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NoneMore than 3,000 fake Gibson electric guitars were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Southern California in what authorities are calling the largest seizure of counterfeit musical instruments at the busiest container port in North America. If they were authentic Gibson guitars, the instruments — which were destined for the e-commerce market — would be worth an estimated $18 million, according to U.S. Customs. They were seized by federal officials at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, a sprawling coastal complex that includes the Port of LA. The massive West Coast port is the busiest in the U.S. among container ports, in the volume of shipments seen, with cargo worth an estimated $292 billion passing through in 2023. While the knockoffs seized by federal authorities were manufactured outside the country, all authentic Gibson guitars are hand-crafted and made in the U.S., said Beth Heidt, chief marketing officer at the company. The iconic guitar brand, founded in 1902 in Kalamazoo, Mich., has all its instruments made at facilities in Nashville, Tenn. and Boseman, Mont. — with several generations of artisans behind the more than 100-year-old company, she said. "This is really emotional and personal for us because our teams have generations who have dedicated their entire lives to making these instruments," Heidt said, describing Gibson's guitar-making as a craft passed down generations within American families. Among the seized guitars were imitations of designs such as the Gibson SG and Les Paul , and while the majority were Gibson knockoffs, some were counterfeits of other well-known brands like Fender , Heidt said. She said there were models worth about $2,500 each if they were authentic as well as imitations of higher value Gibsons that would typically retail for more than $10,000. Federal authorities would not release any details about suspects in the investigation or where the instruments came from. U.S. Customs officers worked with Gibson's intellectual property experts to determine whether the guitars were counterfeits, according to LA County Sheriff's Lt. Bill Kitchin, who oversees the department's piracy division. Violating the federal statute that protects U.S. consumers from counterfeit products can result in a fine of up to $250,000 and 10 years in prison, said Jaime Ruiz, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Africa Bell, director of the LA-Long Beach Seaport, said the record-breaking seizure was especially noteworthy since the port is the largest container port in the country — collecting $19 billion in import duties, taxes and fees during the last fiscal year. She said finding counterfeits and contraband "in this massive amount of cargo arriving here everyday is like trying to find the smallest of needles in the largest of haystacks." Heidt said seasoned guitar players would be able to easily tell the difference between the fake Gibsons that were seized and the brand's authentic instruments, from the sound to other elements visible to the trained eye. "We can pick it up immediately and tell," she said, describing flaws in the fakes such as in the finishing, a more "flimsy" and light feel, placement of the logo, misplaced inlays and flaws in where the neck of the guitar meets the rest of the body. Andrea Bates, an attorney for the company who protects its intellectual property rights in court, said the well-known brand only sells through its website and authorized retailers which are listed on the site. Over the past fiscal year, Bell said, more than $2 billion in counterfeit products have been seized at the Southern California port. John Pasciucco, U.S. Customs' deputy special agent in charge for Los Angeles, said the selling of counterfeit goods can not only violate intellectual property rights and undermine respected brands that play by the rules, but also put consumers at risk. They can be made with substandard, even dangerous materials posing health risks — while also potentially being made through forced labor. Products made with paint containing lead, potentially dangerous counterfeit medications and knockoff brand cosmetics bearing that can cause severe skin reactions are just a few examples given by federal authorities of such potentially harmful counterfeits. Marissa Wenzke is a journalist based in Los Angeles. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School.
