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By Molly Farrar A Massachusetts State Police trooper has been suspended without pay after sexual misconduct allegations stemming from an incident in Lexington, officials confirmed. Terence Kent, who graduated from the State Police Academy in 2017, was relieved of duty and suspended without pay effective Thursday, a spokesperson for the department said. “The Massachusetts State Police does not tolerate any form of sexual misconduct, and we hold our members accountable to the highest professional standards,” the spokesperson said. “When these serious allegations came to our attention, the Department immediately relieved the accused trooper of duty, opened an internal affairs investigation, and suspended him without pay following his duty status hearing.” The spokesperson said the State Police will cooperate with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and Lexington Police Department, who are conducting their own investigation. The sexual misconduct allegations were related to a traffic stop in Lexington, The Boston Globe reported . Kent was previously suspended for eight days and forfeited 38 days of time off for abandoning his assigned post in 2023, data from the state’s police watchdog agency shows. The DA and Lexington police did not return a request for comment Sunday evening. Molly Farrar Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more. Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.

Trump will ‘most likely' pardon Capitol rioters on day one and says Jan. 6 committee members should be jailed

Everything seemed to be going right for Christopher Polvoorde’s 2024 outing at the Baja 1000. The Optima Batteries driver had partnered with Red Bull’s Bryce Menzies — one of Baja’s most formidable competitors, and a driver that Polvoorde adored growing up. The 24-year-old racer had qualified the Menzies truck on pole position, five full seconds ahead of the next-fastest car. “Favorites” would be an understatement. But then, early on race day morning: Disaster. At race mile 27 of 864, the Polvoorde/Menzies trophy truck ground to a halt. A power steering failure ended their day before it even had a chance to begin. But for a first-time attendee of the iconic off-road race, the misfortune of the driver I’d flown to Ensenada, Mexico to shadow turned out to give me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the real Baja 1000. In 1962, Honda wanted to put its upcoming CL72 Scrambler motorcycle through its paces. In an era before motocross, sporty off-road aficionados took part in scrambles , a rough-and-tumble form of racing that involved a few laps around a dirt circuit that might feature a jump or two. To ensure its newest two-wheeler was scramble ready, Honda needed to subject the bike to a worthy trial. So, Jack McCormack and Walt Fulton of Honda America went to the most qualified person they knew: Bud Ekins. The California-based Ekins had become a legend in the off-road racing world; sweetening the deal, he was also a Honda dealer. If anyone would know a great route for the Scrambler, it would be Ekins. Ekins suggested Federal Highway 1, a 950-mile sliver of roughly defined road in Baja California stretching from Tijuana to La Paz. Only some of the route was paved; a majority of it would require the CL72 Scrambler — and its rider — to conquer mountain passes, rock-strewn outcrops, dry lake beds, dunes of silt, and more sand than any single person would need in a lifetime. If the bike could come out on the other side unscathed, then it’d be a guaranteed hit amongst the off-road racing crowd. Ekins’ brother Dave joined Billy Robertson Jr., the son of a Southern California Honda dealer, for the near thousand-mile journey. On March 22, 1962, the men kicked off what would become a 39-hour, 56-minute ride into the history books. Enthusiast press was mesmerized. Honda received so much publicity for that early run that Meyers Manx announced that one of its buggies would take on the challenge, followed by countless other speed seekers. Before long, it became clear that Baja was popular, and that the race needed official sanctioning if it were to continue. Starting off as the Mexican 1000 in 1967, the event was transformed into the Baja 1000 after being scooped up by the Mexican government, which soon hired the SCORE International sanctioning body run by legend Mickey Thompson in 1973. Over the years, the course has changed, varying in both overall distance and in style. So too have the vehicles. This year, there were almost 50 different classes of vehicle ranging motorcycles fielded by riders of 60 years of age, to stock Volkswagen buggies, to production pickup trucks. But the top-level class at the Baja 1000 is known as Trophy Truck (TT) Unlimited, which is basically an open-production, off-road class of pickup truck racing that allows for a huge amount of regulatory freedom, so long as you meet some basic safety standards. This is where we meet our protagonist, 24-year-old Christopher Polvoorde. Despite being born in the self-described “racing mecca” of Southern California, Polvoorde didn’t grow up in a racing family — which is a rarity in the racing world. “Most of these families are in their third, fourth, fifth generation,” Polvoorde told PlanetF1.com. “We’re literally fresh as can be.” He got his start in off-road go-karting back in 2012, quickly progressing up the ranks to his first professional racing championship in 2019, the Lucas Oil Midwest Short Course League, before getting interested in desert racing. “I’m a very outdoorsy person. I’m always outside, so I think the Baja fits my personality,” he said. “But I’m also a very, like, Type-2 fun person, where I go and hike a mountain and then nearly die. Then I come home, and I’m like ‘Oh, that was fun!’ “That’s my mentality. I think Baja fits perfectly — spending eight hours in a car where half of the time, it’s like, ‘Why am I doing this?'” His passion for racing stemmed from a kart his father received in exchange for space to rent. Polvoorde started out toying around in the backyard before deciding to test his mettle against other kids his age. It didn’t go well. In his first races, Polvoorde was a regular at the very rear of the field — but that simply inspired him to put his head down and train hard to see if he couldn’t improve. With self-discipline and assistance from his family, Polvoorde found that winning wasn’t quite as hard as it looked. At the Baja 1000, as with at almost every other race Polvoorde contests, his family was out in full force to support him. His parents turn up to support their son, shadowing his races in a helicopter piloted by his brother-in-law, who by day is a sheriff’s deputy that follows high-profile police chases from the air. “I think [my racing] became a family affair because I’m so young,” he said. “I grew up with them coming to the track with me — and when I started to make it a career, they were forced to chaperone me, basically. “Now I’ve gotten to a point where I can be on my own, but they like to be part of it.” Speaking to Polvoorde in the middle of the desert, I could understand the appeal. Their son was preparing to conquer hundreds of miles of desert at an event where spectators are known to assemble ‘booby traps’ in hopes of seeing a competitor go hurtling into the air. Having a birds’ eye view from the helicopter would not only allow them to spectate at every turn, but to be instantly available in the event of an emergency. At mile 27 of 864, Christopher Polvoorde’s trophy truck came to a halt. But first, let’s back up. The night before the race, I was invited to something I came to affectionately call the “Menzies compound.” The 37-year-old Bryce Menzies is an icon of the off-road racing world, and his Red Bull sponsorship has launched him to stratospheric heights. To support his career in off-road racing, his family acquired a former hotel in Baja California to serve as base camp; after all, pre-running for the 1000 often kicks off over a month in advance of the actual race, with drivers and riders trying to familiarize themselves with the ever-changing conditions of the course. Having a local headquarters seemed smart. But I didn’t quite realize quite how impressive the whole affair was. Yes, the Menzies family had acquired a hotel, complete with a full-service kitchen, bar, and lounge area. But they’d also erected a state-of-the-art garage and brought in a fleet of chase trucks bedded down with all the supplies a person could need out in the desert. I had spoken to Polvoorde about the extreme logistics involved in organizing an event; he told me that he usually has around 120 people in Baja to support him, with around 30 chase trucks, two helicopters, and two small planes to facilitate travel and repairs. The sheer size of the operation, though, didn’t quite sink in until I arrived at the compound, where the Menzies/Polvoorde teams would be combing over route details, chase truck locations, and pit crew responsibilities before a hearty meal and an early bedtime. There, a fleet of heavy-duty pickup trucks lined the plaza inside the compound, while each member of the crew flipped through a massive ring binder filled with detailed maps, truck information, emergency protocol, and so much more. Chase trucks would be stationed at roughly 30 locations around the course, and many would be driving from one station to the next in order to maximize efficiency. After the debrief, I had a chance to head to the Menzies’ garage, where I laid eyes on the state-of-the-art trophy truck tucked safely away before its big day in the desert. An Optima engineer walked me around the truck, pointing out its slate of dashboard screens, its emergency equipment, and its powerful suspension. It was like what I’d expect to happen if a Formula 1 team took over operations at Baja. In that squeaky-clean garage, it was easy to imagine Menzies and Polvoorde cruising comfortably to a win. That didn’t happen. On race day morning, I joined the Optima crew at the ceremonial start line in Ensenada to wave Polvoorde off on his second Trophy Truck outing at the Baja 1000. We dipped across the street during the gap between car releases to climb into a chase truck of our very own. We had a few hours’ drive ahead of us to make it to the first pit stop, and it was essential to get on the road as quickly as possible. We flipped on the Starlink transponder in the truck and tuned into the official Baja 1000 livestream on YouTube, but we’d barely made a dent into our drive when we spotted something strange: Polvoorde’s truck had come to a stop. At long-distance off-road races like the 1000, it’s next to impossible to have your finger on the pulse of every happening the same way you can in closed-course racing. All we could tell was that the truck had suddenly just stopped . We continued a few more minutes in the chase trucks before finding somewhere to pull over ourselves. If the damage was minor, we could easily head on our way. If it was terminal, we could turn back to Ensenada. We didn’t know — and the race crew itself seemed just as perplexed over the radio. We waited, anxiously, as the nearest chase truck rushed out to the scene — but after an hour, the problem was determined to be fatal. Polvoorde retired from the 2024 Baja 1000 before completing 30 miles. 