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SEATTLE (AP) — It wasn’t pretty, but the Seattle Seahawks pulled off a 6-3 slog of a victory Thursday over the Chicago Bears. The win featured an outstanding effort from Seattle's defense, a near disappearance from the offense and a game-sealing pick that ended Caleb Williams' rookie record for the most pass attempts without an interception at 353. The Seahawks sacked Williams seven times to tie the team’s season high as the Bears lost their 10th consecutive game in the lowest scoring contest of the season. The Bears had a chance to pull off an upset when they had the ball at Seattle's 40-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen picked off Williams with 20 seconds left. It was a nice bounce-back win for Seattle, but had little impact on their postseason outlook. The more important game will come Saturday, when the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals face off with Seattle’s postseason fortunes on the line. A win by Arizona keeps the Seahawks in the hunt — but still needing a win over the Rams next weekend to clinch the NFC West. A Rams win this weekend would dash Seattle’s hopes as Los Angeles would win the tiebreaker over Seattle even if the Seahawks win the regular-season finale. “We’re in the mode of controlling what we can control,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “We know what’s coming next week. We’re going to spend this weekend getting our minds and bodies and spirits right to go play a game. "Yeah, we’re praying that it’s for the division championship.” What’s working Leonard Williams continues to be a force for the Seahawks. The defensive tackle dominated the Bears' offensive line with two of Seattle’s seven sacks, four quarterback hits and three tackles for loss. Williams been the key to Seattle’s defensive resurgence. A unit that was among the worst in the league earlier in the season has become one of the NFL's most productive in the second half with Williams' big-time impact up front being a major reason Seattle is still in the playoff hunt. “He should be up for all the accolades,” Macdonald said. “I don’t know what the awards are out there, but I would give it to him,” Macdonald said. “He’s just a phenomenal player, phenomenal human being. I’m glad he’s a Seahawk. Glad he’s with us.” What needs help Seattle’s offense was full of stops and starts, but two field goals proved to be enough. Geno Smith managed just 160 passing yards and nearly threw yet another interception in the red zone on Seattle’s first drive of the game. Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh combined for 103 yards on 22 carries, with McIntosh’s 25-yard first-quarter run marking Seattle’s longest offensive play of the day. Charbonnet, starting in place of the injured Kenneth Walker III, was held to just 3.8 yards per carry. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has spent the season trying to figure out how to get the running game going, with little success. Stock up The Seahawks' defense put up a lockdown performance after struggling in losses against Green Bay and Minnesota, holding the Bears to just 179 yards of total offense and finishing with 10 quarterback hits. Along with Leonard Williams big day, Devon Witherspoon had six tackles with a sack and three tackles for loss as the Seahawks recaptured some of the momentum it had lost the past two weeks. Under constant pressure from Seattle’s pass rush, Caleb Williams threw for 122 yards, while completing 16 of 28 pass attempts. Stock down WR DK Metcalf. He had a tough day, with just three receptions for 43 yards. He also drew a pair of personal fouls on a single play, one coming after he head-butted Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the second quarter. Metcalf hasn’t had more than 70 yards receiving in a game since Seattle’s win over Atlanta on Oct. 20. He has only had more than four receptions in three games this year, and has just four touchdown catches in what has been a bit of a disappointing season for the sixth-year receiver. Injuries The Seahawks put Walker (ankle) on injured reserve Thursday, marking the end of his regular season. Walker has to miss at least the next four games, but could return if Seattle makes it deep into the playoffs. Key number 7 — Seattle’s seven sacks made it 67 on the year for Caleb Williams, 15 more than any other quarterback in the league and fourth-most in league history. Up next The Seahawks finish the regular season at the Los Angeles Rams on either Jan. 4 or 5. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Shane Lantz, The Associated PressNano Nuclear Energy Inc. ( NASDAQ:NNE – Get Free Report ) gapped up prior to trading on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $23.15, but opened at $24.03. Nano Nuclear Energy shares last traded at $25.90, with a volume of 1,501,648 shares changing hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets NNE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Benchmark upped their price target on shares of Nano Nuclear Energy from $39.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. HC Wainwright started coverage on shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. They set a “buy” rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Nano Nuclear Energy Nano Nuclear Energy Stock Performance Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nano Nuclear Energy A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in NNE. Barclays PLC acquired a new position in shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $76,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $250,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $305,000. State Street Corp acquired a new position in shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $718,000. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Nano Nuclear Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $933,000. About Nano Nuclear Energy ( Get Free Report ) NANO Nuclear Energy Inc operates as a microreactor technology company. The company is developing ZEUS, a solid-core battery reactor, and ODIN, a low-pressure coolant reactor. It is also developing a high-assay low-enriched uranium fabrication facility to supply fuel to the nuclear reactor industry and fuel transportation and nuclear consultation businesses. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nano Nuclear Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nano Nuclear Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
DRIVERLESS Knight Rider-style buses are set to hit UK roads in days as thousands brace for the terrifying new concept. The self-driving motors will soon be zooming along the streets of Central Milton Keynes. 6 Self-driving buses will be trialled in Milton Keynes next week Credit: smartcityconsultancy 6 David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight and K.I.T.T. a famously driverless car in Knight Rider Credit: Getty - Contributor 6 An inside look of one of the driverless vehicles Credit: smartcityconsultancy Photographs of the StreetCAV, a 'plug-and-play' shuttle, show a pod-like vehicle with bars and handles like any normal bus. Except it's almost impossible to tell which end is the front, because there's no space for a driver's seat. Instead, the entire pod has room for passengers, with seats along either side and a central door. Before it is given the green light, the buses will be trialled in the city centre in December, MK Citizen reported. read more in motors TOW THE LINE What the squares and circles on a car bumper are for HIDDEN GEMS Classic cars sat in barn for 40 years sell for 10 TIMES original value If successful, the vehicles should be ready to board its first passengers in 2025. The driverless shuttles are currently on display in the town's Smart City Experience Centre. Zenzic’s CAM Supply Chain UK programme was launched by the government to help bring the UK in the running for world-leader in development of self-driving vehicles. It has pumped money into the ambitious project, which will be lead by the Smart City Consultancy (SMCCL). Most read in Motors SHUT DOWN Crucial motorway bridge used by 80,000 Brits every day shuts in BOTH directions Biker's code 5 motorcycle hand signals every motorbike rider should know DRIVE TIME Plymouth Barracuda signed by F1 legend set to sell for eye-watering price CHEAP AS CHIPS Best cheap cars for new drivers as millions brace for huge rule change “The StreetCAV project has been