Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsLISBON :Bukayo Saka scored one goal and set up another as Arsenal thrashed Portuguese side Sporting 5-1 in their Champions League clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday, their biggest away win in the competition in 21 years. Gabriel Martinelli put Arsenal ahead early on before Kai Havertz and Brazilian defender Gabriel added two more goals before halftime as Arsenal overwhelmed their hosts. Goncalo Inacio pulled a goal back for Sporting early in the second period, but Saka restored Arsenal's three-goal advantage with a penalty and Leandro Trossard got a fifth for their biggest away win in the Champions League since victory by the same scoreline at Inter Milan in 2003. Arsenal moved above Sporting to seventh place in the 36-team table with 10 points from their five games. The Portuguese side have the same number of points but are one position back on goal-difference. After a mini-slump in recent weeks, Arsenal have back-to-back wins and look to be finding their best form again with some of their play in Lisbon simply outstanding. They were finding plenty of joy on the right wing and their first two goals both came from attacks down that side. Jurrien Timber’s low cross eluded everyone and provided a tap-in for Martinelli at the back post to put the visitors ahead inside seven minutes. Arsenal continued to set the tempo and deservedly doubled their advantage midway through the first half when Saka burst into the box and poked the ball past Sporting goalkeeper Franco Israel, providing another simple finish for Havertz. Sporting’s lively 17-year-old winger Geovany Quenda forced a good save from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya just before the break in a rare foray forward for the hosts, but they fell further behind in the final seconds of the half. Defender Gabriel met a Declan Rice corner to head his side further in front and few could argue Arsenal were full value for their 3-0 lead. They would have hoped for a composed start to the second half but instead allowed Sporting a way back into the game. Francisco Trincao’s corner was met at the front post by Inacio, who volleyed into the back of the net to offer his side a lifeline. Arsenal were by no means as dominant in the second period, but earned a penalty when Martin Odegaard was fouled from behind by Ousmane Diomande and Saka coolly slotted the spot-kick into the bottom right corner. Substitute Trossard added a fifth with a header after Israel could only parry Mikel Merino's long-range shot into his path.The only people we want to take us for a ride are rail workers, says union boss

It’s been over three years since I bothered to publish an article on the dead end but glitzy space of urban air mobility with their origami electric vertical take-off and landing passenger aircraft. Instead, I focused my aviation related assessments on how aviation will actually decarbonize over the next few decades, starting with regional air mobility where conventional fixed-wing aircraft take off from boring old airstrips, but running on electricity. Oh, and heavy lift drones for crop spraying, tree planting, and solar panel installation, among many other use cases of high merit. But recently there’s been enough news of very predictable — and predicted — failures that it’s worth returning to the space. Electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (EVTOLs) were heavy into the SPAC — special purpose acquisition company — pump and dump scam investment space that Wall Street bros foisted off on unwitting investors after IPOs, ICOs, and NFTs had made them their millions in bonuses, enabling them to stock up on Cristal and Ferraris. As a I wrote in 2021, the publicly listed EVTOL firms had already lost investors $16 billion of the peak capitalization of $28 billion, and the stock prices have just continued to go down. That’s not a good look at all. Of the publicly listed firms, only one is ever so slightly up from its original valuation, about 10% over five years, so nothing at all to write home about. What company is that? Chinese firm eHang, with its customer Cuisinart knee-high blades. But that firm, having seen a major stock bump when the SPAC craze blew through the market, masks the depth of failure of the rest of the stocks. Let’s remove it. Now there’s a stock chart to make investors green in the gills from airsickness. It also makes the 2021 SPAC-fueled pump and dump spike very clear. Google Finance only allows five stocks, so I replaced eHang with Eve Mobility, the Embraer subsidiary. Many people seem to think that the continued existence of these companies is indicative that they have value and merit. That’s a misreading of the situation. The Wall Street SPAC bros did very well out of them, selling off and taking a lot of the raised capital before it dissolved into losses. That’s left the firms with insufficient funds to actually certify and manufacture their aircraft, but enough to keep going and for the founders and executives to keep taking big annual salaries to show up at air shows, hang around aviation types, and fail slowly. That time is coming to an end. Lilium