ST. HELENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE: NAPA) (the “Company”) today reported its financial results for the three months ended October 31, 2024. First Quarter 2025 Highlights Net sales were $122.9 million, an increase of $20.4 million, or 19.9%, versus the prior year period. Excluding Sonoma-Cutrer, net sales declined $8.4 million or 8.2%. Net sales were negatively impacted by one-time inventory transfers, as outgoing distributors in certain states transferred unsold inventory to the new distributors in those jurisdictions. Gross profit was $61.5 million, an increase of $7.6 million, or 14.2%, versus the prior year period. Gross profit margin was 50.0%, down 250 basis points versus the prior year period. Excluding Sonoma-Cutrer, gross profit declined $5.7 million or 10.6% and gross profit was 51.1%. Adjusted gross profit was $63.8 million, an increase of $10.6 million, or 19.8%. Adjusted gross profit margin was 51.9%, versus 52.0% in the prior year. Excluding Sonoma-Cutrer, adjusted gross profit declined $4.7 million or 8.9% and gross profit margin was 51.6%. Net income was $11.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, versus $15.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income was $23.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, versus $17.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $48.6 million, an increase of $13.9 million, or 39.9%, and adjusted EBITDA margin was 39.5%, up 560 basis points versus the prior year period. Cash was $5.4 million as of October 31, 2024. The Company’s leverage ratio was 1.7x net debt (net of debt issuance costs) to trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA. “We are pleased to begin fiscal 2025 with strong financial performance. Our growth continues to outpace the industry as our teams remain focused on advancing our strategic initiatives,” said Deirdre Mahlan, President, CEO and Chairperson. “We believe our distinctive brands, operational excellence and market-leading performance leave us well positioned to deliver long-term growth and profitability.” First Quarter 2025 Results Three months ended October 31, 2024 2023 Net sales growth (decline) 19.9 % (5.2 )% Volume contribution 24.7 % (3.4 )% Price / mix contribution (4.8 )% (1.8 )% Three months ended October 31, 2024 2023 Wholesale – Distributors 79.3 % 77.0 % Wholesale – California direct to trade 13.9 15.6 DTC 6.8 7.4 Net sales 100.0 % 100.0 % Net sales were $122.9 million, an increase of $20.4 million, or 19.9%, versus $102.5 million in the prior year period. The increase was driven primarily by the addition of Sonoma-Cutrer, partially offset by a lower price / mix contribution. Gross profit was $61.5 million, an increase of $7.6 million, or 14.2%, versus the prior year period. Gross profit margin was 50.0%, a decline of 250 basis points versus the prior year period. Adjusted gross profit was $63.8 million, an increase of $10.6 million or 19.8% versus the prior year period, reflecting higher net sales with the addition of Sonoma-Cutrer. Adjusted gross profit margin was 51.9% a decline of 10 basis points versus the prior year, as a result of an increase in cost of goods. Total selling, general and administrative expenses were $40.8 million, an increase of $10.3 million, or 33.8%, versus $30.5 million in the prior year period. Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were $23.9 million, an increase of $1.3 million, or 5.8%, versus $22.6 million in the prior year period, and a decrease of 260 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Net income was $11.2 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, versus $15.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted net income was $23.8 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, versus $17.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $48.6 million, an increase of $13.9 million, or 39.9%, versus $34.7 million in the prior year period. This increase was driven primarily by an increase in net sales associated with the addition of Sonoma-Cutrer and ongoing operating cost controls that resulted in slower growth of adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales. As a result, adjusted EBITDA margin improved 560 basis points versus the prior year period. Conference Call and Webcast The Company will no longer host its earnings conference call and webcast. About The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. The Duckhorn Portfolio is North America’s premier luxury wine company, with eleven wineries, ten state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, eight tasting rooms and over 2,200 coveted acres of vineyards spanning 38 Estate properties. Established in 1976, when vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Napa Valley’s Duckhorn Vineyards, today, our portfolio features some of North America’s most revered wineries, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Sonoma-Cutrer, Kosta Browne, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Calera, Migration, Postmark, Canvasback and Greenwing. Sourcing grapes from our own Estate vineyards and fine growers in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, California’s North and Central coasts, Oregon and Washington State, we offer a curated and comprehensive portfolio of acclaimed luxury wines with price points ranging from $20 to $230 across more than 15 varietals. Our wines are available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in more than 50 countries around the world. To learn more, visit us at: https:// www.duckhornportfolio.com/ . Investors can access information on our investor relations website at: https://ir.duckhorn.com . Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information In addition to the Company’s results, which are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company believes the following non-GAAP measures presented in this press release and discussed on the related teleconference call are useful in evaluating its operating performance: adjusted gross profit, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS. Certain of these non-GAAP measures exclude depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, casualty losses or gains, impairment losses, inventory write-downs, changes in the fair value of derivatives, and certain other items, net of the tax effects of all such adjustments, which are not related to the Company’s core operating performance. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the reader’s understanding of our past financial performance and our prospects for the future. The Company’s management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate business performance in comparison to budgets, forecasts and prior period financial results. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. A reconciliation is provided herein for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP. Readers are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including statements regarding the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements The Duckhorn Portfolio makes relating to its estimated and projected financial results or its plans and objectives for future operations, growth initiatives or strategies are forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement contained in this press release is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include, among others, the Company’s ability to manage the growth of its business; the Company’s reliance on its brand name, reputation and product quality; the effectiveness of the Company’s marketing and advertising programs, including the consumer reception of the launch and expansion of our product offerings; general competitive conditions, including actions the Company’s competitors may take to grow their businesses; overall decline in the health of the economy and the impact of inflation on consumer discretionary spending and consumer demand for wine; the occurrence of severe weather events (including fires, floods and earthquakes), catastrophic health events, natural or man-made disasters, social and political conditions, war or civil unrest; risks associated with disruptions in the Company’s supply chain for grapes and raw and processed materials, including corks, glass bottles, barrels, winemaking additives and agents, water and other supplies; risks associated with the disruption of the delivery of the Company’s wine to customers; disrupted or delayed service by the distributors and government agencies the Company relies on for the distribution of its wines outside of California; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its growth strategy; risks associated with our acquisition of Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards, Inc.; decreases in the Company’s wine score ratings by wine rating organizations; quarterly and seasonal fluctuations in the Company’s operating results; the Company’s success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, its officers, key employees or directors; the Company’s ability to protect its trademarks and other intellectual property rights, including its brand and reputation; the Company’s ability to comply with laws and regulations affecting its business, including those relating to the manufacture, sale and distribution of wine; the risks associated with the legislative, judicial, accounting, regulatory, political and economic risks and conditions specific to both domestic and to international markets; claims, demands and lawsuits to which the Company is, and may in the future, be subject and the risk that its insurance or indemnities coverage may not be sufficient; the Company’s ability to operate, update or implement its IT systems; the Company’s ability to successfully pursue strategic acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; the Company’s potential ability to obtain additional financing when and if needed; the Company’s substantial indebtedness and its ability to maintain compliance with restrictive covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness; the Company’s largest shareholders’ significant influence over the Company; the potential liquidity and trading of the Company’s securities; the future trading prices of the Company’s common stock and the impact of securities analysts’ reports on these prices; and the risks identified in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company cautions investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. You are encouraged to read the Company’s filings with the SEC, available at www.sec.gov , for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this document, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of