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Today at noon, His Excellency the President Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali received a telephone call from the President and Chair of the United States Export-Import (EXIM) Bank, Ms. Reta Jo Lewis. The EXIM Chair informed President Ali that the Board of EXIM has approved the loan for the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project valued at over $526 million at their Board Meeting held earlier today having completed the thirty-five day congressional notice period. The GtE Project is slated to deliver 300MW of Power to the grid when completed, expanding the supply of electricity, cutting the carbon footprint per kilowatt hour, and reducing energy costs to consumers by 50 percent. His Excellency expressed to Chairman Lewis and the EXIM Bank as well as all other US Government agencies and authorities involved, including Ambassador Theriot and her team at the US Embassy in Guyana, the Government’s strong appreciation and thanks for the approval granted and for the confidence shown in this GtE project and in Guyana. President Ali also commended the Guyana team at the Office of the President, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources, and the Guyana Embassy in Washington DC, whose work helped secure this important outcome for our country.Genasys: Fiscal Q4 Earnings SnapshotUNK awards degrees during winter commencementSuits L.A. First Teaser Means Court Is Officially Back in Session

ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Ga., where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 White House Diary that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid . And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new Saturday Night Live show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Here is my wish list for the incoming Trump administration to make America healthy and prosperous and great again in 2025. 1.Slash Job-Killing Regulations The regulatory state is a $2 trillion tax on the American economy. We all want worker safety, a clean environment and consumer protections, but in too many cases the costs of regulations far outweigh the societal benefits. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to slash 10 rules for every new rule. Just do it, Mr. President. (RELATED: JOHN STOSSEL: Does The Government Do Anything Well?) 2. Make The Trump Tax Cuts Permanent As JFK, Ronald Reagan and others have proven throughout history, lower tax rates lead to more growth, more investment and more jobs. The Trump tax cuts meant that a typical family of four earning $75,000 a year saw their tax bill fall by half — a benefit valued at more than $2,000. And the corporate tax rate fell from 35% — the highest in the world — to 21%, bringing jobs and capital to America. Trump has promised to make all these tax cuts permanent. Why? Because they worked almost exactly as we anticipated they would. 3. Replace Welfare With Work Growth will require more able-bodied Americans getting off welfare and into jobs. Welfare — which includes cash assistance, public housing, food stamps, disability payments, unemployment benefits and Medicaid — needs to be a hand up, not a handout. 4. Use America’s Abundant Natural Resources America has well more than $50 trillion of natural resources that are accessible with existing drilling and mining technologies. This is a vast storehouse of wealth that far surpasses what any other nation is endowed with. We can use the royalty payments and leases to reduce our national debt while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. 5. Cut Medical Costs by Demanding Health Care Price Transparency One of many ways to bring health care costs down to consumers (and taxpayers, who pay half the costs) is to require hospitals, pharmacies, doctors and health clinics to list prices for what they are charging. The Committee to Unleash Prosperity estimates that $1 trillion to $2 trillion could be reduced from health care costs, with no reduction in the quality of care, by allowing consumers to shop around on the internet for the best price — just as we do when we buy groceries, a home or a car. This will foster free market competition and lower prices. 6. Allow School Choice for All Families Test scores in America have been plummeting. Kids are graduating from high school — if at all — without even being able to read the diploma. America no longer ranks in the top 10 in many academic achievement ratings. A child can get a better education at half the cost in the Catholic school system and in many charters. Trump has endorsed universal school choice for all children regardless of income or ethnicity or race. This is the civil rights issue of our time. 7. Implement A Pro-America Immigration Policy Trump’s committed to securing our border, but we also need legal immigrants through a merit-based immigration system. This visa system would select immigrants based on their skills, talents, investment capital, English language ability and education level. These characteristics all presage success in America. 8. Revive America’s Great Cities Our once-great cities in America — from New York to Chicago to Detroit to San Francisco to Seattle — have come to look like war zones. Crime has run rampant. Businesses and people and capital are fleeing and leaving the poorest Americans — mostly minorities — stranded with tragically limited opportunities other than working at Walmart or McDonald’s for minimum wage. Since 2020, our major cities have lost nearly 1 million residents. And tens of thousands of businesses. Trump wants to revitalize our cities and abandoned rural areas through deregulation, reduction in tax rates, changes in zoning policies and infrastructure investments. 