Off the couch and into the fire'Living Nostradamus' makes chilling prediction that World War III is 'imminent' and 'the worst is yet to come'A day after a 99-97 overtime loss to Memphis that left Huskies coach Dan Hurley livid about the officiating, UConn (4-2) couldn't shake the unranked Buffaloes (5-1), who shot 62.5% in the second half. With Colorado trailing 72-71 in the closing seconds, Jakimovski drove to his right and absorbed contact from UConn’s Liam McNeeley. He tossed the ball toward the glass and the shot was good as he fell to the floor. Hassan Diarra missed a 3-pointer just ahead of the buzzer for UConn. Elijah Malone and Julian Hammond III scored 16 points each for Colorado, and Jakimovski had 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Huskies led 40-32 at halftime and by nine points early in the second half, but Colorado quickly closed that gap. McNeeley led UConn with 20 points. UConn: Hurley's squad is facing its first adversity in quite a while. The Huskies arrived on Maui with a 17-game winning streak that dated to February. Colorado: The Buffaloes were held to season lows in points (56) and field goal percentage (37%) in a 16-point loss to Michigan State on Monday but shot 51.1% overall and 56.3% (9 of 16) from 3-point range against the Huskies. Hurley called timeout to set up the Huskies' final possession, but the Buffs forced them to take a contested 3. Colorado had a 28-26 rebounding advantage after being out-rebounded 42-29 by Michigan State. Colorado will play the Iowa-Dayton winner in the fifth-place game on Wednesday. UConn will play the loser of that matchup in the seventh-place game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .Chapo and Nyusi Stranded as Government Meeting Fails to Kick Off Without Mondlane
CU Buffs AD Rick George: ‘I believe (Coach Prime) wants to be here for the long haul’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pick your adjective to describe the Kansas City Chiefs this season — charmed, serendipitous, fortunate or just plain lucky — and it probably fits, and not just because they keep winning games that come down to the wire. Every time they need help at a position, they've found someone sitting on the couch, seemingly waiting for their call. First it was wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who returned to the Chiefs just before the season after Marquise Brown was lost to shoulder surgery. Then it was running back Kareem Hunt, who likewise returned to his former team when Isiah Pacheco broke his fibula. Left tackle D.J. Humphries came next when other options at the position were struggling, and this week it was Steven Nelson, who came out of retirement to help a secondary that has struggled for weeks. "Just got an opportunity, got a call. Was very excited about it," said Nelson, who spent his first four seasons in Kansas City before stints in Pittsburgh and Houston, and ultimately calling it quits in June so he could spend more time with his family. "I've got two daughters and been spending a lot of time with him," Nelson said, "but still trying to work out. It was kind of the perfect scenario, getting the call, especially where this team has been and this point in the season. Great opportunity." It's been a perfect opportunity for all of them. Perfect fits for the Chiefs, too. Each could have signed just about anywhere else and been able to contribute, yet they were still sitting around when Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reached out. In the case of Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Humphries, there were some concerns about injuries that had kept some teams away, but the Chiefs were willing to take a risk on them. Smith-Schuster, who has dealt with knee trouble for years, missed some time with a hamstring injury this season. But he still has 202 yards and a touchdown receiving, and has provided some veteran leadership in the locker room. Hunt was coming off a sports hernia surgery, a big reason why the Browns — whom the Chiefs visit Sunday — declined to bring him back after five years spent in a one-two punch with Nick Chubb. But when Pacheco went down, Hunt stepped in and their offense barely missed a beat; he has run for a team-leading 608 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games. Humphries was still rehabbing a torn ACL at the start of the season, but the former Pro Bowl tackle was cleared just before the Chiefs called him. Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris had struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side, so they brought in Humphries to help out. And while he hurt his hamstring late in his debut last week against the Chargers, the Chiefs still hope he'll be recovered and fully up to speed in time for the stretch run and the playoffs. "I'm in Kansas City, bro. I'm pretty ecstatic. It don't get much better than this," Humphries said. "Everybody is excited for me to be here and that's a really good feeling. You're getting All-Pro guys' arms outstretched, like, 'We're so glad you're here.'" The providential signings don't stop at those four players, either. When the Chiefs lost kicker Harrison Butker to knee surgery, they signed Spencer Shrader off the Jets practice squad, and he promptly kicked a game-winner against Carolina. But then Shrader hurt his hamstring and landed on injured reserve. The 49ers had just waived Matthew Wright, and the Chiefs signed him up. He's gone 8 for 9 on field-goal tries, has been perfect on PATs, and banged the game-winner off the upright and through last week against Los Angeles. Just like Smith-Schuster, Hunt and Nelson, Wright had been with Kansas City a couple of years ago. "It definitely helps, him knowing how we do things, how we practice and what we expect," Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub said. "That all helped, for sure. And he's a veteran. He's been a lot of places. It wasn't like he was a rookie off the street." Or off the couch, for that matter. NOTES: Butker planned to kick again Thursday and could come off IR to face the Browns on Sunday. "He looked good," Toub said. "We have to see how he responds." ... Humphries (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. RT Jawaan Taylor (knee) was limited. ... SS Justin Reid will likely handle kickoffs against Cleveland. He has a stronger leg than Wright and also puts another athletic and adept tackler on the field on special teams. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Tariff threat on oil shows need for Ottawa to get on Trump's wavelength, leaders say
