mnl168 play for fun Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.Lyon County Commission to consider zoning text amendment regarding Licensed Medical FacilitiesAmeraCell Accessible Affordable Bio Hacking in Katy Texas an American Life Sciences Clinic 12-17-2024 08:12 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Image: https://www.abnewswire.com/uploads/c46306625cd5028d1dcf9ba4de05042c.png Katy, TX - AmeraCell, a pioneering life science company, is thrilled to announce its expansion into Katy, Texas. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in AmeraCell's mission to democratize access to innovative, life-changing therapies. AmeraCell's Katy location will offer a comprehensive range of life science solutions, including: - Bio-Hacking: Personalized wellness programs leveraging cutting-edge technology and medical expertise - Stem Cell Therapy: MSC stem cell joint injections and IV hydration treatments for chronic pain, inflammation, and degenerative diseases - Anti-Aging: Regenerative medicine solutions for rejuvenation and age management "AmeraCell is committed to empowering individuals with the latest advancements in life sciences," said AJ Pakpour, Founder. "Our expansion into Katy, Texas reflects our dedication to improving healthcare one cell at a time " AmeraCell's team of expert physicians clinicians and master injectors in Katy, Texas will provide personalized care and guidance to patients, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive experience. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please visit AmeraCell [ https://ameracell.com/pharmacy ] or call 407 801 2269 About AmeraCell AmeraCell is a life science company pioneering innovative therapies and treatments. With multiple locations nationwide, AmeraCell is revolutionizing healthcare delivery and improving patient outcomes. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sa=X&sca_esv=f406572c760609c9&hl=en-us&biw=430&bih=856&kgmid=%2Fg%2F11lmg5l1fm&q=AmeraCell%20Clinics&shndl=30&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3 Note to editor: - High-resolution images and interview opportunities available upon request. - AmeraCell's Katy location is now accepting patients and offering consultations. Media Contact Company Name: AmeraCell Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ameracell-accessible-affordable-bio-hacking-in-katy-texas-an-american-life-sciences-clinic ] Address:300 N Atlantic Ave #108 City: Cocoa Beach State: FL 32931 Country: United States Website: https://ameracell.com/pharmacy This release was published on openPR.

Trump's picks for key positions in his second administration

In these polarizing times, when anger on social media is ramped up to 100 and culture wars are all the rage, look to your neighbors — and sometimes strangers — and you will see acts of kindness. We are thankful for those folks this Thanksgiving. This thought came to mind when we read an article this week by Sun-Times features reporter Stefano Esposito about a North Center man, Robert Miller, a retiree who in March found some books spread on the sidewalk while out walking. They weren’t just any books. They were “luxuriously bound in a material the color of antique ivory,” Esposito wrote. “The pages were thick and rough to the touch. He could tell that the books were old — very old.” Miller had found a treasure trove of books. He could have sold them, given them away or tossed them in the garbage. Instead, he searched for an expert in rare books and found one in Suzanne Karr Schmidt, of the Newberry Library on the Near North Side. Karr Schmidt determined the books were published between 1525 and 1725. They were written in Latin, French and German. Her search went global when she reached out to rare book dealers overseas. She cracked the case by connecting a shop in Vienna, Austria, with a buyer: Marvin Rawski, 88, a rare-book collector who lives in North Center, the same neighborhood as Miller, the retiree who had bent down to pick up the lost books. Rawski has so many books that he hadn’t realized he had dropped some outside until his goddaughter, whom the Newberry curator had contacted (Rawski didn’t have an email account), told him about the find. Eight months after Miller found the books, they were back in Rawski’s hands. Rawski decided to donate two books to the library. “It was a very nice thing they did for me,” Rawski told the Sun-Times’ Esposito. “They could have kept” all the books. Acts of kindness by Miller, Karr Schmidt and Rawski brought about this happy ending. A heartening story indeed. A human-made urban oasis Another story that caught our eye this week was about an island right here in Chicago. “Wild Mile” is a floating eco-park near Goose Island in the Chicago River. It was described as “a string of small, human-made islands” by freelance journalist Zachary Nauth in a report for the Sun-Times and WBEZ. This fall the park attracted migrating white-throated sparrows, fall warblers and dark-eyed juncos “to feast on the seeds of sedge, prairie clover and Joe-Pye weed,” Nauth wrote. “Tropical white and pink hibiscus blooms stood out among the fading greens and rusty browns of summer’s bounty, 60 native species in all.” Wild Mile was brainstormed by Nick Wesley, a La Grange native, and others from the Urban Rivers organization. It took 10 years of experimentation, patience for permits from the city and some “mad science” to put it all together, Nauth noted. This project won the Field Museum’s Parker/Gentry global award for environmental conservation. Urban Rivers is the first Chicago-based group to win the honor, according to the Field Museum . Here’s what you might see at Wild Mile: People doing yoga, teens drawing or launching kayaks and people quietly reading or observing the scenery. This group initially practicing so-called “mad science” came up with a thing of beauty. We’re thankful for it. Good deeds come in many forms. We have been recipients of many acts of kindness, and we’re sure many of you have too. Maybe it’s a neighbor who mowed your lawn, raked your leaves or found one of your lost items; someone who dropped off food or a care package when you were sick or feeling down; or a stranger who paid for your coffee at Starbucks or Dunkin’. All these folks help build communities, one good deed at a time. Send letters to letters@suntimes.com More about the Sun-Times Editorial Board at chicago.suntimes.com/about/editorial-board Get Opinions content delivered to your inbox. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here .

Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurerAs we approach the end of 2024, the full Cold Moon will shine in the middle of December, bringing a lively social energy just in time for the holiday season. Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas, who is known for his cosmic guidance among celebrities, businesses and online influencers, spoke to "Good Morning America" about the best ways to take advantage of this engaging full moon. But first, let's break down the meaning of the Cold Moon and what to know about this particular celestial event. When is the Cold Moon in 2024? The Cold Moon will arrive on Dec. 15, according to Thomas. Why is it called the Cold Moon? The Cold Moon gets its name because December is the month when the weather typically turns cold, according to NASA. The Old Farmer's Almanac states that some Native Americans also called the Cold Moon the Long Night Moon. The second name likely originates from the fact that the full moon in December occurs near the winter solstice, which has the longest night of the year, according to NASA. "The full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun, so the moon will be above the horizon longer than at other times of the year," NASA states. What zodiac sign is the Cold Moon in December? The zodiac sign of each full moon is determined by its position in the night sky relative to the astrological signs. This year, the Cold Moon occurs as a full moon in Gemini, an air sign associated with communication, technology, and short-distance travel, according to Thomas. It encourages mental connections, particularly with those in our immediate circles -- friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and siblings. "We will be motivated to express our minds and may be in the process of launching a significant writing, speaking, advertising, digital or social media project," Thomas added. "The pace of life will also quicken rapidly." Rituals and manifestations to try during the Cold Moon Many ancient cultures, from Chinese traditions to Hebrew holidays, celebrate celestial cycles and revere the power of the moon. For instance, Thomas noted that Gemini, an air sign, makes this an ideal time to integrate communication -- whether written or spoken -- into your rituals. "This is a great moment to communicate our desires to the world -- as well as to others," he explained. "Writing down explicit statements, manifestation goals, and plans can be particularly useful. Also, as an Air sign, using smoke, sage, or incense can be excellent tools during meditation or ritual." Potential meditations, mantras or journal prompts: Astrology horoscope for the Cold Moon for your zodiac sign Aries (March 21 - April 19) Speak up and speak out, Aries! "You have an important message that you'd like to broadcast to the world. This full moon could help you to launch an important writing, speaking, advertising or social media endeavor to great success. People will be listening!" Thomas said. Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Wealth is top of mind, Taurus. "Prosperity could soon be on its way," Thomas explained. "The full moon should bring to [ a ] culmination an important financial matter for you - perhaps in the form of a raise, new job offer or large check." Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Claim your spotlight, Gemini. According to Thomas, "the most important full moon of the year has arrived for you, as you reach an important turning point. Something of vital personal significance will reach [ its ] culmination at this time, perhaps giving you closure that will improve your life going forward." Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Relax and recharge, Cancer. "This full moon will encourage you to reset your emotional, mental and physical batteries-you've earned it! Lie low and give yourself some much-needed TLC. If you are in need of finding a specialist, therapist or healer, this lunation could also aid you in doing so." Thomas added. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) Get out and mingle, Leo. "You're always popular, but with this full moon highlighting your friendships, you'll be on the top of everyone's holiday list!" Thomas explained. "You'll likely attend at least one dazzling event where you're the star of the show. Circulate amongst those who you love and make time to show how much you appreciate them." Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) Embrace your success, Virgo. According to Thomas, "A major professional victory could now be within reach. A promotion, new job offer, milestone or opportunity for public praise may present itself near this time. Previous hard work will surely be celebrated." Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) Keep an open mind for a new adventure, Libra. "You could now be ready to soar in a breathtaking new direction-or make plans to do so in 2024!" Thomas said. "This full moon will energize you to slightly shift the narrative of your life and examine what else you'd like to learn. Some Libras will make a decision or hear news regarding an academic, travelling, immigration or media endeavor." Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) It's time to explore your intimacy department, Scorpio. "The full moon will be helping you to get in touch with your most sensitive parts-emotionally and physically," Thomas explained. "If single, you could attract someone who knows how to complete you in every way. If taken, you'll be assessing if your authentic needs are being fulfilled by your partner." Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) Take a closer look at your partnership, Sagittarius. "This full moon will help you to grow closer with someone in business, collaboration or love," Thomas added. "Single Sagittarians may have luck finding a perfect match, so be sure to put yourself out there. Love won't find you if you're not making an effort! Those already committed could decide it's time to make long-term plans, move in, get engaged or even be wed." Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) Get ready to make progress, Capricorn. According to Thomas, "the full moon will make you busier than ever." "You may now be focused upon an important project for your employer that must have final approval," he said. "You could be putting everything you have into completing the task, but be sure to do so, as it could end up making you shine brighter than ever in your boss's eyes." Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Open your heart to love, Aquarius. "Get excited for a vibrant, romantic period to appear," Thomas added. "Single Aquarians must not let this energy go to waste, as you could find someone who is a soulmate or who lights your heart on fire." Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) Toast to the holidays and reflect on the year, Pisces. "This full moon will bring to [ a ] culmination a domestic, family or real estate matter for you," Thomas said. "Some Pisceans could be hosting a lovely gathering at their home with their kindred. Others may be contemplating a big renovation, redecoration or move now or in the coming year."

THE brother of murdered pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey has voiced his frustration as to why his young sister's killer was never found. The decades-long cold case of JonBenét has reemerged in the spotlight following the release of a new Netflix docuseries that puts the December 1996 homicide under a new lens nearly 30 years later. Netflix's Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey underscored the botched investigation by the Boulder Police Department and the extensive media coverage surrounding the case. Boulder police were widely criticized for mishandling the investigation from the start. BOTCHED POLICE INVESTIGATION Police failed to properly search the Ramsey family's three-story home upon arriving at the residence and did not treat it as a crime scene, allowing people to drift in and out. Potential evidence from the house was not promptly collected. Read more in The U.S. Sun Investigators reportedly sat on key pieces of evidence and speculated early that parents Patsy and John were involved in their daughter's murder. Patsy and John Ramsey were initially the prime suspects in the case but were ruled out when DNA evidence found under JonBenét's fingernails on her clothing and underwear was linked to an unknown male. John Andrew Ramsey , the half-brother of JonBenét, stressed that part of why his sister's killer has never been found is the lack of resources at the disposal of Boulder police. "I told the Daily Camera last week that Boulder Police are stretched too thin to find JonBenét's killer. They can get help," John Andrew wrote in an X post. Most read in The US Sun John Andrew also reposted an interview from NewsNation 's interview with investigator Michael Kane, who was the special prosecutor on JonBenét's case. Kane highlighted how it's difficult to rule out anyone as possible suspects, including JonBenét's parents, because of their actions to save face after the pageant queen's body was found. The prosecutor also said the rambling two-and-a-half-page ransom note was a fake used as a diversion. "There you go. This is why JonBenét's killer has never been found," John Andrew wrote as he reposted the news interview. "Dare I say lack of imagination. Why the note? Who knows. Fantasy. Control. Superiority. Let's not try and understand but take it at face value. "And Patsy did handwriting samples with the non dominate hand." The FBI 's field office in Denver issued a statement on Wednesday, saying they're willing to assist in the decade-old case before confirming Boulder