9. Pull the U.S. Out Of The Paris Climate Change Treaty And Other Anti-America Agreements We must end American participation in globalist treaties that hurt America most. This includes the Paris Climate Accords — a treaty with which most other nations have failed to comply, yet which places huge burdens on American companies and workers. Trump also has pledged to end global taxation — such as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s global minimum tax. Do we even need a United Nations? 10. Finally, Drain The Swamp There is a reason why three of the five wealthiest counties in America are in or around Washington, D.C. Washington is getting rich at the expense of the rest of us. Fewer than 10% of overpaid federal workers (of which there are more than 2 million) are working full time in the office even though COVID-19 ended three years ago. These are swamp employees that often get paid $150,000 or more a year. Fire them if they don’t show up. And relocate federal agencies in other cities. These are admittedly bold aspirations for an economic transformation toward freedom and free enterprise. But the one person who can get it done is Trump. Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. His new book, coauthored with Arthur Laffer, is “The Trump Economic Miracle.” The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org .Kristin Cavallari Looks Back on Dates With Morgan Wallen: 'True Gentleman'

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Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly battling leukaemia and has been given a 50 percent chance of survival. According to a report by the Britiah daily The Telegraph, Asma is said to be undergoing treatment and has been isolated to prevent infection and was prohibited from sharing a room with others. In May this year, Syrian presidency announced that the then-first lady has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, following her 2019 complete recovery from breast cancer. However, the report suggests that Asma’s leukaemia has resurfaced after a period of remission. She has been under the care of her father Fawaz Akhras, a London-based cardiologist, for six months, initially in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and now in Moscow. Bashar al-Assad and his family fled Syria and sought refuge in Moscow on Sunday, December 8 , following an 11-day rebel offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), following years of civil war. Assad is facing severe Russian restrictions, including being barred from leaving or engaging in political activities, and his assets have been frozen, a claim denied by the Kremlin. Since the start of the Syrian uprising, she has been reportedly planning to exile herself and her children to London. According to the latest reports, she has also filed for divorce from Bashar al-Assad due to dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow and is seeking treatment in London. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denied the claims, saying that they do not align with reality. Asma, born in London in 1975 to Syrian parents, currently holds dual British and Syrian citizenship. Asma and Bashar al-Assad married in December 2000. The couple has three children—Hafez, Zein, and Karim.Technology Theater students share behind the scenes of SPS productions

Noa Lininger was a freshman at Lafayette’s Centaurus High at the end of the pandemic and decided a traditional high school experience wasn’t for them. After trying various options, Noa created a senior year schedule that combines an in-person, concurrent enrollment videography class at the Boulder Technical Education Center with online Front Range Community College classes. Concurrent enrollment allows high school students to earn college credit while in high school, with the college tuition paid for by the state. Because of concurrent enrollment programs, Noa expects to graduate from high school in May with 22 college credits at no cost and plans to continue their education. “Concurrent enrollment classes helped me see my options,” said Lininger, who goes by they/their pronouns. Statewide, as originally reported by Chalkbeat Colorado , high school students account for almost half of the state’s community college enrollment, thanks to concurrent enrollment. Of the 88,118 students enrolled at the two-year level, more than 39,000 students statewide are still in high school, the Colorado Community College System reports. In total, high school students accounted for almost 90% of enrollment increases at the community college level this year. Since the pandemic, high school students have become a main driver of community college enrollment in the state. Front Range Community College is the largest provider of concurrent enrollment in Colorado. The college serves about 13,000 dual-enrolled students and has contracts with 65 partners. FRCC serves students at more than 120 sites, including 55 high schools. FRCC has campuses in Longmont, Westminster and Fort Collins. “The need for concurrent enrollment, the popularity and the access have just skyrocketed,” said Courtney Graeff, FRCC’s director of concurrent enrollment at the Longmont campus. “We’re constantly having to find new ways of keeping up with the numbers because the popularity has increased exponentially.” For Noa, college classes are different enough from high school courses that they can now see themselves continuing their education. They feel the classes are more interesting and “structured better for how my brain works.” Noa’s plans include earning a professional esthetician license at Boulder TEC before graduation, potentially trying video editing as a side gig and applying to the ASCENT