WaFd, Inc (WAFDP) To Go Ex-Dividend on December 31stFollowing the death of former president Jimmy Carter on Sunday, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank released a statement expressing his heartfelt condolences to the Carter family. Blank called Carter a friend and role model. “I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and role model, President Jimmy Carter,” Blank wrote. “He was a great American, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humanitarian. “He lived his life with great civic responsibility and took it upon himself to be the change he wished to see amongst others. On behalf of my family and our family of businesses, we send a heartfelt message of condolence to his loved ones.” Carter, who won the 1976 presidential election, entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia in February 2023 after a series of hospital stays. In October, Carter celebrated his 100th birthday. His grandson, Jason Carter, spoke out at the time about the blessing living so long was. “Not everybody gets 100 years on this earth, and when somebody does, and when they use that time to do so much good for so many people, it’s worth celebrating,” Jason Carter, chair of The Carter Center governing board, said in an interview, per the Associated Press . “These last few months, 19 months, now that he’s been in hospice, it’s been a chance for our family to reflect and then for the rest of the country and the world to really reflect on him. That’s been a really gratifying time.” Blank also heaped praise on president Carter for the man he was. “President Carter’s kind and uniting spirit touched so many lives,” Blank’s statement read. “He was a man of deep faith, and did everything with principal and grace, doing things the right way for the right reasons. “We first met at The Home Depot, and I will remember him as an enthusiastic do-it-yourselfer who was willing to roll up his own sleeves to build homes for others. He was also an avid sports fan of our Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United teams.” But where Blank was the most thankful was for Carter’s service to his country, in numerous ways, including in political office. “But mostly, I will remember President Carter as my friend, a guiding light and someone who served humanity day in and day out – a quality he exhibited daily throughout his remarkable life. We will be forever indebted to President Carter for his honorable service as a Navy officer, his tireless diplomatic efforts, his dedicated philanthropic work, and his caring leadership as Georgia’s governor and then as leader of the free world. “I join with the city of Atlanta, the state of Georgia, and a grieving nation in mourning the loss of one of the world’s most compassionate souls. I will miss him dearly.” This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. "I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success," Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. "For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us." The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch, led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. "If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich," offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism." The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. "I've been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy," Allar said. "I think that's been a huge difference for me this year." The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory. He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. "For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm," Allar said. "Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game." Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. "He's a football player," Warren said. "He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he's just a football player and that fires up our offense." Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. "I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Jailed PKK Leader open to working with Turkey, DEM SaysAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:09 p.m. EST
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia Expresses Gratitude to 2024 NPP Manifesto Sub-Committee
Wednesday, December 11, 2024 The global fight against overtourism intensified in 2024, with cities and communities expressing frustration over the influx of visitors. In Barcelona, locals resorted to spraying tourists with water guns, while in Mallorca, protestors marched through the streets chanting, “tourists go home.” In response, governments worldwide are stepping in with stricter regulations and new policies aimed at managing tourism more effectively. Stricter Rules on Short-Term Rentals Short-term rentals are a major focus in the battle against overtourism. Barcelona plans to phase out all short-term rentals by 2029, and Rome is introducing tighter registration and building code requirements. New York City has already implemented one of the most high-profile short-term rental bans globally. Despite these measures, the results remain mixed. Bram Gallagher, director of economics and forecasting at AirDNA, noted that previous restrictions in cities like Barcelona did little to alleviate overtourism or improve housing affordability. “Reducing this already limited stock of short-term rentals is unlikely to have a significant impact,” Gallagher said. Rising Tourism Fees Across the Globe Popular tourist destinations are introducing fees to manage visitor numbers and generate revenue. Iceland reinstated its hotel and alternative accommodation taxes to offset the strain on its natural resources caused by overtourism. Similarly, Edinburgh plans to introduce a 5% tourist tax per room night starting in 2026, with proceeds earmarked for housing, infrastructure, and cultural preservation. In the U.S. , tourism taxes are becoming a key revenue source for state governments. Airbnb hosts alone contributed $2.2 billion in tourism taxes, reflecting a growing trend toward imposing financial responsibilities on visitors. Rome, grappling with overcrowding at iconic sites like the Trevi Fountain, is implementing a tourist fee and a reservation system to manage foot traffic. Alessandro Onorato, Rome’s deputy mayor of tourism, emphasized the dual goals of preserving the monument and ensuring a serene visitor experience. National Parks Lead the Way in Visitor Management The U.S. National Parks Service has been at the forefront of addressing overtourism. After a surge in visits, which reached 325.5 million in 2023, parks like Yosemite and Glacier have adopted reservation systems to better manage crowds. “These systems are designed to enhance the visitor experience, reducing issues like parking shortages and long entrance lines,” explained Kathy Krupper, public affairs specialist at the National Parks Service. She highlighted the success of these measures in spreading visits across the week and encouraging better trip planning. What’s Next? As the backlash against overtourism grows, travelers can expect more regulations, reservation systems, and fees during their trips. These measures aim not only to manage tourism sustainably but also to ensure that both locals and visitors can coexist harmoniously. From limiting short-term rentals to imposing new taxes, governments are determined to tackle overtourism head-on while safeguarding their cultural and natural treasures.
