Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, accused of domestic violence, cleared to practice and playDonald Trump’s election interference and classified documents cases dismissed
The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.
NoneHannah is one of thousands of children across Scotland who have been regularly missing school. Some are absent for days, others for years. Twelve-year-old Hannah missed most of her primary school education. Right from her first day she barely spoke and would get very upset, so the school would phone her mum daily to ask her to pick her up. By the time she got to primary four she refused to go altogether. She would take off her uniform, cry and scream. Psychologists say the rise in the number of children absent from school is not about bunking off but because many are too anxious to step through the school gates. And since Covid the numbers just keep rising. The latest figures from the Scottish government, to be published on Tuesday, are expected to continue that trend. Hannah's mum Ashly says her daughter, who is autistic, struggled with the noise and busyness of the school environment. "Obviously she didn't feel safe in school," Hannah says. "She didn't feel comfortable. I tried everything to get her to school." Then almost two years ago they started working with a project from the charity Quarriers called Reach, which involves a trained member of staff going to their home in Glasgow to help increase their confidence. "For the first six weeks she wouldn't even speak to her," Ashly says. The support worker began by going to the primary school with Hannah for an hour a day and sitting with her in a quiet room doing crafts and games. Over last summer, before Hannah started at secondary, she and her worker spent days in the school baking cakes and having fun. After almost two years, Hannah's worker has gradually got her to a point where she is attending her S1 secondary school class most days. Ashly told the BBC: "Even getting Hannah to school without crying and being upset was a big thing and now she gets herself ready and gets herself organised for school so that is a big difference." The latest statistics from Glasgow City Council show that every year for the past five years, school absence has increased. The council is now working on a campaign to encourage parents in particular to remember the importance of attending. A report by Reform Scotland last year found that 200,000 children in Scotland are missing more than one day a fortnight. And almost 80,000 pupils miss at least one day a week - with attendance of less than 80%. Official figures released earlier this year suggested that 22.3% of pupils in England were persistently absent in the 2022-23 academic year - roughly double pre-pandemic levels. The lead educational psychologist for Glasgow, Barry Syme, told the BBC that absence is not generally about kids skipping school. "I think the days of children just bunking off is a very simple way of looking at it," he said. "We've seen a significant increase in the number of young people with mental health concerns, particularly anxiety and stress. "That was still an issue pre-pandemic but certainly the pandemic has not helped in any way with that." Mr Syme said there had been an increase in the number of young people identified with neurodiversity and the associated challenges of the school environment such as noise and large numbers of people. He also said that children were picking up on the pressures felt by their parents, such as cost of living issues. Colin Simpson, who runs the Quarriers service, said they had seen huge benefits from offering one-to-one support to families. In the first two years, the project worked with about 200 children but there are another 400 still waiting. "There's a huge waiting list for this service because there's an awful lot of young people across the city of Glasgow and beyond who have chronic non-attendance challenges and they all deserve that kind of support," he said. "But it takes time to give a child the support that they need. "And it takes a lot of effort and energy and a really, really well established relationship." Professor Edward Sosu of the University of Strathclyde said the fall in average attendance was a serious concern and that Scotland needed to tackle the problem. He said a rise in poverty, mental health problems and additional support needs were the major reasons for the increase in absences. And he said that regardless of social class or background, it was almost impossible to make up for the lost time in school. His research looked at people who were aged between 34 and 42, and the impact their school attendance rates had on their outcomes. "What we found is that missing an average of just 10 days aged 10 was linked to not having any qualifications age 42 or not being in employment. So missing that small amount of school in that time had a negative impact," he said. "This was irrespective of their socioeconomic background, irrespective of cognitive outcomes, irrespective of all the background characteristics. "Our assumption originally was that those from middle class backgrounds will be able to help their children catch up - but what we found is that irrespective of your background, absences have a negative impact on your educational achievement."The Twins have tendered contracts or agreed to terms with all of their arbitration-eligible players — a group of 11 — that includes some of their top names ahead of Friday night’s 7 p.m. deadline. ADVERTISEMENT Pitchers Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan were tendered contracts for the 2025 season, as were catcher Ryan Jeffers, infielder Royce Lewis, outfielder Trevor Larnach and utilityman Willi Castro. The Twins will need to come to contract terms with those players later this offseason to avoid arbitration. They’ve already done so with a trio of relievers, agreeing with Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin and Justin Topa. Alex Kirilloff was also eligible for arbitration, but the first baseman/outfielder retired earlier this offseason due to an injury history that plagued him throughout the course of his major league career. The Twins made two roster moves earlier in the week as well, adding prospects Marco Raya and Travis Adams to the 40-man roster to protect them ahead of next month’s Rule 5 Draft. ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .
Harris: Fine Gael ‘will gain seats’ amid further fragmentation of Irish politics$355 per second: Insane numbers behind record contract
At just 17 years old, Ava Hamilton is the fastest woman speed climber in the UK. The sport involves competitors climbing up a 15m wall in races that take mere seconds to complete - with a world record time of just 4.798 seconds. It joined the Olympic Games for the first time at Tokyo 2020, but Scotland still only has one full-sized speed climbing wall. After beating the UK women's record this year at the European Championships with a time of 8.64 seconds, Ava, from Glasgow, wants the sport to become more accessible so more people can try it out. The last time a British woman set a speed climbing record was Shauna Coxsey in 2019, with a time of 9.1 seconds. "I was really happy but also so relieved," Ava told BBC Scotland News. "I'd done it quite a few times in practice but not loads, and this was a personal best for me. "You just need to make that time in competition because that means it's official." She hopes to beat her own record with a time of less than 7.5 seconds within the next year. "I think that's a very realistic goal in the next few months," she said. "And eventually my goal is to make less than seven seconds. "That would be world class level. Although it's not very long - it's literally just one second off what I do now - it means so much in speed climbing." Ava started competing in speed climbing at 15 and said she was grateful that her school accommodated her taking time off to travel to international bouts. Dan Wyatt, rector at Glasgow's Kelvinside Academy, praised her commitment to the sport. He said: "She's an inspiration to any young person, and a shining example of the dedication and application required to make it in any sport. "The unseen hours in the car, on the wall, completing homework whenever possible, and missing parties and gatherings have all been part of Ava's journey." Now she has hopes of scoring a spot on Team GB at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. "That's the massive goal," she said. "This year I'm focusing on the 2025 season and going from there so hopefully I'll be on a good trajectory by then." The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) standardised speed climbing in 2007. "I only remember that because it's the year I was born," said Ava. "Tokyo 2020 did wonders for the sport because people could see the speed these climbers were running up the walls and it gained a lot of traction. "It's a shame it's not as accessible to the public as other types of climbing, but it'll get there." There are three full-sized standardised speed climbing walls in the UK, and the only one in Scotland is in Edinburgh. Every wall is the same, down to the millimetre and materials used, with exactly 20 handholds and 11 footholds. Ava worked with Above Adventure in Kilmarnock, to create a speed wall in their rock climbing gym to these exact measurements. "It means I can practise every bit individually," she said. "But it's not a huge thing in the UK so it's not really funded and most people are self-funded or through private sponsors. "It would be good to see more people competing in the UK as it's quite an underdeveloped sport here." International competitions have meant that she has travelled to Austria and South Korea for races. Now she has plans to go to a US training camp in Salt Lake City for three months next year with her coach Albert Ok. She hopes the experience will help to shave valuable milliseconds off her record time. "I really enjoy training because the improvements are really obvious when you get better," she said. "It's reflected in your time. "You have to learn every individual move and link them together the best you can, so it's probably a lot more technical than people might expect. "There's a lot of problem-solving since you have to work out what's best for you and if you're strong enough to do certain moves. I've got a lot more in me hopefully."
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving timeOn December 12 the 2024 Game Awards were held , and over the span of about four hours, the yearly event handed out a ton of awards while also premiering a bunch of cool-looking trailers for upcoming games. And like every year before, the show ended with the reveal of 2024's Game of the Year. Maybe after watching all that ( or reading our wonderful summary of the event ) you wondered: “Hey, who won in 2016?” Well, I’m here to help! I’ve put together a list that looks back at the last 10 years of The Game Awards to see which games have won the top honor over the last decade. A decade ago, BioWare’s open-world fantasy RPG Dragon Age: Inquisition was the first game to win Game of the Year at the inaugural Game Awards in 2014. It might have been cool in a poetic kind of way to see 2024's Dragon Age: The Veilguard win again a decade later, but alas, the universe doesn’t work like that. In 2015, CD Projekt Red’s RPG The Witcher 3 was the big winner of the show. The game not only walked away with the top award of the night, but it was also the most nominated game at the awards, being in the running in six categories and winning three of them. And nine years later, CDPR officially unveiled The Witcher 4 at the 2024 Game Awards. In 2016, Blizzard’s super-popular multiplayer hero shooter Overwatch made history and became the first non-RPG and the first multiplayer game to win GOTY at The Game Awards. Spoilers, but another mulitplayer-only game wouldn’t win Game of the Year again until 2021. In 2017, another open-world, third-person RPG won the top award of the night. This time the beloved Zelda: Breath of the Wild took the top honors at The Game Awards. This was also the first and, as of 2024, the only Nintendo-published game to walk away with the GOTY trophy. It also means that a Wii U game has won Game of the Year. Weird! In 2018, Sony’s big-budget open-world reboot of God of War won Game of the Year at The Game Awards. This will not be the last time a PlayStation-published title ends the night with the biggest award of the event. I remember some controversy over God of War beating out Red Dead Redemption II that year, but hey, both games received 8 nominations, so that’s something. Oh look, another third-person pseudo-open-world action game wins the top prize at The Game Awards. This time it’s the Activision-published FromSoftware samurai action game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice . Meanwhile, Death Stranding set a record for most nominations in Game Award history, with Hideo Kojima’s walking simulator earning ten. I wonder how long that record will last... Oh, that record didn’t last last long! In 2020, the very next year, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II received an incredible (and still unbeaten) 11 nominations and won seven of them, including Game of the Year. It was also PlayStation’s second GOTY win at the event. For only the second time in Game Awards history, a multilplayer-only game won the top award in 2021. However, it wasn’t a big online shooter or MMO, but instead EA and Hazelight’s It Takes Two , a split-screen co-op action-puzzle game. And this year, the studio behind It Takes Two announced its next co-op game, Split Fiction , which looks great and is out in early 2025. In 2022, FromSoftware became the first (and so far only) development studio to win Game of the Year at the Game Awards twice. This time the studio won for Elden Ring, a game which took over 2022. The big fight in 2022 was between God of War Ragnarök and Elden Ring . And while the God of War sequel tied The Last of Us Part 2 for most nominations with 11 and picked up six wins, Elden Ring ultimately earned the GOTY honors. Last year, Baldur’s Gate III from Larian Studios was the Elden Ring of the year, taking over my social media feeds for months and quickly becoming many people’s anticipated GOTY winner at the 2023 Game Awards. However, 2023 was an incredible year for games and the Game of the Year noms at the Game Awards proved that, with releases such as Alan Wake 2, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Spider-Man 2 all competing in a stacked line-up. Yet Baldur’s Gate III beat them all, and won five other awards that night, too. And that brings us to 2024. The 10th Game Awards was probably the best show Geoff Keighley has ever hosted, and the nominees for the top spot were a diverse bunch. There was Balatro , a card game made by one guy, DLC for Elden Ring , and a turn-based RPG, Metaphor Refantazio . But the winner of the night was the delightfully fun Astro Bot, which also picked up three other awards and received seven noms . This was also the third PlayStation-published game to win GOTY at The Game Awards. Will Microsoft’s Avowed be able to win next year in 2025, giving Xbox its first GOTY win? I don’t know, but we’ll find out in December 2025.Beloit-Janesville bus line could be discontinued after 2025
