An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionThe former lead nurse at the Mendocino County Jail was recently convicted of several sex-related felonies “initiated and perpetrated through an online scam known as catfishing,” the Mendocino County District Attorney reported. According to the office of DA David Eyster, Blake Dylan Bradley Cox, 28, of Ukiah, pleaded “no contest” last week to “eight sex-related felonies and one misdemeanor in one case, and two additional firearm felonies in a second case.” In what the DA describes as a “dogged investigation by the Ukiah Police Department that initially involved an allegation of misdemeanor domestic battery, it was also discovered that the defendant was in possession of eleven illegal assault weapons and twenty-seven other firearms.” While that case was being tried, the DA reports that “the UPD continued analyzing seized evidence,” which included Cox’s cell phone, which reportedly had “overwhelming evidence of sex-related crimes, involving both juvenile and adults, that the defendant had initiated and perpetrated through an online scam known as catfishing.” The DA described catfishing as “when a person, ‘the catfish’, uses false information and images to create a fake identity online with the intention to trick, harass, or scam another person. It is often found on social media or dating apps and websites, and is a common tactic used to form online relationships under false pretenses.” According to the DA, Cox used “naked female images to create a fake female identity/persona (‘Jessica’) to trick male victims online into believing they are in a real online friendship and a developing sexual romance with the mysterious Jessica. The victims were eventually then lured by Jessica into meeting up with ‘one of her male friends’ (defendant Cox) and filmed in the backseat of a vehicle participating in oral and other sex acts with Cox (and the pictures were then) supposedly forwarded to Jessica.” The DA explains that “the lure was that the victim would be sexually rewarded by Jessica for ‘helping out her male friend’ and ‘she’ promised that when they ultimately got together that she would participate in and fulfill any and all of the victim’s sexual fantasies; however, once Cox had a successful ‘meeting’ with Jessica’s suitor, the defendant’s online Jessica persona would disappear and the defendant would then ghost his victims.” The DA notes that along with the “catfish conversation threads, pictures and videos, the defendant’s cell phone also contained images of illegal child pornography, as well as videos from a hidden camera placed to film an unsuspecting under-aged relative in all stages of disrobement.” The DA explains that “the law enforcement agencies that diligently worked the cases against defendant Cox are the Ukiah Police Department and the DA’s in-house Bureau of Investigations, (with) special thanks extended to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for assisting with specialized report review and charging recommendations. Special thanks also to the California Attorney General’s Office working on behalf of the California Board of Nursing, (which) successfully obtained a court order to withhold the defendant’s nursing license while the defendant’s Mendocino County criminal charges are pending.”
The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired the rights to veteran quarterback Jake Maier from the Calgary Stampeders on Monday for a 2025 eighth-round draft pick. The deal gives Saskatchewan a window to negotiate exclusively with Maier, who's slated to become a free agent Feb. 11. Maier started 45 of 65 games over four seasons with Calgary (2021-24). The six-foot, 200-pound Maier completed 1,022 of 1,497 passes for 11,685 yards with 60 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He also rushed 60 times for 232 yards and five touchdowns. Maier, 27, completed 357 of 494 passes for 3,841 yards with 22 TDs and 14 interceptions last season, one which saw Calgary (5-12) miss the CFL playoffs for the first time since 2004. The Stampeders acquired veteran Vernon Adams Jr. from the B.C. Lions last month. Earlier this month, Saskatchewan signed veteran starter Trevor Harris to a one-year contract extension. Also on Monday, Calgary announced it signed Canadian offensive lineman Zack Williams to a two-year contract extension. The Winnipeg native was scheduled to become a free agent in February. Calgary selected the six-foot-five, 306-pound Williams in the third round of the 2019 CFL draft. The former Manitoba Bison has appeared in 66 regular-season games with the Stampeders but since 2021 has started 60 of 61 contests. -- This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Dec. 23, 2024.