👉 Baja 1000: How innovative WiFi solutions are turning off-road racing into Formula 1 👉 Baja 1000: Five F1 drivers to tackle motorsport’s most dangerous race With Christopher Poolverde out of the race, the Optima team and I turned back to Ensenada with heavier hearts than we’d had that morning. We’d have some lunch, we decided, and rally that evening to watch the motorcycles finish their race. Then we’d talk about plans for an early departure the following morning. But that didn’t mean we tuned out. Instead, the Optima crew had the livestream of the Baja 1000 turned on as we drove back, and I was able to experience a different side to Baja — one I likely wouldn’t have noticed had I been invested in a single team. I learned about the Ironman competitors, the class entirely dedicated to drivers and riders who contest the full event alone. Nothing but manpower and machine, a particularly arduous task for the bike riders who will travel hundreds of miles with nothing but what they could carry on their back. I learned about the rider of the 279X, David Hunter, who crossed the Baja 1000 finish line with a Starlink WiFi panel strapped to his helmet. Why? Because he’d also strapped his cell phone to his chest, with his mom on Facetime, so that she could keep tabs on her son and ensure his safety. I learned of David Guerrant, who Ironmanned an old Triumph motorcycle, carrying with him nothing but a dream, a backpack, and only the most rudimentary safety equipment possible. I learned that Terrible Herbst Motorsport had mastered the art of the “double stack,” bringing both its trophy trucks into a pit for tire changes back-to-back — a massively arduous task for the sparse crews working with tires that could equal their body weight. I learned of 17-year-old Eva Star, who finished all four of SCORE International’s off-road events in the UTV class this year, and of Kristen and Wayne Matlock, a married couple who have regularly competed against one another in big events like the Baja. I watched drivers control the throttle via a wire with one hand, steering their trophy truck at high speed with the other. I watched flips and crashes. I saw co-drivers dig trophy trucks out of the silt, and moto riders careening through a lightless desert, balancing precariously on two wheels. I saw the way multi-million dollar operations unfurl with military precision, transforming hotels into a hub for race operations, deploying fleets of specially-designed chase trucks to strategic positions all around the course, spending hours every day for weeks learning the nuance of the changing desert. I also saw the homebuilt operations: The wives and children serving as a pit crew for their father; the friends working long hours just to achieve the goal they’d been dreaming about; the competitors who turned up with next to nothing, relying on the goodwill of the locals to see them through. The whole of the human condition was on display at the Baja 1000, and it was truly stunning to witness. Late on Saturday night, I joined the disheartened Optima Batteries crew at the bar of our hotel for a drink before we set off to the ceremonial finish line; the motorcycles were sure to be crossing the finish line at any moment, and if we couldn’t see the Optima trophy truck take the finish, we could at least cheer on the championship winners. Not long after, Christopher Poolvorde arrived in the bar. It had been hours since his trophy truck broke down, but he was still decked out in his race suit. He made his way from table to table, shaking hands and swapping platitudes with the people who had joined him for a desert adventure cut far too short. His disappointment didn’t stop him from making his way over to me, taking a moment to thank me for coming and to hope I’d had a good time, despite the early end. I had. He’d been up in his room trying to film a quick video for Instagram to sum up the experience, but he found himself coming up short. “I keep trying to come up with something to say, but it all sounds kind of ridiculous,” he told me. We quickly debriefed on the day. Per Polvoorde, a minor $50 part in the drivetrain had failed, but it was enough to bring their race to a sudden halt. There would have been no way to make repairs on the course. The failure was terminal. But Polvoorde somehow managed to be upbeat. “The big thing is that no one got hurt,” he said, relaying how his trophy truck nearly veered into an easy-up tent full of fans during the drivetrain failure. “I’m here in one piece, and aside from that part, the truck’s fine.” Not long after, Polvoorde disappeared back into the bowels of the hotel, where he finally filmed and posted a quick video for social media. I joined the Optima crew at the ceremonial finish, watching moto riders celebrate a job well done in the sprinkling rain. I’d gone into the Baja 1000 week with a strong sense of the story I wanted to tell — one about a young competitor teaming up with driver he idolized as a child, about the grit and determination it takes to ignore your better sense and careen through the desert at full speed in pursuit of glory. However, when only one person can win a race, a motorsport story is more likely to center around frustration, disappointment, and arrested desire. At an event like the Baja 1000, where hundreds of miles of unpredictable desert separate you from the finish line, the stakes are even higher. But a ‘win’ doesn’t have to mean a victory — certainly not at Baja. A win can be the simple act of finishing, or of turning up in the first place. A win can look like David Hunter, giving his mom the Facetime call of a lifetime. Or it can look like Christopher Polvoorde taking time to thank each and every member of his crew, to be grateful for the safety of the spectators, before finding the words to share with his fans. Full disclosure: Optima Batteries paid for my travel, lodging, and meals so that I could attend the Baja 1000. All opinions, thoughts, and perceptions are my own. Read next: World Destructors’ Championship: The complete F1 2024 crash damage standingsFACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup

TORONTO — Darko Rajakovic cut straight to the chase in his pre-game news conference: yes, Scottie Barnes is back. Barnes was inserted into the Toronto Raptors starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena. He had been out since Oct. 28 with a fractured right orbital bone. "I don't want Scottie Barnes to be anything outside of Scottie Barnes," said Rajakovic in his pre-game news conference. "I just need him to be best version of himself and when he's that, he's really raising the people around him to another level. "He's making everybody around him better." Barnes was injured in the fourth quarter of Toronto's 127-125 overtime loss to the Nuggets on Oct. 28 when he caught an errant elbow from Denver centre Nikola Jokic. Barnes was expected to be out at least three weeks with the injury but came back slightly ahead of schedule. The 23-year-old all-star forward was averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and six assists per game before he was hurt. Rajakovic said Barnes would play limited minutes and that he'd have to wear protective goggles. Rajakovic was coy when asked who would be moved to Toronto's bench to make space for Barnes. "Scottie will start. Who knows who won’t," laughed Rajakovic. Rookie combo guard Ja'kobe Walter was also made available for the Raptors. He had missed Toronto's last six games with a sprained right shoulder. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2024. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian PressBETHLEHEM, Pa., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (“OTI”) (NASDAQ: OSUR), a leader in point-of-need and home diagnostic tests and sample management solutions, today announced the acquisition of Sherlock Biosciences, Inc., a global health company bringing next-generation diagnostics to consumers and healthcare providers. This acquisition expands OraSure’s innovation pipeline with the addition of Sherlock’s molecular diagnostics platform, which is able to provide rapid results with strong sensitivity and specificity in a disposable format that is well-suited for over-the-counter usage. Sherlock’s first molecular self-test is for Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae (NG) which will expand OraSure’s portfolio of rapid diagnostics for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), subject to regulatory approvals. Test results are expected to be provided in under 30 minutes by analyzing DNA and RNA from self-collected swabs using isothermal amplification. In addition, Sherlock has been developing a pipeline of other molecular tests, along with several next-generation technology platforms, including Ambient Temperature Amplification and CRISPR-based technologies that have the potential to further reduce costs and improve performance of its platforms. Sherlock’s CT/NG self-test is in clinical studies and is expected to be submitted to the FDA by the end of 2025 for review. Subject to regulatory approvals, revenue from Sherlock’s CT/NG test is expected to contribute to OTI’s growth beginning in 2026, benefitting from OraSure’s existing infrastructure, commercial capabilities, and strong customer relationships. OTI estimates that testing for CT/NG represents a total addressable market of more than $1.5 billion. The vast majority of CT/NG tests in the U.S. are processed in a centralized lab, and the introduction of an affordable, rapid self-test has the potential to drive significant incremental market expansion. Additionally, public health channels play a key role in STI screening, which is an area where OraSure has a strong presence. “The acquisition of Sherlock represents the next step in OTI’s innovation strategy,” said Carrie Eglinton Manner, President and CEO of OraSure. “Sherlock brings valuable capabilities with an advanced molecular platform that aims to deliver lab-like accuracy in a format that expands access to diagnostic insights through convenient, effortless tests. We are excited to welcome Sherlock’s talented team to OTI and believe that Sherlock’s unique capabilities will contribute significantly to the expansion of our pipeline of diagnostic