Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useIn a significant development, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the successful connection of Rarik, a remote village in the Lahaul and Spiti district, to high-speed 4G broadband services. The achievement underscores a vital step forward in bridging digital divides in isolated regions. This breakthrough was made possible through an impressive collaboration with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), utilizing cutting-edge Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology. The effort is particularly noteworthy as the region endures extremely low temperatures, often plummeting below zero degrees. Notably, Himachal Pradesh has become the first in the nation to grant complete approval for land transfers under the 4G Saturation Project. Efficient processing of clearances from various state departments facilitated the swift establishment of 4G infrastructure. To date, 294 towers have been erected, with more in the pipeline, further enhancing communication capabilities across the state. (With inputs from agencies.)
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Mum, 26, died after ‘barbaric’ Brazilian butt lift surgery ‘she didn’t properly consent to’ in TurkeyFederal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminalORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In losing Sunday’s battle with the Buffalo Bills, perhaps the best team in football, Jerod Mayo won the war. Best I can tell, he’s staying put. For 2025, and maybe beyond. To his angry fan base and incredulous pockets of the New England Patriots’ media corps, remember Mayo’s future doesn’t hinge on winning this season. It’s not about what you want, or what I think. It’s about the Krafts, who hand-picked Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick four and a half years before he actually did, believing in him, and finding reasons to maintain that belief. In the eyes of someone who wants to believe, Sunday supplied enough reason. The Patriots led at halftime, then lost by three as 14-point underdogs. They became the first team since mid-October to hold the Bills under 30 points. Drake Maye outplayed the next MVP of the league for most of the game and took another step toward his destiny as a franchise quarterback, If that sounds like a low bar, that’s because it is. Such is life in Year 1 of a rebuild, a multi-year process ownership has committed to seeing through to the end with their organizational pillars now in place: Mayo, Maye and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. As frustrating as this 3-12 campaign has been, there are always nuggets of optimism amid the rubble of a losing season; particularly if you want to find them. The Krafts do, and so does Maye, who loves his head coach, by the way; calling questions about Mayo’s job security “BS.” “We’ve got his back,” Maye said post-game. Maye’s voice matters. Certainly more than any number of fans or media members. Ever since media-fueled speculation that Mayo could get canned at the end of his first season began rising, the caveat has always been the same: if, a Gillette Stadium-sized “if,” the Patriots bomb atomically down the stretch, ownership could pull the plug on Mayo. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport became the latest to join that chorus Sunday with this pregame report: “The Krafts want to keep Jerod Mayo,” he said. “They believe he is the leader for the organization for the future, and they knew it would be a multi-year process to get this thing right. Now if things go off the rails, if they really start to struggle and he loses the locker room the last couple games of the season, we’ve seen this thing turn. “But as of now, the Patriots believe Jerod Mayo is their leader for the future.” Well, Mayo hasn’t lost the locker room. That’s a fact. To a man, both in public and from those I’ve spoken to in private, Patriots players believe in their head coach. Mayo might be a players’ coach, yes, in the best and worst senses. But the Patriots were a few plays away Sunday from pulling off their largest upset since Super Bowl XXXVI. “I think we’re building something good,” Maye said. The Patriots also played their best half of football this season against their toughest opponent yet. Another fact. Now, to the frustrated, I am with you. To the shocked, I understand. But to the trigger-happy, lay down your arms. Mayo, by all accounts, is returning in 2025. Alex Van Pelt, however, is another story. In the same vein that the Krafts could have viewed Sunday’s performance as a reason to save Mayo — despite his pathetic punt at midfield, down 10 with just eight and a half minutes left — they could have convinced themselves their offensive coordinator is the real problem. After all, team president Jonathan Kraft was visibly exasperated over Van Pelt’s play-calling during the Pats’ loss at Arizona a week earlier. Four days later, Van Pelt told reporters he had yet to hear from his boss. Well, that time may be coming. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter Sunday, Van Pelt called a pass that resulted in an unnecessary lateral and game-winning touchdown for Buffalo. His offense later operated like it was taking a Sunday drive with the game on the line, using up 3:16 of the final 4:19 en route to its final touchdown. Van Pelt, finally, weaponized Maye’s legs in critical situations, something that arguably should have been done weeks ago. Not to mention, Van Pelt’s top running back can’t stop fumbling, and the offensive line remains a hot mess. Call him Alex Van Fall Guy. Because Van Pelt’s offense, for the first time in a while, under-performed relative to Mayo’s defense. On merit, he deserves to stay; a case that’s harder to make for defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. But it’s not about merit this season. It’s not about what you want. It’s not about what I think. It’s about the Krafts; what they see, what they want, what they believe. Even in defeat. ____ Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Jimmy Butler says he's not worrying about his future with Heat amid trade speculation Jimmy Butler knows there are tons of questions about his future with the Miami Heat. He might get traded, he might leave as a free agent next summer, he might exercise a $52.4 million option to return to the Heat or he might get a new contract. He isn't sure what will happen. The Heat forward spoke out about trade speculation Wednesday, telling reporters after practice that he doesn’t mind his name being in the rumor mill. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Reports: North Carolina reaches an agreement with Bill Belichick to become the Tar Heels' next coach Multiple media outlets are reporting that North Carolina has reached an agreement with former New England Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick to become the next coach of the Tar Heels. The Athletic, ESPN and NFL Network reported, based on sources, that Belichick and UNC had agreed on a deal. The Athletic and NFL Network reported that the financial terms of the deal were expected to be for three years and $30 million. Neither North Carolina nor Belichick have announced that a deal has been completed. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Tulane QB Mensah transfers to Duke; Mississippi State’s Van Buren, Cal’s Mendoza enter portal Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr. and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah is a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining. He told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Made in America: McKennie and Weah link up for goal to help Juventus beat City TURIN, Italy (AP) — Weston McKennie waved an imaginary wand and American compatriot Tim Weah joined him in celebration. The pair had just linked up with Weah assisting McKennie for Juventus’ second goal in a 2-0 win over Manchester City — marking the first time in Champions League history that two players from the United States combined for a goal. That lifted Juventus up to 14th place in the 36-team standings, with the top 24 advancing. It was also important for McKennie and Weah, who are both battling for minutes after recovering from injuries. Man City crisis deepens with loss to Juventus in Champions League as Barcelona and Arsenal win Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus in the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings and only the top 24 advances. Reaching the knockout stage looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2022 and has won the last four Premier League titles. It's not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 and Barcelona won 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund. Lake Placid working with Italian officials as a backup sliding site for 2026 Winter Games Lake Placid would play host to bobsled, luge and skeleton events for the 2026 Olympics if a track currently being rebuilt in Italy isn’t finished in time for the Milan-Cortina Games, officials said Wednesday. There has been no indication from Italian officials that the track — a century-old facility that has been dormant for nearly 20 years — won’t be ready in time. Lake Placid would be serving only as a backup site, just in case. FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host despite human rights concerns ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930.Every time a Government appoints a new Cabinet, a debate ensues about its composition and the allocation of ministries. There is also a debate about the way certain disparate subjects are combined to form one Ministry. This is not surprising, given that at one time a previous Foreign Minister demanded that the two lotteries boards be brought under his Ministry. However, some seemingly distant subjects can be an ideal combination if one looks at it from a fresh perspective. Media and Health, now under one Ministry, are two such subjects. Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa is eminently qualified to helm this Ministry, being a media savvy medical doctor. The media is the most potent weapon that we can use against disease. This became apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic when the immense power of the conventional media, both print and electronic, was used admirably to spread the message of prevention. It is through the media that the public came to know of the importance of wearing masks, washing or sanitising hands, social distancing, cough etiquette, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other health practices. The media’s extensive relaying of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) helped raise awareness of the disease and the steps that one could take to keep it at bay. The conventional media also played another critical role that was not really appreciated at that time – fighting disinformation spread on social media and the Internet. Social media outlets such as Facebook, X, YouTube and Reddit were rife with outright lies on the two mRNA vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Modena which had proven to be more than 90 percent effective against the onset of Covid-19 pandemic. According to such “fake news” posts, the two vaccines could even make recipients infertile. These completely unfounded claims were unfortunately believed by millions of people around the world, leading to deaths that could have easily been prevented. Here in Sri Lanka, the conventional media rose to the occasion and painted a correct picture of the vaccines that helped the health authorities to save thousands of lives. Medical experts who appeared on TV regularly stressed the importance of getting the three Covid-19 jabs on time. Many TV stations also telecast 30-second PSAs on health practices and vaccines at prime time. This was one occasion that the conventional media triumphed over the Internet, despite almost everyone having a smartphone with an Internet connection. Yet, the disinformation campaign against vaccines is not over on a global scale. There is a marked dip in childhood vaccinations in many countries including the US, where some politicians including incoming Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, have peddled conspiracy theories regarding vaccines. Many parents have believed his claim that the Measles vaccine can cause autism, leading to an explosion of measles cases in the US and many developed countries. Even though scientists have debunked these claims with ample proof, people still fall for them. This has now become a global public health challenge. In the light of such false claims amplified in the social media echo chamber, Minister Dr. Jayatissa must take the lead in championing the cause and efficacy of vaccines and vaccinations. Sri Lanka shines globally for its almost perfect childhood vaccination record. In close partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), Sri Lanka has been conducting a childhood vaccination campaign for several decades that has drastically slashed infant and child mortality rates. These indices are, in fact, almost on par with those of the developed world, which is no mean feat for a small developing nation. But young Sri Lankan parents who are constantly online might be gullible to the untruths regarding vaccines, which could roll back the progress the country has made in the health sphere. This is why a mainstream media campaign must take these false claims on vaccines head on. Of course, the mainstream media outlets themselves must also extensively use social media to get this message across if they are to target young families. Such messaging must necessarily extend to every facet of healthcare. Sometimes, the message needs to be very simple. Many people living in remote areas spend much time and money to come to the main national hospitals in Colombo, Kandy or Galle (Karapitiya) to get treated even for simple ailments which can easily be handled by rural hospitals and healthcare centres. Many regional hospitals also have heart, eye and ENT facilities that obviate the need to rush to Colombo for related ailments. But many rural residents are unaware of this fact and think that one must rush to Colombo, Kandy or Galle even for influenza. Since many rural dwellers have limited access to the Internet, it is best to use the conventional media to spread the message that the nearest hospital is often the best hospital for a range of healthcare needs. This will reduce congestion at the main hospitals and save time and money for rural patients. In any case, the doctors at a given rural hospital can determine whether a patient has to be transferred to a bigger city hospital by ambulance. It is also vital to educate the public that there is no greater benefit in using brand-name drugs instead of generic drugs which are many times cheaper. Moreover, patients are generally in the dark about the actual Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) of both generic and imported brand-name drugs. These should be regularly published via the print media in all three languages to keep the public informed. There should also be a bigger media campaign focusing on Non-Communicable Diseases such as heart disease and diabetes especially with regard to preventive measures. The media must cooperate with the new Health Minister to popularise the age-old wisdom that “Health is Wealth”.
