The Assembly of First Nations is gearing up for the new year, prepared for a potential election, a change of government and whatever that may bring. CityNews’ Mitchell Ringos sat down with AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak to find out how Canada’s First Nation and Indigenous leaders are getting ready for 2025 and beyond. Mitchell Ringos (MR): A lot of key topics, specifically, taking this role. New to the role as the National Chief; the youngest woman and mother to hold this position. It’s now been close to a year. I know you have had a lot of experience before this, but being thrown into this, how has this experience been for you so far? National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak (CWN): First of all, I want to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of your viewers. Thank you for having us on and welcoming us today. The first year has been busy and I want to thank First Nations from coast, to coast, to coast. I want to thank Canadians for their advice, for their love, for their guidance. I want to thank the multiple governments that I’ve met, from all stripes and the opposition parties and of course, I want to thank our Regional Chiefs for this first year in. And I want to thank my family, because being a mother, of course, I need support from my family, their father and of course from my parents and my children’s grandparents as well. I’m so blessed with a strong foundation, a strong family. Leading this year, for First Nations, it ebbs and flows, and there’s just not a shortage of issues. I think that Canada, the more that Canada invests in First Nations, the better they will be globally. MR: Speaking about Canada, I know we were just chatting about this, now having to work with top representatives of each government and province and Canada in general. How has that experience been dealing with them? Trying to push initiatives and other reconciliation factors throughout the year? CWN: If there is political will, it will happen. I think that’s absolutely important we see that. I call upon all governments. I know the NDP has stressed their support, we look to other members of parliament, we also look to other premiers to stand with us in our call for an inquiry into police brutality towards First Nations people. Standing with First Nations mothers and seeing their plea for support, wondering: ‘Why is there such a trend upward of the killing of First Nations people in this country?’ And I think that that’s something we have to take very seriously. MR: We’ve seen a lot of cases this year of police on First Nations leading to someone passing away or dying, some of which have no crime associated with them. With this happening, a lot of First Nations have been saying: ‘We don’t want the RCMP. We don’t want the regular police force; we want to govern ourselves. We want to police ourselves.’ Is that something you’ve heard First Nation chiefs and leaders talk to you about or is something that actually can be done? CWN: It can be done and I think that it just needs the political will. I know we’ve been working on that all year and we’re going to continue to work on that into 2025 and with the new government. Because we know that federally, there will be an election in the fall — maybe earlier — we don’t know. But certainly we need a new way of policing for First Nations in this country. Policing as an essential service needs to be a priority for any government. We had at one time 58 First Nation police forces, we’re now down to 32. Why is the trend downward instead of upward? I think it’s important. When First Nations have our own police forces, we see less death. We see some police forces in this country that are First Nations run that have never killed anybody. And I think we have to look at that and say: ‘it’s important to give First Nation’s more support to create their own forces; their own police forces’ and working with other jurisdictions, and respecting each other, in a good way. So certainly, it’s a big discussion — it’s a hard discussion — because it does involve the provinces and territories. The province’s themselves and the Supreme Court, in Quebec, we had a big victory there, and we continue to have victories through the courts on child welfare, on mining and on policing. I think that the provinces, territories and the federal government, the smartest people in government, will work with First Nations people, because it’s going to mean a better, stronger country together. By working together, rather than in the courtroom. MR: About that communication, just yesterday, Manitoba chiefs came and held a press conference saying on Jordan Principle funding. They were told to spend money, they spent money, and now they’re saying they have to go through all these loops to get it, they were saying: ‘We just don’t have this during Christmas, this is not the time to be doing it.’ Speaking of communication, they felt like they weren’t heard. But talking a little bit, we have some updates? CWN: We were at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal this week and I know that they — just moments ago — advised Canada that Canada has to have a plan by Jan. 17, but at the same time, I know that it’s urgent. So I urge all governments, and the federal government particularly, to work with the Manitoba chiefs to get this moving and get this moving in the right way. MR: Continuing on funding for First Nations, a lot of infrastructure problems and priorities that the government has set out to address, including Clear Water, more schools on First Nations, Internet. Estimated $49 billion needed to cover that by 2030. We have seen some schools go up. We have seen boil-water advisories go away, but not all of them. Does this still need to be a push? Do we need to get this fixed? We’re now going into 2025, does this need to be fixed next year? CWN: Absolutely. We have a commitment that we’re going to close these gaps by 2030, we’re going to hold the government to that. And I think that’s smart investments for Canadians, and here’s why: The Conference Board of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations, we came together, and worked on a big report, as well as with the federal government, and that shows Canada being mid-way of a G7 country around the world. But if they put these investments in, to First Nations, and they invest in First Nations communities, to close this infrastructure gap, that creates 340,000 new jobs in Canada, most of which go to Canadians. A small portion of course goes to First Nations, but at the same time, it propels Canada to No. 1 around the world globally. So they have to work with First Nations, any smart government will work with First Nations. And when we talk about the Team Canada approach, there shouldn’t be a Team Canada approach in Canada without First Nations at the table. We’ve been talking to our counterparts in the U.S. and we’re willing to be partners here and work with people who are willing to work with us. MR: With Trump and his administration coming in early next year, we’ve heard a lot of claims from him, not only on the Tariffs, but wanting to make Canada the 51st state. Is it concerning hearing stuff like that considering how — especially in the U.S. — they don’t really identify or acknowledge residential schools, or the traumas they have put on their Indigenous peoples, is it concerning to see a government to say: ‘we’d like to see Canada become the U.S., but would that mean reconciliation and everything we’ve grown here is gone? CWN: Oh absolutely, it’s a big discussion, but it’s also disrespectful to Canadians and I think we should all be appalled by that. You don’t say that about another country, particularly there are First Nations people here first and foremost and this is our country. Every square inch of it is Indian land. We’ve never created these borders; with the U.S. side, with our counterparts over there and talking with them. And there’s lots of grievances that the U.S. has to deal with when it comes to First Peoples’ on their side of the border. I know the previous President had done an apology on residential schools a month and a half ago. So I think that’s promising, but at the same time, they need to come a long way. I think Canada is advanced well forward, and I think, as Canadians we need to be united and we be united together. We’re here as partners as we always have been. Treaty partners, inherent right partners, and we always have been. MR: So the U.S. when they’ve been looking to grow relationships with Canada through this new administration, they have to not just look at Canada, but also the First Nations? CWN: Absolutely. We share this land with Canadians openly and I think for another country to come and just assume that nobody is here again, that’s so false. MR: Going back to a more general look at things, obviously the AFN meeting just happened recently in Ottawa. 94 Calls to Action, still working to get there. Coming out of that meeting, what pushes forward in filling those Calls to Action did we get to this year? And what else do we need to focus on next year, so we can continue to check off these boxes? CWN: Well, certainly. As we can see, we have an infrastructure gap we have to close, that we have a commitment to do by 2030. We’ve got so much work to do. Child welfare for instance and policing and healthcare. I know that there was so much work done in health across the country, and the provinces and the federal government, and they come together about $60 billion in house funding, but First Nations are kind of left to the sideline and that type of relationship has to stop in this country. If Canada results, they will be a the table with us and make sure we’re included as full partners. We’re ready, and we’re ready to move forward in a good way. MR: Speaking about relationships here in Manitoba, obviously, or first First Nations Premier in Wab Kinew, we’ve seen him do a lot of things for the indigenous population, Including the recent landfill search. A big push in this city, especially with orange shirt day. We saw tens of thousands people come out, it was the first Orange Shirt statutory holiday this year. Is it encouraging to see more people taking part in Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Rec. Day? Especially those who aren’t Indigenous who have the free time to come out. CWN: I remember as a little girl, I was young. I was a Chief’s Daughter, and listening to Phil Fontaine at that time, when he was Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and talking about residential schools, it wasn’t an easy issue to talk about, and that grew right here in Manitoba. Of course, we have the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the late Murray Sinclair. There’s lots of remarkable Manitobans — lots of good work comes out of Manitoba itself and I know that you think back on residential schools. And I remember, as I was saying, as a little girl listening to those conversations and knowing those were going to