tests in infectious disease, sexual health, and beyond.” Conference Call Information OraSure will host a conference call to discuss the acquisition of Sherlock Biosciences at 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. A webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations page of OraSure’s website at https://orasure.gcs-web.com/events-and-presentations . Please click on the webcast link and follow the prompts for registration and access at least 10 minutes prior to the call. The webcast will be archived on OraSure’s website shortly after the call has ended and will be available for approximately 90 days. To participate in the live conference call, please follow the link below to pre-register. After registering, you will be provided with access details via email. https://register.vevent.com/register/BIb938f5bae2a442d9acdb83f4bdd9286d About OraSure Technologies, Inc. OraSure Technologies, Inc. (“OraSure”) transforms health through actionable insight and powers the shift that connects people to healthcare wherever they are. OraSure improves access, quality, and value of healthcare with innovation in effortless tests and sample management solutions. OraSure, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, DNA Genotek Inc., is a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of rapid diagnostic tests and sample collection and stabilization devices designed to discover and detect critical medical conditions. OraSure’s portfolio of products is sold globally to clinical laboratories, hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, public health and community-based organizations, research institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and direct to consumers. For more information on OraSure Technologies, please visit www.orasure.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Federal securities laws, including with respect to products, product development and manufacturing activities, the Company’s acquisition of Sherlock, revenue growth, cash flow, increasing margins and other matters. Words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “could,” “may,” “should,” “will” or other similar words and expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results. Known and unknown factors that could cause actual performance or results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in these statements include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to integrate Sherlock's business and achieve the intended benefits of the acquisition on the timeline expected or at all; Sherlock’s ability to seek and obtain regulatory approval for products in development; the Company’s ability to satisfy customer demand; ability to reduce the Company’s spending rate, capitalize on manufacturing efficiencies and drive profitable growth; ability to achieve the anticipated cost savings as a result of the Company’s business restructuring, including from insourcing third party manufacturing and exiting microbiome services; ability to market and sell products, whether through the Company’s internal, direct sales force or third parties; impact of significant customer concentration in the genomics business; failure of distributors or other customers to meet purchase forecasts, historic purchase levels or minimum purchase requirements for the Company’s products; ability to manufacture or have manufactured products in accordance with applicable specifications, performance standards and quality requirements; ability to obtain, and timing and cost of obtaining, necessary regulatory approvals for new products or new indications or applications for existing products; ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; ability to effectively resolve warning letters, audit observations and other findings or comments from the FDA or other regulators; the impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on the Company’s business, supply chain, labor force, ability to successfully develop new products, validate the expanded use of existing collector products, receive necessary regulatory approvals and authorizations and commercialize such products for COVID-19 testing, and demand for the Company’s COVID-19 testing products; changes in relationships, including disputes or disagreements, with strategic partners or other parties and reliance on strategic partners for the performance of critical activities under collaborative arrangements; ability to meet increased demand for the Company’s products; impact of replacing distributors; inventory levels at distributors and other customers; ability of the Company to achieve its financial and strategic objectives and continue to increase its revenues, including the ability to expand international sales and the ability to continue to reduce costs; impact of competitors, competing products and technology changes; reduction or deferral of public funding available to customers; competition from new or better technology or lower cost products; ability to develop, commercialize and market new products; market acceptance of oral fluid or urine testing, collection or other products; market acceptance and uptake of microbiome informatics, microbial genetics technology and related analytics services; changes in market acceptance of products based on product performance or other factors, including changes in testing guidelines, algorithms or other recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or other agencies; ability to fund research and development and other products and operations; ability to obtain and maintain new or existing product distribution channels; reliance on sole supply sources for critical products and components; availability of related products produced by third parties or products required for use of the Company’s products; impact of contracting with the U.S. government; impact of negative economic conditions; ability to maintain sustained profitability; ability to utilize net operating loss carry forwards or other deferred tax assets; volatility of the Company’s stock price; uncertainty relating to patent protection and potential patent infringement claims; uncertainty and costs of litigation relating to patents and other intellectual property; availability of licenses to patents or other technology; ability to enter into international manufacturing agreements; obstacles to international marketing and manufacturing of products; ability to sell products internationally, including the impact of changes in international funding sources and testing algorithms; adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates; loss or impairment of sources of capital; ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; exposure to product liability and other types of litigation; changes in international, federal or state laws and regulations; customer consolidations and inventory practices; equipment failures and ability to obtain needed raw materials and components; cybersecurity breaches or other attacks involving the Company’s systems or those of the Company’s third-party contractors and IT service providers; the impact of terrorist attacks, civil unrest, hostilities and war; and general political, business and economic conditions, including inflationary pressures and banking stability. These and other factors that could affect the Company’s results are discussed more fully in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the Company’s registration statements, Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the SEC. Although forward-looking statements help to provide information about future prospects, readers should keep in mind that forward-looking statements may not be reliable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update these statements.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and a left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff following level-headed campaigns widely seen as emblematic of the country's strong democracy. As polls closed Sunday evening, turnout stood at 89.4% — around the same as during the first round last month in which the two moderate coalitions both failed to win an outright majority. Voting in Uruguay is compulsory. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front by a razor-thin margin. Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won nearly 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, has campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." Other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party that came in third place last month — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the general election, is promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay that draws on the memory of stability and economic growth under his Broad Front coalition, which presided over pioneering social reforms that won widespread international acclaim from 2005-2020, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and sale of marijuana . With inflation easing and the economy expected to expand by some 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, surveys show that Uruguayans remain largely satisfied with the administration of Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term. But persistent complaints about sluggish growth, stagnant wages and an upsurge in violent crime could just as easily add the small South American nation to a long list of places this year where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world. With most polls showing a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, analysts say the vote may hinge on a small group of undecided voters — roughly 10% of registered voters in the nation of 3.4 million people. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation,” said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power in neighboring Argentina and the United States. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over the current government's struggle to stem the rise in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor’s pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who became a global icon for helping transform Uruguay into one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse at a polling station, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , turned up at his local polling station before balloting even began, praising Orsi's humility and Uruguay’s famous stability. “This is no small feat,” he said of Uruguay's “citizenry that respects formal institutions.” Orsi planned no dramatic changes, and, despite his call for a revitalized left-wing, his platform continues the Broad Front's traditional mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programs. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi described Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.College Football Playoff & Bowl Game TV Schedule 2024

