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By Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI — As her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche . Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. “I had a stroke and my life made a 180-degree turn,” Lara told the Miami Herald, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID pandemic. “The stroke affected my left side of the body,” the North Miami woman and former high school math teacher said. Lara, an avid runner and gym goer, couldn’t even walk. “It was hard,” the 50-year-old mom said. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. This first procedure was at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Lara’s rehab was at at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of a partnership between Jackson Health System and UHealth. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke , with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System, the device implanted in Lara’s chest, could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a UHealth neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, part of Miami-Dade’s public hospital system. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms, goes through exercises while her therapist activates the device during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. The activation works as positive reinforcement to her muscles when she completes the exercise correctly. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA- approved nerve stimulation implant, does an exercise while Neil Batungbakal, rehabilitation therapist, activates the implant with the black trigger during her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Arlet Lara, the first patient in South Florida to get an FDA-approved nerve stimulation implant, right, runs into her rehabilitation neurology physician Dr. Gemayaret Alvarez, before her physical therapy appointment on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Lynn Rehabilitation Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The implant is designed to help stroke survivors regain function in their arms. (Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald/TNS) The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara’s occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body’s nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor’s ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. “Little by little, I’m noticing that my hand is getting stronger. I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand,” she told the Miami Herald in September. Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivitism therapy program, and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Lara learned about the device through an online group for stroke survivors and contacted the company to inquire. She then connected them with her Jackson medical team. Now a year later, the device is available to Jackson patients. So far, four patients have received the implant at Jackson. Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors can usually recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a “major plateau” after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, “when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone.” The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years from their original stroke, according to Starke. “So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10-15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous,” Starke said. Vivistim’s vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression . For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. “Everything becomes a challenge so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible,” Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history, including concurrent forms of brain stimulation, current diathermy treatment, previous brain surgery, depression, respiratory diseases and disorders such as asthma, and cardiac abnormalities. “Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue,” the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is “covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis.” To learn more about the device, visit vivistim.com. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.UMass AD Ryan Bamford speaks on football coach Don Brown’s firing: “We just didn’t feel like we were able to turn the corner competitively”None10jili login app 。

He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China -- a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world's major economies. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.

Celebs are ringing in the resolutions. They revealed to The Post their personal goals for 2025, ranging the attainable — eating less junk food — to the ambitious — reducing crime in Gotham. Chef Daniel Boulud “This year, I hope to carve out more time to spend with friends and family. Since the restaurant industry is 24/7, it can require extra effort to find dedicated time with loved ones outside of my restaurants. I want to be more intentional about that in the coming year.” Candace Cameron Bure, actress “To improve my fitness. Cliché, I know, but as I turn 49 this year, I want to sprint into the last year of my 40s with my best efforts to embrace 50 — which means being in top shape in both health and fitness. I also resolve to spend more time with God, have more fun and lean into my whimsical goals and dreams with anticipation!” Alina Habba, senior advisor and attorney for President Trump “In 2025, I resolve to spend less time in the courtroom, more time with family and friends and maybe even learn how to cut an avocado.” Jenn Tran, star of “The Bachelorette” and “Dancing with the Stars” “Eat less fast food, call my mom more, make more realistic to-do lists and learn something new.” Howie Mandel, comedian and “America’s Got Talent” host “In order to ensure my New Year’s resolution to be achievable, I have decided to gain five pounds this year.” Mayor Eric Adams “As we approach the new year, my resolution is to continue reducing crime across our city and making New York a more affordable place to live for working-class families. This includes getting initiatives like ‘Axe the Tax for the Working Class’ passed, which will eliminate and cut city income taxes for low-income New Yorkers. I am also committed to working with Albany to pass the Supportive Interventions Act, which will support homeless New Yorkers living with untreated severe mental illness and help improve safety and quality of life across our city. Lastly, and perhaps a bit out of my hands, I’d love to see the New York Knicks finally bring home a championship.” James “Murr” Murray, “Impractical Jokers” star “I have two 2025 goals. One, is to make my second featured film, ‘You Better Watch Out,’ based on my serial killer thriller of the same name. And two, be able to do 500 push-ups. I can do about 15 now, which is still more than the other Impractical Jokers.” Sal Vulcano, “Impractical Jokers” star “Fatten up. I’m too ripped.” Meghan McCain, host of the Citizen McCain podcast “To do more cooking, gardening, and spend more time offline.” Mercedes Moné, AEW star and highest paid female in professional wrestling “This new year, I want to continue to expand awareness and opportunities for female wrestlers and female athletes in general, globally.” Chelsea and Kwame Appiah, “Love Is Blind” stars “As a collective we didn’t travel internationally this year, we want to make sure we get back to adventuring. Japan has been on our list, so we hope to make it happen in the new year.” Roxanne Kaiser, star of “The Ultimatum” “In 2025, I’d like to stop pulling out my phone calculator to figure out the 20% tip, continue to ignore any haters, apologize less, be better about picking up my phone over texting, giving myself and others more grace, napping if my body needs it, take more walks, expand Proxy Wellness [her company] into all 50 states, take a few days off and make time for a honeymoon, start to think about extending the Mattei-Kaiser family.”

