advantaged account, such as a Roth IRA . Anyone who isn't a U.S. investor or is unsure how tax laws may affect their finances should consult a tax professional. Can Realty Income's dividend still grow? Want Realty Income (as part of a diverse portfolio) to help set you up for life? Here is the playbook: Dollar-cost average into Realty Income, hold the stock, and reinvest the dividends. But this doesn't work unless Realty Income continues growing. It's already one of the largest REITs on the market, with over 15,000 properties across the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Companies can borrow money or raise their dividend payout ratio to juice the dividend, but that's only temporary. Over time, a company's underlying growth dictates the dividend. Realty Income's dividend is well-funded, with a payout ratio of 75%. Additionally, the company has grown its dividend at an annualized rate of 4.3% over its lifetime. In pursuit of growth, the company has begun tapping new property markets, such as industrial properties, data centers, gaming properties, and more. Doing new things can be risky, but Realty Income's track record (the company hasn't shown an operating loss in nearly 30 years) should probably earn some trust from investors until proven otherwise. Analysts expect the business to grow between 3% and 4% annually over the next three to five years. A healthy payout ratio and likely dividend growth ahead mean investors can continue to build their dividend snowballs with Realty Income stock.
Stunning Siena model home is among the final few homes available in this exclusive community CHATSWORTH, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), the nation's leading builder of luxury homes, today announced the final opportunity to own a new home at Verona Estates , an exclusive gated community in Chatsworth, California. Only a few homes remain available for sale in this prestigious community, including the professionally decorated Siena Modern Farmhouse model home. The intimate gated enclave of Verona Estates is a rare find showcasing award-winning architecture and innovative home designs. Nestled in an established Chatsworth neighborhood south of the Santa Susana Mountains and adjacent to the Vineyards at Porter Ranch, this exceptional community offers a serene and relaxed atmosphere with the convenience of nearby shopping and easy access to freeways, entertainment, and recreation. Toll Brothers residents in Verona Estates will enjoy distinctive architecture, quality craftsmanship, luxurious home designs with open floor plans, expansive home sites, and proximity to the future 50-acre Porter Ranch community park. Verona Estates offers generous two-story home designs ranging from 4,700 to 6,000+ square feet, with 5 to 6 bedrooms, 4.5 to 6.5 bathrooms, and 3-car garages. The homes also feature popular floor plan options including prep kitchens, guest suites, floating staircases, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and more. Move-in ready homes in the community are priced from $1,979,995. "We are thrilled to offer the final opportunity to own a home in the exclusive Verona Estates community,” said Nick Norvilas, Division President of Toll Brothers in Los Angeles. "The Siena model home is a showcase of luxury and design, and we encourage interested home buyers to visit and experience this exceptional home along with the final few quick move-in homes remaining in the community firsthand.” The Siena Modern Farmhouse model home features designer upgrades throughout, including fully landscaped and furnished interiors, offering an unparalleled living experience. The professionally decorated model home is priced at $2,999,995. For more information, call 844-700-8655 or visit TollBrothers.com/LA . The Sales Center for Verona Estates is located at 20508 Edgewood Court in Chatsworth and is open by appointment only. About Toll Brothers Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 57 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "TOL.” The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World's Most Admired CompaniesTM list and the Company's Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron's magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com . From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cbb8cf4a-a018-4df0-955e-3cf4ab63edeb Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)The military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down , officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online — in nine languages — as St. Nick swoops along the earth's meridians. “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him," the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year's Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are "screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, "Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early." NORAD's annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here's how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child's accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy's mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from "those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup's story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy's call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child's call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. "When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'" Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. "People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa's story NORAD's tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa's story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That's when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time. Ben Finley, The Associated Press
