DENVER — Highly touted high school quarterback Julian Lewis has committed to the University of Colorado, possibly an indicator that coach Deion Sanders does indeed plan to stick around in Boulder. The five-star recruit recently decommitted from Southern California to explore his options. He announced Colorado would be his destination Thursday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” as he donned a Buffaloes stocking cap. Lewis figures to be the heir apparent to Shedeur Sanders, who’s expected to be a top pick in the next NFL draft. There’s an image of Sanders handing the keys over to the young QB in a video posted on Lewis’ Instagram account. It gives Deion Sanders another elite quarterback to build around at Colorado. On Tuesday, Sanders tamped down speculation over his future. “I’m enthusiastic about where I am,” he said. “I love it here. Truly do.” His roster this season has several young players making significant contributions, including freshman left tackle Jordan Seaton. “We ain’t going nowhere,” Sanders said. “We’re about to get comfortable.” Lewis, whose nickname is “Ju Ju,” became the starting quarterback at Carrollton High School in Georgia as a freshman. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound player was the 2023-24 Gatorade Georgia football player of the year. This season, he’s thrown for 2,842 yards and 40 touchdowns with only four interceptions, according to MaxPreps. He’s completing 77.8% of his passes. “It’s big for me, just coming in after Shedeur, seeing what he’s done at Colorado, and what he’s turned it into,” Lewis said on McAfee’s show. “It’s definitely a blessing to get to this position, coming in after him with his dad. “Coach Prime has always said the best man is going to play. That’s really what I wanted, was to be able to compete ... I don’t have much fun sitting on the bench, so I want to come to where I have a chance to play.” Lewis delivered the news to Deion Sanders over a phone call. He’s set join the Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) this spring. “Julian loves to compete; he’s extremely excited for the challenge that lies ahead in college football,” said TC Lewis, Julian’s father. “What ‘Coach Prime’ and Colorado provide for him in regards to development and a path to play are exceptional.”
Rangers 1 Tottenham 1: Super-sub Kulusevski saves Spurs as Postecoglou leaves Ibrox with crucial Europa League pointLAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen returned to the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the defending winner of the Sin City spectacle and a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship well within his reach. The Dutchman needed only to finish Saturday night's race ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to make it four straight for the Red Bull driver. Verstappen starts fifth and Norris is sixth. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Community receives lottery funding for Brighton LGBTQ projectStephen A. Smith's claim that Giants reached out to ESPN about Elle Duncan's criticism is false: reportScouted: Get Your Paws on These Purrrfect Gifts For Pets—and Pet ParentsNone
Fans React to Will Howard's Savage Trolling of Curt Cignetti After Ohio State-Indiana BlowoutIn a note he was carrying when he was arrested, Luigi Mangione paints himself as a man radicalized by statistics. “The US has the #1 most expensive health care system in the world, yet we rank roughly #42 in life expectancy,” wrote the alleged killer of Brian Thompson, the late CEO of Eden-Prairie-based UnitedHealthcare. “United is the [indecipherable] largest company in the US by market cap, behind only Apple, Google, Walmart. It has grown and grown, but [h]as our life expectancy?” Mangione is a scion of a rich, connected Maryland real estate family who recently withdrew from friends and family following severe medical issues. The numbers he cites are, in broad strokes, accurate. On life expectancy, the U.S. ranks somewhere in the 60s among the world’s countries, according to data from the United Nations , falling in between Panama and Estonia. Among the wealthy subset of countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, we rate 32nd out of 38 . The U.S. also spends far more on health care than any other country in the world: around $12,000 per person each year , thousands of dollars more than the next-highest spenders. The discrepancy between the staggering amount of health care spending and our relatively short lives has been perennial fodder for commentary and political debate : Where is all that money going? The answer, to a significant degree, is that it’s being skimmed off by the private health insurance industry. “The largest component of higher U.S. medical spending is the cost of health care administration,” according to an analysis by Harvard health economist David Cutler . “About one-third of health care dollars spent in the United States pays for administration.” Peer countries, even those that have similar systems with multiple private insurers, pay just a fraction as much. “Whole occupations exist in U.S. medical care that are found nowhere else in the world, from medical-record coding to claim-submission specialists,” Cutler writes. That