No. 22 St. John's, Georgia pack busy schedule with game on SundayA recent advisory from the United States Surgeon General has made it clear — parents and caregivers are burned out. In a 2023 poll of more than 3,100 American parents, nearly 50 per cent reported experiencing debilitating levels of stress most days. Other recent surveys from Canada and the U.S. also found between 20 to 30 per cent of parents are experiencing moderate to severe levels of anxiety that could warrant a clinical diagnosis. When the tasks of the holidays are piled onto this baseline stress, it’s easy to see how the “season of joy” may feel more like the “season of overwhelm.” How can both our society as a whole and parents as individuals dial back the pressure? Structural changes are essential. But scientific insights about child development can also help parents prioritize what matters most and shift how they respond to things that may otherwise trigger anxiety. Much of what is making parents stressed these days is structural in nature: things are more expensive, it’s hard to find affordable child care, parents are more isolated, work is taking up more of parents’ time and children’s engagement with ever-evolving technology brings a range of serious health and safety concerns . These factors disproportionately affect parents who experience poverty, racism, violence or trauma. Addressing them will require substantial political and cultural shifts . But there are smaller factors to tackle as well. Parents today have more access to information than ever before. It’s not just a pediatrician or family member they can turn to for advice, but endless blogs, forums and social media platforms. While online sources can build community and confidence, they can also contribute to information overload as panic headlines and contradictory advice often compound parents’ feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. These platforms also tend to showcase idyllic situations that lead parents to create unhelpful comparisons and unrealistic expectations, contributing to feelings of shame and guilt . To counteract these feelings, it’s helpful to remember a few things: children’s development is influenced by many things parents can’t control, there are many benefits to imperfect parenting and independent play and parent wellness matters more than most else. It’s common for people who haven’t experienced discrimination or unexpected challenges to attribute children’s behaviours and outcomes to parents’ choices and efforts. This is an example of “attribution bias,” a bias towards a particular kind of explanation . Developmental science helps dispel this bias by highlighting that children’s development is influenced by many factors other than parenting and beyond parents’ control. First among these is genetics. For example, twin studies have found that genetic factors explain 57-76 per cent of child/adolescent mental illness, 60-84 per cent of picky eating and 60-85 per cent of school achievement. Another is exposure to adverse or positive experiences , such as witnessing violence or being supported by friends and non-parental adults. These types of experiences have substantial effects on children’s physical and mental health. But they are inequitably distributed, based on factors such as income and race . There are big differences in children’s temperaments and how they respond to their environments . The same parenting strategy applied to two different children can lead to two very different outcomes, as you may have observed in siblings. This is why the next time you catch yourself feeling shame or judgment about a child’s behaviour, it’s important to remember parenting choices might not be to blame. Psychologists and pediatricians often recommend certain parenting strategies to support children’s development. But rarely do these providers suggest parents must follow their advice 100 per cent of the time to achieve the desired effects. It’s what happens most of the time that matters. Even when parenting “imperfections” happen, like breaking routines or uncharacteristically snapping at children, they can be seen as opportunities. When “rupture” is followed up by “repair” in the form of acknowledgement, apologies, explanations and/or moments for restoring connection, it can benefit the parent-child attachment relationship and help children build their emotion-regulation skills. By using repair after the overwhelming moments that often happen during the holidays, parents can transform these moments from sources of shame to reasons for pride. Over the past few decades, parents’ worries about children’s physical safety have grown , while children’s unsupervised play time has declined . Many parents are spending more time with their children , hovering or helicoptering over them rather than promoting independent play. No doubt, playing with the support of a responsive adult has many benefits for children’s learning and development . But when it comes to parent involvement in play, sometimes less is more. Research shows that unstructured play — play that isn’t organized by adults and doesn’t have defined goals — is a “ fundamental necessity ” for