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Treasury auctions and economic indicators in focus Monday76ers center Joel Embiid sidelined due to swelling in his left knee and will miss two games PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second consecutive game Sunday. The Sixers issued a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made along with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out prior to Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as left knee injury maintenance. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays, right-hander Kyle Finnegan and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts. Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration. Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions. Finnegan and Hays are former All-Stars. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Russell puts Mercedes on pole at Las Vegas and Verstappen nips Norris in championship battle LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Russell put Mercedes on the pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in an upset over teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions with Russell fastest in Friday night’s third and final session. But come qualifying, Hamilton made two mistakes in the final group and wound up a distant 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc seemed to sweep the front row until Russell’s late lap pushed Sainz to second. Pierre Gasly slid into third, and Leclerc wound up fourth. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull qualified fifth for Saturday night's race. Verstappen needs only to score three points more than challenger Lando Norris to win his fourth straight world championship. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. Chase Elliott named NASCAR's most popular driver for 7th straight season CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh straight year. He was announced Friday at NASCAR's annual season-ending awards ceremony. It's the only major NASCAR award determined solely by the vote of race fans. Elliott beat out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association. Bill Elliott, Chase's father who is nicknamed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” was named NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 16 times before removing his name from the ballot. Either an Elliott or Earnhardt has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award for 34 consecutive years. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” US ski star Shiffrin leads World Cup slalom after 1st run and closes in on career win No. 99 GURGL, Austria (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin closed in on what would be the American ski star’s career win No. 99 by setting the pace in the opening run of a women’s World Cup slalom. Shiffrin wasn’t clean going into the steep of the Kirchenkar course but gained time on all competitors with a near-flawless finish section. Wendy Holdener was fastest at the first two splits and the Swiss racer trailed Shiffrin by 0.13 seconds at the finish. Shiffrin says she was feeling "a little bit funky on some spots.” A victory would give Shiffrin five chances to compete for win No. 100 during a North American sweep of the World Cup starting next week. Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision.
The 7-12-1 Chicago Blackhawks and the 8-10-2 Philadelphia Flyers squared off in a Saturday matinee in Philadelphia on Nov. 23. The Blackhawks were attempting to make it two wins in a row after coming off a gritty victory over the Florida Panthers last Thursday (Nov. 21). The Flyers were trying to redeem themselves after two losses to the Colorado Avalanche and the Carolina Hurricanes earlier in the week. It was also the first time 2023 first overall draft pick Connor Bedard and 2023 seventh overall draft pick Matvei Michkov squared off against each other at the NHL level. Michkov and the Flyers came out on top, with Michkov notching the overtime goal after a third period comeback, to win this one 3-2 in overtime. Let’s get to the highlights. Fast-Paced First Period Find Blackhawks Ahead The Flyers had the Blackhawks on their heels with a bit of a track meet to start the game. The home team was aggressive, stripping the puck and earning themselves numerous odd-man rushes and Grade-A chances. But Blackhawks’ netminder Petr Mrazek was up to the task with some incredible saves. The Hawks got the only power play of the frame, where it looked like Bedard had finally snapped his 11-game goal drought. But the puck hit the post, causing a 2-on-0 rush the other way. No worries, Mrazek was there to make the stop. Later in the period Lukas Reichel snapped a 10-game goal drought of his own, notching his second goal of the season. Pat Maroon provided the primary assist, which he also did last game on a goal from Craig Smith . The Blackhawks’ fourth line has been coming through for them lately. Reichel strikes first pic.twitter.com/9auVDk7x10 The Flyers ended the period with 10 shots to the Blackhawks’ seven shots. Flyers’ forward Scott Laughton was credited with four shots on goal, while the goal-scorer Reichel led the Blackhawks with three shots on goal. Blackhawks Carry the Momentum in the Second Frame The