Actor Kasthuri Shankar, who came out on a conditional bail from Puzhal prison on November 21, is one such celebrity-talking head currently in the news over controversial remarks. She was picked up by the police in Hyderabad for making a loaded, controversial comment about the ‘Telugu’ origins of the Tamil Nadu ruling party DMK’s first family. With this arrest, Ms. Kasthuri joins a growing list of anti-DMK voices to have been arrested for making unpalatable comments about the ruling dispensation. She made these remarks at a protest organised by the Indu Makkal Katchi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist party, led by Arjun Sampath. The protest was called demanding that a law akin to the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1952, (PCR Act) to protect Brahmins from slander and defamatory comments on their caste identity from certain political sections be enacted. Widespread criticism While comparing slander of Brahmin sensitivities and identity to the expulsion of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir in the early 1990s, Ms. Kasthuri said Brahmins could not be called ‘outsiders’ by ‘Telugu speaking people’, who came to Tamil Nadu along with Telugu kings to take care of the needs of their harems. She encountered widespread criticism for her comments, prompting her to clarify that she didn’t cast aspersions on Telugu speakers as a whole. After coming out of the prison, Ms. Kasthuri thanked those critics for transforming ‘a small voice like hers into a raging cyclone’. Having returned to India in 2017 from the U.S., where she was living with her husband, Ms. Kasthuri, known for her spunky choice of films such as Amaidi Padai, Indian and Thamizh Padam, has been one of those celebrities who became ubiquitous on television, YouTube and social media, often opining on diverse topics — be it the language divide in India, the NEET controversy, federalism, MeToo or Tamil nationalism. An avid quizzer and a former Miss Chennai, Ms. Kasthuri, who has acted in more than 50 films in multiple languages, emerged as an celebrity commentator as an eco-system of politically aligned social media personalities mushroomed. Social media presence Having been a busy actor until the early 2000s, Ms. Kasthuri took a break before turning heads with an item song in a spoof film, Thamizh Padam, featuring Mirchi Shiva in 2009. She also hosted a quiz show on a Tamil private channel and continued to feature in other reality shows, including Bigg Boss. She was seen taking on the political class, debating vexatious issues that yield no agreements and taking to task die-hard fans of Tamil film actors, riling their supporters and inviting senseless trolls. Having masqueraded as a fairly neutral voice on television and social media, Ms. Kasthuri is today identified mainly as someone who reflects the views of upper class, Tamil Brahmins in politics. With people consuming news and information mainly on social media, the phenomenon of celebrity talking heads and online opinion makers, especially critics, finding themselves in the cross hairs of the State government has only served to expose the double standards of the political establishment in Tamil Nadu, which wants to be seen as leading the ideological fight against the ‘fascist’ BJP government even while using the State’s resources to jail critics. However, Ms. Kasthuri’s transformation from a former quizzer, actor and a well-informed neutral voice on several issues to a right-wing commentator talking about upper caste issues is difficult to miss, particularly after her decision to participate in the Indu Makkal Katchi protest. She seeks to equate ridicule and criticism of privilege in society with hatred and hegemony. Kasthuri’s comment about the ‘Telugu origins’ of the DMK’s first family has kicked up a storm in the State. Published - November 24, 2024 01:00 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tamil cinema / Tamil Nadu / The Hindu Profiles / The Hindu ExplainsWarren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105
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NOGALES, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. (NYSE American: APT), a leading manufacturer of products designed to protect people, products and environments, including disposable protective apparel and building products, today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a $2.0 million expansion of the Company’s existing share repurchase program. With this authorized expansion, the Company now has approximately $2.8 million available to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.8 million of which remains from the previous expansion, most recently announced in October 2024. Management anticipates repurchasing shares through open market purchases or through privately-negotiated transactions and intends to retire all shares purchased through the share repurchase program. Open market purchases may be executed by the Company’s broker through a pre-arranged repurchase plan, which operates in accordance with the guidelines specified under Rule 10b5-1 and Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any transactions under the repurchase plan will be effected in accordance with the terms of the plan, including specified price, volume and timing conditions, and will be applied against the amount authorized for the Company’s