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Opinion | Tony Jones: Mass deportations will hurt Summit County’s economy, cost of livingPlayers must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
In the wake of the 2024 General Election, the next major election to take place will be the 2025 Seanad to be held in January to elect 60 Senators. The breakdown of the 60 seats: National University of Ireland - 3 Trinity College/ Dublin University - 3 Agricultural Panel - 11 Labour Panel - 11 Industrial and Commercial Panel - 9 Administrative Panel - 7 Cultural and Educational Panel - 5 Taoiseach's Nominations - 11 This is the last election involving the NUI/TCD 3-seat constituencies and will be replaced by a six-seater 'Higher Education' constituency for any Seanad elections from after March 2025. In terms of the Panel elections, the electorate are the 949 City and County Councillors, the 60 Outgoing Senators and 174 incoming TDs, of which there are some overlap. In terms of individual party strength, and therefore votes for the panel elections, each party has: Fianna Fáil - 248 Councillors + 48 TDs + 20 Senators = 316 Fine Gael - 245 + 38 + 16 = 299 Sinn Féin - 102 + 39 + 2 = 143 Labour - 56 + 11 + 4 = 71 Social Democrats - 35 + 11 + 0 = 46 Green Party - 23 + 1 + 4 = 28 Independent Ireland - 23 + 4 + 0 = 27 Solidarty/People Before Profit - 13 + 3 + 0 = 16 Independents/Others - 204 + 19 + 9 = 232 Most of those parties will be a figure a little bit below that number due to councillors/senators being elected as TDs or councillors who have left the party since the Local Elections. In terms of the breakdown of party seats per panel based on each party's vote and past elections it looks like it will be something close to this perhaps - Agricultural/ Labour Panel (11 Seats/ Quota ~ 95) - 3 FF, 3 FG, 1 SF, 1 LAB, 1 IND (10 and 11th seats could go to FF4, SF2, or IND2) Industrial and Commercial Panel (9 Seats/ Quota ~ 114) - 2 FF, 2 FG, 2 IND, 1 SF, 1 LAB (9th seat could go to FF3 most likely) Administrative Panel (7 Seats/ Quota ~ 143) - 2 FF, 2 FG, 1 SF, 1 LAB, 1 IND Cultural and Educational Panel (5 Seats/ Quota ~ 190) - 2 FF, 2 FG, 1 SF Taoiseach's Nominations - 5 FF, 5 FG, 1 IND (On premise that FF/FG go into government with a group of Independents). TUD - 3 IND (No Norris or Bacik for the first time in a long time so Ruane, Clonan and MacNeill? Maybe Hazel Chu will contest this or Maureen Gaffney just missed out in the by-election) NUI - 3 IND (Mullen, McDowell, and Higgins again unless McDowell retires?) This would roughly leave it with a breakdown of the 60 seats conservatively as: FF - 17 (up to 18/19 possible) FG - 17 (up to 18) SF - 5 (up to 6/7) LAB - 4 IND - 12 Some potential changes here are I wonder if Labour, Greens and Social Democrats may form a pact for these elections as the Soc Dems and Greens do not have enough voting power by themselves for a seat although Niall O'Tuathail almost won a seat for the Soc Dems on the Industrial and Commercial Panel. If they combined, they could easily give the Greens and Soc Dems 1 seat each on the two 11-seaters, and support Labour for the other 3 panels as Labour have almost as much as Greens and Soc Dems combined. Additionally, the Independent vote is so fractured so they could easily win more seats on the panels if they coalesced behind candidates but many of the gene-pool FF/FG independents must support party rather than independent candidates. I wonder if Independent Ireland may try run any one here who may have a decent profile? Niall Blaney having a Seanad seat is the biggest waste of one that I can pick out. Finally, based off the recent General Election, and the last Seanad, who are some of the potential Seanadóirs for the 27th Seanad? In my opinion, you have three categories, the perpetual or perennial senators who harbour no Dáil ambitions, the outgoing senators who unsuccessfully contested either this or the previous General Election, and General Election candidates who came close to winning seats such as TDs who lost seats so they can maintain a public profile or councillors/candidates who performed well and want a higher profile. Fianna Fáil: Perpetual Senators - Mark Wilson, Diarmuid Wilson, Denis O'Donovan, Niall Blaney, Paul Daly, Aidan Davitt, Ned O'Sullivan, Gerry Horkan Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Fiona O'Loughlin, Lisa Chambers, Robbie Gallagher, Shane Cassells, Pat Casey, Ollie Crowe, Mary Fitzpatrick, Lorraine Clifford-Lee GE Candidates - Edel MacSharry, Anne Rabbitte, Imelda Goldsboro, Dee Ryan, Deirdre O'Brien, Tony Fitzgerald, Alison Comyn, Joe Flaherty, Stephen Donnelly, Deirdre Heney, Teresa Costello, Gráinne Seoige?? Fine Gael - Perpetual Senators - Martin Conway, Paddy Burke Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Garrett Ahearn, Tim Lombard, Nikki Bradley, Maria Byrne, John McGahon, Seán Kyne, Joe O'Reilly, Aisling Dolan, Mary Seery-Kearney GE Candidates - Mark Duffy, Clodagh Higgins, TP O'Reilly, Leonora Carey, Billy O'Shea, Michael Creed, Noel O'Donovan, Mark Stanton, Shane O'Callaghan, Sharon Tolan, Linda Nelson Murray, David Fitzgerald, Cathal Byrne, Alan Farrell, Aoibhinn Tormey, Noel Rock Sinn