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LEWISTON, Maine — Three touchdowns in as many trips to the red zone during the first half helped Wells High School jump out to a 21-0 lead and defeat Foxcroft Academy 34-0 in the Class D high school football state championship game Saturday afternoon at Don Roux Field at Lewiston High School. Wells won its second straight state title and finished a perfect 11-0 on the season. The Warriors have 14 consecutive victories dating back to the start of the 2023 postseason. A year ago the Warriors defeated Foxcroft 22-21 in Lewiston going ahead on a 2-point conversion completion in the final minute rather than trying a potential tying point after kick. That season the team returned to Class D after three years in Class C. Foxcroft ends at 11-1. The team has lost just three games in four seasons from 2021-24 with two of the losses coming against Wells to conclude 2023 and 2024. This year’s state championship appearance was Foxcroft’s fourth in a row, a record in Class D. This year’s matchup between the two programs was the fourth in seven seasons playing for the gold ball, with the Warriors defeating the Ponies 48-0 at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland in 2017 and 55-20 at the University of Maine’s Harold Alfond Sports Stadium in 2018 , making them 4-0 in these meetings. In its history Wells has now won seven combined state championships on the gridiron between Classes B, C and D. “Ultimately you have to tip your cap to your opponent, they are just a phenomenal team and a phenomenal program,” said Foxcroft head coach Danny White. After electing to defer and then holding Foxcroft to a 3-and-out, Wells took over at its own 26-yard line. The Warriors kept the ball on the ground to advance to the Pony-1 for a 2nd-and-goal. Here senior Eli Potter got his sixth carry of the drive and he went up the middle and into the end zone as Wells also chewed up 5:34 of clock. In the second quarter Wells had an 8-yard touchdown run by senior Dom Buxton after running the ball on all nine plays of the 4-minute drive that began at the team’s own 28. “Defensively we were on our heels, they got to their angles and their spots where they wanted to be,” White said. “It’s tough when a team gets momentum like that and starts to believe in what they are doing. We were fighting and scratching just to get to 2nd-and-7, 2nd-and-8 in those few and far opportunities where we were able to have a little defensive success. Ultimately they were really good today and we had to be nearly perfect.” Late in the first half Foxcroft got into Wells territory at the 28, which would be the furthest the Pony offense would get for most of the game until a drive late in the fourth stalled on the Warrior-23 following four straight incompletions. On this drive in the second quarter Buxton made a fourth down interception. An 87-yard pick six was nullified by a holding call on the return but Wells still had possession at the Foxcroft-21. A half dozen plays later junior Dominic Carbonneau scored on a 17-yard counter to the left to put his team ahead 21-0. Potter and Carbonneau would both run the ball into the end zone a second time in the third and fourth quarters respectively on 9- and 3-yard runs. “It puts a lot of pressure on kids when you are really only going about 15 deep and they are probably going into the 20s” White said about Wells’ depth advantage. “It just makes it a big challenge and they were able to execute today.”
Every Black Friday, there’s a number of viral products that everyone has on their Christmas wish list, and we don’t expect this year to be any different. However, not all of these popular items are going to stay in stock, and we have some insight on the ones that won’t. Black Friday is big business, and last year shoppers spent $222.1 billion during the entire holiday shopping season, according to Queue-it. Sales on Black Friday reached $16.4 billion (online and in stores), and this was a 9% increase from the year before. While it comes as no surprise that electronics are the most sought-after products of the holiday season, Queue-it said this accounts for the majority of holiday sales, jumping to $50.8 billion in 2023. Apparel, furniture, groceries and toys are the other hot sellers of Black Friday. Together, these five categories accounted for 65% of sales during the holidays last year and is only expected to grow in 2024. While many items that sell out over Black Friday are driven by a good deal, we also know that a hot product is just that — a gift that most people want to open on Christmas Day. So, here are our picks for the top 10 hot-ticket items that could sell out over Black Friday. Samsung 98-inch QLED TV The holidays are ripe for TV deals, and we expect shoppers to buy a ton of them in 2024, especially at Walmart. Consumers are trending toward bigger TVs and the super low-price deals over Black Friday force many models to sell out. This is especially true of popular models from Samsung, Hisense, LG and more favorites. Apple Watch Series 9 Apple's smartwatches are a top pick among Apple fans. We’ve seen prices on the Apple Watch continue to trend downward, which was only spurred by the release of the new Apple Watch 10 in September. This pushed down prices on earlier models, with the best deals coming on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch 9. For Black Friday, we think the prices will drop even lower and sell out due to high demand. Beats