www.casino plus As we approach the end of 2024, the full Cold Moon will shine in the middle of December, bringing a lively social energy just in time for the holiday season. Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas, who is known for his cosmic guidance among celebrities, businesses and online influencers, spoke to "Good Morning America" about the best ways to take advantage of this engaging full moon. But first, let's break down the meaning of the Cold Moon and what to know about this particular celestial event. When is the Cold Moon in 2024? The Cold Moon will arrive on Dec. 15, according to Thomas. Why is it called the Cold Moon? The Cold Moon gets its name because December is the month when the weather typically turns cold, according to NASA. The Old Farmer's Almanac states that some Native Americans also called the Cold Moon the Long Night Moon. The second name likely originates from the fact that the full moon in December occurs near the winter solstice, which has the longest night of the year, according to NASA. "The full moon takes a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite to the low sun, so the moon will be above the horizon longer than at other times of the year," NASA states. What zodiac sign is the Cold Moon in December? The zodiac sign of each full moon is determined by its position in the night sky relative to the astrological signs. This year, the Cold Moon occurs as a full moon in Gemini, an air sign associated with communication, technology, and short-distance travel, according to Thomas. It encourages mental connections, particularly with those in our immediate circles -- friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and siblings. "We will be motivated to express our minds and may be in the process of launching a significant writing, speaking, advertising, digital or social media project," Thomas added. "The pace of life will also quicken rapidly." Rituals and manifestations to try during the Cold Moon Many ancient cultures, from Chinese traditions to Hebrew holidays, celebrate celestial cycles and revere the power of the moon. For instance, Thomas noted that Gemini, an air sign, makes this an ideal time to integrate communication -- whether written or spoken -- into your rituals. "This is a great moment to communicate our desires to the world -- as well as to others," he explained. "Writing down explicit statements, manifestation goals, and plans can be particularly useful. Also, as an Air sign, using smoke, sage, or incense can be excellent tools during meditation or ritual." Potential meditations, mantras or journal prompts: I learn about the world. I am confident in my perspective and voice. I will be curious about everything and choose to grow. I am limitless, like the sky. Astrology horoscope for the Cold Moon for your zodiac sign Speak up and speak out, Aries! "You have an important message that you'd like to broadcast to the world. This full moon could help you to launch an important writing, speaking, advertising or social media endeavor to great success. People will be listening!" Thomas said. Wealth is top of mind, Taurus. "Prosperity could soon be on its way," Thomas explained. "The full moon should bring to [ a ] culmination an important financial matter for you - perhaps in the form of a raise, new job offer or large check." Claim your spotlight, Gemini. According to Thomas, "the most important full moon of the year has arrived for you, as you reach an important turning point. Something of vital personal significance will reach [ its ] culmination at this time, perhaps giving you closure that will improve your life going forward." Relax and recharge, Cancer. "This full moon will encourage you to reset your emotional, mental and physical batteries-you've earned it! Lie low and give yourself some much-needed TLC. If you are in need of finding a specialist, therapist or healer, this lunation could also aid you in doing so." Thomas added. Get out and mingle, Leo. "You're always popular, but with this full moon highlighting your friendships, you'll be on the top of everyone's holiday list!" Thomas explained. "You'll likely attend at least one dazzling event where you're the star of the show. Circulate amongst those who you love and make time to show how much you appreciate them." Embrace your success, Virgo. According to Thomas, "A major professional victory could now be within reach. A promotion, new job offer, milestone or opportunity for public praise may present itself near this time. Previous hard work will surely be celebrated." Keep an open mind for a new adventure, Libra. "You could now be ready to soar in a breathtaking new direction-or make plans to do so in 2024!" Thomas said. "This full moon will energize you to slightly shift the narrative of your life and examine what else you'd like to learn. Some Libras will make a decision or hear news regarding an academic, travelling, immigration or media endeavor." It's time to explore your intimacy department, Scorpio. "The full moon will be helping you to get in touch with your most sensitive parts-emotionally and physically," Thomas explained. "If single, you could attract someone who knows how to complete you in every way. If taken, you'll be assessing if your authentic needs are being fulfilled by your partner." Take a closer look at your partnership, Sagittarius. "This full moon will help you to grow closer with someone in business, collaboration or love," Thomas added. "Single Sagittarians may have luck finding a perfect match, so be sure to put yourself out there. Love won't find you if you're not making an effort! Those already committed could decide it's time to make long-term plans, move in, get engaged or even be wed." Get ready to make progress, Capricorn. According to Thomas, "the full moon will make you busier than ever." "You may now be focused upon an important project for your employer that must have final approval," he said. "You could be putting everything you have into completing the task, but be sure to do so, as it could end up making you shine brighter than ever in your boss's eyes." Open your heart to love, Aquarius. "Get excited for a vibrant, romantic period to appear," Thomas added. "Single Aquarians must not let this energy go to waste, as you could find someone who is a soulmate or who lights your heart on fire." Toast to the holidays and reflect on the year, Pisces. "This full moon will bring to [ a ] culmination a domestic, family or real estate matter for you," Thomas said. "Some Pisceans could be hosting a lovely gathering at their home with their kindred. Others may be contemplating a big renovation, redecoration or move now or in the coming year."A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence "dictatorship" is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker's ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world's richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft, which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk's filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI is filing a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would cripple OpenAI’s business and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI's CEO. Musk in an email outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. He grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence, or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI," said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don't want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you've shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman's desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk's early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.”, a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. OpenAI said Musk later proposed merging the startup into Tesla before resigning as the co-chair of OpenAI's board in early 2018. Musk didn't immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a US$1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration.