police remains the lead investigators. "FBI Denver will continue to coordinate with state and local partners on the JonBenet Ramsey murder investigation. Boulder Police remains the lead investigative agency," the federal agency said on X. WHO KILLED JONBENÉT RAMSEY? The unsolved case unfolded in the early morning of December 26, 1996, when mom Patsy Ramsey let out a harrowing scream from the first floor of the family's home in Boulder, Colorado . Patsy had found a two-and-a-half-page handwritten ransom note on a staircase toward the back of the home. The note , addressed to John Ramsey, stated a group of individuals linked to a foreign faction had kidnapped their 6-year-old daughter and demanded $118,000 in exchange for the girl's safe return. "She was just screaming," John, 80, previously told The U.S. Sun . "She'd found this note on the stairway and then went and checked JonBenét's room, and she wasn't there. "I read the note as quickly as I could, and Patsy was standing by the phone, so I told her to call the police." Several hours went by without any word from the supposed kidnappers or any sighting of JonBenét. Eventually, John and a friend decided to search the home for clues, went down to the basement, and opened an unfinished wine cellar. There, he found the body of his daughter with a rope tied tightly around her neck . At the end of the rope was a broken paintbrush that investigators determined came from Patsy's art sets. Evidence indicated that JonBenét had been sexually assaulted and tortured. The coroner who performed JonBenét's autopsy determined the little girl died from suffocation in conjunction with forcible trauma to her skull. JonBenét's had an 8.5-inch skull fracture and several markings on her neck and hands. EERIE SIMILAR ATTACK In the 27 years since JonBenét's body was found, a suspect has never been arrested, and it remains unclear why someone wrote the handwritten ransom note. The new Netflix docuseries aims at bringing JonBenét's true killer to light after decades of theories swirling about the long list of suspects - including a pedophile who confessed to the crime . The docuseries included details about an eerie similar case where a sleeping child was sexually assaulted at her home located streets away from the Ramsey residence in Boulder in September 1997. The suspect, who was never arrested, broke into the home while the girl's mother was home and made his way to the young girl's bedroom when he committed the vile act. A series of glaring similarities led both John and the family of the second victim - who is being referred to under the pseudonym "Amy" - to believe the same perpetrator could have carried out both crimes . Before the incident involving his daughter, Amy's father was convinced her attacker targeted the 12-year-old at a local dance studio, Dance West, where JonBenét also took lessons. He then believes his family was stalked over a period of several weeks, with the assailant waiting for the opportune moment to strike: when he was out of town for work. John Ramsey also believes his daughter's killer had been surveilling his family for a significant period before the murder. ELUSIVE KILLER However, one name stuck out in the Netflix docuseries. John Mark Karr, who fled the US after being charged with child pornography, knew an eerie number of details about JonBenét, her death, and claimed to have committed the murder. Karr has never been charged with the young pageant queen's death because his DNA did not match any DNA found at the Ramsey home. In the past, The U.S. Sun extensively reported how Convicted pedophile Gary Oliva also confessed multiple times to killing JonBenét in letters to a high school friend. Oliva was released from prison in January after serving less than eight years of a 10-year sentence for child pornography charges. He was arrested in June 2016 after he was caught uploading images depicting the sexual abuse of children to his personal Gmail account. When police searched his phone, they found over 695 images depicting child pornography. He also possessed 335 photos relating to JonBenét, including her autopsy and images of shrines to her. Since his arrest, Oliva confessed to killing JonBenét multiple times but has never been charged with her death. "I never loved anyone like I did JonBenét, and yet I let her slip, and her head bashed in half, and I watched her die," Oliva wrote in one message to his high school friend, Michael Vail. Since his arrest, Oliva confessed to killing JonBenét multiple times but has never been charged with her death. Read More on The US Sun "I never loved anyone like I did JonBenét, and yet I let her slip, and her head bashed in half, and I watched her die," Olivia wrote in one message to his high school friend, Michael Vail . "It was an accident. Please believe me. She was not like the other kids."

