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Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza

NoneUniversity leaders announced at Tennessee Tech University’s Dec. 5 Board of Trustees meeting plans for a bachelor’s degree in live audio engineering that would be the first such program in the country to be dually accredited by sanctioning bodies in both music and engineering. Jennifer Shank, dean of the university’s College of Fine Arts, explained during the board’s Academic and Student Affairs Committee meeting that the university will transition its current B.S. in music with a concentration in live audio arts — which launched last year — to a live audio engineering degree that will be offered in partnership with the university’s College of Engineering. “This will allow our students who pursue that degree to marry their knowledge, interest and passion for the sound of music with their skill and passion for electrical engineering,” said Shank. “I think it speaks to how we as a university both support the fine arts and engineering. It’s a perfect example.” The retooled degree program aims to be the first in the nation to be accredited by both the National Association of Schools of Music (NASAM) and Accreditation Board for Engineers and Technology (ABET), training students to mix sound for live events and prepare for careers in the commercial music industry. The name change will take effect at the start of the spring 2025 semester, while the university will seek ABET accreditation in 2026. The changes come as Tech’s College of Fine Arts reports its highest total enrollment and largest marching band in university history. Shank reported that 92% of the college’s alumni are employed in their field or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating. Also during the board’s morning meetings, Provost Lori Mann Bruce delivered an update on the Division of Academic Affairs’ performance metrics. Bruce reported that the university earned an impressive 93 on its latest Quality Assurance Funding (QAF) score from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, including perfect scores on subcategories for general education, major field assessment, academic programs and student equity. Bruce said that Tech has consistently outperformed other locally governed institutions in the state on QAF scoring, with the state average for the last two recorded years standing at a score of 88. “It is truly a testament to the quality of our programming and the quality of what we do — and honestly it’s a testament to our ability to document the excellence of what we do,” Bruce said. In research and service, another metric used to determine Academic Affairs performance, Bruce noted that the university achieved $46.1 million in research activations in the last fiscal year, setting an all-time university record. “All of those [research activations] are led by the faculty who are driving the proposals and garnering the funding,” Bruce added. In the board’s Audit and Business Committee meeting, Emily Wheeler, associate vice president for business and fiscal affairs, provided an update on the university’s composite financial index (CFI), reporting that Tech has the healthiest CFI of any locally governed institution in the state. Discussing the university’s primary reserve ratio — a financial metric that compares the institution’s expendable net assets against its total expenses — Wheeler noted that Tech’s cash reserves are double the recommended industry standard. Later in the committee meeting, trustees approved three new disclosed projects, including $4 million to renovate the Crossville building recently purchased to house the university’s new wind tunnel, $1.1 million to improve student parking with the paving and landscaping of a gravel lot along Willow Avenue on the west end of campus and $5.4 million for the construction of a new competition track and field facility with a multipurpose athletic field. The university’s existing running track is being removed as part of the construction of Tech’s new west-side football stadium. A new and improved running track has been championed and generously supported with a significant donation by Trustee Tom Jones. In other business: President’s report: In his quarterly report to trustees, Tech President Phil Oldham discussed how the university has invested heavily in students, faculty, staff, academic programs and campus improvements — all while maintaining a healthy balance sheet. Oldham noted that the university has launched 10 new academic programs in the last five years, invested $750 million in capital projects over the last 12 years, and has acted quickly on a compensation plan previously approved by trustees that has boosted investments in employee salary packages, now placing all employee categories at or near market median pay for their unique classification. He explained that the university has been able to balance these investments with sound fiscal management. “I’m really, really proud to be able to stand here and tell you unequivocally that Tennessee Tech is the best financially managed public institution in the state of Tennessee. There’s no doubt about that,” Oldham said. Update on the Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness: Vice President for Student Affairs Cynthia Polk-Johnson and Counseling Center Director Christina Mick provided an update on the center’s services, including its recent name change to “Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness.” “This new name speaks to a more holistic approach that includes care navigation with our clinical coordinator and a focus on life skills development,” said Polk-Johnson, who also noted that the center underwent renovations to provide a more welcoming space to students. Polk-Johnson added that the center has seen the volume of counseling sessions return to pre-COVID levels, following a spike during the pandemic. She also noted that the center is seeing a higher proportion of requests for couples counseling and that seniors utilize the center’s services more than any other student classification. Recognition of students: Trustees heard from members of the Golden Eagle women’s soccer team, including Maggie Conrad, Katie Toney and Meredith Nye. The team recently won its third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship and took home the conference’s team sportsmanship award for the second straight year. Later, trustees recognized Golden Eagle football captains Aaron Swafford and Tim Coutras. The team, led by Head Coach Bobby Wilder, recently earned its 11th conference title as a member of the OVC with its first seven-win season since 2011. The team ended the season on a five-game winning streak to finish 6-2 in the conference. “All of the alumni players are super proud of what you guys have accomplished,” said Trustee Fred Lowery, himself a Tech football alum. “Congratulations.” Materials from today’s meeting and video of the full board meeting will be available at the board’s website, tntech.edu/board . The board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 6, 2025.