PM asks Afghan govt to act against TTP, calling it a ‘red line’Big News: This country officially abolished flagpoling for work and study permit? understand what it means
Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkTally hits 52 as two more polio cases detected Cases involve an 18-month-old girl and a 36-month-old boy from Tehsil Darazinda, a region within DI Khan ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts faced another setback as the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The latest detections bring the total number of cases in the country this year to 52, underscoring the persistent challenges in combating the disease. The newly reported cases involve an 18-month-old girl and a 36-month-old boy from Tehsil Darazinda, a region within DI Khan. Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is currently underway, according to health officials. This marks the fifth polio case from DI Khan this year, a district identified as one of the seven polio-endemic areas in southern KP. DI Khan remains one of the most challenging districts for polio campaigns due to its precarious security situation. Vaccination drives are often disrupted, with vaccinators and their security escorts facing threats of violence. Such risks have left many children unvaccinated. Southern KP, including DI Khan, has long been a hotspot for polio transmission. Limited access to remote areas, coupled with community mistrust and active insurgencies, hinders immunization efforts. Of the 52 polio cases reported nationwide in 2024, Balochistan has recorded the highest number of cases where 24 children were affected, followed by 13 each in Sindh and KP and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. The data reflect the concentration of cases in areas with low immunisation, particularly in conflict-prone or underserved regions. Despite concerted efforts by health authorities and international partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, Pakistan remains one of only two countries where polio remains endemic. The persistent polio cases in DI Khan and other high-risk districts underscore the need for innovative approaches to reach unvaccinated children in challenging areas. Health officials remain committed to polio eradication, emphasising the importance of vaccinators security, community engagement, and robust surveillance. Genetic sequencing of the latest cases will aid in tracking transmission and identifying virus reservoirs. As Pakistan edges closer to its goal of eliminating polio, the situation in DI Khan serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of eradicating the virus amid socio-political and security challenges.Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Apple
PILSEN – After the city delayed its permit decision for a controversial metal scrapper in Pilsen, neighbors and environmental activists are calling for a health risk assessment to be completed before the process moves forward. The city’s official decision on Sims Metal Management’s permit renewal was expected Monday, but it was pushed back indefinitely as the city’s Department of Public Health continues to evaluate the company’s application, spokesperson Grace V. Johnson Adams in an email. “To ensure a thorough review, [the Chicago Department of Public Health] requires additional time to complete this process,” she said. Environmental justice groups Lucha Por La Villita and the Southwest Environmental Alliance have previously called on the city to halt the permit process until Sims Metal Management installs air filtration equipment , a requirement of the company following a state lawsuit. Southwest Environmental Alliance members are now raising concerns after Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Olusimbo Ige said Sims’ emissions data submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency shows that the company’s reported pollution levels, if accurate, would not cause either short or long-term health effects. Ige made those remarks in a private meeting with the group Dec. 6. Neighbors are calling on Mayor Brandon Johnson to delay the permit’s approval until a full health risk assessment is completed. The health risk assessment should consider the cumulative impact of other polluters in the area, Sims’ proximity to schools and neighbors’ health. It is also a city-designated environmental justice neighborhood. Granting a permit to a serial polluter with a record of environmental violations does not reflect Johnson’s commitment to end environmental discrimination , said Theresa McNamara, Southwest Environmental Alliance leader. “When there are rules to follow to protect the people, use them,” McNamara said. Under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration, the city completed a health impact assessment to evaluate whether it should approve a permit for a metal scrapper on the Southeast Side. In 2022, the city denied a permit to metal scrapper Southside Recycling , formerly known as General Iron, citing “the potential adverse changes in air quality and quality of life” of surrounding communities and the “company’s track record.” The city’s health impact assessment in that case found that certain Southeast Side groups are among the most vulnerable to air pollution based on underlying health