Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds . Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.Fortis Inc. stock falls Wednesday, underperforms market
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'Shoved around': Older jobseekers in pre-pension limbo losing their nest eggsWASHINGTON — The House passed a $895 billion measure Wednesday that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. The bill passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators wanted to increase defense spending about $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions in the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many nondefense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, proved effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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In the fast-paced world of technology stocks, SoundHound AI has grabbed significant attention, witnessing a stunning 870% increase in share value this year. This surge is driven by rising anticipation around its cutting-edge AI solutions, which many believe could trigger prolonged growth in the sector. Conversational AI Pioneer SoundHound AI is at the forefront of conversational intelligence, a realm of artificial intelligence that excels in understanding and generating human-like dialogue. Its prominence stems from its advanced platform, which is rapidly expanding across various sectors. Initially marking its success through collaborations with major automakers, SoundHound’s voice-assisted and generative AI capabilities are now finding broader applications. The company is upbeat about its customer service AI, enabling sophisticated, conversational interactions across numerous industries. The company’s CEO emphasizes that AI customer service will soon be as indispensable to businesses as Wi-Fi. This transformative potential underpins the current fervor for the company’s stock. Impressive Financial Trajectory SoundHound AI’s financials reflect its robust growth, reporting $25.1 million in third-quarter revenue—a notable 89% rise. Serving over 200 enterprise clients, the company expects its yearly revenue to reach $84 million, representing an 83% year-over-year growth. For 2025, SoundHound AI forecasts revenue between $155 million and $175 million, with aspirations of achieving positive adjusted EBITDA by year’s end. Investor Caution in Sky-High Valuation Despite its meteoric rise, SoundHound AI’s valuation is drawing scrutiny. With a market cap of $9 billion, its shares command a high 90x forward P/S ratio. Compared to profitable peers like Nvidia and Palantir, this presents a concern for investors weighing long-term potential against immediate financial metrics. In this evolving AI arena, SoundHound AI’s future remains both promising and uncertain, posing questions about sustainability and competition. Is SoundHound AI the Next Big Thing in Conversational Technology? SoundHound AI, a powerhouse in the technology sector, has been making waves with its remarkable 870% increase in share value this year. This surge is fueled by the company’s innovative AI solutions, which many believe could lead to sustained growth in the industry. A Leader in Conversational AI At the forefront of conversational intelligence, SoundHound AI specializes in understanding and generating human-like dialogue. The company’s cutting-edge platform is quickly becoming a cornerstone in various sectors, with initial success rooted in partnerships with major automakers. SoundHound’s voice-assisted and generative AI capabilities have now broadened their reach, impacting industries beyond automotive. A significant focus is on its advanced AI customer service solutions, which promise to revolutionize business communications by offering seamless, conversational interactions across multiple sectors. Financial Success and Projections SoundHound AI’s financial performance underscores its rapid expansion. The company reported third-quarter revenue of $25.1 million, marking an 89% increase. With a clientele exceeding 200 enterprises, SoundHound AI anticipates annual revenue to reach $84 million for the current year, illustrating an 83% growth compared to the previous year. Projects for 2025 set revenue expectations between $155 million and $175 million, with goals to achieve positive adjusted EBITDA by year-end. Balancing Valuation and Growth While SoundHound AI’s stock performance has been impressive, its valuation raises questions among investors. A market capitalization of $9 billion and a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio nearing 90x place its shares in a high-risk category when compared to profitable competitors such as Nvidia and Palantir. This discrepancy necessitates careful consideration for those evaluating long-term value versus immediate financial outcomes. Exploring Trends and Innovations SoundHound AI’s trajectory aligns with growing trends in AI enhancements and innovations, particularly in conversational and generative AI applications. As industries increasingly adopt these technologies for improved customer interactions and operational efficiencies, SoundHound AI’s offerings are positioned competitively to lead market advancements. Challenges and Future Predictions Challenges remain as SoundHound AI navigates a competitive landscape saturated with incumbents and new entrants. The company’s promising future hinges on sustaining its technological lead and proving the viability and sustainability of its business model. The ongoing evolution within AI highlights the necessity for continuous innovation and strategic positioning to secure its place as an industry leader. SoundHound AI’s growth story reflects both the opportunities and uncertainties embedded in the burgeoning AI landscape. Insightful predictions focus on how the company will harness its technological edge to maintain its momentum amidst ever-changing market conditions. For more information on SoundHound’s offerings and vision, visit the SoundHound website .
