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UN Resolution 1701 is at the heart of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. What is it?TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans made claims about illegal voting by noncitizens a centerpiece of their 2024 campaign messaging and plan to push legislation in the new Congress requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship. Yet there's one place with a GOP supermajority where linking voting to citizenship appears to be a nonstarter: Kansas. That's because the state has been there, done that, and all but a few Republicans would prefer not to go there again. Kansas imposed a proof-of-citizenship requirement over a decade ago that grew into one of the biggest political fiascos in the state in recent memory. The law, passed by the state Legislature in 2011 and implemented two years later, ended up blocking the voter registrations of more than 31,000 U.S. citizens who were otherwise eligible to vote. That was 12% of everyone seeking to register in Kansas for the first time. Federal courts ultimately declared the law an unconstitutional burden on voting rights, and it hasn't been enforced since 2018. Kansas provides a cautionary tale about how pursuing an election concern that in fact is extremely rare risks disenfranchising a far greater number of people who are legally entitled to vote. The state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, championed the idea as a legislator and now says states and the federal government shouldn't touch it. “Kansas did that 10 years ago,” said Schwab, a Republican. “It didn’t work out so well.” Steven Fish, a 45-year-old warehouse worker in eastern Kansas, said he understands the motivation behind the law. In his thinking, the state was like a store owner who fears getting robbed and installs locks. But in 2014, after the birth of his now 11-year-old son inspired him to be “a little more responsible” and follow politics, he didn’t have an acceptable copy of his birth certificate to get registered to vote in Kansas. “The locks didn’t work,” said Fish, one of nine Kansas residents who sued the state over the law. “You caught a bunch of people who didn’t do anything wrong.” Kansas' experience appeared to receive little if any attention outside the state as Republicans elsewhere pursued proof-of-citizenship requirements this year. Arizona enacted a requirement this year, applying it to voting for state and local elections but not for Congress or president. The Republican-led U.S. House passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement in the summer and plans to bring back similar legislation after the GOP won control of the Senate in November. In Ohio, the Republican secretary of state revised the form that poll workers use for voter eligibility challenges to require those not born in the U.S. to show naturalization papers to cast a regular ballot. A federal judge declined to block the practice days before the election. Also, sizable majorities of voters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina and the presidential swing states of North Carolina and Wisconsin were inspired to amend their state constitutions' provisions on voting even though the changes were only symbolic. Provisions that previously declared that all U.S. citizens could vote now say that only U.S. citizens can vote — a meaningless distinction with no practical effect on who is eligible. To be clear, voters already must attest to being U.S. citizens when they register to vote and noncitizens can face fines, prison and deportation if they lie and are caught. “There is nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, the leading sponsor of the congressional proposal, said in an email statement to The Associated Press. After Kansas residents challenged their state's law, both a federal judge and federal appeals court concluded that it violated a law limiting states to collecting only the minimum information needed to determine whether someone is eligible to vote. That's an issue Congress could resolve. The courts ruled that with “scant” evidence of an actual problem, Kansas couldn't justify a law that kept hundreds of eligible citizens from registering for every noncitizen who was improperly registered. A federal judge concluded that the state’s evidence showed that only 39 noncitizens had registered to vote from 1999 through 2012 — an average of just three a year. In 2013, then-Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican who had built a national reputation advocating tough immigration laws, described the possibility of voting by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as a serious threat. He was elected attorney general in 2022 and still strongly backs the idea, arguing that federal court rulings in the Kansas case “almost certainly got it wrong.” Kobach also said a key issue in the legal challenge — people being unable to fix problems with their registrations within a 90-day window — has probably been solved. “The technological challenge of how quickly can you verify someone’s citizenship is getting easier,” Kobach said. “As time goes on, it will get even easier.” The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the Kansas case in 2020. But in August, it split 5-4 in allowing Arizona to continue enforcing its law for voting in state and local elections while a legal challenge goes forward. Seeing the possibility of a different Supreme Court decision in the future, U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt says states and Congress should pursue proof-of-citizenship requirements. Schmidt was the Kansas attorney general when his state's law was challenged. "If the same matter arose now and was litigated, the facts would be different," he said in an interview. But voting rights advocates dismiss the idea that a legal challenge would turn out differently. Mark