There’s a cost to Nebraska football embracing its 34-year tradition of Black Friday games. A chance to reflect much, for one thing. Or celebrate, for another. NU on Saturday ended a 10-game losing streak to Wisconsin and a seven-season bowl drought in one fell swoop, but when the Huskers reconvened Monday, a short week of preparation for a nasty rival stared them right in the face. “We haven’t even had a team meeting since the game,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said at his weekly press conference. “We walked in today, 8 o’clock, and it’s Iowa special teams (prep). No time for ‘hey, great job.’ There’s no time for it.” Bad memories still linger in the Huskers’ minds, though. The Hawkeyes have won eight of the last nine in this series — six of those by one score, including last year, a 13-10 gut punch that kept Nebraska from making a bowl. If Iowa blew kisses at NU in 2019 on a game-winning field goal, they did something else in 2023. People are also reading... “Their players are waving at our guys — ‘hey, have a good Christmas!’ — that was painful,” Rhule said. “That was really painful. So I don’t doubt that our guys will be ready. But their guys will be ready. It really just comes down to football.” Win the turnover battle. Block and tackle well. Make plays when they’re available. Execute the way offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen wants. To focus on those things — without the psychological pressure of a long December hanging over the program’s head — is a nice bonus to clinching the bowl before heading to Kinnick Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. game on NBC. The temps will be in the 20s; Nebraska, practicing outside most of the year, is prepared for that. Iowa’s offense, though fitted with a new coordinator, resembles a more effective version of the Hawkeyes’ recent attacks, with a blend of power and zone runs executed by running back Kaleb Johnson, second nationally in rush yards. Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten — and 13 th nationally — in rushing yards per game. “They’ve run some people off the field just by running the football down their throat,” Rhule said. So, Iowa is Iowa is Iowa. It was Iowa 10 years ago, when it lost 37-34 to Nebraska two days before the firing of Bo Pelini. It was Iowa two years ago on the day it lost to NU just as the school was finalizing a deal for Rhule. And at 7-4 overall — 5-3 in the Big Ten — this season, it is Iowa now. Nebraska, on the other hand, moved from a program with no bowl berths this decade to at least one this winter. It saw, in its win over Wisconsin, a work ethic rewarded, a process confirmed and a rare midseason offensive coordinator hire vindicated. “They know that they can do it, they know they’re capable of it,” Rhule said. “So let’s continue to do it. That’s the expectation now. What was once possible, now we know we can do it, so let’s do it.” Rhule anticipates Nebraska’s roster will be healthier after the flu ran through the team last week, and NU’s offense now manages playing time the way the Husker defensive coaches have — by who practices well during the week. That translated into backups who got more snaps against Wisconsin than other games this season — Emmett Johnson, Luke Lindenmeyer and Nate Boerkircher — and who stood more often on the sideline. That’s Holgorsen’s effect, to some degree, and it’s the new price of success. "Dana's brought a standard, offensively, that, I'm not going to say we didn't have before,” Rhule said, “but he has the experience to kind of follow through on it that will be good for us all to learn from.” The lessons learned in a game are the lessons learned in a season, Rhule said. The week is short, the prep is detailed and Iowa is Iowa. Who might Nebraska be? “We have to make sure the football’s right,” Rhule said. Photos: Nebraska football hosts Wisconsin on senior day — Nov. 23 Nebraska players carry the Freedom Trophy after defeating Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) escapes a tackle by Wisconsin's Tackett Curtis (4) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Carter Nelson (29) celebrates a tackle on special teams during the third quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen coaches during the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg runs the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) escapes a tackle by Wisconsin's Tackett Curtis (4) during the fourth quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Riley Van Poppel (44) runs on to the field before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska fans celebrate as time winds down in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jordan Ochoa (94) is pictured on the field in the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Micah Mazzccua (from left) Jahmal Banks, Isaiah Neyor, and Henry Lutovsky celebrate a touchdown by Dante Dowdell (23) in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) runs the ball while pursued by Wisconsin's Austin Brown (9), Max Lofy (12), and Ben Barten (68) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska celebrates an interception by DeShon Singleton (8) during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska senior Ty Robinson said Saturday's win was "kind of like a Cinderella ending to my career here at Memorial (Stadium)." Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) celebrates a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola "bowls" the football after a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke (18) has his throw blocked by Nebraska's Mikai Gbayor (42) in the third quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Gunnar Gottula (77) is pictured on the field in the second quarter against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. In a play that was called back, Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) signals for a touchdown after a catch in the endzone during the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Stefon Thompson (left) tries to tackle Wisconsin's Tawee Walker (3) as he runs the ball in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) reacts after making a catch for a first down against Wisconsin on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) is tackle by Wisconsin's Xavier Lucas (10) in the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Nyzier Fourqurean (3) and Jay Harper (26) tackle Nebraska's Luke Lindenmeyer (44) as he makes a catch in the second quarter Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Max Lofy (12) pops a the ball out of the hands of Nebraska's Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda (13) in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Brian Buschini (13) holds the ball as John Hohl (90) kicks a field goal against Wisconsin on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Tucker Ashcraft (38) tries to make a catch while defended by Nebraska's Javin Wright (33) in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) throws under pressure by the Wisconsin defense on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Keelan Smith (85) and Mikai Gbayor (42) carry the Freedom Trophy off the field after the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) smiles up at the crowd while walking off the field after the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (top right) is swarmed by fans and other players after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. Nebraska lifts up the Freedom Trophy after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule and Troy Dannen celebrate after NU beat Wisconsin on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska lifts up the Freedom Trophy after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. Nebraska lifts up the Freedom Trophy after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. Nebraska lifts up the Freedom Trophy after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday. Nebraska fans storm the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska won 44-25. For more coverage on the game, see Section C . Nebraska defenders Blye Hill (from left), Stefon Thompson and DeShon Singleton take down Wisconsin's Riley Nowakowski, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Marques Buford (from left), Isaac Gifford (center right) and MJ Sherman (right) celebrate a defensive play next to Wisconsin's Cody Raymond, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen calls a play during the game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule talks with Ceyair Wright after defeating Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) dives over the Wisconsin defense for a fourth-quarter touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (center) is swarmed by Wisconsin defenders as he tries to force his way into the endzone in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's John Bullock (5) tries to break past Wisconsin's Riley Nowakowski (37) in the third quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) celebrates after a run in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) celebrates after a run in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) spins out of a tackle attempt by Wisconsin's Tackett Curtis (4) and Nyzier Fourqurean (3) in the fourth quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin lines up against Nebraska in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) embraces his mother Tresha Robinson after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule speaks withis family after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) celebrates as he walks off the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) takes a selfie with fans after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Keelan Smith (85) and Nebraska's MJ Sherman (48) carry the freedom trophy off the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska players and fans crowd around the Freedom trophy after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola walks off the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Brice Turner celebrates on the field after winning the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) and Dana Holgorsen celebrate a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule (left) high-fives Janiran Bonner as offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen looks on Saturday. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) catches a pass during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) catches a pass while defended by Wisconsin's Justin Taylor on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Janiran Bonner (16) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Wisconsin's Jake Chaney (1) during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin recovered the fumble. Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen looks over his notes during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) runs through a tackle by Wisconsin's Austin Brown (9) and Preston Zachman (14) into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (center) leaps over Dante Dowdell (23) as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) catches a touchdown pass while defended by Wisconsin's Ricardo Hallman (2) during the second quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. In a play that was ruled incomplete, Nebraska's Isaiah Neyor (18) catches a pass in the endzone while defended by Wisconsin's Xavier Lucas (10) in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Ceyair Wright (15) and Nash Hutmacher (0) try to block a field goal kick by Wisconsin's Nathanial Vakos (90) in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) runs in to the endzone for a second quarter touchdown on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Austin Brown (9) tries to tackle Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) as he runs the ball in for a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Tawee Walker (3) fends off Nebraska's Marques Buford (3) as he runs the ball in the second quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke (18) is sacked by Nebraska's Willis McGahee (12) in the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Marques Buford (3) defends Wisconsin's Bryson Green (9) as he catches a touchdown in the endzone in the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's John Hohl (90) scores a filed goal in the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska defenders Vincent Shavers (1) and Marques Buford (3) and Isaac Gifford (2) tackle Wisconsin's Darrion Dupree (13) in the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Dylan Raiola during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (left) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Dylan Raiola during the first quarter on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska players take the field after the tunnel walk on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Trech Kekahuna (left) escapes a tackle from Nebraska's Isaac Gifford, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Javin Wright (right) breaks up a pass intended for Wisconsin's Tucker Ashcraft, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg scores a touchdown against Wisconsin on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska's Jacory Barney (right) celebrates his opening kickoff return against Wisconsin with teammate Janiran Bonner and Kwinten Ives, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Joey Mancino (67) embraces head coach Matt Rhule during a senior day ceremony before the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's MJ Sherman embraces head coach Matt Rhule during a senior day ceremony before the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Fans arrive at Memorial Stadium before the Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. The Cornhusker Marching Band arrives at Memorial Stadium before the Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Chris Sayer of Lincoln plays a melodeon before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Sayer said he has been playing outside of Husker football games for 42 years. Nebraska fans walk around campus before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Hudson Meyer of Hooper, 6, throws leaves in the air before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Members of the Cornhusker marching band enjoy a meal of Valentinos pizza together before the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Jimari Butler (10) and Nebraska's Ty Robinson (9) pressure Wisconsin's Braedyn Locke (18) as he throws during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola reacts to a fumble recovered by Wisconsin during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola (15) leads the team onto the field before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dante Dowdell (23) leaves behind Wisconsin's Austin Brown (9) as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (center) leaps over Dante Dowdell (23) as he runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) and Nebraska's Jacory Barney (17) celebrate during the third quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's offense lines up on the field during the third quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Nathanial Vakos (90) reacts to missing a field goal during the first quarter of the game against Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Emmett Johnson (21) celebrates a 6-yard gain during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Johnson escaped three tackles during the play. Nebraska's Vincent Genatone (left) and Carter Nelson celebrate during the fourth quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Tommi Hill (left) and Rahmir Johnson walk out onto the field before the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola celebrates a field goal during the second quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) stores his mouthguard in his helmet during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Ty Robinson (left) and Isaac Gifford (2) celebrate a missed field goal by Wisconsin during the first quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) celebrates his touchdown during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska celebrates a touchdown by Heinrich Haarberg (center) during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro (28) tackles Nebraska's Jahmal Banks (4) during the second quarter of the game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule (left) and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen stand on the sideline during the second quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15), Heinrich Haarberg (10) and Nebraska's Ben Scott (66) celebrate a touchdown by Haarberg during the first quarter of the game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at Memorial Stadium. Subscribe for the best Husker news & commentary Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Quarterbacking the No. 1 team in college football is, historically, a pretty straightforward path to New York. Call him Mr. Worldwide: Gabriel, who also played for Central Florida and Oklahoma, hails from Hawaii and is more than a little bit reminiscent of 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. This season he’s thrown for 3,558 yards, completing 297 of his 406 attempts with just six interceptions. He’s also racked up 28 touchdowns with his arm and seven more with his legs. Mariota, now a backup QB for the Washington Commanders, put up 3,783 yards and scored 38 touchdowns through the air and ran in four more during his Heisman campaign. Gabriel and the undefeated Ducks will play either Tennessee or Ohio State in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in pursuit of a College Football Playoff title. Fans who stayed up late enough to watch Boise State — the Broncos played only one game in the regular season that started before noon, and five of their games started at 7:45 p.m. MT or later — have witnessed Jeanty dominating week in and week out. With at least one game left on Boise’s schedule, Jeanty is 141 yards from breaking Barry Sanders’ record for most rushing yards in a season (2,628), set in 1988. Sanders’ record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (37) is likely to stand, though a Boise State run to the CFP championship game would put Jeanty (29) within reach. The 21-year-old is the since Derrick Henry in 2015. Jeanty and the Broncos (12-1) will take on either Penn State or SMU in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. This native of tiny West Columbia, Texas (population: 3,616) threw for 4,123 yards and 36 touchdowns this season (and ran in four more) for a Miami team that narrowly — and controversially — missed the College Football Playoff. He and the rest of the Hurricanes will instead play Iowa State in the Pop-Tart Bowl on Dec. 28. Like Gabriel, Ward is a two-time transfer, a relatively common trait in the portal era. And like all of this year’s Heisman finalists, he began his college career at a non-Power 4 school. Ward played two seasons for FCS school Incarnate Word, then two seasons for Washington State before landing in Coral Gables. He is the winner of the 2024 Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s best college quarterback each year.