Flyers started the second on a power play, which actually resulted in shorthanded chances by Blackhawks’ Ilya Mikheyev and Alex Vlasic . A tripping penalty by defenseman Nolan Allan led to the second man advantage for the Flyers, but the Hawks’ penalty kill came through, giving them the momentum. The Flyers only managed one shot on goal through both power plays. Believe it or not, it was the Blackhawks’ fourth line that came through again in the second! This time it was Maroon who scored, assisted by Smith and Reichel. It was Maroon’s first goal as a Blackhawk. The Big Rig has his first goal of the season! @NHLBlackhawks | #Blackhawks | #NHLNShowcase pic.twitter.com/0KLpqSh7Y1 For the Flyers part, they sure couldn’t be blamed for a lack of trying; they led the Blackhawks 14-7 in shots on goal in the second frame, and 24-14 overall. They also had a 62% advantage in winning faceoffs. Third Period Comeback for the Flyers The Blackhawks entered the third period with a 2-0 lead, but the Flyers weren’t done yet. They kept up their pressure, and veteran Sean Couturier earned his fourth goal of the season with a tip-in goal at the 7:27 mark of the third, to cut the lead in half. Shortly thereafter, at the 10:05 minute mark, Noah Cates got the equalizer with a well-screened shot to tie the game at 2-2. It was Cates first goal of the season. The Blackhawks were playing a sloppy game in this period, and the Flyers took advantage. AND THIS GAME IS TIED! : @NHLNetwork pic.twitter.com/20dwPeT93p Mrazek did his best to keep the Blackhawks in this one, making a phenomenal save on a wraparound chance to keep the game tied. The Flyers kept up their pressure, but couldn’t score the winner, and the game went to overtime. Overtime Goes to the Flyers It didn’t take long for the Flyers to score the overtime winner and complete the comeback for two points. Vlasic was trying to break up a three-on-one rush and got called for holding, giving the Flyers a 4-on-3 OT power play. To add insult to injury, it was the rookie Michkov who tallied the game-winning goal. Travis Konecny provided the primary assist. It was his second helper of the day. IT'S MICHKOV MANIA IN PHILADELPHIA!!! @NHLFlyers | #LetsGoFlyers | #NHLNShowcase pic.twitter.com/SqfOlz5Cu1 Michkov ended the day with just one shot on goal, but it counted when it was needed. Bedard, on the other hand, went a second game in a row with zero shots on goal. He continues to struggle mightily to find his game. The Flyers earned their first win in three games, and the Blackhawks continued with their inconsistencies and lack of offense. More players should be providing goals than Reichel and Maroon from the fourth line. Final Thoughts on the Blackhawks vs. Flyers -Flyers’ rookie goaltender Aleksei Kolosov got the call for his fifth NHL start in this game, and it was his first NHL win. -Laughton ended the day leading the Flyers with eight! shots on goal. He was also credited with four hits. -Reichel had a two-point day with a goal and an assist, his second multi-point game of the season and only one that involved a goal. He also led the Blackhawks with shots on goal. -Blackhawks’ defenseman Connor Murphy earned the secondary assist on Reichel’s goal in the 1st period, giving him 100 points as a Hawk! 100 points as a Blackhawk for Murph pic.twitter.com/6J0kP86MSz – Louis Crevier entered the lineup for the first time this season, called up from the Rockford IceHogs due to Seth Jones being out with a foot injury. He had a decent outing, registering three hits and two blocked shots in 17:27 minutes of ice time, while lining up on the third D-pairing with T.J. Brodie . The Flyers are now 9-10-2, and will host the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, Nov. 25. The Blackhawks fall to 7-13-1. They will have three days to lick their wounds before they host the Dallas Stars on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 27. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
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Q. My husband recently retired from a high-level position. He has things to do but nothing seems to rekindle his spark. I think he is going through a mid-life crisis in later life. Is there such a thing? M.N. What you are describing might be called a late-life crisis . Such a crisis is described by Richard Leider and David Shapiro in their book, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old? The Path of Purposeful Aging” (2021, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.). Here are some signs the authors identify: experiencing dissatisfaction, a loss of identity, an expectations gap and the feeling that life has peaked. Some also may believe life is a downhill journey. It’s having a feeling of being irrelevant. And it’s not just a guy thing. Both men and women are likely to experience it equally. Several events can cause a crisis in later life. Among them is the death of a loved one, an illness, money problems or no longer being able to walk the usual number of miles or having difficulty with poses in a yoga class. It also could be just boredom, doing the same thing day after day. Then there is retirement , which also can be a cause. For many, the loss of the work role can leave a huge gap in the reason to get up in the morning. For many, work is more than