these statements. The Company’s business is subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including those referenced above. Investors, potential investors, and others should give careful consideration to these risks and uncertainties. THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited, in thousands, except shares and per share data) October 31, 2024 July 31, 2024 ASSETS Current assets: Cash $ 5,407 $ 10,872 Accounts receivable trade, net 88,016 52,262 Due from related party 222 10,845 Inventories 530,293 448,967 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 11,040 14,594 Total current assets 634,978 537,540 Property and equipment, net 568,391 568,457 Operating lease right-of-use assets 26,369 27,130 Intangible assets, net 190,577 192,467 Goodwill 484,379 483,879 Other assets 7,470 7,555 Total assets $ 1,912,164 $ 1,817,028 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 66,357 $ 5,774 Accrued expenses 69,346 34,164 Accrued compensation 7,994 11,386 Deferred revenue 12,264 80 Current maturities of long-term debt 9,721 9,721 Due to related party 342 1,714 Other current liabilities 4,250 3,905 Total current liabilities 170,274 66,744 Revolving line of credit 83,000 101,000 Long-term debt, net of current maturities and debt issuance costs 198,263 200,734 Operating lease liabilities 23,579 24,286 Deferred income taxes 151,104 151,104 Other liabilities 694 705 Total liabilities 626,914 544,573 Stockholders’ equity: Common stock, $0.01 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 147,200,572 and 147,073,614 issued and outstanding at October 31, 2024 and July 31, 2024, respectively 1,472 1,471 Additional paid-in capital 1,012,874 1,011,265 Retained earnings 270,299 259,135 Total The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. stockholders’ equity 1,284,645 1,271,871 Non-controlling interest 605 584 Total stockholders’ equity 1,285,250 1,272,455 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 1,912,164 $ 1,817,028 THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, in thousands, except shares and per share data) Three months ended October 31, 2024 2023 Sales $ 124,669 $ 103,903 Excise tax 1,727 1,394 Net sales 122,942 102,509 Cost of sales 61,442 48,656 Gross profit 61,500 53,853 Selling, general and administrative expenses 40,798 30,483 Income from operations 20,702 23,370 Interest expense 5,115 4,004 Other expense (income), net 117 (1,813 ) Total other expenses, net 5,232 2,191 Income before income taxes 15,470 21,179 Income tax expense 4,285 5,629 Net income 11,185 15,550 Net income attributable to non-controlling interest (21 ) (13 ) Net income attributable to The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. $ 11,164 $ 15,537 Earnings per share of common stock: Basic $ 0.08 $ 0.13 Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.13 Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: Basic 147,128,486 115,339,774 Diluted 147,186,767 115,451,719 THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited, in thousands) Three months ended October 31, 2024 2023 Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 11,185 $ 15,550 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 10,631 7,329 Gain on disposal of assets (61 ) (42 ) Change in fair value of derivatives 137 (1,889 ) Amortization of debt issuance costs 194 194 Equity-based compensation 2,254 1,150 Change in operating assets and liabilities; net of acquisition: Accounts receivable trade, net (35,754 ) (22,547 ) Due from related party 10,623 — Inventories (80,443 ) (66,115 ) Prepaid expenses and other current assets 3,550 1,781 Other assets (212 ) 283 Accounts payable 61,149 28,045 Accrued expenses 37,058 51,985 Accrued compensation (3,392 ) (7,808 ) Deferred revenue 12,184 11,132 Due to related party (1,372 ) — Other current and non-current liabilities (496 ) (982 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 27,235 18,066 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of property and equipment, net of sales proceeds (11,556 ) (10,395 ) Net cash used in investing activities (11,556 ) (10,395 ) Cash flows from financing activities Payments under line of credit (18,000 ) (13,000 ) Borrowings under line of credit — 23,000 Payments of long-term debt (2,500 ) (2,500 ) Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (644 ) (342 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (21,144 ) 7,158 Net (decrease) increase in cash (5,465 ) 14,829 Cash - Beginning of period 10,872 6,353 Cash - End of period $ 5,407 $ 21,182 Supplemental cash flow information Interest paid, net of amount capitalized $ 4,585 $ 4,009 Income taxes paid $ — $ 11,607 Non-cash investing activities Property and equipment additions in accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 2,568 $ 3,300 THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Adjusted gross profit, adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS, collectively referred to as “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” are commonly used in the Company’s industry and should not be construed as an alternative to net income or earnings per share as indicators of operating performance (as determined in accordance with GAAP). These Non-GAAP Financial Measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company has included these Non-GAAP Financial Measures because it believes the measures provide management and investors with additional information to evaluate business performance in comparison to budgets, forecasts and prior year financial results. Non-GAAP Financial Measures are adjusted to exclude certain items that affect comparability. The adjustments are itemized in the tables below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reason the Company considers them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating adjustments, you should be aware that in the future the Company may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments set forth below. The presentation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by unusual or recurring items. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company calculates as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, transaction expenses, acquisition integration expenses, changes in the fair value of derivatives and certain other items which are not related to our core operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a key performance measure the Company uses in evaluating its operational results. The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a helpful measure to provide investors an understanding of how management regularly monitors the Company’s core operating performance, as well as how management makes operational and strategic decisions in allocating resources. The Company believes adjusted EBITDA also provides management and investors consistency and comparability with the Company’s past financial performance and facilitates period to period comparisons of operations, as it eliminates the effects of certain variations unrelated to its overall performance. Adjusted EBITDA has certain limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the Company’s results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations include: although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized may have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted EBITDA does not reflect cash capital expenditure requirements for such replacements or for new capital expenditure requirements; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company’s working capital needs; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the Company’s debt; adjusted EBITDA does not reflect income tax payments that may represent a reduction in cash available to the Company; and other companies, including companies in the Company’s industry, may calculate adjusted EBITDA differently, which reduce their usefulness as comparative measures. Because of these limitations, you should consider adjusted EBITDA alongside other financial performance measures, including net income and the Company’s other GAAP results. In evaluating adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future the Company may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. The Company’s presentation of adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that the Company’s future results will be unaffected by the types of items excluded from the calculation of adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted Gross Profit Adjusted gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company calculates as gross profit excluding the impact of purchase accounting adjustments (including depreciation and amortization related to purchase accounting), non-cash equity-based compensation expense, and certain inventory charges. We believe adjusted gross profit is a useful measure to us and our investors to assist in evaluating our operating performance because it provides consistency and direct comparability with our past financial performance between fiscal periods, as the metric eliminates the effects of non-cash or other expenses unrelated to our core operating performance that would result in fluctuations in a given metric for reasons unrelated to overall continuing operating performance. Adjusted gross profit should not be considered a substitute for gross profit or any other measure of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Selling, General and Administrative Expenses Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company calculates as net income excluding the impact of non-cash equity-based compensation expense, purchase accounting adjustments, transaction expenses, acquisition integration expenses, changes in the fair value of derivatives and certain other items unrelated to core operating performance, as well as the estimated income tax impacts of all such adjustments included in this non-GAAP performance measure. We believe adjusted net income assists us and our investors in evaluating our performance period-over-period. In calculating adjusted net income, we also calculate the following non-GAAP financial measures which adjust each GAAP-based financial measure for the relevant portion of each adjustment to reach adjusted net income: Adjusted SG&A – calculated as selling, general, and administrative expenses excluding the impacts of purchase accounting, transaction expenses, acquisition integration expenses, equity-based compensation; and Adjusted income tax – calculated as the tax effect of all adjustments to reach adjusted net income based on the applicable blended statutory tax rate for the period. Adjusted net income should not be considered a