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Broncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up RaidersThe Onion's bid to buy Infowars goes before judge as Alex Jones tries stopping sale The Onion's bid to buy conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars has returned to a Texas courtroom. A federal judge in Houston is hearing arguments Monday on whether a bankruptcy auction was run properly as Jones alleges collusion and fraud. The hearing is expected to continue into Tuesday. The Onion satirical news outlet was named the winning bidder last month over a company affiliated with Jones. The auction was held to help pay nearly $1.5 billion in defamation judgments that Jones was ordered to pay families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The families won lawsuits against Jones for calling the shooting a hoax. Juan Soto agrees to record $765 million, 15-year contract with Mets, AP source says DALLAS (AP) — A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets have agreed to a record $765 million, 15-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical. Soto’s deal is the largest and longest in Major League Baseball history, topping Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year contract with San Diego. Soto's deal does not include deferred money, the person said. TikTok asks federal appeals court to bar enforcement of potential ban until Supreme Court review TikTok on Monday asked a federal appeals court to bar the Biden administration from enforcing a law that could lead to a ban on the popular platform until the Supreme Court reviews the case. The legal filing was made after a panel of judges on the same court sided with the government last week and ruled that the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban as soon as next month, was constitutional. If the law is not overturned, both TikTok and its parent company ByteDance have said the popular app will shut down by mid-January. Pinheiro Braathen performs snow samba to celebrate Brazil's first podium in a World Cup ski race It’s not just soccer anymore. Brazil is finding World Cup success in skiing now too. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen became the first Brazilian skier to finish on a World Cup podium when he placed second in a giant slalom in Beaver Creek, Colorado, on Sunday. Pinheiro Braathen celebrated the achievement in truly Brazilian style: with a samba dance on the podium, the Brazilian flag wrapped around his waist and cowboy boots on his feet. Pinheiro Braathen’s mother is Brazilian and his father is Norwegian. He raced for Norway until switching his nationality for this season. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. College Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama out SMU captured the last open spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, bumping Alabama to land in a bracket that placed undefeated Oregon at No. 1. The selection committee preferred the Mustangs, losers of a heartbreaker in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, who had a far less difficult schedule than Alabama of the SEC but one fewer loss. The inaugural 12-team bracket marks a new era for college football, though the Alabama-SMU debate made clear there is no perfect formula. The tournament starts Dec. 20-21 with four first-round games. It concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta. Dave Parker and Dick Allen elected to baseball's Hall of Fame DALLAS (AP) — Dave Parker and Dick Allen have been elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame by the classic era committee. Parker received 14 of 16 votes and Allen got 13. A vote of 75% or more was needed for election. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27 along with players voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 21. ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally “Moana 2” remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it pulled in another record haul. According to studio estimates Sunday, the animated Disney film added $52 million, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. That surpasses the take for the original “Moana” and brings the sequel's global tally to a staggering $600 million. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. “Wicked” came in second place for the weekend with $34.9 million and “Gladiator II” was third with $12.5 million. The 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar” also earned an impressive $4.4 million even though it played in only 165 theaters. Hemingway look-alikes visit Cuba and some of the late writer's favorite places HAVANA (AP) — Eighteen white-bearded men who resemble the late U.S. author Ernest Hemingway have arrived in Havana for the weekend to visit some of the his favorite places when he lived on the island decades ago. Members of the Hemingway Look-alike Society visited the author’s favorite bar in Havana, La Floridita, where the music immediately picked up, and tourists and locals gathered around to take photos. The visit comes as Cuba and the United States are in the midst of tense relations. Hemingway lived in Cuba from 1939 to 1960. 'Reindeer' volunteers bring holiday magic to Ukrainian children living on the frontlines IZIUM, Ukraine (AP) — A volunteer group is trying to fulfill the holiday dreams of thousands of children living near the frontlines in Ukraine. The St. Nicholas’ Reindeers initiative publishes letters online detailing the children's wishes. Some ask for gifts, such as a bicycle or a pet mouse, alongside more complicated requests for their family members to be released from captivity or to be able to return to their homes. Donors fulfill the gift requests and volunteer “reindeers,” named for the magical beasts that pull Santa's sleigh, deliver them in the weeks following Dec. 6, when Ukraine celebrates St. Nicholas Day. Project co-founder Inna Achkasova says the reindeer volunteers aim to ensure that every child feels seen, heard and loved.

Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.