Solo3 Wireless headphones are one of the most popular products of 2024, and Beats are one of the top brands. We’re already seeing big markdowns on Beats Wireless Headphones, and we expect these price drops to continue into Black Friday. The Beats Solo3 is likely to be on sale for even cheaper than we’ve already seen, and we think they will sell out for Black Friday, with the possibility of other popular Beats headphones joining them. Apple AirPods (3rd gen) If you haven’t picked up a pair of Apple AirPods yet, this could be your year to do it. With Apple launching a fourth generation of AirPods earlier this year, the price on prevvious models are creeping lower. We think over Black Friday they’ll be at their cheapest price ever, with the AirPods (3rd Gen) likely to sell out. JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth speakers are a must-have for many this year, and with the big sound that comes from JBL’s speakers, it’s easy to see why they might sell out for Black Friday. These popular speakers come in a variety of portable sizes and waterproof designs. We expect big deals on JBL’s top-rated Clip 5 and Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker models. Apple iPad (10th Gen) One of Apple’s most sought-after products of the year was the iPad, and we saw the 9th Gen and 10th Gen models drop to their lowest prices ever. We think this year will bring some iPad bliss with even better discounts, but these deals will disappear just as fast as they arrive. We think that mega discounts on the iPad (9th Gen) and iPad (10th Gen) could cause sell outs, especially on Amazon. Dyson Airwrap The Dyson Airwrap just might be the top product of Black Friday, as this is one of the rare times there’s a discount on the beloved hair styling tool. At $600, the Airwrap carries a hefty price tag, so any discount presented is a welcome surprise. But as we’ve seen in the past, any Black Friday deal on the Dyson Airwrap causes a crush of interest that’s followed by a sell out. Ugg Tasman slippers If you’ve tried to scoop up the UGG Tasman Slippers in previous years, you already know they never stay in stock for long. As the “it” slipper of the holiday season, UGG’s Tasman sells out multiple times over the holidays, even without a discount offered. We think that this year will be similar, with popular sizes and colors of the Tasman Slipper snatched up fast over Black Friday. Bissell Little Green The Bissell Little Green carpet cleaner is a popular home product that just can’t seem to stay in stock. With prices falling under $90, this mighty machine can be a blessing for pet owners and parents, as its compact size makes it easy to store and use when needed. We’ve seen the Little Green Machine sell out before, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t do it again over Black Friday. Furby Galaxy Edition We’d be remiss if we didn’t include a top toy that we think will be hard to find and gift this year. Our pick is the Furby Galaxy Edition. This glow-in-the-dark Furby is based on the original Furby from the late ’90s with even more features, interactive modes and more fun. Making a comeback in 2023, we saw the revival of this popular toy sell out last year, and we expect the new Furby Galaxy Edition to do the same. For the holidays: Get inspiring home and gift ideas – sign up now!It’s almost Thanksgiving, and you know what that means ... it’s almost holiday gift shopping season. It can be both fun and stressful trying to find the right gift for special people in your lives. If you are wanting something unique, I suggest a personalized gift made in the makerspace here at the library. Erica Rogers There are a lot of fun and unique gifts you can create in our makerspace. With the sublimation printer you can make an array of custom photo gifts. We have puzzles, Christmas ornaments and keychains. You can also create festive drinkware such as coffee mugs or tumblers. We have all of these items available for a small charge. There’s something cozy about drinking your morning coffee in a personalized mug with people you love on it. You can also bring in your own supplies, such as bags, aprons, or socks to sublimate on as well. They just have to be 60% (or higher) polyester. I love photo gifts, and we have a great selection. You can also make a lot of fun things on the laser cutter. In general for this machine you need to bring in your own supplies, but then the engraving is free. Charcuterie boards and cutting boards have been very popular this past year. You can even bring in an old recipe card and we can scan it and engrave it on the wood boards. Speaking of engraving, we can also engrave glassware such as wine glasses, vases or other drinking glasses. Just make sure they aren’t crystal glass or they will break. Think of all the cute things that you can engrave and personalize. My favorite thing to make using our Cricut machine is T-shirts. Unlike with sublimation, you can’t use photographs to make these shirts. You can however put all the words and simple graphics you want. It’s great for inside jokes or making matching t-shirts for the whole family. Another fun think you can do with the Cricut is create vinyl decals. These might be cute sayings for your walls to decorate, or you can also put them on your car windows. It’s fun to personalize your car with cute little images or sayings. All of our vinyl, which is what we use to make the T-shirts and decals, is $2.50 per foot. You can get a lot out of a foot of