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Ghana’s former leader John Dramani Mahama was declared the winner of the presidential election on Monday and pledged a “a life of limitless opportunity” for citizens after voters vented their anger over the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Previously president of the West African nation between 2012 and 2017, the 65-year-old Mahama received 56.5% of votes cast, or 6.3 million votes, the electoral commission said. His main opponent from the current governing party, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday and got 41%, or 4.6 million votes. Electoral commissioner Jean Mensa said vote-counting continued in nine constituencies but would not change the final result. Turnout was just over 60%. Mahama had promised to “reset” the country on various fronts. His campaign prioritized the economy and largely appealed to young Ghanaians who saw the vote as a way out of the economic crisis . In his victory speech on Monday, Mahama said Ghana must be able to meet the basic needs of its people including affordable housing, health care, food, clean water, safe work and fair wages. “We want a Ghana that considers the well-being of all her citizens and affords them each the ability to live a life of dignity, a life of limitless opportunity,” he said. “This country, this land, is not for one person or for one family or for one tribe or ethnic group.” He said the last eight years under outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo have "left a scar on our national psyche, which may take some time to erase.” Mahama’s win is viewed as following the trend of elections around the world, favoring opposition parties against incumbents. Mahama’s National Democratic Congress also won the majority in parliament. After Bawumia conceded defeat, celebrations broke out among opposition supporters in the capital, Accra, and elsewhere. Women and young people danced to music and trumpet blasts. The election for both the president and members of parliament was seen as a litmus test for democracy in a region shaken by extremist violence and coups . West Africa’s regional bloc, ECOWAS, called the election generally peaceful, not unusual for Ghana. The governing New Patriotic Party has struggled to resolve the economic crisis under outgoing Akufo-Addo. The former president is “the only person” who can fix the ailing economy in Ghana, one of West Africa’s economic powerhouses, said Jude Agbemava, a policy analyst who voted for him. The people made their disaffection known against a government that has lost goodwill, said Seidu Alidu, head of the department of political science at Ghana’s University of Legon. The economy is “largely a bread and butter issue for every Ghanaian,” Alidu said. “When the people elect you, they require you to do certain things for them. But it was also about the style of governance (because) even in other countries facing economic challenges, governments were being honest with the people, telling them what the reality is, and the steps they have taken to manage it.”
LOS ANGELES — The locker room after the Rams’ 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was as quiet as any this season. Players shouldered blame in quiet, shorts responses to reporters’ questions before filing out and into the night. As they dissected what had just happened, the Rams (5-6) also looked ahead and stated they could not afford for this game to spiral into the next game, which is Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints (4-7). “Just make sure you turn the page. Obviously, there are things that we want to correct from the game and find ways to be better moving forward, but make sure that we come out with great energy today. It starts today,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said before Wednesday’s practice. “There are going to be things we want to clean up from practice, make sure we do that and move on day-to-day with the right attitude and the right spirit.” As the Rams have gone about making those corrections, a consistent word has come to mind: Consistency. Asked what he’s looking for from the defense Sunday after its worst performance since the early weeks of the season, head coach Sean McVay used that word. He spoke about playing as a unit, sticking to assignments, coverage and pass rush complementing each other. Then he added with a smile, “Same things I’m looking for on the defense would be exactly how I would answer your offensive question as well.” Even 11 games into the season, we still haven’t seen the Rams offense perform with the type of consistency you would expect from a group with this much talent. Against the Eagles, the Rams moved the ball well in the first quarter, reaching the red zone twice without needing a third down. But any momentum was quickly lost with a 10-play second quarter that resulted in a loss of six yards. It was the same story a week before, with the offense blazing in the second and third quarters against the Patriots while going nowhere in the first and fourth quarters. “It’s kind of the word ‘consistency’ right now,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “There are times where it feels like we go right down the field and put it in, and there are other times where it just feels a little bit harder than it should. I think that’s the biggest key right now.” The defense is facing a similar obstacle. The Rams are among the best in the NFL at holding teams without a touchdown in the red zone, limiting opponents to a 48.8% success rate. That ranks eighth in the league, but the flip side is that the Rams allow teams 3.7 trips into the red zone per game, which is tied for 28th. Defensive tackle and captain Kobie Turner raised the issue of allowing too many long drives following the Eagles loss, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula agreed with the assessment. “Some of that, especially the other night, they were in third downs a decent amount of time and it was a third and favorable,” Shula said. “Then, finding a way to get stops, finding a way to play, get them off track, get them into 2nd-and-longs where you get those 3rd-longs, and you can earn the right to rush the passer.” Entering Week 13, it’s not encouraging that the Rams are still struggling to find consistency in their execution. But to this point, it hasn’t upended their season. The wild card might be out of reach, but the NFC West title is still up for grabs. But that starts with a road win against a Saints team playing with nothing to lose. “We know that it’s going to be a great challenge, especially at their place. It’ll be rocking atmosphere and environment with the holidays and the momentum they have,” McVay said. “We’ve a lot of guys that are experiencing things for the first time. I have seen the resolve of this group show itself. Now, we’ve to do it.” RAMS (5-6) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-7) When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday Where: Superdome, New Orleans TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226
STATE COLLEGE – Another game, another couple of records for Penn State star tight end Tyler Warren. The No. 4 Nittany Lions lead Maryland 31-7 at halftime on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Warren has five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, a seven-yard scoring reception from quarterback Drew Allar with 1:46 left before half. Warren’s touchdown catch gave him 17 touchdown catches at PSU, a new record for a tight end. Warren had shared the record with Pat Freiermuth at 16 coming into the game. Warren also entered the game tied with Wisconsin’s Travis Beckum for the most catches by Big Ten tight end in a season (75). He currently has 80. ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Celebrated songwriter Bernie Taupin has written a new memoir titled "Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton, and Me." Elton John is still standing but wants to get back to work after a health scare left him partially blind. John lost vision in his right eye due to an infection. "It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye is not the greatest," the 77-year-old musician said during an interview on " Good Morning America. " "There’s hope and encouragement that it’ll be OK, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know," John explained, revealing he can't read lyrics. "It kind of floored me," he later added. "I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything." ELTON JOHN LEFT WITH ‘LIMITED VISION’ FOLLOWING HEALTH SCARE Elton John revealed he has been blind in one eye for four months. (Getty Images) John gave an update on his health after being asked about an uncompleted album he mentioned at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. "I don't know," he said of the project's status. "It's been a while since I've done anything and, well, I just have to get off my backside." "It kind of floored me. I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything." John first revealed his health scare in September. "Over the summer, I've been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye," he shared on social media. "I am healing, but it's an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye." The singer added: "I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far." LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Elton John hasn't returned to the studio after losing his vision due to an infection in his eye. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images) While taking a break from his next album, John has been promoting his documentary "Elton John: Never Too Late." The Disney+ film will be a look back at the "Rocket Man" singer's career, sharing vulnerable moments and a new song. "As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, Elton takes us back in time to recount the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today," a press release shared by Disney read. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Elton John announced he was retiring from touring in 2018. (Reuters/Luke MacGregor) John retired from touring after completing his yearslong world tour, "Farewell Yellow Brick Road." The tour began in 2018 and concluded in 2023 after parts were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. "I've had the most wonderful career, beyond belief. 52 years of pure joy, playing music. How lucky am I to play music? But you know I wouldn't be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn't for you," he said at his final concert in Sweden. "You've bought the singles, the albums, the CDs, the cassettes, but most importantly, you've bought the tickets to the shows. And you know how much I love to play live. It's been my lifeblood to play for you guys, and you've been absolutely magnificent. Thank you!" "I will never forget you guys. I've played so many concerts, how could I forget? You're in my head and my heart and my soul and I thank you so much," he later added. Sir Elton John completed his yearslong final world tour in 2023. (Simone Joyner/Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Greenfield, Ind. (The Daily Reporter) – The season to give is here, and communities across Hancock County are generous in sharing pantry items and hot meals with those in need. From Thanksgiving feasts this week to blessing boxes year-round, here’s a look at where to get free food in Hancock County this holiday season and beyond. (Looking for ways to volunteer or donate? Read on.) Community Thanksgiving meals available -The Blazer 88 Foundation will host a Thanksgiving Day meal at 11 a.m. this Thursday, Nov. 28 at Fortville Church of the Nazarene, 701 S. Maple St., Fortville. The community organization raises money for veteran support and the event is open to anyone. Learn more at Blazer88.org . -In Greenfield, the Lisa Muegge Feast of Plenty Community Outreach is also on Thanksgiving Day. The event delivers hot Thanksgiving meals and groceries delivered to peoples’ doors. To request a meal and groceries, call 317-335-7590 and leave your name, phone number, address and number of meals. Drive-up and carry-out meals are also available at the Hancock County Fairgrounds 620 N. Apple St., Greenfield. The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 28 To donate, register or volunteer, visit FeastOfPlentyOutreach.com . Bags of specific groceries may be donated this Wednesday, Nov. 27. Food sites are open across the county -The Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen, located at 202 E. Main St., Greenfield, offers free hot food daily, no questions asked. Lunch is served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, and dinner 5-7 p.m. each weekday. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit kbmsk.org . – The Hancock County Food Pantry is now located at 2040 W. Main St., Greenfield and offers distribution of items each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Visit hancockcountyfoodpantry.com for hours or call 317-468-0273. Donations can be received on Mondays from 8-10 a.m. or during any of the regular food distribution hours. The website also provides a way for people to give; for every $1 donated, the food pantry is able to purchase $9 worth of food. -Life Choices Care Center offers food and resources for babies and young children. Located at 1454 N. State St., Greenfield, the agency is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 317-467-9700 or visit lifechoicescarecenter.org for more. -SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides food assistance to low- and no-income families. Contact the Hancock County Division of Family Resources for more at 800-403-0864 or visit 12190 N. State St., Suite A, Greenfield. -Meals on Wheels of Hancock County delivers one hot and one cold meal at lunchtime weekdays. There is no age or income restriction; cost is based on income, and participants must live in Hancock County. Call 317-477-4345 for details or apply at mealsonwheelsonline.org. The site also includes opportunities to donate or volunteer. -Wellspring Center, located at Brandywine Community Church, offers nonperishable food and fresh and frozen items. The center, 1551 E. New Road, Greenfield, is open for a free lunch the second and fourth Wednesday of every month, with a drive-through grocery pickup following the meal. For more, visit wellspringind.org , call 317-462-2015 or email contact@wellspringind.org. Monetary donations can be made through brandywinechurch.org/give. -Fortville Area Resource Mission (FARM) offers a food pantry from 1-2:30 p.m. each Tuesday and 6:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday at 9450 N. 200 W., Fortville. Doors open one hour before distribution begins for social hour and a free meal. For more and how to support, visit fortvillearearesourcemission.org . -Several other local churches have food pantries and community meals, including David Nolen