excess spending adds up to something like half a trillion dollars each year, according to a recent analysis of Congressional Budget Office data by Matt Bruenig of the People’s Policy Project. For every $100 spent on health care, $16 goes directly to private insurance companies and another $16 goes to hospitals to cover the cost of administering care. Only about $68 goes toward actually paying for medical services. Under a single-payer system, on the other hand, the CBO estimates that the public insurer would need just $1.60 of that hundred bucks to cover its costs, while the hospitals would only need $11.80 to cover administration, because they no longer have to deal with the hassle of multiple private health insurers. Under that system, $86.60 would go toward paying for care. As the nation’s top health insurer and the fourth-largest company by revenue, UnitedHealth Group — the parent company of UnitedHealthcare — is also the chief beneficiary of all those billions in essentially wasted spending. In 2023 the company socked away $22 billion in profits on $371 billion in total revenue, adding up to $25 per share. The company paid investors dividends of $7.29 per share. Think of it this way: A person who owned a single $500 share of UnitedHealth Group stock at the start of the year would get rewarded, at the year’s end, with $7.29* of America’s health care spending, despite contributing precisely nothing to American health care. In his manifesto, Mangione refers to the private health insurers as “parasites.” Those profits, it should be noted, don’t simply generate themselves. UnitedHealthcare has developed a reputation for being especially ruthless in its pursuit of shareholder value. The company “relentlessly fought to reduce spending on care, even as its profits rose to record levels,” ProPublica reported last year . A U.S. Senate committee concluded UnitedHealthcare, along with other insurers, intentionally denied critical nursing care to stroke patients in order to increase profits. The company has been accused of using rigid algorithms to determine when to cut off payments, regardless of whether or not patients still needed care. Thompson had been accused of dumping stock before the company alerted shareholders that UnitedHealth Group was being targeted by a federal antitrust investigation. Virtually every American has their own horror story to tell of the Kafka-esque indignities of fighting with insurers over billing codes, prior authorizations, pre-approvals, in-network providers, and the like. This likely explains the organic outpouring of condemnation launched at the health insurance industry in the wake of Thompson’s killing, which spanned the political spectrum , even as elites of both parties scolded the vigilante apologists. Doctors say the delays caused by those barriers between patients and their care, which are set up largely to protect insurance company profits, can make patients sicker and in some cases kill them . In his manifesto, Mangione lamented that so little has been done to solve the profit-driven dysfunction of the health insurance system. “Many have illuminated the corruption and greed (e.g.: [Elisabeth] Rosenthal, [Michael] Moore), decades ago and the problems simply remain,” he wrote. “It is not an issue of awareness at this point.” The note makes no mention of any personal struggles with the insurance system, despite evidence that Mangione suffered from chronic back pain and underwent major surgery for it. But at some point — whether driven primarily by personal experience, systemic frustration, or the sheer force of a mental breakdown — Mangione decided to take things into his own hands. “What do you do?” he wrote in a separate, longer document that hasn’t yet been made public. “You wack the C.E.O. at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.” This story was originally produced by the Minnesota Reformer which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Thousands of Afghans on Thursday attended the funeral of the refugees minister, AFP journalists saw, after he was killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul the day before in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group. The Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was killed on Wednesday afternoon in a suicide bombing at the ministry's offices in the Afghan capital. Thousands of men, many of them armed, gathered for Haqqani's funeral in his home village of Sarana, in a mountainous area of Paktia province, south of Kabul. The funeral included heavy security, with armoured vehicles, snipers and personnel manning the area and the road from Kabul, which was jammed with hundreds of cars as mourners travelled from surrounding provinces. Senior Taliban officials, including the Chief of Army Staff Qari Fasihuddin Fitrat, and Maulawi Abdul Kabir, political deputy of the prime minister's office, attended the funeral, according to an AFP team on site. The deceased's nephew, the powerful interior minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, also attended, along with foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. In a speech there, Muttaqi said the latest IS attacks had been planned "abroad", denouncing, without naming them, "countries harbouring" the organisation. "We call on all nations to work together to stop the common enemy, which does not recognise any kind of morality." In September, the Taliban authorities said IS had training camps in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which also regularly faces jihadist attacks. Haqqani, the highest ranked member of the Taliban government to be killed in an attack since their return to power, "was a big loss for us, the system and the nation", said Paktia resident Hedayatullah, 22. "May God protect our other leaders and keep them victorious." "Our leader... who had his life brutally taken away, achieved martyrdom," said Bostan, 53, haranguing the "cowardly attack" that killed Haqqani. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack on Thursday, offering condolences to the victims' families. "There can be no place for terrorism in the quest for stability," the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on X. The European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the attack, along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Iran. Haqqani -- who is on US and UN sanctions lists and never appeared without an automatic weapon in his hand -- was the brother of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the feared Haqqani network responsible for some of the most violent attacks during the Taliban's two-decade insurgency. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a bomber detonated an explosive vest inside the ministry, according to a statement on its Amaq news agency, as translated by the SITE Intelligence Group. Taliban authorities had already blamed IS for the "cowardly attack" -- the first targeting a minister since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban forces took over the country that year, ending their war against US-led NATO coalition forces. However, the regional chapter of IS, known as Islamic State Khorasan, is active in Afghanistan and has regularly targeted civilians, foreigners and Taliban officials with gun and bomb attacks. bur-qb-sw/nro
LETTER: Poilievre marching down a trail blazed by Maxime BernierThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew the assignment coming out of the bye and with their 28-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Raymond James Stadium, coupled with the Atlanta Falcons getting blown out by the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay has the division lead. Entering the bye on a four-game losing streak, Tampa Bay managed to get healthy and has now rattled off three straight wins to overtake the Falcons for the division lead. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.
Will Democrats Finally Learn A Lesson?
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund. The donation comes just weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the offering Thursday. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Stephen Miller, who has been appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump's second term, has said that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, wants to support Trump's economic plans. The tech CEO has been seeking to change his company's perception on the right following a rocky relationship with Trump. Trump was kicked off Facebook following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The company restored his account in early 2023. RELATED STORY | Meta's Mark Zuckerberg is the second richest person in the world. Here's who he just outranked During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president but has voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump's response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly during the campaign. In July, he posted a message on his own social network Truth Social threatening to send election fraudsters to prison in part by citing a nickname he used for the Meta CEO. "ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!" Trump wrote. Corporations have traditionally made up a large share of donors to presidential inaugurals, with an exception in 2009, when then-President-elect Barack Obama refused to accept corporate donations. He reversed course for his second inaugural in 2013. Facebook did not donate to either Biden's 2021 inaugural or Trump's 2017 inaugural. Google donated $285,000 each to Trump first inaugural and Biden's inaugural, according to Federal Election Commission records. Inaugural committees are required to disclose the source of their fundraising, but not how they spend the money. Microsoft gave $1 million to Obama's second inaugural, but only $500,000 to Trump in 2017 and Biden in 2021. RELATED STORY | Celebrity private jet-tracking accounts suspended by Meta without reason, college student claimsCopy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Tim Reed and Andy Gray’s Potentia Capital almost blew it out of the water with Micromine in 2022, when Nasdaq-listed Aspen Technology’s $900 million bid valued the mining software player at 9.4-times money. But 16 months after the deal collapsed , Potentia’s founders don’t seem to have made any efforts to nail down what could shape up as a marquee exit. Why’s that? Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.