NoneKeir Starmer may not be the best storyteller but he will be ultimately judged on his government's delivery

Indian American family attacked on bus says they'll move forward with pressing chargesCondé Nast is once again cutting staff and making changes to its portfolio of publications at a challenging moment for major media companies. Layoffs were underway on Thursday at the publishing giant, has learned, with the total number of cuts not yet clear. So far, the crown jewel in Condé’s portfolio — — has not been affected. As part of the changes, ’s editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel will take over the reins of magazine, while current editor-in-chief Rachel Wilkerson Miller will depart in February. New positions are expected to open up in areas of the business next year that are considered promising, keeping the global headcount the same in 2025 as it was this year, according to a source familiar. has reached out to Condé Nast’s union for comment. Condé CEO Roger Lynch has been undertaking to the company. Earlier this year it folded , and a year ago the company as it sought to adapt to the new media environment. In August, the company with OpenAI, allowing stories from , , and other titles to be ingested for use in OpenAI tools like ChatGPT and a prototype of SearchGPT, which directly links to news sites. Lynch told staff in a memo that the deal would help shore up revenue after “many technology companies eroded publishers’ ability to monetize content, most recently with traditional search.” The deal would allow the company to “continue to protect and invest in our journalism and creative endeavors,” Lynch added. As part of Condé Nast’s hard-fought with a union covering staffers at many of its titles — including , , — the company agreed to a moratorium on layoffs until July 31, 2024. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood Reporter

Red Sox insider says team is still waiting to hear if they can get meeting with Japanese superstar ace | Sporting News

Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Older Americans living alone often rely on neighbors or others willing to help Nationwide IV fluid shortage could change how hospitals manage patient hydration Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Clarksville, TN, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchisee Doug Keenum is making waves in Tennessee with a remarkable expansion journey. Since stepping into the world of Legit. Texas. Barbecue. in 2022, Keenum has transformed locations, opened a brand-new store, and taken on new opportunities with grit and determination. Doug began his barbecue journey by taking over the Madison Street location in Clarksville, TN, in August 2022. “The Madison location had a challenging reputation,” Keenum recalls. “We brought that one back to life, and now it’s getting great feedback from our guests.” Building on this success, Keenum opened a new Dickey’s location on Fort Campbell Blvd. in Clarksville in July 2024, just a stone’s throw from the local military base. “This store has been an exciting addition,” says Keenum. “We’re working hard to introduce our brand to more of the Clarksville community and make this location a favorite among military families.” In August 2024, Keenum expanded again, taking over an existing location in Brentwood, TN, just outside Nashville. “This location is another opportunity to make a positive impact,” says Keenum. “We’re focused on improving operations and creating a welcoming environment for our guests.” Doug’s efforts exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Dickey’s franchisees. Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., praises his resilience and strategic growth. “Doug’s dedication to excellence and his ability to revitalize locations are truly inspiring,” she says. “He’s a tremendous asset to the Dickey’s family, and his success showcases the power of hard work and community focus.” Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, echoes these sentiments. “Doug has embraced the life of franchise ownership,” Roland says. “His growth in Tennessee reflects the strength of the Dickey’s brand and the entrepreneurial vision that drives it forward.” Doug’s three Tennessee locations are part of his mission to bring Legit. Texas. Barbecue. to more communities. With a focus on quality, hospitality, and community engagement, Keenum continues to expand and enhance the Dickey’s experience for families across the state. About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world’s largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey’s barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey’s never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can’t be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey’s Barbecue Franchise and Dickey’s Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr ., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey’s has been recognized on Newsweek’s 2022 "America’s Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation’s Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology’s Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com Attachment Doug Keenum and Team