program. ASCENT, or Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment, allows students who completed at least nine college credits to stay in high school for a fifth year while they take free college classes. “It’s a huge opportunity for students to continue their education at Front Range,” Graeff said. Along with Front Range, colleges that participate in ASCENT include Metropolitan State University Denver, University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, Emily Griffith Technical College, Western Colorado University and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. FRCC has seen consistent, steady growth in all concurrent enrollment classes college-wide since 2009. At the Boulder County campus in Longmont, concurrent enrollment students comprised 53% of the 5,506 total students in the 2023-2024 academic year. The year before, those students made up 46% of the total population and 32% the year before that. In both the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley school districts, officials say student demand for concurrent enrollment classes has increased exponentially in recent years. Most of those classes are taught on high school campuses by high school teachers certified to teach at the college level. Taking college classes online is another popular option. Only a small percentage of students attend classes on a college campus. Along with FRCC, Boulder Valley has concurrent enrollment agreements with the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Colorado Denver and Metro State University. For the fall semester, 1,603 Boulder Valley students were earning college credits. Of those, about 100 were taking classes at a college, either in-person or online. The rest, about 1,500 students, took concurrent enrollment classes at their high school or at Boulder TEC. Getting more students into concurrent enrollment classes is part of the school district’s Grad Plus initiative, which encourages all students to graduate with more than a diploma. Other options include work-based learning and industry certificates. “We’re all about helping students get ahead in their education,” said Madeline Brockish, Boulder Valley’s Career and College Connections coordinator. “Concurrent enrollment is really about making college more affordable to students and saving them time.” St. Vrain Valley officials said the district enrolled a record number of students in concurrent enrollment classes in the fall. To meet the demand and help students navigate their options, each of its high schools now has a counselor who oversees the program. The district has concurrent enrollment agreements with six colleges: FRCC, Red Rocks Community College, Aims Community College, University of Colorado Denver, Colorado State University Online and Metro State University. First semester, 1,733 students took 91 concurrent enrollment classes. Sixty of those were taught in St. Vrain Valley classrooms, while the other 31 were held online or at a college campus. St. Vrain Valley Assistant Superintendent Kahle Charles said concurrent enrollment classes give students a competitive advantage going into college or the workforce, while earning credits can make coursework feel more relevant. “It’s opening opportunities for our students,” he said. “We really appreciate these relationships we have with these higher education institutions. They’re really seeing the value of working with school districts.” At FRCC, concurrent enrollment students have access to all the same support services as the college’s traditional students, including library databases, tutoring, writing and math support centers. Graeff said those opportunities are life-changing, especially for students of color, first-generation students and students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. “The student debt crisis has really pushed forward the opportunities for concurrent enrollment students,” Graeff said. “They’re starting to see the importance of engaging in college work earlier so that they can be more successful upon high school graduation, whether they’re continuing their education or entering the workforce.” As student interest grows, one challenge for school districts has been getting teachers certified to teach college classes. The qualifications can vary by college and subject, but colleges generally require either a master’s degree in the subject area being taught or a master’s degree plus 18 subject credit hours. If there’s not a high school teacher with those qualifications, the community college may send an instructor to teach the class on the high school campus. Centaurus High, for example, brought in a Front Range instructor this semester to teach three classes in Spanish to students who needed the higher-level coursework. Another Front Range class offered at Centaurus is English composition class. For that class, which is in its third year, the school has three qualified teachers. One of those is Jennifer Dunbar, who has a master’s degree in English literature, taught English at a community college in Washington and, after taking time off to raise her kids, went back to school for a teaching license and master’s in education. She said Front Range provides high school teachers with professional development, a mentor/class observer and support for registration issues. Front Range also provides a syllabus and online textbook but allows teachers to tailor the class based on their strengths. She added that combining higher education with K-12 required resolving some conflicts, including around special education accommodations. Accommodations are more limited at the college level. Along with the on-campus support Front Range offers to students, Impact on Education is covering the