share repurchase program. Other open market and privately-negotiated purchases may occur from time to time outside the repurchase plan based on market and general business conditions, subject to applicable rules and regulations. About Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. is the parent company of Alpha Pro Tech, Inc. and Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. Alpha Pro Tech, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets innovative disposable and limited-use protective apparel products for the industrial, clean room, medical and dental markets. Alpha ProTech Engineered Products, Inc. manufactures and markets a line of construction weatherization products, including building wrap and roof underlayment. The Company has manufacturing facilities in Nogales, Arizona; Valdosta, Georgia; and a joint venture in India. For more information and copies of all news releases and financials, visit Alpha Pro Tech’s website at http://www.alphaprotech.com . Certain statements made in this press release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements instead of historical facts and may be identified generally by the use of forward-looking terminology and words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “potentially,” “may,” “continue,” “should,” “will” and words of similar meaning. Without limiting the generality of the preceding statement, all statements in this press release relating to the Company’s strategy, including the number of shares of common stock to be repurchased by the Company, if any, are forward-looking statements. We caution investors that any such forward-looking statements are only estimates based on current information and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results contained in the forward-looking statements. We cannot give assurances that any such statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by us include the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described from time to time in our public releases and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Specifically, these factors include, but are not limited to, changes in global economic conditions; the inability of our suppliers and contractors to meet our requirements; potential challenges related to international manufacturing; the inability to protect our intellectual property; competition in our industry; customer preferences; the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; security breaches or disruptions to the information technology infrastructure; the impact of legal and regulatory proceedings or compliance challenges; and volatility in our common stock price and our investments. We also caution investors that the forward-looking information described herein represents our outlook only as of this date, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or developments after the date of this press release. Given these uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Company Contact: Alpha Pro Tech, Ltd. Donna Millar 905-479-0654 e-mail: ir@alphaprotech.com Investor Relations Contact: Hayden IR Cameron Donahue 651-653-1854 e-mail: cameron@haydenir.comDirector of people and culture, Nurse Next Door Age 37 I am proud of working with Nurse Next Door for the past 13 years and being part of the company’s amazing growth. When I started, Nurse Next Door had 30 franchises in Canada and today we have over 400 franchises spread across Canada, the U.S., Australia and England. An initiative I am particularly proud of is Caregiving as a Career, which is challenging industry norms, ensuring caregivers are respected, valued and well paid. Caregiving as a Career works to ensure caregivers have job security, benefits and guaranteed hours, trusting their employer has their back. The toughest yet most liberating lessons have been around my own personal and professional development. Challenging myself to look at how I can set my life up differently as a leader, to work through others. This was difficult at first—I was so accustomed to working hard and doing everything myself. It is a work in progress that is highlighted by opening the door for others and stepping into mentorship versus management. It is amazing to see the learnings that have come about from this change in work both myself and amongst our team. I used to think that leadership was about hierarchy and power. Now I know that leadership is quiet. It’s about opening doors for others, boosting up those around you, recognizing the little things and helping others see their own potential. Relationships always come first. Get to know the people you are doing business with, ask them about themselves and their family. Not only is it much more fun, you will learn alot too. Listen to your intuition, especially around people. Success is living a life where you are always striving for excellence, challenging yourself and not settling or allowing for mediocrity. I have an amazing husband and three little kids, ages six, four and three. I am constantly balancing being the mom I want to be with growing my career, embracing self care and continuing to generate a beautiful relationship of 15 years. I love to exercise, I have