Féin - Perpetual Senators - Fintan Warfield Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Paul Gavan GE Candidates - Chris MacManus, Gerry Murray, Pauline Tully, Martin Browne, Joanne Collins, Nicole Ryan, Aoife Masterson, Maria McCormack, Chris Andrews, Niamh Whelan, Cathleen Carney Boud Labour - Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Rebecca Moynihan, Annie Hoey GE Candidates - Laura Harmon, John Walsh, Darragh Moriarty Green Party - Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Róisin Garvey, Vincent P. Martin, Pippa Hackett, Pauline O'Reilly GE Candidates - Catherine Martin, Ossian Smyth, Neasa Hourigan, Hazel Chu (best chances of regaining seats next time) I imagine the Social Democrats would like to get Elisa O'Donovan, Susan Doyle, Hugo Mills or Eoin O'Broin into the Seanad while Independent Ireland may run Michael Clarke or Declan Geraghty although they may view it preferable for their candidates to remain on County Councils and stay prominent in their local communities. Hopefully Bernard Durkin is one of FGs Taoiseach nominations Re Labour - Former GE candidates/Outgoing Senators - Rebecca Moynihan, Annie Hoey I don't think Rebecca Moynihan and Annie Hoey will be running. GE Candidates - Laura Harmon, John Walsh, Darragh Moriarty I'd add Helen Ogbu and Shane Folan as possible runners? It's possible Sadhbh O'Neill will try for the TCD seat - she'd be of the same generation/cohort that would have known Bacik and Norris quite well?Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell is banking on an appeal panel overturning Dan Casey’s red card after accusing referee Chris Graham of doubling down on the worst decision he has ever seen. Well have submitted a wrongful dismissal claim to the Scottish Football Association after Casey was sent off following a clash with Kilmarnock winger Danny Armstrong during Friday’s 1-1 Fir Park draw. Graham was handed the opportunity to reverse his decision by his video assistant but pointed down the tunnel, presumably deciding that the defender had grabbed Armstrong by the neck after pushing his arm away. The Irishman has now had one yellow and two red cards this season and faces a three-match ban if a fast-track panel agrees with Graham. Kettlewell is yet to meet anyone else who does. “I’ve had contact with other football clubs, I’ve had contact with people that have been in the game a long, long time, people in the media, friends, family,” he said. Read more: Celtic vs Motherwell: Kick off time, not on TV - but PPV available Alfredo Morelos' parent club make former Rangers manager appointment “I’ve not spoken to one individual that sees that the same way as the outcome. “What I’ve got that down to is one individual has seen it that way. For me that’s wholly unacceptable. “I don’t think we can ever see that, that scenario where it’s so cut and dry, in my opinion, and I know there’s an appeal to be heard and all the rest of it, but I just find it baffling. “I said it’s in the top three worst decisions that I’ve been involved with in a game of football. In hindsight, I’ve had Saturday and Sunday to look through it again and to compose myself. “It’s not in the top three, it’s the worst one. It’s genuinely the worst one that I’ve seen. “But we have to look at this bigger picture as well, and it’s worldwide. That game was on the television. We’re trying to give the best account of ourselves as we possibly can. “We didn’t play particularly well as a team, but I don’t think that type of decision does the game in this country any favours whatsoever.” (Image: SNS Group) Kettlewell had been told that Motherwell had three major incorrect decisions go against them in their previous five games but the latest controversy ramped up his frustration. “I can accept mistakes, but the bit I really, really challenge is that there’s an obvious error and you’re still trying to double down on it and trying to tell people that you’re 100 per cent right,” he said. “You’re trying to find justification for it. You’re starting to talk about non-negligible force and all this type of stuff. “Sometimes I genuinely am OK with somebody just putting their hands up and saying ‘I think I may have got that one wrong’.” Kettlewell has had the chance to study other aspects of Graham’s performance and admitted that Andy Halliday’s challenge on Killie wing-back Brad Lyons was “as cut and dry a penalty as you’re going to get”. Read more: Aberdeen FC's vision for a 'community' stadium faces political hurdles McPake shown Dunfermline exit door following 'challenging' period “The referee actually awards us a foul,” added Kettlewell, whose team travel to Celtic Park on Boxing Day. “I struggle to see that one. I had a complaint about this after we had the same referee against Ross County, that there was 62 minutes of dead time. That was 59 minutes this time of dead time in a game of football. “It’s not conducive to entertainment. It’s not conducive to any of us sitting, watching the game, enjoying the game. You ask the players, they just feel like it’s stop, start, stop, start, stop, start.” The Scottish FA later confirmed an appeal hearing over Casey’s red card would take place on Christmas Eve.