and social conditions. Southeast Side neighbors also had higher rates of chronic conditions such as coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than other Chicagoans, the city found. For Sims, the city will use emissions data submitted to the EPA to evaluate the potential health hazards caused by the company, Ige told attendees at the Dec. 6 virtual meeting that Block Club attended. “What we have been looking at to determine if there is a health hazard is the level of emissions,” Ige said. The city monitors Sims emissions data to request inspections or mitigation controls if emissions exceed national thresholds, Ige said. It completed five inspections of the facility in 2023 and three in 2024, Ige said. But what that process fails to do is consider neighbors’ increased risk by living in environmental justice neighborhoods with heavy truck and rail traffic, industry emissions and high rates of chronic disease, asthma and cancer, Southeast Environmental Alliance members and neighbors said. It also fails to consider Sims Metal Management’s history of violations, as required by city law , they said. “[The city’s] shortcomings are our burdens,” McNamara said. “They say they care. If they care, don’t give Sims a permit. They should follow the law that they have put in place.” If the city approves Sims’ permit, it will be a retroactive permit covering operations from November 2021 to this November, replacing the company’s expired permit. The city’s delay in approving the permit was needed to complete an evaluation, receive neighbors’ feedback and allow Sims to fix deficiencies in its initial application, Ige said at last week’s meeting. The permit, if approved, will allow Sims to continue operating until the city issues a new permit, which the company has already applied for, Ige said. But by renewing this permit, the city allows Sims to break city laws without consequences, McKeon said. In 2022, state and federal representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency discovered that Sims was operating a stationary shear without the required permit for adding new equipment , according to a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Raoul Kwame. That equipment has been included in Sims’ renewal permit, according to the draft permit the city posted earlier this year. If the city renews the permit without requiring Sims to apply for a permit to add new equipment, it “would set a precedent that polluters are not required to follow [health department] rules and that [the health department] will not follow their own rules,” McKeon said in an email to the city’s health department. “We see it [as] inconsistent that the mayor has pledged to end environmental discrimination and yet is putting through this permit and intends to include equipment that was never applied for under the proper process,” McKeon said. Win Tickets To The Chicago Symphony Orchestra! This week only: When you support Block Club, you’ll not only get a free neighborhood print, but you’ll automatically be entered to win two tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra! There are three ways to qualify: Purchase a new subscription , upgrade your current subscription or gift a subscription . Don’t wait — this offer ends on Dec. 15th! Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: Related
Once called a "monument of failure" of the UPA government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was one of the flagship schemes launched during the Manmohan Singh government's first tenure, and it proved to be a lifeline for rural workers during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020. Launched in 2005, the MGNREGS was one of the first major schemes brought by the Manmohan Singh government, which at that time had Left parties supporting it. The UPA government had then described it as a "landmark in our history in removing poverty from the face of the nation". The National Advisory Council (NAC) chaired by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, which had several social activists and experts in an advisory role to the prime minister, also played a key role in shaping the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) based on the 'Right to Work'. The MGNREGA aims at enhancing the livelihood security of rural households by providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household that has adult members engaged in unskilled manual work. The scheme was lauded for its impact on reducing distress migration from villages. However, as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government came to power in 2014, it appeared to be critical of the UPA's flagship rural job scheme and reports surfaced that it may be restricted to the most backward districts, triggering a backlash from activists. In 2015, Modi said in the Lok Sabha that the MGNREGS should not be discontinued as it is a "living monument" of the Congress's failure to tackle poverty in 60 years. Also Read: MGNREGA: Choking it to a slow death Paying tribute to former prime minister Manmohan Singh today, activist Nikhil Dey said the fulfilment of the National Common Minimum Programme initiated by the NAC and backed by social movements brought "significant and path-breaking economic rights legislations", empowering the unorganised and marginalised sectors through basic entitlements to food, employment, education and land, amongst others. "Manmohan Singh is considered to be the person who heralded economic liberalisation in India in the early 1990s. Yet the UPA government that he headed came to power in 2004, with a message from India's electorate that for a vast number of people, India was not shining and the market had not given them the benefits of economic growth," Dey said. He said the reforms undertaken during the UPA regime have withstood hostility from "market fundamentalists and subsequent governments" and have shown their enormous value, particularly