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By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. The start of a new year can bring a surge of motivation around setting new goals, including financial resolutions. One way to help those goals become reality, financial experts say, is to make them as specific as possible. Then, track your progress, while allowing flexibility for unexpected challenges. “It’s easier to track progress when we know where we are going,” says Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner and founder of The Financial Grove in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That’s why she encourages her clients to set clearly defined goals, often related to paying off a specific debt, saving a certain amount per month or improving their credit score. Here are more tips from financial experts about crafting 2025 financial goals : Trying to accomplish too much can feel overwhelming. Instead, pick your priorities, says Cathleen Tobin, CFP and owner of Moonbridge Financial Design in Rhinebeck, New York. She suggests focusing on those big, often emotionally-driven goals to find motivation. “It’s more compelling than just a number,” she says. For example, do you want to make sure you’re on track for retirement or save money for a house? “Start there.” Scowcroft says she sees clients get tripped up by selecting overly broad goals, such as “get better with money.” Instead, she encourages people to select specific action items, such as “sign up for a budgeting tool and set aside time each month to learn where my money is going.” That level of specificity provides direction so you know what steps to take next, she adds. For example, if your top priority is to become debt-free, then your specific goal might be to pay off an extra $200 of your debt balance each month. Tobin says labeling savings accounts so they correspond with goals can also help. An emergency fund could be named something like “Peace of mind in 2025,” so you remember why you’re saving every time you make a transfer. “It’s more motivating than just ‘emergency fund,’” Tobin says. Measuring your progress as the year unfolds is also a critical component of successful goal setting, Tobin says. She compares it to weight loss. If you want to lose 20 pounds by June, then you need to lose about a pound a week for the first six months of the year. Similarly, she says it helps to break savings goals into microsteps that specify what you need to do each week. Schedule a weekly or monthly check-in with yourself to make sure you are meeting those smaller goals along the way. You might want to review your debt payoff progress or check your credit score , for example. “Being able to break it down into steps that can be done each week or twice a month really helps,” Tobin says. If your goal is to save more money , then setting up an automatic transfer each month can help turn that goal into reality, as long as you know you have the money in your checking account to spare. “It reduces the mental load,” says Mike Hunsberger, CFP and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning in St. Charles, Missouri, where he primarily supports veterans and current members of the military. He recommends starting small to ease into the change. “I wouldn’t jump to double what you’re currently saving,” he says. For example, when it comes to saving in a retirement account, if you’re starting with a 3% contribution, you might want to bump it up to 4%, then slowly increase it from there. “My number one piece of advice is to start small, but make sure you scale over time,” Hunsberger adds. “Because it’s gradual, you probably won’t notice it impacting your lifestyle.” “Stay flexible,” Scowcroft says. “Part of it is just being kind to yourself and not being too rigid.” When unexpected challenges come up, such as a big unplanned expense, you might have to pause making progress on your goal and reset. You might even need to change your goal. Scowcroft says that doesn’t mean you “failed,” just that life changed your plans. Dwelling on any negativity won’t help your forward progress. Sharing your goals with a friend can also make it easier to reach them, Scowcroft says. “It really helps to have an accountability buddy,” she says. She suggests putting a regular “money date” with your friend on the calendar so you can ask each other how you’re doing, brainstorm any challenges or even budget together side-by-side . “It’s a fun excuse to meet up with a friend.” More From NerdWallet Cage-Free Egg Supply Takes Outsized Hit As Bird Flu Surges 4 Ways to Hit Your Family Savings Goals in 2025 What Trended in Personal Finance in 2024? Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions originally appeared on NerdWallet . 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Here’s why ‘Baby Driver’ actor Hudson Meek dead at 16 Pregnant woman stabbed multiple times by pizza deliverer disgruntled about tip, sheriff saysBiden Legislature Highlights and a Historic Bird DeclarationThe US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Dan Campbell stood at the podium after Detroit blew a 17-point lead to San Francisco in last season's NFC title game and talked about how that might have been the Lions' only shot at reaching the Super Bowl. The coach knew how difficult it would be to maintain that high level of play through injuries, attrition and with a target on their back as a top contender in the NFC. Eleven months later as Campbell and the Lions prepare to return to Levi's Stadium for the first time since that loss , that has proved to be prophetic — for San Francisco instead of Detroit. The Lions (13-2) head into the rematch Monday night with the inside track at the top seed in the NFC playoffs, while the 49ers (6-9) have already been eliminated from postseason contention . The element of revenge for last season's 34-31 loss is secondary for Detroit, considering what's on the line the last two weeks of the season. The Lions can clinch the top seed in the NFC by winning their final two games or with a win against the Niners if Minnesota loses to Green Bay on Sunday. “Anytime we lose, the thought of losing is going to motivate you to not want to lose again, particularly with where you were at,” Campbell said. “So, that’s always going to bring its own level of motivation to it. But this is where we’re at in the season, we know that we need another win, we understand where we’re at in the division and the NFC, so I think it’s all encompassing.” While