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PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was a full participant in practice on Monday, opening the door for him to return from a three-game absence on Wednesday when Pittsburgh hosts the Kansas City Chiefs. Pickens hasn't played since tweaking his hamstring earlier this month. The Steelers (10-5) have struggled to generate much in their passing game with their leading receiver watching from the sideline in sweatpants. Though Monday's practice was a walkthrough, Pickens said he felt good and hopes he'll be able to face the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. The 23-year-old was going through post-practice drills on Dec. 6 when he felt his hamstring tighten up, forcing him to miss the first games of his three-year career. Pittsburgh has gone 1-2 in his absence, including back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Baltimore in which Russell Wilson passed for just 345 yards while missing one of the NFL's top downfield threats. Wilson is encouraged by the way the sometimes mercurial Pickens — who has been flagged and fined multiple times this season for infractions ranging from facemasks to unsportsmanlike conduct — has remained engaged. “He’s been great in the midst of his little trial here over the past few weeks,” Wilson said. “And so we’re excited to have him back if that’s the case fully and let him do his thing.” Safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) were also listed as full participants on Tuesday. Neither veteran has played since getting hurt against Cleveland on Dec. 8. While Pickens, Elliott and Ogunjobi could be available as Pittsburgh tries to hold off Baltimore for the AFC North lead, cornerback Joey Porter (knee) and WR Ben Skowronek (hip) are likely out after missing practice for a second straight day. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflNASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Scottie Scheffler birdied every hole but the par 3s on the front nine at Albany Golf Club on Friday and finished his bogey-free round with an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the Hero World Challenge. Two months off did nothing to slow the world's No. 1 player. Scheffler already has eight victories this year and is in position to get another before the end of the year. Scheffler was at 13-under 131, two ahead of Akshay Bhatia (66) and Justin Thomas (67), both of whom had to save par on the 18th hole to stay in range going into the weekend. Scheffler started with a lob wedge to 2 feet for birdie and never slowed until after he went out in 29 to seize control of the holiday tournament against a 20-man field. Scheffler cooled slightly on the back nine, except it didn't feel that way to him. “Front nine, just things were going my way. Back nine, maybe not as much,” Scheffler said. “A couple shots could end up closer to the hole, a couple putts go in, just little things.” Asked if he felt any frustration he didn't take it lower — he once shot 59 at the TPC Boston during the FedEx Cup playoffs — Scheffler sounded bemused. “I think in this game I think a lot of all y’all are looking for perfection out of us,” he said. “Today I shot 8 under on the golf course, not something I hang my head about. A lot of good things out there — clean card, bogey-free, eight birdies. Overall, I think I'm pretty pleased.” Thomas felt his 67 was stress-free, particularly the way he was driving the ball. The wind laid down again, rare for the Bahamas, though it is expected to pick up on the weekend. Thomas wasn't concerned to see Scheffler get off to a hot start, especially with three par 5s on the front nine and a short par 4 that at worst leaves a flip wedge to the green. “You literally can birdie every hole as soft as the greens are,” Thomas said. “He's a great player, a great wedge player, and you have a lot of birdie holes to start. I'm honestly surprised he only shot 8 under. It's a sneaky course because if you fall asleep on some shots, you can get out of position. But if you're on and focused and really in control of everything — like these last two days with no wind — you can just make so many birdies.” Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had a 67 and was four shots behind. No matter how benign the conditions, it wasn't always easy. Cameron Young, who opened with a 64 for a two-shot lead, followed with a 75 despite making five birdies. That included a double bogey on the final hole when his approach tumbled down the bank into the rocks framing the lake that goes all the way down the 18th hole. Patrick Cantlay was trying to keep pace playing alongside Scheffler, but he had three bogeys over the final seven holes and fell seven shots behind with a 71. The tournament, hosted by Tiger Woods, is unofficial but offers world ranking points to all but the bottom three players because of the small field. It's the weakest field in 25 years, but Scheffler at No. 1 gives it enough cachet. He is the first player since Woods in 2009 to start and finish a year at No. 1 in the world. And even after a layoff — giving him time to tinker with a new putting stroke — it looks like it might be a while before anyone changes that. AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golfNew Year, new you! 2025 is a big year for many of us. Singapore celebrates her 60th birthday. "Wicked: Part 2" will be released in cinemas. The SEA Games will take place in Thailand. There are so many things to look forward to in the coming year. With all that ahead, why not take the opportunity to spruce up your home by replacing tired and worn-out furniture with some new pieces? Having invested so much into making your house a home, you deserve to have the best furniture, not just for aesthetic reasons, but functional ones too. After all, how can you get a good night’s sleep on an old, worn-out mattress? Four Star’s Chinese New Year prosperity sale at SAFRA Choa Chu Kang will help you and your family not only ring in the new year with a fresh look, but perhaps feel better rested as well. What you can get Don’t be fooled by the name — this sale takes place in the post-Christmas, pre-New Year period. From Dec. 25 to 29, 2024, head over to SAFRA Choa Chu Kang, from 11am to 10pm daily. Enjoy