just a paycheck . It can provide a sense of purpose, social connection, structure for the day and knowing someone or some entity expects something from us. In a sense, it’s knowing we are needed. But other causes can cause a crisis in addition to the loss of the work role. For example, being out of touch with current technology, feeling unemployable and invisible in social situations or the marketplace. How do individuals know if they are experiencing a late-life crisis? Here are several questions that can serve as a clue, suggested by Leider and Shapiro. One key to avoiding or managing a late-life crisis is to not go it alone. “Isolation is fatal,” write Lieder and Shapiro. This makes me want to share examples from a recent discussion, not necessarily of a crisis, but increased awareness of the question of “who am I now and who do I want to be?” This discussion took place at a meeting with a group of women who are not going it alone. The group was made up of retired career women who are part of Renewment , a small grassroots movement that supports and inspires career women from work to retirement and beyond. Most were not going through a crisis, yet raised questions that indicated there are issues that may not reach the crisis level, yet still are important. For example, a retired successful entrepreneur asked the question, “Am I doing as much as I am capable of? Do I want to have an impact on a small or large scale?” A recent widow said, “Being a widow is not where I wanted to be at this time in my life; it’s not my identity. I feel so fragmented exploring who I am.” Another added, “I continue to be so hard on myself; always feeling I should do more; I am busy but not happy.” These same women and others in the group shared tips on avoiding problems that could lead to a late-life crisis. A therapist has emerged as an artist in New York and another was deeply involved in the election. A retired professor is traveling to Cuba and a former teacher launched a foundation. They have engagements that reflect a passion and sense of purpose. That’s the topic for next week. A point to remember: No one gets through this life alone. As Leider and Shapiro warn against isolation, remember that finding friends, colleagues, counselors or family members to talk about what’s going on can help avoid a crisis. Stay well everyone and as always, be kind. Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com . Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunityNoneXi extends congratulations to 2024 Imperial Springs International Forum, calls for enhanced exchanges and understandingVANCOUVER - British Columbia business owner Joe Chaput will spend $5,500 a month on security guards during the holiday season and plans on upgrading his store’s video camera system for around $5,000 more. He’s not selling luxury brands or expensive jewels. Chaput sells cheese, and at Christmas, cheese is a hot commodity. He is the co-owner of specialty cheese store les amis du Fromage, with two locations in Vancouver. While cheeselifting is rare in their Kitsilano store, the outlet in East Vancouver is hit in waves, with nothing happening for a month, then three of four people trying to steal their inventory within a week. “Sometimes, you miss it. Sometimes, you catch it. The way shoplifters behave ... they tend to gravitate toward expensive things,” said Chaput. Expensive cheese is on shoplifters’ Christmas list, he said. “They tend to do the classic examples of staying away from customer service and trying to go to a different part of the store so they can be left alone to steal.” Chaput isn’t alone. Police say food-related crimes on are the rise in Canada and as prices climb for items such as cheese and butter, they become lucrative on the black market for organized crime groups, not to mention theft for local resale. Sylvain Charlebois, the director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-food Analytics Lab, said a black market tends to emerge as soon as food prices surge. “Organized crime will steal anything (if) they know they can sell it and so, they probably would have known who their clients are before even stealing anything at all, and that’s how a black market is organized,” said Charlebois. He said he believes there are two categories of people shoplifting — those who do so out of desperation because they can’t afford the food, or organized criminals, profiting from sales on the black market. Mounties in North Vancouver made cheesy headlines when they ran into a man with a cart of stolen cheese in the middle of the night in September. The cheese, valued at $12,800, was from a nearby Whole Foods Store. While the cheese was recovered, it had to be disposed of because it hadn’t been refrigerated. Const. Mansoor Sahak, with the North Vancouver RCMP, said officers believe cheese is targeted because it’s “profitable to resell.” “If they are drug addicts, they will commit further crimes with that or feed their drug habits. It’s a vicious cycle,” said Sahak. Sahak said meat is also a top target for grocery thieves, with store losses sometimes in the thousands. “So, we’re not surprised that this happened,” said Sahak. Police in Ontario have been chasing down slippery shoplifters going after butter. Scott Tracey, a spokesman with Guelph Police Service, said