NEW YORK , , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Halper Sadeh LLC, an investor rights law firm, is investigating the following companies for potential violations of the federal securities laws and/or breaches of fiduciary duties to shareholders relating to: Adams Resources & Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AE)'s sale to an affiliate of Tres Energy LLC for $38.00 per share in cash. If you are an Adams shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . EnLink Midstream, LLC (NYSE: ENLC)'s sale to ONEOK, Inc. for 0.1412 shares of ONEOK common stock for each common unit of EnLink. If you are an EnLink shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . SK Growth Opportunities Corporation (NASDAQ: SKGR)'s merger with Webull Corporation. The proposed transaction represents an implied pro forma enterprise value of approximately $7.3 billion for the combined company. If you are an SK Growth shareholder, click here to learn more about your rights and options . Evergreen Corporation (NASDAQ: EVGR)'s merger with Forekast Limited. The proposed transaction values Forekast at an enterprise value of $105 million . If you are an Evergreen shareholder, click here to learn more about your legal rights and options . Halper Sadeh LLC may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits on behalf of shareholders. We would handle the action on a contingent fee basis, whereby you would not be responsible for out-of-pocket payment of our legal fees or expenses. Shareholders are encouraged to contact the firm free of charge to discuss their legal rights and options. Please call Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or email sadeh@halpersadeh.com or zhalper@halpersadeh.com . Halper Sadeh LLC represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Halper Sadeh LLC Daniel Sadeh, Esq. Zachary Halper, Esq. (212) 763-0060 sadeh@halpersadeh.com zhalper@halpersadeh.com https://www.halpersadeh.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-investigation-halper-sadeh-llc-investigates-ae-enlc-skgr-evgr-on-behalf-of-shareholders-302326315.html SOURCE Halper Sadeh LLP
Published 5:07 pm Tuesday, December 3, 2024 By austinsubmitted James (Jim) “Red” C. Lastine, 83 James (Jim) “Red” Calvin Lastine, age 83, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on November 25, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin after a courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born on September 2, 1941, in Austin, MN, to Kenneth and Palma (Austinson) Lastine. He grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School in 1960, where he excelled in football, baseball, and developed a love for ice skating. After high school, Jim proudly served in the U.S. Army. On June 5, 1965, Jim married the love of his life, Diane Hogan. They were together for over 60 years and were blessed with five daughters. Jim worked for Hormel Foods in Austin for 36 years before retiring. Afterward, he enjoyed driving school buses for Palmer Bus Service in Austin, a job he cherished for many years. Jim’s life was filled with a variety of interests and hobbies. He loved collecting agates and coins, playing pool, bowling, horseshoes, beanbags, and fishing. A lifelong animal lover, Jim, rescued many cats and dogs over the years. He was an avid fan of Minnesota sports and could often be found watching games on TV. Jim also had a passion for technology, always eager to explore the latest gadgets and devices, his 1989 Jeep Grand Cherokee being one of his favorite possessions. Above all, Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was truly a family man, and his love for his family was evident in everything he did. Though he was a man of few words, his actions spoke volumes, and his selflessness, gentleness, and kindness touched the hearts of everyone who knew him. We will forever cherish Jim’s sharp wit, his ability to light up any room with his one-liners, and his infectious sense of humor. His jokes brought laughter and joy to everyone lucky enough to hear them, leaving a lasting impression on all of us. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will continue to bring warmth and laughter to all who knew him. We thank God for letting us have him as long as we did, and we find comfort knowing that his legacy of love, kindness, and generosity will live on in the hearts of his family and friends. Jim is survived by his wife, Diane; daughters, Denise (Jason) Westcott, Donnell (Theodore) Lastine-Chopp, Dawn (Michael) Peitzman, Danna Nelson, and Dyan (Brant) Strouf; grandchildren, Ashley (Ben), Courtney (Mitch), Taylor (Alexys), Madeline, Maxwell, Cory, Troy, Anissa, Kylie (Tyler), Nathaniel, Grace, BreeAnna, Bethany, and Bryce; 10 great-grandchildren, Aidan, Kennedy, Drake, Lily, Jaden, Jace, Ellison, Brynley, Grayson, and Judah; sister, Charlene Hastings; nephew, Dale; nieces, Jamie and Joan; and many extended family members and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Palma and Kenneth Lastine; his sister, Belva and her husband, Roger Haugen; brother-in-law, Jim Hastings; mother and father-in-law, Madonna and L. Oscar Hogan; nephew, Jim Haugen; and granddaughter, Morgan Peitzman. A celebration of life for James will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024, at Worlein-Hoff Funeral Home in Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mower County Humane Society in Jim’s memory. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes are assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.