going for some time now so we are absolutely thrilled that it is finally at a stage where we can reveal it to the world," Ian Pulford, CEO at SMCCL, said. “Thanks to the partners we’ve been fortunate to involve in the project, we truly believe we have developed a solution which can change the future of urban mobility while making our towns and cities smarter, greener, and more inclusive. "We have also worked rigorously to ensure public safety. Working closely with Milton Keynes City Council, BT and ECS, we will establish a city centre control room, connected by a specifically designed communications network, provided by CableFree, which will in-turn allow the Ohmio vehicles to be supervised and managed remotely. “It really has been a fantastic project to work on and we can’t thank all of our partners and funders enough for their continued work and support.” Tesla opens 17 ‘Self-Serve’ test centres so customers can try driverless EVs Mark Cracknell, program director at Zenzic, added: “We are proud to have supported the development of StreetCAV and to have worked with all of the partners involved in this pioneering project. “Should the trial prove a success, it could lay the foundations for a more connected, inclusive, and resilient transportation network not only for Milton Keynes, but for towns and cities across the globe. “It is a perfect example of how, by working more collaboratively and bringing together industry, academia and the public sector, the UK can lead the way in accelerating the self-driving revolution.” The Sun Online has reached out to Milton Keynes Council for comment. TICKET TO THE FUTURE Milton Keynes isn't the only town which could soon have driverless motors roaming around its streets. In early 2023, The Sun Online reported how self-driving, zero-emission shuttles will be piloted in Sunderland after receiving £6m in government and industry funding. The Sunderland Advanced Mobility Shuttle project added it would trial three self-driving Aurrigo Auto-Shuttles. A safety driver will be on board the shuttles just in case. These futuristic-looking vehicles will transport passengers on public roads between Sunderland Interchange, Sunderland Royal Hospital and the University of Sunderland City Campus. The initiative is led by Sunderland City Council in partnership with Aurrigo, Stagecoach, Angoka Ltf, Newcastle University and Bai Communications. The project has received a £3m government grant matched by industry pros - which totals £6m. Liz St Louis, director of Smart Cities at Sunderland City Council, said to Chronicle Live : "Leveraging the power of 5G technology and Sunderland’s leading smart city infrastructure. Read more on the Scottish Sun FESTIVE FIZZ Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Scotland: Dates, locations & all you need to know AND RELAX Scots seaside hotel with outdoor hot tub and firepit named UK's top spa resort "The focus of our ambitious project partners is underpinned by an ethos of leaving no one and nowhere behind. "Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) will provide huge social, industrial and economic benefits across the world and we’re hugely optimistic about a technology-fuelled future, powered by local expertise, right here in Sunderland." 6 Two young passengers take in the view from outside Credit: smartcityconsultancy 6 If successful, the buses will begin boarding passengers in 2025 Credit: smartcityconsultancy 6 A model of one of the buses in on display in Milton Keynes' Smart City Experience Centre Credit: smartcityconsultancyTrump's nominee for attorney general a longtime ally
The California Highway Patrol will continue surge operations for another month to combat crime in Oakland and other Bay Area locations, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday morning while urging a change to a controversial police policy. Newsom joined the CHP and Oakland leaders at a press conference at the CHP office in Oakland Friday to announce a continuation of the CHP support for law enforcement in the East Bay and also in Vallejo. Oakland's police pursuit policy came under fire during the press conference, with Newsom and other speakers railing against a policy that limits the ability of officers to chase crime suspects. The Oakland Police Department only allows for pursuits involving "violent forcible crimes" and crimes involving firearms. It means that police can't chase people suspected of committing felonies such as reckless driving, sideshow activity, driving under the influence, or retail theft. Newsom said the future of CHP support for law enforcement in Oakland will depend on changes to Oakland police policies. "We specifically are going to need to see changes in the pursuit policy here in Oakland," Newsom said. "This has been called out over the course of many months. The [CHP] Deputy Commissioner just highlighted a remarkable story that has been shared on multiple occasions to me and others of suspects that have been pursued that were shocked that they were actually pulled over because in the past, presumably, they had not been." Newsom continued, "You could be drunk, you could run a red light, you can come close to side-swiping a school bus right during the morning hours right in front of a police officer and the pursuit policy in Oakland says we cannot pursue that suspect, we cannot engage that suspect. Reckless driving, someone who literally puts people's lives at risk, that occurs right in front of an officer in a vehicle, that officer cannot under this extreme pursuit policy here in Oakland pursue that suspect." In July, Newsom sent a letter to then-Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, the City Council, and the Police Commission urging them to reconsider the policy. City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins told reporters at the press conference that with four new councilmembers beginning their terms in January, there is now overwhelming support to change the policy, which Newsom called an outlier not only in California but in the U.S. as well. Interim Mayor Nikki Fortunato Bas, who took over after Thao's recall, said in a prepared statement that she applauds Newsom's effort to extend the partnership with the Police Department and the CHP and welcomes the advice from the governor's team. "Over the past year, Oakland has dramatically reduced crime in all categories with an overall reduction of 34%. CHP's sustained presence in Oakland allows OPD to focus resources on responding to calls for service and addressing violent crime through our intelligence-based Ceasefire strategy," said Fortunato Bas. "We greatly appreciate the CHP's targeted enforcement of traffic violations, auto-theft, sideshows, and seizure of illegal guns and look forward to continuing this important partnership in 2025." Oakland Police Officers Association President Huy Nguyen welcomed the extension of the CHP deployments "to address surging crime in Oakland." "We look forward to Oakland elected and appointed leaders seeing what outsiders--such as the governor and visitors—see we need to fight crime and criminals," said Nguyen in a prepared statement. The CHP began its surge support in Oakland in February and in July, Newsom quadrupled the number of shifts CHP officers worked in the region , while also calling out former District Attorney Pamela Price who has also been recalled. The state has also installed 290 Flock security cameras in the city of Oakland and 190 cameras on East Bay freeways which have helped law enforcement in dozens of investigations, the Governor's Office said. Newsom also said he has directed the CHP to expand its efforts working with the Vallejo Police Department, where current staffing shortages are affecting public safety . In August, VPD said out of 137 sworn officer positions in Vallejo, only 73 were filled, and the department is also without a permanent police chief. In 2024, the CHP reports its surge operations in the Bay Area have allowed it to recover $13 million in stolen goods and arrest more than 1,400 suspects. The operations throughout the state targeted organized criminal behavior, gun violence, fentanyl distribution, and sideshows and street racing in Oakland, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino. Newsom pointed to new laws taking effect in 2025 that enhance penalties for retail theft, vehicle theft and sideshows that indicate the state is doubling down on its public safety and crime prevention strategies. The CHP's Organized Retail