When A-list performers head out on the road for tour, custom-made stage looks—and lots of them!—are a necessary component for slipping into superstar mode. This year alone, headliners like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Kacey Musgraves , Taylor Swift, Doechii , and more have all brought epic statement looks to the stage. Think: Designs that are bejeweled, bedazzled, and created for to stand out in an arena. Ever wonder who is making all of these fabulous frocks behind the scenes? One rising designer who top celebrities have on speed dial: Lacey Dalimonte . Based in Los Angeles, Dalimonte is responsible for creating looks for Chappell Roan, Madonna, Conan Gray, Christina Aguilera, Billie Eilish, and countless others. Even more impressive than her stacked roster, is that she is a total one-woman show—often turning out a high volume of looks by herself in her studio. “I still work mostly alone, developing everything from concept, sketch, and patterning, to the final finished piece—sewing everything myself,” Dalimonte tells Vogue. Dalimonte’s aesthetic keeps celebrities coming back by bringing their wildest fashion fantasies to life—whether it is a western-inspired corset for Madonna , or a teardrop-adorned mesh top for Conan Gray. A prime example is the campy, furry robe she created for Chappell Roan back in May, adorned with hair rollers, lipsticks, and cigarettes. “As a Midwest princess myself, I was so excited to design for Chappell, and loved being able to push myself creatively for the drag of it all,” says Dalimonte. “Last month I designed a new leather outfit for her headlining show at ACL Festival, and it's so inspiring to see how much she's grown, with her record breaking crowds, in just a few months.” You could say Dalimonte’s own star is rising in the fashion world, too. As more performers tap her for one-of-a-kind looks, Vogue caught up with the designer to chat her inspirations, process, and what she wants to create next. Vogue : Can you tell us about when you first start designing? Lacey Dalimonte: My earliest designs were more conceptual with a "fashion for fashion's sake" approach. I have a deep love and appreciation for avant-garde pieces that are destined for the runway... But as recognition for my name and brand grew, I began to get approached by celebrity clientele who wanted something custom they could not only wear on stage, but sometimes even do the splits in... often to be delivered in a matter of days. These projects have helped me adapt and innovate my way through tough problems surrounding functionality, quick changes, and fabricating something beautiful that can also take a beating night after night. I've always aspired to be a multi-faceted designer, so over the years, I've also taken on roles to work as part of a team in positions that challenged me and my creative process in different ways. While some things have always been constant, each experience has taught me new things about myself and helped shape me into the designer I am today. When did you start posting your process on TikTok? You have quite a following there. January 2021 was my first TikTok. I honestly hesitated to even start one, but now it's my preferred platform. It allows me to let go a little; I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to sharing my work elsewhere. Not everything has to be so serious and I love the creativity TikTok brings. It has helped me reach an entirely new audience, while also supporting and connecting with other small, independent artists. Did you ever expect your fashions to resonate with people so much? I have a family VHS tape of myself at 4-years-old, nudging my little brother out of focus, saying “I'm the Star!”—if that tells you anything. I've always had big dreams from a very young age, and am working my ass off to achieve them. I never do things for other's approval, but feel lucky to have found my audience and love connecting with them. I take pride in my craftsmanship and love sharing my process to show the amount of detail and intention that goes into everything I do. To have my work be appreciated and reach the right people has truly meant so much to me. It has helped me keep going at times when I've felt burnout from sleepless nights, and the not-so-glamorous sides of fashion. It's surreal to go from working on something in my small home studio to seeing it be loved by thousands, sometimes millions, of people. What would you say generally inspires your work? Sometimes it's more of a feeling than something I can put into words. Other times, it's as simple as finding an oddity at the antique store that sparks an idea. A few things I draw inspiration from are fetish, period corsetry, innovative technology, couture craftsmanship, and historical garments. You have created looks for so many artists—Chappell, Conan Gray, Madonna... How did these artists find you? I'm still in disbelief that I've gotten to work with such iconic artists, and humbled to even be on their radar! All of my projects have come about as a result of a lot of moving parts. The effort that you put into taking chances and putting yourself out there can wind up creating the circumstances that lead to those kinds of opportunities. I've worked hard to build strong and meaningful relationships throughout my career, and spent endless hours strategizing ways to get my name out there; Never sacrificing the integrity of the work that defines my brand. Social media has played