is the first to reach the end of the runway and crash into the barriers at the end, declaring insolvency recently — equivalent to bankruptcy in North America — and entering administration in the UK and Australia. NASDAQ announced it was delisting the stock three weeks ago, but it takes a while for the process to complete, hence their existence on the charts. Of course, there are other failures to consider from firms that were never listed separately as a stock. Kitty Hawk Corporation, the Silicon Valley-based EVTOL pioneer backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, announced in September 2022 that it was ceasing operations. The company failed to achieve commercial viability with its Heaviside EVTOL though its joint venture with Boeing, Wisk Aero, continues to pursue autonomous air taxi solutions. That’s a dead end for Boeing, with Wisk being more of a sexy distraction from real airplanes’ doors falling off and planes plummeting out of the sky than an actual business venture. That said, the absurd degree of regulatory capture of the US Federal Aviation Authority by Boeing detailed in Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing means that Wisk might get through certification, something unlikely for all of the rest. (Note: eHang managed a limited certification which allows it to operate as a rural fairground ride, but that’s the extent of the certification good news in the space.) Rolls-Royce’s ambitions in the electric flying taxi space came to an end in September of 2024, as the British aerospace giant shut down its Advanced Air Mobility division. Despite years of research and investment, the company failed to attract buyers for its EVTOL technology, once again completely predictably. Vertical Aerospace, a prominent UK-based EVTOL company, entered advanced negotiations with creditors in November 2024 in a bid to secure its financial future. The firm, which had been developing the VX4 EVTOL aircraft, struggled to balance the high costs of certification and production with limited capital reserves. One of the reasons it’s struggling is that Rolls-Royce stopped backing it during its exit from the space. I expect Vertical to follow Lilium into administration in the coming weeks. Who would throw more money into this empty hole in the sky? Joby, borne of a group of people who failed — again predictably — in the field of airborne wind energy, continues to pretend it’s going to have aircraft certified and in the air real soon now. The company originally pretended that its first-of-a-kind aircraft with multiple novelties and a class history of falling out of the sky and killing people — there’s a reason only the military flies VTOLs — would be certified and available for sale in 2023. Now they are pretending it’s 2025. If they actually survive to mid-2025, I predict the launch will be changed to 2027 or 2028. For an example of SPAC proceeds, the reverse takeover raised $1.6 billion, but Joby only received $1.1 billion of it. At that, they are the best financed EVTOL firm in existence, so might be the last one standing. They are in bed with Toyota now, which doesn’t bode well, as that firm has a recent history of betting on the wrong technology. Beta Technologies is another US entrant in the stable of sway-backed nags pretending to be Arabian thoroughbreds. It’s stayed private, getting multiple series of investments from organizations that should know better — Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and Fidelity Management & Research Company — and funds I don’t expect much from — Qatar Investment Authority and TPG Rise Climate. It’s managed to raise $1 billion, which sounds like a lot. However, I’ve had multiple discussions with experts in aircraft certification in the past five years and reviewed certification requirements for both the FAA and EASA related to this class of decorative objects. We agree that getting one of these things certified is in the range of $1.5 billion, and that none of the volumes in the business cases, adjusted for reality, remotely support the expenditure. They would need to sell thousands per year when the market might be a few hundred in total, and they are pretending that they will be flying 12 hours a day with turnarounds like Formula One pitstops on the ground. I reviewed a lot of the business cases four years ago and none of them study up to the slightest scrutiny, lighter-than-air confections that pretended to be steak and potatoes. Eve Air Mobility, listed under Eve Holding Inc, a subsidiary of Embraer, is even more off the mark. It was another SPAC pump and dump, managing only a tiny $4.14 stock price bump before the dump in 2021. It picked up $400 million in capital and has added another $300 million or so to that, but recently it’s only been getting loans, which frankly is a bad sign for an aircraft that has raised half the money it needs just to certify. I assume Embraer has been keeping it alive because other major aircraft manufacturers have been playing the game for marketing dollars, and as they exit one by one, Embraer is just choosing when to do so. I give it a maximum of a year before the aerospace engineers and executives are asked to find other, more productive things to do with their time. Volocopter, a German sibling firm of already failed Lilium, is struggling as well. It’s only managed to raise about $700 million as well from investors like Daimler AG, Geely, Intel Capital, BlackRock, NEOM, and Micron Ventures. The ground transportation connection is stronger with the firm, but NEOM is a big red flag as that fund thinks an unlivable linear city through a desert is a great idea. Earlier this year it failed to launch at the Paris Olympics, one of a couple of embarrassing parts of an event that promised to be a real climate winner. It was supposed to be able to ferry one passenger at a time — without luggage except maybe a carry-on bag — from a barge in the Seine to the airport, but unsurprisingly failed to get certification for that. The only good things I have to say about Volocopter is that at least, like eHang, it has opted for simplicity with no origami shape-shifting, just rapidly spinning blades, but unlike eHang at least put them safely above passengers’ heads. I’m pretty sure it’s heading for insolvency, likely in early 2024. Requiring a card of its own to play, the biggest aircraft manufacturer in the world, Airbus, has its concept car... err... EVTOL to show off at airshows — the CityAirbus NextGen. It keeps how much it has spent on this marketing venture close to its chest, and unlike many of the other entrants on this list of avionic shame, doesn’t pretend that memorandums of understanding that would dissolve in a gentle misting of rain are orders, claiming none at all. With Rolls-Royce gone, the need to be able to play the card diminishes, so I expect the CityAirbus to vanish into the junk drawer of old renderings in a year or two at maximum. There are a couple of other EVTOL firms that no one has ever heard of, Skydrive out of Japan and ASML out of Australia, but like all the rest, they fly under all radar systems because they are never leaving the ground. They’ll dissolve into the aether soon enough, although the Japanese one might turn into the hydrogen fuel-celled car of the 2030s. Never count out the Japanese ability to persist in doing something for decades past the time when all rational reasons for doing so have disappeared. On that note, Japan’s latest energy plan is finally heavy on renewables, so the country can still learn. It’s unlikely I’ll bother to write another article about this space unless I do a retrospective of the hulking carcasses in the graveyards of aircraft at some point to point out how much money and engineering talent was wasted as an abject lesson in another hype bubble. They always arise, and it’s useful having a set of collateral that enables us to ask why the next hype bubble is different than the last one. For all those wishing for a Jetsons future — you know who you are — let it subside into wistful daydreaming instead of active hoping. CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook X Email Mastodon RedditAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:00 p.m. EST

Romania's pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was leading in the first round of presidential elections Sunday according to exit polls, with the far right not yet assured of a place in the second round, despite a breakthrough in support. With 25 percent of the vote according to two exit polls, Ciolacu appeared to be well ahead of far-right challengers looking to capitalise on this EU member's concerns about inflation and the war in neighbouring Ukraine. The same exit polls gave second place to centre-right former journalist turned small-town mayor Elena Lasconi at 18 percent, with two far-right candidates scoring 15 and 16 percent. In the absence of an outright winner in the first round -- scoring more than 50 percent -- the top two candidates go through to a second-round run-off in the poor NATO member on December 8. Ciolacu, a Social Democrat, is leading a field of 13 contenders in the race to take over from President Klaus Iohannis in the largely ceremonial post. He welcomed the exit polls putting him in the lead, but said all the votes would have to be counted before he knew who he would face in the second round. Lasconi too, was cautious. "The scores are very tight, it's not yet time to celebrate," said the 52-year-old politician. Far-right leader George Simion, 38, who some had forecast might take second place, is for the moment in fourth. Exit polls put him just behind the 62-year-old pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu. But Simion said Sunday evening: "We'll see the results of the ballot boxes at 11:00 pm (2100 GMT)." Ciolacu's party has shaped Romania's politics for more than three decades, and as he voted Sunday he promised stability and a "decent" standard of living. But political analyst Cristian Parvulescu told AFP: "The far right is by far the big winner of this election." Simion saw his popularity surge by tapping into voter anger over record inflation while promising more affordable housing. Looking for a new election breakthrough for European far-right parties, Simion warned of possible "fraud" and "foreign interference" when voting. But he added: "I am happy that we are giving Romanians hope and the prospect of a better future." The stakes are high for Romania, which has a 650-kilometre (400-mile) border with Ukraine and has become more important since Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022. The Black Sea nation now plays a "vital strategic role" for NATO -- as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers -- and the transit of Ukrainian grain, the New Strategy Center think tank said. Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election has further "complicated" Romania's choice, political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP. Known for his fiery speeches, Simion is a Trump fan who sometimes dons a red cap in appreciation of his idol. Simion opposes sending military aid to Ukraine, wants a "more patriotic Romania" and frequently lashes out against what he calls the "greedy corrupt bubble" running the European Union. Having campaigned hard to win over Romania's large diaspora working abroad, he said the country had only "minions and cowards as leaders". Pirvulescu predicted that if Simion reached the second round his AUR party would get a boost in the December parliamentary election. "Romanian democracy is in danger for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989," he said. "I'm really afraid we'll end up with Simion in the second round," 36-year-old IT worker Oana Diaconu told AFP, expressing concern about the far-right leader's unpredictable nature and attacks on the European Union. The campaign was marked by controversy and personal attacks, with Simion facing accusations of meeting with Russian spies -- a claim he has denied. Ciolacu has been criticised for his use of private jets. Some observers had tipped Lasconi, now mayor of the small town of Campulung and head of a centre-right opposition party, as a surprise package. Sunday's exit polls appeared to suggest they were right. During campaigning, she had said she wanted a future "where no one has to pack their suitcases and leave" the country and for "institutions that work". bur/js-jj/U.S. Supreme Court yet to decide whether it will hear West Virginia transgender sports law appeal

Monthly dividend stocks are a favourite among passive-income investors. These offer consistent and predictable cash flow, perfect for budgeting or reinvesting. Unlike quarterly dividends, monthly payouts align well with most people’s expenses, which tend to come monthly. This predictability is especially appealing for retirees or anyone seeking regular income without needing to dip into their capital. So, where to look? Sienna stock ( ) stands out as a compelling long-term choice among monthly dividend stocks. The dividend stock operates in the essential senior housing and sectors. A field poised for growth as Canada’s aging population drives demand for these services. SIA’s commitment to its dividend program, coupled with its steady operational performance, makes it an attractive dividend stock for investors seeking income stability and growth. Recent earnings showcase SIA’s resilience and upward trajectory. For the quarter ending September 2024, the dividend stock reported revenue growth of 12.2% year over year, reflecting strong demand and operational efficiency. Even more impressive is its quarterly earnings growth of 90.7% year over year, highlighting management’s effectiveness in improving profitability. These numbers underline SIA’s ability to navigate challenges while creating value for shareholders. SIA’s past performance further cements its credibility as a dividend stock. Over the last five years, the dividend stock maintained a robust payout history. Its current annual dividend yield is sitting at 5.56%. While the payout ratio appears high at 222.86%, it’s important to consider the nature of the real estate and healthcare sectors. Where cash flow is prioritized over traditional earnings metrics. SIA’s consistent dividends reflect its confidence in sustainable operations. Future outlook Looking ahead, the future of SIA is bright, supported by demographic trends and strategic investments. The aging population in Canada ensures a growing market for senior living and healthcare services. While SIA’s efforts to modernize facilities and improve efficiency position it well to capitalize on this demand. Plus, its ability to maintain a healthy cash flow and strong liquidity, evidenced by $208.69 million in total cash, provides a buffer for potential challenges. Despite its high debt-to-equity ratio of 215.47%, SIA’s solid revenue and operating cash flow of $163.96 million demonstrate its capability to manage debt effectively. Investors looking at SIA should consider its enterprise value-to-revenue ratio of 2.58. This indicates that the dividend stock is not excessively overvalued compared to its peers in the sector. One of the most compelling reasons to consider SIA is its defensive nature. Senior living and healthcare are essential services, relatively insulated from economic downturns. This characteristic makes SIA a reliable choice during market volatility, offering peace of mind to investors seeking steady income. Plus, recent growth reflects investor confidence