Aston Villa march on in Champions League after beating RB LeipzigNEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google released its annual “Year in Search” on Tuesday, rounding up the top trending queries entered into its namesake search engine in 2024. The results show terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year — ranging from key news events, notably global elections , to the most popular songs, athletes and unforgettable pop-culture moments that people looked up worldwide. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated Google's overall trending searches in 2024. Copa América topped those search trends globally, followed by the UEFA European Championship and ICC Men's T20 World Cup . Meanwhile, the U.S. election led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about excessive heat and this year's Olympic Games followed. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches in Google's people category this year — followed by Catherine, Princess of Wales , U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif , who also led athlete-specific searches. Meanwhile, the late Liam Payne , Toby Keith and O.J. Simpson led search trends among notable individuals who died in 2024. In the world of entertainment, Disney and Pixar's “Inside Out 2” was the top trending movie of the year, while Netflix's “Baby Reindeer” led TV show trends. And Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” dominated song trends. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Queries for the Olympic village's chocolate muffin , made famous by Norwegian swimmer Henrik Christiansen over the summer games, led Google's global recipe trends this year. The New York Times' “Connections” puzzle topped game searches. And in the U.S., country-specific data shows, many people asked Google about online trends like the word “demure” and “ mob wife aesthetic .” You can find more country-specific lists, and trends from years past , through Google’s “Year in Search” data published online . The California company said it collected 2024 search results from Jan. 1 through Nov. 23 of this year. Google isn't the only one to publish an annual recap or top trends as 2024 draws to a close. Spotify Wrapped , for example, as well as Collins Dictionary and Merriam-Webster’s words of the year, have offered additional reflections for 2024.
“I am hopeful that with the majorities now that we will be able to get across the finish line,” Scanlan told The Center Square on Thursday, speaking of more legislation on the way to protect women's spaces. “Obviously, this goes beyond sports ... So ideally, I think that the biggest thing would be to federally pass something that says this is what a woman is.” Scanlan a day earlier was part of a panel where U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., announced that Republicans plan to soon introduce legislation to “protect children from transgender medical procedures.” A report from the advocacy group Do No Harm released four weeks before Election Day included documented evidence of such activity being performed on a 7-year-old . “We’ll be introducing the STOP Act soon,” said Marshall . “We are going to use the Commerce Act to punish people who perform any type of surgery, or who use any type of medications on minors.” STOP is an acronym for Safeguarding the Overall Protection of Minors. The panel said that the legislation is an important and necessary step to protect children. Scanlan and Marshall, a host with the American Principles Project, were on the panel alongside U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala.; U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill.; Terry Schilling, president of the American Principles Project; and Sarah Parshall Perry, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “We all know by now that so-called gender affirming care is anything but caring,” Tuberville said. “It is pure insanity and has caused irreversible damage to countless children. This isn’t about politics, this is about good and evil.” Scanlan is an ambassador for Independent Women's Voice and a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania. Swimming for the Quakers, she and teammates endured being not only on the same team but in the same locker room as a swimmer who for the first three years swam on the men's team. “I was a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania and the administration, the university and the NCAA said , ‘Here's a man who wants to swim on your team, please accept him,’” she explained during the panel. “This entire situation really made all female athletes feel isolated and alone, and like they know where to go.” Scanlan said that it wasn’t just competing that isolated the female athletes. “Eighteen times per week, my teammates and I were forced to undress next to a 6-foot-4, fully-intact male,” Scanlan said. “As a female athlete, this was just something I couldn't even imagine. It was something I never imagined would happen to me when I went off to college.” The STOP Act is one of a few beginnings. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has proposed legislation seeking to protect women’s spaces on all federal property nationwide. This would include bathrooms, locker rooms and prisons. Scanlan said this shows that public opinion is on the side of her and the panel. “This is really the first time we're seeing more of these people in power stepping up and actually doing the right thing and saying enough is enough” she said. “Now, we are looking at entire teams that are feeling empowered to be able to boycott ... or object to competing against males. It's widespread.” A notable case of that is San Jose State, where Blaire Fleming's participation has led to seven opponents forfeiting rather than playing a women's team that includes a man saying he is a woman. Tuberville and Marshall emphasized they believe the majority of Americans would agree with the proposed legislation. "The American people are sick of this nonsense," Tuberville said . "It’s time we restore some sanity and get common sense back in this country." Scanlan said that while she supports the national legislation Republicans are considering, it is important for states to also continue to pass legislation. “I always remind people who are really excited about having a presidency that we don't know what might happen in four years," she said. "So, of course, it's also important to codify this in states. We are going to continue our efforts. There's still a lot of work to be done, and I don't really see it as a win until we've finished this on the state level.”