be hard conversations, that no one wanted to talk about them at the time, but look at how far we’ve come. And I know it’s not an easy conversation to have. I certainly lift up institutions that talk about the true history of what has happened in Canada and I think our kids are more progressive than many of us. They learn more about the history of this country, than sometimes maybe some of the older generation, so I lift up our young people for that. For their commitment and their commitment to the environment and their commitment to each other. MR: Speaking about the youth, even in Manitoba, I know even in Manitoba, every leader we’ve seen saying: The youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and especially preserving Indigenous culture and Language, which there’s been a huge push in Manitoba to keep that language alive. For the youth who are growing up and hearing this. Is is inspiring, or do you feel like you can trust the next generation to come up and continue the work we’re doing now. CWN: Absolutely. They question the environment in what we’re doing and I think we see that everyday. We see around the world and certainly here in Canada, major storms. You see it in Vancouver this week, and I think these young people are trying to shine a light on what we’re doing wrong. And I think we should listen to them. MR: In terms of just Indigenous leaders, here in Manitoba, two big losses with Grand Chief Cathey Merrick and the late, great Murray Sinclair. I know for Sinclair specifically, a big inspiration for you. With his passing, how do you continue his work through your own work as National Chief and how do you remember that relationship with him? How did he help you out? CWN: Well, I think we remember the road map. Truth and Reconciliation is unfinished. The 94 Calls to Action, there’s just so much work to do. And I invite all Canadians to look at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and see how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. And certainly, when I think of the late Cathy Merrick, my dear friend, it was shocking when she left us so suddenly. I was very close to her and I think of her honestly and having the hard conversations even in this province. And I want to thank her for her life, her dedication for First Nations in healthcare and then of course toward our women in landfills. Even if she stood alone, she would have stood there. I want to commend her families and the late Cathy Merrick for her work on that and may nobody, no family, ever have to go through that again and to have to fight so hard to look for your loved ones again. MR: How important is it for specifically Indigenous leaders, like Cathy, those who come in and try to and even fill part of her role, how important is it that they continue having those hard conversations and the ones you see a lot of politicians don’t have. CWN: Sometimes things are easy or left unsaid, but I think the harder conversations in change comes from when we have those hard conversations with each other. Change comes when we can have healthy debates amongst each other. There should not be anything wrong with debating, as long as you come out on the other side united and try to find a better path forward. I think we have to keep doing that as the young country that we are, but let’s stay strong and let’s stay united. MR: Obviously just in the holidays now, heading into 2025; going into your second year as National Chief, what are your goals? What do you plan and hope to achieve at the start of the year and in a broader aspect. CWN: We’re working on a platform as we speak for the next general election. I know that every member of parliament should not say they don’t know what First Nations’ issues are. We’re going to make sure that we work to get documents into every political team in this country to make sure that they know what our expectations are and we’re going to test them on it as well. We call upon them: What’s their stance on First Nations’ issues and I think that making sure that they’re including candidates as well. I know it’s a big year this year for an election, but also to remember that we have work to do. Bill C-61 for instance is in the house of commons right now, I know it’s pretty chaotic down there, but at the same time, Bill C-61, we look to every member of parliament that’s there right now, and you are responsible if that bill gets through or doesn’t get through, because it’s in their hands right now to stop playing politics and get that bill through. Then they can go play politics all they want again, but at the same time, when you’re thinking of a young child without access to clean drinking water in this country, have a heart and remember that. You have priorities to get through and very quickly. We think of water and so many things. There’s so much work to do in the year ahead. We also need to make sure that policing as an essential service, that we get that moving, and moving in a good way, to policing as a priority, to make sure that First Nations have safe and healthy communities like anywhere else. It’s disheartening when i get calls from the North and there’s no police service up there for days and days. That’s so unacceptable. Any other Canadian or town or city would never tolerate that and neither should first nations. MR: There is a lot of confusion in Ottawa right now. If there per se is a change of government heading into 2025, how do you establish a relationship with potentially a new Prime Minister and are there