in the company’s operational and strategic initiatives. Additionally, SIA’s beta of 1.20 suggests slightly higher market sensitivity, making it an intriguing option for those looking for moderate exposure to market movements. Bottom line In conclusion, stocks like SIA offer a combination of consistent income, sector resilience, and growth potential. With its impressive earnings, strong cash flow, and focus on essential services, SIA is well-positioned as a long-term investment choice. Whether you’re seeking income now or looking to reinvest dividends for compounding growth, SIA delivers stability and opportunity in equal measure.Dare Glintstone Akinniyi, PDP chieftain, has expressed relief over Simon Ekpa’s arrest in Finland, calling it a step towards restoring peace in the southeastern region of Nigeria According to Akinniyi, Ekpa's commands to his followers have intensified violence in the region, with reports of attacks on government officials and businesses; especially the Monday sit-at-home order, in particular, crippled the local economy and caused widespread hardship In an interview with Legit.ng, he urged the Nigerian government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate his extradition CHECK OUT: Don't let unemployment hold you back. Start your digital marketing journey today. Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements. The spokesperson of the PDP National Youth Group, Dare Glintstone Akinniyi, has commended the Government of the Republic of Finland for the arrest of Simon Ekpa , a self-proclaimed Biafran separatist. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government to ensure Ekpa's extradition back to Nigeria and noted that his arrest would restore normalcy in the southeast region. Read also Simon Ekpa: 5 'sins' of arrested controversial Biafra separatist leader Why was Simon Ekpa was arrested? Legit.ng reported that Ekpa, a Finland-based secessionist, was arrested by law enforcement agents in the northern European nation. PAY ATTENTION: Legit.ng Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at LEGIT.NG Tomorrow He was sent to prison by the district court of Paijat-Hame for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”. Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality. Akinniyi: Tinubu should extradite Simon Ekpa In an exclusive interview with Legit.ng on Sunday, November 24, Dare Glintstone Akinniyi demanded that Ekpa be extradited to Nigeria to face terrorism charges related to his actions in the southeast region. However, he expressed hope that Ekpa's arrest would help restore peace in the southeast region. The PDP chieftain said: "This is good news for an average lover of the Igbo Nation and peace. The killings in the South East as reinforced by Simon Ekpa is unwarranted and no one sensible will complain about this new development. I am calling for his extradition, he should face the laws here in Nigeria. Read also Simon Ekpa: Panic in Igboland, Finland as search for sponsors of IPOB separatist begins "For a while now, the continued 'Sit-at-house' on Mondays have rendered businesses bankrupt and economic activities dead in the South East. Ekpa's online commands to unsuspecting lovers of the Biafran have done more damage than good to the struggle. "At least, there will be a decline in attacks on government formation and peace loving people of the South East, with this arrest. "I was surprised at his denials about being the 'Prime Minister of Biafra', and he was allegedly quoted to have called himself a 'content creator', that is cowardice and I am disappointed in him." Read more about Simon Ekpa's story here: Simon Ekpa: Expert says chances of extradition to Nigeria near impossible, gives reason Simon Ekpa: Yoruba council reacts to arrest of IPOB separatist DHQ hails arrest of Simon Ekpa in Finland FG confirms arrest of Simon Ekpa Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the FG attributed the arrest of Ekpa to sustained diplomatic pressure on Finland by Nigeria. Read also Simon Ekpa: Expert says chances of extradition to Nigeria near impossible, gives reason The FG — through the ministry of foreign affairs — disclosed this in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson of the ministry. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng

Receiving scam text messages is sadly becoming a part of life despite the implementation of the subscriber identity module card registration law and the efforts by the government and telecommunication companies (telcos) to weed out mobile numbers and SIM cards used in fraudulent activities. During the Senate plenary budget deliberations last week, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, speaking on behalf of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as sponsor of its P7.8-billion budget request for 2025, reported that some 10.8 million mobile numbers have been blacklisted and another 2.3 million SIM cards deactivated so far this year on suspicions that these were being used in scams. He added that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) also blocked more than 2.2 billion text messages that were sent by scammers involved in various