completed two full marathons and around seven half marathons. I plan to continue living an active and full life, everyday! The sky is the limit. I am committed to continuing to nurture Caregiving as a Career and bringing the Nurse Next Door leadership and development framework—bold kindness—to the world. I am always working on myself and how I show up as a leader and plan to do this while supporting the company to expand into new international markets. This is a massive honour. I want to thank the whole team at Nurse Next Door as I wouldn’t have recieved this without our collective efforts. This award reflects all the amazing work being done across Nurse Next Door. I also want to thank my husband Chris, who is my teammate everyday and without him none of this would be possible. I am so grateful to my parents who support me no matter what, my amazing kids who inspire me daily and our nanny Tess who is always in our corner and supports me in my journey as a mother. When we look at ourselves as 100 per cent responsible for everything in our lives, the journey gets a whole lot more interesting and fun There are so many—organizations I am involved with are JABC, The Forum and YWCA Exercise and walking—workouts at Kondi are my favourite Whistler Miku and Minami hands down; I’m also a sucker for the Naam I love To Be Magnetic, Move With Heart (podcast), Wayne Dyer and Goop Exercising, walking and taking breaks throughout the day to think and reflect Cathy Thorpe has been my mentor for over 10 years—I am forever grateful to her and the whole leadership team at Nurse Next Door This year I had the honour of being a surrogate to twins for my best friend—it has been such a gift
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters on Friday regarding hosting Dolphins, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Dustin Hopkins, and more. Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department: More Cleveland Browns coverage Myles Garrett still working through Browns offseason plans and Dustin Hopkins will kick: Berea Report (Video) Browns restructure Deshaun Watson’s contract to ensure he’ll be here through at least ‘26; provides cap flexibility once it expires A look back at our favorite Browns photos from 2024 Week 17 NFL Preview: Find everything you need to know with our Week 17 NFL preview. Opening Statement: “Okay, great challenge this week. Unique challenge this week with this group; the things that they do on the offensive side of the ball with the pre-snap motion and the speed. Defensively, I think they do a great job in a variety of ways, but they are big and long up front with great length. They’ve got great movement, a bunch of different things they can throw at you. It’s a good special teams group, coached really well. So, a group that certainly we respect and then we have to go play our best brand of football to go find a way to win in front of our fans. We’re excited for the opportunity to go play one last time down there on the lake in front of our fans. But with that, I’ll take any questions.” Was Ogbo (Okoronkwo) hurt against the (Cincinnati) Bengals? “Yes.” With Jameis (Winston) as questionable, if he’s okay will he be the number two? “Yes. If he’s okay, yeah. Still working through that.” Who will be your kicker Sunday? “Dustin (Hopkins).” Why go with him after giving him the week off when you had the practice squad kicker a couple weeks ago? “Yeah, I think regardless of if we have a practice squad kicker on the roster or not, really just he’s our kicker. Like I’ve told you guys, he’s going to continue to work through this like he does, like any player works through technique things. He’s working very hard, and he kicked it really well today. I expect him to kick it really well on Sunday.” With the three guys who are out, will you have to use IR to bring anybody up? “I don’t believe so.” With Dustin, it seemed like the bye week, with him sitting out, you thought that he was pretty confident that he was going to get back to form and just didn’t happen. “I think with any position, doesn’t matter if it’s kicker, if it’s offensive line, linebacker, you’re constantly working on your technique. That’s no different here with a veteran that working on his craft, getting that swing grooved. Obviously, it didn’t hit the ball how he wanted to the other day, but he continues to work at it and like I told him, we’ll support him, and we’ll work through it together.” I know he doesn’t have a game status, but how did Dorian (Thompson-Robinson) come through with the calf and everything and how has he looked the last three days? “Yeah, has looked good.” We don’t always see this kind of patience with kickers. So where does your, obviously he had that great year last year so that’s probably part of it, but where does that belief in Dustin come from? “Yeah, demonstrated ability. He’s a veteran. I’ve seen him do it for us, I’ve seen him do it in his career. Like a lot of kickers, sometimes you got to go through it a little bit but doesn’t change how hard he’s working to get through this. But, yeah, veteran guy who’s seen a lot in his career.” What can you guys do this week to kind of make Dorian’s life a little easier so he can get into