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Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has fractured fibula, out 4-6 weeksMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media , leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill that would make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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Tweet Facebook Mail On November 8, Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi boarded a flight from Maui to New York City, with a short layover in Los Angeles. But after missing her connecting flight, Hannah vanished. There were a few brief sightings of the 31-year-old in LA and family members have received concerning, out-of-character texts from her phone, but weeks later Hannah remains missing. READ MORE: Lurking weather system could become Australia's first tropical cyclone of the season Hannah Kobayashi is missing in the USA. (Nine) Now the body of her father, Ryan Kobayashi, has been found in LA after he spent almost two weeks desperately searching for his daughter. Here's everything you need to know about Hannah's disappearance and the timeline of events since. November 8 Hannah flew from Maui to Los Angeles, landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 9.53pm local time. She was seen on surveillance footage exiting the aircraft in a black hoodie and colourful leggings but never made it onto her connecting flight to New York City. Her family said she missed it due to a tight 42-minute layover and was put on standby for a new flight. Her sister Sydni Kobayashi told CNN that Hannah had the same itinerary as an ex-boyfriend but they intended to part ways in New York City. READ MORE: Keeping cool is Cass' 'full time job' as heatwave puts the health of 122,000 Aussies at risk November 9 The following day, Hannah was seen at The Grove, a popular shopping mall in downtown LA. Her family said she spent time at a bookstore there. Hannah's aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told Fox News that her niece spent an hour and a half charging her phone at a Taschen bookstore and filled out a mailing list. "It's in her handwriting," she told the outlet on November 21. Sydni told CNN that Hannah also sent Venmo payments to two people that day. Hannah's family did not recognise the individuals' names. November 10 Hannah returned to the mall the following day and was visible in the background of footage from an event hosted at the Nike store there. She also posted a photo from the event on Instagram with a single emoji of a speech bubble showing an eye inside as the caption. The last photo Hannah Kobayashi shared to her Instagram account before her disappearance. (Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi) November 11 Three days after Hannah landed in LA, her family and friends began receiving concerning texts from her phone. In the messages, Hannah said she felt unsafe and claimed that someone was trying to steal her money and identity, according to her family. "I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds," one text to a friend read, followed by a second saying, "For someone I thought I loved." Another text sent to her aunt reportedly said: "I just finished a very intense spiritual awakening." READ MORE: Sydney man charged with running over, torturing kangaroos The texts used language that seemed out of character, according to Hannah's family, and were devoid of the emojis Hannah typically used. "It's weird to me because it doesn't sound like her, like there's just something off about it ... I don't know if it's her or if someone else was texting." Hannah Kobayashi's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11. (Courtesy Sydni Kobayashi via CNN Newsource) Hannah was reportedly seen at LAX that same day, where Pidgeon said she spoke with an American Airlines ticketing agent in the hopes of getting a direct flight to New York City. The family later shared that they also sighted surveillance footage that placed Hannah at the Pico Metro Station near the airport just after 10pm that night. She reportedly left the station with an unidentified person and the family claim she did "not appear to be in good condition". Hannah's phone last pinged at LAX on November 11 and has been turned off ever since. November 12 Four days after Hannah touched down in LA, her family filed a missing person report with the Los Angeles Police Department. A social media campaign was launched and police petitioned the public for any information about her whereabouts. A post shared online described the 31-year-old as having brown hair and hazel eyes, freckles on her face and a tattoo of a knife on her arm. She's 5'10" (177cm) and weighs 140lbs (63kg). November 24 Hannah's father was found dead on Sunday, November 24, after almost two weeks spent searching the city for his missing daughter. LAPD confirmed his body was discovered in a carpark at a business near LAX around 4am local time. The suspected cause of death was not made public. Ryan Kobayashi, centre, during an interview before his death. (CNN via CNN Newsource) "I wasn't too close with her ... growing up. We haven't had contact for a while," he had told CNN days before his death. "I'm just trying to make up. I'm trying to get her back. "That's my main focus." Pidgeon told CNN the family was devastated by Ryan's death and said: "We also want to make it clear that Ryan died of a broken heart." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .
Smart Digital Group Files for 1.5M Share IPO at $4-$6/shAustralia's House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media
TSS Inc.'s CEO Darryll Dewan sells $1.51 million in stockElon Musk claims Jeff Bezos told people to sell Tesla stock ahead of U.S. election - Yahoo Finance
South Korea lifts president's martial law decree after lawmakers reject military rule SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea has lifted the martial law he imposed on the country, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared likely to be impeached over his actions. He imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition. He vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president. The declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from consideration NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Drug Enforcement Administration says he's withdrawing his name from consideration. Sheriff Chad Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, made the announcement in a post on X Tuesday evening. He called the nomination “the honor of a lifetime” but said he had concluded he must “back away from the opportunity." He did not explain why. Trump's pick of Chronister for the job, which was subject to Senate confirmation, had drawn backlash from conservatives, including over immigration and law enforcement actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Biden's pardon of his son Hunter spurs broader discussion on who else should be granted clemency WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has ducked questions on his decision to break his word and pardon his son Hunter, ignoring calls for him to explain his reversal as he was making his first presidential trip to Angola. Dismissing shouted questions Tuesday with a laugh, Biden said to the Angolan delegation: “Welcome to America.” The pardon has spurred a broader discussion about what else Biden should be doing with the broad clemency powers of the presidency before he leaves office in January, including whether he should be pardoning President-elect Donald Trump. Biden has largely avoided any interaction with reporters since Trump’s victory a month ago. Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to get the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Hamas and Fatah are near an agreement on who will oversee postwar Gaza CAIRO (AP) — Palestinian officials say Fatah and Hamas are closing in on an agreement to appoint a committee of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war. It would effectively end Hamas’ rule and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel. The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007. Israel has meanwhile ruled out any postwar role in Gaza for either Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by Fatah. China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions BANGKOK (AP) — China has announced a ban on exports to the United States of gallium, germanium and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications. The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced the move after the Washington expanded its list of Chinese companies subject to export controls on computer chip-making equipment, software and high-bandwidth memory chips. Such chips are needed for advanced applications. Beijing earlier had required exporters to apply for licenses to send strategically important materials such as gallium, germanium and antimony to the U.S. The 140 companies newly included in the U.S. so-called “entity list” subject to export controls are nearly all based in China. Global warming fills New England's rich waters with death traps for endangered sea turtles QUINCY, Mass. (AP) — As global warming fills the plankton-rich waters of New England with death traps for sea turtles, the number of stranded reptiles has multiplied over the last 20 years. That is filling one specialized animal hospital with the endangered creatures. The animals enter areas such as Cape Cod Bay when it is warm. The director of rescue and rehabilitation at the New England Aquarium says that when temperatures inevitably drop, they can’t escape the hooked peninsula to head south. More than 200 cold-stunned young turtles were being treated at a turtle hospital in Quincy, Massachusetts, on Tuesday. Native American students miss school at higher rates. It only got worse during the pandemic SAN CARLOS, Ariz. (AP) — Years after COVID-19 disrupted American schools, nearly every state is still struggling with attendance. But attendance has been worse for Native American and Alaska Native students — a disparity that existed before the pandemic and has since grown, according to data collected by The Associated Press. Out of 34 states with data available for the 2022-2023 school year, half had absenteeism rates for Native students that were at least 9 percentage points higher than the state average. Many schools serving Native students have been working to build stronger connections with families. They must navigate distrust dating back to the U.S. government’s campaign to force Native kids into abusive boarding schools. The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024 O.J. Simpson’s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to turn away from. His death in April brought an end to a life that had become defined by scrutiny over the killings. But he was just one of many influential and noteworthy people who died in 2024. Alexei Navalny, who died in prison in February, was a fierce political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin. And the music industry lost a titan in producer Quincy Jones, who died in November. 2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals NEW YORK (AP) — Did you have a “Brat summer” this year? Were you “demure,” and were you “mindful”? Did you enter a celebrity look-alike contest? All these were pop culture trends that emerged in 2024. But most of all, it seemed the theme was escapism. Whether it was the yellow brick road in “Wicked” or the beckoning seas of Oceania in “Moana 2” or adorable fuzzy animals like Moo Deng or even unlikely Olympic heroes making us proud, audiences gravitated to fantasy and feel-good moments.Key details to know about the arrest of a suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
