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Former Bright Health, once a Minnesota IPO darling, goes private in $1.3B dealThe masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The gunman is still at large and a manhunt is underway. Here's the latest: Water bottle and protein bar wrapper may hold clues to the shooter’s identity Just minutes before the shooting, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage purchasing the two items from a nearby Starbucks. Both the water bottle and protein bar wrapper were later recovered from a trash can in the vicinity of the killing, according to a police spokesperson. They’ve been sent to the city’s medical examiner for expedited fingerprint testing. Tips about the shooting, many unfounded, are pouring in through a police hotline As the suspect remained at large Thursday afternoon, New York police were sorting through a growing number of leads coming in through a public hotline. Many have been unfounded, including a tip from a commuter who claimed to have spotted the shooter on a Long Island Rail Road train Wednesday evening. Police searched the train, but found no sign of the gunman. Members of the public have also provided police with several different names of people who bear a resemblance to the gunman — though they have yet to confirm the shooter’s identity. NYPD spokesperson Carlos Nieves urged anyone with information to contact the department “even if it seems trivial.” “We ask you to call the tip line because that little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together,” he said. Anger and vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of Thompson’s killing Users’ reactions — and in many cases jokes — populated comment sections teeming with frustration toward health insurers broadly and UnitedHealthcare in particular. “I would be happy to help look for the shooter but vision isn’t covered under my healthcare plan,” one comment read on Instagram. “Thoughts and prior authorizations!” wrote another user. Police searched Upper West Side hostel seen in new images Images released by police of a person they say is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both feature a black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semicircle. Matheus Taranto, a guest at the hostel who’s visiting from Brazil, says he saw police at the lodging Wednesday evening. He said an officer wouldn’t let him access a bathroom where he wanted to brush his teeth. “I asked why, he was like, no, nothing happened,” said Taranto, 24. He didn’t connect the dots with the shooting until later. Police in Minnesota say they believe bomb threat against Thompson’s home was a hoax In Minnesota, police in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove, where Thompson lived, said Thursday they believe a bomb threat on Wednesday night was a hoax. Maple Grove police put out a statement Thursday saying a “suspected swatting investigation” was underway. The department said it received a report of a bomb threat directed at two addresses around 7 p.m. CT Wednesday. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted, but investigators found no suspicions devices or other items. “The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax. No further comments will be made at this time,” the police statement said. Police reports provided to The Associated Press by the department show that officers made contact with family members at one of the homes and were told they had seen nothing suspicious and had received no direct threats. In Minnesota, authorities investigate reported bomb threat against Brian Thompson’s home Back in Thompson’s home state of Minnesota, authorities were investigating a bomb threat that reportedly was made against his home Wednesday night, after his death. It was first reported by TMZ. City Prosecutor Andrew Draper confirmed to The Associated Press via email Thursday that he received an email Wednesday night “regarding a bomb threat. I reported it to the Maple Grove Police Department and do not have any additional information.” Maple Grove police officials did not immediately respond to requests for details Thursday. Local ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill said: “ATF was made aware of the incident in Maple Grove last night, but no ATF resources were deployed. We are unable to confirm any further details.” A local FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for information on the FBI’s involvement in the investigation. Words on ammunition were written in marker, AP source says The words emblazoned on the ammunition used in the shooting – “deny,” “defend” and “depose” – were written in permanent marker, according to a law enforcement official. The official wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. — Jake Offenhartz What’s known about the search As of Thursday morning, police were still searching for the shooter. They released new photos of a person they said is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. The images match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including its black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semi-circle. An employee at the hostel said police had visited but declined to provide further information. Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the lodging, said in an emailed statement that they are cooperating with the NYPD but can’t comment due to the active investigation. According to the official who spoke to AP about the ammunition messaging, investigators are running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found near the shooting, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded. Additionally, they’re looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan. What is the criticism of insurers? Doctors and patients have become particularly frustrated with prior authorizations, which are requirements that an insurer approve surgery or care before it happens. UnitedHealthcare was named in an October report detailing how the insurer’s prior authorization denial rate for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years. The report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also named rivals Humana and CVS. Insurers say tactics like prior authorization are needed to limit unnecessary care and help control spiraling medical costs. Frustrations extend beyond the coverage of care. Expensive breakthrough medications to slow Alzheimer’s disease or help with obesity are frequently not covered or have coverage limits. How do Americans feel about insurers? In the U.S. health care system, patients get coverage through a mix of private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. That can prove particularly frustrating for doctors and patients because coverage often varies by insurer. Polls reflect those frustrations with the U.S. health care system in general and insurance companies in particular. About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February . Thompson’s wife said her husband had received previous threats Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The three words were emblazoned on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the wording or any connection between them and the common phrase. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a deepening frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. ▶ Read more about the messaging left behind by the shooter New photos released by the NYPD The New York Police Department released photos Thursday morning, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured. Police say the person is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. UnitedHealthcare’s history of claim denials A Senate panel has been investigating how frequently three major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, deny care to patients who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. It has also investigated the use of artificial intelligence in deny those claims. Medicare Advantage is the private version of Medicare, which provides health insurance to millions of older Americans. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee’s report released earlier this year found that as UnitedHealthcare relied more on its automated system to review claims denials increased for post-acute treatment, which includes nursing home or rehabilitation care. The insurer denied nearly a quarter of claims, a rate that doubled over just a two-year period from 2020 to 2022. What’s known about the suspected shooter? Joseph Kenny, the NYPD chief of detectives, says the shooter wore a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack. He arrived outside the hotel about five minutes before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did, then waited and ignored other pedestrians before he approached Thompson from behind. After the assailant began to fire, his 9 mm pistol jammed but he quickly fixed it and kept firing, Kenny said, another sign of the shooter’s professionalism. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” Kenny said. Hunt for the shooting suspect brought New York police to at least two hostels Thursday morning The hostels were on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and police were following a tip that the suspect may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing search. According to an employee of Kama Central Park, two detectives arrived at the hostel at 7 a.m. Thursday with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left soon after. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information. — Jake Offenhartz New York Mayor Adams says he’s ‘never seen a silencer before’ New York Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday the shooter used a silencer — something he’d never encountered in his 22 years as a police officer. “In all of my years in law enforcement I have never seen a silencer before,” Adams, a retired NYPD captain, said in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “And so that was really something that was shocking to us all.” Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says The masked gunman used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier. — Mike Balsamo, Jake Offenhartz and Michael R. Sisak Just getting up to speed? Start here The chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest insurers, was killed Wednesday in midtown Manhattan in what police described as a targeted attack by a shooter outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference. ▶ Read more about the key things to know about the fatal attack The Associated Press

Spotify’s latest Wrapped report for 2024 highlights a significant shift in Nigerian music consumption patterns. The streaming giant revealed a 146 percent increase in the consumption of local music over the past year, indicating a growing preference for homegrown sounds among Nigerian listeners. According to the report, Nigerian artists have dominated the top 10 most-streamed list for the fourth year running. Asake was the most streamed artist in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), specifically in Nigeria, Gambia, and Benin. Asake, alongside Burna Boy, Shallipopi, and Seyi Vibez, captivated listeners from 13 to 55+ years old, landing on the top 10 artists list for these age groups. Young Jonn’s ‘Jiggy Forever’ was revealed as the most-streamed Nigerian album for 2024 followed by Asake’s ‘Lungu Boy’. Odumodu’s ‘Eziokwu’ made a comeback from last year, while Rema’s ‘HEIS’ and Asake’s ‘Work of Art’ also from 2023 secured top spots. Burna Boy was reported as Nigeria’s most-exported artist and the only Nigerian in the UK’s Top 100. Ayra Starr ended the year as the top female artist in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, the most-streamed Nigerian artist in Latin America, and the top Nigerian female artist in Europe. Sharing stages with Coldplay and Chris Brown, she holds the record for the longest time on Spotify’s global chart, surpassing even Rema and Burna Boy. Nigerian listeners are also tuning into a diverse podcast scene. Apostle Femi Lazarus led the pack as the most streamed podcast, followed by motivational shows like ‘Success Addicted Podcast’ with the voice of Earl Nightingale; Napoleon Hill; Jim Rohn, and many more. ‘The Honest Bunch Podcast’, Apostle Joshua Selman, and Cycasmotivation’s Podcast are also on the top list. Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja are the top cities driving Nigeria’s music streaming scene on the platform. “Spotify is always honoured to showcase the depth of Nigerian music and its incredible talents through Wrapped each year. The seamless blend of generations and genres showcases the unique power of Nigerian music to resonate both locally and globally. It’s inspiring to see how our artists are not just shaping culture at home but also making waves internationally.” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa. Spotify users can now dive into their personalised 2024 Wrapped experience exclusively on the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android). Users can also share their Wrapped results across messaging apps and their favorite social platforms. With Spotify’s new sharing integration with TikTok, sharing Wrapped results on TikTok’s FYP and Stories is now easier than ever.

(Source: Nasdaq) Tech and growth stocks dragged Wall Street’s main indexes lower on Friday, at the end of an upbeat holiday-shortened week that was driven by expectations around a traditionally strong period for markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), fell 0.82%, the S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab was down 1.24% and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), briefly fell more than 2% and was down 1.80%. Ten of the 11 major S&P sectors, including information technology (.SPLRCT), and consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD), fell the most, down about 2% and 1.9%, after powering most of the broader market’s gains in 2024. COMMENTS: PETER TUZ, PRESIDENT, CHASE INVESTMENT COUNSEL, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA “This is end of year stuff going on people have had a pretty good year, and it’s typical year-end selling pressure caused by people taking profits, not a lot of buyers out there and not a lot of volume.“ “(There’s) no reason to jump in and buy these things at these valuations, and tax planning is on peoples’ minds this week and will be on Monday and Tuesday. I don’t attribute it to, you know, any changing outlook in anything right now.” “The Santa Claus rally is one of those historic statistics that bears watching, but because of the change in administration and the potential change in policy you’re probably seeing more action now than you would ordinarily. There’s the potential for a lot of disruption in 2025.” BRYCE DOTY, SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER, SIT FIXED INCOME ADVISORS, MINNEAPOLIS “Today the market has really been reacting to the implications of taxes coming up. Tax positioning is overwhelming the other factors. But the more the Fed looks out of touch (with economic realities), the worse it is for equities...Tax trading will continue for the rest of the year.” Source: Reuters (Compiled by the Global Finance & Markets Breaking News team)

Texans get visit from longtime foe Derrick Henry when the Ravens visit on Christmas DayYou’ve discovered some interesting biology and have a set of required parameters, thousands of data points, a budget and a deadline. How can you harness the power of computational chemistry to reach your next milestone faster, and more cost effectively? First-void urine (FVU) is emerging as a valuable sample type offering unique insights into various health conditions in clinical and research settings. Unlike midstream urine, FVU is collected at the start of urination, capturing the initial fraction that contains higher concentrations of cells, proteins, and other biomarkers shed from the urogenital tract. These characteristics make FVU particularly useful for detecting infections, cancers, and other diseases at an early stage. The significance of FVU lies in its potential to revolutionize diagnostic and monitoring practices. By providing a non-invasive, easily obtainable sample, FVU facilitates frequent and convenient testing, which is crucial for early detection and ongoing monitoring of diseases. This eBook delves into the science behind first-void urine, exploring its composition, collection methods, and the latest advancements in its application, as well as other potential applications of urine samples. We will examine how FVU is being utilized in various fields, from infectious disease diagnostics to cancer screening and beyond. The integration of advanced technologies, such as molecular diagnostics and biomarker discovery, enhances the utility of FVU enabling more accurate and comprehensive analyses. Through collaborative efforts and innovative research, the potential of FVU as a diagnostic tool continues to expand, offering new possibilities for improving patient outcomes. This eBook aims to provide a comprehensive overview of first-void urine as a sample type, highlighting its advantages, challenges, and future prospects. By understanding the unique properties and applications of FVU, researchers an better harness its potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care. Join us as we explore the transformative impact of firstvoid urine in the world of medical diagnostics.

