DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jao Ituka led Jacksonville State over East Carolina on Thursday night with 18 points off of the bench in an 86-78 victory. Ituka shot 5 for 10 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (4-1). Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points while shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 7 for 11 from the line while he also had six rebounds and six assists. Michael Houge had 15 points and shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. RJ Felton led the Pirates (4-1) in scoring, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. C.J. Walker added 20 points and seven rebounds for East Carolina. Yann Farell also had 12 points. Ituka scored 10 points in the first half and Jacksonville State went into halftime trailing 39-37. Jacksonville State used a 13-2 second-half run to take the lead at 71-66 with 3:52 remaining. Houge scored 12 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Tyreek Hill sparks retirement rumors after cryptic social media post READ MORE: Tyreek Hill welcomes latest child with wife Keeta Vaccaro By LEOCCIANO CALLAO Published: 10:28 AEDT, 5 December 2024 | Updated: 10:36 AEDT, 5 December 2024 e-mail View comments A cryptic social media post from Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill has left fans wondering about his future in the NFL. While the wide receiver has managed to remain in the headlines, he has been in the midst of an uneventful season on the football field. Amid his quiet campaign, Hill posted a photo of himself walking out the tunnel on Wednesday and captioned: 'Love what you do cause it will soon end.' Right away, fans began speculating on what Cheetah could be hinting at with the post - with retirement being the primary narrative. 'Better not retire, just traded for you in my dynasty league,' one user joked. Another insisted that he might bid farewell 'sooner than expected always.' love what you do cause it will soon end ❤️ pic.twitter.com/IDEHvIdUTx — Ty Hill (@cheetah) December 4, 2024 Tyreek Hill left fans speculating about his future in the NFL with a cryptic social media post Read More BREAKING NEWS Police release major update on Tyreek Hill's case after dramatic traffic stop in September Some users guessed that Hill is not retiring but will be leaving Miami in the near future, with one fan writing 'KC again soon?' 'His time as a Dolphin is coming to an end. He's a Patriot in 2027,' another added. A third set of users insisted that Hill is simply trolling the NFL fanbase. Meanwhile, another group quipped at Hill's inability to retire due to having several kids. 'Bruh...you gotta keep paying that child support,' wrote one user. 'You gonna have to figure out how to play until your 45.' 'Buddy has 10 kids to take care of. He can’t retire yet,' a sixth echoed. On Sunday, Hill welcomed his new daughter , Capri, after his wife Keeta Vaccaro posted a photo on Instagram just minutes after giving birth. Capri marks the latest child to be added to Hill's roster, and it is unclear exactly how many kids the 30-year-old has. As first reported by DailyMail.com back in June, a Florida court declared the NFL star to be the father of yet another little girl, taking his unofficial number of children to seven, by four different women. Some fans took the post as a sign that the wide receiver would be retiring soon Hill holds his new baby daughter Capri in a photo posted by his wife Keeta Vaccaro In a separate post, Keeta posted a photo of Capri, rumored to be Hill's eighth child Hill starred in a controversial traffic stop ahead of the Dolphins' season opener in Miami That has now become eight by five women with the birth of Capri, though various rumors claim the Dolphins wide receiver has as many as 11 children dotted around the nation. Over the summer, the Dolphins restructured Hill's contract to a four-year deal worth $120million, which guarantees him $72m. Hill infamously starred in a heated traffic stop outside Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the Dolphins' season opener against the Jaguars. After the controversial incident, that saw Hill pulled out of his vehicle and pinned to the ground by a police officer, Hill scored a touchdown as Miami secured the 20-17 win. From there, it has been crickets as Hill caught just 55 of 83 targets for 654 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Dolphins are 5-7, sitting second in the AFC East with five games left in their schedule. Tyreek Hill Miami Dolphins Share or comment on this article: Tyreek Hill sparks retirement rumors after cryptic social media post e-mail Add commentSupreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on treatments for transgender minors