Johnson, one of the attorneys who fought the Kansas law, said opponents now have a template for a successful court fight. “We know the people we can call," Johnson said. “We know that we’ve got the expert witnesses. We know how to try things like this.” He predicted "a flurry — a landslide — of litigation against this.” Initially, the Kansas requirement's impacts seemed to fall most heavily on politically unaffiliated and young voters. As of fall 2013, 57% of the voters blocked from registering were unaffiliated and 40% were under 30. But Fish was in his mid-30s, and six of the nine residents who sued over the Kansas law were 35 or older. Three even produced citizenship documents and still didn’t get registered, according to court documents. “There wasn’t a single one of us that was actually an illegal or had misinterpreted or misrepresented any information or had done anything wrong,” Fish said. He was supposed to produce his birth certificate when he sought to register in 2014 while renewing his Kansas driver's license at an office in a strip mall in Lawrence. A clerk wouldn't accept the copy Fish had of his birth certificate. He still doesn't know where to find the original, having been born on an Air Force base in Illinois that closed in the 1990s. Several of the people joining Fish in the lawsuit were veterans, all born in the U.S., and Fish said he was stunned that they could be prevented from registering. Liz Azore, a senior adviser to the nonpartisan Voting Rights Lab, said millions of Americans haven't traveled outside the U.S. and don't have passports that might act as proof of citizenship, or don't have ready access to their birth certificates. She and other voting rights advocates are skeptical that there are administrative fixes that will make a proof-of-citizenship law run more smoothly today than it did in Kansas a decade ago. “It’s going to cover a lot of people from all walks of life,” Avore said. “It’s going to be disenfranchising large swaths of the country.” Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

Claudio Ranieri insists Atalanta are ‘ready’ for the Scudetto, but his Roma held out well ‘as long as we had the strength’ . ‘We must not surrender to adversity’ The Giallorossi had shown signs of improvement since he took over from Ivan Juric, albeit with a 1-0 defeat away to Napoli and on Thursday. The fatigue from that game ultimately showed as time wore on this evening, with Marten de Roon’s deflected strike from the edge of the area and a late Nicolò Zaniolo glancing header from Juan Cuadrado’s corner sealing the 2-0 Atalanta result. “As long as we had the strength, we answered them blow for blow,” “It is not an excuse, don’t get me wrong, but we played in London on Thursday and returned at 5am. We recovered well, but they were able to make the appropriate changes, whereas I did not have a box-to-box midfielder, as Pisilli was suspended. “I actually congratulated the lads, because at the start of the second half we had a big chance to take the lead, it’s a pity that Dovbyk couldn’t quite get his boot to it, as Dybala had broken their defence. There was another incident with Mancini who was so close in front of goal. “These are moments where if you keep pushing, you will be able to turn those incidents your way. These are the classic games where a team like Atalanta – who we are all very proud of when we see them play in Europe – have everything required to challenge for the Scudetto. I don’t want to put extra pressure on Gasperini, but this team is ready and one of some truly tough sides up there at the top of the table.” Roma will host Lecce next in Serie A, a side still unbeaten under new coach Marco Giampaolo who snatched a last-gasp draw with Juventus last night. “I thanked the team for the way they fought to the final minute, now in December we will play every four days,” added Ranieri. “There are no easy games, I already told them that the next match will be even tougher than this one.” The Giallorossi started to show real fight against Tottenham midweek and Ranieri maintains they are on the right track to rediscovering their spirit. “If the team continues to follow me the way it has been, we will get hold of this situation. We must keep fighting, we must not surrender to adversity. I never accepted a player giving up. We must react and fight for every ball, until we are exhausted, and every substitution I made tonight was caused by exhaustion,” concluded Ranieri. “I congratulate Atalanta on their victory, but also wish to congratulate my team for the performance.”Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed covid herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health

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Concerns about the unprofessional conduct of police officers over the years have led to worrisome levels of distrust between the people and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). Established in 1943, the NPF has the constitutional and statutory mandate of maintaining and securing public safety, law, and order in Nigeria. However, corruption, poor funding, and inadequate training impede the NPF’s capacity to discharge these roles efficiently and professionally. Over the years, declining investigative capacity and efficiency, and an uptick in policing abuses have eroded public trust in the police. Professionalism is the cornerstone for effective policing, and it serves as the foundation for winning public trust, ensuring efficiency in law enforcement, and complementing the protection of human rights. Public frustration over police abuses boiled over in October 2020 when Nigerian youths, under the #EndSARS movement, demanded the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a special unit of the Police that had become notorious for unlawful arrests and detention, torture, and extralegal killings. They also demanded wholesale reform of the Nigerian