a range of great benefits when you take part in this sale. Terms and conditions apply to the following: Full sale details at the end of this article. Metex Mattress Photo from Four Star. Nothing’s more important in these hectic times than for you to get a good night’s rest. Check out the latest collection of Detense ArcticSilk Metex Mattress. It offers a 7 Zones Spring System for the head, shoulders, back, hips, knees, legs and ankles, which offers precise support for the different areas of your body. Memory foam mattresses are also good for relieving major pressure points, such as protruding shoulders and hips. Photo by Mothership. Not only does the ArcticSilk Metex Mattress offer extra support, its Metex Grid material is made from non-toxic, recyclable plastics. Also known as thermoplastic elastomer, it is the same material commonly used for baby products, free of harmful phthalates and BPA substances, making it child-friendly. The material is also highly breathable, making for better airflow and temperature regulation. On top of that, the ArcticSilk with insert foam quilting on its cooling fabric helps to absorb body heat, a more cooling method than traditional ticking. Great for those hot, sticky nights when you want to save a little on energy bills by not using your air conditioner. Photo from Four Star. Chiro Back Care Mattress For those with back issues and need a little more support, consider the Chiro Back Care Mattress. It is specially designed to provide orthopaedic posture support, with Hexa Coil, up to 30 per cent more spring as compared to other pocketed spring mattresses for dense and body-conforming support. Photo from Four Star. Made with memory foam, it provides pressure relief while reducing motion transfer. This means if you’re the kind to toss and turn in bed, your partner will be less disturbed. The Chiro Back Care Mattress also uses eco-friendly materials, with selected plant-based materials for sustainable fabrics. Exclusive to this sale, the first 10 customers will enjoy the following special promotion: Just S$1,288 for a queen-size, pocketed spring mattress AND a storage bed with a customisable headboard design. Ergonomic Smart Technology bed If you’re interested in changing your old mattresses, why not change your bed altogether? These days, lots of home appliances make use of smart technology and can be controlled with a touch of a screen on your phone, whether it’s your fridge, washing machine or door locks. The Ergonomic Smart Technology bed offers a frame that can be modified to suit the exact posture you desire. Photo by Mothership. Using either a Bluetooth remote or a smartphone app, you can raise the foot of the bed to raise up your legs or reduce pressure points for a better night’s sleep. Memory mode also helps to save your favourite reclinable posture for head and foot placements. And not only that, you can also get a massage from the bed itself, with different intensities to suit your preferences, as well as a timer mode to control how long you want the massage to last. You may not need to fly to Thailand or Taiwan to get a massage if you get this new bed instead. And exclusive to this sale, get the smart bed at the massive discount of 50 per cent off. Platform bed If you’re the kind of person who loves to shop, but find that you’re fast running out of storage space, consider getting a Platform bed. Powered by a German Hydraulic Lift, the bed features hidden storage space right underneath the mattress. Photo from Four Star. It comes with three cabinets that can be customised to fit on either the right or left side of the bed. Optimise your storage space with these options. Also, you can customise the bed frame materials with either fabric or polyurethane. Sofas Don’t let your bedroom take up all of your attention, the living room deserves some love too. The Four Star sale features some very good-looking sofas that will not only give your guests a nice place to take a load off their feet, but will also boost your home’s overall vibe. First up is the luxury leather sofa, upholstered in top grain leather for a soft and silky touch. It comes in various colours, with your choice of either a two or three-seater size. It has an adjustable headrest with high back and head support to ensure maximum comfort for your sitting position, good for relief from body aches and pains. The sofa is also FSC certified, which supports responsible forestry, making it a more sustainable and eco-friendly purchase. On top of that, it also includes a “Zero Gravity Wall” feature, which means it can incline without interfering with the wall behind it. Good for tight spaces. Photo by Mothership. Water and stain-repellent fabric sofa We all know that life can get a little messy, especially if you have young children. What to do if they get stains all over your brand-new sofa? If you buy a water and stain-repellent fabric sofa from Four Star, however, you’ll have one fewer thing to worry about. Its fabric is resistant to water spills and stains, making it suitable for families with children or pets. This makes it easier to clean. Photo by Mothership. Sintered Stone Dining Sets A good mattress can help you get a good night’s rest. A good sofa is great when you have friends around for much-needed catching up. But nothing brings a family closer together than a good meal together. Who can forget all the shared laughter and tears, joy and commiserations over a good, home-cooked meal? For more such meals and making memories together, you’ll need a good table. Four Star’s Sintered Stone Dining Sets fit the bill. There are many such advantages from using stone as a material. It’s durable, non-toxic and resistant to scratches and stains. It’s also very resistant to heat, which will come in handy if you like having hotpot dinners. And thanks to the smooth surface, it’s easy to clean as well. Photo by Mothership. Sale Details Date: Dec. 25 to Dec. 29, 2024 Operating hours: 11am to 10pm daily Location: SAFRA Choa Chu Kang, Level 5 28 Choa Chu Kang Dr, Singapore 689964 The nearest MRT station is Choa Chu Kang Messages (and only messages) can be sent via WhatsApp to 8082 0093 The writer of this branded article would like to decorate his house for the new year too. Top image by Mothership and Four Star.