cost of after-school tutoring at Centaurus for concurrent enrollment students. “For kids who are underwater, it’s hard to get back,” Dunbar said. “We’ve caught a lot of students with this tutoring who might have failed.” Dunbar said many of the students taking the class are in the Centaurus engineering program and want to get their college English requirements out of the way. Others want the experience of a college class. “I can prepare myself for when I go to college and be able to say I took a college class,” said senior Lizbeth Aguirre. “I took it as a challenge.” Classmate Logan Cole, also a senior, said he likes concurrent enrollment because, unlike in an AP class, a good grade guarantees college credit. In AP, receiving college credit requires a high enough score on the end-of-year AP test — and even then, colleges decide what scores and what subjects they’ll accept for credit. “Concurrent enrollment classes are a good taste of what a college class will be,” he said. Along with adding college classes at their high schools, both local districts are increasing opportunities to earn college credits in their career and technical education classes. To teach career and technical education classes for college credit, instructors typically need an associate’s degree or higher plus a specified number of hours of industry experience. Kate Topham, the counselor at St. Vrain Valley’s Career Elevation and Technology Center, said the center offers 50 classes with the opportunity to earn college credit through five college partners, up from two college partners in 2019. She talks up the advantages, helps students register with the colleges and troubleshoots with students if there are problems. Of the students eligible to earn college credit, she said, 83% signed up this fall. “I tell students they’re not opting into a harder class,” she said. “Instead, it’s about where those credits can take you in the future. You can add it to a resume or get ahead in college. The impact is amazing.” Emma Grassman, a senior at Erie High School taking a Certified Nursing Assistant class, said she’s learning skills like CPR that will be useful no matter where she ends up after high school. Plus, she said, the credit through Red Rocks Community College should help her stand out on college applications. “You’re showing them that you’re ready to go to college,” she said. Erik Hakanson, a Longmont High student taking manufacturing classes, said he’s on track to earn 12 credits in Metro State’s engineering program. Taking the classes at the Career Elevation and Technology Center, he said, saves money on college tuition, lets him learn from a supportive teacher who worked in the industry and gives him more time in the machine shop than he would likely get in college. “This gives you a hands-on experience,” he said. At Boulder’s Technical Education Center, Ash Collins is teaching a concurrent enrollment videography class. She started the center’s videography program four years ago, retrofitting a classroom into a studio by adding a sound booth and other equipment. Two years ago, she got certified to teach at the college level and partnered with Front Range, allowing her students to earn 12 college credits. “My expectations are high,” she said. “I need to be able to trust them to take ownership of what they’re learning. They get to decide what they want to create. Students really do get that college-level curriculum here. They should get credit for it.” She said the rigor and content are the same as a videography class taught at the college level, but she gives them more direct support. In college, she said, a student might be given a project that’s due in three months and be expected to complete it on their own. She provides more structure and breaks down the steps. “There’s a lot more checking in, but they’re capable of a lot,” she said. Along with a large roster of concurrent enrollment classes, St. Vrain offers the early college P-TECH, or Pathways in Technology Early College High School, program. The extended year program gives high school students up to six years to earn an associate’s degree along with their high diploma, with a goal of getting underrepresented students into STEM fields after graduation. State funding covers the community college tuition costs. St. Vrain has expanded the program since first offering it at Skyline High in 2016 to four high schools. Altogether, 444 St. Vrain students are enrolled in P-TECH classes this school year, with students generally going to the community college campus for classes starting in their junior and senior years. Each high school has a different focus, community college partners and business partners. Front Range partners with the P-TECH programs at the three Longmont schools, Skyline High, Silver Creek and Longmont High. “They always tell me, ‘Ms, I never thought I’d go to college,'”Graeff said. “And the day that they graduate I get to watch them walk across the stage and get that college degree before they even graduate high school.” April Menzies, FRCC’s associate vice president for K-12 partnerships, said the college about five years ago was seeing double-digit percentage increases in concurrently enrolled students year-over-year. Now increases aren’t so high, but enrollment is still going up. “What the data really shows, both in the state data reports and nationwide, is students tend to start taking college classes in high school and they tend to go to college at a greater rate than students that don’t have that opportunity or don’t take college classes in high school,” Menzies said. Roughly a third of FRCC’s concurrent enrollment students return to the college for further education at some point after high school. Many others often continue