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants were embarrassed in Sunday's 30-7 loss , taunted by Mayfield after a touchdown run just before halftime. And then they saw their fans walk out on them again when the Bucs extended their lead to 30-0 and sent New York (2-9) to its sixth straight loss. The losing streak is the longest for the Giants since 2019, when they dropped a franchise-record nine straight games to finish 4-12. That led to the firing of coach Pat Shurmur after two seasons. Third-year coach Brian Daboll is clearly in trouble, with the Giants guaranteed a second straight losing season. They were 6-11 in a 2023 season that featured a lot of injuries. Daboll, who denies he has lost the team, isn't the only one whose job is in jeopardy. General manager Joe Schoen is on the hot seat and so is this entire franchise, which is celebrating its 100th year. It's one thing to lose. It's quite another to give up, and that's what the organization did when it decided to bench Daniel Jones a week ago and then release him on Friday after the 27-year-old asked co-owner John Mara to let him walk away. While he wasn't playing well, Jones was the Giants' best quarterback. He gave them more a of chance to win than either Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock. Removing him from the picture was all but certain to make the Giants worse, even if it was a good business decision. If Jones was hurt and unable the pass his physical before the 2025 season, the team would have been on the hook for a $23 million cap hit. The problem is the players care about now. By getting rid of Jones and elevating DeVito to the starting role, the front office was telling the team it didn't care about winning with seven games left in the season. So the players gave a lackluster effort. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called the team soft. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers said he was sick of losing. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he saw a lack of effort by some players. What they all were saying was they were angry at being betrayed. Money is never more important than winning, and the Giants made that mistake. What’s working At this point in the season? Nothing. What needs help The offense once again. The Giants have scored a league-low 163 points, including only 60 in six games at MetLife Stadium, where they are winless this season. They have scored in double figures at home twice. Daboll's team has been held scoreless in the first half in three of 11 games and it has been held without a first-half touchdown seven times. Daboll said he will continue to call the offensive plays. Stock up S Tyler Nubin. The rookie has had a team-high 12 tackles in each of the last two games. His 81 tackles for the season are just two behind team leader Bobby Okereke. Stock down RB Tyrone Tracy. The rookie leads Giants running backs with 587 yards on 116 carries — a 5.1-yard average for the fifth-round pick. But holding onto the ball has been a big issue. Tracy's fumble in overtime cost New York a chance to win in Germany against Carolina. He also lost the ball in the third quarter at the Bucs 5-yard line with New York down 23-0. It earned him a seat on the bench. Injuries LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) left Sunday's game in the first quarter. Chris Hubbard filled in at tackle and the Giants luckily got back DL Kayvon Thibodeaux this past week after he missed five games with a broken wrist. DeVito was banged up but Daboll expects him to start against the Cowboys. Key numbers 10 — The Giants have gone 10 consecutive games without an interception, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland — now Las Vegas — Raiders. The Giants and Raiders now share the single-season mark. What’s next A national showcase on Thanksgiving Day for the NFC-worst Giants at Dallas. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Tom Canavan, The Associated Press
Select Medical Holdings Corporation Completes Spin-Off of Concentra
AP Business SummaryBrief at 1:14 p.m. EST