Crime Task Force, established in 2019 and expanded by Newsom in 2021, has recovered more than $51.3 million in stolen property since its inception, the Governor's Office saidHrithik Roshan, who assisted his father Rakesh Roshan in Karan Arjun, shared his fond memories about the film and its shoot. Taking to Instagram, Hritik wrote, “The Karan Arjun experience Ha , I look like a young Kabir with Karan and Arjun". Kabir is Hrithik’s character from the movie War. ‘Salman Khan Loved It, Shah Rukh Didn’t Believe in It’: Rakesh Roshan Opens Up About ‘Karan Arjun’ (Watch Video) . Hrithik continued, “As an assistant , I remember Minerva being the main theatre on release day. Me and dad’s other assistant Anurag (2nd pic in the white sweatshirt), screened the print before the release and we were all incredibly disappointed . The print looked dark and dull. We got the the entire screen washed and as the dirt and grime dissolved into the large washcloth, we heard the manager say. The screen has been washed after 15 years." ‘Karan Arjun’ Re-Release: When Mamta Kulkarni Praised Shah Rukh Khan for Being an Engaging Actor and ‘Warm Person’ (Watch Throwback Video) . googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1560419204258-2'); }); View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hrithik Roshan (@hrithikroshan) Hrithik also highlighted another interesting fact and wrote, “Another fun fact , during the song bhangda paale, one late night, a more than merry team of Shahrukh and Salman decided to leave Sariska by car and drive to Delhi promising to be back by morning.I was flabbergasted and jumped ( literally ) on the bonnet of the car to stop them. The call time was 6am and I had to make sure my dad didn't lose the day. He didn’t.” Hrithik ended the post by revealing how Shahrukh and Salman together made a great impact on him: “Watching Salman and Shahrukh act was a huge learning for me as a 17-year-old. It was the best on-set practical acting school ever. KARAN ARJUN is running in theatres again.” Hrithik also shared some nostalgic pictures from the sets of Karan Arjun . In the first black-and-white picture, he can be seen posing with Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) and Salman Khan. The second picture is from the song " Bhangda Paale ", where SRK and Salman are dressed in kurtas and black pyjamas, and Hrithik can be seen smiling on set. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2024 08:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).Pope to skip Notre Dame opening in Paris for Corsica visit
Crypto’s reputation is undergoing a makeover as the sector matures. Driven by regulatory clarity, technological innovation, and a shift toward solving real-world problems — particularly in payments and financial services — the industry’s evolution is coming to reflect a growing synergy between traditional finance and decentralized technologies. As industry observers look to 2025, blockchain technology and stablecoins are emerging as key tools for improving efficiency, transparency, and speed in many operational and commercial areas. The increasing involvement of major financial institutions further emphasizes the transformative potential of these technologies . Ultimately, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: blockchain technology is now a problem-solver with serious business potential. Regulations Shape Crypto Use Cases The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority published on Tuesday (Nov. 26) its cryptocurrency regulation roadmap amid growing digital asset ownership and plans to issue its final crypto rules in 2026. The U.K. is working to keep up with the U.S. and Europe in the crypto sector as President-elect Donald Trump is wooing crypto businesses and when the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation is about to be implemented. PYMNTS covered Monday (Nov. 25) how cryptocurrencies, and more specifically their underlying blockchain technologies , have gone from a solution in search of a problem to a solution in hopes of some regulatory clarity. The implications for businesses leveraging these technologies , particularly ones operating internationally, are far-reaching and complex, potentially setting the stage for new norms around business-to-business (B2B) payments and cross-border transactions. With the news Nov. 21 that Mastercard ’s Multi-Token Network (MTN) has connected to J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys Digital Payments to streamline cross-border B2B transactions, leveraging blockchain for better payments is top of mind for B2B firms operating internationally. The integration of the J.P. Morgan blockchain with Mastercard’s capabilities addresses longstanding challenges in B2B payments, including time zone friction, settlement delays and limited transparency. By enabling mutual customers to settle transactions through a single API, the partnership reduces operational complexities and accelerates payment processing across borders. Meanwhile, Cantor Fitzgerald is reportedly seeking support for its planned $2 billion bitcoin lending project from Tether . Bitcoin has reached record highs since the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, with traders expecting the crypto sector to benefit from Trump’s support of cryptocurrencies. Read more : This Week in Web3: Understanding Blockchain Solutions for Business Challenges Stablecoins Become Hot Asset News broke Tuesday (Nov. 26) that cryptocurrency exchange Kraken reportedly is shutting down its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, saying it will move more resources into new offerings. The company unveiled its NFT marketplace about two years ago, during which time NFTs fell along with the crypto bear market but have not recovered as well as bitcoin and other tokens have. In separate news, it was report here here Nov. 4 that Kraken is part of a consortium of FinTech and crypto companies that introduced a joint stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The aim of the Global Dollar Network , which also includes Robinhood and Galaxy Digital , is to accelerate the use of stablecoins worldwide and promote an asset that provides proportionate economic benefits to its partners. And stablecoins are on the rise more generally . The market capitalization for the digital, dollar-pegged currencies has jumped 46% this year to a record $190 billion, it was reported Wednesday (Nov. 27). The driving reason? Optimism about their use in cross-border payments. “Blockchain solutions and stablecoins — I don’t like to use the term crypto because this is more about FinTech — they’ve found product-market fit in cross-border payments,” Sheraz Shere , GM payments and commerce at Solana Foundation , told PYMNTS earlier this year. “You get the disintermediation, you get the speed, you get the transparency , you get extremely low cost.” Stripe announced last month plans to purchase stablecoin startup Bridge for $1.1 billion, one of the largest recorded acquisitions of a digital-asset startup. And other traditional finance companies, such as PayPal , have launched stablecoin projects of their own . On Nov. 20, Coinbase Wallet began letting users of its USDC stablecoin earn rewards . Ahead of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the Holiday Season, PYMNTS took a look at how the loyalty industry is changing due to the integration of blockchain technology .
NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Greg Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season.LOST IN NEW YORK ON THE SUBWAY — And what that means is, you’re on an E train because you stood on the wrong platform for C train you wanted, and there it goes, goodbye, and here you are, boarding the E train — vaguely aware of it — for the sake of doing something other than just waiting 12 minutes for the train you want. We can get into tangles that way. We can also end up in a better spot than we’d planned. During Nebraska’s 2024 season, it seemed like, more than once, NU sought more trouble than it had already caused by waiting for Matt Rhule’s initial staff to win big. Offensive gaffes cost the Huskers in 2023, while special teams blew up in Nebraska’s face in 2024. The offensive issues lingered, too; backs and receivers didn’t execute with purpose or precision. Rhule moved briskly to address the first issue by hiring, midseason, a new offensive coordinator. Dana Holgorsen was a good risk — given his Air Raid background, an odd pairing for the Big Ten — who paid off. NU went 2-2 in his four games calling plays, quarterback Dylan Raiola played more crisply, and when the Huskers absolutely needed the offense to come through, it did, triggering on-field confetti and postgame cigars. “I was fired up for our offense,” Rhule said. “It was the first time the offense took the ball and said enough is enough and went down the field.” The coach was full of rhetorical gems Saturday, and it’s credit to him that he could treat the Pinstripe Bowl win as something more than barely escaping defeat. Rhule has a gift for making three hours on a football field larger than the final score, and his tribute to Rahmir Johnson — who won MVP honors and rushed for 60 yards — gave a glimpse into why Rhule recruits transfers and high school players well. “I hope he wears his pads home on the subway and goes to his apartment, takes that MVP trophy and takes it out tonight somewhere,” Rhule said. Couldn’t have written it better. Rhule’s a football romantic in an age of social media-fueled, hard-bitten realists. He lives the journey of each season, which, at roller coaster Nebraska, can take a toll of his own. NU notched its first winning season since 2016 — what everyone wanted — and now, almost naturally, fans want to know how Rhule will rectify copious special teams debacles. He promises an “overhaul.” Sounds good. That unit needs one as Rhule and the Huskers aim to make a big jump in 2025. The plotting for that, as Rhule knows, begins now. Don’t count on the rest of the Big Ten standing still. Someone is going to be 2025’s version of 2024 Indiana. The expectation among many fans, fair or not, is that Rhule, in Year 3 of his tenure and Year 2 of Dylan Raiola’s career, will develop a team capable of 10 or 11 wins. The Leap Year is now upon us. Nebraska’s outgoing seniors, with some help from Raiola, Jacory Barney and a few others, produced a competitive 12-13 record over Rhule’s first two seasons, even if NU, with its 3-10 record in one-score games, still seems to be “Chasing 3” headed into the offseason. But Ty Robinson, Isaac Gifford, Bryce Benhart, Rahmir Johnson, John Bullock, Javin Wright, Ben Scott and Co. are gone now. So are four of the coaches off Rhule’s first staff — it could be more by the end of January. NU will need new player leadership and a renewed assistant-coach-player dynamic, all in a revenue-sharing era where it’s going to be fairly obvious — because it’s coming from the school itself — who’s getting paid more. Raiola will rightly get financial priority. So will the line of scrimmage, if you listen to what Rhule likes to emphasize. “We believe that the game is won primarily at the line of scrimmage,” Rhule said. “You have to be able to run the ball, stop the run. You have to be able to protect and affect the passer.” Rhule, now coach and de facto general manager, will be tasked with molding a tough team that’s also, despite all the changes, together. He already has Raiola in the fold and will need him as a locker room culture guy; Raiola has to take captain-level ownership of the whole team, pronto. No. 15 seems up for the task, too. Defensively, Rhule will have to meld an innovative mind — new coordinator John Butler — with old hand Phil Snow, coordinator-level defensive backs coach Addison Williams and two defensive line coaches coming from vastly different ends of the sport, as Phil Simpson spent years in the prep ranks while Terry Bradden has been coaching for the Kansas City Chiefs. These are compelling parts, particularly Butler, who folks around the program see as brilliant. Can they make a great staff? And will Rhule take more of the special teams load? Rhule wants that unit to be a playmaking group, and sometimes a big play is made, like the fake punt pass from Brian Buschini to Gifford. Sometimes the other team makes the play. I’ve long been lukewarm on criticism of special teams coaches — the HC sets the tone there. When Bo Pelini wanted to fix his punt return unit after a rough 2013 season, he took the job himself, taught the schemes, and got results. Likewise, Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz watched Nebraska punk the Hawkeyes’ punt unit in the 2014 game and over time developed the nation’s best special teams unit. He coaches to it, as well. In 2022, Scott Frost had a special teams coordinator, Bill Busch. Who took the hit for the onside kick in Ireland? Frost did. As he should’ve. Rhule can hire and fire whoever he pleases there. The successes and failures are his. Rhule will get a bit of time to reflect on 2024, but not much. So many variables crop up during a season that nine months are spent planning for every contingency — including waiting for the wrong train, or even getting on it. Nebraska ended this season the way it began: With its promise and its flaws in a 12-round fight. By that mucky afternoon in Yankee Stadium, potential won out by a bit. In 2025, Rhule, his coaches, players and NU fans expect that potential to win by a lot. NU’s moved into its new football palace. Its quarterback has a base of knowledge and year’s worth of tape from which to learn. The defense seems to have more four-star generals — including Rhule — than any time in Husker history. If Nebraska can fix special teams — if — well... Rhule and those seniors built the bridge to 2025. Now, the Leap Year is upon us. On with the Rewind. Defensive tackle Ty Robinson: A beast in his final game, with a sack, two tackles for loss, four hurries and a couple devastating blocks on key Husker running plays. He’ll be hard to replace, even if there’s a guy who has the physical tools to do it, Missouri transfer Williams Nwaneri. Running back Rahmir Johnson: A smaller back who always ran with the heart and the style of a big one, Johnson played the game fearlessly at Nebraska. He’s a poet, too, and, one day, he should have one heck of a poem about this season, and Saturday afternoon. Linebacker Vincent Shavers: Five tackles — two for loss — and the feeling that he was literally everywhere on the field, all at once. Pencil him in as a starting middle linebacker. Who plays next to him? John Bullock and Javin Wright, both of whom had strong games, just finished their Nebraska careers. Tight ends Thomas Fidone and Luke Lindenmeyer: Key pieces of the game, with Fidone grabbing five catches in 31 snaps and Lindenmeyer playing 49 snaps. Holgorsen’s made clear that, if you’re playing tight end in this offense, you’re blocking, a lot. Even if Fidone were to go to the NFL — he could, and potentially be a third day NFL Draft pick — Nebraska is in decent shape at the position. Edge rusher MJ Sherman: Starting with the Ohio State game — and perhaps excluding the UCLA game — the Georgia transfer really cranked up his level of play on the edge. He made the fourth down stop late in the second quarter against BC and six total pressures against the Eagles, according to Pro Football Focus. Receiver Jahmal Banks: Four catches, 89 yards, good blocking, and tough grabs in miserable playing conditions. He finished the season with 44 catches for 587 yards and three touchdowns. If you’re ranking NU transfer receivers, he’s behind Trey Palmer and Samori Toure, but ahead of the others. Quarterback Dylan Raiola: College football social media has become too much of a joyless dirge. Online criticism for Raiola’s celebration around Yankee Stadium seemed off-base. Do we not want to see people happy? He’s poised for a big Year 2 if he keeps working on his footwork — cut down on the fadeaway throws — and runs a little more. Cornerback Donovan Jones: Hello, Omaha North! The former Viking played exceedingly well in NU’s defensive backfield, given he was tasked with doing it for the first time. It was stunning to see Jones, who redshirted and played three snaps against UTEP, suddenly leaping the depth chart over Blye Hill, Jeremiah Charles and more. His work in practice clearly caught Butler’s eye. Left tackle Gunnar Gottula: The future’s bright for him after a strong game against Boston College’s pass rush. Nebraska needs one or two tackles out of the portal and some good injury news on either Turner Corcoran or Teddy Prochazka. Boston College quarterback Grayson James: Earned praised from Rhule for his play against a tough Nebraska pass rush. James threw several third down darts and scrambled for a few first downs, too. Without the benefit of a run game, he kept BC competitive. Yankee Stadium — with one exception: This stadium, wedged into the hard-edged Bronx cityscape, is a stunner. First class, fortress-like design, authoritative-but-helpful stadium workers, good food (for the media and the masses). It’s an exceedingly impressive venue — that did not have turf suited for a December football game in the rain. The grass didn’t kick up in tufts, like I once saw at Notre Dame, but sat below the thinnest film of water that turned the playing surface into a Slip ‘N Slide. People watching on TV could compare what they saw in the Pinstripe Bowl with a much more lush-seeming grass at Fenway Park, and note the difference. 