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Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. —Photo from PAOAFP MANILA, Philippines — Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday rejected former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the military to “correct” what the former leader claimed as the “fractured governance” of President Marcos. “That is not our job. Our job is to protect the Republic of the Philippines, protect its people, defend our territory, and defend our sovereignty and our sovereign rights,” Brawner said at a leadership summit for military personnel at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. Brawner said the military would remain professional and competent, reacting to Duterte’s admonition, “until when will you support a drug addict president?” READ: Palace: Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘insulting’ call to AFP just for Sara takeover According to the AFP chief, “military adventurism” such as what happened in the past would not prosper, adding that “we will not take the law into our hands, we will remain professional.” He reminded the military to remain apolitical and loyal to the Constitution. “We recognize that all of us have political opinions, political inclinations, but while we are wearing our uniform, we must follow the Constitution and protect the country,” he pointed out. “We cannot just air our grievances freely, being members of the (AFP). If we want to do that, better to just resign. We should take off our uniform,” he said. Speaking to reporters after his speech, Brawner said he reminded brigade and battalion commanders during a video teleconferencing “of the vow that we took, that we will defend the Constitution and the Republic of the Philippines.” Lawmakers also rejected Duterte’s call on the AFP to take action. The military should not get involved in “purely civilian concerns” that affect Filipinos, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Wednesday. “No military intervention or action can ever improve the politics in this nation, as well as the Filipino people’s quality of life, as these are purely civilian concerns,” Pimentel said in a Viber message. “We should uphold civilian supremacy at all times over the military.” Pimentel acknowledged that the country was beset with problems involving its political system, lamenting that the “political discourse has significantly deteriorated,” but this must be solved by the Filipino people themselves through the recognized constitutional and legal processes,” such as holding an election. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also reminded the AFP to stay loyal to the Constitution. Appearing before the Commission on Appointments for his confirmation and that of 21 other ranking military officials, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jimmy Larida assured Estrada that there were “no grumblings” in the 160,000-strong force. “You have to be loyal to the Constitution,” Estrada told Larida, who agreed with the senator. Despite the assurance from the military establishment, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV on Wednesday cautioned the Marcos administration against being complacent about Duterte’s provocation. Trillanes, a former Navy officer, said that while there was currently a “small, maybe 5 percent” of military officials sympathetic to Duterte, he advised the government to “make sure that the Dutertes will not get any more (support from the) military because this will be a big problem.” Those sympathetic officers, he said, were mostly junior officers, “but the senior officers so far, they are solidly behind the President.” Trillanes, who led a failed 2007 mutiny against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, also noted the small gathering of pro-Duterte supporters at Edsa Shrine last Tuesday night and urged Marcos “not to dismiss them so easily” and learn from the lessons of their own family’s ouster in 1986. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . “Any political crisis that could happen, they can easily take advantage of that. We’ve seen that happen in (the 1986 Edsa Revolution) itself. It started small, nobody was paying attention, the administration was too lax because it was popular—and then within a few months, they (the Marcoses) were ousted.”New Zealand shed more jobs in October. Across the year, construction sector job numbers fell by 5.3% or 11,141 jobs. Stats NZ said jobs in health care and social assistance fell by 3.7% or 10,059 compared to October 2023. Public administration and safety job numbers were down by 7.2% or 12,671 roles. And in administrative and support services, job numbers last month were down 6.2% (6362 jobs) compared to October 2023.

The Boys’ Karl Urban Provides First Glimpse at Billy Butcher in Season 5

How to cope with a loved one’s gambling problemPart of the reason we started a Cannabis Industry team at a Southeastern-based law firm before any Southeastern state had adopted a marijuana program was because we had a hunch that the expansion of cannabis would eventually make its way to our neck of the woods. And we guess it was just kind of a slow day around the office. It turns out that our hunch – which even we are modest enough to admit was pretty much obvious and inevitable – turned out to be true. In the last seven years, there has been an explosion of cannabis activity and controversy in the Southeast. From marijuana in various forms to hemp and all of its iterations, the Southeast has been playing catchup with the rest of the country and in doing so is experiencing the progression of cannabis reform at an accelerated pace with the benefit of seeing the experiences of earlier cannabis adopters. We aren’t alone in observing this phenomenon. Jessica Billingsley, for Rolling Stone , has written on the topic several times . Don’t get me wrong, we’re not so naïve as to think that states around the country aren’t also experiencing dramatic and dynamic debates and reforms about the cannabis industry. In fact, we’ve dedicated a great deal of time and effort to writing about those issues and how they reflect – or in some cases depart from – cannabis programs in other states. But the speed of reform efforts and their concentration in a specific portion of the country have made the Southeastern U.S. the – ok, at least a – current hotbed of cannabis activity. C’mon. What’s Happening in the Southeast That Makes It So Special? Aren’t You Just Writing This Because You Live There? Could You Be More Egocentric? Wow, that got a little weird and revealing there for a second but we’re back. For those who may not enjoy the privilege of calling the Southeastern U.S. home, here is a sampling of the cannabis activity currently taking place in the region: Florida’s Medical Marijuana Market Matures, but Voters Narrowly Rejected the Ballot Initiative for an Adult-Use Program; Hemp Program Survives by Governor’s Veto (for Now) Florida broke the seal on medical marijuana in the Southeast when it adopted a medical program in 2016. While the program has certainly had its hiccups, it has generally proven to be a popular program as it has matured over the years. On April 1, 2024, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that voters would decide whether Florida will become the 24 th state to legalize adult-use marijuana at the ballot boxes in November. The significant opposition that succeeded in keeping a similar initiative off the 2022 ballots evidently prevailed this year. The initiative came short of receiving the required 60% approval to pass with only about 56% of Florida voters voting in favor. On the hemp front, earlier this year we wrote that the Florida Legislature passed a bill that would limit the amount of THC in hemp-derived products and upend the novel cannabinoid industry in the state by banning delta-8 and delta-10 products. But in a surprising move described by Marijuana Moment as “somewhat contradictory,” conservative Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the legislation, even as he campaigns against adult-use marijuana. This being the South and a controversial issue involving potentially extraordinary amounts of money, there are strange bedfellows and innuendo : The governor of Florida is reportedly planning to veto a bill that would ban consumable hemp-derived cannabinoid products such as delta-8 THC, apparently because he’s hoping the hemp industry will help finance a campaign opposing a marijuana legalization initiative on the state’s November ballot. As Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) prepares to step up his push against the legalization measure, officials close to the governor... say he’s plotting to leverage the hemp industry’s economic interest in participating in the intoxicating cannabinoid market to convince people to vote against marijuana reform. Safe to same there’s more to come in the next couple of months for what has become the 5,000 lbs. gorilla in the Southeastern cannabis landscape. Arkansas’ Medical Program Booms While Adult Use and Hemp in Limbo During Court Battles Like