GNSS Stock Soars to 52-Week High, Reaching $4.04Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.Trent Williams to miss another game, Nick Bosa listed as doubtful

A New Brunswick doctor who admitted to touching a woman's buttocks, pelvis and breasts without her consent while out socializing in 2022 has been given a conditional discharge and sentenced to a year of supervised probation. Rémi Poitras, 30, of Edmundston, who specializes in family medicine and emergency medicine and now lives in Quebec, . He was originally charged with sexual assault. The victim, who was a fourth-year student at the New Brunswick medical training centre in Moncton at the time, said she continues to be "deeply affected" and is disappointed Poitras pleaded guilty to the reduced charge. "By reporting the assault, I hoped to obtain some justice — not only for myself, but for the person that I could have been if all of this had not occurred, for the dreams that were delayed and broken, the missed opportunities, the difficult relationships and the destroyed confidence," she told the Moncton courtroom in French during a sentencing hearing Wednesday. But Rosalie Genest, now 28 and a resident physician in pediatrics in Quebec City, is still glad she came forward, and requested the court-imposed publication ban on her identity be lifted. "Throughout my healing process, I realized that it's not up to me to be ashamed of that," she explained in an interview with Radio-Canada after after the hearing, during which provincial court Judge Luc Labonté agreed to lift the ban. According to an agreed statement of facts, Genest was at the Tide & Boar bar on Main Street in Moncton on Oct. 29, 2022, when Poitras grabbed her buttocks. He then placed his hands on her hips and pelvis. Genest left the bar and got into a car driven by Poitras's female roommate to go home. Poitras joined them in the vehicle and Genest pretended to be asleep. That's when Poitras touched her breasts. On Wednesday, the judge accepted a joint sentencing recommendation from the Crown and defence. One act when you're drunk ... should not define you for the rest of your life. "You're an important member of society that people look up to, so it's important that your actions always are appropriate," Labonté told Poitras. "Having said that, one act when you're drunk ... should not define you for the rest of your life either. And I understand that," he said, adding he believes Poitras is "truly remorseful." The conditional discharge means the offence will be removed from Poitras's criminal record in a year, unless he violates his probation. The conditions include not having any contact with the victim and following any treatment recommended by his probation officer. "I don't think the public at large will be shocked that you receive a discharge given the fact situation here," the judge said Earlier in the hearing, Genest told the court via video conference how the offence has affected her mental health and her career. She considered her attacker to be someone she could trust — a colleague of her then-fiancé, a teacher at the medical training centre where she was studying for exams and even her doctor during an emergency consultation in 2021, she said. Following the incident, Genest said, she no longer felt safe. She was "terrorized by the idea of being alone," she said reading from a victim impact statement, which an interpreter then relayed to the court in English. The sentencing hearing was held at the Moncton courthouse Wednesday. (Kate Letterick/CBC News) Two years later, flashbacks still haunt her several times a day, she said. "These vivid remembrances still cause me the same panic, the same distress and the same helplessness that I felt during the crime." Stress and fear forced her to study only part time, she said. She couldn't work and even began to question her dream of becoming a doctor. Her monthly debts remind her just how much this assault has cost her, she said. Her life was once confident and "full of promise and possibilities." Today, she feels "broken and unrecognizable." Poitras's defence lawyer Carolyne Albert urged the judge to reject the victim's entire statement. Labonté opted instead to not take into consideration certain information that was not part of the agreed statement of facts. Meanwhile, Poitras told the court his version of the events that night, starting with what happened at the bar. "While dancing together, I touched her hips with my hands. And she touched me in return with her hands," he said. "We had both [been drinking] alcohol. There was no sexual intention. "There was never a moment where Ms. Genest used verbal language nor body language to indicate that she didn't want to dance together." Poitras, pictured outside the Moncton courthouse on Nov. 27, said he was surprised and scared to face a 'life-altering charge' for what he felt was a 'mutual dance.' (Pascal Raiche-Nogue/Radio-Canada) During the car ride, Genest rested her head on his chest and he placed his arm around her, he said, adding she interacted with the two other people in the vehicle for the entire trip. This contradicts the agreed statement of facts, when Poitras admitted to grabbing the victim's buttocks at the Tide & Boar and touching her breasts in the vehicle. "To say I was surprised to hear that I was being accused of an assault after this night would be an understatement. ... Facing a life-altering charge for what I felt like a mutual dance scared me," he said. "I feel deeply sorry that Ms. Genest feels I touched her without her consent. This would never be my intention." Poitras and his lawyer both declined to comment at the end of the hearing. When he pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, Poitras had no conditions on his medical licence. Restrictions have since been added, according to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick's website. He is prohibited from engaging with any medical students or postgraduate trainees. In addition, all interactions with female patients are to be conducted in the presence of a chaperone, it says. Dr. Laurie Potter, registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, confirmed the conditions on Poitras's licence but declined to discuss them, citing privacy. (College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick) Poitras's New Brunswick licence expires at the end of the month, according to the website. The Collège des médecins du Québec's website had no information about restrictions or disciplinary action.Manchester United will look to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth when they travel to Molineux for their Boxing Day clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers . Dean Huijsen , Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo all got on the scoresheet on Sunday to condemn Man United to a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford for the second straight