This story was originally produced by the New Hampshire Bulletin , an independent local newsroom that allows NHPR and other outlets to republish its reporting. The state institutions involved in energy – setting policies, watching over utilities, advocating for ratepayers – are poised to face questions from lawmakers in the legislative session that begins next month. Chief among those questions, and disagreements: Who should be doing what in the state when it comes to energy? The Office of the Consumer Advocate, which works for the interests of residential ratepayers, has some thoughts. It supports legislation to clarify the authority of the Public Utilities Commission, a three-member body with jurisdiction over utilities, and the Department of Energy, a state agency established in 2021. But the OCA has also had to go on the defensive over its own role: Rep. Ross Berry, a Weare Republican, has proposed that the office be repealed and that its mantle instead be taken up by the DOE. Donald Kreis, the state’s consumer advocate, adamantly opposes the move. Meanwhile, PUC Chair Daniel C. Goldner and Commissioner Pradip K. Chattopadhyay have said they are “very concerned about the sweeping nature” of Kreis’ recommendations. Competing visions for the purpose of these offices will face off in a new Legislature with expanded Republican control, with a new Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, holding the veto pen. Kreis said he expects to be at the State House much more than in years past. While bills are still being drafted and have yet to be released to the public, here’s what’s teeing up for the Legislature when it convenes in the new year. PUC and DOE Kreis supported the creation of the DOE in 2021 but has since had “some buyer’s remorse.” A major issue, he said, is the muddling of which authorities belong to the DOE and which belong to the PUC. “It is expensive and complicated and ultimately bad for ratepayers if it isn’t clear to everybody what the job of the Public Utilities Commission is and what the job of the Department of Energy is,” Kreis said. “And so the bill that I have been working on getting introduced would just clarify everybody’s respective spheres.” Rep. Thomas Cormen, a Lebanon Democrat collaborating with Kreis , is the sponsor of a legislative service request “relative to redefining the role” of the PUC. (A legislative service request is the early stage of potential legislation, when the bill is still being written.) “If you look at many of the current statutes, they loop in the PUC as part of the enforcement mechanism, things that really the Department of Energy should be doing,” Cormen said. “And in fact, a lot of the statutes say the Department of Energy or the PUC can do these things, but really the PUC is an adjudicative board, and that’s all it should be.” Kreis pointed to a recent order from the PUC on net metering. In that decision, net metering was kept at its current rates and is left to expire in 2040. The commissioners “essentially ignored” a settlement agreement reached by parties including the OCA, clean energy advocates, utilities, and others, Kreis said. Part of Cormen’s legislation, the lawmaker said, will say that “in the case where all the parties involved in a case before the PUC agree as to what the outcome should be, then the PUC should quickly come to that outcome.” On how explicit that legislation should be – whether it should simply urge the PUC to accept such settlement agreements or mandate it – Kreis said: “I personally think it would be OK to tell the PUC that in a scenario where there’s total unanimous agreement, that the PUC shouldn’t second guess that total unanimous agreement.” But, he added, “I think most people would not go as far as I’m willing to go.” A separate bill request Cormen has filed seeks to clarify the authority of the PUC chair. He said he also worked with Kreis on this idea. On current law, “You could construe it as saying that the chair of the Public Utilities Commission can make rulings and just do a lot of things on their own, rather than by a majority of the commissioners,” said Cormen, who sits on the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee. “So the whole point of this bill is to just say that any actions taken by the PUC must be approved by a majority of the commissioners.” Kreis raised his legislative ideas in an October memo to the Residential Ratepayers Advisory Board, which the OCA describes as its “official sounding board.” Not all of these ideas will be pursued in the next legislative session and were still in early form in the memo, Kreis indicated. PUC members, in a letter to the advisory board, pointed to suggestions they believed would be a “grave error” to adopt. Goldner and Chattopadhyay, who have since been joined by a third PUC member, said they intended to “advocate vigorously, before the Legislature and elsewhere, to maintain these authorities, and to give a fuller, more accurate, picture of our work to interested stakeholders.” “As the ultimate arbiter