Florida, Arkansas was one of the pioneers of bringing medical marijuana to the Southeast. Arkansans voted to approve a medical marijuana program in 2016 via Amendment 98, although the first legal sales did not occur until May 2019. The program eclipsed $1 billion in sales by late 2023, and as of August 2024, sales in 2024 exceeded $158.5 million. From all metrics, the program appears to be doing very well. And, while an effort to place on the November ballot an initiative that would have further expanded the program was stymied by the Arkansas Supreme Court just before the election, a ballot initiative in 2022 to create an adult-use program didn’t fail by an insurmountable margin, with 43.8% voting in favor. On the hemp front, all eyes are on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. That court conducted oral arguments in the Sanders v. Bio Gen appeal on September 24, so a decision should be forthcoming. The trial court action was filed by hemp companies challenging an Arkansas law (known as Act 629) that the plaintiffs contended impermissibly outlawed hemp-derived consumable products in Arkansas. The appeal followed issuance of an injunction by U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson blocking enforcement of Act 629. Mississippi Struggling to Reconcile Supply and Demand on the Marijuana Front; Unsettled Hemp Rules Mississippi surprised many observers when a statewide ballot initiative in 2020 went overwhelmingly in support of medical marijuana. After a couple of years of frustrating and largely obstructionist legal wrangling, Mississippi’s medical program is fully up and running now, going on almost two years. One of the most notable and unique aspects of Mississippi’s program is the absence of any limitations on the number of licenses available to operators. While there are components of the Mississippi laws and regulations governing the program that necessarily limit how many licenses can be issued (e.g., local government opt-outs and distance setback limitations) the program is struggling due in large part to an oversupply of product and not enough patients (as of November 21, 2024, the state reports 48,129 patients). Last legislative session, the Mississippi Legislature modified the state’s medical cannabis law in certain ways that were aimed to improve patient access hurdles, and more amendments are expected in the upcoming session. On the hemp front, Mississippi lacks any real legislative or regulatory guidance on the subject. Consequently, many in the state view the hemp-derived intoxicating products sold in gas stations and other retail stores as a real problem . Last legislative session, a bill (HB 1676) aimed to regulate intoxicating hemp products failed. Since then, state law enforcement has conducted raids and arrests of retail stores that sell products they believe are illegal under Mississippi law. Also, the Mississippi attorney general recently issued an opinion concluding that hemp-derived THC beverages could be illegal under Mississippi law. We wrote about that opinion here . The Mississippi legislature will almost assuredly revisit legislation governing these products next session while it also explores ways to amend the Medical Cannabis Act. Texas Low-THC Marijuana Program Continues as Fierce Debates Rage Over Hemp Texas passed the Texas Compassionate Use legislation in 2015, allowing certain qualified physicians to prescribe low THC products (max of 1% THC by weight) to patients having certain medical conditions. Currently, the state has only licensed three entities, all located in the central region of the state, as “dispensing organizations” to cultivate, process, and dispense low-THC cannabis. While the state has implied it may issue more licenses and a third-party consultant it hired recently recommended that it should, that has not yet occurred. The last application window closed on April 28, 2023. We, along with most everyone in the industry, is watching what Texas ends up doing with this program; everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, and a real-deal medical cannabis program shouldn’t be any exception. The hemp world in Texas slightly resembles the one in Arkansas; it’s mired in litigation. Texas has a robust legal and regulatory program that governs hemp and consumable hemp products. That program operated for years without much interruption until the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) took action in 2020 and 2021 to restrict the sale of certain consumable hemp products. This culminated in the publication of an official statement online in October 2021 stating that Texas law only “allows Consumable Hemp Products in Texas that do not exceed 0.3% Delta-9 . . . THC [, and] [a]ll other forms of THC, including Delta-8 in any concentration and Delta-9 exceeding 0.3% are considered Schedule 1 controlled substances.” In response, a group of plaintiffs sued the TDSHS and its commissioner seeking to enjoin the “‘effectiveness going forward’ of the amendments to the terms ‘tetrahydrocannabinols; and ‘Marihuana extract’ in the Department’s 2021 Schedule of Controlled Substances.” The trial court granted the requested injunction, ordered the TSDHS to “remove from its currently published Schedule of Controlled Substances the most recent modifications” the subject definitions and any subsequent publications, and “enjoin[ed] the effectiveness going forward of the rule stated on [the Department’s] website that Delta-8 THC in any concentration is considered a Schedule 1 controlled substance.” The state appealed, the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed, and the matter now sits with the Texas Supreme Court. THC-infused beverages have also been a focus in Texas recently. As we wrote last month, the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs held a hearing on October 17, 2024, to discuss how the state might soon regulate THC-infused beverages. That issue will most assuredly be addressed by the Texas legislature this next session. Louisiana Medical Program Expands Amidst Fight Over Scope of Hemp Program While Louisiana technically legalized medical marijuana in 1978 and passed several laws in the years that followed in that pursuit, the first products weren’t sold until 2019. The very limited license (only two authorized cultivators and processors) regime is now headed towards a bustling program. The number of dispensaries that can exist in Louisiana is currently capped at 30, but that number will only grow as the patient numbers increase in the regions identified throughout the state. Louisiana’s hemp program, which is governed by a well-developed regulatory regime, is also in a current state of uncertainty. During the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature amended the hemp laws to restrict where certain hemp-derived products can be sold and their potency. As in Arkansas and Texas, the hemp industry quickly responded with litigation. In that matter, Hemp Assoc. of La. v. Landry , No. 3:24-cv-00871, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, was filed on October 18, 2024. The plaintiffs alleged that the 2018 Farm Bill preempts the legislation and is unconstitutional on other grounds. The state disagreed and moved to dismiss, but on November 19, 2024, the state informed the court that it would stay the effective date of the new legislation so that the parties could fully brief the pending motions and the court could reach a decision. The motions are due to be fully briefed in the coming days. Georgia Trying to Get Its Act Together The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission describes the Georgia law as “much more limited than some other states.” The statute does little more than allow registered people to buy and possess low-THC oil from licensed dispensaries. This oil may contain CBD and up to 5% THC by weight. Only a select number of licensed producers can grow the cannabis that will eventually be turned into the allowed low-THC oil. As in many other states, the application and licensing process is quite strict . To obtain a registration card, prospective patients must have a qualifying condition or disease and be registered through their physician. Once a patient has their card, they can buy low-THC oil and possess 20 fluid ounces or less so long as they keep it in the manufacturer-labeled pharmaceutical packaging. On the hemp side, the Georgia Legislature recently passed SB 494, which Gov. Brian Kemp subsequently signed into law. This law introduces substantial changes to the hemp industry. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is in the process of drafting the corresponding and required agency rules. It appears that most hemp extracts like delta-8-THC, delta-10-THC, HHC, and other cannabinoids remain legal under Georgia law as “consumable hemp products.” Alabama Medical Marijuana Program on the Ropes While Hemp Flourishes Sigh... where do we even begin when it comes to medical marijuana in Alabama? There have been more twists and turns than a classic Iron Bowl. The Legislature approved a medical program in 2021, and recent court hearings suggest that we are potentially no further along after three years, with a possibility of the Legislature being forced to take action to modify (or end) the program. We have written extensively about the years of litigation and dysfunction that have plagued the Alabama medical marijuana program. In a nutshell, the cap on the number of licenses for various categories (cultivators, processors, dispensaries, etc.) has led to a scenario where applicants dissatisfied with the regulators’ decision to award licenses have sued on multiple occasions, and the regulators have either acceded to the demands or ended up in a court that has not acted quickly to impose order on the process. In the midst of this chaos, the Legislature had an opportunity to tweak the law but overwhelmingly chose not to do so . We’re choosing to take the optimistic view that the court system will be able to find a resolution to the years of litigation without putting the matter into the Legislature’s hands. We stress that view is very optimistic, but we should know more by the beginning of 2025. On a brighter note for cannabis advocates, hemp is growing strong in the state, benefiting largely from a relatively liberal regulatory regime. Although the Legislature considered a significant rollback of hemp sales during the last session, the only law passed was a statewide age-limit on products containing hemp. There have been recent reports of law enforcement activity related to hemp businesses being raided for selling unlawful products, but on the whole Alabama should be considered hemp-friendly for the moment. Tennessee Marijuana Reform Frustrated While Hemp Market Experiences Growth But Tighter Regulation For years we were astonished that Tennessee was not a huge marijuana (at least medical) spot, but years of hearing over and over from friends and colleagues in the state have finally convinced us of the political complexities at play. We, likely as most people, tend to view Tennessee as being dominated by Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and other hemp-friendly areas of east Tennessee. If the decision was up to the citizens of those areas, Tennessee would likely have a well-established marijuana program. But, as it turns out, Tennessee is a big state with widely varying views on all ranges of social issues, including marijuana. For that reason, marijuana proposals have had little success in the largely conservative state Legislature. We still think Tennessee could be a monster player with the right program in place, but we’d be lying if we predicted that was imminent. On the hemp side, Tennessee was an early adopter, and its hemp industry blossomed for years under a hands-off regulatory regime. In May 2023, Tennessee enacted T.C.A. § 43-27-201 , which is an industry-friendly statutory framework for products containing hemp-derived cannabinoids like delta-8 and delta-10 THC. The statute delegated rulemaking authority to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) to flesh out its requirements. That is where the trouble began. In December 2023, TDA published emergency rules that largely aligned with T.C.A. § 43-27-201 with respect to its licensing and labeling requirements, leaving those operators that focus on edible hemp-derived cannabinoid products pleased. But the rules contained a bombshell: specifically, the requirement that hemp contain 0.3% or less total THC , which includes both delta-9 THC and THCA. The TDA maintained this total THC standard in the permanent rules it promulgated in September 2024. The TDA’s total THC requirement is at odds with Tennessee’s hemp statute , which defines hemp as cannabis containing 0.3% or less delta-9 THC (with no mention of THCA). In reliance on this statutory scheme, many Tennessee hemp companies that focus on psychoactive products have made high-THCA smokable products a large part of their offerings. The TDA’s new rules, which go into effect on December 26, 2024, pose a grave danger to those operators. Industry groups, including the Tennessee Growers Coalition , are preparing for war to prevent these new rules from going into effect. Stay tuned to Budding Trends for updates on the lawsuits against the TDA that are coming down the pike. Kentucky Begins Medical Marijuana Program and Remains Hemp Stalwart The OG of hemp, with the help of its powerful Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky has an outsized responsibility for passage of the two most recent farm bills that have led to the explosion of the hemp industry. Kentucky’s hemp program remains strong, and many of its Congressional delegation represent a bulwark against efforts to severely limit the availability of hemp products. Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is just now off to the races. Licenses are currently being awarded and industry observers are carefully watching the Bluegrass State’s progress as the program gets off the ground. Nothing to Show Yet, But South Carolina Begins to Show Signs of Life in Cannabis Reform Efforts Ah, South Carolina. Its siren song has tempted cannabis advocates for years with its diversity – political, geographical, geological, and otherwise. But to date, nada. We’ve written about the fits and starts with the South Carolina Compassionate Care Act in the past few years. The Legislature has not enacted the law as of yet, but we are keeping our eyes on it during the next legislative session. On the hemp side, coming from a state that has famously been near the back of the line on cannabis liberalization, we’ll admit that we were surprised to read a recent letter from the solicitor general of South Carolina stating that, as a general rule, hemp beverages containing less than .3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis are legal. We suspect that will be a topic of discussion at the next legislative session. North Carolina Not Quite there on Marijuana , Stalled on Hemp North Carolina is going to be a monster marijuana jurisdiction, but like Tennessee, the geopolitical makeup of the state has restrained cannabis liberalization to date. Maybe we should have known better than to predict that the Tar Heel State was going to take action on marijuana legislation in an election year in which the speaker of the N.C. House, Tim Moore (R), is running for an open U.S. Congress seat. Passing a marijuana legalization bill was not going to be a political priority and could have given political adversaries an opportunity to paint supporters as soft on crime, even if a majority of the state’s electorate does support some kind of legalization. For its part, the state Senate passed yet another medical marijuana and hemp regulation bill, House Bill 563, though one of the most restrictive in the country, only to see it stall in the hose. As in years past, Moore has not allowed the House to take a vote on a bill and has cited his “majority of the majority” policy and lack of Republican support in the House as a basis for refusing to bring the Senate bill to the House floor for a vote. It’s likely not going to move anytime soon, but what’s in HB 563? Half the bill is dedicated to the regulation of hemp, while the second half – the North Carolina Compassionate Care Act – opens the door to legalizing medicinal marijuana. On the medicinal marijuana side, the bill creates a state commission to oversee the distribution of medical marijuana and regulate which medical conditions are eligible for treatment. It also outlines the process for patients to obtain medical cannabis cards, creating restrictions on where cannabis can be smoked, and requires physicians to write prescriptions for patients to use medical cannabis. Some Senate Republicans expressed concern that legalization of medicinal marijuana was a fast and slippery slope towards legalizing recreational marijuana. To alleviate that concern, an amendment was adopted that clarified that recreational use would remain illegal in North Carolina even if the federal government reclassified or legalized marijuana nationwide. On the hemp regulation side, HB 563 would require all hemp product manufacturers and distributors to be licensed. In addition, there are new safety and testing standards, marketing and label restrictions, and more strict product regulations on the amount of cannabinoids that can be included in ingestible or inhalable products. Politically, it makes sense for supporters of medical marijuana to tie its fate to hemp regulation. Hemp regulation has broad bipartisan support and would likely pass both chambers if presented as a standalone bill. By linking hemp regulation to the Compassionate Care Act, medical marijuana supporters are daring their House and Senate colleagues to vote against hemp regulation. For the time being, that leaves the hemp industry with the uncertainty, and opportunity, of North Carolina continuing to have very limited regulations for the industry. Why Is the Southeast Experiencing Such Explosive, Concentrated Cannabis Activity? Part of the reason for the accelerated pace of developments of cannabis reform in the Southeast is precisely because the Southeast started