When it comes to figuring out what's about to be big before it totally explodes, the best search-it-out strategy we know tends to be something along the lines of: identify someone (or something) that always has a pulse on what's happening. Then pay attention. That's what makes watching the so genius. Since its launch, the global brand's in-network development pool has connected more than 4,600 creatives with the resources and audience to turn their designing dreams into reality. The fashion world can be tough, period—and pretty near impossible to break into when you consider how much the little fish have (like, IDK, established operational systems and fancy-schmancy distribution systems). SHEIN, the biggest fish in the ~biggest~ pond, created SHEIN X to help it be the fairy godmother to little guys. The program opens up the , huge fabric libraries, supply-chain technologies, and global reach to designers who are just starting to punch above their indie roots. What is SHEIN X? It's a designer's dream come true—a unique initiative by SHEIN that collaborates with creatives and brands. Imagine it as a fashion house presenting talents globally, offering fresh, exciting styles infused with the distinct flair of each designer, a true masterpiece. Why shop SHEIN X? If you're on the hunt for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, SHEIN X is your go-to choice. It offers designer fashion at friendly prices, making it easy to shop exclusive, high-quality styles from emerging talents and renowned names you won't find elsewhere. That's not to say it's only working with small names, though. The program routinely connects with buzzy brands and artists in their own right from a variety of backgrounds—to bring their magic into the wardrobe world. For example, the brand has collaborated with Canadian digital artist , bespoke clothier , and (you know, the one with a cool 64 social followers?). New you-need-to-know names include , the Iowa-based designer behind BELANGE HANDMADE, who worked with SHEIN to trampoline her way into the stratosphere. Her signature look, bright and vibrant, was established ahead of the —but now it's just available to way, way more people. Dresses are the thing for , too. Southern California designer Lillian Love's label focuses on dresses: form-fitting knit silhouettes, cutouts, sparkles...you name it, it's there. A similar yet also super-unique look is the calling card for . Born and raised in Ohio, the current Angeleno has used her partnership with SHEIN X to make her dramatic-glam dresses more easily accessible to all of us (thank ya, Keshae!). Featuring swirls, curves, and cutouts, they have an optical-illusion quality that's almost impossible to look away from. The last name we want you to know is , a beautiful line made by Atlanta-based Bahamian artist Melissa A. Mitchell. If most of the SHEIN in your wardrobe includes clothes you'll wear out (whether to the office or after hours), this is your new vacation situation. And by that we mean stuff to wear when you're deplaning somewhere fabulous and sunny—but also in normal life when you just need a jolt of out-of-office energy. Why join SHEIN X? Breaking into fashion is tough, but SHEIN X kick-starts creators' journeys. From design support to global logistics, it equips emerging talent with the necessary tools to bring ideas to life and reach the world, while empowering established names with data analytics to scale production. The bottom style line is that the is a win-win: While it's helping to give emerging designers a major boost through its established resources and logistics, it's also bringing good newness into our own closets that emphasize originality, making upscale fashion accessible to everyone. Shopping brands most people haven't heard of, from your favorite easy-to-browse platform? Yep, you're about to be the best-dressed friend in your group.
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.
Man City turns into laughing stock after heavy loss to Tottenham: "This is unprecedented"Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower as it waits for inflation data
Allar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn StateThe Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (NYSE:NTB) Shares Sold by Geode Capital Management LLC