226.3: Passing yards per game for Dylan Raiola in four games under Holgorsen’s leadership. That’s nine more yards per game than he averaged for the entire season, and 12 more yards per game than he averaged under former offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield. Raiola completed 71.4% of his passes with Holgorsen, 67.2% for the whole season and 64.9% with Satterfield. The numbers, to some degree, speak for themselves. 18: Catches by the tight ends over the last four games of the season. That’s six by Thomas Fidone, five by the now-transferred Nate Boerkircher, four from Luke Lindenmeyer, two from Carter Nelson and one from Heinrich Haarberg, who has now moved to the position. The backs had 28 catches over those final four games under Holgorsen. NU’s staff feels like it’ll have more and better receiver options in 2025 — coaches are particularly excited for Kentucky transfer Dane Key — but the tight end and back numbers show Holgorsen’s interest in a high completion rate getting yards after the catch. 30: Sacks for the season, which is down two from 2024, when the Huskers appeared better at rushing from depth (Luke Reimer was still on the team) and former defensive coordinator Tony White was a tad more aggressive. We saw that aggression from new defensive coordinator John Butler Saturday, and it paid off with three sacks and John Bullock’s forced fumble, which set up NU’s last touchdown. Because of transfer portal departures, Nebraska lacked its usual edge rushing prowess, but coaches hope portal additions Dasan McCullough and Jaylen George help clear that up. 40.7: Opponents’ fourth down conversion rate. That currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 15th nationally, and NU’s fourth down defense played the largest role in wins over Rutgers (2 of 6 on fourth down) and Boston College (0 of 4). Colorado, which turned out to be Nebraska’s best win of the year, only converted 1 of 3 in the Huskers 28-10 victory back in September. 4-10: Nebraska’s record, under Rhule, when it loses the in-game battle in turnover margin. NU finished 3-7 in 2023 — with wins over Illinois, Northwestern and Purdue — and 1-3 this season, with losses to Indiana, UCLA and Iowa and the win, at season’s end, over Boston College. For the season, Nebraska finished -2 in turnover margin, its best figure since 2019, when the Huskers finished at 0. Raiola threw 12 interceptions — down four from 2023 — and, more importantly, Nebraska lost just seven fumbles, down from 15 in 2023. Under Rhule, the Huskers are 6-1 when they win the turnover battle, 2-2 when they break even and 4-10 when they lose it. After each game, I ask fans for their feedback on NU’s play. Selected and edited responses follow. Fred Wedemeyer: “Defense was outstanding, offense was pretty good other than a few mistakes, but wow, is there any other program in the country with worse special teams?” Jay Hoffman: “A cathartic Husker bowl win for a team that has been through a lot. I was in the stands and saw several fans noticeably emotional and immensely appreciative watching Johnson win the MVP. We can worry about special teams next week. Time to pop the bubbly and celebrate.” Michael Messerly: “Moving forward bowl games need to stop being played at baseball stadiums. The playing surface at Yankee stadium is atrocious.” Travis Hawkinson: “Loved what I saw from younger players. Wish we had one more year of (Jahmal) Banks. That would truly give us some great WRs. He really looked way better under Holgorsen than he did under(Marcus) Satterfield.” Cincinnati football — Nebraska’s first opponent in 2025 — is a program still making the leap from Group of Five conference power to a Big 12 team. Since joining its new league, UC Is 8-16 overall and 4-14 in league games. This includes a five-game losing streak to end the 2024 season and put coach Scott Satterfield, finishing his second year with the Bearcats, on a seat just as hot as the one Luke Fickell, Cincinnati’s former coach, sits on at Wisconsin. Defense is the issue; UC allowed 6.67 yards per play last season and 6.07 yards per play in 2024. On offense, Cincinnati returns quarterback Brendan Sorsby — previously at Indiana — after he threw 18 touchdown passes in 2024. He’s a keeper, as is tight end Joe Royer, who spent three years as a Ohio State backup before coming to Cincy and breaking Travis Kelce’s single-season tight ends reception record with 50 grabs for 521 yards and three scores. The Bearcats will open a new football practice facility this summer, and obviously didn’t want to turn down the financial opportunity afforded to them by playing in Arrowhead Stadium, where Nebraska will have 50,000 fans — at least. A satisfied Husker fan base settles in for a winter of Fred Hoiberg’s basketball team — Brice Williams is a sneaky possible Big Ten player of the year candidate — and portal watchin’ for that needed offensive lineman. NU football returns to offseason workouts in late January with genuine momentum. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Fans of the Real Housewives franchise might get to see some new faces on a new show sooner than they think. While several installments of the beloved franchise are in various stages of production, rumors are swirling that the network is also planning something new. According to social media sleuths, a new state might be represented on Bravo very soon. Andy Cohen tells fans to “stay tuned” for more ‘The Real Housewives’ news Earlier this month, Andy Cohen refused to say whether another Real Housewives series was in the works. Despite his non-committal answer during a Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show , his words seem to suggest something could be brewing. At the very least, his “stay tuned” comment feels more positive than comments he’s made about the possibility in the past. Cohen might be keeping a secret. It’s possible he seems more optimistic now because a new series is already in the works. At the very least, rumors are swirling that the network is already working on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . Rumors suggest ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ is in the works Neither Bravo nor Andy Cohen have announced a new Real Housewives installment. Still, rumors are swirling that the network has assembled a cast for The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . WJAR , a local Rhode Island news outlet, reported on the rumor this week. According to the media outlet, insiders claim Bravo has been speaking to prominent Rhode Island residents for two reality shows they plan to film in the state. One of those shows, reportedly, is a new installment of The Real Housewives . A Reddit user who claims to be connected to the production alleges Ashley Iaconetti, a member of Bachelor Nation, is in talks to appear. The user also claims Bravo has approached a Rhode Island resident who has a connection to Olivia Culpo. The pausing of two installments could mean the timing is right While we don’t have official word on a new installment just yet, the timing feels right. After all, Bravo has always been dedicated to representing a variety of regions in the franchise. They have recently paused two installments, which could leave room for a new city to be represented. Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Dubai wrapped in September, but there are no plans for another season of the show at the moment. The network’s first attempt at an international city was rife with problems, and it seems probable that a third season won’t be made. The network has also opted to pause The Real Housewives of New Jersey . Executives are trying to figure out the best path forward amid serious cast strife. News on the iconic installment won’t come for many months, claims Cohen. The hole in programming does present an interesting opportunity for a new cast and a new city. For now, only time will tell.