there have been eight or nine butter thefts over the last year, including one theft last December worth $1,000. In October, two men walked into a local grocer and filled their carts with cases of butter valued at $936, and four days later a Guelph grocer lost four cases valued at $958. Tracey said he has looked at online marketplaces and found listings by people selling 20 or 30 pounds of butter at a time. “Clearly, somebody didn’t accidentally buy 30 extra pounds of butter. So, they must have come from somewhere,” said Tracey, “I think at this point it appears to be the black market is where it’s headed.” He said the thefts seem to be organized, with two or three people working together in each case. Police in Brantford, Ont., are also investigating the theft of about $1,200 worth of butter from a store on Nov. 4. Charlebois said retailers could invest in prevention technologies like electronic tags, but putting them on butter or cheese is rare. He said up until recently grocery store theft has been a “taboo subject for many years.” Stores didn’t wanted to talk about thefts because they didn’t want to alarm people but now they feel they need to build awareness about what is “becoming a huge problem,” said Charlebois. Chaput, the cheese store owner, said he had been running the East Vancouver store for 15 years while managing the store in Kitsilano for 30 years, and he loves his customers. “It’s really one of the best parts of our businesses, seeing familiar faces and making new customers. It’s why we come to work, really. Partly it’s the cheese, and partly it’s the people,” said Chaput. He said his strategy to combat would-be thieves is to give them extra customer service to make it harder for them to steal. He admits, however, that the shoplifting causes him stress. “It’s challenging. You’re busy trying to run your business day to day and take care of customers and take care of employees. Having to deal with criminals, just kind of scratches away. It can be a bit exhausting,” said Chaput. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2024.
Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had to navigate injuries and absences of various lengths since the preseason. Though injuries are a natural trial of an 18-week NFL season, the Bucs have taken some significant blows to their roster in that area. Namely, the biggest loss came in Week 7 when the Bucs lost Chris Godwin for the season after he dislocated his ankle in the final minutes against the Baltimore Ravens. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Under different circumstances, Tampa Bay feared a similar fate for safety Jordan Whitehead following the team's 30-7 bludgeoning of the New York Giants. Whitehead left the game with a pectoral injury after a goal-to-go stop and did not return. Initially, the thought was the injury could end his season, but it seems he and the Bucs caught a break this time around. Tuesday, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that Whitehead's MRI results came back with more positive results than anticipated. The Bucs safety will miss time with a torn pectoral, but he will not need surgery and is not guaranteed to miss the remainder of the season. Related: Why's Baker Mayfield Suing His Own Father For $12 Million? Whitehead's return will be impacted in part by the Bucs' playoff positioning come season's end. If Tampa Bay maneuvers into the NFC Postseason, his return becomes more likely. However, Whitehead's absence will take away one of Todd Bowles' best contributors this season. The safety's 47 solo tackles are the most on the team while his 76 combined tackles are second only to Lavonte David. The Bucs signed Mike Edwards last week who figures as Whitehead's immediate replacement in the secondary. While the news on Whitehead comes back better than originally though, this will make for a considerable loss as Tampa Bay makes its final push over the final third of their season. Related: Rumors Bucs Former Linebacker ‘Back in the Saddle Again’BlackRock Announces Board Approval of Closed-End Fund ReorganizationTAMPA, Fla., Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) (“Cansortium” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis company operating under the FLUENTTM brand, announced today that it has closed on a new senior secured credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) of up to $96,500,000 with Chicago Atlantic Admin, LLC (“Chicago Atlantic”), as administrative agent for certain lenders. The Credit Agreement bears a cash interest rate of 12.00% per annum and paid-in-kind (PIK) interest of 1.00% per annum, and is due to mature on November 26, 2028. The Credit Agreement refinances the existing $71,000,000 senior secured term loan that was set to mature May 29, 2025, thereby eliminating the previously disclosed requirement that the Company prepay $10,000,000 upon the consummation of the business combination with RIV Capital Inc. (CSE: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF) (“RIV Capital”), a vertically integrated cannabis company operating the Etain brand in New York. All required regulatory approvals needed for the business combination with RIV Capital Inc. have been obtained and the Company expects the closing with RIV Capital to occur in early December 2024. “We