Cowboys RB Rico Dowdle could be in line for a big game against Carolina's 32nd-ranked run defense

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Pjay Smith Jr. scored 23 points as Furman beat Princeton 69-63 on Saturday. Smith also added eight rebounds and four steals for the Paladins (9-1). Garrett Hien scored 10 points while going 5 of 10 and 0 of 4 from the free-throw line and added seven rebounds. Nick Anderson shot 3 for 9 from beyond the arc to finish with nine points. The Tigers (7-4) were led by Xaivian Lee, who posted 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Princeton also got 13 points and four assists from Dalen Davis. Caden Pierce also had 11 points and four steals. NEXT UP Up next for Furman is a Saturday matchup with South Carolina State at home, and Princeton hosts Monmouth on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Let's say you found yourself broke and had nothing to tide you over for the next few week. If you were in desperate need of 200 dollars, today, do you have a friend you could call who would give it to you? This was one of the questions posed in a recent study on friendship that I found so arresting. Because of all the people asked that question, a significant proportion answered in the negative. The study revealed the gradual widening of the spaces between us with some staggering numbers about the poor state of social connection and community, including this: 17 per cent of Americans in 2024 said they didn't have a single close friend. That's nearly one in five people. Perhaps even more alarming is how quickly this has unfolded. Since 2021, the share of Americans without...

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (“Asante” or the “Company”) announces the filing of its financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) for the three month and nine months ended October 31, 2024 (“Q3 2025”). Dave Anthony, President and CEO stated, “We are pleased to report another solid quarter with significant growth in adjusted EBITDA, reflecting the positive impact of ongoing business improvement initiatives at Bibiani and Chirano, combined with the substitutional leverage our operations have to higher gold prices. The relocation of the Bibiani-Goaso highway was a critical milestone for unlocking further growth at Bibiani, and development of the Russel Starter Pit underlines the district-scale opportunities we have in front of us. Both of these developments justify accelerated stripping in the near term, with a corresponding increase in all-in-sustaining costs to unlock their potential. Execution of the sulphide treatment plant project at Bibiani, which is expected to increase gold recovery to 92%, remains on track with commissioning planned for March 2025. And at Chirano, metallurgical and throughput projects are starting to pay off. We were also pleased to update the market on a comprehensive package of non-dilutive finance initiatives to fund the organic growth embedded in our operations, and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress in the near term.” All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated. A summary of the financial and operating results for fiscal Q3 2025 are presented in this news release. For a detailed discussion of results for the third quarter please refer to the MD&A filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and Asante’s website at www.asantegold.com . Quarter ended October 31, 2024 Summary Financial Results Asante’s revenue for the three months ended October 31, 2024 was $111 million, a 15% increase from $96 million in the same period in 2023. The increase in revenue is attributable to an increase in average gold price realized per ounce of $2,347 for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $1,859 in the same period in 2023. This was partially offset by a decrease in ounces sold of 43,273 for the three months ended October 31, 2024 compared to 50,573 ounces sold in the same period in 2023. Asante’s revenue for the nine months ended October 31, 2024, was $339 million, a 15% increase from $295 million for the same period in 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2024 was $17,552 and $50,423, respectively, compared to $1,968 and negative $19,457 in the same periods of the prior year. The positive adjusted EBITDA and increase in revenue reflect the rise in gold prices to near all-time highs. The Company produced 45,273 gold equivalent ounces for the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to 46,525 gold equivalent ounces in the same period in 2023. The decrease in gold production was primarily the result of lower feed grades, and lower recovery at Bibiani. Asante produced 145,632 gold equivalent ounces for the nine months ended October 31, 2024 compared to 155,532 in the same period in 2023. Consolidated AISC increased by 26% for the three months ended October 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to additional costs at Bibiani resulting from the start of mining at the new Russell satellite pit, plus increased stripping in the Main Pit, lower grade ore and reduced recovery. Consolidated AISC decreased by 5% for the nine months ended October 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This decrease was mainly attributed to lower sustaining capital and reduced mining costs per ounce sold at Bibiani, as a result of decreased waste mining earlier in the year. Bibiani Mine – Summary of the quarter ended October 31, 2024 Results In the three and nine months ended October 