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksSportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
The Kings are a disaster in the clutch, and it led to Mike Brown's firingWisconsin faces its first losing season in 23 years and the end of a bowl streak when the Badgers host arch-rival Minnesota on Friday in the annual Big Ten battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe. Minnesota (6-5, 4-4) lost to No. 4 Penn State 26-25. Wisconsin (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) lost its fourth straight, 44-25, at Nebraska in a game that was not as close as the score. "Well 1890 is the first time we played this football team coming up and this is what it's all about," Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said of the rivalry. "And you wouldn't want to have it any other way, being able to end the season with one of your biggest rivals. I know our guys will be ready to go, ready to play." Wisconsin has 22 consecutive winning seasons since going 5-7 under Barry Alvarez in 2001, the longest active streak among Power 4 teams. The Badgers also have played in a bowl game in each of the last 22 seasons, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and third-longest in FBS. Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell is more concerned with the rivalry game than the winning season and bowl streaks. "I'm not downplaying it, I'm not saying it's not important, I'm not saying it's another thing that's on our plate," Fickell said Monday. "But when it gets down to this last week, it's about one thing, it's about the rivalry. It's about preparing to play in the most important game of the year." The Gophers have dropped their last two games after winning four in a row. Minnesota averages 26.6 points per game, while allowing 18.5, 15th-best in the country. Max Brosmer has completed 67 percent of his passes for 221 per game with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. Daniel Jackson is the top target with 69 catches for 802 yards and three scores, and Darius Taylor is the top rusher with 730 yards at 4.8 per carry with nine touchdowns. One week after leading Oregon after three quarters, the Wisconsin defense was shredded for 473 yards and five touchdowns by Nebraska. Braedyn Locke, who took over at quarterback when Tyler Van Dyke suffered an early season-ending knee injury, has thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games. Locke has completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 180.6 yards per game, with 12 touchdowns and 10 picks. Tawee Walker is the leading rusher with 828 yards at 4.7 per carry with 10 touchdowns. He has failed to reach 60 yards in three of the last four games. Former Wisconsin and NFL standout JJ Watt posted on social media his assessment - and frustration - with the Badgers after the Nebraska game. "Losing happens, it's part of the game. Hearing announcers talk about how much tougher and more physical Nebraska & Iowa are while getting blown out ... that's the issue," Watt wrote on X. "We are Wisconsin. Physicality, running game, great O-Line and great defense. That is our identity." Wisconsin defeated the Gophers 28-14 last after Minnesota had won the previous two meetings. The Badgers have won 7 of the last 10 and lead the storied series 63-62-8. --Field Level Media‘s political heavyweights paid tribute to former President after his death was announced on Sunday by his family. The nation’s was renowned for his in the years after his exit and earned a strong reputation for helping America’s neediest families in his post-presidential years. After news of his passing was reported by the , tributes began to swiftly pour in for the 100-year-old statesman. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden issued a statement paying tribute to Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who died in November of 2023. The president and first lady were friends through successive presidential administrations with the Carter family; Joe, during his time as US senator from Delaware, was an early supporter of Carter’s presidential run in 1976. “Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “ “He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism,” wrote the first couple. “We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.” “We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts.” President-elect Donald Trump also added his own thoughts in a statement. “I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.” “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” Trump added. “For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.” Trump later added: “President Jimmy Carter is dead at 100 years of age. While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for. “He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office. Warmest condolences from Melania and I to his wonderful family!” Barack Obama tweeted out a statement from him and former first lady Michelle Obama. “President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service,” it read. “Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man.” Former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush wrote: “James Earl Carter, Jr., was a man of deeply held convictions. He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country. President Carter dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations.” Another former president, Bill Clinton, joined wife Hillary Clinton in praising how Carter “lived to serve others—until the very end.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Democrat on Capitol Hill, said: “President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity.” His Republican counterpart Mitch McConnell wrote: “President Carter served during times of tension and uncertainty, both at home and abroad. But his calm spirit and deep faith seemed unshakeable. Jimmy Carter served as our commander-in-chief for four years, but he served as the beloved, unassuming Sunday school teacher at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia for forty. And his humble devotion leaves us little doubt which of those two important roles he prized the most.” “President Carter lived a truly American dream. A devoutly religious peanut farmer from small-town Georgia volunteered to serve his country in uniform. He found himself manning cutting-edge submarines hundreds of feet beneath the ocean. He returned home and saved the family farm before feeling drawn to a different sort of public service. And less than 15 years after his first campaign for the state Senate, his fellow Americans elected him leader of the free world.” Carter’s legacy extended around the world and global leaders joined Americans in mourning the nation’s 39th president. Carter’s work in support of a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories found a resurgence of interest in the last year of his life as hostilities erupted between the two sides following the October 7 attack on Israel. The Democratic president was one of the first US leaders to take an active role in the peace process. “Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter has been a steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace,” wrote French president Emmanuel Macron. “France sends its heartfelt thoughts to his family and to the American people.”Even if you know better, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea of quick, hassle-free cash delivered instantly to your smartphone. In fact, the appeal is so strong that scammers are now using this idea as a lure in a new predatory loan app campaign . According to a new blog post from McAfee , the cybersecurity firm’s researchers have identified 15 apps with a combined 8 million installations that are stealing personal and financial data from their victims. The apps in question were found on the Google Play Store and other official app stores which makes them particularly dangerous since they’re being distributed through official channels on a global level. To get unsuspecting users to download them, these malicious apps use names, logos and designs that are very similar to official financial apps. They’re also promoted through fake ads on social media sites. Here’s everything you need to know about these 15 new SpyLoan apps and how you can avoid falling victim to them and similar scams online. Delete these apps right now When you take a look at the list of predatory loan apps below, you’ll see that most of them are being used to target Android users in South America, Southern Asia and Africa. Still, scammers could easily create a similar malicious app to target users in the U.S. and find a way to get it listed on an official app store. If you have any of these apps installed, it’s highly recommended that you manually delete it from your phone. While Google Play Protect and the best Android antivirus apps can catch malicious apps spreading malware, apps like these can be harder to detect since their malicious activity is usually handled outside the app itself. Here’s the full list of all 15 recently discovered SpyLoan apps along with how many times they’ve each been downloaded: SpyLoan apps hiding in plain sight SpyLoan apps like the ones listed above use the promise of quick and flexible loans — often with low rates and minimal requirements — to trick unsuspecting users into downloading them and filling out their personal and financial information. Instead, they’re primarily designed to collect as much personal information as possible on potential victims. From there, the scammers behind the apps use this info to harass and extort users into paying incredibly high and predatory interest rates on what little money they do receive. The predatory loan apps I’ve covered in the past often gave victims some but not all of the money they were approved for. They then had a very short amount of time to repay their loan in full before constantly badgered with harassing messages and phone calls. In its blog post, McAfee’s researchers point out that most SpyLoan apps have the same or a similar onboarding process in which victims are presented with a list of nearly identical privacy terms to which they have to agree in order to proceed. These terms describe and justify why so much sensitive data has to be collected by the app. However, no bank would require this much data or these kinds of sensitive permissions on one of the best Android phones . It’s worth noting that many of these 15 SpyLoan apps share the same