are excited to announce the successful completion of our senior secured refinancing. The loan’s favorable interest rate and single financial covenant underscore our strong financial standing, while its non-dilutive structure - free of equity or warrants – preserves shareholder value. As a result of this transaction, we have no material debt maturities until late 2028,” said Robert Beasley, CEO of Cansortium. “The refinancing includes access to two additional credit lines totaling $25 million, which, combined with the cash balance inflow from the RIV business combination, positions us to enter 2025 with a robust war chest. These resources will allow us to pursue strategic acquisitions and growth initiatives in key markets like Pennsylvania and New York, while also targeting new opportunities in emerging high-growth states. With our solid foundation and this enhanced financial flexibility, we are poised to capitalize on exciting industry developments at the state and federal levels. The future for our company – and our shareholders – has never been brighter.” The Credit Agreement provides for an initial loan of $71,500,000 and access to two additional credit lines of $10,000,000 for future real estate acquisitions and construction projects, and $15,000,000 in the event that the Company were to acquire RIV Capital’s Buffalo cultivation and processing facility following the completion of the business combination. “Cansortium has executed with prudence and foresight in its core states of Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas, and we have every confidence in their strategic approach to meet demands in additional markets,” said Peter Sack, Managing Parter of Chicago Atlantic. “They are innately focused on customer experience, fiscal responsibility, and operational excellence, and Chicago Atlantic is thrilled to support their next phase of growth.” The Credit Agreement includes a single financial covenant requiring Cansortium to maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance of $4,500,000, tested at the end of each fiscal quarter, and includes customary terms and conditions for a financing of this type, including repayment obligations upon the occurrence of certain events of default thereunder. The foregoing description of the Credit Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement, a copy of which will be filed on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . Chicago Atlantic Credit Advisers, LLC served as lead arranger for the Credit Agreement and Chicago Atlantic Admin, LLC serves as Administrative Agent for the Credit Agreement. Smith Transaction Cansortium and certain of its affiliates and William Smith, a director and the Executive Chair of Cansortium, and certain companies controlled by Mr. Smith (together with Mr. Smith, collectively, the “Smith Group”), have entered into an amended and restated termination agreement (the “Amended Smith Transaction Termination Agreement”) to replace in its entirety the existing termination agreement dated May 30, 2024 (the “Smith Transaction Termination Agreement”), which provided for, among other things, the termination of that certain agreement among Cansortium, certain of its affiliates and the Smith Group (the “Initial Smith Transaction Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Amended Smith Transaction Termination Agreement, Cansortium paid to the Smith Group a $500,000 cash fee and issued to the Smith Group a 15% secured subordinated convertible note in an initial aggregate principal amount of $6,500,000 due May 26, 2029 (the “Smith Convertible Note”). The Smith Convertible Note is subordinated in right of payment to prior payment in full of the Credit Agreement and the principal and accrued interest thereunder is convertible, at the discretion of the Smith Group, into Cansortium Shares at a price of $0.21 per Cansortium Share. For more information on the Smith Transaction Termination Agreement and the Initial Smith Transaction Agreement, see Cansortium’s news release dated May 30, 2024 filed under Cansortium’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The transactions contemplated by the Amended Smith Transaction Termination Agreement (the “Smith Transaction”) constitutes a “related party transaction” as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”). Cansortium has relied on the exemptions from obtaining a formal valuation and minority shareholder approval of the Cansortium Shareholders with respect to the Smith Transaction in accordance with sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the aggregate fair market value of the cash consideration and the Smith Convertible Note issuable in connection with the Smith Transaction does not exceed 25% of Cansortium’s market capitalization as determined in accordance with the provisions of MI 61-101. In addition, the Smith Transaction was approved by the Cansortium Board, with Mr. Smith having disclosed his interest in the Smith Transaction and abstaining from voting thereon. Cansortium did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Smith Transaction as the details of the Smith Transaction had not been finalized at that time. The foregoing description of the Amended Smith Transaction Termination Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended Smith