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The Buccaneers announced the signing of linebacker Shaquil Barrett. Initial reports Friday night indicated Barrett was signing with the team’s practice squad, but he signed to the 53-player roster. He has not played this season after deciding to retire over the summer, but the Dolphins waived him from the reserve/retired list this week. The Bucs also announced they signed punter Jack Browning to the active roster. Wide receiver Kameron Johnson and safety Jordan Whitehead were activated back to the active roster from injured reserve. Whitehead landed on injured reserve Nov. 29 after injuring a pectoral muscle in Week 12 against the Giants. Johnson played four early season games before going on injured reserve Oct. 21 with an ankle injury he aggravated in Week 5 against the Falcons. The Buccaneers waived linebacker Vi Jones. Additionally, the Bucs elevated linebacker Deion Jones and quarterback Michael Pratt from the practice squad for Sunday’s game. It marks the first elevation of the season for Jones and the third for Pratt.Russia has established direct communications with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria's leading Islamist rebel faction, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov revealed. The Interfax news agency reported that these discussions are aimed at ensuring Syria's order and securing the safety of diplomats and foreigners. Bogdanov emphasized Russia's determination to maintain its military presence in Syria, primarily at the naval base in Tartous and the Khmeimim Air Base. These sites play a crucial role in the ongoing fight against international terrorism, which continues to target remnants of the Islamic State. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to find a political settlement determined by the Syrian people. Discussions involving another Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and U.N. envoy Geir Pedersen focus on stabilizing the region while upholding Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. (With inputs from agencies.)A Leduc RCMP officer has been charged in connection with sexual assaults that happened two years ago. The assaults happened at an Airdrie hotel room on Dec. 3, 2022, where a group of people were socializing. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) was directed to investigate the assaults 10 days later. The investigation found there was reasonable grounds to believe offences had been committed, and ASIRT sent its findings to the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service where it determined the evidence met the standard for prosecution. On Friday, Const. Bridget Morla was charged with two counts of sexual assault and released. She is scheduled to appear in court in Airdrie on Dec. 12. ASIRT is directed to investigate any incident involving Alberta police that results in serious injury, death, or allegations of police misconduct.
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(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.Jacqueline Jossa says 'cannot cope' as she comes down with nasty bugThe Path to Inauguration: Key Milestones for Donald Trump's Return
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NEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. January It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. February Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. March “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. April Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. May It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. June Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. July Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. August This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. September One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. October “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. November MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. December “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!I recently made friends with a new colleague who joined the university where I teach. The campus is at the back of beyond, and everything a normal, non-young adult might require is reachable only by car. So, if you're a visiting teacher, you end up being dependent on the kindness of colleagues, friends, and strangers. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast When M and his wife joined as permanent faculty, I was happy to discover we shared some tastes and interests. It was also helpful that my new friends have a car for our local adventures. Rapidly, they became part of the faculty fleet, which ranged out in various vehicles carrying owners and some of us grateful non-owners to different destinations around the area. Now, everybody drives differently. So, we have the Bio guy with the spanking new 4-wheel-drive SUV zipping down the narrow road between the paddy fields as though he's competing in the Paris-Dakar rally. We have the Lit lady who drives fine inside cities, but can't handle the highway too well. We have the Ceramic lady who has no such problems, deftly swatting aside trucks as she gets you to the nearest big metro in record time. And you have the newly married young couple, driving with whom you feel like you're a stowaway on a honeymoon trip. Among these, my new friend M is different. The first time we go out in his pristine-looking 1-year-old sedan, I wonder if there is something wrong with the car. Then I realise he's just driving slowly, much more slowly than normal. There's a group of us in the car, so I don't say anything. The next time his wife makes a good-natured joke about his slow driving . But we all agree that the rural road is inimical to the low suspension of the city car. 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As a driver myself, if I'm sitting next to a reckless driver, I often find my foot pressing down on a non-existent brake. Here, it's the absent accelerator for which my foot twitches. Even in town and market traffic, M lets the vehicle in front get far away, so far that two cars could get in between us and them-something that indeed happens regularly. Even in a crowded pedestrian-heavy gali, M doesn't honk; he waits for the people to part. When there's a 50-50 on a gap, to use a football term for two players going for the ball, M waits and always lets the other guy take the space. As a normally aggressive desi driver, my whole body starts to twitch after a while. We do our shopping and get back, having taken not too much longer than if somebody 'normal' had been driving. Outside the car, M is not a shy or self-effacing person. In an intellectual or political argument, he gives no undue ground. He is good and firm in his dealings with people, saying no whenever required. And yet, his driving.... After the latest trip, it occurs to me that perhaps it is millions of us 'normal' drivers who are crazy, and M who is sensible. A car is a vehicle for getting from A to B, not an instrument for emotional release. Slow is always safer in a country where most people are on foot, where most of the ones driving have been taught very badly. Over the last half a century, generations of Indian drivers have been conditioned to elbow and brawl for shrinking road space. In a slow-moving country, every pause in speedy road progress feels like you're going backwards, sending tempers soaring. Just as in life, so in traffic, we hate to yield because we are afraid of the damage this will cause us. And yet, if everyone yielded a bit more, perhaps things would move more smoothly. If everyone, especially the men, managed to drain down their aggression, perhaps India would be a happier place. Here's wishing everyone a slow, uneventful, and happy 2025.