Brand's Latest Offering Is Among Top Three For Industry's Highly Coveted Honor - All-new compact sedan sets new standards for design, technology and roominess - K4 follows in the footsteps of Kia's NACTOY-winning EV9, EV6 and Telluride LOS ANGELES , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancing Kia's commitment to deliver sporty sedans with premium features, advanced technology and elevated performance, the all-new Kia K4 has been named one of three finalists for the 2025 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM. 1 Announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, this news follows back-to-back NACTOY wins over the past two years for the all-electric Kia EV6 and EV9 utility vehicles, respectively. And five years ago, the brand's popular Telluride SUV earned the same recognition as a NACTOY finalist before going on to win the prestigious award. NACTOY jurors vote on finalists after spending months driving dozens of new vehicles throughout the year. To be eligible, vehicles must be all-new or substantially new. The NACTOY awards will take place on January 10, 2025 at the Detroit Auto Show with winners in the Car, Truck and Utility categories. The K4 compact sedan delivers segment-above technology including up to 29 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), 2 a high level of refinement, and class-leading rear head room and leg room. 3 The available turbocharged engine and standard multi-link rear suspension on the GT-Line model yield an engaging and spirited behind-the-wheel experience. Exceeding expectations for connectivity and technology in its segment, the K4 brings standard wireless Apple CarPlay 4 and Android Auto 5 and an available multi-segment display cockpit with a combined nearly 30-inches of digital instrumentation. 6 Available amenities such as Digital Key 2.0, 7 Harman Kardon premium audio, 8 and a wide sunroof help define the K4's premium character. The K4 is available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. Kia America – about us Headquartered in Irvine, California , Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and WNBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles sold through a network of over 775 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com . To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert . *Certain 2025 EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV/PHEV), Sorento (excludes HEV/PHEV), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. 1 North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM is a trademark of North American Car and Truck of the Year Corporation. 2 Advanced driver assistance systems are not substitutes for safe driving and may not detect all objects around the vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution. 3 Class-leading 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom: Comparison based on publicly available data regarding 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom in 2024/2025 compact sedans as of November 2024 . Compact sedan class as defined by Kia segmentation. 4 Apple® and Apple CarPlay® are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple CarPlay® runs on your smartphone cellular data service. Normal data rates will apply. 5 Vehicle user interface is a product of Google and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play store and an Android compatible smartphone running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android, Android Auto, and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC or its affiliates. 6 Comprised of a 12.3" instrument display, 5" climate display, and 12.3" touchscreen infotainment display. Distracted driving can result in the loss of vehicle control. When operating a vehicle, never use a vehicle system that takes your focus away from safe vehicle operation. 7 Kia Digital Key requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription and a compatible smart device with an active data plan. Normal cellular service rates may apply when using a smart device. 8 Harman Kardon is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. SOURCE Kia AmericaJewish doctors report rising antisemitism in new survey

Festive soaps are as much as Christmas staple as a tree and a new pair of socks. While you might be waiting on some fancy lotions and potions in your stocking on the big day, you might want to avail yourself of a set that doubles as decorations to help brighten your home through advent. Right now you can pick up the Forever Cosmetics Molton Brown Festive Bauble Bath & Shower Gift Set for £15.99 , reduced from £39.99 at Wowcher. Ideal as a gift or as a pre-Christmas treat to yourself, these three shower gels are a bargain at this price. The trio of 75ml, bauble-shaped bottles are each filled with popular scents: fiery pink pepper, black pepper, and rhubarb and rose. Ideal either in the bath or the shower, these refreshing scents are just the first phase of this set’s life in your home. Once they’re empty, they make for great Christmas tree decorations that can be wheeled out for years to come. READ MORE: Kitchen essential 'perfect for cooking family meals' reduced to £15 from £67 in Debenhams deal READ MORE: Costco is selling a mega tin of Quality Street this Christmas almost half the price of Amazon This set is vegetarian-friendly, cruelty and paraben-free, and produced in Essex with a manufacturing process first established in 1971. If you want to support British businesses whilst stocking up on fancy bath soaps and decorations, this is the place to be. At Amazon the set has a solid average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from almost 30 reviews. “Gift for a friend who absolutely loves it,” said one five-star review. “This is for Xmas presents for family and friends,” said another happy customer. Another said: “I like the fact that the shower gel is good quality. This means a better lather with a small amount of gel. Very pleasant smell. Worth the money because it lasts a long time.” Some customers have found the formula doesn’t sit well with their skin type, however. “Unfortunately, I did notice that my skin felt a bit dry after using this shower gel. Despite its luxurious feel, it seemed to strip away some natural oils from my skin, which was a disappointment,” said one four-star review. Another customer said the fragrances could be stronger: “I find by the time I'm dried off I can't smell it at all.” £17.99 instead of £39.99 for a Molton Brown 3-Piece Festive Bath & Shower Gift Set with a limited number available from £15.99 from Wowcher (Image: Wowcher) For alternative shower set gifts for friends and family this Christmas, check out the Bondi Sands Clearer Skin Bundle for £33. Beauty Bay’s Birthday Box is a steal at £55, packed to