fraudulent activities. “The good thing is that the NTC managed to block a lot of SIM cards and prevented spamming and scamming from happening,” Gatchalian said. However, consumer complaints abound in social media about being victimized by text scams in various forms. One plausible reason is that fraudsters seem to always be a step ahead of regulators and telcos. Proof of this is that text scams are now being sent through the legitimate numbers used by Globe Telecom, Smart Communications Inc., and their e-wallets GCash and Maya. How is this even possible? As early as May this year, Smart has warned the public that scammers were using what it calls “fake cell towers” to send text scams to mobile users, and were even using “Smart” as the sender name. It explained that these devices are able to lock on to mobile phones within a specified radius, enabling the scammers to push messages directly to subscribers’ devices without having to go through its network. The illegal “cell site simulators” can also spoof or mimic mobile numbers to deceive subscribers into thinking that they are receiving legitimate text messages, it warned. These cell site simulators are typically used in disaster-stricken areas as temporary emergency communication platforms and their sale is regulated. How scammers gain access to these devices that are not made locally is easy to find out. The Bureau of Customs can start with the list of authorized importers, then the NTC or DICT can go over the list of their clients and check if these devices are being used for legitimate purposes. In short, it has to strictly regulate the importation and use of these types of equipment so these do not fall into the hands of scammers. Another measure is to go back to what Gatchalian had suggested last June: Telcos should be made liable whenever their registered SIM cards are used in scamming activities, or answer for the SIM cards recovered by authorities in the course of their operations against cyber criminals. Sen. JV Ejercito also agreed that telcos should be held accountable for the continued spread of text scams and the use of SIM cards in scamming activities. True, consumers need to take part of the blame. A penchant for things that are free is a problem that lies solely with the mobile users themselves. Imagine receiving a text from seemingly legitimate senders such as shopping sites and courier services with free vouchers or tracking codes for parcel deliveries you did not order. Or even a job or investment opportunity promising high salaries and returns that actually does not exist. These are very attractive baits that lure many potential victims. However, the bigger responsibility in combating this text scam problem is with the telcos, not with the government agencies or the millions of mobile users nationwide. Globe has advised its subscribers to “think before clicking on links, verify the sender’s identity, (and) report scam or spam messages to Globe or to the NTC via their scam/spam report page.” However, changing mobile numbers, reporting scams to authorities, and blocking spam calls through various security apps in mobile phones do not all seem to work. Blocking and deactivating suspicious texts and SIM cards are curative actions. What the consumers need are preventive measures on the part of the government and the telcos. One nagging question begging for an answer is: How have telcos not figured out until now how to prevent this text menace? Regulators, for their part, can look into adopting a measure similar to Singapore’s Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF), which will take effect on Dec. 16 this year. Jointly developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Communications and Information’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, the SRF introduces a structure that requires losses from certain types of phishing scams to be shared among the victims, financial institutions, and telcos. Locally, the structure should cover all digital fraud schemes, including text scams, to put everyone on high alert about this headache. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Oklahoma's throwback offensive approach against Alabama gets LSU's attention

Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelationsNoneWhat’s New in Digital Equity: All BEAD Proposals Approved

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96The Sarnia Police Service is warning Facebook users to beware when shopping on Marketplace. The police force has received multiple reports of scams and said it’s important that buyers and sellers take steps to protect themselves. The SPS provided the following tips: Do your research by checking the profiles of sellers and buyers. Look for if the person is in your area, if the account was just created or has no followers or if you have mutual friends to verify their identity. Never send deposits for listed items. Never prepay when buying items. Confirm payments have gone through whenever possible. Police remind if a profile was recently created or has no friends or followers, it could be a scam. London Top Stories Two displaced in $200,000 house fire Three people in hospital due to collision Sarnia police warning of scams Assault at Santa Claus parade leads to charges United Way’s living wage rises Easton Cowan needs a point Sunday to tie 55-game OHL point streak record CPKC Holiday Train to stop in Southwestern Ontario Sunday night One community still undecided in nuclear waste willingness vote CTVNews.ca Top Stories 'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger. A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. Las Vegas police fatally shot him A Las Vegas man called for police help during a home invasion before an officer fatally shot him, according to authorities and 911 calls. Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada. These royal residences are opening their doors this Christmas Not so long ago, if you wanted to spend Christmas with the royal family, the only way to get close was to press your nose up to the TV screen during the monarch’s Christmas speech. Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA Donations are ramping up for a BC SPCA cat with a mangled paw after being caught in a hunting snare, one of a rising number of pets to fall prey to the hunting device. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup title Jannik Sinner clinched Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season by beating Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. Lotto Max jackpot hits $80M for second time ever The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history. Montreal police chief expects additional arrests following anti-NATO protest Montreal's police chief says he expects more arrests stemming from a Friday anti-NATO protest that turned violent, with smashed windows and burned cars in downtown Montreal. After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles After being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Donald Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the Project 2025 movement he temporarily shunned. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. 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Barrie Driver seriously injured after crashing into tree: OPP First snowfall hits region Local high school basketball team wins provincial championship Windsor How a senior's efforts to craft hats for students knitted his community together Two vehicle collisions in Essex County Saturday Spitfires double Ottawa 67s 6-3 Northern Ontario Northern Ont. First Nation files claim against Ontario and Newmont mining Senior killed in dog attack in northern Ont. More carrots pulled from grocery store shelves in expanded recall for E. coli: CFIA Sault Ste. Marie Hockey rivalry goes to the next level on both sides of the Sault border After a year of struggle, centre that helps Sault youth to move to a building with heat $3M donation to help repair arena in Elliot Lake Ottawa Ottawa police arrest 3 during pro-Palestinian demonstrations this weekend Here's how you can watch CTV News at Six on Sundays during the NFL season Sandy Hill apartment building evacuated for high levels of carbon monoxide Toronto Walking pneumonia is on the rise in Canada, but what about Ontario? 'It's an optimistic space:' Inside Toronto's new drug withdrawal centre Routes to avoid during the 120th Santa Claus Parade on Sunday Montreal Two suspicious fires in Rawdon Montreal police chief expects additional arrests following anti-NATO protest Two pedestrians die after being struck by a vehicle in Montérégie Atlantic ‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home Man arrested in Saint John, N.B., for weapons offences Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign begins across Canada Winnipeg Winnipeg transit union gives back with first fill-a-bus event Have you seen Bostyn? Winnipeg police search for missing teenager Two Manitobans charged in two-day manhunt in northwestern Ontario Calgary Snowfall warning lifted but flurries remain in Sunday forecast Revival of Pospisil, power play fuels Flames to 4-3 shootout win over Wild Want to go out? Calgary stages jammed as holiday performing arts scene set to take flight Edmonton Electric cars a 'hot commodity' in Alberta despite misconceptions Podkolzin snaps scoring slump in Oilers win over Rangers Canada Post down eight million parcels amid strike as talk carry on over weekend Regina Regina slammed with second snowstorm inside a week Dinosaur discovery reveals more about ancient Saskatchewan Navy wife brings together local authors for inaugural book fair Saskatoon Saskatoon digs out from another snowfall 'I'm excited to take it on': Saskatoon businesses weigh in on GST exemption Make A Wish kids get early holiday magic in Saskatoon Vancouver Vancouver Police Board member resigns over social media posts Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA Widow of Chinese businessman who was executed for murder can sell her Vancouver house, court rules Vancouver Island BC Hydro says power almost fully restored after B.C. windstorms Fall legislative sitting scrapped in B.C. as Speaker Chouhan confirmed to serve again Canada Post down eight million parcels amid strike as talk carry on over weekend Stay Connected

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