My first Christmas was as a three-month-old infant while my father was serving on a Navy destroyer during World War II somewhere in the Atlantic. But my earliest Christmas memories were of living and celebrating on top of my dad’s thriving tavern-night club in downtown Annapolis where we lived from 1946 to 1954. Wally’s Hotel was located where the third block of West Street met Larkin Street (wrongfully renamed City Gate Lane). After receiving $100 in mustering-out pay at the end of WWII, my father needed a job. Without a high school degree, his brother asked him to manage Wally’s in Annapolis. We lived on the second floor where rental rooms still operated, but the room rentals soon stopped. Our Christmases were always memorable as there were eventually five siblings, and my mother’s strict Polish Catholic upbringing and my Jewish dad’s gregariousness ensured our celebrations were rather extravagant. They were filled with colorful characters who frequented his business, with many of them in the military or recent veterans. Musicians from the Naval Academy band joined other bands on weekends and we could hear the music. There also was a jukebox close to the dance floor. My mother wanted everything to be perfect at Christmas, neglected walls painted and our home glowing. The food she prepared and our tree and decorations needed to achieve perfection. Christmas Mass at St. Mary’s was always special. The best treat for me was the Lionel train set we had, and an elaborate setup made for the train on a big sheet of plywood. At one stop, the milk car could deliver miniature little metal containers of milk. Little white pills placed in the locomotive’s chimney emitted smoke. My mom also made Polish chruscikis, sometimes called Polish bows. These delectables were covered in powdered sugar and were a work of love as they were made from scratch. My mom would hide them until Christmas to prevent early consumption. I got caught once with the white powdery sugar evidence on my shirt. And then there was the kielbasa from Ostrowski’s on Bank Street in Baltimore where my mom grew up. Larkin Street, like many areas of downtown Annapolis, was inhabited by African Americans for more than a century. The kids who lived there were my first friends and playmates. George Samaras, who lived on top of a tavern across Larkin Street, was my first white friend. George became a prominent Annapolis doctor, and his parents and Yaya were born in Greece. The Larkin Street wooden homes seemed to date back to emancipated slave times and were without indoor plumbing or HVAC as kerosene heaters provided heat. All the Larkin Street residents were displaced in the early 1970s as urban renewal destroyed their homes and much of the old 4th Ward wiping out the black enclave I knew. The residents were dispersed to public housing or further away. City Gate Lane and its brick townhouses replaced my earliest friends’ homes. This Black displacement happened in other Annapolis areas in downtown Annapolis and later in Eastport through gentrification. My dad represented the 4th Ward on the City Council later, from 1977 to 1985. The area where I lived was as racially and religiously diverse as anywhere in the region. Everyone seemed to get along—African Americans, Greek and Italian immigrants, Jews, Catholics, Protestants, and seemingly most Whites. Yes, Annapolis was a traditional southern town, and our county and state had enslaved tens of thousands of Africans for the growing of tobacco and as house slaves. Segregation dominated but St. Mary’s schools were integrated. Growing up with Black neighbors and friends and going to school and playing sports with Blacks at St. Mary’s made me somewhat oblivious to the rampant racism that existed until I was a teenager. I also experienced anti-Semitism as late as 1983 when I was a state Senator. When I ran for House of Delegates in 1978, I was advised by a businessman to be sure to let people know I was Catholic as voters had elected one Jew from Annapolis and would not elect another. I won handily. My father’s outgoing nature and treating everyone charitably made him a terrible businessman. There was a large cache of jewelry, rings, watches and the like in a desk drawer where we lived. They were all collateral given by my dad’s patrons who, producing sob stories, gained cash loans that were never repaid. But in 1994, the year my dad passed away, I was in his townhouse when a gentleman came over, thanked him for a loan made 40 years ago and sat with my sick dad reminiscing. He paid him $60. I asked my dad who he was, and my dad replied: “I don’t know.” I had a remarkably diverse and rich childhood and my hearing the gospel singers and musicians at Asbury United Methodist Church next to where I lived hooked me on what was to be a life-long infatuation with soul music. I booked all Black or integrated soul bands going back to 1962 and still do. Christmas memories are triggered by this special season and holy day holiday. With my mom and dad long gone and the July death of my youngest brother, the past reminiscences can bring on a certain melancholy, even sadness. But Christmas Day dislodges my blues with 20 relatives, including eight kiddies, feasting and celebrating together. This year with the horrible fracturing and polarization of our society and democracy, unthinkable school murders, rising racism, the ascendancy of fascists, white supremacists and nationalistic autocrats, I am struggling to cope. Other than when WWII was raging with Adolf Hitler exterminating 6 million Jews, there was no worse time in my lifetime. So, at Christmas, we step up our giving to feed the hungry with generous donations to the World Food Program. We also support the heroic work of Doctors