bursting with skincare goodness. It’s tough to find a better bargain that this three-piece bauble soaps set for £15.99 at Wowcher — grab one while you can!Lucknow: Invest UP CEO Abhishek Prakash on Friday stressed stronger collaboration between industries, govt and academic institutions to fully leverage the benefits of the state's Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy-2022 . He said this would accelerate innovation and drive growth. He presided over meeting between Invest UP and the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Lucknow at the Invest UP office, Picup Bhawan, Gomtinagar, to discuss the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy. The meeting focused on promoting CoEs and outlined the guidelines and implementation procedures for the policy. A detailed presentation was made on the incentives, subsidies, exemptions, and additional support provided by UP govt under this policy. IET director Prof Vineet Kansal highlighted the innovative research being conducted by the institute's faculty and students. IET shared insights on potential future industry collaborations in domains such as research and development centers, hackathons, grand challenges, upskilling facilities, research laboratories, product testing capabilities. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .KIA K4 SEDAN NAMED FINALIST FOR 2025 NORTH AMERICAN CAR OF THE YEARTM (NACTOY)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. "We've seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year," Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. "I think the sky's the limit," Elway said, "and that's just going to continue to get better and better." In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos' GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. "You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don't and it's so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean's really good at that," Elway said. "I think the combination of Bo's maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. "But also Vance Joseph's done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure's not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time." Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix's repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for "what they're doing offensively and how they're breaking Bo into the NFL because it's a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks." Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. "He's a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It's just awesome that I'm even in that situation." Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called "way, way overdue." Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders "both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix, and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros — but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: "He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren's contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he'll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was "I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are a massive club but not a massive team as he continues to try and turn around a group that need to “run like mad dogs” if they are to become winners. A poor start to Erik ten Hag’s third season in charge last month led the Red Devils to turn to the 39-year-old, who immediately lifted the mood after swapping Sporting for Old Trafford. Amorim followed a draw at Ipswich in his opening match with entertaining wins against Bodo/Glimt and Everton, yet he repeatedly attempted to manage expectations. “I think that is very clear,” Amorim said of the scale of the job. “We are a massive club, but we are not a massive team, and we know it. It’s no problem to say it. “So, we want to improve, we are in a different moment from Arsenal, but you could feel it during the game. “I think we have to believe more because we were not dominant in the game, but we had control in the game. “Not so many chances for Arsenal – of course a lot of set pieces – but we were OK, especially in the first half. We had some good things in that moment, but you could feel that there’s so much to do. “I felt that Arsenal had problems to block our build up but then when they were defending the goal it was quite comfortable for them, so we are learning these things and trying to improve in two days.” United’s problems mean they enter the weekend 13th in the Premier League standings – quite the sight for fans of a club who have won an English record 20 league titles. Asked if perceptions around the club need to change, Amorim said: “That will not change because this club has glories in the past. “Our players have to understand that this is a very difficult position, so we are not (one of) the best teams in the league, and we have to say that and to think that clearly. Ruben Amorim is focusing on fixing the small details (John Walton/PA) “If you think in everything, it will be a problem. Let’s focus on the small details and then we will improve it as a team.” Amorim has had precious little time to work on such details having started during an international break followed by a relentless winter schedule. Saturday’s home game against Forest is United’s third of nine matches in December and came with a demand for effort on top of technical quality. “It’s impossible to win the Premier League without a team like that – that every moment runs back, runs forward,” Amorim said. “It is impossible to win. If you want to win, we have to do it. “Even with the best starting XI in the planet without running they will not win nothing, so that is very clear. “If we want to win the Premier League, we have to run like mad dogs. If not, we are not going to win.” Ruben Amorim wants a more physical United (Martin Rickett/PA) “It doesn’t matter about the system,” the former United manager said. “It has to do with the characteristics of the players and we don’t have many, with all the respect, mad dogs – the ones who bite the ball all the time and press all the time. We don’t have many with that spirit.” Amorim will hope not to be feeling similar after facing Forest, having previously said he needs to improve the “physical aspect of the team”. “The problem to be fit enough is if they can cope with that,” United’s head coach said. “If they are used to do that in training, they will do that in games. “So, they are professional athletes, they can improve this. You cannot be faster, but you can run more with training. We are in that path.”Amherst Town Council highlights

LaGrange Academy Middle School girls basketball team is off to hot start