the flow of the game a little faster than he did last week? “Yeah, I think it’s more incumbent on the team to start fast. Obviously, that helps your quarterback when you can put some points on the board early in a game and not put yourself in a hole early. I think that certainly contributes to how you play as an offense.” He’s really got the ability to pull it and go on those RPOs. What did you think of his decisions on that last week and what does that give you guys going forward? “Yeah, it’s a real threat when you have that quarterback back there. Kevin Rogers, our coach here, always says when the quarterback hands it off, that’s now 11-on-10 if you don’t have a real viable guy. With Dorian, it’s really an 11-on-11 football, they have to account for him, really, in all those run schemes. And that’s like a lot of quarterbacks in this league. I think you’re seeing guys that are very viable threats in the run game, and it certainly contributes to run game success.” I know you’re on this year, and Joel (Bitonio) said he’s not thinking about next year, but regardless of what happens, what has he just meant to this building to you these last five years? “Yeah, obviously I wasn’t here for the beginning part of his career, but just seeing him these last five seasons, first of all, I’ll talk about the person first. Just an amazing person, a guy I rely on a ton when talking about things that have to do with this football team. And just the way he leads, I’m always leaning on him. The player, looks like a Hall of Fame career to me. I’m hoping he’s these not his last few games. I think he’s got a lot left in the tank, and I say that just this is a really, really good football player and I’ve seen some really good ones. He’s right up there.” Is he like Steve Hutchinson or were they different players? “They’re different players. Steve was much more of the gap scheme, downhill ‘mauler.’ And I think Joel’s just so athletic, the things that he’s been able to do over the course of his career. He never gets in a bad spot. He’s always moving his guy and has recoverability to get to the second level. But he’s an incredible athlete.” Tua (Tagovailoa) is one of the better quarterbacks in the league against pressure. What do you see when you watch him on film in terms of that helps him kind of handle the pressure? “I’d say the ball comes out so fast. I think that’s what helps the pressure. You can blitz him and sometimes you get there, sometimes that ball’s whistling out of there because that’s just how fast they play. And he makes really, really quick decisions, and he has a very, very quick release.” How much pressure does that put on your secondary when he’s getting it out so fast and there isn’t a lot of time to send that pressure? “Yeah, I think certainly this scheme puts pressure on every part of your defense. It’s not just the secondary. I think everybody contributes to trying to slow this group down. I think they do a great job getting the ball in the perimeter in a variety of ways, run game, screen game, you name it. Then they do a really good job working the middle of the field as well.” Where was Ced (Cedric Tillman) at in the protocol and does it at this point, since he’s out this game, make sense just to shut him down for the rest of the year? “I’m not going there. I’m really just focused on where he is right now and he’s continuing to progress.” How do you coach up Dorian to still be aggressive and use all of his skills, but also try to stay interception free this game? “Sure, I mean, I think it goes back to, Mary Kay (Cabot), being smart and aggressive. You don’t want to just be conservative for the sake of being conservative. But you have to understand how important the ball is in these games; how important possession is in these games. So still continue to play his style, make sure he’s doing everything in his power to move the football for our football team and score points, but at the same time not letting them get their hands on it.” Without Dave (David Njoku) and Ced, who do you need to step up for Dorian in this game? “I think it’s always a group effort in that regard, Mary Kay (Cabot). I think we really trust our group. We trust the receivers; we trust the tight ends that we have up. We got a good group of running backs up, so the quarterback has to deliver the ball based on what the coverage is dictating, and we trust the guys that the ball is going to.” Kevin, I saw that Mike (McDaniel) said that Anthony Walker’s not going to play Sunday. For you, obviously, knowing Anthony from this time of year, disappointing not to get to... “Is he injured? I didn’t know that.” He’s hurt. “Got it. Okay, a guy I think very highly of. I’m regretting letting him sit in all those quarterback meetings over the years. He’s popped in there and sat in there for many meetings, and I’m regretting that fact. But he’s one of my favorites. Just a quintessential pro. He’s the guy in the middle of the defense, he’s the guy in the middle of the locker room, just at the center of everything. I think he’s made plays when he’s out there on the football field, but just the impact that he has in the building has been pretty incredible.” When guys are like that, Kevin, I mean, I understand he’s a son of a coach. Are they generally always that way, or do guys kind of, as they get in a pro routine, do they kind of grow into that? “I think the son of a coach certainly has a lot to do with it, and Anthony has talked a lot about that, but he’s a gym rat. He loves the game. And again, just his thirst for knowledge, you can ask quarterbacks, he would pop in there and sit in there and just listen. Not really ask questions, but just hear what was being talked about. He’s a cerebral player. You so often hear quarterbacks being talked about being cerebral. When you’re the middle linebacker and you’re in the nerve center, you have to be cerebral, and he certainly is.” Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.