between the interests of customers, including residential customers, and the interests of the regulated utilities (RSA 363:17-a), and the adjudicative body responsible for ensuring just, reasonable, and lawful rates for regulated utilities under New Hampshire law,” the commissioners wrote, “we foresee that adoption of these OCA recommendations would result in a profound blow against the public interest.” The commissioners, through a staff attorney, declined to comment further on the matter when reached following the advisory board meeting in October. Christopher J. Ellms Jr., the deputy commissioner of the DOE, said in an email that it “would be premature to comment on the consumer advocate’s suggestions regarding possible legislation,” and that the department “will review bills as they become publicly available and provide any position or testimony during hearings held by the appropriate legislative committee.” Consumer advocate Berry framed his legislation to move the role of the OCA under the DOE as a response to the needs of voters. “They’re screaming for lower energy rates, and I think this is a way to expedite that process,” Berry said. “The idea is to take the mandate that is given to the Office of the Consumer Advocate, which is to obviously lower and prioritize the residential ratepayer and give it to the entire Department of Energy,” Berry said. “So, instead of having five lawyers working on this ... the entire Department of Energy would be tasked with prioritizing the residential ratepayer.” Berry said his idea has been “fairly well-received” in conversations with lawmakers. “I haven’t talked to OCA,” Berry said. “They haven’t deemed fit to reach out to me, and I haven’t really had any real conversations with the DOE other than, like, ‘Hey, I’m filing this.’” Kreis, on the other hand, said Berry “has not done me the courtesy of reaching out and letting me know what it is that he has in mind.” With a new Legislature, Kreis is not sure how much interest the bill will generate – but he said he welcomes “the opportunity to explain to the Legislature what it is that we do and why it’s valuable. ... I’m hopeful that it won’t gain any traction, but it’s hard to say at this stage.” Berry argued that the consumer advocate, like the DOE commissioner, is a political appointee who requires nomination by the governor and confirmation by the Executive Council. “This argument that the [OCA] makes that they’re unbiased is bunk, because they’re both going through a political process,” Berry said. “... Once you kind of accept that as the reality, which it is the reality ... you can it look at and go, ‘OK, well, why don’t we just have the entire Department of Energy prioritize the residential ratepayer, and then you can have the PUC ... be the quote, unquote, neutral arbiter.” (PUC members also go through the confirmation process.) But Kreis feels his role, which he said exists in the vast majority of states, provides advocacy for ratepayers that can’t be replicated by an agency. “If you took what I do, and you just folded it back into the Department of Energy, then ... it’s the equivalent of saying that whatever the executive branch, basically meaning the governor, thinks is the right public policy is automatically good for ratepayers,” Kreis said. “And I don’t think that that is appropriate, even in a state with a fabulous governor, pursuing excellent executive branch public policy, that isn’t the ratepayer voice. That’s the governor’s voice.” New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. New Hampshire Bulletin maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Dana Wormald for questions: info@newhampshirebulletin.com .
ORLANDO, Fla. — At least four candidates will be on the ballot on April 1 in what is becoming a crowded race to succeed outgoing U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz in Congress. The vacancy was created after Trump tapped Waltz, R-St. Augustine Beach, to be his national security advisor. Waltz won a fourth term last month by about 30 percentage points over his Democratic opponent, making the GOP strong favorites in the seat that stretches from Daytona Beach to Mount Dora. Republican state Sen. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne, who qualified on Friday, was endorsed for the job by President-elect Donald Trump last month despite living about 75 miles south of Waltz’s district. Congress members aren’t required by law to live in the district they represent, and Waltz lived just outside District 6 when first elected. Fine was elected last month to the state Senate in his Brevard County district, after having served eight controversy-filled years in the Florida House. He became notorious for his social media spats and acerbic comments, including a proposed shutdown of the University of Central Florida. Qualifying for the special election ends Saturday. As of Friday, three other Republicans besides Fine had filed to run for the seat, Marion County School Board member Donald Browning, Joshua Vasquez of Ocala, and Ehsan Joarder of Hernando County, but none had yet qualified. If any or all of them do, a GOP primary will be held Jan. 28. On the Democratic side, St Johns County businessman Ges Selmont had qualified as of Friday. A Democratic primary would also be held on Jan. 28 if Democrat Purvi Bangdiwala of Daytona Beach also qualifies. Libertarian candidate Andrew Parrott of Ocala has also qualified and would appear on the April 1 ballot along with nonpartisan candidate Randall Terry, a Christian