Qatar 2022 CEO Nasser Al Khater speaks at MISK Global Forum 2024His team is coming off a fourth-quarter collapse in the Grey Cup, is getting rather long in the tooth and has the usual long list of free agents to deal with. But while Blue Bombers GM Kyle Walters acknowledged he’s still dealing with a Cup hangover, he was drinking from a glass half-full in his season-ending session with the media on Tuesday. The reason for his optimism: he has more good players already under contract for next year, some of them young and only getting better. “So the idea of, ‘This is the end of the road, the team is in a free-fall downward,’ I don’t think is accurate,” Walters said. “We have a good group of guys and we were in a one-point game with 10 minutes left... before things went downhill. “With the young guys we have under contract that contributed, I’m feeling probably better now than in years past in regards to the transition to youth heading into next season.” Walters pointed to the receiving corps, with rookies Ontaria Wilson, Keric Wheatfall and Kevens Clercius – all with another year on their contracts – and the defensive line as areas that got an injection of promising youth this year. As for his aging vets, they all want to come back for another run at the 2025 Grey Cup, to be played in Winnipeg. The key ones already under contract include 36-year-old quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Brady Oliveira, receiver Nic Demski, defensive back Deatrick Nichols, centre Chris Kolankowski and kicker Sergio Castillo. Other mainstays, like D-lineman Willie Jefferson (33), O-linemen Stanley Bryant (38) and Pat Neufeld (35), have said they want to re-sign. Most of the rest could be up for grabs as free agents, come February. Some, like receiver Dalton Schoen, quarterback Chris Streveler and linebacker Adam Bighill, are coming off season-ending injuries, which may or may not affect their negotiating positions. “Nobody’s interested in taking pay cuts,” Walters said. “Every single agent and every single player at the very least would expect to come back for what they’ve made. Now, organizationally we may have a different view of, ‘At this point in your career we no longer see you at this price point, but we see you at this price point.’ And that’s when the fun starts, I guess.” The “fun” might include trying to re-sign a player or two before the calendar flips to 2025, using the dollars he managed to stay below the salary cap. “We’re going to carve out, to the cent, how much money we have just to use a signing bonus on somebody this year,” Walters said. It’s always a case of give and take: any raise Walters gives to one, he has to take away from another to stay within the cap. Someone like cornerback Tyrell Ford, among the league’s top ball hawks, is due for a significant pay bump. “When you’re a Canadian that’s starting at a traditional American position, your value is through the roof,” Walters said. “I expect him to be highly sought after in free agency, for sure, and deservedly so.” As another key part of the CFL’s stingiest secondary, fellow defensive back Evan Holm is another player in line for more. “Up here would be my No. 1 goal,” Holm told me as he cleaned out his locker last week. “And we have a baby due in March. Just seeing everyone else with their children around, the environment would be pretty fun. We’ll see.” As for the baby he’s nurtured for the last 10 years, Walters just wants to keep feeding the thing the same ingredients that have seen it develop into a perennial championship contender. Having the Grey Cup in their own back yard doesn’t change anything, the GM says. They’d be trying to get there if it was played in Timbuktu. “An organization shouldn’t say, ‘Because we’re hosting, we’re really going to give it our all this year.’ Because then the response from the players and coaches would be, ‘Well, why wouldn’t we do that every year?’” They’ve done it every year for the last five, usually by spending to the max. In a perfect world, Walters and O’Shea would also use next year to groom a successor to Collaros, while trying to get to another Grey Cup. But the CFL and its proliferation of one-year contracts is far from a perfect world. So they’ll wait to see what and who shakes from the quarterback tree. Arguably the biggest apple, Vernon Adams, went from B.C. to Calgary hours after Walters spoke to the media. “Can your young guys on your roster develop, or do you have to go out in free agency and potentially pay more for an experienced backup that you think can take over in the future?” Walters wondered aloud. “Those are challenging questions that we’ll have organizationally. But primary focus is putting a roster together to win the Grey Cup next year.” That work begins immediately. Even before the hangover fades completely. “You know, when you take a step back... of course, the last three final games were very frustrating,” Walters said of his team’s three-game Grey Cup losing streak. “And you can’t lump them all together. But going to five Grey Cups... we’ve got a good football team here. “I expect us to be good.” paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca X: @friesensunmedia