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Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development , is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's incoming cabinet. 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are Here are some things to know about Turner: From professional football to politics Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. U.S. & World Vaccines don't cause autism. What does? Here's what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks Motivational speaker and pastor Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Headed council in Trump's first term Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones," which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. The role of HUD HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction.Video: Ex-Chelsea star produces the miss of the season squanders Osimhen's perfect passThe 17th annual Aurora Holiday Food Drive is moving into its final days, and organizers said this year’s drive is slightly behind the pace from last year. “We are asking the community to give what they can to help those who are less fortunate, and we are grateful for every penny donated, and every can purchased from one of the stores,” said Katie Arko, executive director of the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. The drive is designed to stock the shelves of the pantry, which serves 1,300 families in a given week. Hundreds of volunteers and staff hours have been poured into the campaign, Arko said, which takes place at three participating grocery stores: Prisco’s Family Market, 1108 Prairie St., Aurora; Cermak Fresh Market, 1250 N. Lake St., Aurora; and La Chiquita, 1525 Douglas Road, Montgomery. Arko added that smaller, local food drives organized by social clubs, neighborhoods, churches, school groups and others add to the donations during the overall Holiday Food Drive. Arko pointed to one volunteer, Dan Dolan, who is considered the godfather of the Holiday Food Drive. Dolan created the idea for the drive 17 years ago, and, along with his family, he “gives his heart, soul, time and energy into helping the pantry every year,” Arko said. “He spends time writing letters to raise money, goes to the grocery stores to pack bags, hands out flyers to customers at the stores, makes phone calls and utilizes his social media network to help with the cause,” she said. The drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Wednesday, Nov. 27. Depending on how each store does it, people can buy packaged bags of groceries of $5, $10, $15 and $20 as they go through the checkout line during normal shopping. They also can buy a $20 virtual bag online, a feature added two years ago. The pantry also takes monetary donations. The money is used to purchase food from the Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank, and every $1 donated actually purchases $8 of food. Both the virtual bags and the monetary donations can be done at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry website, https://www.aurorafoodpantry.org/. Monetary donations also still are taken the old-fashioned way, with checks mailed to the pantry at 1110 Jericho Road, Aurora, IL, 60506. Checks should be made out to Aurora Food Pantry. The food drive also depends on volunteers who help in a number of ways, including passing out flyers promoting the drive at the participating grocery stores. Ways to volunteer are also at the pantry’s website. Individuals and families often volunteer, but so do many businesses, churches, Scouting and student groups and other organizations. From to 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, one of those organizations, a fifth-grade Girl Scout troop from Freeman Elementary School, was scheduled to be at Prisco’s Family Market in Aurora, handing out flyers, bringing holiday cheer and encouraging people to buy a bag of groceries to donate to the pantry. “This is the third year in a row that this troop has volunteered to help the pantry,” Arko said. Sponsors of the Aurora Holiday Food Drive are Dolan and Murphy, Inc. real estate; Konen Insurance; Gerald Subaru of North Aurora; AuraLight Dispensary; Douglas Carpet One; Aurora Bank & Trust; Bob’s Discount Furniture; Oak St. Health; AC’s Pub; Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward; The Beacon-News; Aurora Fastprint; Prisco’s Family Market; Cermak Fresh Market; La Chiquita; and 95.9 The River. slord@tribpub.com