a huge part in all of it, and has allowed me to connect with people I aspire to work with and be discovered, too. Most often, I'm working with the stylists of these artists, who either contact me through Instagram or e-mail. Occasionally, I'm connected through peers I've worked with in the past. In truth, there's no one way of navigating the fashion industry—I'm still figuring it out. It's a chaotic, tightly interwoven web, and it's a lot smaller than some may think. Tell us about this fabulous robe coat you made for Chappell. What was the inspiration? I designed an opening look for the Boston Calling Music Festival, commissioned by her stylist Genesis Webb. She has very theatrical shows with designated "dress code themes" for her fans, which I love, and this one was 'My Kink is Karma'—her black and red sultry theme. We were inspired by vintage burlesque and showgirl references, and I immediately began sketching a dramatic camp boudoir robe. To elevate the look, I combined black ostrich feathers, faux fur, horsehair, and real hair extensions for the collar, cuffs, and hem to give it an exaggerated silhouette, even sculpting the hair with hairspray and gel to get the right look. Growing up as a professional dancer, I loved getting ready in front of my vanity, and had the idea that every showgirl needs her accessories on hand. I adorned the collar like an iSpy book, but with everything that could be found in her dressing room—crystallized matches, cigarettes, hair rollers, lipstick, a tiara, locks and keys, vintage brooches, pearls and chains, and heart lockets with a picture of herself—and Divine, of course. For the robe base, I was lucky to source a vintage deadstock metallic red and black brocade that was buried in the back of a shop in the fashion district. It's like a treasure hunt, trying to find something you've envisioned but don't know if it exists, all while on a deadline from sketch to reality in a little over a week. Have you had a favorite celebrity look you've done thus far? The first that comes to mind is working on Madonna's Celebration Tour last year, because it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Listening to her rehearse live while creating her western leather corset just a few feet away was surreal! I had the opportunity to develop and enjoy the design process in a deeper way than I had in a while. It's also so inspiring to be surrounded by such talented people who have been doing it forever, and share tips and tricks you'd only learn on the job; I was brought onto her team by my brilliant friend Sam Ososki as the leather specialist, but that quickly evolved into so much more. Witnessing Madonna's artistry and dedication impacted me forever, and to be a part of such an iconic team was a dream. Anything you want to create next? After years of custom-driven projects, I'm hoping to shift back to designing on my own time, establishing myself as a brand, and continuing to grow Lacey Dalimonte into the empire I envision it to be. I'm eager to fully immerse myself in the creative process, see where it takes me with developing new pieces, and push towards collections—while continuing to connect with people through my work and building a brand where all the freaks are welcome. I have tons of people I aspire to work with, but I would love to design looks for Lady Gaga's new album. Growing up in a small town in Michigan as a fashion outcast, she's always been an inspiration for me. Coincidentally, she was my first major commission in 2020 during the Chromatica era, but I would love the full circle moment to create for her now that I'm a more experienced designer. Also, Megan Thee Stallion, Law Roach, Rihanna, Dita Von Teese, and Britney Spears—feel free to call anytime, too!Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts

By LOLITA C. BALDOR WASHINGTON (AP) — Reported sexual assaults at the U.S. military service academies dropped in 2024 for the second year in a row, according to new Pentagon data, marking a sharp turnaround from an alarming surge two years ago that triggered sweeping reviews and an overhaul in leadership . The decline in reports was mirrored by a similar decrease in the total number of students who said in an anonymous survey that they experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact during the school year that ended in the spring. Defense officials, however, warned on Thursday that the numbers are still high, and there is still a lot of work to be done. According to the survey, which is done every other year, about 13% of female students said they experienced unwanted sexual contact in the 2024 school year, compared with more than 21% in 2022. For men, the rate decreased from 4.4% to 3.6%. The reported assaults reflect familiar trends. Most of the alleged offenders are also academy students and are often known to the victim. They often happen after duty hours or on weekends and holidays. Drinking has long been a consistent factor. Beth Foster, executive director of the Pentagon’s force resiliency office, called the new numbers encouraging. But she added, “the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment is still far too high. What this data tells us is that this is a difficult problem for all, but it is not an impossible problem to solve.” A vast majority of students — 88% — responded to the survey. Defense officials said they are still concerned that, based on the survey, an estimated 783 students experienced unwanted sexual contact but just a small percentage reported it. The U.S. military and defense leaders have pushed improvements in programs, leadership training and staffing to encourage more victims to report so they can receive help and perpetrators can be punished. Defense officials released preliminary data much earlier than usual this year, and said the full report will go out in February. They said the early release was done to provide better information to school leaders who are implementing changes. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will leave in January when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and new leadership will take over the Pentagon. Trump and his pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth , have vowed to eliminate “woke” policies fostering diversity and equity, and it’s not clear how any of that may impact sexual assault prevention efforts. Hegseth himself has been accused of sexual assault , which he denies, although he acknowledges making a settlement payment to the woman. Foster and others said Austin’s pressure on academy leaders to confront the problem led to a number of changes in how the schools foster better leaders and focus more stridently on sexual assault prevention. Related Articles National News | American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds National News | How to protect your communications through encryption National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | Unidentified drones spotted flying at locations across NYC, including LaGuardia Airport The total number of reported sexual assaults at the academies is divided in an often complex and confusing way. Academy and defense officials focus on the number of assaults reported by cadets and midshipmen during their school year. But students sometimes file reports after they leave the academies, describing incidents that happened when they were in school. The total is 106 for the 2024 school year, a sharp drop from 137 last year and 170 in 2022. The totals also decreased at each individual academy. Students at the U.S. Naval Academy reported 47 assaults, a slight dip from 49 the previous year. The other two saw significant decreases: Students at the Air Force Academy in Colorado reported 34, compared with 45 last year, and those at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in New York reported 25, compared with 43. In addition, eight students reported assaults last year that happened to them before they became students. The military services and the academies have struggled for years to combat sexual assault and harassment, with myriad prevention, education and treatment programs. But despite reams of research, and expanded programs, the numbers have grown. A renewed emphasis on it in the past several years has led to improvements and staff increases, although service members still complain that the videos and other programs are often outdated and don’t resonate as well with young troops.The counting of votes will be undertaken at 8 am on Saturday in where the election is witnessing a major battle. The Mahim Assembly constituency (number 181) is a general seat located in the Mumbai district. Mahim is part of Mumbai's bustling urban landscape, which has made it a focal point for political activity. The constituency includes a diverse voter base from one of the city’s most cosmopolitan areas. In the 2024 election, incumbent MLA Sada Sarvankar from the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction will seek re-election, aiming to retain his seat. Sarvankar, who won the seat in 2019, faces a strong challenge from Amit Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Shiv Sena (UBT) has also fielded Mahesh Sawant, adding complexity to the race with a multi-cornered contest. Sarvankar's previous victories and Thackeray's rising political profile make this election highly competitive. A total of six candidates are contesting from the constituency. In the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Sada Sarvankar won the seat with 61,337 votes, capturing 49.45 percent of the vote share. He defeated MNS's Sandeep Deshpande, who secured 42,690 votes (34.42 percent), with Sarvankar winning by a margin of 18,647 votes. In the 2014 elections, Sarvankar also emerged victorious, defeating MNS's Nitin Sardesai with 46,291 votes (33.97 percent). Key local issues include infrastructure development, water supply, traffic congestion, and housing in Mahim, which is an urban, densely populated area. The constituency is also focused on addressing the needs of its diverse communities, with many voters looking for better amenities and services. These issues will likely dominate the political discourse as candidates seek to address local concerns. According to 2019 Election Commission data, Mahim has 25,19,586 eligible voters, including 13,55,982 male voters and 11,63,374 female voters. The constituency also has 230 third-gender voters. With a significant and diverse electorate, Mahim sees active political engagement, and voter turnout will play a key role in determining the winner. The Mahim constituency went to polls on November 20, along with other constituencies across Maharashtra. Results will be announced on Saturday, marking the conclusion of the election process. The contest in Mahim promises to be a closely watched race with several key players in the fray. Mahim emerged as a key battleground, recording a voter turnout of 59.01 percent.