Lynda Tabuya A complaint has been lodged at the Totogo Police Station in Suva regarding the circulation of an explicit video involving Lynda Tabuya. Police Chief of Operations ACP Livai Driu has confirmed this to FBC News. He said the case was being handled by the Cyber Crime Unit and was under investigation. The widely shared video on various platforms prompted Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to dismiss Tabuya from her role as Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection. Rabuka stated that her removal was in the best interest of the public Despite her removal from Cabinet, Tabuya retains her position as a Member of Parliament. However, calls for her resignation from Parliament have surfaced with critics citing the incident as damaging to public confidence. The People’s Alliance Party, of which Tabuya is a member has confirmed that she will face its Legal and Disciplinary Committee. The outcome of this internal party process may determine her political future. Tabuya, in a public statement, acknowledged the circulation of the video and its impact. While she has not commented on her future in Parliament, the controversy has added pressure to her political career. As investigations continue, the incident also raises broader questions about privacy, cyber security and the responsibilities of public figures.
Over the last couple of months, there have been recalls of millions of pounds of meat for listeria concerns and of carrots for potential E. coli contamination . Searches for “recalled ground beef” are trending on Google while some on social media are claiming that hundreds of thousands of pounds of ground beef have been recalled. THE QUESTION Is there a ground beef recall for potential E. coli contamination? THE SOURCES THE ANSWER Yes, there is a ground beef recall for potential E. coli contamination, but the recalled meat was not sold in grocery stores. WHAT WE FOUND Wolverine Packing Co. is recalling about 167,277 pounds of ground beef products due to potential E. coli contamination, according to a Nov. 20 announcement from the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) . The recalled beef is not sold in stores. The FSIS says the beef was shipped to restaurant locations nationwide. The FSIS did not name the restaurants where the beef was distributed. Restaurants can identify the recalled beef by looking for establishment number “EST. 2574B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Fresh products have a “use by” date of 11/14/2024, and frozen products have a production date of 10 22 24. The FSIS has shared a list of product labels for the recalled beef. The FSIS says the problem was discovered after the Minnesota Department of Agriculture notified them of a group of people who reported eating ground beef before becoming sick. On Nov. 15, the Minnesota Department of Health urged people to contact their healthcare provider if they ate a hamburger at a table-service restaurant anytime after Oct. 31 and developed diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea. At the time, the Minnesota Department of Health reported that infected people ate the contaminated meat between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. The FSIS said all 15 reported infections so far have been in Minnesota. E. coli is a kind of bacteria that can be found in many places, including the intestines of people and animals. Most kinds of E. coli are harmless and part of a healthy intestinal tract, but some E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis and other illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . The kind of E. coli found in the contaminated beef can cause dehydration, stomach cramps that last two to eight days and diarrhea that is often bloody, according to the FSIS, although the Minnesota Department of Health also notes that patients usually have no fever or a low-grade fever. Most people recover in five to 10 days, but about 5% of infections lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication that involves acute kidney failure, the Minnesota Department of Health says. HUS can occur to people of any age, but is most common in older adults and children under 5 years old, the FSIS says. Symptoms include easy bruising, pale skin and decreased urine output. People who experience these symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. Related Articles The VERIFY team works to separate fact from fiction so that you can understand what is true and false. Please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter , text alerts and our YouTube channel . You can also follow us on Snapchat , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok . Learn More » Follow Us Want something VERIFIED? Text: 202-410-8808Homes 4 the Homeless Announces Arrival of VESSEL Housing Units at Fulton HeadquartersDrone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictions
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