By BEN FINLEY The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world track Santa Claus as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Related Articles National News | Today in History: December 24, former defense secretary pardoned in Iran-Contra scandal National News | Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says National News | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National News | The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse? National News | Mega Millions jackpot nears $1 billion ahead of Christmas Eve drawing Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online in nine languages , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year’s Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as the one in 2018 , and this year . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.The Christmas tradition has become nearly global in scope: Children from around the world as he sweeps across the earth, delivering presents and defying time. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more , from English to Japanese. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens , such as last year’s . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” “There are screams and giggles and laughter,” said Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, “Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early.” NORAD’s annual tracking of Santa has endured since , predating and . The tradition continues regardless of government shutdowns, such as , and . Here’s how it began and why the phones keep ringing. It started with a child’s accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy’s mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80 foot (18-by-24 meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from “those who do not believe in Christmas.” Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup’s story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy’s call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child’s call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. “When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,’” Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. “People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” NORAD’s tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa’s story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada —- known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That’s when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.

( ) is up 25% in 2024. Investors who missed the rally are wondering if ENB stock is still and attractive to buy for a self-directed Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) portfolio focused on stocks. Enbridge stock Enbridge trades near $61 per share at the time of writing, marking a multi-year high. The stock has fully recovered the losses it sustained through the second half of 2022 and during much of 2023 as rising interest rates triggered fears that Enbridge might have to trim its dividend to cover higher debt expenses. The rebound over the past year kicked off when sentiment in the market shifted from fears of higher interest rates to expectations of rate cuts in 2024. Enbridge uses debt to fund its growth programs, so lower borrowing costs can boost profits and free up more cash to pay dividends or reduce debt. In recent months, the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve started to reduce interest rates. This has helped propel ENB stock even higher. The rate cuts came after a significant drop in the rate of inflation. Economists expect the Bank of Canada and the U.S. Federal Reserve to continue reducing interest rates to maintain a strong economy. Risks The new Trump administration is expected to implement tariffs on most goods coming into the United States. The result could be a jump in inflation as businesses pass the added costs on to consumers. Inflation already appears to have bottomed out. In Canada, it actually rose from 1.6% in September to 2% in October. South of the border, it jumped from 2.4% to 2.6%. If inflation continues to drift higher, the central banks will have to put rate cuts on hold or might even be forced to raise interest rates again to avoid another surge. In that scenario, Enbridge and other utility stocks that carry large debt positions could come under renewed pressure. Bond yields have risen steadily for the past two months. This suggests markets are anticipating a slower pace of interest rate cuts in the coming months. Dividends Enbridge raised the dividend in each of the past 29 years. Investors should see the trend continue, supported by cash flow growth from recent acquisitions and the development program. Enbridge completed its US$14 billion purchase of three natural gas utilities in 2024. The company is also working on a $24 billion capital program to drive additional revenue and cash flow gains. Investors who buy ENB stock at the current level can get a dividend yield of 6%. The bottom line on ENB stock A pullback should be expected after the big run. It isn’t so much that Enbridge is heavily overbought. The entire market is simply due for a breather. That being said, high-yield dividend investors with a buy-and-hold strategy should be comfortable owning Enbridge right now and might consider adding to the position on any new weakness. For a portfolio focused on passive income, Enbridge deserves to be on your radar.MISTRAS Group Appoints Natalia Shuman as President and Chief Executive Officer