With new president, Nebraska teachers union floats 'bold' plan to recruit, retainBrand's Latest Offering Is Among Top Three For Industry's Highly Coveted Honor - All-new compact sedan sets new standards for design, technology and roominess - K4 follows in the footsteps of Kia's NACTOY-winning EV9, EV6 and Telluride LOS ANGELES , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Advancing Kia's commitment to deliver sporty sedans with premium features, advanced technology and elevated performance, the all-new Kia K4 has been named one of three finalists for the 2025 North American Car of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM. 1 Announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show, this news follows back-to-back NACTOY wins over the past two years for the all-electric Kia EV6 and EV9 utility vehicles, respectively. And five years ago, the brand's popular Telluride SUV earned the same recognition as a NACTOY finalist before going on to win the prestigious award. NACTOY jurors vote on finalists after spending months driving dozens of new vehicles throughout the year. To be eligible, vehicles must be all-new or substantially new. The NACTOY awards will take place on January 10, 2025 at the Detroit Auto Show with winners in the Car, Truck and Utility categories. The K4 compact sedan delivers segment-above technology including up to 29 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), 2 a high level of refinement, and class-leading rear head room and leg room. 3 The available turbocharged engine and standard multi-link rear suspension on the GT-Line model yield an engaging and spirited behind-the-wheel experience. Exceeding expectations for connectivity and technology in its segment, the K4 brings standard wireless Apple CarPlay 4 and Android Auto 5 and an available multi-segment display cockpit with a combined nearly 30-inches of digital instrumentation. 6 Available amenities such as Digital Key 2.0, 7 Harman Kardon premium audio, 8 and a wide sunroof help define the K4's premium character. The K4 is available in five trim levels: LX, LXS, EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. Kia America – about us Headquartered in Irvine, California , Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys. Kia is recognized as one of the TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and WNBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles sold through a network of over 775 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America*. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com . To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert . *Certain 2025 EV9 all-electric three-row SUV, Sportage (excludes HEV/PHEV), Sorento (excludes HEV/PHEV), and Telluride are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts. 1 North American Car, Utility, and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) AwardsTM is a trademark of North American Car and Truck of the Year Corporation. 2 Advanced driver assistance systems are not substitutes for safe driving and may not detect all objects around the vehicle. Always drive safely and use caution. 3 Class-leading 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom: Comparison based on publicly available data regarding 2nd-row legroom and 2 nd -row headroom in 2024/2025 compact sedans as of November 2024 . Compact sedan class as defined by Kia segmentation. 4 Apple® and Apple CarPlay® are trademarks of Apple, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple CarPlay® runs on your smartphone cellular data service. Normal data rates will apply. 5 Vehicle user interface is a product of Google and its terms and privacy statements apply. Requires the Android Auto app on Google Play store and an Android compatible smartphone running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher. Data plan rates apply. Android, Android Auto, and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC or its affiliates. 6 Comprised of a 12.3" instrument display, 5" climate display, and 12.3" touchscreen infotainment display. Distracted driving can result in the loss of vehicle control. When operating a vehicle, never use a vehicle system that takes your focus away from safe vehicle operation. 7 Kia Digital Key requires an eligible Kia Connect subscription and a compatible smart device with an active data plan. Normal cellular service rates may apply when using a smart device. 8 Harman Kardon is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-k4-sedan-named-finalist-for-2025-north-american-car-of-the-year-nactoy-302313588.html SOURCE Kia America

Philip Broberg Confirms Major Problem with Oilers Organization in New InterviewFrench President Emmanuel Macron named a new government on Monday evening putting together a team under Francois Bayrou, his fourth prime minister of the year , to drag the second-largest EU economy out of a political crisis. Macron named former prime minister Elisabeth Borne as education minister in a new cabinet under centrist Bayrou, the presidency said. Another former premier, Manuel Valls, returned as overseas territories minister while former interior minister Gerald Darmanin became justice minister. Both Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot kept their jobs, the presidency said. Conservative Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, also stayed in his post. The difficult job of delivering a budget plan for next year falls to Eric Lombard, the new economy minister. The inclusion of two former prime ministers indicates Macron’s desire for a heavyweight government that will enjoy stability and not share the fate of Bayrou’s predecessor Michel Barnier . The priority for 73-year-old Bayrou is to make sure his government can survive a no-confidence vote and that it passes a cost-cutting budget for 2025. The unexpected comeback of Valls, premier from 2014 to 2016, as the head of the overseas territories ministry indicates the importance of the post after authorities were strongly criticised for their response to the deadly cyclone on the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte, which killed at least 35 people. Darmanin had long been known to covet the post of foreign minister but after days of intense discussions will have to content himself with the justice ministry. The announcement came as France observed a day of mourning for the victims in the cyclone-hit Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte, France’s poorest overseas territory. Bayrou, the head of the centrist MoDem group, which is allied to Macron’s party, was appointed on December 13. Many already predict Bayrou will struggle to survive. France has been mired in deadlock since Macron gambled on snap elections this summer in the hopes of bolstering his authority. The move backfired, with voters returning a parliament fractured between three rival blocs.