31, 2024, ore mined decreased 57% and 27% compared to the same periods in 2023 primarily due to fleet availability issues caused by funding constraints. Gold equivalent ounces produced was 12,309 in the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to 16,459 in the same period of 2023, and decreased to 47,945 in the nine months ended October 31, 2024, from 53,811 in the same period of 2023. This decrease was mainly due to the lower feed grade of plant feed, including the low-grade stockpile draw, and a higher proportion of sulphide ore processed without the benefit of a sulphide treatment plant, which continues to limit gold recovery. Construction of the Company’s sulphide treatment plant is underway, and is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2025, contingent on the availability of sufficient funding. AISC increased to $3,115 per ounce in the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $1,884 per ounce in the same period of 2023, primarily due to elevated stripping requirements and lower grade ore processed. AISC decreased to $2,286 per ounce in the nine months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $2,588 per ounce in the same period of 2023, driven by lower sustaining capital resulting from decreased waste mining requirements earlier in the year. Bibiani Outlook For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, the Company expects production of 52,500 to 57,500 gold equivalent ounces. For fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, the Company plans to execute on its growth strategy which includes: Expansion of the Bibiani main pit through acceleration of its waste stripping program, which is expected to significantly increase production through access to higher grade ore Construction and commissioning of the sulphide treatment plant which is planned to significantly increase gold recovery Plant throughput expansions including installation of a pebble crusher and secondary crusher during 2025 to achieve throughput increase from 3.0 Mt/y to 4.0 Mt/y Plant upgrades to the carbon-in-leach circuit Community relocation, to support main pit expansion through 2030 Road construction connecting Bibiani to Chirano Emergency generator installation during 2025 to function as a secondary power source, ensuring uninterrupted operation and reduced plant downtime Commencement of underground mining. The Underground Mining Feasibility Study was completed in September 2024 and this development program is planned to start for the quarter ended January 31, 2026. Full production from the underground mine is planned for 2028, with delivery of up to 2.6Mt/y at 3.0 g/t Au, through 2038. External financing will be required in order to execute this growth strategy. Subject to the availability of sufficient financing in early calendar 2025, the Company expects to successfully complete the above initiatives and produce between 175,000 and 205,000 gold ounces at Bibiani in the fiscal year ending January 31, 2026, including a significant increase in monthly production in the second half of the fiscal year post advancement of the planned stripping program and completion of the sulphide treatment plant. There can be no certainty that the Company will be successful in securing sufficient financing on a timely basis. Chirano Mine – Summary of the quarter ended October 31, 2024 Results Ore mined increased by 51% in the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, and by 16% in the nine months ended October 31, 2024, compared to the corresponding period in 2023. Ore mined increased due to increased mining activity at the Obra, Mamnao North, Mamnao Central, Sariehu and Sariehu/Mamnao gap open pits, which were in the stripping stage during the three months ended October 31, 2023, as well as increased operations at the Suraw and Obra underground mines. Higher ore grades and increased ore processed contributed to increased gold equivalent ounces produced to 32,964 ounces in the three months ended October 31, 2024 from 30,076 ounces in the same period of 2023. Reduced grade during the nine months ended October 31, 2024 resulted in a decline in gold equivalent ounces produced to 97,687 ounces in the nine months ended October 31, 2024 from 101,721 ounces in the same period of 2023. AISC increased to $2,031 per ounce in the three months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $1,846 per ounce in the same period of 2023, and to $1,905 per ounce in the nine months ended October 31, 2024, compared to $1,892 per ounce in the same period of 2023. This increase was primarily driven by lower gold equivalent ounces sold, higher maintenance costs and higher sustaining capital expenditures in the current reporting period. Chirano Outlook For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2025, the Company expects production of 130,000 to 140,000 gold equivalent ounces. The Company plans to undertake the following initiatives beyond January 31, 2025, which are expected to enhance production and reduce costs in future years: Execution of process plant projects to improve performance and increase the annual mine production rate to 4Mt/annum. This includes CIL agitators and intertank screens upgrade, cyclone system upgrade to improve grinding size control, carbon regeneration system upgrade to improve carbon activity, mill discharge pumps upgrade, gold room electrowinning cells and rectifiers upgrade. Underground development of Obra to the north and at depth (wide orebody) and Suraw underground mines to ensure consistent ore delivery. Underground development of the Akwaaba, Tano and Akoti far south mines to supplement flexibility to ensure robust underground ore delivery. Development of the exploration drifts towards the north to explore and reclassify the resource at Sariehu and Mamnao underground mines as the future underground mines at Chirano. Finalization of the feasibility and bankable studies of the North mine with a conveyor system feeding directly to the process plant Run-of-Mine (“ROM”) pad. Start of Aboduabo open pit oxide mining. Ongoing underground exploration projects at the Suraw, Obra and open pit mine life extension projects at the Sariehu/Mamnao area are progressing as planned. 