Without Borders and, locally, Anne Arundel Food Bank. Wouldn’t it be much more rewarding and satisfying to give charitably, to escape malls as well as online shopping binges, running up credit card debt? Yes, some folks can do both, but the commercialization of Christmas taints this celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. My fervent hope for Christmas and the New Year is that all of us can open our hearts and minds to understand one another and end the polarization that exists. In our society, friends and family members have become estranged over political schisms. We need to clothe ourselves with the true spirit of Christmas that is being buried in the extravagance of acquisitive materialism. We need to exude charity, love and respect not just for family but for all. Let us follow the 800-year-old prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” In this way we can make America, which is already great, even greater. Gerald Winegrad represented the greater Annapolis area as a Democrat in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate for 16 years. Contact him at gwwabc@comcast.net.Colorado is gearing up for the rugged Big 12 schedule, but first the Buffaloes wrap up their nonconference slate with two more games, starting Friday night when they host South Dakota State in Boulder, Colo. Colorado (7-2) has won two straight after competing in the Maui Invitational, most recently a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State. Now the focus turns to South Dakota State and shoring up issues before conference play. "Defensively, we're understanding what our jobs are. Now, we're not where we need to be for sure," coach Tad Boyle said. "But we're making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other." The Buffaloes lost a lot of talent from last year's NCAA Tournament team but boast some quality players. Andrej Jakimovski (13.0 points per game), Julian Hammond III (12.3 ppg) and Elijah Moore (12.0 ppg) lead the team in scoring. Sophomore big man Bangot Dak has shown he can be a force after scoring a career-high 16 points in the win over Colorado State. The Jackrabbits (8-4) are coming off a 77-63 loss at Nevada on Wednesday night and complete a two-game trip in Boulder. South Dakota State is led by senior center Oscar Cluff, who tops the team in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (11.0) but had a subpar night against Nevada when he scored a season-low six points while battling an ankle injury. "I wish he was feeling a little better," coach Eric Henderson said of Cluff. "He's going to be fine, but he's still nursing that ankle a little bit." Freshman Joe Sayler is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and has reached double figures in each of the last three games. Sophomore Kalen Garry is third on the Jackrabbits in scoring at 9.6 per contest, an average that has been hurt by his last three games when he has averaged just 5.3 points. --Field Level MediaMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Republicans filed a lawsuit Monday to try to force a rerun of a state House race where the incumbent Democrat won by 14 votes — but in which investigators concluded that election workers probably destroyed 20 valid absentee ballots after failing to count them. It's a race that could determine the balance of power in the Minnesota House, where leaders from both parties are working out the details of a power-sharing agreement that currently presumes a 67-67 tie when the Legislature convenes next month. A Republican victory in a special election could shift that balance to a two-vote, 68-66 GOP majority. Democrats have a one-vote majority in the state Senate. So regardless of the outcome in the disputed race, Minnesota will be returning to some degree of divided government in 2025 after two years of full Democratic control. “The actions of Scott County elections officials constitute a serious breach of not only Minnesota Election Law, but the public trust in our electoral system,” the lawsuit said. Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke was declared the winner last week of the swing suburban Shakopee-area District 54A race by 14 votes after a recount and the official canvass. But Scott County election officials had said earlier, after a post-election audit, that they were unable to account for 21 absentee ballots in the district southwest of Minneapolis. County Attorney Ronald Hocevar reported last Wednesday that his preliminary investigation determined that election workers most likely threw at least 20 of those absentee ballots away, and that they may have been in a paper bale that a recycler had already sent away for shredding. He wrote that they “most likely will not be recovered,” and that even if they were found, it's unlikely that an unbroken chain of custody could be proven to assure that they weren't tampered with. In Minnesota, absentee voters complete their ballots, place them in a security envelope to protect their privacy, then place that envelope inside a signature envelope with identifying information on the outside so that election workers can check those ballots in. Once the counting begins, the ballots are supposed to be removed from the security envelopes and tabulated. The county attorney concluded that the 20 ballots, all from the same precinct, were properly accepted for counting on Oct. 17, but “most likely were never removed from their secrecy envelopes,” and were probably still in them when those envelopes were thrown away. The investigation didn’t determine what happened to the 21st ballot, which was cast in a different precinct. It’s not the first time in recent years that absentee ballots have gone missing. When a small number of military ballots in Pennsylvania ended up in a trash can in 2020, President Donald Trump repeatedly seized on the case to support his claims of fraud heading into that election. After investigating, authorities found a temporary county election worker had mistakenly discarded seven military ballots in the trash and mishandled two others. The ballots were later retrieved from a garbage dumpster and counted, and the worker was fired. Minnesota House Republicans filed Monday's lawsuit on behalf of GOP candidate Aaron Paul, asking a court to declare the results invalid and Tabke's seat vacant, saying the “undisputed facts” make it impossible to rely on the results. The current House minority leader, Rep. Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, said a new election is the best way to protect the integrity of the process. "We appreciate the efforts by Scott County to investigate this matter and be transparent about their findings,” Demuth said in a statement. But House Democrats said they believe they will win the court challenge. “Rep. Brad Tabke won the election in District 54A by the count on Election Night and in the recount," current Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, said in a statement. "We expect Rep. Tabke will prevail again in the election contest.” Republicans also filed a lawsuit last month over a different House race, in the suburban Roseville area, where they allege the winner doesn't live in the district. Democrats deny that, and the district is heavily Democratic, so that case is unlikely to change the balance of power even if there's a special election. ___ Associated Press writer Christina Almeida Cassidy contributed to this story from Atlanta. ___ This story has been corrected to show the GOP House majority would be two votes, not one, if its candidate wins a special election, not . Steve Karnowski, The Associated Press
NoneSome Alabama football fans are already looking toward next season, especially at quarterback. Jalen Milroe is expected by most NFL Draft pundits to enter the 2025 draft. He is viewed by most experts as the second or third best signal-caller in the class. Milroe has three more interceptions (9 to 6) this year than he had in 2023; however, some media personalities feel NFL teams will fall in love with him. If he pursues the draft or enters the NCAA transfer portal, a former five-star is very ‘hopeful’ that he commands the Crimson Tide’s offense as the starting quarterback next season. Ty Simpson , a redshirt sophomore from Martin, Tenn., is in his third year with Alabama. He came in the 2022 recruiting class after a successful high school career. The former Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Tennessee is the son of a college coach. Simpson is a football junkie that wants a chance to lead the Tide’s program to a CFP national title. He was interviewed by Roger Hoover of Crimson Tide Sports Network on Monday. Simpson believes his calling in his coaching after his playing career, but he feels next spring begins his moment at Alabama. “Hopefully next year that will be my job to be the guy and know the next guy is ready [as the backup],” Simpson said. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is more of a pure passer than Milroe is. Simpson also has escapability and athleticism with his legs to create and extend plays. Alabama fans saw his abilities in the Mercer matchup when he avoided a sack, scrambled to his right, and delivered an 43-yard opportunity downfield to give tight end Josh Cuevas a chance. Simpson came into the South Florida game in 2023 and helped pull the Tide to a 17-3 victory on the road. He has completed 14 of 25 passes for 167 yards and totaled a rushing touchdown. Simpson is more than just a capable quarterback, but he sees himself as a marquee leader on the team. “Certainly, especially since coming back [for 2024],” Simpson said to Hoover about his leadership during Saban’s retirement announcement in January. “In this day and age, a lot of people would have probably left, especially with the circumstances that I had. But being here when Coach [Saban] left and being here for three years — in my class, you’ve got guys like Tyler Booker, Jihaad Campbell, Kendrick Law, Jamarion Miller — guys like that that are big time playmakers for us and vocal leaders in the locker room. And me being a quarterback and an older guy as well, my voice is just as much important as theirs, and just as heard as much as theirs. I think it’s a job of mine — even though I don’t play — that these guys know the standard and know how we do things around here.” Simpson has the same mental makeup as Mac Jones. Jones, a former Alabama standout, came as a three-star in the Crimson Tide’s highly regarded 2017 signing class from Jacksonville, Fla. He came in the same class as Tua Tagovailoa, a former five-star, and shared a quarterback room with Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts. Jones did not back away from the competition, but he allowed it to grow him as a leader. He took his moment when Tagovailoa got hurt in 2019 and ran with it. Some thought Jones should not have been the starter in 2020; however, he was exactly what the Tide needed. Jones took Alabama in a Coronavirus shortened season and guided it to a CFP National Championship with a SEC-only schedule. Simpson has that competitive drive mixed with a talented passing ability. It will be interesting to see if he pulls out the starting job, beginning with next spring. This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.
Analyst Scoreboard: 17 Ratings For Shift4 PaymentsThe Gross Law Firm Reminds Elanco Animal Health Incorporated Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of December 6, 2024 – ELAN