Police Force. The #EndSARS protest could be summed up in one brief statement: professionalize the police force. SARS was dissolved. In its place, the Anti-Violence Unit was created. But more importantly, a collaboration between the NPF and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme emerged. This collaboration focuses on instating policy and practice changes, such as the Standards of Practice (SOPs) that lay down human rights-compliant policing procedures, as well as on training police officers to uphold human rights. In addition to this, the NPF tried to strengthen their internal disciplinary processes by ensuring that citizens’ complaints received via the Police Complaints Response Unit were more interactive and receptive, and by conducting proper investigations of all complaints, which has led to the dismissal and demotion of several erring officers. A typical instance of instilling discipline in the force is the dismissal of three policemen from Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 1, Kano, over the misuse of firearms in 2023. To further deepen these reforms and help improve the performance of the NPF, the Nigeria Police Act of 2020 was enacted. The Act, which was passed and signed into law on 16th September 2020, seeks to provide and promote effectiveness, competence, transparency, and accountability in the police force. The Act adequately provides for the structure of the force, appointments, promotions, and discipline, all of which are pivotal to fostering a professional and accountable police service. While the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is working to rebuild trust through transparency, accountability, and community engagement, the general public, civil societies, and the media must actively play their watchdog roles for the NPF. They need to ensure objectivity in reporting police activities accurately and fairly, highlighting both successes and failures. The role of investigative journalism in exposing police misconduct cannot be overstated, as it often catalyzes reforms. The private sector and donor agencies should strengthen their collaboration with the NPF. It is also pertinent that the Federal Government takes a second look at the remuneration of officers and men of the Nigeria Police. A pay rise with fringe benefits, as well as prioritizing funding to the force, should be considered and given swift attention. Also, depoliticizing the police by enforcing political neutrality and conducting regular and sustainable training will equip officers with modern policing skills while underscoring the protection of human rights and ethical conduct, and strengthening accountability mechanisms. Professionalism in policing is not just an ideal but a necessity for ensuring the safety, security, and human rights of every Nigerian. It is important to sustain these reforms. They are necessary to create the professional police force that Nigerians desire. The private sector and donor agencies should strengthen their support and partnership with the NPF. It is also pertinent that the Federal Government takes a second look at the remuneration of officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police. A pay rise, improved fringe benefits, and adequate funding to the police should be prioritized and given swift attention. Urgent, sustained efforts to implement this reform will be key to transforming the Nigerian Police Force into a competent, trusted, and effective institution. Akpan is the Communication Assistant, International IDEA Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the institutional position of International IDEA, its Board of Advisers, or its Council of Member States.

Things to watch this week in the Big 12 Conference: No. 14 BYU (9-1, 6-1 Big 12, No. 14 CFP) at No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2, No. 21), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) League newcomer Arizona State has a three-game winning streak and BYU is coming off its first loss. The Cougars, after losing at home to Kansas, still control their own destiny in making the Big 12 championship game. They can clinch a spot in that Dec. 7 game as early as Saturday, if they win and instate rival Utah wins at home against No. 22 Iowa State. Arizona State was picked at the bottom of the 16-team league in the preseason media poll, but already has a five-win improvement in coach Kenny Dillingham's second season. No. 16 Colorado (8-2, 6-1, No. 16 CFP) at Kansas (4-6, 3-4), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox) Coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes are in prime position to make the Big 12 title game in their return to the league after 13 seasons in the Pac-12. If BYU and Utah win, Colorado would be able to claim the other title game spot with a win over Kansas. The Buffs have a four-game winning streak. The Jayhawks need another November win over a ranked Big 12 contender while trying to get bowl eligible for the third season in a row. Kansas has won consecutive games over Top 25 teams for the first time in school history, knocking off Iowa State before BYU. Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has thrown a touchdown in a school-record 14 consecutive games, while receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel both have more than 800 yards receiving. San Jose State is the only other FBS team with a pair of 800-yard receivers. Becht has 2,628 yards and 17 touchdowns passing for the Cyclones (8-2, 5-2), who are still in Big 12 contention. Oklahoma State goes into its home finale against Texas Tech with a seven-game losing streak, its longest since a nine-game skid from 1977-78. The only longer winless streak since was an 0-10-1 season in 1991. This is Mike Gundy's 20th season as head coach, and his longest losing streak before now was five in a row in 2005, his first season and the last time the Cowboys didn't make a bowl game. ... Baylor plays at Houston for the first time since 1995, the final Southwest Conference season. The Cougars won last year in the only meeting since to even the series 14-14-1. ... Eight Big 12 teams are bowl eligible. As many as six more teams could reach six wins. The Big 12 already has four 1,000-yard rushers, including three who did it last season. UCF's RJ Harvey is the league's top rusher (1,328 yards) and top scorer with 21 touchdowns (19 rushing/two receiving). The others with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons are Texas Tech career rushing leader Tahj Brooks (1,184 yards) and Kansas State's DJ Giddens (1,128 yards). Cam Skattebo with league newcomer Arizona State has 1,074 yards. Devin Neal, the career rushing leader at his hometown university, is 74 yards shy of being the first Kansas player with three 1,000-yard seasons. Cincinnati's Corey Kiner needs 97 yards to reach 1,000 again.The Journey to Becoming A Quality Engineering Leader: Q&A with Gopinath Kathiresan

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Aden Holloway established career highs of 26 points and eight 3-pointers to help No. 5 Alabama roll to a 105-82 nonconference victory over South Dakota State on Sunday at Tuscaloosa, Ala. Freshman Labaron Philon had the best game of his young career with 21 points and six assists for the Crimson Tide (11-2). Mark Sears had 20 points, including 6-for-14 3-point shooting. Grant Nelson added 17 points and eight rebounds and scored the game's first eight points. Alabama coach Nate Oats has sometimes been critical of his squad's defensive effort and the second half against the Jackrabbits will provide more fuel for that concern. Alabama did connect on a season-best 19 3-point shots but also attempted 55 long-range shots (34.5 percent). The Tide also saw South Dakota State put up 49 points in the second half to keep the score relatively competitive. Alabama claimed a fifth straight win with its third 100-plus point performance of the season. South Dakota State (9-6) was led by Washington State transfer Oscar Cluff, who had 21 points and 15 rebounds, including seven offensive boards. The Jackrabbits connected on 11-for-26 3-point shooting (42.3 percent), with guard Isaac Lindsey scoring 11 points, including 3-for-6 on 3-point tries. After Nelson's personal 8-0 run to open the game, South Dakota State pulled with 16-14 on a shot by William Whorton with 11:45 to play in the opening half. But Alabama then broke the game open, going on a 24-3 run culminating in a Holloway 3-pointer to give the Tide a 40-17 edge with 7:37 left in the opening half. South Dakota State trailed 57-33 at halftime, but played a much more competitive second half offensively by connecting on 17 of 33 shots (51.5 percent). Alabama will open 2025 with a home game against No. 12 Oklahoma on Saturday. South Dakota State will host Summit Conference opponent Denver on Thursday. --Field Level MediaAgilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A) Raises Dividend to $0.25 Per ShareLess than 24 hours after President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter Biden and criticized his prosecution as a "miscarriage of justice," prosecutors in special counsel David Weiss' office defended the integrity of their work in a pair of court filings and fiercely rebutted the president's allegation that their charges were motivated by politics. "In total, eleven different [federal] judges appointed by six different presidents, including his father, considered and rejected the defendant's claims, including his claims for selective and vindictive prosecution," wrote prosecutor Leo Wise in a ten-page filing in Hunter Biden's tax case on Monday. President Biden on Sunday issued a blanket pardoned to his son, who earlier this year was convicted on federal gun charges and pleaded guilty to separate tax-related charges, and was scheduled to be sentenced in both cases later this month. MORE: How President Biden came to the decision to pardon his son Hunter In Monday's filing, prosecutors urged the federal judge overseeing Hunter Biden's tax case in California not to dismiss his indictment, and instead close the docket -- which would allow the record to continue to exist. "The government does not challenge that the defendant has been the recipient of an act of mercy. But that does not mean the grand jury's decision to charge him, based on a finding of probable cause, should be wiped away as if it never occurred," Wise wrote. "It also does not mean that his charges should be wiped away because the defendant falsely claimed that the charges were the result of some improper motive." Mark Osler, an expert in presidential pardons at the University of St. Thomas, said Weiss' overture raises "a technical issue -- either way, the case goes away -- but an important one." "[Prosecutors] want the indictment to remain on the record," he told ABC News. Without directly addressing President Biden's criticism of the case as selective and unfair, the filing highlighted how Hunter Biden's lawyers made "every conceivable argument" to dismiss the case and failed to provide evidence that prosecution was vindictive. "The court similarly found his vindictive prosecution claims unmoored from any evidence or even a coherent theory as to vindictiveness," the filing said. "And there was none and never has been any evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case. The defendant made similar baseless accusations in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Those claims were also rejected." Prosecutors also opposed dismissing Hunter Biden's indictment on gun charges in Delaware, arguing in a similar filing that “because there was no defect in the grand jury’s indictment, there is no reason to dismiss it here.” “Defense counsel misrepresents the law. Nothing requires the dismissal of the indictment in this case,” that filing said.