3D litho-structural modelling at the Obra mine is ongoing to support mine life extension. Based on preliminary budgetary estimates, the Company expects to produce between 155,000 and 175,000 gold ounces at Chirano for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. The Company requires external financing to execute planned capital projects and production targets for fiscal 2026, and meet other short-term obligations. The Company continues to pursue a number of financing initiatives, including those outlined in the Company’s news release of October 30, 2024, which it is seeking to conclude by early calendar 2025. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain adequate financing in the future or that such financing will be on terms acceptable to the Company. Qualified Person Statement The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by David Anthony, P.Eng., Mining and Mineral Processing, President and CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101. Non-IFRS Measures This news release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), including “all-in sustaining costs” (or “AISC”), average gold price realized, adjusted EBITDA and working capital. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and should be read in conjunction with Asante’s consolidated financial statements. Readers should refer to Asante's Management Discussion and Analysis under the heading "Non-IFRS Measures" for a more detailed discussion of how Asante calculates certain of such measures and a reconciliation of certain measures to IFRS terms. About Asante Gold Corporation Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana’s Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company’s website at www.asantegold.com . About the Bibiani Gold Mine Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process plant and existing mining infrastructure. Asante commenced mining at Bibiani in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10, 2022. For additional information relating to the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold Mine, please refer to the 2024 Bibiani Technical Report filed on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile ( www.sedarplus.ca ). About the Chirano Gold Mine Chirano is an operating open pit and underground mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of the Company’s Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines. For additional information relating to the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Chirano Gold Mine, please refer to the 2024 Chirano Technical Report filed on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile ( www.sedarplus.ca ). For further information please contact: Dave Anthony, President & CEO Frederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country Director info@asantegold.com +1 604 661 9400 or +233 303 972 147 Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, gold production and AISC forecasts for the Bibiani and Chirano Gold Mines, financing initiatives, estimated mineral resources, reserves, exploration results and potential, development programs, including construction of the Company's sulphide treatment plant, and the timing thereof, and increases in mine-life and gold recoveries, starter pit development and potential synergies between Chirano and Bibiani. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, the Company’s inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Company’s public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.‘When Is It Time To Go?’ A Departing Senator’s Advice for DemocratsToronto Blue Jays officially sign reliever Garcia to two-year, US$15M deal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Sen. Kay Patterson, who rose from cleaning offices at the segregated Statehouse to serving as a state legislator for over 30 years died Friday. He was 93. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Patterson's death saying he “left an indelible mark on our state. Senator Patterson commanded everyone’s attention with his wit and wisdom.” The statement did not list a cause of death. Patterson was born in 1931 in Darlington County and raised by his grandmothers. They recalled his hardheaded spirit early, recommending he not take jobs as a golf caddy or shoe shiner because he was likely to mouth off to white people in segregated 1940s South Carolina and get in trouble. Instead, Patterson served in the military and then got his teaching degree through the GI Bill at Allen University. While in college, he cleaned offices at the segregated capitol where he and other Black people couldn't be unless they were working. "When I was a janitor, Black people couldn’t go in the Statehouse," Patterson said in a 2004 interview with the University of South Carolina. “And then one day I came back down here