Millions of frustrated passengers are trying to figure out how to deal with the travel delay after American Airlines was forced to delay numerous flights nationwide due to "technical issues" on Tuesday morning. A national group stop was issued around 7 a.m. EST by federal regulators, an hour after flights were given the green light. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the ground stop lasted exactly one hour . In a statement, American Airlines said: "A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved and flights have resumed." The airline added, "We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning. It's all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible." What Spirit Airlines’ bankruptcy means for your holiday travel plans Drones banned from New Jersey airspace 'over security fears' as 'deadly force' warning issued Now those customers affected on one of the busiest travel days of the year are looking at their options, reports the Express US . According to the American Airline's website, if a cancellation or delay causes a passenger to miss a connection, the company will rebook flights. Once you check in for your new flights, it will also automatically reroute your bags. "Our goal is always to depart on time, but occasionally weather and other events impact our schedule – and yours," writes American Airlines on its website. "We know your time is valuable, and we'll do our best to get you back on track as soon as possible." Customers can change and view their new trip on the American Airlines app, on the company website, or through a kiosk at the airport. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.The decision runs counter to the court’s previous ruling that the smell of burnt cannabis by itself is not sufficient reason for a vehicle search. The two rulings create a situation in which, though it is illegal to smoke pot in a vehicle, drivers are protected from a search based only on the smell of burnt cannabis, but are not protected from a search based on the smell of raw marijuana. The ruling came in the case of Vincent Molina, of Moline, who was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by a state trooper for speeding on I-88 in Whiteside County, near the Iowa border, in December 2020. After the trooper said he smelled raw cannabis coming from the open window of the car, he searched it and found several marijuana joints in the center console, and cannabis in a sealed box in the glove compartment. Molina was charged with misdemeanor possession because he wasn’t transporting the cannabis in the proper container. The trial court ruled the search was not justified because possession of small amounts of marijuana has been legal in Illinois since the beginning of 2020. The appeals court reversed the ruling. The case was combined at a high court hearing with the case of Ryan Redmond, in which the court ruled that the smell of burnt cannabis by itself was not grounds for a search . While it’s illegal to smoke pot in a private vehicle, the court suggested that the smell of burnt cannabis could come from smoking before getting into the car. “In short, while cannabis is legal to possess generally, it is illegal to possess in a vehicle on an Illinois highway unless in an odor-proof container,” the court wrote in the Molina case. “The odor of raw cannabis strongly suggests that the cannabis is not being possessed within the parameters of Illinois law. And, unlike the odor of burnt cannabis, the odor of raw cannabis coming from a vehicle reliably points to when, where, and how the cannabis is possessed — namely, currently, in the vehicle, and not in an odor-proof container.” Justice Mary K. O’Brien, joined by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, wrote a strong objection to the 4-2 ruling. Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in the vote. “I dissent from the majority opinion simply to point out the absurdity of this inconsistency,” O’Brien wrote. “It makes no sense to treat raw cannabis as more probative when the odor of burnt cannabis may suggest recent use, whereas the odor of raw cannabis does not suggest consumption. If the crime suggested by the odor of burnt cannabis is not sufficient for probable cause, then certainly the crime suggested by the odor of raw cannabis cannot be either.” Defense attorney James Mertes said he would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. “This means that the privacy rights of motorists in Illinois have been turned over to the police officer’s sense of smell,” Mertes said. “While we certainly respect the decision of the court, we share the view of the dissenters that this creates a constitutional absurdity.” State lawmakers previously removed the requirement for storing pot in an odor-proof container in a vehicle from the law legalizing weed , but they did not remove that requirement from the vehicle code. The state Supreme Court suggested that those laws should be made consistent. “I have always understood that the issues at stake are much more important than just my case,” Molina said in a statement through his lawyer. “I am discouraged by the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision, but I am encouraged to now ask that this matter be decided by the United States Supreme Court.”