In a groundbreaking research paper published in the International Journal of Computer Engineering and Technology, researcher Nihitha Sallapalli from the United States explores how microservices architecture and FastAPI are revolutionizing the oil and gas industry's complex workflows. The research reveals significant improvements in system performance, scalability, and operational efficiency. The Data Tsunami Challenge Oil and gas platforms generate 2 terabytes of data daily across 30,000 data points, overwhelming traditional systems. With global production at 95 million barrels daily, the industry needs more adaptable solutions to manage and process this massive data volume effectively. Breaking Down the Monolith Microservices architecture revolutionizes operations by breaking down complex applications into independent, API-connected services. This approach enhances crucial functions like land ownership tracking, well monitoring, and production forecasting. Each service can be scaled and updated independently, efficiently managing data across millions of acres and thousands of stakeholders without system-wide disruptions. Speed and Efficiency Unleashed The implementation of microservices has delivered remarkable improvements in operational efficiency. Processing times for ownership transfers have decreased by 70%, while system response times have improved by 83%. The ability to handle concurrent requests has increased by 350%, enabling better real-time data access and enhanced user experience. Financial reconciliation processes that previously took six days are now completed in just 18 hours, representing an 87.5% improvement in processing speed. FastAPI: The Performance Catalyst FastAPI has revolutionized oil and gas operations with its exceptional processing power, handling 30,000 requests per second on a single server. The framework's advanced asynchronous capabilities significantly improve efficiency, reducing development time by 38% and testing time by 55%. This high-performance solution proves essential for managing the industry's massive data volumes, enabling smoother operations and faster data processing across multiple platforms. Development Excellence The adoption of microservices has transformed the development lifecycle. Development cycles have shortened by 62%, code reuse has increased by 48%, and bug resolution time has decreased by 72%. Teams can now work on individual services independently, making updates without disrupting the entire system. Critical updates that previously required full-day system downtimes can now be deployed in just two hours, reducing the risk of system-wide failures by 92%. Resource Optimization The shift to microservices architecture has led to substantial resource optimization. Organizations have reported a 40% decrease in energy consumption for data processing through more efficient resource allocation. Real-time updates and monitoring capabilities have reduced operational waste by 30%, translating to significant cost savings. Predictive maintenance algorithms, running as independent microservices, have improved equipment uptime by 25%, further enhancing operational efficiency. Data Management Innovation The microservices approach has revolutionized how companies handle their data processing needs. Well performance monitoring systems can now process data from tens of thousands of wells simultaneously, with each well potentially generating hundreds of data points per second. The architecture allows for real-time visibility into operations, increasing operational insights by 70% and enabling faster, more informed decision-making processes. Future-Ready Architecture As the industry continues to digitize with investments in digital technologies expected to reach $75 billion annually, microservices architecture stands as a cornerstone of modern oil and gas operations. The combination of microservices and FastAPI provides the scalability and flexibility needed to handle growing data volumes and complex workflows efficiently. This technological foundation enables companies to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and regulatory requirements while maintaining optimal performance. The research by Nihitha Sallapalli demonstrates that microservices architecture and FastAPI are not just technological improvements but essential tools for maintaining competitiveness in the evolving energy sector. These innovations provide the foundation for more agile, efficient, and scalable operations in an industry that continues to embrace digital transformation, ultimately driving improved competitiveness and operational efficiency in the dynamic energy sector.

Laura Benanti is looking back on her experience working with Zachary Levi on Broadway, how she did not like him back then, and how she really doesn’t like him right now. The two actors played the romantic leads in a production of the musical She Loves Me back in 2016. Zachary came under fire this year when he publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president and he received further backlash for claiming She Loves Me actor Gavin Creel ‘s death was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, Laura is slamming Zachary in a new interview. Keep reading to find out more... “I never liked him,” Laura said on That’s a Gay Ass Podcast . “Everyone was like, ‘He’s so great!’ And I was like, ‘No, he’s not. He’s sucking up all the f–king energy in this room. He wants to mansplain everybody’s part to them.’” Laura said that Zachary tried to get the She Loves Me cast to do dance parties before the show every night, which some people enjoyed, but not her. She said, “He really sucked everybody in with his like dance party energy. Like, ‘We’re doing a dance party at half-hour.’ I was like, ‘Good luck. Have fun.’” Laura also addressed Zachary ‘s comments about Gavin. “To use his memory for his political agenda and to watch him try to make himself cry until he had one single tear, which he did not wipe away, I was like, ‘F–k you forever,’” Laura said. Watch the full podcast below!

Share this Story : Guilty pleas in 'grandparent scam' expose prolific fraud network targeting seniors Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links News Local News Guilty pleas in 'grandparent scam' expose prolific fraud network targeting seniors Three people have pleaded guilty for their role in a network which defrauded dozens of seniors of $1.2 million over three months in 2024. Get the latest from Aedan Helmer straight to your inbox Sign Up Author of the article: Aedan Helmer Published Dec 23, 2024 • 7 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Police and prosecutors said the organized fraud campaign targeted seniors with landlines and tricked victims into believing the caller was a grandchild in crisis. Photo by Crystal Schick / Postmedia files Article content A multi-agency police wiretap investigation that culminated in the arrests of 14 people in the Montreal area in April, 2024 uncovered an organized fraud “syndicate” that targeted seniors across Canada in a sophisticated “grandparent scam.” Three men have already pleaded guilty to playing their roles in the fraud network, which defrauded dozens of seniors of $1.2 million in a three-month period alone in early 2024. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content The police investigation intensified to wiretaps and surveillance teams during that period, between Jan. 27 and the arrests on April 10, as police watched and recorded the fraudsters placing hundreds of calls daily from “call centres” — often rented Airbnb units — targeting seniors with landlines. The scammers duped their victims into believing the caller was a grandson or nephew in legal peril and in immediate need of cash. Documents filed in court to support the guilty pleas illustrate the scale and scope of the lucrative and prolific fraud cell, which could have been raking in around $5 million per year, according to estimates from police and prosecutors. One elderly couple in Kingston was victimized by the scam in February 2024 and was nearly tricked into handing over $10,000 in a shoe box to the fraudsters, who had sent an unwitting taxi driver to collect the cash. Members of one Montreal call centre defrauded three separate victims of more than $23,000 in a single day of calls on Jan. 30, according to a lengthy outline of the case filed in court by Crown attorney François Dulude. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The police investigation, dubbed Project Sharp, was led by the Ontario Provincial Police and involved officers from 11 police services across Ontario and Quebec, including the Ottawa Police Service. Investigators identified 23 different call centres in Montreal, Laval and Toronto. Police laid 56 total charges in April against 13 men and one woman ranging in age from 24 to 33, most of them residing in the Montreal area. During the height of the wiretap investigation from January to April, police identified 126 victims who had lost $739,810. Police were able to disrupt a further $500,000 the suspects attempted to take from victims during the same three-month period. Investigators identified 269 total victims since the investigation launched in September 2022. Many of the victims were targeted in Ontario in the 613 area code, and the criminal cases are proceeding at the Ottawa courthouse. One of the victims, an elderly man from St. Catharines, drove to Ottawa to attend court in person. He told the judge he still hadn’t let anyone know that he had fallen victim to a scam because he didn’t want to “lose credibility” in the eyes of his family. Evening Update The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Evening Update will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Another woman told the court she has suffered since the scam from anxiety and tears, she remains afraid of answering unknown calls on the phone, suspicious of her financial transactions and “unsure of her own decision-making.” Another victim told court she was “So very angry at myself that I allowed this to happen to me.” Giordano De Luca, 25, from Laval, was the first member of the alleged scammer cell to plead guilty in October to a single count of fraud over $5,000. He admitted to playing the role of “opener” in the scripted scam as he pretended to be the victim’s grandson calling from a police station after a car accident where drugs were found in the vehicle. Openers would gain the confidence of their targets by claiming to be their “favourite grandson” or “the oldest one” and would trick their victims into giving up their relative’s real name. A second fraudster would then join the call and play the role of “closer,” impersonating a police officer as they outlined the details of the bogus charge and arranged for collection of the cash, supposedly for bail money. Damian Dufresne and Francesco Farinaccio Modaferri each pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud on Dec. 18. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Modaferri, 27, from Laval, Que., admitted to playing the role of a closer on multiple calls. According to the Crown’s outline, Modaferri was first identified as a member of the cell when he was observed by police at a call centre in the fall of 2023. He used his own home as a call centre on occasion, according to the agreed statement of facts. Modaferri also pleaded guilty to one count of impersonating a police officer. Dufresne, 26, from Pierrefonds, Que., admitted to another role in the cell and was responsible for booking Airbnb rentals to be used as temporary call centres. He also admitted to running cash collected from victims in Ontario back to his bosses in Laval and Montreal. He was first identified as a suspect in October 2023 when police observed him at Modaferri’s residence, which was being used at the time as a call centre. The three men were initially charged with offences related to participating in organized crime, but those charges were withdrawn as part of their guilty pleas. The fraud was “carried out in a highly organized fashion by a criminal organization,” the Crown has alleged, though Dulude said the three were not considered “higher-ups” in the organization. Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Prosecutors filed a detailed chronology of the fraud cell to support the guilty pleas, including transcripts of numerous scam calls. On Feb. 6, Dufresne was intercepted on a phone call with one of his superiors discussing a scam in progress that had become complicated by the arrival of two concerned neighbours. The fraudsters had convinced an elderly couple in Kingston to withdraw $10,000 in cash from their bank, but complications arose in collecting the money once the neighbours arrived at the couple’s home. One of the scammers told the couple to place the cash in a shoe box, then called a taxi to pick up the package and deliver it to another address in Kingston. Dufresne was instructed to follow the taxi in his car and “his guy” would pick up the shoe box. The scam was disrupted when the couple declined to hand over the cash and instead went to Kingston police. In another fraud on Jan. 30, a 70-year-old Kanata woman was defrauded of $9,765 over the course of 25 phone calls on the same day. The following day, surveillance teams tracked Modaferri and Dufresne as they departed Laval bound for Ottawa. Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Another surveillance team was put in place at the victim’s home and they watched as a courier arrived and picked up the cash. Modaferri and Dufresne were then seen attending the same area where the courier had been seen after picking up the victim’s money. They then had dinner in Ottawa and drove back to Montreal. Dufresne was also involved in booking rental units for the scammers to operate as call centres. The fraud cell spent one week at a rented unit on Rue Emery in downtown Montreal, where they pulled off three successful scams in a single day in late January and defrauded three victims of $23,000. They scammed another woman out of $8,450 a few days later and scammed an elderly man out of $5,500 on Feb. 6. Police intercepted a call between Dufresne and one of his superiors, who was “scrambling” to vacate the rented unit and instructed Dufresne to find an alternative site. The unit on Rue Emery, according to the caller, was “drawing heat” (the attention of police) because the unit next door had “crack and guns” and “nobody wanted to go back,” according to the transcripts. Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Dufresne then sent his credit card information to his contact to book another Airbnb. Dufresne had “continued involvement through the spring of 2024 with this cell of the grandparent scam until his arrest on April 10, 2024,” according to the agreed facts. “Intercepts show ongoing conversations on Dufresne’s personal cellphone and other members of the cell discussing pickup of funds, travel into Ontario, and the manner in which members of the cell make money.” Prosecutors allege the 14 people arrested belonged to the same “cell” of a larger fraud network or “syndicate,” Dulude said. The three cases that have now resolved with guilty pleas involve members who were considered “in the lower end of the organization.” The Crown will be seeking prison sentences of between seven to 12 years for the alleged leaders. Those cases remain before the courts and the allegations have not been tested at trial. De Luca and Modafferi are both awaiting their sentencing hearings, which are scheduled for the new year. Dufresne was granted a 12-month conditional sentence on Dec. 18, which amounts to six months of house arrest followed by six months under curfew. Advertisement 9 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The three men have no prior convictions. Dufresne’s defence lawyer, Housep Dadaghalian, said his client is already “on the right path” to rehabilitation and his guilty plea avoided a potentially lengthy trial involving numerous victims. Ontario Court Justice Michael Boyce warned Dufresne that if he violates any terms of his release, “The starting point is that you will serve every remaining day behind bars.” Boyce called the scam “a serious betrayal” of trust and acknowledged the “devastating impact” on the victims and their families. “The aggravating factors here are astonishing, the duration of time this scam unfolded, your role in it, the number of victims, the absolute devastation that was caused to so many people,” Boyce told Dufresne. “You and your co-accused preyed on some of the most vulnerable people in our society.” ahelmer@postmedia.com Recommended from Editorial Guilty plea in $1.2M grandparent scam as court zeroes in on remaining suspects Ottawa woman victimized by both romance scam and money recovery scheme Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Guilty pleas in 'grandparent scam' expose prolific fraud network targeting seniors Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending Deachman: Is there Christmas if you're homeless in Ottawa? Local News Ottawa weather forecast calls for white Christmas snow storm News Bah Humbug! Senators lose goaltender Linus Ullmark and two points against Oilers Ottawa Senators Here's how it feels to be homeless at Christmas Local News OPP worried about condition of driver who left Highway 417 crash scene Local News Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local SavingsO n the Southern Boulevard bridge next to President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, there is a parked car festooned with Trump flags. Jestin Nevarez — who blasts out a rap version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” titled “Trump Saved the USA” on repeat — is the owner. “I come out here and show support,” he told The Independent . “And right now, Mar-a-Lago is a tourist attraction. So when people drive by, they see the flags, they hear the music, they stop in and they have a good time.” People do indeed stop to take photos of Nevarez’s car and snap photos of the once and future president’s estate. Palm Beach has changed in the years since Trump first became president. In 2016, Palm Beach County voted for Hillary Clinton by more than 15 points. It went on to vote for Joe Biden by about 13 points. But this last election, Palm Beach County moved more in line with its most famous resident, when Kamala Harris won it by less than a point. Later in the day on Friday, Angelique Morgan, a former reality television personality who goes by the name Frenchy Morgan, arrived in a pink Chevy convertible to talk with Nevarez and take photos. Morgan said she has been to Mar-a-Lago three times. “I'm absolutely fascinated with Trump,” she told The Independent . “If he's not the American dream, I don't know who is.” Morgan, who is a French-born naturalized American citizen, said she was particularly excited that Trump has brought on Elon Musk onto his team. “Trump adopted Elon, right? And I love it,” she said. “And I think it's amazing this time around, he has strong people around him who have more money than him, who can also help him and protect him.” Brandee Sisting was excited to visit Mar-a-Lago on Saturday for an event with Charlie Kirk. She’d traveled to Florida from Ventura, California specifically for it. Sisting said that on election night, she wasn’t optimistic. In 2020, it looked like Trump was going to win and then he didn’t, after all. “So I went to bed, I just said, ‘No, I'm gonna go read my Bible and I'm gonna go to sleep. I'm exhausted,’” she said. “And the next morning I woke up and my husband said, ‘He got it, Brandee. He won.’” Mar-a-Lago and Palm Beach are not the same as Washington, however — and Trump’s return to DC since his second electoral victory has been rocky. His nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, another Florida man and former congressman, took himself out of the running after a series of controversies . Nobody, not even his biggest supporters on Capitol Hill, are sure what his proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — will actually do . Pete Hegseth, his nominee to be Defense Secretary, continues to be on the ropes and it remains unclear whether Republicans will vote to confirm him . But back on Southern Boulevard, voters want Republicans to get behind Trump’s picks. Nevarez flagged how Hegseth’s mother retracted her previous criticisms of her son in an interview on Fox News . “Honestly, at this point, our country is so in disarray and and torn up that I don't care about somebody's personal life,” Nevarez said. “I want to know what they're gonna do for us, what they gotta do for our country.” “A lot of Republicans, they might as well switch their names to Democrats, because that's what they are,” he continued. “It's the MAGA movement and Trump's movement. It's common-sense America first. Trump's not a natural conservative, he's not a natural Republican. He's common-sense America First.” Nevarez said he had been particularly rankled by the behavior of outgoing Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn. “They've been taking advantage of we the people and the government for years, and getting filthy rich off their positions as civil servants,” he said. Sisting, for her part, said she hoped that the GOP would come around. “I'm not frustrated with the Republicans if they become educated,” she said, adding that she is a former Democrat herself. “[Trump] is a good businessman, we got to give him a chance, and he has to surround himself with people that are ethical and truthful.” As the celebrations continued outside Trump’s estate, tourists continued to arrive to snap photos. But, despite his popularity here in Florida, Trump’s star power might not be bright enough to burn the Senate down.