children’s well-being. Outdoor risky play has enormous benefits for children’s physical and mental health that outweigh many of the perceived safety risks. There are also many unique benefits of playing with peers for both academic and social skill development. With this in mind, if you are a parent who is regularly your child’s main playmate, it may be time to seek more opportunities to take a step back. The holidays can be a great time to start. News and social media feeds are full of panic headlines that can make it seem that certain foods, toys or parenting habits are what make or break children’s life outcomes. It’s easy for parents consuming this media to feel anxious or even want to change their purchases or behaviours in response to every new study. But most headlines overstate the findings of weak studies or small effects. And if following the headlines comes at the cost of parental well-being, it could be doing more harm than good. This is because one of the most consistent and strongest predictors of children’s well-being is having safe, stable and nurturing relationships with caregivers — as both the Canadian and American Pediatric Societies have stated. Children need present and responsive caregivers more than they need any specific foods, presents or new parenting fads. This is why it may be worth considering what you can do to support yourself or other parents’ well-being this year. This could mean providing practical or social support to the parents around you or just making them feel heard and understood . With high parental stress , it’s more important than ever for everyone to replace judgment with empathy and advice with real support. And for parents, let’s try to distinguish what we can and can’t control, practise self-forgiveness in tough times, allow ourselves moments to do less and focus in on what matters most. It might help us experience more moments of joy in this holiday season and through all the seasons of parenthood. Nina Sokolovic has worked in several roles at non-profit and government organizations that support the well-being of children and parents, including her current as a Senior Policy Analyst in the Ontario Public Service. She previously received funding for her research from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
American investors are currently rallying behind a particular stock of a software company, which has heavily invested into Bitcoin. This is being seen as a proxy purchase into cryptocurrency through the US stock market as the value of Bitcoin would ultimately determine the price of the stock of the company. Are MicroStrategy stocks a good investment? MicroStrategy, the stock in question, is primarily a software-based company's efforts into building up a Crypto-Stock Market ecosystem, and has avidly turned itself into a Bitcoin buying machine in 2020 and reportedly holds around $38 billion worth of tokens, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Individual investors are also seeing this as an opportunity of indirectly investing into the cryptocurrency market while avoiding the risk of massive volatility. Bitcoin spiked, MicroStrategy surged faster Even the company's founder, Michael Saylor has repeatedly boasted about the company's volatility, and it is yet to be seen how things end up in the longer run. Since Election Day, MicroStrategy stock prices have surged faster than Bitcoin prices , which itself is a surprising factor as the cryptocurrency value has increased by more than 40% since November 5. FAQs: Are the US stock markets booming? Yes, the US stock markets are currently booming with the Dow Jones Industrial Average having risen sharply in recent days. Have Bitcoin prices increased in November? Yes, the cryptocurrency value for Bitcoin has increased by more than 40% since November 5, the day the US Presidential elections happened. Leadership Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Office Productivity Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By - Study At Home, Quality Education Anytime, Anywhere View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Strategy ESG and Business Sustainability Strategy By - Vipul Arora, Partner, ESG & Climate Solutions at Sattva Consulting Author I Speaker I Thought Leader View Program Web Development Master RESTful APIs with Python and Django REST Framework: Web API Development By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Tabnine AI Masterclass: Optimize Your Coding Efficiency By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Behind the scenes, the family of right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch is in a battle over who will take over his media empire when he dies. The family drama that inspired the HBO show "Succession," is now sparking curiosity to one of the companies suing Fox News over its promotion of lies about the 2020 presidential election. CNN reported Friday that Smartmatic is going to probate court in Nevada to ask commissioners to turn over secret documents related to the succession battle that the firm believes could help bolster the defamation suit against Fox News. "The source said Smartmatic’s filings say testimony