Transaction Termination Agreement, a copy of which will be filed on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . For more information, please visit: investors.getfluent.com About Cansortium Inc. Cansortium is a vertically-integrated cannabis company with licenses and operations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Company operates under the FluentTM brand and is dedicated to being one of the highest quality cannabis companies for the communities it serves. This is driven by Cansortium’s unrelenting commitment to operational excellence in cultivation, production, distribution, and retail. The Company is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Cansortium Inc.’s Common Shares trade on the CSE under the symbol “TIUM.U” and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol “CNTMF”. For more information about the Company, please visit www.getFLUENT.com . About Chicago Atlantic Chicago Atlantic is a private markets alternative investment manager focused on industries and companies where demand for capital exceeds traditional supply. The firm’s investment strategies include opportunistic private credit and equity with focuses on loans to esoteric industries, specialty asset-based loans, liquidity solutions and growth and technology finance. Chicago Atlantic has closed over $2.3 billion in credit facilities since inception. Chicago Atlantic’s team of over 80 professionals has offices in Chicago, Miami, New York and London. For more information on Chicago Atlantic’s investment opportunities and financing products, visit chicagoatlantic.com . Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “an opportunity exists”, “is positioned”, “estimates”, “intends”, “assumes”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate” or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “will” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in the public documents of the Company available on the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Company Contact Robert Beasley, CEO investors.getfluent.com Media Contact: Trailblaze FLUENT@Trailblaze.co
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VANCOUVER — British Columbia business owner Joe Chaput will spend $5,500 a month on security guards during the holiday season and plans on upgrading his store’s video camera system for around $5,000 more. He’s not selling luxury brands or expensive jewels. Chaput sells cheese, and at Christmas, cheese is a hot commodity. He is the co-owner of specialty cheese store les amis du Fromage, with two locations in Vancouver. While cheeselifting is rare in their Kitsilano store, the outlet in East Vancouver is hit in waves, with nothing happening for a month, then three of four people trying to steal their inventory within a week. “Sometimes, you miss it. Sometimes, you catch it. The way shoplifters behave ... they tend to gravitate toward expensive things,” said Chaput. Expensive cheese is on shoplifters’ Christmas list, he said. “They tend to do the classic examples of staying away from customer service and trying to go to a different part of the store so they can be left alone to steal.” Chaput isn’t alone. Police say food-related crimes on are the rise in Canada and as prices climb for items such as cheese and butter, they become lucrative on the black market for organized crime groups, not to mention theft for local resale. Sylvain Charlebois, the director of Dalhousie University’s Agri-food Analytics Lab, said a black market tends to emerge as soon as food prices surge. “Organized crime will steal anything (if) they know they can sell it and so, they probably would have known who their clients are before even stealing anything at all, and that’s how a black market is organized,” said Charlebois. He said he believes there are two categories of people shoplifting — those who do so out of desperation because they can’t afford the food, or organized criminals, profiting from sales on the black market. Mounties in North Vancouver made cheesy headlines when they ran into a man with a cart of stolen cheese in the middle of the night in September. The cheese, valued at $12,800, was from a nearby Whole Foods Store. While the cheese was recovered, it had to be disposed of because it hadn’t been refrigerated. Const. Mansoor Sahak, with the North Vancouver RCMP, said officers believe cheese is targeted because it’s “profitable to resell.” “If they are drug addicts, they will commit further crimes with that or feed their drug habits. It’s a vicious cycle,” said Sahak. Sahak said meat is also a top target for grocery thieves, with store losses sometimes in the thousands. “So, we’re not surprised that this happened,” said Sahak. Police in Ontario have been chasing down slippery shoplifters going after butter. Scott Tracey, a spokesman with Guelph Police Service, said there have been eight or nine butter thefts over the last year, including one theft last December worth $1,000. In October, two men walked into a local grocer and filled their carts with cases of butter valued at $936, and four days later a Guelph grocer lost four cases valued at $958. Tracey said he has looked at online marketplaces and found listings by people selling 20 or 30 pounds of butter at a time. “Clearly, somebody didn’t accidentally buy 30 extra pounds