the Lions have no need to search for motivation, that's not the case for the 49ers, who are playing out the string of a lost season after making losing back-to-back NFC title games in 2021-22 and the Super Bowl last season. A run of injuries to key players like Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk, combined with inconsistent play all season have led to the 49ers having nothing to play for in the final two games. “It’s obviously not where you want to be this time of year,” Bosa said. "It’s different, especially watching where we’re at last year against this team. Just that feeling of December, January football is a feeling that I’ve gotten used to being really competitive and being in the mix. I think we’re doing a good job of staying engaged and obviously this is our job, so we’re going to finish it strong. Go ing deep Detroit’s faith in Jameson Williams is paying off, taking advantage of his game-breaking abilities with big plays. Jared Goff heaved an 82-yard touchdown pass over Williams’ shoulders and into his hands in last week’s win at Chicago. Earlier this season, Goff threw 70-, 64- and 52-yard passes for scores to the third-year receiver. “We work on it a ton, him and I do, and it’s a testament to him,” Goff said. “He’s asking for it. He wants that work, and I’m more than happy to give it to him during the week. It’s good. Our connection continues to grow. He’s obviously one of the best deep threats in our league, even when it’s not perfect.” Makeshift line The 49ers head into the game scrambling to put together an offensive line. Williams has been out for more than a month with an ankle injury and his backup at left tackle, Jaylon Moore, is now sidelined by a quadriceps injury. Left guard Aaron Banks injured his knee last week, while his backup Ben Bartch is already out with an ankle injury. That will leave the Niners with two third-stringers protecting Brock Purdy. But Shanahan said he isn’t thinking of sitting Purdy to protect him. “People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks, too,” he said. “I mean, we’ve got a football team. We’ve got to go out and we’ve got two games here and we’ve got to see what guys we can put out there and whatever we do we’re going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can to give us a chance to win.” Bag of tricks Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who may have a chance for the second straight offseason to be an NFL head coach, routinely pulls off trick plays and his latest was a doozy. Goff intentionally stumbled after taking a snap and Jahmyr Gibbs went to the ground as their teammates yelled, “fumble,” to fool the Bears on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Sam LaPorta. “Those make you feel good because everybody is invested in it,” Campbell said. “It’s fun. It’s different. It’s sound. “I know it sounds crazy, but it’s sound.” Just for kicks San Francisco kicker Jake Moody is having a rough second season after being drafted in the third round a year ago. Moody has missed seven field goals this season, including a 41-yarder last week at Miami. Moody is just 10 for 16 since coming back from a high ankle sprain in his kicking foot, but Shanahan said he still has confidence in him. “I still feel the same about him, that I believe he’ll be our guy,” Shanahan said. "I mean everyone’s got to perform and do things like that. I think he has had a tough year. Before his high ankle sprain, he missed one. ... I think he was 12 of 13 before that, so I thought he was doing really well." ___ AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Josh Dubow, The Associated Press– Nuvo Int'l Group Ltd. Selected as Winning Bidder in Court-Supervised Sale Process, Subject to Court Approval – – Deal Includes Acquisition of Substantially All of the Company's Assets, Ensuring Business Continuity for Customers, Partners and Employees – TEL AVIV, Israel , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuvo Group Ltd. ("Nuvo"), the maker of Invu, a pregnancy monitoring device recently named as one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024, has entered into a binding term sheet with Nuvo Int'l Group Ltd. ("Nuvo Int'l"), an acquisition company funded by Kips Bay Select LP., and selected Nuvo Int'l as the winning bidder at Nuvo's auction in its sale process under Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Nuvo Int'l will acquire substantially all of the Company's assets and assume certain of its liabilities for cash and non-cash consideration. "The agreement with Nuvo Int'l marks a significant step in our financial restructuring, and when consummated will allow us to continue to deliver best-in-class pregnancy support to moms-to-be and their doctors," said Rice Powell, CEO of Nuvo. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing to approve the sale is currently scheduled for December 3, 2024 . With Court approval, the transaction is expected to close in the first week of December 2024 . Nuvo is advised in this matter by Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and Morris Nichols Arsht & Tunnell LLP as legal counsel, Teneo Capital LLC as financial advisor, and Intrepid Investment Bankers LLC as investment banker. About Nuvo Nuvo is leading a transformation in pregnancy care by providing clinicians and expectant mothers with access to medically necessary remote pregnancy monitoring anytime, anywhere. Nuvo's INVUTM platform is an FDA-cleared remote pregnancy monitoring and management system. It enables the delivery of remote non-stress tests (NSTs) and maternal and fetal heart rate monitoring, while pioneering new data-driven personalized pathways that Nuvo believes can improve future health outcomes. INVU is being used by leading health providers and research institutions across the US and Israel. Nuvo plans to continue to expand the footprint of sales in the US and Israel and plans to introduce its INVU platform in Europe in 2024, subject to granting of the CE mark it filed in Europe in March 2023, to provide remote access and insights not previously deemed possible. Nuvo is led by a diverse team of experienced business, medical and technology leaders, united in the mission of breaking down barriers to pregnancy care to give every life a better beginning. For more information and complete indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions, and instructions for use, visit www.nuvocares.com . SOURCE Nuvo Group Ltd
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78