command and control ( C2 ) infrastructure for data exfiltration. As such, it’s highly likely that the same developer or group of cybercriminals is behind all of them. Besides hidden fees and high interest rates, installing one of these SpyLoan apps could also lead to unauthorized charges on your financial accounts. Likewise, your personal information could be sold to third parties or even used for blackmail purposes if you don’t repay your loan as quickly as the scammers want you to. At the end of its blog post, McAFee shares some of the experiences that victims had to deal with. From threatening calls and death threats to their friends and family being sent harassing messages, the scammers behind these predatory loan apps will go to extreme lengths. How to stay safe from dangerous apps If an app or what it offers seems too good to be true, steer clear and avoid downloading it altogether. However, if you are curious, there are a few dead giveaways that an app might be malicious. For starters, you want to check an app’s rating and reviews. Many of these SpyLoan apps have loads of one star reviews and ratings that warn others to avoid them at all costs. As app ratings and reviews can be faked, it’s always a good idea to look elsewhere too. Video reviews are great as they show the app in question in action but written ones can provide a lot of useful info too. If there aren’t any external reviews for a particular app, it’s better to avoid downloading it. You should also look into the developer and check out their other apps just to be safe. When you do install new apps on your phone, make sure to pay close attention the first time you run it. Most apps ask for permissions to do what they’re intended to do but malicious apps will ask for access to even more of them and ones that don’t really make sense. For example, a flashlight app doesn’t need access to your contacts or to your phone’s dialer. If an app asks for permission to use Android’s accessibility services , this can be a major red flag as hackers often abuse this feature to make their malware more powerful. Another important thing that will help keep your Android phone safe is to install the latest updates as soon as they become available. Hackers love to prey on users running outdated software and even those small monthly updates can contain security patches and other fixes. SpyLoan apps likely won’t be going anywhere anytime soon given how profitable they can be for scammers. This is why you need to be extra careful when downloading new apps onto your Android phone or tablet and this is especially true if you share devices with young children. More from Tom's Guide
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save And then there were eight. The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff tournament was off and running last weekend and boy is there a lot to dive into after the first four games. First, let me say I’m all for a 12-team playoff. In addition to opening up the field to more than a handful of teams each year, it allows for some fun regular season games between top teams that doesn’t necessarily spell the end of national title hopes for the losers. However, the setup for seeding (not rankings) and what the most important criteria should be is being called into question after four first-round blowouts. Now, we have had PLENTY of blowouts in the old system(s) so we shouldn’t be all that surprised that for the most part the outcomes were known early on last weekend. It’s always going to be a possibility, especially in the first-round games. People are also reading... Albany school support staff call for schools to close Jan. 6 As I See It: Why I really resigned from the Corvallis Planning Commission Unsafe left turn on Highway 20 in Linn County leads to fatal crash Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Samaritan Health Services CEO resigns Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Christmas Eve hit-and-run causes domino effect in Albany Has a hard nonconference schedule prepared the Oregon State women's basketball team for the WCC? Corvallis high schoolers: We don't trust district to handle bias reports Albany man indicted in attempted murder case Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback What’s proven, at least to me, to be the most egregious error in the process of setting up the bracket is that four of the five automatic bids that go to the conference champs must be in the top four seeds, and thus receive a first-round bye. There is NO WAY Boise State and Arizona State should be seeded above Texas, Penn State or even Ohio State and Notre Dame. The proof is in the selection committee's final rankings of those teams — Boise State was No. 9 and Arizona State No. 12. But with Clemson “stealing” the ACC’s auto bid by edging SMU on a last-second field goal after blowing a big early lead, the Sun Devils, winners of the Big 12, moved up to the No. 4 seed with Clemson the No. 12 seed after being ranked No. 16. ASU was No. 12 in the final CFP rankings. So No. 9 and No. 12 got byes. Allowing teams to leapfrog others simply because they were conference champs makes no sense. All conferences are not equal, as was proven by the ACC and Big 12 with their champs being ranked No. 12 and No. 16. That’s like saying the champs of the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC should all be No. 1 seeds in the NCAA basketball tournaments. Can you imagine a No. 5 seed winning the conference tournament and being a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tourney? It also severely impacts the paths of teams to make it to the title game. Just ask Oregon. The Ducks, as the only undefeated team, received the No. 1 seed. Because of the auto bids getting byes, Oregon will now face No. 8 Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes, who lost at Oregon by a single point and before a regular-season ending loss to Michigan was probably looked at as just as likely to win the title as Oregon, would have been the No. 6 seed. Instead, two of the favorites to win the title are playing in the quarters. Make it make sense. Had we gone by the rankings themselves, we would have had first-round matchups that pitted No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Notre Dame; No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Ohio State; No. 10 SMU at No. 7 Tennessee; and No. 9 Boise State at No. 8 Indiana. Yes, Tennessee and Indiana would have had home games instead of going on the road where they really were not competitive. Texas at No. 3 and Penn State at No. 4 would have received the byes. If all the home teams would have won, we would be waiting to see Oregon vs. Indiana, Georgia vs. Tennessee, Texas vs. Ohio State and Penn State vs. Notre Dame. Those, to me, are more compelling games and probably more evenly matched across the board. Had that been the case, Indiana’s coach wouldn’t have complained so much about whatever case he thought he was making. That leads me to my next disappointment: Did Indiana really belong in the top 12 anyway. Or SMU for that matter. Oh no, here comes some SEC bias. Well, yeah, maybe a little. Are you going to tell me either of those teams are clearly better than say Alabama (No. 11), Ole Miss (No. 14) or South Carolina (15)? Or even No. 13 Miami for that matter. As I have said, not all conferences are equal — nor are conference schedules. Is it surprising Indiana went 11-1 when the Hoosiers played seven of the bottom 10 teams in the 18-team conference? Their best win was against 7-5 Michigan and their only game against a better opponent was a 38-15 loss at Ohio State. Oh and wins over Florida International (4-8), Western Illinois (4-8) and Charlotte (5-7) don’t help their cause. Not including Ohio State (11-2), the combined record of the Hoosiers' opponents was (51-81). Add in the Buckeyes and that makes the opponents 62-83. As for SMU, the overall record in the regular season of their opponents was 76-72. That includes the loss to 10-2 BYU. So wins came against teams 66-72. The best wins were against Duke and Louisville, who tied for fourth with two other teams at 5-3 in ACC play. While winning should be an important factor, should we also put stock in strength of schedule, impressive wins and/or bad losses. While I have seen varying strength of schedule calculations, it would appear that both Alabama and Ole Miss had a better SOS than Indiana and SMU and it wasn’t close. Alabama and Ole Miss both defeated No. 2 Georgia. Indiana and SMU beat nobody in the final CFP top 25. Of course, Alabama lost on the road to Vanderbilt (the week after the Georgia win) and to Oklahoma (which appears to have sealed the Crimson Tide’s fate with a third loss.) Ole Miss lost at home to Kentucky, then fell at LSU and at Florida. Those three losses were by a combined 13 points. In addition to drubbing Georgia at home, Ole Miss beat South Carolina (27-3) on the road. Maybe Lane Kiffin's Rebels are the team that has the best argument to have been in the field. While South Carolina and Miami had good seasons, neither had a signature win other than the Gamecocks edging Clemson in the last game of the season. Now, would Alabama or Ole Miss have fared better than Indiana and SMU in the openers? Maybe, maybe not. Were both Indiana and SMU getting in the tournament “feel good” stories? Sure. But did they deserve it as two of the top seven at-large teams? Again, it goes back to what the mission of the CFP is and that is to get the five auto qualifiers in and the next seven best at-large teams. Look, the NCAA men’s tournament is so fun because there are so many upsets and Cinderella is usually alive and well into the Sweet 16 and beyond. It’s like we have that this year with Arizona State and Boise State making the quarters. But they didn’t have to win in the postseason to do it. They were simply awarded the spot because of the agreed upon format. That needs to change. Related story: Commentary: Is it now or never for Ducks to win first national title? Now that the dust has settled on one of the craziest regular seasons in recent history, the Ducks stand above the rest heading into the CFP. Steve Gress is the deputy editor for Mid-Valley Media. He can be reached at steve.gress@lee.net . Get local news delivered to your inbox! Deputy editor Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FrankSpeech Broadcast Network is making waves in the world of independent media, delivering its strongest quarter ever in Q3 2024. The