Pantry of Hope open 5-7 p.m. Thursdays at Hope Center Indy. Russ’ Table offers a free lunch and social time the second Wednesday of each month at Wilkinson Church of Christ. Grace and Grace Garden through Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine suggests calling between 8 a.m. and noon Mondays to receive food (317-861-0977). The COME Pantry at Cumberland First Baptist Church is open 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays. St. John United Church of Christ as a community meal the third Thursday of each month. McCordsville United Methodist Church has a pantry from 9-11 a.m. Wednesdays and occasional community meals; learn more at mccordsvilleumc.org/ministries . The Shirley Wilkinson United Methodist Church has a food pantry open the third Tuesday of each month from 7-8 p.m. -Connect2Help 211 is an information referral line that connects people to vital social services, such as food, clothing, shelter or counseling. When a person calls 2-1-1, specially-trained information and referral personnel assess what services are needed and provide the appropriate resource and related information. The service is free and confidential. Blessing Boxes meet needs 24/7 While local churches and nonprofit organizations provide food and meals, several neighborhoods and parks also have small sites for anyone to drop off or grab food, any time of the day. Blessing Boxes are located throughout Hancock County, providing 24/7 access to nonperishable food as supplied by any member of the community. Love in the Name of Christ of Greater Hancock County provides this updated list of blessing boxes in local communities: Greenfield Elks Lodge, 820 S. State St., Greenfield Greenfield Police Station, 116 S. State St., Greenfield Greenfield Commons Park, W 5th St., Greenfield Maple’s Mobile Home Park, 547 Pratt St., Greenfield Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 1009 S. 100 E., Greenfield Riley Park tennis court, U.S. 40 near Apple Street, Greenfield New Palestine locations: 35 E. Main St. (behind the building), 27 W. Main St., and 18 E. Mill St. Fortville Village Apartments, 750 N. Madison St., Fortville. This article was originally published in The Reporter.Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), the selector of top executives in public sector banks and financial institutions, on Sunday, November 24, 2024, recommended Binod Kumar for the position of Managing Director & CEO in Indian Bank. NSE "Keeping in view their performance in the interface, overall experience and the extant parameters, the Bureau recommends Shri Binod Kumar for the position of MD & CEO in Indian Bank," the FSIB statement said. FSIB had interviewed 15 candidates for the positions of MD and CEO in public sector banks, the head hunter said in a statement. "Financial Services Institutions Bureau interfaced with 15 candidates on November 24, 2024 for the forthcoming positions of Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) in Public Sector Banks (PSBs)." FSIB is headed by former secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Bhanu Pratap Sharma. Other members of the headhunter are Animesh Chauhan, former chairman and MD of erstwhile Oriental Bank of Commerce, RBI’s ex-executive director Deepak Singhal, and Shailendra Bhandari, former MD of erstwhile ING Vysya Bank. Also Read : Stocks to watch on Nov 25: Zomato, Adani stocks, Cochin Shipyard, RITES, RVNL and more
Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (14-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -123, Hurricanes +103; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice in Eastern Conference action. Florida has gone 7-5-1 at home and 14-9-1 overall. The Panthers have a 3-0-1 record in one-goal games. Carolina has a 7-4-1 record on the road and a 16-6-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 7-2-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent. Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 6-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Sam Bennett has 11 goals and 11 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games. Jack Roslovic has 12 goals and three assists for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Hurricanes: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Ay, Caramba! The Simpsons universe takes on the NFL in a Monday Night Football alt-cast on Dec. 9, 2024 (12/9/24) between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys . Fans can watch “The Simpsons Funday Football” with a subscription to Disney+ or ESPN+ . — Disney+, Hulu bundles start at $10.99 per month. — Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu bundles start at $16.99 per month. The animated event will take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium and begin with Homer Simpson eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys and quarterback Cooper Rush while Bart teams up with the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow . Marge and Lisa will be sideline reporters. ESPN’s Drew Carter , Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Conn. and also be animated. Here’s what you need to know: What : The Simpsons Funday Football game Who : Bengals vs. Cowboys When : Monday, Dec. 9, 2024 (12/9/24) Where : Springfield’s Atoms Stadium Time : 8 p.m. ET TV : N/A Live stream: Disney+ , ESPN+ Miss the original broadcast? The replay will be available to stream on Disney+ for 30 days. *** Here’s a story on ESPN’s alt-cast via the Associated Press: Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. RECOMMENDED • nj .com How to watch ‘The Simpsons Funday Football’ alt-cast (12/9/24) | LIVE STREAM, time for animated Bengals vs. C Dec. 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys FREE LIVE STREAM (12/9/24) | How to watch, time, TV channel for NFL Mon Dec. 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Though the game was actually pretty competitive for prolonged stretches on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Vikings imposed their will in the final quarter to run away with a 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons. ADVERTISEMENT It was a masterful performance from Sam Darnold in a game against the man he replaced. It wasn’t as good of a game for Kirk Cousins as he struggled to make much of an impact against his former team. Here are five takeaways from the Vikings’ 42-21 win over the Falcons: There were audible “MVP! MVP! MVP!” chants as the game between the Vikings and Falcons wound to a close. They were for Darnold, who completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns, proving that the Vikings are legitimate Super Bowl contenders with him at the helm. There aren’t many quarterbacks in the NFL that have played better than Darnold over the past month. In that span, Darnold has completed 85 of 125 passes for 1,158 yards and 11 touchdowns, while leading the Vikings to a 4-0 record. ADVERTISEMENT Will he actually win MVP? Not likely. Does he deserve to be in the conversation? Absolutely. Never mind that Cousins put up some prolific numbers, completing 23 of 37 passes for 344 yards. He also threw a pair of interceptions and failed to keep the game competitive. There were countless games while he was playing for the Vikings that featured a similar script. It was commonplace for Cousins to pad his stats in garbage time of a game that he had no chance of winning. Now, that’s a problem the Falcons are navigating in real time. After some strong play from Cousins