Oakland is appealing an injunction issued last month by a federal judge in San Francisco that blocks it from invoking The City in its airport’s moniker. Last month, a federal magistrate issued an injunction barring Oakland International Airport from being known as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. The Port of Oakland filed its appeal Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California , with officials saying in an accompanying release that “Bay Area travelers deserve adequate choices among airports in the same metro region that are allowed to compete on a level playing field.” Port officials said they expect the brief to be heard early next year and that once presented, the appeal will show that San Francisco airport officials did not present substantial factual or legal evidence to grant the injunction. The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners voted unanimously in May to rename Oakland International Airport, one month after port officials went public with their renaming plan. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit over the San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport title, arguing that it infringes on San Francisco International Airport’s registered trademark. Chiu’s motion for a temporary injunction, which was filed in September and granted last month by U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Hixson , requires Oakland to stop using, displaying or registering any materials featuring the new moniker. Airport and city officials said Oakland leaders have not responded to their attempts at collaborating on alternative names that do not infringe on San Francisco’s trademark. “Throughout this entire situation, we have tried to reason with the Port of Oakland and avoid litigation,” Jen Kwart, a spokesperson for the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, told The Examiner on Friday morning. “Regrettably, for both San Francisco and Oakland, the Port of Oakland seems intent on spending even more public resources defending a name that confuses travelers and infringes on San Francisco’s trademark,” she said. Hixson’s ruling last month found two of San Francisco’s three claims regarding initial-interest confusion and point-of-sale confusion were without merit. The federal judge said it was unlikely online shoppers would book a ticket to the wrong airport as airlines and booking websites refer to both facilities by their International Air Transport Association abbreviations — OAK and SFO, respectively, in the case of Oakland and San Francisco’s airports. Hixson’s order was based on a concern that Oakland’s airport including San Francisco in its name could imply a partnership or an affiliation when one does not presently exist. Port officials said the new branding is meant to boost travelers’ geographical awareness of the airport promoting the ease and convenience it can offer to the region’s visitors. They said the move is part of a larger project that would construct a new terminal and add 16 new passenger gates. Oakland airport officials said they are also improving customers’ travel experience through new concessions and dining options. “This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to stifle competition and travel choices for the Bay Area,” Port of Oakland Attorney Mary Richardson said in a statement. “San Francisco is trying to relegate OAK and Oakland to second-class citizens.” Though the disputed name includes San Francisco, Oakland International Airport retains OAK as its three-letter airport code and the “I Fly OAK” logo. “The Port has no interest in passing off OAK as SFO,” Richardson said. “OAK is distinctly and proudly Oakland.” Port of Oakland officials said last month that while new signs with the name were ordered, they had yet to be installed. The injunction barred Oakland officials from putting the signs up but didn’t require their return. The airport’s webpage and social-media accounts do not currently display the San Francisco Bay name, although there did seem to be some confusion in the days following the Nov. 12 decision. For instance, a reporter observed an advertising announcement during a Cal football game Nov. 16 — UC Berkeley’s athletic department counts Oakland International Airport as a sponsor — still referred to the airport as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport. Kwart said that Hixson’s November order was “sound and measured,” adding that Chiu’s office will “continue to protect San Francisco’s trademark from infringement.” The Examiner’s Marcus White contributed reporting to this story.