from the Nevada case might contradict past assertions in the 2020 election litigation, where Fox claimed control of the parent company doesn’t impact the editorial direction of Fox News. In the Nevada case, Rupert has argued that Lachlan must succeed him in order to maintain his outlet’s right-wing political bent," CNN reported. Also Read: How Fox News became the 'greatest cancer on democracy' The Murdoch patriarch wanted to cement his company under the direction of his son Lachlan, who shares his father's vision for the network. Meanwhile, two other children, James and Elisabeth, are centrists who may change the channel's political orientation. It was the show, "Succession" that prompted Murdoch's move, the New York Times reported earlier this month . Donald Trump's 2020 election conspiracy theories led to several of Fox's on-air hosts and guests to falsely accuse companies like Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems of rigging the election against him. Fox lawyer Winn Allen told a judge that the Smartmatic suit is "irrelevant" to the family battle. Read the full report here.Pep Guardiola said Manchester City had to break the habit of losing after snapping a seven-game winless streak by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Wednesday. The English champions' barren run included six defeats, the worst run of Guardiola's managerial career. However, victory came at a cost as defenders Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji had to be replaced due to injuries. "We needed it. The club, the players needed to win – but it is just one game," said Guardiola. "The problems continue with Manu and Nathan." "In general, the most important thing was to break this routine of not winning games and finally we won," he added."But we have to continue." Injury woes have been at the heart of City's struggles in recent months with Ballon d'Or winner Rodri out for the season due to a serious knee problem. Kevin De Bruyne's return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months showed what City have been missing as he helped restore order for Guardiola's men. The Belgian teed up Bernardo Silva for an early opener and then fired home himself to double City's lead. Jeremy Doku rounded off the scoring in the second half as the home side did not suffer a repeat of last week's collapse from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League. Guardiola dismissed suggestions before the game that there had been a rift with De Bruyne, as he has been carefully managed back from injury problems. "Last season he out injured for many months, and this season as well – I'm so happy he's back," added Guardiola. "He fought a lot," he went on to say. "In respect to his physicality and minutes against Feyenoord was not good, and that's why I decided not to play against Liverpool for the rhythm they play." Neither Akanji or Ake are expected to be fit to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, but Phil Foden could return after missing the Forest match due to bronchitis. (AFP)A woman was pulled from the icy waters of a Stittsville pond on Wednesday morning. Ottawa Fire Services say they were called after police responded to reports of a person in the water in the 500 block of Nordmann Fir Court near Terry Fox Drive at about 10:50 a.m. An initial investigation found the woman fell through after trying to rescue her dog on the ice, according to Ottawa Fire spokesperson Nick Defazio. Ottawa paramedics say the elderly woman inhaled some water and had symptoms of hypothermia. She was taken to hospital in serious condition. Ottawa Fire Services is reminding residents to be cautious around icy waters as temperatures begin to dip. Residents should call 911 if a person or animal falls into the water and should never attempt a rescue themselves, the fire service says. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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DEVELOPING | As police search for suspect, disturbing video surfaces after U.S. health-care CEO gunned down in New York UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference. 'Utterly absurd': Freeland rebuffs Poilievre's offer of two hours to present fall economic statement Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has rebuffed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's offer to give up two hours of scheduled opposition time next Monday to present the awaited fall economic statement as 'utterly absurd.' Minister 'extremely concerned' after Air Canada announces change to carry-on bags Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year. Canadian appears in U.S. court in decades-old cold case Robert Creter made his first court appearance since his extradition to the United States from Winnipeg. He's the prime suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Tami Tignor – a cold case dating back to 1997. French government toppled in historic no-confidence vote French opposition lawmakers brought the government down on Wednesday, throwing the European Union's second-biggest economic power deeper into a political crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and rein in a massive budget deficit. Why are some Canada Post outlets still open during CUPW strike? As many postal workers continue to strike across the country, some Canadians have been puzzled by the fact some Canada Post offices and retail outlets remain open. Woman who stowed away on plane to Paris is back on U.S. soil A Russian woman who stowed away on a Delta Air Line flight from New York to Paris last week has returned stateside Wednesday. Warm, wet winter expected in much of Canada, say forecasters Federal forecasters expect a warmer-than-normal start to winter in most of Canada, with more precipitation than usual in parts of the country. Atlantic Body found in burned vehicle in Pictou County identified as missing N.S. woman Nova Scotia RCMP has identified the bodies found in a burned vehicle in Pictou County last month as a missing Truro woman and a man from Alberta. A province-by-province look at what to expect from Thursday's storm An early December storm moving across northern New Brunswick Thursday will bring the Maritime provinces a mix of snow, rain, and high wind. Traffic tensions: Halifax Transit patrons and drivers frustrated by delays Halifax Transit patrons and drivers are expressing frustration about long waits and delays. Toronto WATCH: Suspects armed with hammers hit Markham jewelry store Six suspects are in custody in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store in a Markham mall that was captured on video. 5 individuals wanted for GTA murders added to Canada’s most-wanted fugitives list Five individuals being sought by police in the GTA have been added to a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives. LIVE UPDATES | Toronto under winter weather travel advisory Toronto is getting its first taste of winter weather Wednesday as a low-pressure system brings snow to the city. Environment Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory on Tuesday night, warning of potentially hazardous driving conditions throughout the day. Montreal Ex-Sutton Quebec president sentenced to 5 years in prison for ordering arson attacks on competitors The co-founder and former president of real estate company Sutton Quebec was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty on Wednesday to ordering a series of arson attacks on his competitors over several years. Quebec plans to put an end to stamps for microbrewery beers The Quebec government wants to put an end to the stamping of microbrewery beers. This is a measure that small hop producers have long been calling for. 2 Quebec men top list of Canada's most wanted Two men believed to be central figures in Quebec’s violent and ongoing drug conflict topped the Bolo Program's latest Top 25 list of Canada's Most Wanted fugitives. Northern Ontario Warm, wet winter expected in much of Canada, say forecasters Federal forecasters expect a warmer-than-normal start to winter in most of Canada, with more precipitation than usual in parts of the country. Minister 'extremely concerned' after Air Canada announces change to carry-on bags Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year. Snow-clearing efforts stalled due to tractor-trailers stuck on many roads along Highway 11 Snow-clearing efforts continue on secondary roads that remain closed along Highway 11 on Tuesday. Windsor Mourning the loss of dramatic arts program, UWindsor students turn grief into performing arts piece Following budget cuts resulting in no theatre company like the University Players to rely on anymore, dramatic arts students were devastated. Rising profits or closing brick and mortar stores: the impact of the ongoing Canada Post strike Most local businesses have found alternative ways to ship their products to customers during the Canada Post Strike. Hosting a holiday party? Here’s what you need to know about social host liability As we usher in the holiday season, many are preparing to host family dinners or festive parties – a lot of which will see alcohol served. London Pedestrian struck in northeast London London police say that one person has been transported to hospital with serious injuries as the result of a collision this afternoon. Another blast of snow is expected to roll through on Thursday Environment Canada has issued a blowing snow advisory for the London region Wednesday, which is expected to be followed with more snow in the forecast on Thursday. Minister 'extremely concerned' after Air Canada announces change to carry-on bags Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year. Kitchener Waterloo Regional Police recover 52 vehicles from chop shop in North Dumfries, Ont. A chop shop in North Dumfries, Ont. has been dismantled after police found 52 stolen vehicles. Three 13-year-olds fall through ice at Cambridge pond The Waterloo Regional Police Service has issued a public plea after three boys fell through the ice at a Cambridge pond on Tuesday. Minister 'extremely concerned' after Air Canada announces change to carry-on bags Air Canada plans to bar carry-on bags and impose a seat selection fee for its lowest-fare customers in the new year. Barrie Winter travel advisory issued as Muskoka braces for more snow Muskoka is in for more snow after a major dumping over the weekend that caused power outages, downed trees and road closures. 17-year-olds arrested with loaded gun, drugs in Barrie, police say Police in Barrie say two teens were arrested for having a loaded gun and drugs in their possession. Midland man accused of violent sexual assaults denied bail after 2nd arrest A Midland man accused of violent sexual assaults who was granted bail last month has been arrested again, but this time, he will remain behind bars. Winnipeg Proposed site for Winnipeg supervised consumption site in the city's core The province’s first supervised consumption site could soon be located along the Disraeli Freeway in Winnipeg. Canadian appears in U.S. court in decades-old cold case Robert Creter made his first court appearance since his extradition to the United States from Winnipeg. He's the prime suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Tami Tignor – a cold case dating back to 1997. 'We want you to enjoy shopping': Winnipeg police stepping up presence at busy retail locations for the holidays When you are doing your holiday shopping this month, you may notice more police officers out and about at some of the biggest shopping areas in Winnipeg. Calgary Former Calgary police officer wanted on Canada-wide warrant Calgary police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a former officer they say used police resources to contact women he met while on duty. Calgary could consider banning retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits A Calgary committee will consider asking city officials to ban all sales of dogs, cats and rabbits in retail stores. 'Dangerous and unpredictable' Calgary man among Canada's 25 most wanted fugitives A Calgary man accused of killing a mother of five in a senseless act of violence remains one of the most wanted criminals in Canada. Edmonton Lucy the elephant in good health, but should remain in Edmonton: experts Lucy the elephant is in good health and able to travel – though experts recommend she stays put. Man convicted in 2021 extremism case found guilty of possessing child sex abuse materials A Parkland County man currently in prison has been found guilty of possessing child pornography, which police found on his devices during an unrelated investigation. 'It means everything to the kids': Santa flown in by helicopter to visit Stollery patients The Royal Canadian Air Force flew a special guest to the Stollery Children's Hospital Wednesday to spread holiday cheer. Regina Sask. auditor releases findings on social services’ hotel spending An audit stemming from concerns over government practices of securing hotel rooms for those on social assistance has been released. Is your water changing colour and taste? Don't worry, its still safe Residents in Regina and Moose Jaw may notice some changes in their water as construction continues at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant. Sask. auditor says high social housing vacancy rates in Regina need to be addressed Saskatchewan's auditor says Regina had nearly 18 per cent of all social housing vacancies in the province at one point in 2024. Saskatoon Saskatoon boy, 16, faces first-degree murder charge in death of woman found outside the Copper Mug A 16-year-old boy faces a first-degree murder charge in the case of a woman found dead in an 8th Street parking lot last month. Saskatchewan maintains dismal status as leader in spread of HIV, with no provincial strategy in place Advocates for Saskatchewan’s HIV-positive residents are calling for a provincial strategy to support those living with the virus, and to help stop its spread. Contraband worth over $200,000 seized at Saskatchewan Penitentiary The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) says staff at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary seized a package containing contraband and unauthorized items from the Prince Albert-based facility. Vancouver BREAKING | Suspect shot after 'number of people' stabbed in downtown Vancouver: police A 'number of people' were stabbed in downtown Vancouver Wednesday before a suspect was shot by police, authorities say. Suspect arrested after stabbing sends man to hospital in Surrey, B.C. Police say one man is in custody and another is in hospital after a stabbing Wednesday morning in Surrey, B.C. Early-rising Taylor Swift fans wait for hours in Vancouver for concert gear Taylor Swift fans were up before the sun in Vancouver to snag some coveted shirts, bags and sweaters to mark her record-breaking Eras Tour. Vancouver Island BREAKING | Suspect shot after 'number of people' stabbed in downtown Vancouver: police A 'number of people' were stabbed in downtown Vancouver Wednesday before a suspect was shot by police, authorities say. Federal minister Harjit Sajjan to attend Taylor Swift concert with taxpayer-funded ticket Harjit Sajjan, the federal minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, will be going to the Eras Tour on taxpayer dollars. Environment Canada warns fog causing near-zero visibility in southwest B.C. Environment Canada is warning travellers that dense fog is creating near-zero visibility in parts of southwestern British Columbia on Wednesday. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay Connected
LITCHFIELD – Volunteers working in assembly-line fashion gave up a few hours of their time Monday so that residents in need and elderly shut-ins in town will have bountiful Christmas dinners. The initiative of the town’s social services office was carried out in the kitchen at the Bantam firehouse by about a dozen volunteers assembled by social services coordinator Lauren Wheeler and Borough of Bantam Warden Dick Sheldon. Packages of baked ham, roasted potatoes, carrots, green beans and desserts were put together and will be delivered by Sheldon on Christmas morning. “The need people have for help is as great as ever,” Wheeler said of the demand her office has seen this year. Social services, Wheeler said, is providing Christmas dinners, Christmas presents, and a supply of nonperishable food to 50 families in need in town as part of the effort. Those packages were distributed on Thursday. “We’re helping people who are sick and can’t work, people who have been laid off, and those who can’t find jobs,” Wheeler said. “There are many people, too, who are having trouble making ends meet.” The food and gifts are being funded through social services’ Community Giving Project, which accepts donations from individuals and local businesses. Seven robust hams were purchased and were cooked by Sheldon and other volunteers on Friday. Skillfully slicing ham on Monday were volunteers Jane Golding of Litchfield and Lynn Capecelatro and Diane Flynn, both of Morris. Ray Schmid, who serves on the Park and Recreation Commission, and his wife, Roseann, were among the volunteers and found the experience rewarding. Between Friday and Monday, they spent about eight hours in the firehouse kitchen. “The feeling you get from knowing you are helping people who are less fortunate is incredible,” Ray Schmid said. “It really hit us as we were leaving the building and realized the value of the work that went into it. Our plan is to be back next year to do it again.”Michael Strahan is probably glad November is over. For much of the month, the football player-turned-broadcaster was attacked by critics who treated him like an enemy of the state because he didn’t place his hand over his heart during a nationally-televised rendition of the national anthem. What a crock. The fallout followed a special Fox Sports broadcast from Naval Base San Diego honoring U.S. soldiers ahead of Veterans Day. As his post-game partners stood with their hands over their hearts, Strahan held his hands near his waist as a military band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” With all the controversy that followed, you would think that Strahan had dropped his pants and mooned the flag after setting it on fire. Hardly. The Giants legend says he simply got “caught up in the moment” of watching “all these young sailors” who had made the commitment to serving the nation and securing our freedoms. But Strahan’s attackers did not see it that way, pursuing him with the same intensity he once used to sack quarterbacks. “What’s wrong with Strahan @NFLonFOX?” one user wrote on Twitter. “Blatant disrespect for the men and women he is surrounded by protecting his rights and freedoms.” Another added: “Strahan couldn’t put his hand over his heart? HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO EVERYONE EXCEPT MICHAEL STRAHAN!! NO CLASS!!” “Fire Michael Strahan!” another wrote. “This is unacceptable!” Strahan, a Hall of Famer, had tough battles on the field. But this was unnecessary roughness. Strahan, whose father served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades, said he wasn’t protesting anything. “I have nothing to protest, I have no statement to be made,” Strahan said on Instagram. “The only statement that should be made that I want to make is I love the military, I’ve always loved the military and I will always love the military. I do so many programs to help veterans and soldiers. I grew up on a military base with a father who was a major in the army. My brother, my sister, my cousins, they all served in the military — I’m a military brat. “And so the fact of somebody saying that, you know, I’m unpatriotic, couldn’t be any further from the truth.” Strahan made a noble defense of his actions, but I would have been more impressed if he had told his critics to kick rocks. Why? Because this is America, where songs inspire, flags are symbols and patriotism speaks for itself. Strahan is no more obligated to cover his heart with his hand during the national anthem than politicians are to wear flag pins in their lapels. “I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest,” Barack Obama said in 2007 when he first ran for president. “Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism.” It was a strong statement at the time. It was also short-lived. Obama soon went back to wearing the pin. If Strahan was guilty of anything it was for losing his head when the contrived controversy got out of hand. When Strahan was confronted about the anthem by a reporter outside his home, Strahan became the villain, snatching the reporter’s phone and tossing it in a nearby bush. “Don’t come to my house, man!” he yelled before grabbing the phone. Strahan later admitted he went too far. “I’m not proud of the way I handled that whole situation,” he said. “You’ve got to protect your family, and you’ve got to protect your home, which is what I felt like I needed to do in that moment.” Even if Strahan had been making a statement during the anthem, he would have been doing it quietly and respectfully. But this was no Colin Kaepernick moment. It wasn’t even close. Greene writes for the New York Daily News: nydailynews.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Study finds suburban school districts diversified in 20 years, but urban districts saw more racial isolationCelta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona: Highlights, man of the match, stats from La Liga affairDisney is remaking a number of animated classics into live-action movies. Some are remakes while others are origin stories or sequels to existing live-action adaptations. Among its current remakes are a live-action "Moana" and "Lilo & Stitch." Advertisement Despite Disney's late 2024 live-action release, "Mufasa: The Lion King," making substantially less ($35 million) than its 2019 "The Lion King" CGI-fueled release ($191.7 million) in its opening weekend at the domestic box office, the studio still has plans for two live-action adaptations of beloved animated movies coming in 2025 : "Snow White" and "Lilo & Stitch." And there are plans for more beyond that. Here's everything we know about the upcoming live-action releases of Disney's animated classics. Advertisement Kirsten Acuna contributed to a previous version of this story.
NoneBOSTON (AP) — UConn coach Jim Mora pulled a move that would make Bill Belichick proud while preparing the Huskies to play the notoriously churlish former New England Patriot's next team in his old backyard. Mora and his players were more than 45 minutes late for what was scheduled as a 30-minute media availability a day before Saturday's Fenway Bowl against North Carolina. Mora then gave a non-apology straight out of Belichick’s playbook. “We practice at a certain time the day before a game,” Mora said. “And we stuck to the script.” A six-time Super Bowl winner in New England with Tom Brady, Belichick was fired after going 4-13 in 2023, leaving him just 14 wins short of matching Don Shula’s all-time record for NFL victories. Unable to land a pro job at the age of 72, Belichick signed on with North Carolina — his first college gig — when they fired 73-year-old Mack Brown. Belichick hasn’t taken over on the Tar Heels' sideline yet; interim coach Freddie Kitchens — another ex-Cleveland Browns coach — will lead them in the Fenway Bowl. But the future Hall of Famer's potential return to a football field in Boston has been the biggest story ahead of Saturday’s game. Belichick did not attend media day, and Fenway Bowl executive director Brett Miller tried to preempt questions about him by asking reporters “to keep questions focusing on the players and coaches out here today.” “I don’t need to beat around the bush any more than that,” he said in comments that would have been cryptic if it weren’t so obvious to everyone who he meant. “I know there’s probably a lot of questions that you guys have about next year, particularly one side. Please do your best to keep it to these guys, because they’ve earned the right to be here.” The request wasn’t completely successful, with Kitchens taking a question about Belichick specifically and saying he talks to his new boss every day. Earlier this month, Kitchens said: “He asks questions; I answer the questions.” “I’m going to try to soak in all I can from him, and be a better coach because of it,” Kitchens said after Belichick was hired. “I love Carolina, I want what’s best for Carolina, and I know that right now at this moment in time, coach Belichick is what’s best for Carolina. “At the end of the day, he’s a ballcoach,” he said, “and I enjoy working for ballcoaches.” Mora also brushed off a question about whether the next Carolina coach would have any impact on Saturday's game. “It's irrelevant to us," said Mora, who was 0-1 against Belichick in four seasons as an NFL head coach. "We can't control the emotions of our opponents. And as far as I know, coach Belichick will not be taking the football field on Saturday, so it's not relevant to this football team in our preparation. North Carolina (6-6) will be playing in a bowl for the sixth straight year – the second-longest streak in program history. The Tar Heels climbed from back-to-back nine-loss seasons in the final years of Larry Fedora to reach into The Associated Top 25 in each of the previous four seasons under Brown, who also coached them from 1988-97 in one of the most successful eras of Carolina football history. After starting out 3-0 this year, the Tar Heels lost four straight — including a 70-50 loss to Sun Belt Conference team James Madison. They won three more to gain bowl eligibility before a loss to Boston College that sealed Brown's fate, and a season-ending loss to rival NC State. UConn is playing in its second bowl game in three seasons under Jim Mora, bouncing back from last year’s 3-9 record to post its first eight-win season since Randy Edsall took the Huskies to the Fiesta Bowl in 2010. An independent, UConn won all of its games against the non-Power 4 conferences and lost to Syracuse, Wake Forest and Duke of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Maryland of the Big Ten. Miller said the bowl, which has struggled to find traction in a city more focused on the success of its professional sports teams, sold more tickets this year than in its first two. The Belichick angle is certainly part of that, but the game has also had some good success picking teams, hosting Louisville in 2022 -- the year before the Cardinals climbed into The Associated Press Top 10 – and then SMU last year, one season before the Mustangs made the College Football Playoff. “Could one of these teams be next,” Miller said. “We’ll see.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- It's time to ring in the new year and no one does it better than ABC 7's New Year's Eve special, "COUNTDOWN CHICAGO," a Chicago tradition for more than 30 years. The city's longest-running and most popular local New Year's Eve show will once again showcase the spirit of Chicago. Cheryl Scott and Terrell Brown will kick off the special with their spectacular dance production followed by internationally famous Cascada, led by Natalie Horler, performing their big dance hit "Everytime We Touch" and GRAMMY-nominated R &B singer and actor, Mario, performing his new release, "Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh)," and his popular hit "Let Me Love You." The special will feature revelers from partygoers at the Salt Shed, Park West, and Little Village's Mia Tierra. Hosts Val Warner, Ryan Chiaverini, Cheryl Scott, Terrell Brown, Hosea Sanders and special guests Kenzie & Roman will bring Chicago style celebrations to viewers at home, Tuesday, Dec. 31, beginning at 11:25 p.m. on ABC 7. ABC 7's "COUNTDOWN CHICAGO," the winner of six consecutive Chicago Midwest Emmy Awards, owns the distinction of being the most-watched local program in Chicago last year, and 2025 promises to be no exception. ABC 7's team of hosts will capture the excitement of New Year's Eve: Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini will be groovin' to Chicago's classic house music from the "Chosen Few DJs" and "Hot Mix 5" at the Park West. Terrell Brown and Cheryl Scott will join the fun at the Salt Shed's New Year's Eve party featuring the music of "Lake Street Dive." Hosea Sanders will introduce the show's featured musical artists Cascada and Mario. Chicago media personalities Kenzie & Roman will be part of the fiesta at a Little Village neighborhood favorite, Mi Tierra. In what has now become appointment TV and an anticipated Chicago annual event, ABC 7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott and anchor Terrell Brown will open the show with their spectacular dance number - featuring dozens of dancers from the famed Chicago dance company Puzzle Box. In a high-spirited performance, the duo plays high school teachers who surprise bored students by jazzing up what begins as a dull high school dance. This is the seventh year Brown and Scott have paired up to dance their way into the new year. ABC7 will be ringing in the New Year with Chicago's grand finale, New Year's Eve fireworks at midnight. Dec. 31, 1991, marked the beginning of ABC7's annual broadcast of New Year's Eve specials. Justyna Syska and Terrell Brown are executive producers of "ABC7 PRESENTS: COUNTDOWN CHICAGO 2025." About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space toChicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces "Chicago Proud," a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago.The station also produces the highest-rated New Year's Eve special in Chicago, holiday kickoff special "The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival," syndicated to a national audience, as well as the award-winning program series "Our Chicago," which showcases the city's diversity and highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+ communities, among others.Every Friday, Windy City Weekend, entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what's happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed.ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives, one of the biggest one-day drives in the country and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
The Biden administration issued what is likely its final set of export control rules against Beijing earlier this week. The rules forbid companies from exporting an important chip component crucial for training artificial intelligence to China. Experts say it will further constrain the Chinese supply chain for AI. They also expect the next Trump administration to further expand Washington’s strategic tech blockade against China in a more assertive way. See the full story here .Auto Review: 2025 Mini Countryman is full of fun and functionality that belies its sizeShatel: Is Omaha big enough for two professional volleyball teams?
NoneBroncos hope to continue playoff push when they meet the banged-up Raiders