pastor and anti-abortion activist from Tennessee. Waltz has announced his resignation from Congress as of Jan. 20, when Trump takes office. With Waltz, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., all resigning to take positions in the Trump White House, Republicans could have a congressional majority of as little as two votes over Democrats until the seats are filled. Gaetz was nominated by Trump as attorney general but has since pulled out of consideration. He said he will not return to Congress. A special election to succeed Gaetz is also set for April 1, with Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis the biggest name in an even more crowded race. Sixteen candidates qualified at the Friday deadline, including 10 Republicans, five independents or write-ins and a single Democrat, Gay Valimont. The GOP primary for that seat will be held on Jan. 28. ©2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Seven losses in a season is unfamiliar territory for the San Francisco 49ers. With two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons, general manager John Lynch openly admits the 49ers haven't earned the right to be called "as good" as the 2023 NFC championship group. San Francisco is 5-7 but only two games behind NFC West-leading Seattle with five games remaining as the Chicago Bears (4-8) arrive Sunday. "I've found the whole discussion on Kyle rather comical," Lynch said in an interview Friday with KNBR in San Francisco. "We have won four of the last five division championships. We've been to two Super Bowls. The standard here is to win championships, and we've fallen short of that, I understand. "But we have an excellent head coach, and the fact that people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical. We're 100 percent behind Kyle and what he brings to our organization. Like I said, our focus is really on the Bears and doing everything we can. That's where Kyle's focus is, and that's where all our focus is." San Francisco lost 35-10 in the snow at Buffalo last Sunday night and the 49ers placed their top two running backs on injured reserve due to injuries in that game. Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) could return for Week 18 at Arizona if the 49ers are still fighting for a playoff spot. In a top-down ranking of NFC teams by record and playoff position, the 49ers are No. 11 entering Week 14. "You are what your record says you are in this league, and that isn't very good. So I think we've been through a lot as a team, this current team with a lot of stuff that has happened to members of our organization. Injuries, tragic circumstances, ultimately those are just excuses. One thing I can tell you is I'm proud of how this group has stuck together, had each other's back. The other thing I can tell you is the story's not written yet. We're still grinding, and we're still playing." The 49ers last missed the postseason in 2020 with a record of 6-10 that followed an appearance in the Super Bowl -- San Francisco's first title game loss of two to the Kansas City Chiefs. San Francisco's upcoming schedule after Sunday includes a short week before playing the division rival Rams on Thursday, at Miami (Dec. 22), a Monday night matchup with the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30 and the finale against the Cardinals. --Field Level MediaBy MARY CLARE JALONICK and MATT BROWN WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Related Articles National Politics | Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell. It’ll be a first for him National Politics | The Trump and Biden teams insist they’re working hand in glove on foreign crises National Politics | ‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration National Politics | Trump is threatening to raise tariffs again. Here’s how China plans to fight back National Politics | Trump won’t be able to save the struggling US beef industry Collins said after the hourlong meeting that she questioned Hegseth about the allegations amid reports of drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. She said she had a “good, substantive” discussion with Hegseth and “covered a wide range of topics,” including sexual assault in the military, Ukraine and NATO. But she said she would wait until a hearing, and notably a background check, to make a decision. “I asked virtually every question under the sun,” Collins told reporters as she left her office after the meeting. “I pressed him both on his position on military issues as well as the allegations against him, so I don’t think there was anything that we did not cover.” The meeting with Collins was closely watched as she is seen as more likely than most of her Republican Senate colleagues to vote against some of Trump’s Cabinet picks. She and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a fellow moderate Republican, did not shy from opposing Trump in his first term when they wanted to do so and sometimes supported President Joe Biden’s nominees for the judicial and executive branches. And Hegseth, an infantry combat veteran and former “Fox & Friends” weekend host, is working to gain as many votes as he can as some senators have expressed concerns about his personal history and lack of management experience. “I’m certainly not going to assume anything about where the senator stands,” Hegseth said as he left Collins’ office. “This is a process that we respect and appreciate. And we hope, in time, overall, when we get through that committee and to the floor that we can earn her support.” Hegseth met with Murkowski on Tuesday. He has also been meeting repeatedly with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, a military veteran who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault and has spent time in the Senate working on improving how attacks are reported and prosecuted within the ranks. On Monday, Ernst said after a meeting with him that he had committed to selecting a senior official to prioritize those goals. Republicans will have a 53-49 majority next year, meaning Trump cannot lose more than three votes on any of his nominees. It is so far unclear whether Hegseth will have enough support, but Trump has stepped up his pressure on senators in the last week. “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Trump posted on his social media platform last week.