cannabis programs later than other parts of the country. As a result, Southeastern cannabis efforts are, on the whole, not as mature as markets in other states. There are examples from other states that legislatures and regulators can look to for how other states in recent years have addressed the issues just now facing Southeastern states. There is a great scene in the movie Major League where Willie Mays Hayes, played by the wonderful Wesley Snipes, is removed from the Cleveland (then) Indians’ baseball spring training while he sleeps in bed because there is no record of anyone by that name being invited to spring training (because he wasn’t invited). When Willie wakes up in the morning to the sound of potential Indians running sprints, Willie jumps out of bed in his pajamas and starts running, eventually finding himself running between two uniformed players. Because of his remarkable speed (“I hit like Mays, and I run like Hayes”), Willie explodes past the other two even though they had a head start. The manager Lou Brown, played sublimely by the delightful James Gammon, immediately says “[g]et him a uniform.” What the hell are we talking about? We think the Southeastern cannabis market is a little like Willie Mays Hayes. The market was late to the cannabis industry, but once it arrived it has the benefit of seeing the experiences of other states and, like Willie, has the benefit of hitting the ground running. Separately, the issue of cannabis reform is ripe for political battles in the Southeast. The region is certain not as socially progressive on most issues like cannabis. After all, in this part of the country there are still knock-down, drag-out fights about whether to allow the sale of beer before noon on Sundays. But the region is proving to be more progressive than many would have thought, in part perhaps because people around these parts have heard anecdotal reports about friends and family who have used cannabis products safely and perhaps in part because we have seen that cannabis liberalization in other parts of the country has not led to the type of Reefer Madness scenarios long feared. So, What’s Next? As with most trends, the rapid expansion of cannabis activity mirrors – and is in many ways a microcosm – of the policies, setbacks, and successes experienced across America. If we were certain what the future holds for cannabis in the Southeastern United States, we would be sitting on an island somewhere instead of writing blog posts. That said, we expect (1) clear, if not sometimes frustratingly paced expansion of medical cannabis across the region; (2) an expansion of qualifying medical conditions and form factors; (3) an eventual tipping point in the direction of adult-use programs; and (4) hemp continuing to see strong sales unless the federal or state governments enact laws to thwart that growth. At the conclusion of the wonderful Ken Burns’ epic documentary on country music, the great Marty Stuart says the following about the genre: Country music has something for everybody, and it’s inside the song, it’s inside the characters. It’s really colorful in here. I invite you in. Cannabis in the Southeastern United States has something for everybody, and maybe not enough for some people. And we certainly have colorful characters making some of the important decisions about the future of cannabis policy in our little corner of the world. We see this area as one of massive potential growth, particularly with the help of the right people. We invite you in. Listen to this PostHOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans didn’t need to see what Baltimore’s Derrick Henry is doing this season to be reminded of just how dangerous he can be. He ran all over the Texans for years while playing in the AFC South for the Tennessee Titans. Henry and the Ravens (10-5) visit AFC South champion Houston (9-6) on Wednesday, looking for a win to keep their AFC North title chances alive. Baltimore has clinched a playoff berth for a third straight season but needs wins in its last two games and one loss by the Steelers to capture the division. Henry, who ranks second in the NFL with 1,636 yards rushing, has had some of his greatest success against the Texans. Four of the 30-year-old’s six career 200-yard rushing games have been against Houston, including a career-high 250 in the season finale in the 2020 season to surpass 2,000 yards. “You talk about fast, explosive, physical — he’s looking probably the best he’s looked in his career,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s found that fountain of youth ... he’s a great player. It’s fun to see guys rebound and bounce back the way that he’s done this year.” Dealing with Henry along with all the challenges that quarterback Lamar Jackson presents makes the top-ranked Ravens one of Houston’s more difficult matchups. “You talk about MVP, (Jackson’s) definitely the MVP in my mind just for what he’s doing not only in the run game but also throwing the football,” Ryans said. “The accuracy, the decision-making, like, he’s playing unbelievable ball right now, so it’s going to be a really tough challenge for us this week.” Another challenge for the Texans is moving on after Tank Dell sustained a season-ending knee injury in Saturday’s loss to Kansas City. His injury is another blow to a receiving group that already was without star Stefon Diggs, who tore his ACL in Week 8. “The position we’re in, it’s not a lot of times where you can sulk in your feelings for very long,” quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “You’ve got to just keep rolling. I think that’s a testament to just life in general. Everybody has stuff on their plate. Everybody is going through something. And just because we’re in this position, doesn’t mean you get to feel sorry for yourself.” Houston will rely on Stroud to keep the passing game rolling despite the loss of Dell, who ranks second on the team with 667 yards receiving. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has been impressed with Stroud’s growth in Year 2 and knows that dealing with him will be difficult for his team, which ranks 31st in the NFL by allowing 254.9 yards passing a game. “He’s just a supertalented guy... he’s surrounded with some good weapons, and he gets the ball out quick,” Harbaugh said. “He handles pressure well, he can move, he’s athletic, scrambles and makes plays.” Jackson is a big fan of Beyoncé, though he didn’t know the title of his favorite song of hers, saying it was “To the left,” which is just the first lines of her hit “Irreplaceable.” And he doesn’t think playing in Wednesday’s game should stop him from seeing her halftime show on Christmas . “I’m going to go out there and watch,” he said. “First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game — that’s dope. I’m going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas." He later clarified that he was kidding about sneaking out at halftime to get a glimpse of Queen Bey. “I was just thinking about just seeing Beyoncé for the first time,” he said. “Not saying it like that; no disrespect, because I know how people can take things. Next question.” Houston receiver John Metchie could have a chance for a big game with Dell out. Metchie is playing in his second NFL season after missing his entire rookie year while undergoing cancer treatment. He has just 182 yards receiving this season, with his best game coming against Detroit, when he had a career-high 72 yards receiving and his only NFL TD. Stroud is looking for Metchie and fellow reserve Xavier Hutchinson to help make up for Dell’s absence against the Ravens. “Those guys have another opportunity to show who they are and I know that they can do it,” Stroud said. “I see them in practice do it every week. So, I’m excited for them and it’s a good opportunity for them to step up.” Jackson is up to 6,023 yards rushing for his career. The NFL record for a quarterback is 6,109 by Michael Vick, so Jackson could break it with a big game on Wednesday. Jackson also leads the NFL in passer rating and is in the conversation for his third MVP. Although it sounds like that’s a discussion he’d rather not get involved in. “No other choice but to hear it,” Jackson said. “They (are) tagging me in it. You don’t (have) to tag me. You can talk about it all you want, but you want to tag me to get like clickbait because you know sometimes I (will) say something back like, ‘That was stupid.’ It is what it is. I don’t care, though. I really don’t care about the talk.” AP Sports Writer Noah Trister in Owings Mills, Maryland, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Congressman Paul Tonko Joins National Institute for Industry and Career AdvancementTM and Industry Leaders for National Apprenticeship Week Roundtable to Strengthen New York's Semiconductor Talent Pipeline