of butter. So, they must have come from somewhere,” said Tracey, “I think at this point it appears to be the black market is where it’s headed.” He said the thefts seem to be organized, with two or three people working together in each case. Police in Brantford, Ont., are also investigating the theft of about $1,200 worth of butter from a store on Nov. 4. Charlebois said retailers could invest in prevention technologies like electronic tags, but putting them on butter or cheese is rare. He said up until recently grocery store theft has been a “taboo subject for many years.” Stores didn’t wanted to talk about thefts because they didn’t want to alarm people but now they feel they need to build awareness about what is “becoming a huge problem,” said Charlebois. Chaput, the cheese store owner, said he had been running the East Vancouver store for 15 years while managing the store in Kitsilano for 30 years, and he loves his customers. “It’s really one of the best parts of our businesses, seeing familiar faces and making new customers. It’s why we come to work, really. Partly it’s the cheese, and partly it’s the people,” said Chaput. He said his strategy to combat would-be thieves is to give them extra customer service to make it harder for them to steal. He admits, however, that the shoplifting causes him stress. “It’s challenging. You’re busy trying to run your business day to day and take care of customers and take care of employees. Having to deal with criminals, just kind of scratches away. It can be a bit exhausting,” said Chaput.
Trump 2.0: What it implies?NoneNone
UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The search for a woman who is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole in western Pennsylvania shifted to a recovery effort after two treacherous days of digging through mud and rock produced no signs of life, authorities said Wednesday. Pennsylvania State Police spokesperson Trooper Steve Limani said during a news conference that authorities no longer believe they will find 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard alive, but the search for her remains continues. “We’ve had no signs of any form of life or anything” to make rescuers think they should “continue to try and push and rush and push the envelope, to be aggressive with the potential of risking harm to other people,” Limani said. He noted oxygen levels below ground were insufficient. Emergency crews and others have tried to locate Pollard 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 the sinkhole above a long closed, crumbling mine. 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. Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press “We feel like we failed,” Limani said of the decision to change the status of the effort from a rescue to a recovery. “It’s tough.” Limani praised the crews who went into the abandoned mine to help remove material in the search for Pollard in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh.. “They would come out of there head to toe covered in mud, exhausted. And while they were getting pulled up, the next group’s getting dropped in. And there was one after the next after the next,” Limani said. Authorities said earlier that the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and was not stable. “We did get, you know, where we wanted, where we thought that she was at. We’ve been to that spot," Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the incident's operations officer, said earlier Wednesday. “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.” Searchers used electronic devices and cameras as surface digging continued with the use of heavy equipment, Bacha said. In coming days, they plan to greatly widen the surface hole, with winter weather forecast in the region. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers used water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s. 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 Tuesday. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail. Pollard's family called police 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. Limani said the searchers met with her family before announcing the shift from rescue to recovery. Pollard's son, Axel Hayes, described her as a happy woman who liked going out to have fun. She and her husband adopted Hayes and his twin brother when they were infants. She used to work at Walmart but recently was not employed. 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. The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. Pennsylvania State Police 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 the sinkhole was new. Pollard lived in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were found by state police. It's unclear what happened to the cat. 