Why ‘The Odyssey’ from Christopher Nolan is excitingTANAH MERAH, Dec 25 — Looking for rice locusts, scientifically known as chortophaga viridifasciata , has become a source of supplementary income for a grass cutter supporting his family in Kampung Rambai, Tok Chedol here. Muhammad Rozali Zulkifli, 37, said he started selling the small insects nearly a decade ago as a side income while working as a grass cutter in the village. “At first, I sold these locusts in small quantities, not expecting them to gain such popularity and high demand,” he said. Rozali explained that he hunts for the rice locusts at night in the paddy fields near his home, typically catching about one kilogramme of the insects each night to sell to his customers. The father of three said he uses a net to capture the rice locusts that gather on the grass and in the paddy fields. Muhammad Rozali said he normally leaves his house from 8pm to midnight daily to catch the grasshoppers, with the rainy season being particularly fruitful for his efforts. “The locusts are soaked first and then lightly fried until they turn reddish before being sold,” he said. Together with his wife, Nor Wan Zianal Atikah Aziz, 27, Rozali utilises internet technology to promote their grasshopper products on Facebook, boosting their sales. “Alhamdulillah, I earn between RM500 and RM700 a month, which helps supplement my family’s daily expenses,” he said. Rozali said he sells the rice locusts at RM10 per 100 grams and has customers in Selangor, Perlis, and Penang. — BernamaA London man is facing assault charges following a confrontation in the area of Wharncliffe Road and Oxford Street on Saturday. According to police, at around 1:20 p.m., the man was walking along the roadway when he bumped into a car. The driver tried to talk with him, and the man threw a coffee at the driver before brandishing a knife and threatening the driver. The man then fled the area on a city bus. Police say they located him nearby and arrested him, locating the knife in a search. The 64-year-old man now faces charges of assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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These LEGO Kits Are On Sale And Ready To Gift Black Friday May Be Over, But You Can Still Take Advantage Of These Amazing Sales On Amazon Canada It's Officially Travel Tuesday: Here Are The Best Deals On Flights, Hotels, And Vacations London Top Stories Blizzard, snow squall warnings in effect, as much as 80cm possible in some areas Man assaults and disarms police in Hyde Park bank: London police Proposal for nurse practitioners at long term care homes welcome news at Ailsa Craig groundbreaking Experts react to Bank of Canada interest rate cut 'I'd prefer to put security over commerce': Sarnia mayor reacts to potential border spending Local charities split $80K donation from LSTAR London police say pedestrian threw coffee at driver, threatened them with knife, and fled on city bus NEW | Middlesex resident loses $45,000 in crypto-currency scam: OPP CTVNews.ca Top Stories Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut off energy in response to Trump's tariffs Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened Wednesday about 'cutting off' energy supply to the U.S. in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff plan on all Canadian imports. Trudeau will have to 'kiss the ring' to achieve smoother bilateral relations with Trump: John Bolton If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to get on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's good side for the sake of a smooth bilateral relationship, he'll likely have to be openly deferential, says former U.S. National Security Advisor, John Bolton. Elon Musk calls Justin Trudeau 'insufferable tool' in new social media post Billionaire Elon Musk is calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'an insufferable tool' in a new social media post on Wednesday. 