as a member of the House and then in '84, I came back sitting in the Senate as a senator. Now that’s a hell of a long way to come.” Patterson spent 30 years in education and was elected to the South Carolina House in 1974 and the Senate 10 years later after U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn urged him to run for the upper chamber seat. In a statement, Clyburn called Patterson “a trusted leader, a tireless champion for civil rights, and a treasured friend. He was a person of strength, determination, wisdom, and a long proponent of removing the Confederate flag from the South Carolina Statehouse dome .” Patterson was also the first Black person to serve on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees since Reconstruction. Patterson was a key member of both the House and Senate, He served on the budget committees in both chambers and was a major voice in support of civil rights, public education and helping poor people. He adamantly demanded the Confederate flag be removed from atop the Statehouse dome and inside the House and Senate chambers long before they were taken down in 2000. The lifelong Democrat said the final years of his political career were the toughest after Republicans took over state government. His seniority no longer mattered and he felt many newer Republicans were religious hypocrites who claimed to help others but only cared for people just like themselves. A few years before he retired from the Statehouse, Patterson said it was important to respect elders and supervisors, but not be afraid to speak up if bothered or something was on one's mind. “That’s just my hallmark ever since I was a little child. It will get you in trouble now, but you can sleep well at night. And learn to treat everybody as human beings with respect,” Patterson said in the interview with the university's Champions of Civil and Human Rights in South Carolina program. “You can sleep real good at night. Right now, I’m 73 years old and sleep like a log when I go to bed because I know I’ve done no wrong to my fellow man,” Patterson said. Jeffrey Collins, The Associated PressWatchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were presentEarlier this week, Daniel Penny was acquitted of homicide in the killing of Jordan Neely, a Black unhoused man, on the New York City subway in 2023. And Vice President-elect JD Vance has invited Penny to commingle with him and felon-elect Donald Trump at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday “Daniel's a good guy, and New York's mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone," Vance posted on X . "I'm grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he's able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.” Penny’s case was instantly polarizing. Outcries from minority communities and their allies called for legal retribution over Neely’s death. To them, Neely’s death was both avoidable and being treated differently, given he was an unhoused Black man. "Jordan Neely was murdered,” New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on X shortly after the killing. And after New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushed back against her phrasing, Ocasio-Cortez elaborated in an interview with The Cut , saying, “I would like everyone to pretend [Neely] was their son. I would like anyone to look at that video [of his killing], see their son, and see if they would say the same thing.” However, conservative painted Penny as a hero, highlighting his past as a Marine and arguing his right to self-defense. And his actions became a talking point for right-leaning outlets and politicians. "I'll take a million court appearances and people calling me names and people hating me, just to keep one of those people from getting hurt or killed," Penny said to Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro the day after his acquittal. And while many X users applauded Vance for inviting Penny to the football game, others called out the odd celebration of someone who, while acquitted, still had a role in the death of another man. “Yay let’s go hang out with a killer at a football game,” tweeted one account. Penny’s case and the public’s reaction are reminiscent of Kyle Rittenhouse’s case. Rittenhouse was found not guilty in the 2020 fatal shooting of two unarmed men and the wounding of a pistol-wielding third during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. At the time, tensions were extremely high following a police officer’s murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. Protesters were taking to the streets to express their anger and heartbreak. Later, at his trial, Rittenhouse claimed he’d traveled to Kenosha with other armed friends to protect private property from being destroyed during the unrest. The case sparked outrage, which Trump happily stoked. "If he didn't pull that trigger, that guy that put the gun to his head, in one-quarter of a second he was going to pull the trigger," Trump said in a 2021 interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, who once reportedly pointed a gun at a fellow political analyst following an on-air debate. T rump invited Rittenhouse to Mar-a-Lago, telling Hannity that Rittenhouse was a “ really nice young man .” Making a jab at the dead and wounded, Trump added, “[Rittenhouse] was a fan, unlike the other guy.” Right now, Daily Kos is falling short of our 2024 goal. Your donations are how we make ends meet. Can you please donate $5 right now so we can close the books on 2024?