After-hours movers: SentinelOne, Synopsys, PVH Corp, Verint Systems, American EagleRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. RELATED COVERAGE Dodgers name Chris Woodward first base coach Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents Rangers agree to contracts with pitchers Dane Dunning and Josh Sborz, leaving 3 arb-eligible players The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Nuclear sector pins hopes on 2026 for ‘low-carbon’ hydrogen labelArtificial intelligence (AI) and tech stocks dragged the Nasdaq Composite ( ^IXIC -1.44% ) down as much as 2.4% at one point today. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI -0.57% ) lost as much as 500 points in a holiday-shortened week usually powered by a Santa Claus rally that has failed to materialize thus far. Shares of artificial intelligence chipmaker Broadcom ( AVGO -1.50% ) and e-commerce giant Amazon ( AMZN -1.49% ) traded close to 2% lower as of 2:26 p.m. ET today. Shares of electric carmaker Rivian ( RIVN -2.49% ) were down close to 3%. Feeling the pressure from rising yields Usually, the subdued final week of the year is met with a Santa Claus rally , which includes the last five trading days of the year and the first two in January. Stocks tend to move higher in the year's final days, with most investors on vacation and trading volume light. These seven days of the year have averaged gains of 1.3% since 1950. While there is still time left, the market has underperformed so far. As of this writing, the broader benchmark S&P 500 ( ^GSPC -0.98% ) was down about 0.4% since the close of trading on Dec. 23. Amazon, Broadcom , and other tech names in the "Magnificent Seven," which consume a large portion of the broader market due to their gigantic market caps, led the declines today as big tech and artificial intelligence names finally showed some weakness, although they've still had a fantastic year. The 10-year Treasury yield advanced past 4.60% today, the highest level seen since May. Yields have zoomed higher ever since the Federal Reserve's final meeting of the year, in which Fed chair Jerome Powell and the rest of the Fed's rate-setting policy indicated they would be more cautious on future interest rate cuts, given the strength of the economy. Most traders betting on federal funds rate futures only think the Fed will cut rates once next year. However, not all are discouraged by the sell-off today. "The nation is experiencing a collective sigh of relief after navigating through a contentious election cycle and unusual market dynamics to end 2024 with strong year-to-date gains," Todd Ahlsten, chief investment officer at Parnassus Investments, told CNBC today. "Looking ahead to 2025, the markets are expected to broaden and improve." The sell-off isn't surprising Today's sell-off can't be too surprising for investors, given the market's great year, high tech and AI valuations, and yields moving sharply higher. Higher yields are less favorable for riskier stocks because investing in safer Treasury bonds becomes more appealing. Many analysts and investors also use the 10-year Treasury yield as the discount rate when discounting cash flows in their financial models, and a higher discount rate leads to a lower present value of cash flows. It's a holiday-shortened week, so I wouldn't read too much into today's move, but Amazon and Broadcom trade at huge valuations, while Rivian isn't profitable yet. If yields remain elevated, I expect these stocks to pull back at some point.