during periods of economic recession — including Covid. "While there were many voices even in his cabinet who critiqued and opposed these measures, it was clear that Dr Manmohan Singh had himself realised that the market could not be relied on for distributive growth and ordinary people would have to be empowered economically, socially and politically for India to address poverty, malnutrition and deprivation," Dey said. The MGNREGA proved to be a lifeline for many in 2020, when a lockdown was enforced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, triggering a massive reverse migration to villages. According to a 2022 study conducted by the Azim Premji University in a partnership with the National Consortium of Civil Society Organisations on MGNREGA and Collaborative Research and Dissemination (CORD), the scheme helped compensate between 20 per cent and 80 per cent of the income loss incurred because of the lockdown for the most-vulnerable households. Former bureaucrat and activist Aruna Roy, who was a member of the NAC and played a crucial role in several rights-based laws being brought during the UPA regime, said the government under Singh introduced a range of reforms and favoured transparency. "The Manmohan Singh government initiated social audits in MGNREGA and was aware that transparency was an essential prerequisite to the more effective functioning of social sector legislations with a vast canvas, such as the employment guarantee, the right to food, the right to education and the forest rights Acts," Roy said. According to a recent statement from the rural development ministry, more than 6.7 crore workers from about 5 crore families across the country have been provided employment through MGNREGA in the 2024–25 financial year so far and more than half of the beneficiaries are women. Singh died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on Thursday, 26 December 2024, at the age of 92. A seven-day national mourning has been declared in his honour. Also Read: Let Manmohan Singh’s last rites be at a place fit for a memorial: Kharge to ModiRichard Hanson President of Generations Wealth Management Interviewed on the Influential Entrepreneur Podcast Discussing Financial Confidence in Retirement 12-12-2024 09:10 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Authority Press Wire Image: https://authoritypresswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Richard_Hanson__1_-removebg-preview-1.png Richard Hanson discusses financial confidence in retirement Listen to the interview on the Business Innovators Radio Network: Interview with Richard Hanson President of Generations Wealth Management Discussing Financial Confidence in Retirement [ https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/interview-with-richard-hanson-president-of-generations-wealth-management-discussing-financial-confidence-in-retirement/ ] Mike Saunders welcomes Richard Hanson, President of Generations Wealth Management, to discuss the importance of financial confidence in retirement. Richard shares his journey into the financial industry, beginning as a teacher who was introduced to retirement plans by a college roommate. He explains how that initial interaction sparked his interest in financial services, leading him to pursue licensing and gain hands-on experience. Achieving financial confidence in retirement is a multifaceted endeavor that primarily hinges on understanding and managing three critical components: income, expenses, and taxes. Each of these elements plays a vital role in ensuring that retirees can maintain their desired lifestyle without the fear of outliving their savings. Regular reviews and adjustments of these components are essential as circumstances change over time. Richard shared: "As a trusted family-owned firm, we blend our deep-rooted values of integrity, trust, and reliability with innovative financial expertise. With a commitment to excellence, we strive to be the beacon of financial stability for generations to come, fostering prosperity and peace of mind within the families we serve." Retirement income can come from various sources, including Social Security benefits, pensions, and retirement accounts such as 403(b)s or TSAs. Richard Hanson emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly what income to expect during retirement. This clarity allows retirees to plan effectively and ensures they have a reliable financial foundation. Understanding income also involves recognizing potential changes, such as part-time work or adjustments in Social Security benefits. Regularly reviewing income sources helps retirees stay informed about their financial situation and make necessary adjustments to their spending or investment strategies. Managing expenses is crucial for maintaining financial confidence in retirement. Many retirees mistakenly assume that their expenses will decrease once they stop working. However, as Richard points out, expenses can often remain the same or even increase due to lifestyle choices, such as traveling or spending on grandchildren. To address this, retirees should engage in thorough discussions about their anticipated lifestyle in retirement. By identifying and quantifying their desired activities, retirees can create a more accurate budget that reflects their true financial needs. Regular reviews of expenses are necessary to ensure that they align with actual spending patterns and lifestyle changes. Taxes are an often-overlooked component of retirement planning. While retirees may not have direct control over tax rates, they can take proactive steps to mitigate their tax burden. Richard highlights the importance of understanding how income changes, such as Social Security increases, can impact tax brackets and other financial obligations, like Medicare costs. By regularly reviewing tax implications and planning for potential changes, retirees can make informed decisions about withdrawals from retirement accounts and other financial strategies. The dynamic nature of financial planning means that retirees must regularly review and adjust their strategies concerning income, expenses, and taxes. Richard emphasizes the importance of conducting semi-annual reviews to assess any changes in these components. Life events such as inheritances, health issues, or changes in family dynamics can significantly impact financial plans. In conclusion, financial confidence in retirement is built on a solid understanding and management of income, expenses, and taxes. Regular reviews and adjustments to these components are essential for successfully navigating the complexities of retirement planning. By prioritizing these elements, retirees can create a sustainable financial strategy that supports their desired lifestyle and provides peace of mind. Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/uFmmgdxCijU?rel=0&modestbranding=0&rel=0&showinfo=1&controls=1&autohide=2&showinfo=0?ecver=2 Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/uFmmgdxCijU About Richard Hanson Two generations of trusted Hanson financial professionals serve multiple generations of clients concerned with financial goals, wealth management, safety, security, and estate planning. Richard Hanson, President of Generations Financial & Insurance Services, began his career in 1983. He is currently an educational speaker on retirement and money management. Mr. Hanson is Designated as a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). He Currently Holds a membership with the National Association of Life Underwriters. 2011 Insurmark Hall of Fame Inductee. Andrew Hanson, Vice President of Generations Financial began his career in January 2016. He is the Head of Case Design Team & Digital Outreach. He hosts numerous Seminars educating our community on such subjects as: Social Security, RMD's, Asset Protection, Legacy Protection, College Funding and IRA / 401(k) Analysis. Learn more: https://www.generationswealthmgt.com/ Registered Representative & Securities Offered Through Capital Synergy Partners, Member FINRA [ https://www.finra.org/]/SIPC [ https://www.sipc.org/ ], 2860 Michelle Dr. Suite 150 Irvine, CA 92606, Phone: 888-277-1974. Generations Wealth Management Group and Capital Synergy Partners are Unaffiliated Entities. Media Contact Company Name: Marketing Huddle, LLC Contact Person: Mike Saunders, MBA Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=richard-hanson-president-of-generations-wealth-management-interviewed-on-the-influential-entrepreneur-podcast-discussing-financial-confidence-in-retirement ] Phone: 7202323112 Country: United States Website: https://www.AuthorityPositioningCoach.com This release was published on openPR.
Saquon Barkley has become the Shohei Ohtani of the NFL. There's no better home run hitter playing football right now. Barkley had touchdown runs of 72 and 70 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. He now has five runs of 50-plus yards this season and is on pace to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Barkley's historic performance against the Rams — his 255 yards set a team record — captivated a national audience and turned him into a fan favorite for the AP NFL MVP award. He's not the betting favorite, however. Josh Allen has the best odds at plus-150, according to Bet MGM Sportsbook. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is next at plus-250 followed by Barkley at plus-400. Running backs have won the award 18 times, including three-time winner Jim Brown, who was the AP's first NFL MVP in 1957. Quarterbacks have dominated the award, winning it 45 times. Only three players who weren't QBs or RBs have been MVP. It takes a special season for a non-QB to win it mainly because the offense goes through the signal caller. Quarterbacks handle the ball every offensive snap, run the show and get the credit when things go well and the blame when it doesn't. Adrian Peterson was the most recent non-QB to win it when he ran for 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings in 2012. Playing for a winning team matters, too. Nine of the past 11 winners played for a No. 1 seed with the other two winners on a No. 2 seed. The Vikings earned the sixth seed when Pederson was MVP. Barkley is a major reason why the Eagles (9-2) are leading the NFC East and only trail Detroit (10-1) by one game for the top spot in the conference. Does he have a realistic chance to win the MVP award? Kicker Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened 1982 season when he made 20 of 21 field goals and 16 of 19 extra points in nine games for Washington. If voters once selected a kicker, everyone has a chance, especially a game-changer such as Barkley. Defensive tackle Alan Page was the MVP in 1971 and linebacker Lawrence Taylor won it in 1986. Running back Christian McCaffrey finished third in voting last year and wide receiver Justin Jefferson placed fifth in 2022. The Offensive Player of the Year award and Defensive Player of the Year award recognize the best all-around players on both sides of the ball, allowing voters to recognize non-QBs if they choose. Wide receivers and running backs have won the AP OPOY award seven times over the past 11 seasons. McCaffrey was the 2023 winner. The AP's new voting format introduced in 2022 also gives non-QBs a better opportunity to get MVP recognition. Voter submit their top five picks for each award, with a weighted point system. Previously, voters made one choice for each award. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league vote for MVP and seven other awards. The awards are based on regular-season performance. The Chiefs (10-1) and Bills (9-2) already are in position to lock up postseason berths right after Thanksgiving. Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with a win over Las Vegas on Black Friday and a loss by Miami on Thursday night, or a win plus a loss by Denver on Monday night. Buffalo can wrap up a fifth straight AFC East title with a victory over San Francisco on Sunday and a loss by the Dolphins. It's not a given that the Dallas Cowboys will be looking for a new head coach after this season. Owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday on local radio that Mike McCarthy could end up getting a contract extension. "I don't think that's crazy at all. This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. We got a lot of football left," Jones said. McCarthy led the Cowboys (4-7) to three straight 12-win seasons, but they went 1-3 in the playoffs and haven't reached the NFC championship game since winning the Super Bowl 29 years ago. Injuries have contributed to the team's struggles this season, but Dallas was just 3-5 before Dak Prescott was lost for the rest of the season. The Cowboys upset Washington last week and their next four games are against teams that currently have losing records. If they somehow end up 9-8 or even 8-9, Jones could make a case for keeping McCarthy. Get local news delivered to your inbox!United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTags
Miles of defunct, lead-covered telephone cables have long sat abandoned beneath the cerulean waters of Lake Tahoe . Now, after years of legal back-and-forth, the cables have been removed. Scuba divers discovered the cables on the lake’s sandy, silty bottom in 2012. The cables consist of copper wires surrounded by a layer of lead sheathing. They were laid in Lake Tahoe decades ago—possibly as early as the 1920s —while telephone service was expanding across the United States. As technology advanced, telecom companies installed newer cables, but they left the old ones in place. Over time, the Lake Tahoe cables suffered damage from boat anchors and debris. Health and environmental activists and residents grew concerned that the torn cables were leaching lead into the lake, which is a popular swimming destination and provides drinking water for some nearby households. The cables’ origins are a little murky, but they are believed to have been originally installed by Bell Systems, which was later acquired by AT&T, as the San Francisco Chronicle ’s Gregory Thomas reported in August. In 2021, the nonprofit California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a civil lawsuit against AT&T over the cables. A 2023 Wall Street Journal investigation subsequently found abandoned, lead-covered telecommunications cables across the nation. The publication hired an environmental consulting firm to take soil and water samples from areas near the cables. Testing near the cables in Lake Tahoe showed lead levels that, in one sample, were 2,533 times higher than those recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the Wall Street Journal . AT&T disputed the claims that the cables had contaminated Lake Tahoe, and it commissioned its own lead tests that concluded the cables were “safe and pose no threat to public health nor the environment,” per its website . But the telecommunications company agreed to remove the cables anyway. This fall, AT&T hired J.F. Brennan Co., a marine services contractor, to remove the cables . Crews worked daily 12-hour shifts for more than two weeks to extract the old infrastructure from the lakebed. They finished the work on November 17, reports SFGate ’s Julie Brown Davis. Scuba divers and a remotely operated underwater vehicle worked in the water, while other crew members were stationed aboard a large barge and a smaller boat, per SFGate . The on-deck teams used a winch to hoist the heavy cables onto the barge, where they cut them into smaller pieces. Crews then ferried the cable pieces to Tahoe Keys Marina, loaded them onto trucks and drove them to a recycling facility. In total, teams removed nearly eight miles of cable from the southwestern part of the lake: One section was located in Emerald Bay, while the other stretched between Rubicon Point and Baldwin Beach. According to the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance’s calculations , the effort was slated to remove roughly 107,000 pounds of lead from the lake. A post shared by Keep Tahoe Blue (@keeptahoeblue) Researchers have not come to a consensus on whether the cables damaged the lake, reports USA Today ’s Greta Cross. “In an abundance of caution and without real access to the full range of all the scientific studies, our priority was to remove the cables as quickly and as safely as possible, always with that environmental protection at the forefront,” Laura Patten , natural resource director for the nonprofit League to Save Lake Tahoe, tells the publication. Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal. But when ingested, it can accumulate in the body and lead to health issues. Children ages 6 and younger are especially vulnerable to lead exposure , which can lead to issues like slow growth, hearing problems, anemia, behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, according to the EPA. In some cases, lead ingestion can cause seizures, coma or death. The EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that no amount of lead is safe for kids. Pregnant women and some other adults can also suffer from health issues linked to lead, such as high blood pressure, decreased kidney function, reproductive problems, miscarriage and more. Lead is also fatally toxic to animals, including endangered California condors and bald eagles . Historically, lead was used in drinking water pipes , ammunition , gasoline and paint . But over the last six decades, those uses have been restricted or banned. Get the latest stories in your inbox every weekday. Sarah Kuta | READ MORE Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Longmont, Colorado. She covers history, science, travel, food and beverage, sustainability, economics and other topics.
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