any concerns about all of the things you’ve been pushing for potentially being road blocked by a new government coming in. CWN: I am going to continue to build relationships. I want to thank Pierre Pollievre and his lovely wife for having my family over for dinner. I want to continue that dialogue with him. I met with him three or four times in the last couple of months. We’ll continue to talk about all those important issues. I also want to thank Mr. Jagmeet Singh, I talk to him all the time as well, and of course, making sure the bloc Québécois, as maybe different as our views our, I want to thank them as well for coming to visit our chiefs-in-assembly. Mr. Poilievre has been there, the Prime Minister and his entire cabinet has been to speak to our chiefs-in-assembly. We’ve had record numbers at the Assembly of First Nations in our Assembly in July where our chiefs’ gather of course, then we had an assembly in October, where we had record numbers, just focused on Child Welfare. The whole country was watching that, $47.8 billion. I’m thankful that we brought that forward. Now, I think that’s the ground floor, nothing should ever go lower than that. Of course, we had an assembly as always, every December in Ottawa, and we’ve had a record number of people and all political parties coming. So First Nations, the AFN is alive and well, and we have a lot of work to do in 2025.. NEW DELHI: With incidents of sexual harassment of women workers/members of political parties often hushed up, SC on Monday asked the Election Commission to examine whether registered political parties could be brought under the ambit of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Appearing for advocate-petitioner Yogamaya G, senior advocate Shobha Gupta told a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Manmohan that though many women are active members of political parties, only CPM has set up an internal complaint committee with external members. AAP lacks transparency about its committee, while BJP and Congress have admitted not having an adequate ICC structure mandated under law, the petitioner alleged, while demanding the law must apply in equal rigour to parties which owe allegiance to the Constitution that mandates protection of dignity of women. The bench said the petitioner's analogy to equate political parties as employers and workers/members as employees may not be apt, but agreed that this is an important issue that should be adjudicated by EC. SC told the petitioner that if she does not receive any satisfactory response from EC on the issue raised by her, she is free to approach court again. The PIL quoted a 2014 NDTV article titled 'Congress seeks security for Nagma, winks at party leader who kissed her', which narrated an incident of a Congress member publicly kissing the actress who was seen walking off without addressing a rally. Quoting a report from Ranjana Kumar's organisation, Centre for Social Research, published in Economic Times, it said, "Nearly 50% respondents said they faced verbal abuse and 45% said physical violence and threats were common, particularly true during election campaigns. Sixty-seven per cent of women politicians said perpetrators were male contestants and 58% party colleagues. Violence and harassment at the hands of colleagues is a reason why we see only women from political families in politics." Interestingly, in March 2022, Kerala HC ruled that political parties are under no compulsion to establish internal complaints committees, as mandated by the 2013 law, since parties lack the employee-employer relationships. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Dollar Tree DLTR . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with DLTR, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga 's options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Dollar Tree. This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 75% bullish and 25%, bearish. Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $189,850, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $149,310. Expected Price Movements Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $55.0 to $105.0 for Dollar Tree during the past quarter. Analyzing Volume & Open Interest In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Dollar Tree options trades today is 1512.12 with a total volume of 601.00. In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Dollar Tree's big money trades within a strike price range of $55.0 to $105.0 over the last 30 days. Dollar Tree Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume DLTR PUT SWEEP BULLISH 06/20/25 $8.95 $8.85 $8.85 $75.00 $90.2K 681 114 DLTR CALL TRADE BULLISH 02/21/25 $12.2 $12.05 $12.2 $65.00 $58.5K 1.2K 171 DLTR PUT SWEEP BULLISH 09/19/25 $3.35 $3.2 $3.2 $55.00 $35.5K 508 114 DLTR CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/16/26 $6.55 $6.3 $6.55 $105.00 $34.7K 805 53 DLTR PUT SWEEP BULLISH 03/21/25 $4.2 $4.15 $4.15 $70.00 $34.0K 7.9K 96 About Dollar Tree Dollar Tree operates discount stores across the United States and Canada, with over 8,800 shops under its namesake banner and 7,700 under Family Dollar. About 47% of Dollar Tree's sales in fiscal 2023 were composed of consumables (including food, health and beauty, and cleaning products), around 45% from variety items (including toys and homewares), and over 5% from seasonal items. Dollar Tree sells most of its merchandise at the $1.25 price point and positions its stores in well-populated suburban markets. Conversely, Family Dollar primarily sells consumable merchandise (80% of the banner's sales) at prices below $10. About two thirds of Family Dollar's stores are in urban and suburban markets, with the remaining one third located in rural areas. Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Dollar Tree, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance. Present Market Standing of Dollar Tree Currently trading with a volume of 1,242,256, the DLTR's price is up by 0.39%, now at $76.49. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought. Anticipated earnings release is in 75 days. Expert Opinions on Dollar Tree 5 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $78.4. Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. Click here for access .* An analyst from BMO Capital has decided to maintain their Market Perform rating on Dollar Tree, which currently sits at a price target of $70. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Guggenheim continues to hold a Buy rating for Dollar Tree, targeting a price of $100. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group continues to hold a Market Perform rating for Dollar Tree, targeting a price of $75. * An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Market Perform rating on Dollar Tree, maintaining a target price of $75. * In a cautious move, an analyst from Piper Sandler downgraded its rating to Neutral, setting a price target of $72. Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Dollar Tree with Benzinga Pro for real-time alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.gstar288 。

35 years after the city was shaken to its knees: Remembering the Newcastle EarthquakeBy HALELUYA HADERO, Associated Press President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case. The filings come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.”The future of mobility is going to be focused on and around the preservation of the environment while keeping in mind the dynamic commuting needs of city dwellers. We’ve seen numerous and prototypes that envision the designs of vehicles a decade from now. The same is true for public transportation needs as new technological innovations will change the dynamics of how we move in and around metro cities. Meet TREO a new kind of sustainable transportation system specifically designed for future rewilding cities, seamlessly integrating with the green urban ecosystems. The proposed concept can be configured both as a personal commuter or a suspended transport module when connected with other TREO vehicles. The idea is to have a single-module vehicle that can transport you to the city center for short-distance travel, and then you can get connected to the other vehicle modules for automated transportation to your destined location. Designer: The aerodynamic single-person module can reach speeds up to 25 km/h and has freedom for multidirectional movement on smooth surfaces. On the rear, this module has a suspension link that can be connected to the lifting mechanism when mode switching is required. In the ground movement mode, the rider gets a semi-automated travel option while in the suspended transportation mode, the steering wheel folds, HUD turns into an entertainment hub, and seats retract back in the circular structure for a laid-back travel. Most of the TREO’s structure is made out of 3D-printed material keeping the weight down and opening the possibility of multimodular movement for adjusting according to user’s needs. The omnidirectional wheels are made out of spherical tires and have individual motors. The vehicle is a combination of organic U shapes contrasted with sharp cutting lines. The interior is kept very open and airy so that the rider has 180-degree vision on all sides to enjoy the ride home. Overall this futuristic ride is targeted towards future cities that have the basic infrastructure sorted and more oriented towards quality of life.JANUARY Glynis Johns, 100. A Tony Award-winning stage and screen star who played the mother opposite Julie Andrews in the classic movie “Mary Poppins” and introduced the world to the bittersweet standard-to-be “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim. Jan. 4. David Soul, 80. The actor-singer was a 1970s heartthrob who co-starred as the blond half of the crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” and topped the music charts with the ballad “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Jan. 4. Joyce Randolph, 99. A veteran stage and television actor whose role as the savvy Trixie Norton on “The Honeymooners” provided the perfect foil to her dimwitted TV husband. Jan. 13. Jack Burke Jr., 100 . He was the oldest living Masters champion and staged the greatest comeback ever at Augusta National for one of his two majors. Jan. 19. People are also reading... Dexter Scott King, 62. He dedicated much of his life to shepherding the civil rights legacy of his parents, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Jan. 22. Charles Osgood, 91. He anchored “CBS Sunday Morning” for more than two decades, was host of the long-running radio program “The Osgood File” and was referred to as CBS News’ poet-in-residence. Jan. 23. Chita Rivera, 91. The dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident. Jan. 30. FEBRUARY Carl Weathers, 76. A former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, starring with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore.” Feb. 1. Toby Keith, 62. A hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans. Feb. 5. Stomach cancer. Alexei Navalny, 47. The fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests. Feb. 16. Jacob Rothschild, 87. The financier and philanthropist was part of the renowned Rothschild banking dynasty. Feb. 26. Richard Lewis, 76. An acclaimed comedian known for exploring his neuroses in frantic, stream-of-consciousness diatribes while dressed in all-black, leading to his nickname “The Prince of Pain.” Feb. 27. MARCH Iris Apfel, 102. A textile expert, interior designer and fashion celebrity known for her eccentric style. March 1. David E. Harris, 89. He flew bombers for the U.S. military and broke barriers in 1964 when he became the first Black pilot hired at a major U.S. airline. March 8. Eric Carmen, 74. The singer-songwriter fronted the power-pop 1970s band the Raspberries and later had soaring pop hits like “All by Myself” and “Hungry Eyes” from the hit “Dirty Dancing” soundtrack. March 11. Joe Lieberman, 82. The former U.S. senator of Connecticut nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in the disputed 2000 election and almost became Republican John McCain’s running mate eight years later. March 27. Complications from a fall. Louis Gossett Jr., 87. The first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots.” March 28. APRIL Lou Conter, 102. The last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. April 1. John Sinclair, 82. A poet, music producer and counterculture figure whose lengthy prison sentence after a series of small-time pot busts inspired a John Lennon song and a star-studded 1971 concert to free him. April 2. O.J. Simpson, 76. The decorated football superstar and Hollywood actor who was acquitted of charges he killed his former wife and her friend but later found liable in a separate civil trial. April 10. Robert MacNeil, 93. He created the even-handed, no-frills PBS newscast “The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour” in the 1970s and co-anchored the show with his late partner, Jim Lehrer, for two decades. April 12. Faith Ringgold, 93. An award-winning author and artist who broke down barriers for Black female artists and became famous for her richly colored and detailed quilts combining painting, textiles and storytelling. April 12. Carl Erskine, 97. He pitched two no-hitters as a mainstay on the Brooklyn Dodgers and was a 20-game winner in 1953 when he struck out a then-record 14 in the World Series. April 16. Roman Gabriel, 83. The first Filipino-American quarterback in the NFL and the league MVP in 1969. April 20. MAY Dick Rutan, 85. He, along with copilot Jeana Yeager, completed one of the greatest milestones in aviation history: the first round-the-world flight with no stops or refueling. May 3. Pete McCloskey, 96. A pro-environment, anti-war California Republican who co-wrote the Endangered Species Act and co-founded Earth Day. May 8. Roger Corman, 98. The “King of the Bs” helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors early breaks. May 9. Alice Munro, 92. The Nobel laureate was a Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers. May 13. Dabney Coleman, 92. The mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in “9 to 5” and the nasty TV director in “Tootsie.” May 16. Morgan Spurlock, 53. The documentary filmmaker and Oscar nominee whose most famous works skewered America’s food industry. May 23. Complications of cancer. Bill Walton, 71. He starred for John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins before becoming a Hall of Fame center for his NBA career and one of the biggest stars in basketball broadcasting. May 27. JUNE Janis Paige, 101. A popular actor in Hollywood and in Broadway musicals and comedies who danced with Fred Astaire, toured with Bob Hope and continued to perform into her 90s. June 2. L ynn Conway, 86. A pioneer in the design of microchips that are at the heart of consumer electronics who overcame discrimination as a transgender person. June 9. Jerry West, 86. Selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive, his silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo. June 12. Willie Mays, 93. The electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players. June 18. Donald Sutherland, 88. The Canadian actor whose wry, arresting screen presence spanned more than half a century of films from “M.A.S.H.” to “The Hunger Games.” June 20. Martin Mull, 80. His droll, esoteric comedy and acting made him a hip sensation in the 1970s and later a beloved guest star on sitcoms including “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development.” June 27. JULY Shelley Duvall, 75. The intrepid, Texas-born movie star whose wide-eyed, winsome presence was a mainstay in the films of Robert Altman and who co-starred in Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” July 11. Dr. Ruth Westheimer, 96. The diminutive sex therapist became a pop icon, media star and best-selling author through her frank talk about once-taboo bedroom topics. July 12. Shannen Doherty, 53. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star whose life and career were roiled by illness and tabloid stories. July 13. Richard Simmons, 76. He was television’s hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and eat better. July 13. Bob Newhart, 94. The deadpan accountant-turned-comedian became one of the most popular TV stars of his time after striking gold with a classic comedy album. July 18. Lou Dobbs, 78. The conservative political pundit and veteran cable TV host was a founding anchor for CNN and later was a nightly presence on Fox Business Network for more than a decade. July 18. Francine Pascal, 92. A onetime soap opera writer whose “Sweet Valley High” novels and the ongoing adventures of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and other teens captivated millions of young readers. July 28. AUGUST Susan Wojcicki, 56. A pioneering tech executive who helped shape Google and YouTube. Aug. 9. Wallace “Wally” Amos, 88. The creator of the Famous Amos cookie empire went on to become a children’s literacy advocate. Aug. 13. Gena Rowlands, 94. She was hailed as a guiding light in independent cinema as a star in groundbreaking movies by her director husband, John Cassavetes. She later charmed audiences in her son’s tear-jerker “The Notebook.” Aug. 14. Phil Donahue, 88. His pioneering daytime talk show launched an indelible television genre. Aug. 18. Ruth Johnson Colvin, 107. She founded Literacy Volunteers of America, was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and received the nation’s highest civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Aug. 18. John Amos, 84. He starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times” and earned an Emmy nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots.” Aug. 21. SEPTEMBER James Darren, 88. A teen idol who helped ignite the 1960s surfing craze as a charismatic beach boy paired off with Sandra Dee in the hit film “Gidget.” Sept. 2. James Earl Jones, 93. He overcame racial prejudice and a severe stutter to become a celebrated icon of stage and screen, eventually lending his deep, commanding voice to CNN, “The Lion King” and Darth Vader. Sept. 9. Frankie Beverly, 77. With his band Maze, he inspired generations of fans with his smooth, soulful voice and lasting anthems including “Before I Let Go.” Sept. 10. Tito Jackson, 70. One of the brothers who made up the beloved pop group the Jackson 5. Sept. 15. Maggie Smith, 89. The masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for the 1969 film “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films. Sept. 27. Kris Kristofferson, 88. A Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and an A-list Hollywood actor. Sept. 28. Pete Rose, 83. Baseball’s career hits leader and fallen idol who undermined his historic achievements and Hall of Fame dreams by gambling on the game he loved and once embodied. Sept. 30. Dikembe Mutombo, 58. A basketball Hall of Famer who was one of the best defensive players in NBA history and a longtime global ambassador for the game. Sept. 30. Brain cancer. OCTOBER Cissy Houston, 91. A two-time Grammy-winning soul and gospel artist who sang with Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and other stars and knew triumph and heartbreak as the mother of singer Whitney Houston. Oct. 7. Ethel Kennedy, 96. The wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy raised their 11 children after he was assassinated and remained dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter. Oct. 10. Lilly Ledbetter, 86. A former Alabama factory manager whose lawsuit against her employer made her an icon of the equal pay movement and led to landmark wage discrimination legislation. Oct. 12. Liam Payne, 31. A former One Direction singer whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans. Oct. 16. Died after falling from a hotel balcony. Mitzi Gaynor, 93. The effervescent dancer and actor starred as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 film “South Pacific” and appeared in other musicals with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Oct. 17. Phil Lesh, 84. A classically trained violinist and jazz trumpeter who found his true calling by reinventing the role of rock bass guitar as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Oct. 25. Teri Garr, 79. The quirky comedy actor rose from background dancer in Elvis Presley movies to co-star in such favorites as “Young Frankenstein” and “Tootsie.” Oct. 29. Multiple sclerosis. NOVEMBER Quincy Jones, 91. The music titan whose vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists. Nov. 3. Elwood Edwards, 74. He voiced America Online’s ever-present “You’ve got mail” greeting. Nov. 5. Tony Todd, 69. An actor known for his haunting portrayal of a killer in the horror film “Candyman” and for roles in many other films and television shows. Nov. 6. Bobby Allison, 86. He was founder of racing’s “Alabama Gang” and a NASCAR Hall of Famer. Nov. 9. Bela Karolyi, 82. The charismatic, if polarizing, gymnastics coach turned young women into champions and the United States into an international power in the sport. Nov. 15. Arthur Frommer, 95. His “Europe on 5 Dollars a Day” guidebooks revolutionized leisure travel by convincing average Americans to take budget vacations abroad. Nov. 18. Chuck Woolery, 83. The affable, smooth-talking game show host of “Wheel of Fortune,” “Love Connection” and “Scrabble” who later became a right-wing podcaster. Nov. 23. DECEMBER George Joseph Kresge Jr., 89. He was known to generations of TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin. Dec. 10. Fred Lorenzen, 89. A NASCAR Hall of Famer and the 1965 Daytona 500 champion. Dec. 18. Rickey Henderson, 65. The baseball Hall of Famer was the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position. Dec. 20. Richard Parsons, 76. One of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup. Dec. 26. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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