YouTube launches AI comment recommendations & users aren’t happyTension is reportedly brewing within the factions of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State as the Comrade Austin Agada-led faction that claimed loyalty to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume has accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of leading an alleged plot for the removal of the SGF. Comrade Agada’s faction, in a statement issued by Mr Daniel Ihomun, its state publicity scribe, said Governor Alia had reportedly claimed that he was instrumental to the appointment of Senator Akume as SGF and had allegedly recommended his removal via the governor’s aides. But Mr Ihomun swiftly bruised aside the governor’s alleged claim of being behind the SGF’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu, saying “This is far from the truth. Senator Akume and President Tinubu share a very long relationship and have been political allies for decades (even before the ACN days). “His emergence as SGF can be attributed to the trust Mr President has in Senator Akume, his impressive political profile, the zoning of the position to the North Central region, and the dynamics of party politics. “Therefore, it is misleading to suggest Governor Alia played any role whatsoever in President Tinubu’s appointment of Sen. Dr. George Akume as SGF. But in a reaction, Governor Alia denied calling for the sack of Senator Akume as SGF, stressing that if he wants to call for Akume’s sack, he certainly knows exactly what to do and where to channel his request the same way he channelled his preference and recommendations for him before he was appointed SGF. His Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula said in a reply that, “this rebuttal is necessitated by the mischief-making the rounds in the media sponsored by the SGF’s proxies who are desperate to blackmail the governor and distract him from the unprecedented developmental strides he is doing in the state. “However, it is necessary to throw light on the context surrounding the call for the removal of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). “The group that issued the statement comprises adults and are entitled to express their opinions autonomously. They did not claim to speak on behalf of Governor Alia, nor did they insinuate that their call for action was sanctioned by him. “Moreover, the Governor has consistently maintained a professional decorum and has refrained from going public to accuse the SGF despite the provocations perpetually directed at him by the SGF’s political allies and associates including his wife who is a member of the House of Representatives. “If Governor Alia wants to call for Akume’s sack, he certainly knows exactly what to do and where to channel his request the same way he channelled his preference and recommendations for him before he was appointed SGF. “Nevertheless, the ongoing attacks and public ridicule directed at the Governor from Akume’s circle are regrettable, yet Governor Alia has chosen to respond with restraint rather than retaliatory measures. “The insinuation that Governor Alia orchestrated the call for the SGF’s removal is a misleading narrative that serves only to distract from the real issues at hand. “The Governor remains focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of Benue State and will not be swayed by unfounded allegations or attempts at blackmail. Meanwhile, the Agenda’s faction “called on Governor Alia to find ways of reconciling and uniting the party in the state and to shun cheerleaders within and outside his government who are bent on denying the party a united front of developing Benue State by distracting him with an imaginary war, which has kept him punching in the dark, instead of focusing on delivering on his mandate and keeping campaign promises made to the people”.Nearly 40 lags collapse in 24 hours after taking Fentanyl and Spice mix as one rushed to hospitalCHICAGO (AP) — Two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid returned to the Philadelphia 76ers' starting lineup against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. After missing his first seven shots and ambling deliberately in his left knee brace in the first quarter, the 2023 MVP went on a tear to propel the Sixers to a 108-100 win over the Chicago Bulls. Embiid connected on eight of his next 10 shots in the second quarter for his first 19 points of the game, which lifted Philadelphia to a 62-50 halftime lead. The Sixers stretched it to 19 before holding on for their fourth win in five games, and Embiid finished with 31. “I just got lucky and started making shots,” Embiid deadpanned when he talked to reporters almost 90 minutes after the game. “We just missed shots and we adjusted and we got them in.” Embiid, a seven-time All-Star, added 12 rebounds in his fifth game this season. The 7-foot center had missed the previous seven games because of knee injuries and a three-game suspension for pushing a sports columnist. Embiid finished slightly above his career average of nearly 27.8 points per game in 33 minutes. The Sixers don't play again until Friday thanks to the NBA Cup, so coach Nick Nurse planned to give his star ample work Sunday with a break and recovery time ahead. “All of a sudden he certainly caught fire there with a little bit of variety,” Nurse said. “I know a lot of it seemed like foul-line jumpers, which it was. He snuck in a roll or two and a couple of post-ups. It gave us a lot of confidence.” The Sixers trailed 33-23 after the first quarter. Behind Embiid and a 16-0 run in the second, they took the lead for good. Chicago got within four points twice in the fourth, but Philadelphia closed it out. “We guarded really well and we rebounded extremely well at both ends,” Nurse said. Tyrese Maxey got his first career triple-double as part of the winning formula and clicked with Embiid. Maxey finished with 25 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds. “It was great, that's who he is,” Maxey said of Embiid. “After he got in the game it's easy, it was easier, man. There was a lot more space out there.” The All-Star trio of Embiid, Maxey and Paul George (12 points) played together for only the second game this season. “Obviously we've got the connection,” Embiid said. "We know when things are not going right, what we need to do. Now it's up to us to make the shots and the plays. “After that first quarter, it just felt like we needed to take more of an ownership as far as getting us back in the game. They're great players.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba