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NHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishmentNoneWarning: Massive Moana 2 spoilers ahead! Dana Ledoux Miller is booked and busy! The Moana 2 director and Moana live-action remake writer took the time to talk with BuzzFeed about behind-the-scenes moments in the recording booth, Pacific Islander representation, and Moana's new tattoo. But honestly, it turned into a beautiful chat between two Samoan women, and I left the interview feeling like we were old friends! 1. How does it feel to be the first Pacific Islander woman to direct not only a Disney film but any major motion picture? Especially now that Moana has broken so many records at the box office? Dana Ledoux Miller: It's a little surreal. I'm so grateful that the film is doing well and people are watching it, and that it's resonating with so many Pacific Islanders. But also, it's really exciting to me that I do get to stand in this place and just by being here, in this moment, show people what's possible. Show other Pacific Islander women, people across anywhere, that if — I mean honestly — if I can do it, you can do it, too. It's been a really special thing and a responsibility that I don't take lightly because nobody can say it hasn't been done before. That can't be an excuse as to why you don't hire a Pacific Islander woman to write and direct a studio film because it has been done before. So now, let's let somebody else do it, too. 2. Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes moment from working with the actors in the recording booth for Moana 2 ? Working with Auli’i [Cravalho] and Dwayne [Johnson] was really special. I assume you never know what it's going to be like coming into a role that you've already played and coming back after eight years to jump into this. But I was so impressed by both of them, the way they were able to just find these characters again, but also find new depths to them. And Auli’i is just hilarious in the booth. She's so physical and so just on point. The first day I was in the recording session with her, we were talking outside, and then she walked in, and it was like, “Oh, crap, that's Moana!” Just on and amazing. 3. Do you have a favorite moment with Dwayne? We have this moment later in the film where Maui is stripped of all of his crutches. He's lost his tattoos, he's lost his hook, he's lost his power, and he's vulnerable in a way that he's never been before. And he's grieving a loss. [Writer] Jared Bush and I were talking through what that means to be so strong and to be somebody who, in theory, doesn't need anyone, but suddenly be taken to your knees and vulnerable in a way you've never been before, and having to ask for help in a way you've never been before. What does that look like when you are larger than life? To talk that through with Dwayne, who is larger than life in so many ways and doesn't often get to go to these places emotionally as an actor, was really exciting. 4. In previous interviews, you’ve spoken about how growing up as a mixed Samoan woman in California, away from most of your family, impacted your confidence. As a fellow mixed Samoan woman who grew up the same way, I was wondering where you found that confidence to be able to write and direct these movies because I think sometimes we feel like, "Oh no, I'm not Samoan enough.” That is a sentence I am very familiar with: “I'm not Samoan enough.” Half my dad's family lived in Northern California — I'm in Southern California — or back in Samoa, and so there was really a disconnect. Part of that honestly was because of my dad, too, and him dealing with some of his own identity issues as I was growing up. And so, I felt a lot of insecurity about that. I would say being Samoan is always something I've been really proud of, but it's something I always mentioned with caveats, to try to make other people feel better about it, but also to make myself feel better. Like, “I'm Samoan, but yeah, I know I don't look so Samoan,” to make it feel okay for everybody else. I'm not joking, I used to have a picture of my grandparents in my bag when I was really young. BuzzFeed: So you could whip it out as proof? Yeah, as if I needed it! Nobody's even asking me for proof. But I felt so insecure about it. I don't know that I'm a fully-recovered insecure afakasi [mixed Samoan] woman, but I have come a long way. Even taking the job on the Moana live-action, which was my first Moana project, my first thought after getting that job was: “Am I Samoan enough? Is our community going to be upset that I'm the person doing this? Will they think I'm not enough to do this?” And it was very daunting. I was so excited because I love Moana, and I felt like I couldn't believe I get to be a part of telling her story. But it's been a process to take ownership of even just being able to be say, “I'm Samoan. I'm not gonna explain to you what that means because it's none of your business, and I know who I am.” That I would say has been a two-year process. It's still new to me. It's still fresh. But part of that is because I took some chances I wasn't ready to take. I took the job on the live-action film even though I felt that insecurity. I started PEAK [Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti] when I was like, “Am I enough to do this? Am I the right person?” I also had a Pacific Islander writers room for this small show that didn't end up going, and I got to work with Pacific Islanders in a room, creating, for the first time. All of these things came together at once, and I started to feel like I was a part of a bigger community. And it wasn't a community that was asking me to qualify myself but of other people who felt very similarly. We were coming together, and we were looking at each other, and we're like, “Oh, I see you. I see you. I see you.” And because we were seeing ourselves in each other, it gave me more confidence to be bold about taking ownership of who I am. It's been a journey, but I am proud to be Samoan. 5. When Moana breaks Nalo’s curse, she dies and comes back only due to the power of the ancestors. This was such a powerful message about how our ancestors are still with us today and can always be called upon in times of need. Can you speak about the decision to include this? The first film did such a great job of setting that up with Gramma Tala. And I would say that Dave Derrick, the other Samoan director of the film, he very early on had this image in his mind of a whale shark as an ancestor coming in and meeting Moana. It's an image that is in the film, and it all just grew from there. This idea that our ancestors are always with us — they are always guiding us, and we are continuing their story. It just felt right for this. But when it came to that moment in particular at the end, it goes back to what we were talking about with Maui, this idea that he has no resources to solve this problem. He can't save Moana, and so he has to do something he's never done before, which is call out to the gods and call out to the ancestors and admit that he needs help. And I think [composer] Opetaia Foa'i did such a beautiful job of creating this chant in Samoan for Maui to sing, and then it's really just a call to make things right. And so, it felt natural that if he's calling for help, that the ancestors would come. I loved the moment Tautai Vasa comes in because he doesn't know what's going to happen. It's not like they're omniscient and the ancestors know that by showing up, she's going to come back to life. It's that he's been called, and now he's seeing this young woman who he sent off on this journey. He called her to action, and here she is. This is the consequence of that. To see him also calling out for help, and then see everyone come together, the ocean, the ancestors, all this power coming together to bring her back as a demigod... It just felt right for this world and for her journey, for a young woman who's given so much. It all built on each other into something that I'm really proud of. 6. The film very much seemed like it was setting us up for a third Moana movie. If that happens, do you think Moana would have any cool demigod powers? If there was a next movie, and I have no idea, I would be very excited to see what powers she had. I think that this film definitely sets up the potential for that. She's even got her own demigod color; she glows a little different than Maui. So I assume that she has some different abilities. But what that might be, I have no idea. 7. And the scene after that, we get some Melanesian and Micronesian rep! How important was it to ensure their inclusion in the movie? We built a bunch of different canoes, and we were so fortunate to have experts from across the Pacific really homing in on those designs. That was by design, to make sure that each place was different because she's connecting the whole ocean. There's so much misunderstanding about what it means to be from the Pacific. Generally, they assume that we're only Polynesian and that we're not all these other things. The fact that Moana connecting the ocean could literally connect her to these other places across the Pacific and show new technology in these canoes and people who look a little different but are also of the ocean just felt right. I did not anticipate the reaction to that from our communities — people are pumped! 8. What advice would you give to any aspiring Pacific Islander creatives? One thing that I try to tell young writers, specifically filmmakers, is that your very specific lens into the world, no matter who you are, is your superpower. Whether you're mixed Samoan like me, or you are someone who grew up in Savai'i, or Tonga, or you're from Fiji, anywhere you're from — only you see the world in your very specific way, and that is your gift and your power. So when you're telling stories, it's really important that you don't try to shift that lens to emulate someone else's vision of the world, especially when you're writing your first sample or making your first film. It's that kind of specificity of vision and experience that, to me, is what breaks through the noise of everything else. When you do that, it helps the rest of us find the commonalities we have between us because you're telling a very specific story. You're not watering it down to something that you think someone from the outside is going to feel is more palatable. You're taking ownership of exactly who you are, and that helps me, as an audience, understand you and relate to you in a different way. I think there's sometimes a tendency to want to write what Hollywood wants you to write. But the thing is — if this is the work you want to do, and you want to get into this business — you also have to hone your craft. I have met a lot of Pacific Islanders who are excited about this idea of working in the industry, but there is maybe a lack of understanding, there is a lack of infrastructure for our community often, to get into filmmaking. But if you want to work at this level, you have to be really diligent about it. If you want to be a writer, you have to study the craft and write at the level that everyone else in the world is in order to tell those stories. That's how you build a career and create staying power. So it's kind of two-fold. You gotta play the game a little bit. You gotta understand the work and then tell it from your lens. 9. What made you most emotional or excited throughout this process? There are moments within the movie that get me sometimes. Like the Maui-Moana moment, it makes me emotional, and I'm proud of what we crafted. But also, I just feel like, as a writer, to take characters that we know and love to a new place is always really exciting. 10. Aside from Auli'i and Dwayne, who else did you have fun working with? Jemaine [Clement] came in to do Tamatoa. I am a huge Flight of the Conchords fan. Eagle vs Shark is one of my favorite films. It's one of his early films, and it's so weird. And I was like, "That's the kind of movie I'm gonna make!" I'm not as funny as him, so I haven't made a movie like that. But my heart was so full. I could listen to this man riff forever. It was pretty awesome. BuzzFeed: That’s so funny because he only shows up in the post-credits scene, right? We kept him a little longer, just to really let him go off for our own benefit. Don't tell him that. [Laughs] 11. I was super emotional throughout the film, and I’ve seen TikToks of people literally crying in the theater because they’re so happy to be represented. How do you feel about the movie’s reception? I have been blown away. The number of texts and emails I've been getting from people, from other Pasifika folks, has been a little overwhelming but in a good way. This morning, one of our consultants who lives in Apia was like, “Here's our schedule for the movie theater. It's playing every single day, and the lines are down the street.” Or my brother texted me and was like, “My friend just said he's been trying to get him and his son tickets to the movie in Tutuila, but it's been sold out for days. You can't get in.” People are stoked. A cousin's cousin sent me their aunty’s Instagram post about how the ‘ava ceremony meant something to them, or about the tatau or the idea of the ancestors, or this idea that we are all connected and that we are better together, and that people don't understand that community is our foundation, and that's who we are. There's been so many instances of people from our community loving the film. I want everyone to see this movie, we made a movie for everyone to see, but I wanted our people to see themselves, and so the fact that that's happening kind of makes me a little teary right now, actually. I was hoping that we could all hold our heads up high and be proud to see ourselves like this. [Visibly tears up] To see that happening, and to see TikTok and Instagram blowing up about people being like, "This is who I am." That means something. That changes the way we see ourselves, that's going to give somebody else confidence out there to say, "This is who I am. I am not going to apologize for it. I get to be proud of who I am." 12. How do you think the film changes the perception and awareness of Pacific Islanders? It's changing the way other people are seeing us. I saw something where somebody had never understood that Melanesian people are part of the Pacific. That's somebody learning something that they didn't know about us before. So it's really special to be able to be a part of something that's reaching people on so many different levels. 13. And finally, I loved so many of the cultural details woven into the movie , but Moana's tattoo is probably my favorite. From what I know about the meanings of the symbols, it looked like vaetuli, the footprints of the tuli bird, going up her fingers. And then it looked like the fetū, the stars, on top. And so the way that I interpreted it was that her path is to follow the stars, and I wanted to ask if that's accurate. It was all by design. So we had Peter Suluape as our consultant in the tatau form. No big deal! Maui's tattoos tell his story, and if she's going to become a demigod, we wanted her tattoos to tell her story but in a very specific way. With Maui, there's so many tattoos that tell so many stories. We wanted her tattoo to tell this story of her reconnecting all the people of the ocean. So that's why it has Motofetū in the middle, the island, and everything coming off are the channels that connect it. And so we talked to him about that, and he came back with a design. And then we worked with our character designer, Danny Arriaga, who took all of those pieces and put it together in something that worked on her arm. Another Samoan consultant we had, Dionne Fonoti, texted me after she saw that. She was like, "Sis, I love the tattoo." And I was like, "Yes! If Dionne likes it, then we're okay!" I love it because it’s so specific to Moana and her story, but it's also so specific to us and what she would actually get, and I'm glad you recognized that. A big thank you to Dana for taking the time to chat with us! And be sure to check out Moana 2 , in theaters now! Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.
Mayor Ken Sim announced Thursday that abolition of the elected Vancouver park board and bringing parks and recreation under the control of city council will lead to $70 million in savings over the next decade. In what the mayor described as a streamlining of services, the transition is expected to achieve further savings once a new governance model is established, including millions of dollars in infrastructure project costs. “And these are conservative estimates,” Sim told reporters at city hall Thursday. A city staff report that goes before council Nov. 27 estimated savings of $1.5 million to $3 million per year alone on “position savings,” which staff at a technical briefing prior to the news conference said will see park board staff fill city vacancies. "Our goal is not to have any staff layoffs," said deputy city manager Sandra Singh, adding that staff continues to meet with unions representing park board workers. Savings of $1.8 million to $3.3 million per year were identified under a category called “early operational integration opportunities.” For example, staff who currently support the elected park board could move into the city clerk’s office. Arts and culture, communications and marketing and social policy were some of the other areas identified as amalgamating to avoid duplication of services. The report estimated, so far, that 10 to 20 positions could be affected by duplication. Abolishing the seven-member elected board would translate to a savings of $280,000 per year, or $2.8 million over 10 years, said the report, which gave no indication when the park commissioners would be phased out. 'Unlikely this would be a priority for the province' The hurdle for Sim since he announced in December 2023 that he wanted to abolish the board has been getting the provincial government to make the necessary amendments to the Vancouver Charter. Premier David Eby initially committed to honouring the mayor’s request — which was supported by the seven councillors belonging to his ABC Vancouver party — but suggested during the recent election campaign that it wasn’t a priority. “It's very unlikely this would be a priority for the province before the next municipal election [in 2026], and they've got a lot of work ahead of them,” Eby told an audience at an all-candidates’ meeting Oct. 12 at St. James Community Square. Glacier Media contacted the provincial government Thursday for an update on Vancouver’s request. Municipal affairs now falls under Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon’s portfolio. “We have received the City of Vancouver’s transition report, and we are reviewing it," Kahlon said in an emailed statement. “We have been that clear our top priority will be to deliver on the priorities of British Columbians. That includes the costs of daily life, strengthening healthcare, and building safe communities in a strong economy.” Asked about Eby’s position, Sim said he wouldn’t comment on private conversations he has had with the premier but added that his office had “an incredible working relationship” with the premier’s office. Brennan Bastyovanszky, chair of the elected Vancouver park board, at city hall Thursday. Photo Mike Howell 'Erodes the trust in democracy' Brennan Bastyovanszky, chair of the park board, was at city hall Thursday to hear what Sim and city staff told reporters about the transition. Bastyovanszky was a member of ABC Vancouver until Sim announced he wanted to abolish the board. He told reporters after the news conference that he didn’t believe the numbers staff provided regarding savings, calling them “dubious.” He also questioned how city councillors could add parks and recreation to their duties, when they already put in long hours. “The amount of workload that the councillors would take on equates to an extra two days of work a week, on top of a full-time job,” Bastyovanszky said. “I don't see how the council is going to be able to manage that. It's going to remove access to elected officials and decision-makers.” Added Bastyovanszky: “This is a centralization of power that does not benefit the people in Vancouver. It erodes the trust in democracy.” The mayor said the transition will allow the city to legally designate 89 acres of land as permanent parkland, including sections of Stanley Park. Sim said the land would be protected, accessible and sustainable for generations to come. Beyond saving money and securing more green space, the transition is about improving how the city gets things done, said Sim, who was joined on a podium by First Nations leaders, city councillors and members of the transition team. “Right now, we are seeing significant delays in critical projects that impact our city — sewer upgrades, green infrastructure, streets, public spaces — they're being delayed, in some cases, by up to two years,” he said, noting a recent pump station project saw costs increase by $2 million because of extended negotiations with the park board. [email protected] X/@HowellingsMassive fire hits Manila
[Opinion column written by Shomari Talbot-Woolridge] The recent op-ed, What About the Youth?, raises important questions about the challenges facing young Bermudians. However, it fails to acknowledge the steps the Progressive Labour Party [PLP] has taken to address those issues while conveniently ignoring the failures of the One Bermuda Alliance [OBA] when they held the reins of government. There’s no denying that young people in Bermuda are grappling with significant obstacles. The rising cost of living, lack of affordable housing, and limited employment opportunities create barriers to success. For many, dreams of higher education or home ownership feel increasingly out of reach. These are real issues that demand urgent action, and the PLP is delivering them. The high cost of living remains one of Bermuda’s most pressing issues. Young people often feel the brunt of this, with skyrocketing rents, stagnant wages, and limited affordable options for higher education. These challenges are compounded by the economic pressures of the post-COVID era, which has exacerbated income inequality and job insecurity. Mental health is another critical area. Young Bermudians are navigating a rapidly changing world, and the pressures of modern life are taking a toll. This is why the government’s focus on mental health—through initiatives like the Youth Mental Health Summit and expanded access to services—is so essential. Critics who claim the government has ignored the needs of young people overlook the significant strides the PLP has made. Under the PLP, funding for scholarships has been restored and expanded after being gutted by the OBA. Programs like the National Education Scholarship, the Further Education Award, and the Bermuda College Promise are opening doors for students who might otherwise be left behind. These initiatives ensure that financial barriers don’t dictate a young person’s future. Recognizing that not all careers require a university degree, the PLP has introduced vocational training programs tailored to Bermuda’s economic needs. Partnerships with local industries are creating pathways to well-paying jobs in technology, renewable energy, and agriculture. The government is tackling mental health head-on, recognizing its critical role in young people’s lives. Investments in school-based services and community resources are providing much-needed support to those struggling with anxiety, depression, and other challenges. While the cost of living remains high, the PLP is taking steps to provide relief. From expanding affordable housing initiatives to increasing benefits for HIP and FutureCare participants, these policies are laying the groundwork for a fairer and more affordable Bermuda. The contrast with the OBA could not be clearer. During their tenure, scholarship funding was slashed, leaving countless students without the means to pursue higher education. The now-famous student sit-in of 2016, where young Bermudians protested at the House of Assembly, highlighted the depth of frustration and disillusionment under the OBA’s leadership. Their demands for better funding and support were met with indifference and inaction. Additionally, the OBA’s neglect of public education and youth programs led to an erosion of trust among young Bermudians. Promises of “shared sacrifice” resulted in cuts to vital services while failing to address systemic issues like income inequality and job creation. While it’s easy to critique, solutions require vision and effort. The PLP has consistently demonstrated its commitment to addressing Bermuda’s challenges, particularly those affecting our youth. Could we do more? Of course—there is always room for improvement. But the Opposition’s record of neglect leaves them ill-equipped to lecture on supporting young people. Instead of recycling tired talking points, the OBA should join the government in developing constructive solutions. Bermuda’s young people deserve more than empty criticism; they deserve action. The PLP is focused on building a Bermuda that works for everyone, particularly our youth. Whether through expanded scholarships, mental health support, or workforce readiness programs, the government is investing in the next generation. The challenges we face are significant, but together, we can create a future where every young Bermudian has the opportunity to thrive. The path forward requires collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to bold solutions. The PLP is ready for that challenge. Is the Opposition? :
The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100
The NFL urged its players to exercise caution on social media and ramp up home security on Thursday, saying they were becoming “increasingly targeted” for burglaries. Organized groups are targeting homes of professional athletes across multiple leagues, the NFL said in a memo obtained by Reuters, exploiting team schedules and gathering information through “extensive surveillance.” “The burglary groups appear to be gathering information on potential victims through public records, media reports and social media,” the memo read. “Surveillance tactics have included attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in a neighborhood.” The NFL advised players to make their homes appear as though they are occupied at all times, leaving on interior lights or a television when they depart their property, and to limit the information they post to social media. “Avoid updating any social media with check-ins or daily activities until the conclusion of the day,” the league said. “Do not post images or comments about your residence or hotel accommodations.” The residences of two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, who is dating pop superstar Taylor Swift, were both reportedly burgled last month. NBC reported on Thursday that the FBI is investigating whether the break-ins are related to a transnational crime ring. Two NBA players also had their homes broken into in recent weeks, according to media reports. “It is important for players to maintain situational awareness, practice social media safety, and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of becoming a target,” the league said.California lawmakers begin special session to protect state laws from second Trump presidency
Adrian Butler Elected to PRA Group Board of Directors
German Firm Robert Bosch To Reduce Working Hours For 10,000 EmployeesJimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) New-elected President Jimmy Carter gives a press conference after being elected 39th President of the United States, on November 05, 1976 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by GENE FORTE / CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter hold up signs during a rally on may 15, 1976 in New York. – Carter was elected on December 21, 1976 39th President of the United States, 51% voice against 48% for incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath of office to Jimmy Carter (R), flanked by his wife Rosalynn, as the 39th President of the United Sates on January 20, 1977. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup
Cam Akers reached down in front of him to scoop a sinking pass from Sam Darnold, bringing it into his body as he tumbled backwards. As he did, two words ran through his mind: game over. Akers’ late catch, which came with less than two minutes left in the game on a third-and-2 pass, sealed a 27-25 win for the Vikings over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon in a game at U.S. Bank Stadium that got tight late. “I’m blessed,” Akers said. “On my journey from where I’ve come from, to be able to be in there, crunch time, fourth quarter, the coaches trust me, the team trusts me,” Akers said. “I’m blessed.” It’s been a long journey for the running back, who has dealt with two serious Achilles injuries in previous seasons. But Akers, now in his second stint with the Vikings, has rewarded the coaching staff for its faith in him. He also caught a 9-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, one which ended up proving the difference in the win. His opportunities on Sunday came in part because Aaron Jones took a shot to the quad earlier in the game, which he played through before watching the end of the game from the sidelines. His last carry in the game came near the end of the third quarter. “Coach was like, ‘Hey, we’re going to hold you for a little bit,’ but I was good,” Jones said. “I kept warm just in case they needed me. Kept my helmet on.” They didn’t wind up needing him, thanks in large part to Akers. “Cam has something inside him that allowed him to push through the adversity of what’s happened to him over the course of his career,” coach Kevin O’Connell said. “His teammates were probably the most excited all season when Cam scored on that screen and then obviously the catch late. He just brings something. He brings physicality. He brings a level of mental and physical toughness that I think makes us all better.” Nailor gets Vikings going Darnold aired it out and found his receiver, on the run, open in the end zone. It wasn’t Justin Jefferson, nor Jordan Addison, but Jalen Nailor, who hauled in the 31-yard pass for the Vikings’ first touchdown of the game. “I just had a post route. I’ve seen the far safety. He wasn’t there,” Nailor said. “I just took off running as fast as I could and Sam found me.” Darnold found Nailor a season-high five times on Sunday. He finished the day with 81 yards, also a season-high, and his touchdown was his first in more than a month, with the last one coming in the Vikings’ Nov. 24 win over the Bears. “It just felt good to be out there, just help the team win,” Nailor said. “That’s all I’m trying to do.” O’Connell’s belief in Reichard “sky high” Will Reichard’s first field goal attempt Sunday hit the crossbar. The rookie kicker missed a 55-yard attempt near the end of the first half, but a Green Bay penalty negated his miss and a subsequent Packers’ timeout took away a 50-yard make. He then connected from 50 yards to send the Vikings into halftime up 10. His last field goal attempt of the day went off the left upright from 43 yards. But despite a shaky day, O’Connell’s confidence in the 23-year-old, who also converted on a short kick in the second quarter, hasn’t wavered. “I just told him, ‘Hey, next one’s going to be the best one.’ My confidence in Will is sky high,” O’Connell said of Reichard. “If we think we’re anywhere near the range, I’m going to give him the swing. He’s a phenomenal kid, great makeup. The next kick’s going to be his best kick.”NoneIowa offense ready to excel against New Hampshire