to a four-year college or university. Menzies said concurrent enrollment can create financial savings for families and allow students to explore career opportunities and topics not available in the high school curriculum. She said there’s also value in learning how college works, helping students transition to college with more ease. “There are lots of reasons why students take a concurrent enrollment class, and the nice thing is it serves a lot of needs,” Menzies said. “It meets a lot of different goals for students and families.” Colorado lawmakers say they recognize the value of dual enrollment, especially because national research shows these programs can help eliminate gaps in who gets to college. But they also want more information on the long-term benefit of the programs, as well as the overall costs to the state. A state task force has called for streamlining what it has described as a fragmented early career and college system built over many years. Colorado has numerous programs, but not every district offers every program. Each program has different reporting requirements, making it hard to measure how programs are working individually and as a whole. Colorado lawmakers enacted legislation this year that: Directs the state to perform a comprehensive financial study to analyze how much the programs cost the state and districts; Compiles long-term data on program outcomes; Expands college opportunities for high school students; and Seeks to find a comprehensive direction on college and career education. The financial study , by Denver-based Slalom Consulting, was published in December and includes recommendations to consolidate state grants and incentives into a single funding source, standardize concurrent enrollment tuition agreements, adopt a tuition reimbursement model for extended-year programs like ASCENT and P-TECH, and reassess the ASCENT program. ASCENT, according to the report, should be realigned to ensure it’s focused on the original intent of serving low-income, at-risk students. A lack of clear workforce goals and rising costs are other concerns lawmakers have raised about ASCENT. Unlike P-TECH, ASCENT doesn’t require students to choose a particular major or area of study. From the school district perspective, St. Vrain’s Charles said, a common tuition agreement and streamlining teacher qualifications would both be helpful, especially for rural school districts that don’t have the same resources as a larger district like St. Vrain. “Statewide, it can be a better system for all of us,” he said. Chalkbeat Colorado contributed to this report.

AMBCrypto CEO Jeevan on Future of Cryptocurrency Regulations 12-09-2024 10:26 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: ABNewswire "Regulations are not the end but a new beginning for the crypto industry." - Jeevan Thomas, AMBCrypto CEO AMBCrypto's CEO Jeevan Thomas discusses the evolving regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies, emphasizing the balance between innovation and compliance, and the potential impacts on DeFi, CBDCs, and investor protection. The cryptocurrency landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up. Jeevan Thomas [ https://ee.linkedin.com/in/jeeevaan ], CEO of AMBCrypto [ https://ambcrypto.com/ ], offered his insights into how future regulations could shape the crypto industry and what this means for investors, businesses, and the global economy. A New Era of Regulation "Regulation is inevitable in any emerging industry," said Jeevan. He believes that the next few years will usher in a new era of comprehensive crypto regulations. Governments worldwide are recognizing the need to protect consumers without stifling innovation. Countries like the United States and members of the European Union are already drafting policies. "We're moving towards a more standardized global regulatory environment," Jeevan noted. This could reduce ambiguity and encourage institutional investment. Balancing Innovation and Compliance One of the biggest challenges is striking the right balance. According to Jeevan, "Regulations should not hinder technological advancement." He advocates for frameworks that encourage innovation while ensuring security and transparency. Sandbox environments are one solution. They allow startups to test products under regulatory supervision. He added, "This fosters creativity while managing risks. Such initiatives could lead to groundbreaking developments in blockchain technology." Impact on Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Decentralized Finance has exploded in popularity. However, its unregulated nature raises concerns. "DeFi platforms must prepare for increased scrutiny," warned Jeevan. Future regulations may require these platforms to implement Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures. This could legitimize DeFi in the eyes of traditional investors. "Compliance could open doors to new capital," he suggested. And yet, it's crucial to maintain the decentralized ethos that defines DeFi. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) on the Rise Central banks are exploring their own digital currencies too. According to Jeevan, "CBDCs will redefine the financial landscape." These state-backed cryptocurrencies could co-exist with existing digital assets, but they also present challenges. "CBDCs may compete with decentralized cryptocurrencies," he added. Regulations will need to address how these currencies interact. Collaboration between governments and crypto enterprises could lead to a more integrated financial system. Global Regulatory Harmonization Currently, crypto regulations vary widely by country. "This patchwork approach creates confusion," Jeevan pointed out. In fact, he also called for international cooperation to establish unified standards. Organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are working towards global guidelines. "Harmonization can reduce regulatory arbitrage," he explained. This would make it easier for businesses to operate internationally. Investor Protection and Education Protecting investors is a primary goal of regulation, with Jeevan noting that, "Scams and fraud have plagued the crypto industry." Enhanced regulations can safeguard consumers, but education is equally important. "An informed investor is a protected investor," he added. AMBCrypto is committed to providing educational resources. By promoting awareness, the industry can reduce susceptibility to fraudulent schemes. Privacy vs. Transparency Regulations often demand transparency, but privacy is a core value for many in the crypto community. "We need to find a middle ground," Jeevan acknowledged. Future policies might focus on privacy-preserving technologies that still allow for compliance. Zero-knowledge proofs are one such innovation. "They enable verification without revealing sensitive information," he explained. Incorporating these technologies could satisfy regulatory requirements while respecting user privacy. Taxation and Reporting Requirements Tax laws concerning cryptocurrencies are becoming more stringent. "Accurate reporting is now a necessity," warned Jeevan. Investors must stay informed about their obligations to avoid penalties. "Platforms like ours can help users navigate these complexities," he offered. AMBCrypto provides tools and guides to assist with tax compliance. Staying ahead of these changes is crucial for both individuals and businesses. The Role of Stablecoins Stablecoins have gained attention from regulators due to their potential impact on monetary policy. "They blur the lines between cryptocurrencies and traditional finance," Jeevan observed. According to Jeevan, "Regulations may impose stricter controls on stablecoin issuers. Transparency and reserves auditing might become mandatory." This could enhance trust but may also increase operational burdens. Anticipating Technological Advancements Technology doesn't wait for regulations. "Innovations like smart contracts and NFTs are outpacing policy," Jeevan remarked. Regulators will need to adapt quickly to new developments. In fact, he believes proactive collaboration is the key. "Industry leaders should work with policymakers," he advised. By sharing expertise, they can help shape effective and forward-thinking regulations. Potential for Self-Regulation The crypto industry could adopt self-regulatory measures. "Self-regulation demonstrates maturity," said Jeevan. Establishing industry standards can pre-empt heavy-handed government intervention. Organizations can set best practices for security, transparency, and ethical conduct. "This builds credibility and fosters trust," he added. Self-regulation can also complement official policies and promote a healthier ecosystem. Opportunities Amidst Challenges Regulations may pose challenges, but they also present opportunities. Jeevan believes, "Clear rules can attract institutional investors. Increased participation from traditional finance can drive market growth." Moreover, regulations can legitimize cryptocurrencies. "They shift perception from speculative assets to viable financial instruments," he asserted. This could lead to broader acceptance and integration into everyday transactions. Preparing for the Future Businesses and investors must stay agile. "Adaptability is essential," advised Jeevan. Keeping abreast of regulatory changes allows for strategic planning. In fact, he recommended leveraging resources like AMBCrypto for the latest updates. "Information is power," he emphasized. Staying informed enables stakeholders to navigate the evolving landscape successfully. Conclusion The future of cryptocurrency regulations is complex and multifaceted. Jeevan Thomas, as CEO of AMBCrypto, provided some valuable insights into what lies ahead. From balancing innovation with compliance to embracing new technologies, the industry stands at a pivotal point. Jeevan concluded by stating, "Regulations are not the end but a new beginning. By working together, the crypto community and regulators can forge a path that fosters growth, protects investors, and embraces innovation." Media Contact Company Name: AMBCrypto Contact Person: Sujeev Thomas Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=ambcrypto-ceo-jeevan-on-future-of-cryptocurrency-regulations ] Country: India Website: https://ambcrypto.com/ This release was published on openPR.

The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season after the star wideout played through a shoulder injury for nearly two months. Lamb initially sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Nov. 3 but has not missed any of the Cowboys' first 15 games this season. "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out' for the remaining two games of the season," a team spokesperson said in a statement to media outlets. "He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery." The Cowboys (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, face two division rivals to close the season. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and will host the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Lamb, 25, hauled in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns this season. It marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and he may be selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl for his efforts. Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August, covering the 2025-28 seasons. --Field Level MediaMarcos, Cabinet combing through budget