vinyl if you try. There’s a lot of other equipment available. We also have the 3D printer, which creates things out of plastic. It’s fun to make toys or fidgets for kids on this machine. We also have a hat press available. This machine allows you to press vinyl or iron-on patches onto hats. Another fun piece of equipment we have is a coil book binder. This allows you to make books. So you can hunt down some old favorite recipes and bind them together to give away, or maybe gather up a bunch of your kids artwork and bind it together to make a book for the grandparents. Finally we have button machines. These might not sound exciting, but once you start making buttons it’s hard to quit. I’m not sure what it is, but its kind of addicting. You can put pictures, drawings, or whatever you want on them. If you want to make something in the makerspace, you need to give us a call at 308-385-5333. We will set you up with an appointment the best we can. With it being the holiday season, things tend to get busier so the more time in advance you call, the better we will be able to get you in. I love working with people and seeing all of the fun things you create, especially when it comes to gifts for other people. I love being able to help you come in with an idea and make it a reality. So use your imagination, and give me a call ... I hope to see you soon. Erica Rogers serves as the technology and teen librarian for the Grand Island Public Library. Email her at ericar@gilibrary.org Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
A FURIOUS Social Security recipient has been struggling to feed herself since failing to get a life-changing $1,800 in payouts. Romaine Fantroy first started having problems with her benefits in October, and months later, she's still fighting for her money . Two months ago, the Oklahoma City resident was baffled when the Social Security office failed to load her monthly $943 onto her Direct Express card. Direct Express cards are designed specifically to be loaded with federal benefits, and users don't have to have an existing bank account . Fantroy went to the office for answers and was told that she would have to ditch the card and open a checking account instead. However, once she did so, Fantroy claims she was only sent a measly $93. read more money stories She also didn't get money in November until she visited the office and demanded her payout. Months later, as the bills pile up, the issue still hasn't been fixed. "Here I am fighting for my benefits for December," she told NBC affiliate KFOR . "It's December 10th. I can't eat, I can't clean, I can't do laundry. Most read in Money "I can't do anything because they won't give me my benefits." Dressed in a bonnet, an emotional Fantroy admitted she can't even get a haircut until she gets her necessary payout. "My routine has been completely thrown off," she said. Other Social Security recipients have blasted the administration for failing to give them payouts. One anonymous resident told the local station he was owed a massive $1,800 after he started having issues with his Direct Express card. Every time he tries to call and get the issue fixed, he's put on hours-long holds. Direct Express, which is owned by financial services company Comerica, has faced recent legal troubles for allegedly failing its customers. Social Security payments are issued on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month based on the recipient's birthdate: Second Wednesday : For individuals born between the 1st and 10th of the month Third Wednesday : For those born between the 11th and 20th Fourth Wednesday : For those born between the 21st and 31st On Friday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued the company, accusing it of dropping customer calls and charging illegal ATM fees. Comerica specifically refused services to elderly consumers who didn't have a bank account, the suit alleges. However, Comerica defended itself against the claims and blasted the CFPB for "ignoring arguments and documentation." Read More on The US Sun The company has filed its own suit against the bureau that accuses it of "regulatory overreach" that "undermined the legitimacy of its own investigation," Comerica told the Detroit Free Press . The U.S. Sun has reached out to the SSA and Comerica for comment. Those who cannot afford to pay back the overpayment amounts noted by the SSA or feel they should not have to can file a specific form. The form is identified as SSA-632 on the SSA website and can be filled out and submitted at a local office. "If you agree that you have been overpaid, but you feel you should not have to pay it back because you did not cause the overpayment and you cannot afford to repay it, you should file Form SSA-632," the SSA notes on its website. It also lists multiple repayment options. Recipients with additional questions are urged to call 1-800-772-1213.BillionToOne to Present at the 43rd Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare ConferenceNORMAL, Ill. — UND's season ended Saturday with a 35-13 loss at Illinois State, extending the Fighting Hawks' losing streak to five. Here are five things you might've missed during the game. ADVERTISEMENT 1. Safeties don't play UND starting safeties Jett Sutton and Tyler Erkman suffered injuries last week in a loss to South Dakota and didn't play against Illinois State. The Fighting Hawks started Jonnie Wiltshire and Jy Martin at safety in the regular-season finale. Wiltshire, a junior college transfer, tied a season-high and career-high with 10 tackles against the Redbirds. Martin, a transfer from NCAA Division II West Virginia State, had four tackles, while safety Cole Davis also played extensively and finished with three tackles. 