In Washington, the idea of a rebuild was always on the horizon, but the early optimism seemed real. After the Wizards pulled off back-to-back wins against Atlanta, and started the season 2-2, there was a brief moment where the thought was, “Maybe this team could surprise some people.” That optimism quickly dissipated, however, as the Wizards have now dropped 12 straight games, with 11 of those losses coming by double digits. It’s been a tough stretch for head coach Brian Keefe and his young squad, but the truth is, the losses were expected. Washington’s roster, in its current form, simply isn’t built to compete night in and night out against top-tier teams. The rebuild is very much a work in progress , and it’s clear the team is leaning on its younger assets to develop and grow. That said, there’s still some hope to cling to. Bilal Coulibaly , the 6-foot-8 rookie from France, has shown flashes of his potential. His defensive intensity and versatility are promising signs, as is his ability to impact the game beyond just scoring. Coulibaly has the tools to become a real two-way threat for the Wizards moving forward. Similarly, Alex Sarr , the 7-foot center, is another young player showing positive signs. His shot-blocking ability and mobility on defense give Washington something to build around in the future. The losses may pile up this season, but the Wizards are making sure their young players get the minutes and experience they need. It’s a long road ahead, but the hope is that these early struggles will lead to future success. Fans just have to be patient while the rebuild unfolds. More Wizards | All coverage from Hoops Wire This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Receives Non-Compliance Letter from NasdaqThe Corby Cube, home of North Northamptonshire Council. (Image: Nadia Lincoln LDRS) Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Sign up to our free email newsletter to receive the latest breaking news and daily roundups Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has revealed its draft budget for 2025/26, ahead of it being discussed by the executive next week. The report, published today on December 12, sets out £26.3 million of savings and efficiencies. Despite pressures, NNC says it has been able to propose a balanced budget of £400m for council services. NNC's executive will consider the measures next week on December 19, before launching a six-week public consultation on the draft plans. It said that "protecting and investing in our local frontline services against a backdrop of continued national financial uncertainty" is the focus of the next financial year. The draft budget has also set out a council tax increase of 4.99 per cent, which is the maximum amount an authority can raise without a referendum. This increase, in line with last year’s, would mean a rise of £1.67 per week, or £86.84 for the full year, for an average Band D household. This does not include the council tax precepts for individual town and parish councils or the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner contributions. The council has also reviewed its fees and charges for 2025/26 and introduced some uplifts in line with inflationary pressures. NNC has committed to maintaining vital service provision and says it will invest £51.9 million into services. A programme of capital funding totalling £180.4m over the four-year period 2025-2029 has also been announced, including investment in highways, housing stock, schools, SEND facilities and electric vehicle infrastructure. Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, said: “The financial challenges of recent years continue to persist against an ongoing background of global economic uncertainty. What we’re presenting to Executive is a prudent budget for the next financial year which represents financial stability for the residents of North Northamptonshire. “I’m delighted that we’re able to present a balanced budget with no service cuts. The budget is not just about how to manage within available resources but also where funding should be invested. There is a balance to be maintained between encouraging growth, providing high quality universal services and protecting those that are the most vulnerable.” Cllr Lloyd Bunday, the Council’s Executive Member for Finance and Transformation, said: “I’m proud to be presenting Executive with a balanced budget which maintains service provision for the residents of North Northamptonshire, which is quite an achievement in the current economic climate. “I’d like to thank all of those who have been involved in bringing this report and medium-term plan forward and for building the financial stability required so we can operate efficiently and effectively.” Whilst the budget is balanced for next year, NNC has warned that it is forecasting a £33.8m gap in 2026/27, rising to 74.4m in 2028/29. The final budget for 2025/26 is subject to change and will go before full council in February 2025. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 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WASHINGTON There is no evidence to suggest that mysterious drones spotted for weeks above New Jersey, including near a sensitive military site, are the work of a foreign adversary, the White House said Thursday. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said a federal investigation of visual images has so far determined that "many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully." There are no confirmed reports of the drones entering restricted airspace. "We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus," he told reporters. "The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin," he added. Kirby said "very sophisticated electronic detection technologies" provided by federal agencies have not been able to corroborate any of the reported sightings. New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia wrote on X Wednesday that the first sighting was reported Nov. 18, and that they "operate in a coordinated manner," oftentimes flying with lights turned off. She said the aircraft, some of which are up to 6 feet (2 meters) in diameter, "appear to avoid detection by traditional methods," including via helicopters and radio frequencies, and do not appear to be flown by hobbyists. Authorities do not know where the drones are taking off from, or where they are landing.

ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE: CUZ ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on December 17, 2024 , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in Austin (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York , 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: [email protected] ; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Cousins Properties Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 . These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in Atlanta , Austin , Tampa , Charlotte , Phoenix , Dallas , and Nashville , including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under debt instruments and credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting real estate investment trusts and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts Roni Imbeaux Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 404-407-1104 [email protected] SOURCE Cousins PropertiesSACRAMENTO STATE 63, AIR FORCE 61

Presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr led the stars arriving at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance, hours after the Queen pulled out due to lingering symptoms from a chest infection. The King is scheduled to attend the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday which will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet ahead of the performance which showcases an original score by Sir Elton. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.Sinn Fein actively pursuing route into government, insists leader McDonald

Sports betting leader and Authorized Gaming Operator of the NBA will send one winner to Las Vegas for semifinal and championship games JERSEY CITY, N.J. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BetMGM , a leading iGaming and sports betting operator and Authorized Gaming Operator of the NBA, is launching its first Original Bets Sweepstakes for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup. From November 21-29 , BetMGM customers who wager $10 or more on BetMGM's proprietary NBA Cup Original Bets will have the chance to win the ultimate Las Vegas sports vacation. BetMGM will send one winner to Las Vegas for a five-night stay at MGM Grand, provide tickets to the semifinal and championship games and offer an on-court photo opportunity. The winner also will receive $2,500 in BetMGM Rewards Points that can be redeemed for a variety of experiences at any MGM Resorts property (players must be considered active in order to keep their BetMGM Rewards Points from expiring based on Tier Status). "With the Emirates NBA Cup championship returning to our backyard in Las Vegas , it is important for us to create an experience only possible through BetMGM," said Matt Prevost , Chief Revenue Officer of BetMGM. "This promotion allows guests to explore NBA Original Bets and benefit from our unique connection to MGM Resorts destinations that are a short walk from T-Mobile Arena." Participants can opt in to the Original Bets Sweepstakes from the home screen or promotions section of the BetMGM mobile app. Any Emirates NBA Cup Original Bet of $10 or more during the promotional period will count as a single entry into the sweepstakes for up to 25 entries (promotional offer not available in Nevada , New York, Ontario or Puerto Rico). BetMGM's Original Bets are made possible through the integration of Angstrom, Entain's sports modeling and analytics company. Angstrom's differentiated play-by-play simulation-based pricing models allow BetMGM to provide an extensive list of basketball markets like both teams to score in the first minute and three 3-pointers scored in the first three minutes. The Original Bets Sweepstakes is one of many ways BetMGM customers can engage with the League throughout the 2024-25 NBA season. For the second year, BetMGM is offering its free-to-play Fast Break game. Once a day, users can log in and try to score a basket to win a reward. Rewards include parlay boost tokens, odds boost tokens, SGP boost tokens, bonus spins (in eligible casino states) and bonus bets (promotional offer not available in Nevada or Puerto Rico ; bonus bets are non-withdrawable and expire in 24 hours). Behind-The-Book Storylines Below are betting highlights from BetMGM for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup. 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Winner Odds Leaders: Highest Ticket%: Highest Handle%: 2024 Emirates NBA Cup MVP Odds Leaders: Highest Ticket%: Highest Handle%: BetMGM currently operates in 29 markets with mobile and retail offerings. The BetMGM Sportsbook app is accessible on both iOS and Android, as well as via desktop at www.betmgm.com . As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gaming remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM's mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM's already existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience. For more information on BetMGM, follow @BetMGM on X. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US),Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY),Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus Bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in Nevada , New York, Ontario or Puerto Rico. About BetMGM BetMGM is a market leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM's U.S. land-based and online sports betting , major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain's U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino , Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey . For more information, visit https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ . Forward-Looking Statement Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and involve risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in MGM Resorts' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "could," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "likely," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "projects," "estimates" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. MGM Resorts and BetMGM have based forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, MGM Resorts and BetMGM's expectations regarding launch of the sweepstakes for the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup and prizes available to participating customers in connection with the sweepstakes. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include the risk that the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup does not occur or does not occur in the manner described herein, risks related to the effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which MGM Resorts and BetMGM operate and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions and additional risks and uncertainties described in MGM Resorts' Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports). In providing forward-looking statements, neither MGM Resorts nor BetMGM is undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If MGM Resorts or BetMGM update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those other forward-looking statements. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/betmgm-debuts-2024-emirates-nba-cup-original-bets-sweepstakes-november-21-29-302313508.html SOURCE BetMGMNone

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