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with President-elect Donald Trump's incoming “border czar” on Thursday, with the Democratic mayor expressing an enthusiasm to work with the incoming administration to pursue violent criminals in the city while Trump promises mass deportations. The mayor's meeting with Tom Homan, who will oversee the southern and northern borders and be responsible for deportation efforts in the Trump administration, came as Adams has welcomed parts of the president-elect's hardline immigration platform. Adams told reporters at a brief news conference that he and Homan agreed on pursuing people who commit violent crimes in the city but did not disclose additional details or future plans. “We’re not going to be a safe haven for those who commit repeated violent crimes against innocent migrants, immigrants and longstanding New Yorkers,” he said. “That was my conversation today with the border czar, to figure out how to go after those individuals who are repeatedly committing crimes in our city.” Homan said the two connected as career law enforcement officers and that he came away from the meeting with “a whole new outlook on the mayor.” “I’ve called him out this past year, many times, about being more of a politician than a police officer. I was wrong,” Homan said during an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw on his Merit TV network. “He came through today as a police officer and a mayor that cares about the safety and security of his city.” The meeting marked Adams' latest and most definitive step toward collaborating with the Trump administration, a development that has startled critics in one of the country's most liberal cities. In the weeks since Trump’s election win, Adams has mused about potentially scaling back the city’s so-called sanctuary policies and coordinating with the incoming administration on immigration. He has also said migrants accused of crimes shouldn’t have due process rights under the Constitution, though he eventually walked back those comments. The mayor further stunned Democrats when he sidestepped questions last week on whether he would consider changing parties to become a Republican, telling journalists that he was part of the “American party.” Adams later clarified that he would remain a Democrat. For Adams, a centrist Democrat known for quarreling with the city's progressive left, the recent comments on immigration follow frustration with the Biden administration over its immigration policies and a surge of international migrants in the city. He has maintained his positions have not changed and argues he's trying to protect New Yorkers, pointing to the law-and-order platform he has staked out throughout his political career and while running for mayor. At his news conference Thursday, Adams reiterated his commitment to New York’s generous social safety net. “We’re going to tell those who are here, who are law-abiding, to continue to utilize the services that are open to the city, the services that they have a right to utilize, educating their children, health care, public protection,” he said. “But we will not be the safe haven for those who commit violent acts.” While the education of all children present in the U.S. is already guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling, New York also offers social services like healthcare and emergency shelter to low-income residents, including those in the country illegally. City and state grants also provide significant access to lawyers, which is not guaranteed in the immigration court as they are in the criminal court. Still, Adams’ recent rhetoric has been seen by some critics as an attempt to cozy up to Trump, who could potentially offer a presidential pardon in his federal corruption case. Adams has been charged with accepting luxury travel perks and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty. Homan, who was Trump’s former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director, also met this week with Republicans in Illinois, where he called on Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, both Democrats, to start negotiations over how Trump's mass deportation plans, according to local media. While meeting with Adams, Homan said, “We traded ideas, we traded, strategies. He told me what he liked and didn’t like about immigration policies. ... There’s things we don’t agree on, but we agree on the most important things.” Separately, New York City officials this week announced continued efforts to shrink a huge emergency shelter system for migrants because of a steady decline in new arrivals. Among planned shelter closures is a massive tent complex built on a federally owned former airport in Brooklyn, which advocates warned could be a prime target for Trump's mass deportation plan. Elsewhere, Republican governors and lawmakers in some states are rolling out proposals that could help Trump carry out his promised deportations. Izaguirre reported from Albany, New York.

President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday vowed to name a new prime minister in the coming days to prevent France from sliding deeper into political turmoil, rejecting growing pressure from the opposition to resign. Macron adopted a defiant tone in an address to the nation, seeking to limit an escalating political crisis after Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote. Contemporary France's shortest-serving premier, Barnier resigned after Wednesday's parliamentary defeat in a standoff over the budget forced his government to step down, the first such toppling of a French administration in over 60 years. Macron now faces the task for the third time this year of selecting a new prime minister and did not come up with a name in his address. "I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days," he said, adding this person would be charged with forming a "government of general interest" with a priority of passing a budget. He also lashed out at the French far right and hard left for uniting in an "anti-republican front" to bring down the government. He said lawmakers had "knowingly" chosen "to topple the budget and the government just days before the Christmas holidays." The French presidency said earlier that Barnier and his ministers would remain "in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government". Limiting any impression of political chaos is all the more important for Macron given that on Saturday he will host world leaders -- including US President-elect Donald Trump -- for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris after a devastating 2019 fire. Pointing to how the edifice was rebuilt within the five-year timeline he had set, Macron said: "It's the proof we're able to do great things, that we can do the impossible." In an unusual move, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, France's top diplomat for just two-and-a-half months, urged unity in a message on social media, saying "instability is vulnerability" at a time of international uncertainty. A majority of lawmakers on Wednesday supported the no-confidence vote proposed by the hard left and backed by the far right headed by Marine Le Pen. Barnier's ejection in record time came after snap parliamentary elections in June resulted in a hung parliament. No political force was able to form an overall majority and the far right held the key to the government's survival. The trigger for Barnier's ouster was his 2025 budget plan, including austerity measures unacceptable to a majority in parliament, but which he argued were necessary to stabilise France's finances. On Monday he forced through a social security financing bill without a vote, but the ousting of the government means France is still without a budget. New legislative elections cannot be called until a year after the previous ones in summer 2024. But while Macron has more than two years of his presidential term left, some opponents are calling on him to resign to break the deadlock. According to a poll by Odoxa-Backbone Consulting for Le Figaro daily, 59 percent of French want the president to step down, while a survey by Harris for RTL put the figure even higher, at 64 percent. Bur Macron said: "The mandate that you gave to me democratically (in 2022 elections) is a five-year mandate and I will exercise it fully, right up to the end." "The 30 months we have ahead of us must be 30 months of useful action for the country." But he admitted his decision to call snap parliamentary elections this summer that resulted in a hung parliament "was not understood". "Many have blamed me for it and I know, many continue to blame me. It's a fact and it's my responsibility," he said. Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon said that Macron was the "cause of the problem" in France "and would go due to the force of events" before his term ends. Barnier is Macron's fifth prime minister since coming to power in 2017. Each successive premier has served for a shorter period and, given the composition of the National Assembly, there is no guarantee that Barnier's successor would last any longer. Loyalist Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Macron's centrist ally Francois Bayrou have been touted as possible contenders, as has former Socialist premier and interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve. Bayrou, who leads the MoDem party, had lunch with the president at the Elysee, a source close to him told AFP. sjw/ah/gvHere is a quick look at this weekend’s boys basketball schedule and the newest USA Today Network Indiana boys basketball polls. Batesville host Lawrenceburg Friday in the Bulldogs second straight home game and second straight EIAC game to open the season. The Bulldogs host Southwestern Saturday. Rushville travels to EIAC foe Franklin County Friday. Greensburg’s lone game is Friday at Triton Central. North Decatur has a pair of home games this weekend. The Chargers host MHC foe Edinburgh Friday and Oldenburg Academy Saturday. South Decatur also plays twice, at home Friday against Milan and on the road Saturday at Jac-Cen-Del. W-L Pts. Prev. 1. Fishers (14) 4-0 140 1 2. Greenfield-Central 1-0 116 3 3. Carmel 3-0 91 6 4. Jeffersonville 2-1 84 2 5. Lawrence North 1-1 67 5 6. Warsaw 3-0 54 8 7. Pike 3-0 39 NR 8. Noblesville 2-1 38 4 9. Northridge 4-0 31 NR 10. Crown Point 1-0 30 10 Others receiving votes: Ben Davis 15, Anderson 14, Kokomo 10, FW Wayne 9, SB Riley 9, Westfield 6, Ev. Reitz 4, New Albany 2, SB Adams 1, Homestead 1. W-L Pts. Prev. 1. Ind. Attucks (13) 5-0 139 1 2. SB St. Joseph (1) 2-0 119 3 3. Guerin Catholic 4-0 102 4 4. Cathedral 2-2 91 2 5. New Palestine 2-0 72 5 6. Southridge 2-0 46 6 7. Brebeuf 2-0 38 7 8. Danville 4-0 33 8 9. FW Blackhawk 3-1 27 8 10. Princeton 4-0 20 10 Others receiving votes: SB Washington 18, NorthWood 12, Silver Creek 11, Brownstown Central 10, Heritage Hills 9, East Chicago Central 8, Maconaquah 6, Ev. Memorial 4. W-L Pts. Prev. 1. Wapahani (11) 3-0 136 1 2. Parke Heritage (2) 4-0 108 3 3. FW Luers (1) 1-0 106 2 4. Gary 21st Century 3-0 85 5 5. Tipton 2-0 69 7 6. Forest Park 3-0 65 8 7. Lapel 2-1 44 6 8. Providence 0-0 30 10 9. Jimtown 3-0 28 NR 10. Park Tudor 0-2 26 4 Others receiving votes: Manchester 19, Linton-Stockton 12, Westview 9, Taylor 8, Shenandoah 7, Southmont 5, Sullivan 2, Benton Central 2, Triton Central 2, Southwestern (Jefferson) 1. W-L Pts. Prev. 1. Orleans (11) 3-0 135 3 2. Marquette Catholic (1) 3-0 109 4 3. Christian Academy (1) 3-0 87 4 4. Liberty Christian 2-2 75 1 5. Ind. Lutheran 0-0 62 8 6. Barr-Reeve 1-2 61 2 7. Rossville 4-0 41 NR 8. FW Canterbury 2-1 36 7 9. North Daviess 3-1 30 10 10. Northeast Dubois 3-0 29 NR Others receiving votes: Southwood 28, Bethesda Christian 23, Clay City 16, Tri 16, Ind. Tindley 16, Bloomfield 4, Greenwood Christian 3, Washington Township 3, Carroll (Flora) 2, Triton 2, Lafayette Central Catholic 1, North Central (Farmersburg) 1.With the first third of the season now complete, NHL teams have had time to evaluate their playoff chances and their rosters. Statistically speaking, the Montreal Canadiens are still “in the mix” and a strong run could enhance their chances of securing a playoff spot. Realistically speaking, they are still a long shot. The Habs management team of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes does not want to appear as if they are giving up on the season and trading veterans could certainly give that impression. But holding on to veterans, falling short of the playoffs and losing three or four players to free agency is also a risk. The Canadiens are walking a bit of a tightrope here. The Value of Leadership The argument can be made that keeping these veterans on the roster for their leadership qualities is worth something, but how much? The Canadiens may only be able to hold on to these players until season end and could lose them for nothing. That means that the leadership provided by this group could conceivably end with the last game of the regular season. Among the “young veterans” the defence has already gained a lot of experience and continues to do so. Forwards like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and now Patrik Laine have also begun to establish themselves as leaders. In addition, players acquired in trades, some could possibly bring NHL experience with them; acquisitions don’t always have to be prospects and draft picks. Upon further review keeping the group of veterans who are pending free agents may not be critical and could actually be detrimental in the long run if the Canadiens lose them, getting nothing in return. Template for a Trade Using that framework, we can see the kind of trade the Canadiens might be open to making. It is intended only as an example of how Kent Hughes might proceed. The first step would be to analyze what the Canadiens need. Christian Dvorak may be heading for the exits, so a left-shot center comes to mind, preferably one who has the potential to play in the top six. A physical right shot defenceman is another need, at least in the short term. Given that David Reinbacher likely won’t be ready for next season, a player with a year or two left on his contract would be ideal. Other than that, quality prospects and draft picks are always welcome. The second step is to consider who the team might be open to trading, and the Canadiens have a host of veterans that could be available. That group includes David Savard, Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia and others. The team also boasts a solid pipeline of prospects and a wealth of draft picks. Because NHL teams are limited to a roster of 23 players and an NHL contract limit of 50 players, it would not be a stretch to say that some of these assets are also available. The Canadiens also have some cap room, particularly in the short term, that could be used as an incentive as could salary retention on one contract. The final step is to identify a dance partner. Teams that are legitimate playoff or Stanley Cup contenders are obvious candidates. Among that group, teams that could benefit from what the Canadiens have to offer rise to the top. Those teams would have to be able to provide a return that would interest Montreal, shortening the list even more. Enter the Vancouver Canucks. The discussion on Sportsnet 650 this morning revolved around the need for the Canucks to add a right shot defenceman and a right shot center capable of playing in the bottom six. The names of Savard and Evans immediately come to mind. Potential Trade Pieces It’s a situation worth examining, but the salary cap immediately becomes an issue. The Canucks only have about $2.5 million in current cap space while Savard’s contract is for $3.5 million and Evans’ is for $1.7 million. Montreal could help solve that problem by accepting Vincent Desharnais and his $2.0 million contract as part of the return. He is at best a bottom pairing defenceman and maybe more suited to the AHL but his contract is only for one more season and the Canadiens could probably live with it for that long. Montreal would be doing Vancouver a favour here as Desharnais simply hasn’t worked out for them. If Desharnais was part of the trade, it could still leave the Canucks relatively tight to the cap. Montreal could retain salary on Savard, but I suspect they would be loathe to do that, preferring to use salary retention in a trade that involved Dvorak or Armia. One option would be to include 29-year-old Danton Heinen in the deal, swapping his $2.25 million contract for that of 26-year-old Michael Pezzetta and his $812.5k contract. Apparently the Canucks have been deeply disappointed in Heinen’s play and while has been a more productive player than Pezzetta, it does remove about $1.4 million of cap liability for them; cap space that could be used at the deadline if the opportunity arose. The inclusion of Heinen would be a long shot. The key to this hypothetical trade, however, would be Aatu Raty, a 6-2 190 left hand center who was acquired from the Islanders in the Bo Horvat trade. At one point, Raty was considered to be among the top three picks available in the 2021 entry draft. His stock fell going into the draft as his skating was considered a weakness and the Islanders eventually selected him in the second round at 52nd overall. In 134 AHL games spread over four seasons, Raty has amassed 30 goals and 56 assists along with 44 minutes in penalties. While those aren’t earth shattering numbers they aren’t bad for a young player who has bounced between organizations and leagues over the last four seasons. Given that he was a key piece in the Horvat trade, Raty is an even longer shot that Heinen to be included in a trade. It’s hard to see the Canucks giving up on him. Trade Probabilities Multi-player trades typically take place in the off-season, making the likelihood of anything close to this trade between these two teams this season close to zero. It might be too many assets to be included in one trade, it could be that one team would have to include additional assets or it might be the wrong assets altogether. It could also possibly be the kind of trade Kent Hughes is willing to make. But would Vancouver? This hypothetical trade was put forward only to create some discussion around what factors could be considered when the Canadiens are in trade negotiations. As the fortunes of NHL teams rise and fall in the coming weeks, look for more trade speculation. This article first appeared on The Sick Podcast and was syndicated with permission.