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winner 777 slot WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court will decide whether the work of the charitable arm of a Catholic diocese is sufficiently religious to be exempt from unemployment taxes, a case being closely watched by religious groups around the country. The case the court agreed to hear involves Catholic Charities Bureau and four independently incorporated organizations controlled by the diocese in Wisconsin that serve people with developmental and mental health disabilities. Similar to other states, Wisconsin exempts from its unemployment tax system organizations “operated primarily for religious purposes and operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention or association of churches.” The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the organizations at issue should have to pay into the state’s unemployment system because they are not operated primarily for religious purposes, even if the services are religiously motivated. People who get the agency's social services don’t receive religious instruction and employees don’t have to be Catholic. The subsidiary organizations receive no funding from the diocese. Their services – including job training, placement and coaching – can be provided by groups with either religious or secular motivations, the state Supreme Court said, “and the services provided would not differ in any sense.” “If we looked to the church's purpose in operating the organization only, then any religiously affiliated organization would always be exempt,” Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote for the majority. A 263-day wait for jobless benefits Alabama shrimp farmer takes case to Supreme Court But lawyers for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who are representing the diocese, said that what Walsh was essentially – and incorrectly – saying is, “it doesn’t matter if Catholic Charities gives a cup of water in Jesus’ name, because non-religious charities offer cups of water too.” “It shouldn’t take a theologian to understand that serving the poor is a religious duty for Catholics,” Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at Becket, said when the group filed its appeal. “But the Wisconsin Supreme Court embraced the absurd conclusion that Catholic Charities has no religious purpose. We’re asking the Supreme Court to step in and fix that mistake.” Wisconsin Attorney General Joshua Kaul said there was no mistake. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, Kaul said in a filing, correctly applied a neutral state law that “imposes no constitutionally significant burden on their religious exercise.” “Courts routinely deny religious tax exemptions to entities that assert religious motivations without overly entangling themselves in religious matters,” he told the high court. The case, Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, is expected to be decided by summer.

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Cornerback Riley Moss is “good to go” for the Denver Broncos' crucial game at Cincinnati on Saturday. “He's doing good,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “He'll be ready to go.” The Broncos (9-6), who would end their eight-year playoff drought with a win or a tie against the Bengals (7-8), have sorely missed the second-year pro from Iowa since he sprained an MCL against Las Vegas in Week 12. The Broncos allowed 26.3 points per game during his absence. With Moss in the lineup opposite superstar Patrick Surtain II, Denver gave up just 16.8 points per game. Aside from allowing defensive coordinator Vance Joseph to go back to employing more man coverage, Riley's return is expected to give the Broncos defense back its bite. “I think he's got an awfully competitive juice, yeah, I would say you definitely felt his absence, not just physically as a player but also his presence," Payton said. Earlier this week, Surtain said, “it’s great to have him back” at practice. “I mean, you talk about a guy who was playing lights-out before the injury, but to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team.” Moss has enjoyed a breakout season in Denver with 71 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception. He played in 14 games as a rotation player his rookie season after recovering from core muscle surgery that relegated him to special teams and spot duty in 2023. Moss wasn't available for comment Thursday as he was receiving treatment during the locker room access period. Moss has been the perfect complement to Surtain because of the physical play, bravado and the production he provides as opposing offenses shy away from Surtain. “It's going to be really good” having him back on the field, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto said. “I mean, I know the work that he's been putting in to get back and just knowing the type of season that he's had I'm just happy that he's going to be able to come back against an opponent like this.” Denver's defense hasn't been the same without Moss. The Broncos allowed 32 points to the Cleveland Browns when former teammate Jerry Jeudy caught nine passes for a career-best 235 yards. Jonathan Taylor’s unforced fumble at the goal line as he was about to score a 41-yard touchdown and give Indianapolis a 20-3 lead saved the Broncos in Week 15 and allowed Denver to seize momentum and get the victory. And Denver couldn’t stop Justin Herbert , who led the Los Angeles Chargers back from a double-digit third-quarter deficit for a 34-27 win last week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAlyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians

The Los Angeles Clippers have solidified their home court advantage with seven straight wins at home. Can the Intuit Dome prove to be a tough place for opponents to play? LA is very sports-oriented when it comes to the diversity of fans and how much they love their teams. It’s also a place where tradition is taken seriously from generation to generation by fans. Clippers Win Seven Straight in First Full Month at Intuit Dome In the month of October and to start November, LA had not really established their home court dominance, especially in the very beginning. They lost their first four home games against the Phoenix Suns twice, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Clippers lost the first three by an average margin of 3.3 points, showing signs of not being able to close out games. After struggling on the road in Oklahoma City and Houston, and still without star Kawhi Leonard , there wasn’t much to lean on coming back home, but that all changed. Needing wins to cement themselves as a playoff contender in the Western Conference, the team finally got back on track at home. The Clippers have beaten some mediocre teams, but also some better teams such as the Golden State Warriors at home in November. How Did the Clippers Get Here? Down by 26 points after one quarter, the Clippers rallied to win their first game at the Intuit Dome against the San Antonio Spurs. The next game resulted in a win against the underachieving Philadelphia 76ers. That was followed by a nail-biting win against the Toronto Raptors. The Clippers then lost three in a row on the road, before getting a win in Utah against the Jazz. Finally getting back home to Inglewood, LA rattled four straight key victories. The Clippers secured wins against the Utah Jazz, Golden Warriors, Orlando Magic and an NBA Cup game against the Sacramento Kings. It seems like head coach Tyronn Lue has figured out a way to win games that they are expected to win and make a statement against the best teams in the league. The Intuit Dome Creates a New Legacy for the Clippers The Intuit Dome was built for the hope that Clippers fans show up and show out at every home game. Finally having their own arena and being out of the shadow of the Lakers in downtown LA, the Clippers have something to call their own. It’s a bit ironic that the Intuit Dome is neighbors directly with The Forum where the Lakers called home and cemented their legacy. The LA Clippers have released rules for "The Wall" — the Intuit Dome's new section of 51 uninterrupted rows of fans. • Cannot cheer for opposing team • Cannot wear opponent gear • Tickets can only be resold in Clippers marketplace A season on "The Wall" ranges from $5K-$25K. pic.twitter.com/7hQEfDizdo — Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 16, 2024 However, in a new generation in Clippers basketball, owner Steve Ballmer created a new identity for the Clippers. Many people know about the previous ownership with the Clippers and how disastrous it was tomthe team’s legacy. Now, the Intuit Dome is a chance to create a new legacy with a clean slate to work with. As for one of the Intuit Dome’s premier sights, “The Wall” has been doing its job in the arena’s infancy. Whether it is by waving rubber chickens called “Chuckens” or getting creative with chants, Clippers fans have been doing their part. The fans seem to show up the most in the fourth quarter. Free Chicken! Chick-Fil-A has been partnered with the Clippers for years with a special promotion for fans in attendance. In the fourth quarter, if an opposing player misses two consecutive free throws , free chicken sandwiches for all! The following day, people can redeem their free chicken sandwiches from Chick-Fil-A by either downloading their app or using the rewards system. Some players have fallen victim to this promotion, specifically Devin Booker on opening night. The fans in “The Wall” did their job to disrupt the 87% career free throw shooter. Clips Fly Out East For Thanksgiving Next on the schedule, the Clips have a four game road trip ahead of them. The first three of these outings are on the east coast. It looks to be somewhat of a favorable road trip for LA. Games one and three on the road are opponents that have a combined record of 5-24. They are the very underwhelming Philadelphia 76ers (game takes place Sunday) and Washington Wizards. In between those matchups includes a trip to TD Garden and a date with the defending champions, the Boston Celtics. Finally, the trip wraps up on Black Friday in Minnesota for the Clippers’ third NBA Cup game against the Timberwolves. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Rescuers contemplated the safest way Wednesday to search for a woman who apparently fell into a Pennsylvania sinkhole while looking for her lost cat, saying a crumbling old coal mine beneath the surface complicated efforts and endangered workers. Crews worked through the night in the Unity Township community of Marguerite to find Elizabeth Pollard, 64. A state police spokesperson said early Wednesday they were reassessing their tactics to avoid putting the rescuers in danger. "The integrity of that mine is starting to become compromised," Trooper Steve Limani told reporters at the scene about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Rescue workers continue to search for Elizabeth Pollard, who is believed to have disappeared in a sinkhole while looking for her cat, Wednesday in Marguerite, Pa. Sinkholes occur in the area because of subsidence from coal mining activity. Rescuers used water to break down and remove clay and dirt from the mine, which has been closed since the 1950s, but that increased the risk "for potential other mine subsidence to take place," Limani said. "We're probably going to have to switch gears" and do a more complicated dig, he said. On Tuesday, crews lowered a pole camera with a sensitive listening device into the hole, but it detected nothing. Another camera lowered into the hole showed what could be a shoe about 30 feet below the surface, Limani said. Searchers also deployed drones and thermal imaging equipment to no avail. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham, the incident commander, said access to the immediate area surrounding the hole was tightly controlled and monitored, with rescuers attached by harness. "We cannot judge as to what's going on underneath us. Again, you had a small hole on top but as soon as you stuck a camera down through to look, you had this big void," Graham said. "And it was all different depths. The process is long, is tedious. We have to make sure that we are keeping safety in the forefront as well as the rescue effort." Rescue workers search through the night in a sinkhole for Elizabeth Pollard, who disappeared while looking for her cat, Tuesday in Marguerite, Pa. Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha, the operations officer at the scene, said they were "hoping that there's a void that she could still be in." Pollard's family called police about 1 a.m. on Tuesday to say she had not been seen since going out Monday evening to search for Pepper, her cat. The temperature dropped well below freezing that night. In an interview with CBS News, Pollard's son, Axel Hayes, said he is experiencing a mix of emotions. "I'm upset that she hasn't been found yet, and I'm really just worried about whether she's still down there, where she is down there, or she went somewhere and found somewhere safer," Hayes said. "Right now, I just hope she's alive and well, that she's going to make it, that my niece still has a grandmother, that I still have a mother that I can talk to." The top of a sinkhole is seen Tuesday in the village of Marguerite, Pa., where rescuers searched for a woman who disappeared. Police said they found Pollard's car parked behind Monday's Union Restaurant in Marguerite, about 20 feet from the sinkhole. Hunters and restaurant workers in the area said they didn't notice the manhole-size opening in the hours before Pollard disappeared, leading rescuers to speculate that the sinkhole was new. "It almost feels like it opened up with her standing on top of it," Limani said. Searchers accessed the mine late Tuesday afternoon and dug a separate entrance out of concern that the ground around the sinkhole opening was not stable. Pollard lives in a small neighborhood across the street from where her car and granddaughter were located, Limani said. The young girl "nodded off in the car and woke up. Grandma never came back," Limani said. The child stayed in the car until two troopers rescued her. It's not clear what happened to Pepper. In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they live in the heartland or the heart of the city. The image of the small family farm, while still a reality for many, is increasingly giving way to larger, more technologically advanced operations. According to the USDA, the number of farms in the U.S. has fallen from 6.8 million in 1935 to about 2 million today, with the average farm size growing from 155 acres to 444 acres. This shift has profound implications for rural communities and the food system as a whole. Despite these changes, diversity in farming practices is on the rise. A landmark study published in Science , involving data from over 2,000 farms across 11 countries, found that diversifying farmland simultaneously delivers environmental and social benefits. This challenges the longstanding idea that practices boosting biodiversity must come at a cost to yields and food security. The adoption of precision agriculture technologies is transforming how farmers manage their land and resources. GPS-guided tractors, drone surveillance, and AI-powered crop management systems are becoming commonplace on many farms. These technologies allow farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides with pinpoint accuracy, reducing waste and environmental impact while improving yields. However, the digital divide remains a challenge. More than 22% of rural communities lack reliable broadband internet access, hindering the widespread implementation of AI and other advanced technologies in agriculture. While technology offers new opportunities, farmers are also facing significant economic challenges. The USDA's 2024 farm income forecast projects a 4.4% decline in net farm income from 2023, following a sharp 19.5% drop from 2022 to 2023. This financial pressure is compounded by rising production costs and market volatility. Climate variability adds another layer of complexity. Extreme weather events, changing precipitation patterns, and shifting growing seasons are forcing farmers to adapt quickly. These factors could reduce agricultural productivity by up to 25% over the coming decades without significant adaptation measures. But adapting requires additional financial resources, further straining farm profitability. In the face of these challenges, many farmers are turning to diversification as a strategy for resilience and profitability. The Science study mentioned earlier found that farms integrating several diversification methods supported more biodiversity while seeing simultaneous increases in human well-being and food security. Agritourism is one popular diversification strategy. In 2022, 28,600 U.S. farms reported agritourism income, averaging gross revenue of $44,000 from these activities. Activities like farm tours, pick-your-own operations, and seasonal festivals not only provide additional income but also foster a deeper connection between consumers and agriculture. The changing face of agriculture is directly impacting consumers. The rise of farm-to-table and local food movements reflects a growing interest in where our food comes from and how it's produced. If every U.S. household spent just $10 per week on locally grown food, it would generate billions of dollars for local economies. However, the larger challenges in agriculture can also lead to price fluctuations at the grocery store. The USDA's Economic Research Service projects that food-at-home prices will increase between 1.2% and 2.2% in 2024. Looking ahead, several innovations are poised to reshape agriculture: The transformation of American agriculture affects everyone, from the food we eat to the health of our environment and rural communities. Consumers have the power to support sustainable and diverse farming practices through our purchasing decisions. As citizens, they can advocate for policies that support farmers in adopting innovative and sustainable practices. The challenges facing agriculture are complex, but they also present opportunities for innovation and positive change. By understanding and engaging with these issues, everyone can play a part in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for the future. This story was produced by LandTrust and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Nolimit Zahira Super 16 soccer 7’s tournament organized by the Past Prefects Association of Zahira College Colombo will be held for the 18 consecutive time at the Race Course International Stadium on December 8. Zahira Super 16 soccer 7’s tournament trophy. Sixteen of the country’s top football-playing schools are set to compete in the prestigious tournament, a platform designed to showcase young players’ talent and skill on a grand scale. This year, the event reaches a new milestone with the inclusion of an overseas participant, Stafford Sri Lankan School, Doha, adding an exciting global dimension to the competition. The tournament will adopt a high-intensity 7-a-side format, a thrilling variation that promises action-packed games and an unparalleled experience for players and spectators alike. This format’s fast-paced and dynamic style aims to captivate audience and enhance the tournament’s appeal, drawing a larger crowd to support the event. Of the 16 teams, eight schools have secured direct entry into the main event, thanks to their outstanding performances in the previoυs year’s competition. Another 12 teams battled fiercely in a qualifying round held on November 9, 2024, at Moragasmulla Grounds, Rajagiriya. From this intense competition, seven schools emerged victorious, earning their place in the final lineup. Darussalaam College Colombo, De Mazenod College, Kandana, Gateway International Colombo, Royal College, Colombo, St. Benedict’s College, Colombo, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo, TB Jayah College and Zahira College, Colombo have secured direct entry into the main event by virtue of their impressive performances last year. Al Ameen Maha Vidyalaya Kinniya, Aligar National School, Eravur, D. S. Senanayake College, Colombe, Zahira College, Gampola, Hameed Al Huszenie College, Maris Stella College, Negombo and Zahira College Dharga Town advanced from the qualifying round. Nolimit will be the title sponsor of the tournament.Colin Smalls puts up 23 points as American tops UAlbany 81-77 at Puerto Rico Classico