2. Seidl's strong returns UND's Sawyer Seidl made a big impact on special teams. Seidl returned three kicks for 120 yards. Seidl returned the opening kickoff 68 yards, which led to a missed field goal from C.J. Elrichs. ADVERTISEMENT Seidl returned his second kick 37 yards. After Seidl's two long returns, Illinois State kicked the next kickoff out of bounds to give the ball to the Hawks at the 35. 3. Bleggen plays in fourth game UND true freshman Brennen Bleggen played in his fourth game of the season. He'll still be able to redshirt this season as players are allowed four games without burning a redshirt. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound nose guard played extensively. He had two tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Bleggen was injured late in the second half and finished the game by wearing a protective boot on his leg on the sideline. 4. Pedigo makes career-high tackles UND fifth-year senior Wyatt Pedigo ended his career with a career-high 15 tackles — the third time in his career he recorded double-digit tackles. In 43 career games across a five-year career, Pedigo had 203 tackles. ADVERTISEMENT Perhaps Pedigo's most impressive tackle of the game came in the open field on Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, who Pedigo secured to the ground for no gain on third-and-8 late in the first half to give UND's offense a chance to take a lead late in the second quarter. 5. Smith plays but run game held in check UND running back Isaiah Smith was hurt in last Saturday's loss to South Dakota and needed to be taken away from the Alerus Center for treatment. Schweigert categorized Smith as questionable earlier in the week. Smith plays against the Redbirds and finished with a team-high 11 carries for 31 yards. The Fighting Hawks were held in check in the rushing game, ending with 131 yards on 31 carries. The Hawks scored no rushing touchdowns and the longest run of the game was an 18-yard carry by Sawyer Seidl, who fumbled on the next play.
10 hot-ticket gifts we predict will sell out on Black Friday 2024Trump invites China’s Xi to Jinping to his inaugurationJake Auchincloss sells State Street Corporation stockAviation regulatory agencies visit Ogun, certify Gateway Airport for commercial operations
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Inter beats Como and closes gap at the top of Serie A while Bove back on Fiorentina sideline FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Inter Milan beat Como 2-0 to cement third place in Serie A and close the gap on top two Atalanta and Napoli on Monday. Carlos Augusto got the opener when he headed home a corner kick in the 48th minute. Canadian Press Dec 23, 2024 1:56 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Inter Milan's Carlos Augusto, center, celebrates after scoring against Como during a Serie A soccer match between Inter Milan and Como at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Inter Milan beat Como 2-0 to cement third place in Serie A and close the gap on top two Atalanta and Napoli on Monday. Carlos Augusto got the opener when he headed home a corner kick in the 48th minute. Marcus Thuram scored the second in stoppage time with a potent strike into the roof of the net. It was the first time these teams have played each other in the top division since 2003 and although Inter had lost only one league game all season it struggled to impose itself on 15th-placed Como. However, it won without exerting itself and the three points were enough to take Simone Inzaghi’s men within three points of leader Atalanta and within one of Napoli. Inter has a game in hand over both clubs. Fiorentina misses chance to rise Fiorentina missed a chance to go fourth when it lost at home to Udinese 2-1. The Florence club won a record eight consecutive Serie A games before losing to Bologna 1-0 on Dec. 15, and it looked to be back on track when Moises Kean converted a penalty after eight minutes to become the first Fiorentina player to reach double figures in the league since Federico Chiesa in the 2019-20 season. However, Udinese was a different prospect after the break. Lorenzo Lucca equalized with the aid of sloppy defending four minutes into the second half and then Florian Thauvin found space on the edge of the box to curl in the second eight minutes later. The result left Udinese in ninth place and Fiorentina in fifth. The match was a special one for Edoardo Bove, the Fiorentina player whose collapse with a heart issue led to the suspension of its game with Inter Milan on Dec. 1. Bove was fitted with a defibrillator implant soon after and sat on the Fiorentina bench for the first time since his collapse. He is not allowed to play but his position on the sideline alongside coach Raffaele Palladino was seen as a step towards normality for the 22-year-old midfielder. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Soccer FIFPRO against FIFA's temporary changes to transfer rules Dec 23, 2024 11:22 AM World Cup winner Alessandro Nesta fired by last-place Serie A club Monza Dec 23, 2024 8:12 AM Australia is banning social media for teens. Should Canada do the same? Dec 23, 2024 7:13 AM