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Court challenge over vote to extend post-Brexit trading arrangements dismissedAs the world prepares for the change of administration in January, current government officials and industry experts convened at the New York Forum on Economic Sanctions to reflect on enforcement trends in 2024, and to speculate about the year ahead. While each regulator was careful to say they did not have a crystal ball view into what the future holds, there was universal agreement that sanctions and export controls will remain powerful enforcement tools, and the machinery that has increased inter-agency coordination is likely to remain in place. Below we highlight key observations from the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD), the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) and discuss how companies can best position themselves in this time of transition. Highlights include: Continued close coordination among agencies Increasing focus on technology Evolving application of sanctions approaches Role of cryptocurrency OFAC’s efforts to modernize Dan Clutch, Deputy Director of the Office of Export Enforcement at BIS, put succinctly what each regulator expressed in some fashion: in his 24 years of government service, he has never seen the type of coordination that currently exists among the various agencies and task forces, and he doesn’t see it going away as leadership transitions: “it’s for real, and it’s here to stay.” This close coordination began following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with the creation of several joint task forces and increased information sharing. Now, almost three years later, it is clear that the agencies have developed highly effective working relationships and have become adept at leveraging their specific expertise to bring enforcement actions of all kinds. For example, BIS Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod confirmed that in the past year his team reviewed more than 1,200 Suspicious Activity Reports from Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and actioned more than 150 of them. He also reported that there was a 50 percent increase in charged cases as a result of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force , which is a joint effort among DOJ, Commerce, the FBI and HSI, and predicted more joint resolutions, such as that brought by OFAC and BIS against Microsoft for violations of both sanctions and export controls. Another form of close coordination has been through sharing of information in voluntary self disclosures (VSDs). In the past few years, most regulators have implemented VSD programs under which companies may receive significant benefit for coming forward upon discovery of violations. The regulators confirmed that they regularly share VSDs with their colleagues at other agencies, such that companies should assume that information shared in a VSD to one agency means all have the information. Significantly, however, companies will only receive credit from the regulators to which they themselves make a VSD, meaning that companies should make VSDs to all potentially relevant agencies. Relatedly, BIS highlighted two new features of its VSD program: (1) BIS will now consider it an aggravating factor if a company was aware of misconduct but did not self-report; and (2) BIS will provide “credit in the bank” for companies that provide credible, actionable tips on misconduct by industry competitors. These changes have increased both significant VSDs as well as actionable industry tips. Ian Richardson, NSD’s Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement, spotlighted NSD’s first-ever declination under its VSD policy for sanctions and export controls violations. Richardson explained that although NSD’s policy provides for a presumption of a non-prosecution agreement, in this case the company’s self-disclosure was “textbook perfect” so DOJ felt it was appropriate to reward it with a full declination. He noted that the company came in exceptionally early, and proactively provided information that led to guilty pleas by two employees. This result demonstrates that the benefits of self-disclosure and full cooperation are real, even for national security-related violations. One area of significant partnership among agencies is an increased focus on key and emerging technologies. Multiple panelists asserted that we are at pivotal national security moment with foreign adversaries attempting to access these technologies that will shape our future as a country, and the balance of power in the world. DOJ highlighted the success of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force in addressing transshipment networks that convey micro-electronics overseas in violation of export controls, such as a November 2024 resolution with the founder and former chief executive officer of a California-based international logistics and freight forwarding company that pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate export laws by shipping goods to Chinese companies on BIS’ Entity list, and a September 2024 indictment against two defendants who allegedly utilized shell companies, fictitious personas, and falsified records to help Russia obtain American-made laser welding machines in support of Russia’s nuclear program. DOJ asserted that more such actions were on the way. We’ll see. This time last year, we discussed the rising importance of export controls, explaining that the targeted, agile, and less political nature of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) provide the government with a new layer of regulations well-suited to this technology-focused threat. The regulators observed that, more and more, inclusion on BIS’s End User Restriction list is akin to inclusion on OFAC’s SDN list. DOJ also discussed coordination with Commerce specifically in actions abroad, warning that although sometimes DOJ runs into problems with dual criminality — where a foreign jurisdiction does not recognize an action as criminal — DOJ has “creative lawyers and ways of getting the information we need” from other angles and partners. A new twist to protecting technology is that much of it is no longer physical, but rather information that can be transmitted, by an accomplice or through a spearfishing attack, over the internet. In these cases without a transhipping middleman, regulators have found an enforcement angle in the payment. This shift, in part, prompted BIS to develop guidance for the financial industries sector , issued on October 9, 2024, recommending that financial institutions undertake specific compliance practices to minimize their risk of violating General Prohibition 10 of the EAR. BIS emphasized that while these suggestions were not required, regulators would consider the failure to incorporate these or similar measures if a violation did later occur, because knowledge in this context goes beyond actual knowledge, and can be inferred from circumstances surrounding a transaction; in other words, a “known or should have known” standard. Michael Khoo, the Co-Director of DOJ’s Task Force KleptoCapture, discussed the evolution of sanctions tools to reflect changes in the enforcement environment. For example, he said that while the initial focus of many agencies was the primary “bad guys” such as oligarchs and arms dealers — and their movable assets, such as luxury yachts — agencies are pivoting to actions against the army of professional facilitators such as transhippers, lawyers, bankers and corporate services providers that allow the primary bad actors to hide assets and move goods. Similarly, following the initial wave of enforcement actions, regulators continue to consider whether parallel actions are necessary to fully accomplish their goal. For example, in early December, the Southern District of New York, in cooperation with