substitute for net income or any other measure of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EPS Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company calculates as adjusted net income divided by diluted share count for the applicable period. We believe adjusted EPS is useful to us and our investors because it improves the comparability of results of operations from period to period. Adjusted EPS should not be considered a substitute for net income per share or any other measure of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended October 31, 2024 Net sales Gross profit SG&A Adjusted EBITDA Income tax Net income Diluted EPS GAAP results $ 122,942 $ 61,500 $ 40,798 $ 11,164 $ 4,285 $ 11,164 $ 0.08 Percentage of net sales 50.0 % 33.2 % 9.1 % Interest expense 5,115 Income tax expense 4,285 Depreciation and amortization expense 119 (1,903 ) 10,631 EBITDA $ 31,195 Purchase accounting adjustments 1,957 1,957 542 1,415 0.01 Transaction expenses (13,125 ) 13,125 3,636 9,489 0.06 Acquisition integration costs (152 ) 152 42 110 — Change in fair value of derivatives 137 38 99 — Equity-based compensation 266 (1,734 ) 2,000 504 1,496 0.01 Non-GAAP results $ 122,942 $ 63,842 $ 23,884 $ 48,566 $ 9,047 $ 23,773 $ 0.16 Percentage of net sales 51.9 % 19.4 % 39.5 % Three months ended October 31, 2023 Net sales Gross profit SG&A Adjusted EBITDA Income tax Net income Diluted EPS GAAP results $ 102,509 $ 53,853 $ 30,483 $ 15,537 $ 5,629 $ 15,537 $ 0.13 Percentage of net sales 52.5 % 29.7 % 15.2 % Interest expense 4,004 Income tax expense 5,629 Depreciation and amortization expense 124 (3,108 ) 7,329 EBITDA $ 32,499 Purchase accounting adjustments 25 25 7 18 — Transaction expenses (3,236 ) 3,236 861 2,375 0.02 Change in fair value of derivatives (1,889 ) (502 ) (1,387 ) (0.01 ) Equity-based compensation 206 (846 ) 1,052 272 780 0.01 Lease income, net (926 ) (926 ) (716 ) (210 ) (56 ) (154 ) — Non-GAAP results $ 101,583 $ 53,282 $ 22,577 $ 34,713 $ 6,211 $ 17,169 $ 0.14 Percentage of net sales 52.0 % 22.0 % 33.9 % Note: Sum of individual amounts may not recalculate due to rounding. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205396304/en/ CONTACT: Investor Contact Ben Avenia-Tapper IR@duckhorn.com 707-339-9232Media Contact Jessica Liddell, ICR DuckhornPR@icrinc.com 203-682-8200 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA OREGON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL LUXURY WINE & SPIRITS AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES SPECIALTY FOOD/BEVERAGE SOURCE: The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:06 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241205396304/en
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Lucknow, December 15: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that while 40 crore devotees are expected to attend the 45-day Prayagraj Mahakumbh (from January 13 to February 26), arrangements are being made to accommodate 100 crore people. On January 29, during the main Muhurta of Mauni Amavasya, an estimated six crore devotees will take a holy dip, but preparations will cater to 10 crore. He said, "The Mahakumbh will feature extensive facilities, including 12 km of ghats and an expanded area spanning 10,000 acres. Devotees will have the opportunity to experience the darshan of Char Dham, Dwadash Jyotirlingas, and other significant Jyotirlingas. The event will integrate cutting-edge technology, such as an AI-based Bhashini app in 11 Indian languages, allowing visitors to access information about the Kumbh and services like Khoya-Paya in their preferred language." He added, "The government plans to implement a precise headcount of every attendee and ensure a sustainable, eco-friendly event. The Mahakumbh will feature zero liquid discharge systems, 1.50 lakh toilets, and a ban on single-use plastics. This grand event aims to set a benchmark and drive Uttar Pradesh’s roadmap for economic prosperity." During his address, CM Yogi also shared his views on the Sambhal issue. He highlighted the tragic events that took place 46 years ago in Sambhal, where innocent people lost their lives to barbaric violence. He questioned why the perpetrators of the massacre have not been brought to justice even after decades. Referring to Sambhal's ancient temple, the Chief Minister emphasized its historic significance, including the ancient idol of Bajrang Bali and the Jyotirlinga. “This temple did not reappear overnight. It represents our enduring heritage and the truth of our history,” he said. He criticized those who try to suppress the truth or tarnish cultural events like the Kumbh, emphasizing that voices of truth often face threats and efforts to silence them. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath highlighted the remarkable transformation of the 2019 Prayagraj Kumbh, stating that it redefined expectations. “Anyone who witnessed the Kumbh of 2019 would have seen the out-of-the-box efforts that made it clean, safe, and well-organized. What was once associated with dirt, chaos, stampedes, and insecurity became a divine and grand event,” he said. He credited the success of the 2019 Kumbh to its high standards of cleanliness, management, and security, noting that it was so exemplary that Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers in appreciation. “It is part of India’s heritage to express gratitude to those who contribute to its success,” he said. The upcoming Mahakumbh 2025, he added, will showcase a unique confluence of faith and modernity. CM Yogi indirectly criticized Congress and opposition parties for claiming exclusive ownership of India's legacy. “Some people wander around with a self-proclaimed contract of representing India and treat Discovery of India as if it were the oldest book of this country,” he remarked. He referenced the historic Supreme Court verdict on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi delivered on November 9, 2019, which resolved a decades-long dispute. Yet, he pointed out, some individuals continue to threaten the judges who delivered the decision. The Chief Minister accused opposition leaders of hypocrisy in the name of the Constitution, citing their no-confidence motion against the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. “The Chairman emphasized his duty to ensure the House functions and public issues are discussed. Yet, these people accused him of bias and moved a no-confidence motion to silence him,” he said. He further criticized attempts to question institutions like the Election Commission for conducting fair elections and the Allahabad High Court for delivering truthful judgments. “These individuals even bring impeachment motions in the Upper House, showing their intention to intimidate anyone who speaks the truth or stands for India’s heritage,” CM Yogi concluded. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been pivotal in driving development in the region. “Without the Ram Temple, there would have been no airport, no double rail line, and no enhanced connectivity. While the common man and devotees are expressing their gratitude, those who secretly inserted the word 'secular' into the Constitution are lamenting in their homes,” he said. The Chief Minister pointed out that these individuals, who ruled for decades without delivering meaningful progress, are now criticizing the present government for their inefficiencies. “They have a problem with the spirituality and development of Kashi and Ayodhya. Their frustration stems from their failure and our success. We must understand their mentality,” he added. CM Yogi outlined his government’s efforts to transform Prayagraj into a hub of spiritual and infrastructural excellence. The Sangam will feature a permanent ghat for the first time, and a modern riverfront is being developed along the Ganga. He said, "The water of the Sangam will be kept clean and uninterrupted, while devotees will have year-round access to the Akshayvat Corridor. The Saraswati Koop Corridor, Bade Hanuman Ji Mandir, and Maharishi Bhardwaj Ashram Corridor are complete. In Shringverpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a 56-foot-high statue of Lord Ram embracing Nishadraj and a dedicated corridor. The airport and railway station in Prayagraj are undergoing major renovations, and over 216 roads are being upgraded — from single to double lanes, double to four lanes, and four to six lanes." “This development reflects our commitment to blending spirituality with progress, creating a Prayagraj that is both modern and rooted in tradition,” the Chief Minister concluded.
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley wanted to be a student in team history before he had a chance to make some with the Eagles. The running back who had just signed with Philadelphia for $26 million guaranteed took a deep dive on some of the franchise’s greats out of the backfield. He learned about Wilbert Montgomery. Brushed up on LeSean McCoy. Barkley then put them in his sights — and this week against Carolina, he could become the top single-season rusher in Eagles history. Get past those two Eagles Hall of Famers and the target narrows: McCoy has a chance to break Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season rushing mark of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. “That's your goal,” Barkley said. “You want to come in here, you want to leave a legacy on a place, on a franchise.” Here's where things stand with Barkley in his pursuit of records: — Barkley has an NFL-best 1,499 yards rushing through 12 games, an average of 124.9 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would surpass the NFL mark that's stood for 40 years. — Barkley needs to run for 108 yards against the Panthers to break McCoy's Eagles record of 1,607 yards set in 2013. Montgomery ran for 1,512 yards in 1978. “I'm aware of the things I can accomplish,” Barkley said. “The way I accomplish that is sticking to the script.” The Eagles (10-2) have won eight straight to take control of the NFC East and remain in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Barkley — with a little help from Jalen Hurts — has largely led the way and moved into MVP consideration. The former New York Giant also ranks third in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns. It's reasonable to expect Barkley to pile on the yards against Carolina (3-9). The Panthers are 32nd in the league against the run and just allowed Tampa Bay's Bucky Irving to run for a career-high 152 yards last week (he had never broken 100). “It’s incredible what he is doing. The record has stood up for a while. I mean 17 games or 14 games, it’s ridiculous,” Panthers defensive lineman Shy Tuttle said. “It’s a record that has been held for a long time and whoever breaks it, Saquon or someone else, it’s an incredible achievement.” Barkley leads the NFL with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards this season and tied Montgomery for the most 100-yards games in an Eagles season with eight. “You get to see the player on Sundays. We get to see the person every other day during the week,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “He’s special. At the end of the day, he’s a special teammate, special person. The way he connects with everyone, rallies everyone together. He’s one of the best.” Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard is eager to get back on the field and put last week behind him. Carolina’s leading rusher had a costly fumble in overtime last Sunday against Tampa Bay as the Panthers were driving for a potential game-winning field goal, resulting in a 26-23 loss to division rival Tampa Bay. A dejected Hubbard remained on the bench for several minutes after the loss. “You definitely use it as motivation,” Hubbard said. “I have come a long way and I know what it’s like to play great football. That was a big mistake on my end, but I don’t just lose all of the work I have put in because of that one mistake.” Bryce Young is beginning to show he can be a factor with his legs, scoring on a 10-yard run last week against the Buccaneers. However, Young still receives plenty of good-natured ribbing from his teammates when it comes to his sliding ability, which the QB has previously admitted is limited because he wasn’t much of a baseball player. “He definitely has to work on his slide,” Hubbard said. “He has been making people miss so he hasn’t had to slide like that a lot. I mean I’m not trying to hate on my dog’s slide but it’s just a work in progress. He will be all right.” Panthers guard Robert Hunt said it’s always interesting playing in Philadelphia because of the team’s passionate fan base. Last year, while Hunt was playing for the Dolphins, he said an Eagles fan attempted to board the Miami team bus. “They have some characters there — some people who don’t really give a damn,” Hunt said. “He was trying to trash-talk us. But he was confident and that is what makes them them.” Hunt said the fan never made it on the bus. “Aw hell no, we would have stomped that boy,” Hunt said with a laugh. “He tried. He was talking his noise. Good for him. I don’t want to say you want a fan base like that, but you want a fan base that cares about the team.” AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFLPresident-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that former Sen. David Perdue , R-Ga., had agreed to be nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to China . “As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the U.S. Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform , noting that Perdue has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong and spent much of his career working in China and elsewhere in Asia. “He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump said. Perdue's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. The bilateral relationship between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, is often described as the most important in the world. Ties reached their lowest point in decades in recent years, but both President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been taking steps to improve them despite continuing disputes over trade, technology, human rights and the status of Beijing-claimed Taiwan. Trump, who takes office in January, started a trade war with China during his first term as president and has vowed to impose tariffs of 60% or more on all Chinese goods imported in his next one. Last week, he said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing does more to stop the international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl. Perdue, who visited China as part of a congressional delegation in 2018, said in a Fox News commentary written with other senators after the trip that the U.S. needs to “wake up and do a better job competing with China.” “America’s outdated view of China could result in lost opportunities, or even worse, dangerous miscalculations or complacency,” the senators wrote. “We must have a long-term plan to compete and deal with China’s rising economic and geopolitical influence.” Perdue, 74, a former management consultant, was a Republican senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. He served on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees. He lost to Democrat Jon Ossoff in a runoff after the 2020 general election. In 2022, he ran for governor after Trump recruited him to challenge Republican Gov. Brian Kemp , who refused to help Trump overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020, when the state voted for Biden. Perdue lost to Kemp in the Republican primary by more than 50 percentage points. “David has been a loyal supporter and friend, and I look forward to working with him in his new role!” Trump said Thursday. Before he entered the Senate, Perdue had a long corporate career, including as president and CEO of Reebok and CEO of Dollar General and the North Carolina textile company PillowTex. The current U.S. ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns , told NBC News in October that U.S.