Brinks EVP James K. Parks sells $386,040 in stockThe FDA approved acellular tissue engineered vessel-tyod (Symvess, Atev; Humacyte Inc) for use in adults as a vascular conduit for extremity arterial injury when urgent revascularization is needed to avoid imminent limb loss and when autologous vein graft is not feasible. The approval follows positive results from the pivotal phase 2/3 V005 (NCT03005418) clinical trial. Image credit: JHVEPhoto | stock.adobe.com Humacyte Human Acellular Vessel (HAV) in Patients With Vascular Trauma NCT03005418 Humacyte, Inc. September 1, 2027 Symvess is a first-in-class bioengineered human tissue that is designed to be a universally implantable vascular conduit for use in arterial replacement and repair. Because harvesting vein from a trauma patient can take time during surgery, Symvess is available off-the-shelf, which does not require potential further injury to the patient to obtain vascular repair material via an invasive surgery. The Symvess trauma program was granted regenerative medicine advanced therapy designation by the FDA in May 2023, and in February 2024, it received a priority review. “The approval of a vascular conduit that resists infection and remodels into native arteries is an extraordinary technological advancement that will have a huge impact on the quality of trauma care around the world,” Charles J. Fox, MD, FACS, director of Vascular Surgery at the University of Maryland Capital Region, said in a news release. “Symvess is perfectly sized to treat most injuries, has excellent handling properties, and reduces time necessary to save both life and limbs.” The V005 (NCT03005418) trial, also called CLN-PRO-V005, is a prospective, multicenter, multi-cohort, non-randomized phase 2/3 study which enrolled patients with life- or limb-threatening vascular trauma which requires surgical repair. A limb cohort includes patients who require repair of a vessel contained to the upper or lower extremity, and a torso cohort includes patients who require repair of vessels within the thorax (excluding the heart), abdomen, and retroperitoneum. No control arms are included in this study. All patients received the investigational Symvess, which were used for arterial bypass or reconstruction. The device is implanted using a standard vascular surgical technique, similar to those used to place predicate peripheral vascular prostheses. The primary outcome measures are primary patency (defined as the interval from the time of access placement until any intervention designed to maintain or reestablish patency, access thrombosis or the measurement of patency), which was assessed at 30 days, and frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs), which was assessed at 36 months. A total of 69 patients with a mean age of 33.5 years were enrolled in the trial, of which the majority were male (n = 38). At day 30, the primary patency was approximately 84.3% (95% CI, 72.0%-91.8%) and secondary patency was 90.2% (95% CI, 79.0%-95.7%). Additionally, amputation rate was about 9.8% (95% CI, 4.3%-21.0%). Infection and death rates were also low, occurring in about 2.0% (95% CI, 0.4%-10.3%) and 5.9% (95% CI, 2.0%-15.9%) of patients, respectively. “I believe that Symvess will revolutionize vascular trauma care and be profoundly beneficial to our patients,” Rishi Kundi, MD, surgical critical care of vascular surgery at the University of Maryland Medical System, said in the news release. “From my experience so far, Symvess will allow reconstructions that are currently impracticable because of contamination and infection. It will make reconstructions that we now perform with prosthetic or even biologic grafts more successful.” Overall, AEs and serious AEs were frequent in V005 consistent with patients with acute injuries. According to the investigators, AEs of special interest, including thrombosis, rupture, aneurysm, and pseudoaneurysm, occurred at acceptable rates that were consistent with reports of other vascular conduits, including autologous vein and synthetic grafts. At 30 days, AEs of interest were reported for 8 patients and included thromboses and occlusions (resolved or unresolved), nonspontaneous rupture (n = 1), and infection of the conduit (n = 1). Additionally, all enrolled patients receiving Symvess presented multiple risk factors that could lead to wound infection, of which 20 patients developed 1 or more infectious events by day 30 (eg, bacteremia, fungemia, sepsis, and osteomyelitis). “The FDA approval of Symvess will make it the preferred conduit for complex vascular injuries, and particularly those at risk for infection,” Ernest E. Moore, MD, FACS, director of Research at the Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center at Denver Health, said in the news release.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s magnificent seven grand slam finalsA fter a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is garble that can’t be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won’t be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here’s a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you’re an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there’s a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption to all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent or lease customer data and made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal’s encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp, so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger, which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels” but contrary to popular perception, it doesn’t turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France. Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding an IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
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