With a new year ahead and the holiday fanfare behind, this is a great time to set money goals, especially if you recently spent a lot on gifts and travel and want to get your finances in shape. You’d be in good company, too — according to a January 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center, of the 30% of Americans who made at least one New Year’s resolution, 61% had a goal that was money-related. Right now, you may be highly motivated to solve every single one of your money issues in the next few months, but daily life is guaranteed to get in the way. Your financial to-do list, once so full of promise, can eventually get stuffed in the back of a drawer while you manage more pressing matters. The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions go unfulfilled. So how can you improve your odds of success? It comes down to accepting that you won’t have the time or energy to complete every task to perfection. Creating a system where you can prioritize, plan ahead and hold yourself accountable can help. Many start by setting a goal to trim frivolous costs, which can certainly be helpful, but there are other ways to make a big difference. Taylor Schult — a certified financial planner and founder of Define Financial, an advisory firm in San Diego — recommends starting with a few overlooked financial tasks. Freezing your credit is a quick, easy way to guard yourself against identity theft. It’s free to do, and you can temporarily lift the freeze when you’re applying for a loan or credit card. Schulte also suggests looking into umbrella insurance , which offers additional coverage beyond what your auto, homeowners and other insurance policies provide. This coverage can spare you from massive out-of-pocket costs in the event you get sued. Basic estate planning, including creating a will, is another thing to put high on your list. Putting off this task can create a major headache for your loved ones if something happens to you unexpectedly. “I know it’s a pain point and it’s often kicked down the road,” Schulte says. Paying attention to your spending is always important, but don’t neglect taking steps to protect your money, yourself and your loved ones. So many money goals are born out of social pressure. You “should” want to save up to own a home, even if you’re happily renting. You “should” sacrifice short-term needs and wants to stash away as much as possible for retirement, even though it leaves you feeling deprived. But money goals should be tied to the things that matter most to you. If they aren’t, you’ll quickly lose interest. “If you don’t know what goals to choose, go back to your values and have them guide the goals you set,” says Eric Roberge, a certified financial planner and founder of Beyond Your Hammock, a financial advisory firm in Boston. You can combine goal-setting with a little planning, so expenses are less likely to creep up on you throughout the year. Think about what expected costs will be coming up in the next six to 12 months, like recurring bills, vacations, anticipated home or car repairs, and other expenses. This approach allows you to set money aside each month to put toward planned costs, as well as longer-term goals. Forgetting your goals can be far too easy, so to make something stick, write it down . It can be as simple as a handwritten list you keep on the fridge, or online calendar reminders that will nudge you every so often. For time-sensitive goals, set deadlines. One tactic is to make multiple lists based on what you need to complete within the next week, month or three months. As time passes and you check off items, you can update the list. Enlist others’ help, too. Weekly or monthly household money meetings are useful if you’re completing financial tasks as a group. Or share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can serve as an accountability partner. Looping in loved ones can help keep you on track. “We don’t mind letting ourselves down,” Schulte says. “But we hate to let other people down.” It’s easy to get stuck in decision-making mode when trying to pick a high-yield savings account, credit card or possible investments, but eventually, you need to make a good-enough choice . Taking action now can have more of a positive effect on your life than waiting until you’ve painstakingly considered each option. Roberge says that though he’d prefer to optimize every financial decision, he doesn’t because if he did, he wouldn’t get things done. “Everything in moderation is one of the things that I live by,” he says. “Going to extremes in any one thing, at the detriment of other things that are important, doesn’t work long-term.” More From NerdWallet Sara Rathner writes for NerdWallet. Email: srathner@nerdwallet.com . Twitter: @sarakrathner. The article Got Money Goals for the New Year? Stay on Track With These Tips originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Almonty Receives Firm Commitments Under a Proposed Equity Placement