DOJ and the FBI, filed a civil forfeiture complaint against more than $3.4 million in proceeds from the sale of a music studio in Burbank, California, alleging that the proceeds, which are beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, are the proceeds of sanctions violations. The action was taken despite an indictment charging Deripaska with sanctions violations had already been unsealed on September 29, 2022, and Deripaska remains at large. Khoo expressed surprise that his team did not encounter more crypto assets when pursuing oligarchs, finding that their wealth was largely comprised of luxury goods or fiat holdings. However, he said that crypto is becoming highly relevant on the procurement side of enforcement efforts. Foreign entities seeking to obtain US technology have begun to realize that paying for such goods with USD or through US banks is too risky, and have turned to USD-pegged stable coins to process these transactions, benefitting from the credibility of USD while avoiding the jurisdiction of US regulators. He said that his team is looking at this trend closely, and leveraging the expertise of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team as necessary. Michael Grady, Chief of the Banking Integrity Unit of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section at DOJ, discussed recent actions against crypto currency exchanges such as Binance for failure to comply with Anti Money Laundering (AML) regulations, and predicted such prosecutions will be a priority in the coming year. He added that AML is so crucial because it is not just a national security tool, but it also a screening measure for any other potential violation, such as sanctions, terrorism financing and export controls. Joshua Jungman, Policy Chief Compliance Division OFAC, spoke about the office’s recent modernization efforts, all geared at presenting a more unified message and more helpful information to industry. He highlighted the Office’s new compliance portal through which industry can seek guidance, saying that this new approach will allow his office to provide faster responses to simple questions, elevate the harder questions to the right stakeholders, and allow leadership to see the areas that need more guidance. OFAC is also in the process of refreshing its FAQs, and in the coming months will be putting out more information via a video series and its blog. Jungman indicated that OFAC has heard industry requests to decrease reporting requirements, but said that change won’t be happening any time soon, as it views the information as crucial to fulfilling its mission. New leadership in the incoming administration will undoubtedly make some changes, but companies should not expect a dramatic shift in the enforcement space as it relates to prioritizing the national security of the United States, particularly with respect to Iran, China and Central America. Companies should continue to enhance their due diligence and compliance programs to reflect shifts in the global risk environment including by examining shipping and payment networks and ensuring visibility into the ultimate end users of their products or services. Corporate enforcement tools that were developed and refined by the outgoing administration are likely to be retained and employed by the new team.
NYC Housing Stories: Ramona Ferreyra, Monxo López, Samuel SteinDoes Syria's power shift raise hopes for stability and democracy?Ruling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.
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UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The team looking for a missing Pennsylvania woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole has determined that an abandoned coal mine is too unstable for people to safely search underground, authorities said Wednesday while still expressing hope Elizabeth Pollard will be found alive. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Emergency crews and others have been trying to find Pollard, 64, for two days. Her relatives reported her missing early Tuesday and her vehicle with her unharmed 5-year-old granddaughter inside was found about two hours later, near what is thought to be a freshly opened sinkhole above the long closed, crumbling mine. Authorities said in a noon update that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and is not stable. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," said Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer. “What happened at that point, I don’t know, maybe the slurry of mud pushed her one direction. There were several different seams of that mine, shafts that all came together where this happened at.” Trooper Cliff Greenfield said crews were still actively searching for Pollard. “We are hopeful that she’s found alive,” Greenfield said. Searchers were using electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. Search dogs may also be used. Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. On Wednesday afternoon, machinery was removing material from the area around the hole while police and other government vehicles blocked a clear view of the scene. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers had been using water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk “for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said. Crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers have also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment, to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was being tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. “We cannot judge as to what’s going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void,” Graham said. “And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort.” Bacha said they were “hoping that there’s a void that she could still be in.” Pollard's family called police at about 1 a.m. Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out at about 5 p.m. Monday to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. Her son, Axel Hayes, said Pollard is a happy woman who likes going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. Hayes called Pollard “a great person overall, a great mother” who “never really did anybody wrong.” He said at one point Pollard had about 10 cats. “Every cat that she’s ever come in contact with, she has a close bond with them,” Hayes said. His mother worked for many years at Walmart but recently was not employed, he said. “I’m just hoping right now that she’s still with us and she’s able to come back to us,” he said. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they had not noticed the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. “It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it,” Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. “Let’s be honest, we need to get a little bit lucky, right?” Limani said Wednesday. “We need a little bit of luck on our side. We need a little bit of God’s good blessing on our side.” Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl “nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!