company has not only seen impressive viewer growth across its channels but also made major strides in enhancing the user experience with powerful new platform features and expanding its content offerings—driving engagement to new heights. With over 7 million monthly viewers tuning in across its 24/7 channels, FrankSpeech is proving that a platform dedicated to free speech and independent content is resonating with audiences looking for alternatives to mainstream media. The momentum continues to build as the network expands its reach, engages more content creators, and strengthens partnerships with advertisers. Breaking Records in Viewer Engagement FrankSpeech is seeing a surge in both viewer engagement and content creator participation, thanks to the newly branded VOCL app. The app, which has been a game-changer in connecting independent content creators with their audiences, has been expanding rapidly—bringing in new users and boosting interaction on the platform. The VOCL app’s growth reflects a growing demand for platforms that put the user experience front and center. With its seamless integration across FrankSpeech’s ecosystem, the app is revolutionizing how viewers discover and interact with content. The recent user interface updates—including live chat, dynamic homepage streaming, and an improved login experience—have made it easier than ever for users to connect, stream, and engage with the content that matters most to them. "We’re thrilled with the progress we’ve made in Q3 and the growth we’ve seen in both our viewer base and the VOCL app," said Mike Lindell, CEO of FrankSpeech. "We’re on a mission to create a more interactive, engaging experience for our audience, and it’s clear that our efforts are paying off. The future looks incredibly bright as we continue to build on this momentum." Platform Enhancements Driving Viewer Growth FrankSpeech has not only focused on growing its audience but also enhancing the platform to keep viewers engaged for longer periods of time. With a reimagined design and new, user-friendly interfaces, the FrankSpeech website, OTT platform, and mobile app are all now optimized for a better, smoother viewing experience. These enhancements include: - A refreshed visual identity across all platforms, giving the user experience a sleek, modern feel. - Advanced user analytics that provide deeper insights into viewer behavior, allowing the platform to deliver more relevant content and improve engagement. - A new live-streaming experience with interactive features, including live chat and an intuitive UI designed for real-time engagement. What’s Next for FrankSpeech and VOCL? As we move into Q4 2024, FrankSpeech is positioned for continued success with an aggressive roadmap to expand content offerings, attract more content creators, and deepen partnerships with advertisers. The company is also exploring new ways to engage its growing community, tapping into emerging technologies and content formats that will shape the future of independent media. "We’re only just getting started," Lindell added. "With the incredible response we’ve received from both viewers and content creators, we’re excited to continue scaling our platform, expanding our reach, and delivering the kind of unfiltered, authentic content that people are craving." About: FrankSpeech is a major broadcast platform founded by Mike Lindell in April 2021 to provide a superior First-Amendment-friendly alternative to highly censored Big Tech options. In just a few short years, FrankSpeech has grown to serve over 7 million monthly viewers on three continuous 24/7 channels. Visit https://frankspeech.com to learn more. For more information, visit http://www.frankspeech.com. Contact Information: Josh Shave Chief Marketing Officer investor@fsbn.com Safe Harbor: The aforementioned statements and any future correspondence made by FrankSpeech Network, Inc. (the Company) may be forward looking in nature, particularly related to the business plans of the Company within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results may differ materially from projected statements. The Company believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to the need for substantial financial requirements; the need to develop effective internal process and system; changes in the overall economy; changes in technology, the number and size of competitors and the mix of products and services offered in its markets; and changes in the law and regulatory policy. Additionally, certain information included in this communication contains statements that are forward-looking, such as statements relating to the future anticipated direction of the media industry, plans for future expansion, various business development activities, planned capital expenditures, future funding sources, anticipated sales growth and potential contracts. These forward statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual operations or results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, among others, risks associated with unproven sales derived from the Company’s programming, risks associated with the media and communications industry and the risks related to the transition to a new management team.Can Matt Gaetz return to Congress or could Ron DeSantis make him senator? What's next for the MAGA firebrand Matt Gaetz had resigned from Congress after nomination for AG Sign up for the latest with DailyMail.com's U.S. politics newsletter By SARAH EWALL-WICE, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM IN WASHINGTON, DC Published: 19:47, 21 November 2024 | Updated: 20:13, 21 November 2024 e-mail 91 View comments Matt Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress after he was tapped to be Donald Trump's attorney general, but now that he withdrew his name from Cabinet consideration it raises questions about his future. The embattled MAGA loyalist promptly resigned from Congress after President-elect Donald Trump named him as his pick for top law enforcement officer last week. But his nomination immediately received pushback from Democrats and even some Republicans due to a House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz for alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor and illicit drug use. His House exit ended the committee's jurisdiction over Gaetz leaving the findings of its probe in limbo. But now that the 42-year-old is no longer up for attorney general, it is not clear whether he could end up back on Capitol Hill. In his resignation letter from the current 118th Congress, Gaetz said he did not intend to take the oath of office for the 119th Congress - which begins in January. In November, Gaetz was reelected to another term starting next year with more than 66 percent of the vote. If he is no longer seeking to join the incoming Trump administration, Gaetz technically could take the oath of office come January and join the new Congress. While that is a possibility, it could also lead to the House Ethics Committee relaunching its investigation and revealing the potentially damning findings. Former Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for Attorney General as his confirmation faced an uphill climb in the Senate. It is not clear what's next for the MAGA firebrand after he promptly resigned from Congress last week, but there are several possibilities that could bring him back to Washington The future of that report as of now is uncertain after the committee was deadlocked in a vote on whether to make it public. Should Gaetz not return to the House, that vacant seat would need to be filled through a special election. After Gaetz's nomination was announced last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had called for an immediate special election to fill the vacancy. There are two other possibilities that could bring Gaetz back to Washington in the new year if he does not to return to the House. One less likely scenario is Gaetz could be appointed to fill the Florida Senate seat being vacated by outgoing Senator Marco Rubio who will have to resign upon his likely confirmation as Trump's Secretary of State. Some lawmakers have already signaled they are open to the possibility of Gaetz becoming a senator including GOP Florida Senator Rick Scott. Gaetz with Vice President-elect Vance on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, November 20 as they arrived for meetings with senators. One day later, Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration for Attorney General But that decision resides with DeSantis, who is tasked with appointing Rubio's replacement for two years before a special election is held in 2026. There have been several prominent names already floated as potential Rubio replacements including Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump. DailyMail.com reached out to DeSantis' office for comment. The other possibility is that Gaetz could end up joining the Trump administration in a role that does not require Senate confirmation. Then-Rep. Matt Gaetz in the Manhattan criminal court with Trump while he was on trial for covering up the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels Past presidents including Biden have brought allies into the White House for such roles after their names were withdrawn from consideration for other roles after it was determined they would not get the necessary votes in the Senate. Read More Trump breaks his silence on Matt Gaetz's withdrawing as his AG pick 'respects' the decision Gaetz could end up serving as a senior adviser or in the some legal counsel capacity as he is a lawyer. In announcing his withdrawal, Gaetz did not signal which direction his future would take, only that he remains 'fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.' Trump also gave no indication in his response to the nomination withdrawal that Gaetz will be joining is administration but said his loyal supporter has a 'wonderful future.' 'I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!' the president-elect posted on Truth Social. Gaetz' wife Ginger gave her own cryptic response on Thursday, writing 'The end of an era' with an image of her and the former lawmaker on the steps of the capitol, perhaps signaling a return to Congress is not in his future. Politics Share or comment on this article: Can Matt Gaetz return to Congress or could Ron DeSantis make him senator? What's next for the MAGA firebrand e-mail Add comment
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