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AST SpaceMobile ( ASTS 12.48% ) stock posted big gains in Friday's trading. The company's share price ended the day up 12.5% and had been up as much as 13.9% earlier in the daily session. The S&P 500 index closed out the day up roughly 0.2%, and the Nasdaq Composite index ended the day up 0.8%. AST SpaceMobile stock gained ground today as investors reacted to President-elect Trump's selection of Jared Isaacman to head NASA. The pick has investors feeling even more bullish about the already red-hot space industry . Trump's NASA pick pushes space stocks higher On Thursday, president-elect Trump nominated Jared Isaacman to lead NASA under his incoming administration. Isaacman has accepted Trump's nomination and said that he foresees a "thriving space economy" and hopes to make major progress on spacefaring capabilities during his anticipated tenure at NASA. Isaacman is a tech billionaire and the CEO of Shift4 Payments and has flown on two private space flights. He is also an associate of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The pick is being broadly interpreted as a sign that the Trump administration will be supportive of space commercialization efforts and that NASA will expand on its already strengthening relationships with private-sector service providers. Is Musk's influence in the new Trump administration a risk for AST SpaceMobile? Elon Musk's SpaceX company has already been becoming an increasingly central partner and service provider for NASA, and the tech executive is poised to have even greater influence under the incoming Trump administration. As a provider of satellite-based telecommunications services through its Starlink platform, SpaceX is a competitor of AST SpaceMobile. However, Musk's influence and the appointment of Jared Isaacman as head of NASA could actually wind up being a net benefit for AST. There's room for more than one winner in the space-based telecom category, and increased space-commercialization efforts are likely to benefit early leaders in the category. While it's far too early to bake in major performance improvements due to the incoming presidential administration, new NASA leadership, and other politically adjacent factors, the overall operating backdrop appears to be shifting in ways that have the potential to be bullish catalysts for AST stock.Ezeokenwa Speaks On Bianca Ojukwu Dumping APGA After Tinubu’s AppointmentCanada pushes net-zero electricity target to 2050 in final regulations

Incident and Emergency Management Market Recent Trends, Size, Share, Growth, Industry Analysis, Advance Technology And Forecast - 2030The Salt Typhoon hack is one of the largest attacks on US telecommunications ever, officials say. The yearslong attack originated in China and targeted major telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon. The NSA says it believes Chinese hackers were targeting senior US political figures. US security officials have warned that millions of people's personal information could be at risk after a yearslong hacking campaign originating in China. The US government started investigating the hack in the summer after Microsoft — which named the hack the Salt Typhoon — sounded alarms about anomalies. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, White House Deputy national security advisor Anne Neuberger said that while data belonging to millions of Americans was likely compromised, the hack targeted senior US officials. "We believe the calls they recorded and took was really more focused on very senior political individuals," she said. A report from the Congressional Research Office said Chinese hackers may have sought access to presidential candidates' communications. "With that access, they could potentially retrieve unencrypted communication (e.g., voice calls and text messages)," the report says. A senior NSA official said in October that hackers from China accessed information from AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, according to NBC. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner told The Washington Post that the hack is the "worst telecom hack in our nation's history by far." "This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate telecom systems around the world, to exfiltrate huge amounts of data," Warner told the outlet. The New York Times reported that hackers from China went undetected inside American telecommunications companies for over a year and obtained a nearly complete list of phone numbers that the Justice Department monitors in its "lawful intercept" system. The lawful intercept system is what allows law enforcement, through a court order, to wiretap or "bug" phone calls. The FBI warned that all US citizens should use a cellphone that automatically updates its operating system and use encryption and multifactor authentication for email and social media accounts. Neuberger said in an earlier press call on Wednesday that the government does not believe any of the targeted telecom companies have "fully removed" the Chinese hackers from their networks, and communications are still at risk. Senior White House officials on the call said the hack has been ongoing for "likely one to two years." "President Biden has been briefed multiple times on this compromise," Neuberger told reporters. She added that the White House "has made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom of this." Neuberger said that White House leaders are meeting three times a week to discuss the hack. The Senate Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing on December 11 to discuss security threats to communications networks and review best practices for providers to mitigate consumer risks. The committee will focus on the Salt Typhoon attacks in the hearing.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an extremely close state Supreme Court race, saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin's motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn't have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. The Democratic Party's lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law's prohibition of what's essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin's attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state's jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin's actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, but that lead dwindled and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin's protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more leverage to Democratic Gov.-elect Josh Stein in 2025. The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press2 big inflation reports may affect Fed's interest-rate decision

NEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.Leaks: Nvidia’s RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti and 5070 tipped with new ‘neural rendering’