December 23, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Chinese Academy of Sciences The modern food system is largely dependent on a limited genetic pool of crops, raising significant concerns about agricultural sustainability and food security. Only a small fraction of the world's biodiversity is cultivated, making crops vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes. This lack of genetic diversity underscores the need to diversify our food sources to safeguard against future challenges. This research responds to those concerns by exploring how advanced biotechnologies can increase the genetic diversity and resilience of Solanaceae crops—key contributors to both global and local food systems. A team of researchers from the University of Florida, in partnership with experts from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas—Universitat Politècnica de València (CSIC-UPV) in Spain, has published a study in Horticulture Research . The study focuses on applying deep knowledge of Solanaceae domestication, combined with virus-based biotechnologies, to enhance the performance and diversity of Solanaceae crops, which include essential global staples like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. The research emphasizes the potential of recombinant virus technologies (RVTs) for precise genetic modification in these crops, aiming to improve not only widely cultivated varieties but also underutilized species within the Solanaceae family. The research highlights the transformative power of RVTs in the breeding of Solanaceae crops. By using engineered viruses, scientists can induce both transient and heritable changes in plant traits, such as disease resistance, nutritional enhancement, and environmental adaptability. The study underscores the importance of RVTs for functional genomics and the reprogramming of plant traits, moving beyond theoretical applications in model plants to real-world crop improvements. Notably, the study explores advancements in reverse genetics of negative-stranded RNA viruses, resulting in viral vectors capable of delivering CRISPR-Cas components into plant cells—opening new pathways for precise, inheritable genetic modifications that could transform the crop development process. Fabio Pasin, lead author of the study, comments, "Our research illustrates the remarkable potential of combining deep taxonomic expertise with cutting-edge biotechnology. By focusing on the Solanaceae family, we can enhance not only widely recognized crops but also bring underutilized species into the agricultural mainstream, improving food security and enriching nutritional diversity across the globe." The potential applications of this research are vast, offering the possibility of rapidly developing crop varieties that are more resilient to diseases, better suited to local environments, and higher in nutritional value. Such innovations could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices, reducing labor demands and enhancing food system resilience. Ultimately, the research promises to contribute to more sustainable, diverse, and secure food sources, benefiting both global food security and local nutrition. More information: Fabio Pasin et al, Deploying deep Solanaceae domestication and virus biotechnology knowledge to enhance food system performance and diversity, Horticulture Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae205 Journal information: Horticulture Research Provided by Chinese Academy of SciencesTarget just recently kicked off its official Target Black Friday Sale , and one deal you might have missed is this really awesome MEGA Microsoft Xbox 360 Collector Building Set . It's normally $150 but there's a 50% discount for Black Friday that drops it to only $74.99. MEGA is similar to LEGO, but the brand (which is owned by Mattel) creates sets for IPs that don't have a relationship with the other famous big block company. Some past and present examples include Pokemon, Star Trek, Halo, and, in this case, Microsoft Xbox. This would make an incredible gift idea for any gaming fan who loves working on complex building block kits like LEGO. The MEGA Microsoft Xbox 360 Collector Building Set is a buildable 3:4 scale replica of the Xbox 360 console with a brick count total of 1,342 pieces (5.5 cents per brick). The details in this build are, frankly, incredible, and include interactive elements, lighting effects, and the coolest accessories. Here's a rundown of the biggest highlights: The Xbox console exterior is well represented with details like a removable hard drive, ventilation holes in the rear, text in the right places, and lighting effects. Unfortunately, there's no option to swap in a red ring of death. The Xbox console internals are just as faithfully reproduced as the exterior. There's a tray to pop in the supplied Xbox game disc (we'll get to this later), the motherboard, various heatsinks and doodads all connected by wires, and even a fancy little Cortana chip. It's also easy to get into the console (just press a little green button). The set includes an authentic looking mini Halo 3 game disc complete with a detailed Halo game box that looks just like the real thing. That's not even the best part. You can place the Halo disc into the console's internal disc tray and it will light up the Cortana chip inside. How cool is that!?! The Xbox controller has a removable battery pack. When you slide in the battery pack, the controller's guide button lights up. That's because the light brick is installed in the battery itself. So why the big price drop? According to the user reviews, the fit and finish of the bricks is not as good as LEGO sets, so the build process won't go as smoothly (you might even need to whip out the Kragle). But once you're done, I'm sure you'll appreciate the incredible amount of authentic features that the designers put into this set. If you want to keep your building block collection strictly LEGO, check out our guide to all of the best LEGO Black Friday deals available right now. There are plenty of big discounts on sets for all ages from multiple retailers, including LEGO Shop, Amazon, Best Buy, and of course, Target. We’re in the home stretch: Black Friday falls on November 29 this year. All month long, retailers have been rolling out sales, ramping up to massive discounts on Black Friday and through the weekend into Cyber Monday. There are already some fantastic deals available on PS5 consoles and controllers , video games for all platforms, AirPods Pro , and tons more. Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Chuck Woolery, game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83Turning challenges into opportunitiesWASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce that it will send $1.25 billion in military assistance to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, as the Biden administration pushes to get as much aid to Kyiv as possible before leaving office on Jan. 20. The large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the HAWK air defense system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155 mm- and 105 mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defense officials acknowledged that that the Defense Department may not be able to send all of the remaining $5.6 billion in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he won't provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about $4.35 billion. Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Zelenskyy decide it’s time to negotiate. One senior defense official said that while the U.S. will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until Jan. 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about $1.2 billion remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the U.S. has provided more than $64 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on treatments for transgender minorsA childcare worker in the Illawarra has no chance of being able to buy a home on their own, according to a report from the Property Council of Australia. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading Called Beyond Reach, the report looked at housing affordability for essential workers on typical incomes in 12 LGAs across NSW, including Wollongong. The report noted that, in 2007, the proportion of income an Illawarra childcare worker needed to buy a house was already at an impossible 109 per cent. In 2024 that has jumped to 131 per cent, making home buying "beyond hope", the study said. A primary school teacher needed to put 47 per cent of their income towards buying a home in 2024, up from 37 per cent in 2007, while Wollongong police officer needed to set aside a whopping 83 per cent of their income. "Housing affordability has hit breaking point for essential workers in the region, with a median priced home now beyond reach and in some cases beyond hope," Property Council of Australia Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Director Michelle Guido said. "In 2007, the median house price in Wollongong was $379,000. Today, it's soared to $1,000,000 - a staggering 164 per cent increase. At the same time, wages for essential workers have failed to keep pace." While prices have climbed 164 per cent, wage growth over the same time sat at 87 per cent, the report stated. Ms Guido said median weekly rents in Wollongong had risen by 117 per cent over the same period. For a single income household with an average gross income of $100,000 buying a home or unit was "beyond reach", while renting a house was classed as "unaffordable". A dual income family on $160,000 would also find buying a home to be beyond reach, the report stated. Ms Guido said one of the primary solutions was increasing the supply of new housing, particularly homes that are affordable for essential workers. This could be achieved by financial incentives to stimulate housing projects aimed at essential workers. "Our recommendations include calls for reform of the high taxes and regulatory costs that impact housing affordability, together with a moratorium on any new development charges," Ms Guido said. "These changes would lower the upfront cost of new dwellings and stimulate competition among developers, leading to increased supply and lower prices. "Without immediate reform, essential workers will continue to be locked out of the housing market, further straining public services and exacerbating social inequality." I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Find out what's happening in local business. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!
Harris Dickinson toys with ambiguity in ‘Babygirl’Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has died
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., attends the cocktail hour of New York Young Republican Club’s annual gala at Cipriani Wall Street, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) By LISA MASCARO and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee’s long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations , including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican’s bid to lead the Justice Department . Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl National Politics | Trump wants mass deportations. For the agents removing immigrants, it’s a painstaking process Citing text messages, travel receipts, online payments and testimony, the bipartisan committee paints a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties, events or trips, with the expectation the women would be paid for their participation. The former congressman, who filed a last-minute lawsuit to try to block the report’s release on Monday, slammed the committee’s findings. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and has insisted he never had sex with a minor. And a Justice Department investigation into the allegations ended without any criminal charges filed against him. “Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn’t ask for — and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!?” Gaetz wrote in one post on Monday. “There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.” Here’s a look at some of the committee’s key findings: The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.” He paid the women using through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and with cash or check, the committee said. The committee said it found evidence that Gaetz understood the “transactional nature” of his relationships with the women. The report points to one text exchange in which Gaetz balked at a woman’s request that he send her money, “claiming she only gave him a ‘drive by.’” Women interviewed by the committee said there was a “general expectation of sex,” the report said. One woman who received more than $5,000 from Gaetz between 2018 and 2019 said that “99 percent of the time” that when she hung out with Gaetz “there was sex involved.” However, Gaetz was in a long-term relationship with one of the women he paid, so “some of the payments may have been of a legitimate nature,” the committee said. Text messages obtained by the committee also show that Gaetz would ask the women to bring drugs to their “rendezvous,” the report said. While most of his encounters with the women were in Florida, the committee said Gaetz also traveled “on several occasions” with women whom he paid for sex. The report includes text message exchanges in which Gaetz appears to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking charges in 2021, initially connected with women through an online service. In one text with a 20-year-old woman, Greenberg suggested if she has a friend, the four of them could meet up. The woman responded that she usually does “$400 per meet.” Greenberg replied: “He understands the deal,” along with a smiley face emoji. Greenberg asks if they are old enough to drink alcohol, and sent the woman a picture of Gaetz. The woman responded that her friend found him “really cute.” “Well, he’s down here for only for the day, we work hard and play hard,” Greenberg replied. The report details a party in July 2017 in which Gaetz is accused of having sex with “multiple women, including the 17-year-old, for which they were paid.” The committee pointed to “credible testimony” from the now-woman herself as well as “multiple individuals” who corroborated the allegation. The then-17-year-old — who had just completed her junior year in high school — told the committee that Gaetz paid her $400 in cash that night, “which she understood to be payment for sex,” according to the report. The woman acknowledged that she had taken ecstasy the night of the party, but told the committee that she was “certain” of her sexual encounters with the then-congressman. There’s no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her, the committee said. The woman told the committee she didn’t tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he didn’t how old she was. Rather, the committee said Gaetz learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But he stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for “commercial sex” again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. In sum, the committee said it authorized 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony, reviewed nearly 14,000 documents and contacted more than two dozen witnesses. But when the committee subpoenaed Gaetz for his testimony, he failed to comply. “Gaetz pointed to evidence that would ‘exonerate’ him yet failed to produce any such materials,” the committee said. Gaetz “continuously sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee in order to prevent his actions from being exposed.” The report details a months-long process that dragged into a year as it sought information from Gaetz that he decried as “nosey” and a “weaponization” of government against him. In one notable exchange, investigators were seeking information about the expenses for a 2018 get-away with multiple women to the Bahamas. Gaetz ultimately offered up his plane ticket receipt “to” the destination, but declined to share his return “from” the Bahamas. The report said his return on a private plane and other expenses paid by an associate were in violation of House gift rules. In another Gaetz told the committee he would “welcome” the opportunity to respond to written questions. Yet, after it sent a list of 16 questions, Gaetz said publicly he would “no longer” voluntarily cooperate. He called the investigation “frivolous,” adding: “Every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.” The report said that while Gaetz’s obstruction of the investigation does not rise to a criminal violation it is inconsistent with the requirement that all members of Congress “act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.” The committee began its review of Gaetz in April 2021 and deferred its work in response to a Justice Department request. It renewed its work shortly after Gaetz announced that the Justice Department had ended a sex trafficking investigation without filing any charges against him. The committee sought records from the Justice Department about the probe, but the agency refused, saying it doesn’t disclose information about investigations that don’t result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the Justice Department, but after a back-and-forth between officials and the committee, the department handed over “publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual,” according to the report. “To date, DOJ has provided no meaningful evidence or information to the Committee or cited any lawful basis for its responses,” the committee said. Many of the women who the committee spoke to had already given statements to the Justice Department and didn’t want to “relive their experience,” the committee said. “They were particularly concerned with providing additional testimony about a sitting congressman in light of DOJ’s lack of action on their prior testimony,” the report said. The Justice Department, however, never handed over the women’s statements. The agency’s lack of cooperation — along with its request that the committee pause its investigation — significantly delayed the committee’s probe, lawmakers said.