earlier this season, he has regressed over the past month, and as a result, the Falcons have an 0-4 record in that span. ADVERTISEMENT The dynamic duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison rewrote the record books for the Vikings in the win over the Falcons. They became the only players in franchise history to each record more than 100 yards receiving and a pair of touchdowns in the same game. That’s an insane stat considering Randy Moss and Cris Carter played together as did Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. In total, Jefferson finished with seven catches for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Addison finished with eight catches for 133 yards and a trio of touchdowns. ADVERTISEMENT After being held in check last time out, Aaron Jones bounced back with a solid effort for the Vikings against the Falcons. He was extremely effective carrying the ball and finished with 13 rushes for 73 yards and a touchdown. The fact that Jones was able to find pay dirt late in the game was a nice reward for him, considering he was an unsung hero on offense. As explosive as the Vikings proved to be throughout the air, Jones provided a nice changeup on the ground, which helped in chewing up clock down the stretch. As somebody who had a lot of success in the final month of last season, Jones is well on his way to replicating that this season. Though the defense for the Vikings struggled at times, allowing nearly 500 yards of total offense, it also stepped up a couple of times to force key turnovers. ADVERTISEMENT Whether it was Josh Metellus recording an interception early, or Byron Murphy with an interception late, the defense needed both of them to help turn the tide in the game. There was also an important forced fumble from Brian Asamoah on special teams that ended up being recovered by C.J. Ham. On the flip side, the Vikings did not turn the ball over on offense, which helped them pull away in the final frame. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsWith eye on NBA Cup quarters, Knicks face lowly Pelicans
Featured Stories Lifestyle Philacatessen Synagogue Spotlight Andrew Guckes | Staff Writer Andrew Altman is the president of Keneseth Israel on Old York Road in Elkins Park, a role he has occupied for three years. Altman and his husband joined the congregation in 2007 and he has continuously upped his involvement since then. Altman loves the KI community and looks forward to dedicating his time to its betterment each day. With that being said, he is perfectly happy to be honest when asked how it is that he ended up as president. “I’m not sure,” he laughed. “That’s a whole investigation of its own!” While he doesn’t remember exactly how he ended up in KI’s Oval Office, Altman said that the reasons his family joined the synagogue as members are still clear to him. He said that for him and his husband, who isn’t Jewish, they prioritized a welcoming community that wouldn’t question their identities or backgrounds. “What we felt was just a real natural embrace when we walked through those doors. We were coming in the door as an interfaith, same-sex couple with an adopted baby, so we weren’t sure how we would be seen. We were ready to fight for our family and our friends, and we never had to,” he said. “We came in to open arms. What I have taken from our cantor, Amy Levy, is something she used to say about KI having so many different doors for people to walk through, so they could find what makes sense to them.” The idea of different options appealing to different people, with none being more valid than any other, is essential to the environment that has been cultivated at KI over the decades. Around 650 families take part in a litany of activities that include things ranging from a presentation and discussion on a formative figure in the American abolitionist movement to regular teen club meetings with dinner and educational components. “We have events that address spirituality, simcha, culture, music, arts, and social justice and social action, and it all just brings us together,” Altman said. Keneseth Israel brings in classical music concerts four times a year and has several choirs and music programs run by the cantor and men’s and women’s groups. In the KI lobby is the Temple Judea museum, with thousands of items and rotating exhibits on Jewish history and culture. For Keneseth Israel, another key emphasis is on making sure interfaith couples are welcomed, with no exceptions. This tradition started before Altman and his family joined and will continue after they are gone, but the current president said he is thrilled to get to be a part of that tradition as a member of that very community. “When [my family] first [joined], it was a question for us: How are we going to be seen as a couple? How’s [my husband] going to be seen individually? But frankly, I think there were, until very recently, a lot of people who didn’t know he wasn’t Jewish, because he was involved and engaged and we don’t ask,” Altman said. “We have people who were brought up Orthodox and reform and conservative, that doesn’t matter either.” In fact, Altman said, oftentimes he sees a situation in which the Jewish parent initiates the spouse’s shift to the religion, but soon enough the onus has completely shifted to the convert. “The person who wasn’t brought up Jewish is oftentimes the one who is driving the kids to religious school or being more active on the committee or going to an event or something like that,” he said. “All of us are here to live a Jewish life and promote Jewish values.” The temple’s promotion of Jewish values is in part exemplified by Keneseth Israel’s Hamotzi program, which is in its 10th year of addressing food insecurity in the community. It started as a single event, with five or ten people going out in Philadelphia and inviting people to attend a free dinner. A handful attended, which was enough for the congregation to go all in. A decade later, KI serves about 300 dinners a month and has a crew of dedicated volunteers who donate, prepare and serve meals to those who need them. “We’re in discussion with a local food bank to partner with, which is very exciting. That attracted over 100 volunteers a month, and it works like clockwork at this point,” Altman said. Looking ahead, the KI community is getting ready for the annual Spring Celebration, which is the shul’s largest fundraiser of the year. This year, the event will honor the Hamotzi program and leadership team. There are raffles, dancing, games, and food at this event, which Altman said is regularly a highlight of the programming schedule. Keneseth Israel has been a staple of the city’s Jewish community since the James K. Polk administration, and Altman knows that as president he is largely responsible for continuing to advance the shul’s reputation as a beloved center for Jews of all backgrounds. “The area that we’re in is a very strong Jewish corridor, and our philosophy is that we want to be working closely with everyone else while we’re all strong, because obviously, nationwide, there’s a lot of synagogues shrinking or closing,” Altman said. “We’re in conversation with as many people as possible about more collaboration, more space sharing, more opportunities for union and merger. And so that’s one of our very biggest priorities: to work together.” [email protected] TAGS Congregation Keneseth Israel Elkins Park Old York Road Philadelphia
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