With rookie QB Penix showing poise in starting debut, the Falcons again control their playoff hopesChris Knapp of Maine Local Living School shares hands-on learning experiences with students during his visit to Kingfield Elementary School on Nov. 8 in Kingfield. Submitted photo KINGFIELD — There was a whirlwind of activity last month at Kingfield Elementary School [KES] as students immersed themselves in a day of place-based learning with Maine Local Living School and Arbor Mountain Tree Service . Tailored for each grade level, the lessons highlighted ecological connections, sustainable practices and community engagement through hands-on projects. The Maine Local Living School, dedicated to teaching practical skills and fostering ecological stewardship, partnered with Arbor Mountain Tree Service to guide students in exploring sustainable forestry, acorn ecology and hands-on bridge construction. Kindergarten and first grade students worked with Chris Knapp of Maine Local Living School to explore the seasonal abundance of acorns. “This fall was a tremendous acorn harvest,” Knapp said, explaining how the lessons tied to the season. Students acted out the germination process of an acorn and identified oak leaves using compare-and-contrast exercises. Knapp also emphasized the cultural significance of acorns. “We honored the long history of peoples for whom acorn has been and is a staple crop,” he said. The day ended with students playing a food web game, simulating predator and prey roles while gathering acorns and enjoying freshly baked acorn biscuits. Second and fourth grade students collaborated with Knapp on constructing a community footbridge to cross a stream in the biodiversity field at the front of the school. “The footbridge project reflects Maine Local Living School’s and KES’s shared goals to engage in project-based learning,” Knapp said. The students began by identifying cedar trees, prized for their rot-resistant properties and thinned over 20 saplings from a dense stand. “Students were asked to consider which trees were the best candidates for the future forest based on crown health, upright habit, and space,” Knapp explained. The project also integrated math skills, as students estimated the number of saplings needed to deck the 12-foot bridge. “They measured three-foot sections of trunks and used traditional tools like draw knives and shave horses to shape the cross-ties,” Knapp said. “Students loved using the tools and learned to use them responsibly and safely.” Erica Luce, a second grade teacher, noted the significance of these lessons for the students. “They felt a lot of ownership over finding the right trees to cut down,” she said. “We talked about how foresters thin trees to help the forest thrive. That learning was really important to us.” David Eaton of Arbor Mountain Tree Service demonstrates sustainable forestry techniques and showcases equipment to students during his visit to Kingfield Elementary School on Nov. 8. Submitted photo David Eaton of Arbor Mountain Tree Service also visited KES, demonstrating sustainable forestry practices with his team. “We focused on helping the students understand trees with diseases, unstable roots or invasive insects,” Eaton said. Eaton’s team brought equipment, including a 65-foot bucket truck, chipper and log truck, which thrilled the students. “The kiddos enjoyed the ropes, tree saddles and pruning saws,” Eaton said. He emphasized the importance of forest health. “We discussed removing dead limbs and pruning techniques to help trees continue to grow in good health.” For Eaton, educating young audiences is crucial. “We feel it is important to teach the importance of tree health due to Maine being one of the most forested states in the country,” he said. “Healthy trees benefit us all.” Luce, who grew up with Eaton, expressed pride in his success as a business owner. “He’s a nontraditional learner, and it’s huge for the kids to see someone who found a fulfilling job,” she said. “We need to encourage these in-demand, high-paying careers as college may not be the right path for everyone.” The day was an example of how place-based learning connects students to their environment and community. Knapp emphasized the lasting impact of these projects. “Students can visit the bridge, which is useful and beautiful and the forest, which is now a little healthier,” he said. “That’s a powerful model for what the human relationship with land can and should look like. The collaboration between Maine Local Living School and KES will continue throughout the year. Knapp was to visit on Dec. 5 to work with the same four grades, focusing on kindergarten and grade one topics such as brewing pine tree and medicinal teas, as well as “Old Man Fire,” which covers building a fire for survival or cooking; for second and fourth grades, he will teach compass and spatial work, including wind, sun, and landforms during three sessions dedicated to compass skills on Dec. 5, March 6, and May 1. “It’s amazing to see how engaged students are when they’re learning through these hands-on experiences,” Luce said. “They’ll carry these lessons with them for years to come.” We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »
The University of Oklahoma administration appears to be rethinking possible cuts to its modern language departments following adverse reactions from faculty, students and alumni. Saturday, Provost André-Denis Wright issued a letter to faculty stating that the university’s “review” of the language programs in the College of Arts and Sciences would be moved back from January to February, allowing more time for faculty to discuss and plan. Several faculty told The Transcript that the previous timeline would allow little time for them to review or respond to the proposal. That timeline would have allowed only days before Christmas break ensued. “To ensure all voices are heard and perspectives understood so the university arrives at a decision in the best interests of its students, I am extending my request for a recommendation from the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences from late January to late February,” the provost’s letter states. “The dean and I also will convene the faculty as early as next week to ensure they understand the intent of the review and their opportunities to play a role in helping shape the future of the language requirement...” One former administrator (name witheld) called the administration’s stepping back from the proposal “significant” but likely temporary. Repeated requests for interviews with the administration by The Transcript went unanswered, aside from a short email from the provost for the first article in the series. However, Harroz told the student newspaper, the OU Daily, that The Transcript “went too far” in its initial story. Reports surfaced that tribal leaders were alarmed that Native American programs were jeopardized and contacted the administration. The provost’s letter affirms these concerns were shared. Wright promised a continued commitment to the programs, but without specifics. “These discussions, particularly related to languages taught in our Native American Studies Department, underscore how deeply our community values the role of language studies in fostering global perspectives, cultural understanding, and academic excellence,” Wright’s letter states. “...I will work separately with faculty in our Native American Studies Department to reaffirm that our historical connection to our Indigenous community is a bedrock of the education we offer.” The proposal to cut language courses was moving so quickly that it caused alarm among faculty. History of Science Professor Stephen P. Weldon said the push for the change was really a rush. “A review that affects the curriculum for whole colleges should not be made quickly by upper administration,” Weldon told The Transcript. “Doing so will only sow distrust throughout the university—as can be seen from the already explosive response to this idea. Curricular changes are the purview of the faculty.” Further, Weldon pointed out that OU Biologist Randall Hewes, Interim Dean of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, has only held the office since August, and such a change being thrust onto him was not good administrative policy. “Forcing them on an interim dean with only five-months of tenure is scandalous,” Weldon said. “It would set a terrible precedent and sharply erode faculty self-governance. Everyone is worried about what’s next on the chopping block. Western Civilization? Science?” Many faculty, students and alumni expressed the thought that cuts to general education requirements might be next, worrying that humanities, sciences, even math classes could also face cuts. “It’s an attack on courses that teach critical thinking. It’s an attack on general education,” said Associate Professor Farina King, who shared in The Transcript’s earlier story that her Native American language classes are among those facing the proposed cuts. “Some people want to wipe out critical thinking. There is no secret that humanities have been suffering.” King said the walking back of the proposed cuts may only be temporary. The push for cutting the courses may be coming from a larger political push, and the administration may come back after rallying. “Either way, it means endurance will be key for those who support language and general education; a well-rounded, rigorous, strong education,” King said.
According to the 2024 UK Government Cybersecurity Breaches Survey, 50 percent of businesses experienced a cyberattack or security breach in the past year. In light of recent cyber threats, experts from e-commerce hosting provider Hypernode emphasise the significance of cyber hygiene for UK businesses and share essential practices to ensure online safety. Milan Bosman provides some advice to Digital Journal readers. What is cyber hygiene? Cyber hygiene can be explained as a set of practices to maintain system health and security in relation to a business’s online activities. Like physical hygiene, maintaining cyber hygiene entails a set of regular preventative measures. 5 Key practices Milan Bosman, Commercial Director of Hypernode , adds further regarding the tips: “Warnings from experts, who have predicted the rise in cybercrime in the UK, have certainly been proven valid. Globally, cybercrime is expected to surge 15 percent throughout 2024, and 2023 government statistics already state that 32 percent of UK businesses experienced cyber-attacks at least once a week. With this, the importance of maintaining cyber hygiene continues to grow.” Bosman continues: “With October having been cybersecurity awareness month, it’s certainly a good time for businesses whose regulations are not up to date to review them and to ensure all staff are adequately educated around threats to avoid breaches in security.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
LightPath Technologies Introduces New Optical Gas Imaging Camera for Ammonia and SF6 Detection