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans on Sunday voted in the second round of the country's presidential election , with the conservative governing party and a left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff following level-headed campaigns widely seen as emblematic of the country's strong democracy. As polls closed Sunday evening, turnout stood at 89.4% — around the same as during the first round last month in which the two moderate coalitions both failed to win an outright majority. Voting in Uruguay is compulsory. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days — as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s left-leaning Broad Front by a razor-thin margin. Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party’s candidate who won nearly 27% in the first round of voting on Oct. 27, has campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." Other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party that came in third place last month — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, who took 44% of the vote in the general election, is promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay that draws on the memory of stability and economic growth under his Broad Front coalition, which presided over pioneering social reforms that won widespread international acclaim from 2005-2020, including the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and sale of marijuana . With inflation easing and the economy expected to expand by some 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund, surveys show that Uruguayans remain largely satisfied with the administration of Lacalle Pou, who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term. But persistent complaints about sluggish growth, stagnant wages and an upsurge in violent crime could just as easily add the small South American nation to a long list of places this year where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world. With most polls showing a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, analysts say the vote may hinge on a small group of undecided voters — roughly 10% of registered voters in the nation of 3.4 million people. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation,” said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates’ lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power in neighboring Argentina and the United States. “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over the current government's struggle to stem the rise in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor’s pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who became a global icon for helping transform Uruguay into one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse at a polling station, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , turned up at his local polling station before balloting even began, praising Orsi's humility and Uruguay’s famous stability. “This is no small feat,” he said of Uruguay's “citizenry that respects formal institutions.” Orsi planned no dramatic changes, and, despite his call for a revitalized left-wing, his platform continues the Broad Front's traditional mix of market-friendly policies and welfare programs. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi described Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.

Shazam! star Zachary Levi has defended his decision to endorse now-President elect Donald Trump, telling Bill Maher that America under Trump’s first term was better than the past four years of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Zachary Levi appeared on the latest episode of Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast that dropped Sunday. “The four years of his [Trump’s] presidency were significantly better than the four years of the Biden-Harris presidency and vice presidency,” Levi said, adding: “Our border was more secure, our economy was more secure, crimes rates were down.” Earlier in the conversation, Levi took the legacy news media to task for spreading “bullshit” about Trump virtually non-stop, thus fomenting fear and hatred in their viewers. As Breitbart News reported , actor Zachary Levi — who starred in the Shazam! movies — publicly endorsed Trump in September, saying he believes Trump is the candidate who can successfully “take back this country.” Levi said he had endorsed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., earlier in the election cycle because the candidate embodied his own distrust of government and unscrupulous corporations. During the “Club Random” conversation, Levi said he hasn’t been cancelled by Hollywood, yet, for backing Trump. “I mean listen, I have yet to see what the ultimate effects of all that are going to be,” he told Maher. “I already had multiple jobs that I was in the process of shooting or that I have yet to shoot and none of those have been compromised. None of my producers or any of the the studios behind those films or projects have called and said, ‘Hey, listen, this is a line too far and we can’t have you associated with the project anymore.'” “We’re all still full steam ahead on those,” he continued. “How it ultimately plays out in the future I don’t know.” Follow David Ng on Twitter @HeyItsDavidNg . Have a tip? Contact me at dng@breitbart.com