WASHINGTON — It’s the final holiday stretch for President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, who has decked out the White House with some whimsical decorations to evoke the “peace and light” of the season. The festive display includes a towering Christmas tree surrounded by a carousel, brass-colored bells and sleigh bells lining a hallway and a ceiling design that mimics snowfall. The White House held a media preview for journalists on Monday before the first lady formally unveils the decorations later in the day. The theme is “A Season of Peace and Light.” “As we celebrate our final holiday season here in the White House, we are guided by the values we hold sacred: faith, family, service to our country, kindness towards our neighbors, and the power of community and connection,” the Bidens wrote in a commemorative holiday guidebook that will be given to all visitors. The White House expects about 100,000 people to visit this month. More than 300 volunteers spent past week decorating the White House’s public spaces and its 83 Christmas trees with nearly 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) of ribbon, more than 28,000 ornaments, over 2,200 paper doves and some 165,000 lights used on wreaths, garlands and other displays. The official White House tree, a towering Fraser fir from North Carolina that was anchored to the ceiling of the Blue Room after a chandelier was removed, sits at the center of a colorful amusement park-style carousel with reindeer, swans and other animals bobbing up and down on poles. The tree is decorated with twinkling multicolored lights and three-dimensional holiday sweets like peppermints and ribbon candies. It also sports the names of every U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia. Guests will enter the White House beneath a rotating starlight and quickly come upon the Gold Star tree, honoring the families of fallen service members. The tree is made of six gold-toned stars, one for each of the six branches of the military, stacked one on top of the other. The bells lining the East Colonnade hallway are meant to symbolize the sounds of the holidays. The ceiling and windows upstairs in the East Room are covered with reflective decorations designed to create the feeling of snow falling. Silhouettes of people holding hands decorate the bases of two large Christmas trees that flank the center door of the room. Light shines through colored glass ornaments and prisms in the Green Room while paper doves in the Red Room carry messages of peace. Doves are also suspended overhead along the Cross Hall, which runs between the East Room and the State Dining Room. In the State Dining Room, a starburst made out of sugar shines above the massive gingerbread White House, which includes snowcovered South Grounds dotted with dozens of twinkling mini Christmas trees and a scene of people ice skating in a rink on the South Lawn. The sugary confection — which is for display purposes only and never eaten — was built using 25 sheets of gingerbread dough, 10 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 65 pounds of pastillage, a sugar paste, 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing, and 10 pounds of gum paste. As part of Joining Forces, Jill Biden’s White House initiative to support military families, the first lady invited National Guard families to be the first members of the public to experience the holiday decor. The Bidens’ late son, Beau, served in the Delaware Army National Guard. He died of brain cancer in 2015. Biden is set to leave office on Jan. 20.

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Lakers send D'Angelo Russell to Nets in trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake MiltonEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weightDanica McKellar is no stranger to Christmas films and has watched as the genre’s popularity continues to rise in recent years. “More than an escape, it provides a reminder of what human nature can be,” she said. “We need that. We need that reminder. We need, yes, the feeling of comfort, but also ideas for how to move forward in a wholesome, earnest kind of way.” McKellar stars in the upcoming film “A Cinderella Christmas Ball,” which follows her character’s search for her birth father. Similarly, she explained that while the characters in the Christmas movies may not appear especially dramatic, they are always dealing with genuine struggles. “It’s painful, it’s scary, but what you see is a character in earnest really doing her best, pushing through and trying to make good choices along the way,” she said of her character. “So that’s what we can model for people in the midst of just giving them, yes, comfort food around the holiday season, which it’s important to feel those warm and fuzzy feelings around the holidays.” The actress has starred in Christmas movies since 2012, from “Love at the Christmas Table” to 2023’s “A Royal Date for Christmas.” However, McKellar says “A Cinderella Christmas Ball” holds much more meaning for her than the others. “It’s much harder than they show in the packages because it would bum people out to see how stressful it is,” McKellar told host Cheryl Burke of the “Sex, Lies, and Spray Tans” podcast. “It just wouldn’t be as fun anymore for people.” “Failure was not an option,” she added. “So I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself to try and fulfill it, and it broke me. I was in tears because I didn’t know how to handle that kind of pressure.” While the actress loves dancing, being in the competition show complicated her relationship with the sport. “I remember telling somebody it was like if you love chocolate and somebody puts you in a vat of chocolate and then holds your head under it,” she explained. “That’s what ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is like. And every now and then, you get a breath. It’s unrelenting.” Born on Jan. 3, 1975, in La Jolla, California, McKellar launched her acting career when she got the role of Gwendolyn “Winnie” Cooper on ABC’s hit coming-of-age series “The Wonder Years.” The show premiered in 1988 and ran for six seasons until ending in 1993. McKellar has also starred in a number of Hallmark films, including 2015’s “Crown for Christmas,” 2017’s “Campfire Kiss,” 2018’s “Love in Design,” and 2020’s “Christmas She Wrote.” The actress married Scott Sveslosky in 2014 and celebrated their 10-year anniversary this month. “Ten years has flown by, and I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet! Happy 10 year anniversary, my love!” she added. McKellar’s latest project, “A Cinderella Christmas Ball,” premieres Nov. 29.