'Won't be in power for much longer,' Musk also wrote about the prime minister on 'X.' Banks lower prime rates following Bank of Canada move Canadian financial institutions are lowering their prime lending rates to match the decrease announced by the Bank of Canada. Police locate labyrinth of tunnels connecting tents to generator in Hamilton encampment Hamilton police say that they discovered a series of “man-made holes and tunnels” during a patrol of a downtown encampment earlier this week. Police identify murder victim whose skull was found in Ontario river more than three decades ago Police have identified a man whose skull was found almost 40 years ago in a Peterborough-area river. Certain foods may disrupt your body's fight against cancer cells, study says The food you eat may be affecting your body’s ability to fight cancer cells in the colon, according to a new study. Canada Post strike: Talks deadlocked as sides clash on wages Negotiations between Canada Post and the union representing its workers appear to be in a deadlock as the two sides remain far apart on wages and other issues. Poilievre's Conservatives still in majority territory: Nanos seat projections The Liberals' promise of a temporary GST break and $250 rebate cheques haven't benefited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his minority government when it comes to public support, according to Nanos Research data. Kitchener Another blast of winter weather coming our way After a few days of warmer weather, winter is making its return. 140-pound dog strolls solo into Giant Tiger store in Stratford, Ont. A furry, four-legged shopper was spotted in the aisles of a Giant Tiger store in Stratford, Ont. on Sunday morning. Large watermain repair closes stretch of Kitchener road until Friday A large watermain repair has closed a stretch of Strasburg Road in Kitchener. Barrie Blizzard and snow squall warnings issued with hazardous travel expected Prepare for some wicked weather expected to hit the region on Wednesday, with heavy snowfall up to 80 centimetres possible and gusty winds creating dicey travel conditions. Driver speeding 155km/h in posted 80 zone in dense fog charged: OPP A motorist accused of speeding 75 kilometres per hour over the posted limit in the Town of Mono through dense fog will have to explain their actions in court. Modified shotgun, axe and drugs seized from vehicle in Midland parking lot: OPP Two people face charges after a driving complaint in Midland led officers to allegedly find drugs, an axe, baton and a modified shotgun. Windsor Kingsville man dies after crash on Manning Road Essex County OPP say Manning Road is closed after a crash involving a dump truck. $64,000 bank fraud suspect arrested Windsor police say a bank fraud suspect, who was wanted in Windsor, has been arrested in York Region. Invest Windsor-Essex facing major financial deficit Invest Windsor-Essex is facing a big budget cut. Essex County council recently agreed to lower the amount of funding to Invest Windsor-Essex and the City of Windsor is set to do the same. Northern Ontario Sudbury police make big drug bust at apartment connected to assault suspect As Sudbury police continue to investigate Tuesday's assault on Elm Street, a search of the apartment where some of the suspects were found uncovered $135,000 in drugs. Ontario man charged with sex trafficking underage girls from Sudbury, Kingston Two young girls, from Sudbury and Kingston, Ont., were rescued from sex trafficking in the GTA and their suspected abuser has been charged, but police fear there may be more victims. Sudbury family celebrates liberation of their home country of Syria A Syrian family living in Sudbury, Ont., is celebrating a significant political shift in their home country after rebels took over the government. Sault Ste. Marie Ontario man charged with sex trafficking underage girls from Sudbury, Kingston Two young girls, from Sudbury and Kingston, Ont., were rescued from sex trafficking in the GTA and their suspected abuser has been charged, but police fear there may be more victims. Doctor shortage crisis turning into a catastrophe in the north: OMA Northern Ontario doctors are calling on the province to immediately address an acute doctor shortage in northern Ontario. SPONSORED | Is your credit card’s travel insurance enough? When you’re planning a trip, you always want to ensure you have coverage for any unexpected events, whether that’s a medical emergency, needing to cancel a trip at the last-minute (or during the trip!), or even for lost baggage. Many credit cards offer travel insurance as a perk, but do they provide you with enough coverage? Ottawa Council approves 3.9% tax hike in 2025 City of Ottawa budget, hikes senior fares $9 City council has voted to approve the 2025 City of Ottawa budget that will include scaled back fares hikes for seniors and retain youth discount passes while raising taxes across the board for most homeowners. Driver receives $10K in fines for speeding 134 km/h over speed limit on Highway 174 in Ottawa, police say An Ottawa driver faces $10,000 in fines and is banned from driving for two years after being observed going 134 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 174. Canada Post workers rally at headquarters as strike enters fourth week Canada Post workers are continuing their fight for a deal as their strike stretches into its fourth week. Toronto Police locate labyrinth of tunnels connecting tents to generator in Hamilton encampment Hamilton police say that they discovered a series of “man-made holes and tunnels” during a patrol of a downtown encampment earlier this week. Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatens to cut off energy in response to Trump's tariffs Ontario Premier Doug Ford threatened Wednesday about 'cutting off' energy supply to the U.S. in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s tariff plan on all Canadian imports. Police identify murder victim whose skull was found in Ontario river more than three decades ago Police have identified a man whose skull was found almost 40 years ago in a Peterborough-area river. Montreal Montreal billionaire Robert Miller facing new sex charges Montreal billionaire Robert Miller is facing new criminal charges as he waits to go on trial on several sex offences. Amber Alert ends after child, 9, found safe, police say Quebec provincial police have ended the Amber Alert issued earlier on Wednesday for a nine-year-old boy. Montreal plans to turn Molson Brewery site into residential neighbourhood The old industrial Molson Brewery site downtown Montreal will be transformed into a residential neighbourhood with a public park and some 5,000 housing units. Atlantic Officer receives suspension after two Mi'kmaq elver fishers left without boots A federal fisheries officer has been suspended for 10 days without pay for his role in arresting two Mi'kmaq elver fishers late at night and releasing them in only their socked feet. Truro man wanted on provincewide warrant: N.S. RCMP The RCMP is searching for a man from Truro, N.S., who is wanted on a provincewide warrant. Maritime weather: Rainy, windy weather moves through region More rain and wind are ahead for the Maritimes Wednesday through Thursday, with weather warnings in effect for parts of the region. Winnipeg Winnipeggers face 5.95 per cent property tax increase in budget Winnipeggers will be paying more property taxes than expected next year. Manitoba nurse found not criminally responsible for killing parents has licence to practice suspended A Manitoba nurse who was found not criminally responsible for killing his parents and attacking another nurse in a Winnipeg hospital has been suspended from practicing. Woman, 72, dies following crash on Highway 41: RCMP A 72-year-old woman is dead following a crash on an icy Manitoba highway Tuesday morning. Calgary 'Suspicious person' prompts shelter in place at Calgary building, turns out to be RCMP officer Calgary police say an RCMP officer inadvertently prompted a shelter in place order at an Eau Claire office building on Wednesday. Multi-vehicle highway collision in southern Alberta leaves 4 dead, 1 injured Four people are dead following a multi-vehicle crash in southern Alberta on Monday evening. Local art therapist working with marginalized and vulnerable men to help them share their stories Jennifer Seniuk started an initiative called 'My Friend Dave' after meeting up with Dave Lanza at a warming station last winter. Edmonton Pair accused in killing of apartment security guard to spend Christmas in jail A man and a woman charged in the killing of a security guard in Edmonton will spend Christmas and New Year's behind bars. Edmonton police acted reasonably in 2022 shooting that killed innocent man: police watchdog Alberta's police watchdog has cleared three Edmonton police officers in the death of a civilian in his apartment in 2022. Crash involving school buses ties up south Edmonton traffic Two school buses carrying children were involved in a crash in south Edmonton Wednesday morning. Regina Extreme cold warnings issued for Regina, Saskatoon and much of eastern Sask. Extreme cold warnings are now in effect as Saskatchewan enters a cold snap, which is expected to last until the end of the week. SaskPower bills to rise an average of 2.9% in 2025 due to carbon tax rate increase Residents in Saskatchewan will see a slight increase in their power bills come the new year, as the federal price on carbon is set rise. Sask. premier sees rise in approval as new term begins, according to poll Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has seen a bump in his approval rating as his new term begins, according to a recent poll from Angus Reid. Saskatoon Cold weather in Saskatchewan spurs furnace breakdowns, carbon monoxide concerns The return of bitterly cold temperatures has first responders and HVAC technicians on stand-by, ready to respond to emergencies. 'Unfortunate coincidence': Two Saskatoon power outages not related, city says The city's two major power outages within a week were caused by different reasons, according to Saskatoon Light & Power (SL&P). River search for missing Saskatchewan man suspended Emergency crews have suspended their river search for a missing Saskatchewan man. Vancouver Distress call leads to discovery of camper's body on Vancouver Island Mounties say a 42-year-old man who was camping on Vancouver Island has been found dead after rescuers were alerted to a distress signal from his satellite communication device. Commercial truck driver charged after parked cars struck in Metro Vancouver A commercial truck driver is facing impaired driving charges after police say his tractor-trailer collided with four parked cars in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Short-term rental not a 'business,' B.C. owner claims in rejected assessment appeal A B.C. man's unique claim that his short-term rental unit was not a "business," but an "investment" for the purposes of his 2024 property assessment has been rejected. Vancouver Island Distress call leads to discovery of camper's body on Vancouver Island Mounties say a 42-year-old man who was camping on Vancouver Island has been found dead after rescuers were alerted to a distress signal from his satellite communication device. No Santa, no Rudolph: B.C. mother questions lyric changes for son's school concert A Saanich, B.C., mom is questioning why her son came home from school with the words “Santa,” “Rudolph” and “Christmas” crossed out on a lyric sheet for his winter concert. Commercial truck driver charged after parked cars struck in Metro Vancouver A commercial truck driver is facing impaired driving charges after police say his tractor-trailer collided with four parked cars in Port Coquitlam, B.C. Stay Connected