season, leaving the Red Devils in 13th place with 22 points to their name after 17 games. Ruben Amorim 's side have now lost three of their previous four Premier League matches, while Wolves will be in high spirits after they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Leicester City in Vitor Pereira 's first game in charge. Here, Sports Mole rounds up Man United's injury and suspension news ahead of their away clash with Wolves, who are sitting two points adrift of safety in 18th position. © Imago Status: Major Doubt Type of injury: Illness Possible return date: December 26 (vs. Wolves) De Ligt has sat out the last two matches due to illness. Man United have not provided a timeline for the Dutchman's return, but they will hope he can recover in time to feature in Thursday's squad. © Imago Status: Out Type of injury: Unspecified Possible return date: Unknown Mount's suffered his latest injury setback in the Manchester derby earlier this month, lasting just 14 minutes before he had to be withdrawn at the Etihad Stadium. No return date has been given, but Man United are reportedly fearful that he could be out of action until March. Victor Lindelof © Imago Status: Major doubt Type of injury: Unspecified Possible return date: December 26 (vs. Wolves) Lindelof was picked up an injury in last week's EFL Cup defeat against Tottenham, before he sat out Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth, making him a likely absentee for the upcoming trip to Molineux. Luke Shaw © Imago Status: Out Type of injury: Hamstring Possible return date: Unknown Shaw suffered another injury setback earlier this month, picking up a hamstring problem not long after returning to competitive action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Man United are likely to take a cautious approach with Shaw's recovery as look to avoid any further issues. MANCHESTER UNITED'S SUSPENSION LIST Man United have no players suspended for the Boxing Day clash.NoneFOX 11's Elex Michaelson explains the controversial Prop. 36 that would increase the punishment for certain theft and drug crimes. SEAL BEACH, Calif. - An alleged shoplifter got quite the surprise when she found out some shoplifting offenses are now considered a felony in California. "It's a felony?" video shows one of the women saying. "B*tch new laws!" the suspect next to her replies as they sit handcuffed in the back of a patrol car. "Stealing is a felony and this Orange County b*tch. They don’t play." Surveillance video shared Sunday by the Seal Beach Police Department shows three women walking into an Ulta Beauty store, perusing the shelves, then nonchalantly leaving with around $648 worth of stolen merchandise. SUGGESTED: Business owners support Prop 36 amid lootings Another video allegedly shows the same three women going inside a Kohl's store where they allegedly left with around $1,000 worth of merchandise. Surveillance video shared Sunday by the Seal Beach Police Department shows three women walking into an Ulta Beauty store, perusing the shelves, then nonchalantly leaving with around $648 worth of stolen merchandise. Bodycam video shows police officers chasing the women and ultimately arresting them. "A friendly reminder that Proposition 36, which increases punishments for some retail theft and drug possession offenses, went into effect Wednesday morning in California," the Seal Beach PD wrote on Instagram. "Don't steal in Seal!" SUGGESTED: The debate over Prop 36 in California Prop. 36 was a rightward swing of the California political pendulum – a decade ago, voters eased criminal penalties for certain crimes under 2014’s Proposition 47, which was pitched as both a cost-saving measure and a more effective way to combat crime by focusing dollars on treatment instead of incarceration. Then, during the pandemic, the rate of shoplifting and commercial burglaries skyrocketed, especially in Los Angeles, Alameda, San Mateo and Sacramento counties. Statewide, reported shoplifting of merchandise worth up to $950 soared 28% over the past five years , according to the Public Policy Institute of California. That’s the highest observed level since 2000. SUGGESTED: Explaining California's Prop. 36 Combining shoplifting with commercial burglaries, the institute’s researchers found that total reported thefts were 18% higher than in 2019. Now, certain drug offenses and thefts under $950 can be classified as felonies rather than misdemeanors if the suspected perpetrator has two or more past convictions for theft crimes. SUGGESTED: California Prop 36 explained: Increasing penalties for theft and drug trafficking Proponents said the initiative is necessary to close legal loopholes that have made it challenging for law enforcement to punish shoplifters and drug dealers. Opponents, including Democratic state leaders and social justice groups, said it will disproportionately imprison poor people and those with substance-use issues rather than target ringleaders who hire large groups of people to steal goods for resale online. The initiative will also take away drug and mental health funding that comes from savings from incarcerating fewer people. Californians for Safety and Justice, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce prison and jail spending, estimated that Prop. 36 will add 130,000 more people to California jails each year, about 100,000 of them held in jail before trial and about 30,000 serving one-year sentences after their convictions. The Source: This story was reported with information from the Seal Beach Police Department and the Associated Press.

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Jaipur, Dec 6: Dr Saurabh Jaiswal, Senior Consultant in Cardiac Surgery at Narayana Hospital, unveiled significant advancements in heart treatment techniques that are revolutionising patient care. A statement said that key technological innovations include minimally invasive surgeries with tiny incisions, robotic-assisted procedures offering enhanced precision, and laser techniques for treating blocked arteries. These methods provide faster recovery, reduced surgical risks, and improved patient experiences. Emerging technologies like stem cell therapy show promising potential for repairing damaged heart tissues. Advanced imaging techniques, including MRI, CT scans, and 3D printing, now enable precise pre-surgical planning and creation of personalized medical models. “These innovations are crucial as heart patient numbers rise, offering safer and more effective treatments,” Dr. Jaiswal emphasized. Narayana Hospital continues to lead in delivering cutting-edge cardiac care through these groundbreaking medical technologies. The developments represent a significant leap in addressing complex cardiac conditions, providing hope for improved treatment outcomes and patient experiences.Report: UCF HC Gus Malzahn to become Florida State OCPurdue Fort Wayne earns 77-57 win against Texas A&M-Commerce