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 Changing Face of American Farms 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. Technology Revolution on the Farm 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. The Economic Tightrope: Challenges Facing Modern Farmers 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. Diversification: A Lifeline for American Farms 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. From Farm to Table: The Consumer Connection 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. The Future of Farming: Opportunities and Innovations Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: Sustainable farming practices : Cover cropping, no-till farming, and precision agriculture are gaining traction. These practices can reduce soil erosion by up to 90% compared to conventional tillage. Genetic engineering : CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies offer the potential to develop crops with enhanced nutritional profiles and resistance to pests and diseases. Alternative protein sources : The market for plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives is projected to reach $30 billion by 2030. Conclusion: A Call to Action 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. LandTrustThe UK government is hiring a new negotiator to help deliver a “reset” of relations with Europe. The job posting says the role will lead the government's relationship with the European Union and negotiations with the EU "on key UK interests", with mentions of trade, security and border policy. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has committed to a “reset” of relations between the UK and EU, and previously said he would seek a better deal on trade than the one negotiated by Boris Johnson in late 2020. However, the prime minister has said that resetting does not mean reversing Brexit. The new negotiator role is advertised as “a high-profile senior position that will receive significant public scrutiny and political attention” in the job posting published online by the Cabinet Office. The Second Permanent Secretary for European Union and International Economic Affairs would act as a "sherpa" - "a senior and personal representative of the prime minister at international summits and engagements”. The person would be required to oversee and lead policy development on trade, including the Windsor Framework , the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the Entry and Exit Scheme - a new upcoming digital EU border scheme - and other border policy questions. The salary range is £153,000 to £200,000. A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office said: “As we reset our relationship with the EU, building closer trade and security links and encouraging more investment from around the world, this new role will oversee that work." “Reporting to the minister for European Union relations, they will lead official-level discussions with the EU as we drive economic growth.” Starmer has said he wants to strengthen relations with the EU. In October, he made his first visit to Brussels since becoming prime minister, where he was welcomed warmly by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Starmer called for closer co-operation on defence and security, climate change, irregular migration, and on delivering economic growth to help make Brexit work in the UK’s interest, he said.US President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday his intention to nominate Gail Slater as Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, signaling continued scrutiny of major technology companies. "Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector," Trump said in a social media post announcing the nomination. The move suggested his administration would largely maintain the aggressive antitrust stance adopted under President Joe Biden. Slater previously served at the Federal Trade Commission and Trump's National Economic Council before working as an advisor to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Her private sector experience includes positions at Fox Media, Roku, and the Internet Association, a Washington lobbying group representing major internet companies. 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Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories The Justice Department currently shares five pending cases with the Federal Trade Commission, whose chairwoman Lina Khan has faced criticism from Silicon Valley over what some view as overly aggressive blocking of tech company acquisitions. Vice President-elect Vance, who has worked in Silicon Valley, has expressed support for Khan, particularly her efforts to address concerns about monopolization and censorship in big tech. The incoming Trump administration could pursue multiple paths with these cases -- including those targeting Amazon, Apple and Meta -- from continuing litigation to seeking settlements or dropping them entirely. Trump indicated the division would pursue "vigorous and fair" enforcement while maintaining rules that support corporate innovation. "I wouldn't expect any Trump DOJ antitrust head to drop their big tech antitrust cases, but there could be changes in strategy," said Adam Kovacevich, chief executive of industry trade group Chamber of Progress, who worked with Slater at the Internet Association. Antitrust expert Matt Stoller, a harsh critic of tech giants, viewed the nomination as "a very powerful statement that Trump wants to take on big tech." The DOJ's antitrust division, currently led by Jonathan Kanter, recently won a major case against Google. To resolve that case, the department is now seeking to force Google to divest its market-dominating Chrome internet browser, with a federal judge expected to rule on the matter in the coming months.