-China competition would continue “into the next decade.” “It’s a very challenging relationship,” he said. “But it’s without any question the most consequential relationship that we Americans have with any other country.” Xi told Biden last month that he would work with the Trump administration and that “China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:One of the two men rescued from the Maine woods Wednesday night has been taken to Boston for frostbite treatment and possible amputation, his wife said. Gary Foster, 75, left, and Sidney Hoyt, 77. Both men are from Bangor. Photo courtesy of Maine Warden Service Constance Hoyt, 78, said her husband, Sidney Hoyt, 77, was only wearing socks and sandals when he stepped out of his car to look for help after getting turned around on rural roads near Bangor. Authorities found him and a friend, 75-year-old Gary Foster, after dark Wednesday night. “He didn’t put any boots on. His feet froze,” Constance Hoyt said on a Thursday afternoon phone call. “I looked at his toes, and they were pretty black.” Foster was still in the car, which slid off the road and into a ditch, but Sidney Hoyt had collapsed after walking down a nearby path, Constance Hoyt said. The men had been missing for more than 24 hours, enduring temperatures that dropped below freezing, before a couple on a nearby farm heard their cries for help and called the 911 . “We had a lot of people praying. My church was praying,” Constance Hoyt said. Maine Game Warden Jonathan Parker found the men along a remote road in Township 32, about 15 miles northeast of Bangor, officials said. Parker found the men a few turns off of Stud Mill Road, which runs from Milford, in Penobscot County, to Princeton, in Washington County. Sidney Hoyt was taken to Boston before noon and was “in a lot of pain,” his wife said around 2:30 p.m., but she had not gotten an update on his condition since he was transported south Thursday morning. She said doctors may need to amputate his toes or part of his feet, but the scope of the damage was still being determined. Foster was admitted to the Maine Veteran’s Home in Bangor in October, and this was the first day trip he had been allowed to take, Constance Hoyt said. Constance Hoyt said she believed Foster was still in Maine, but had not heard any recent updates on his condition. A spokesperson for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife did not immediately return a phone call asking about Foster’s status. An employee reached by phone at the Bangor Veterans Home referred a reporter to an email address at the central office, which did not reply to questions about Foster’s condition or their day-trip protocols. ROUTINE DRIVE GONE WRONG Constance Hoyt said the two longtime friends would regularly drive along Stud Mill, taking in the scenery, scouting fishing and hunting spots and stopping to eat at a nearby diner. “That’s what they usually do, they go up, they drive,” she said. “But there’s so many side roads off that road, they got on the wrong one.” At one point, they lost Stud Mill Road and attempted to circle back to it by heading further north. But without a GPS, Sidney Hoyt was unable to navigate and ended up driving deeper and deeper into the rural area. At several points during the drive, the men had to dig the car out after it became stuck in a snowbank, Constance Hoyt said. Ultimately, it slid off the road and became lodged in a ditch. Neither man had a cellphone, and the vehicle, a Honda Ridgeline, did not have a GPS or technology that could be used to track it externally, she said. “He didn’t plan ahead,” she said. “He’s not a spring chicken anymore. He can’t just go wandering off somewhere and not have a backup plan.” The warden service’s survival guide recommends that anyone venturing into the wilderness dress in warm layers and carry a cellphone to call 911 if they become lost. If it’s possible to signal one’s location using noise – whistling or gunshots – groups of three are understood to be distress signals. If someone becomes lost within about an hour of sunset, the warden service recommends using the remaining daylight to prepare for a night in the woods, rather than attempting to find help. The Maine Emergency Management Agency recommends drivers keep an emergency kit in their vehicle containing blankets, a first aid kit, brightly colored cloth to flag rescuers and extra cold-weather gear, among other items. The agency also recommends keeping sand or cat litter in the car to help get unstuck from ice and snow. Constance Hoyt said she and Sidney have been married for 55 years and together for around 57. She called the warden service to report the men missing Tuesday night. From now on, she plans to keep a closer eye on her husband’s location. “I like it better when he’s sitting on the couch,” she said, laughing softly. “I can see him.” Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous Next »
With bowl drought quenched, Matt Rhule eager to see Nebraska football set new 'standard'Penn State kicks off Sunshine Slam by cruising past FordhamMike England handed me a shotgun as we prepared to hunt on a piece of land in a redacted location I swore I’d never share, partially out of fear but mostly respect. Outside Bozeman owners Chris McCarthy and Mike England are in the process of selling the local magazine of and are seen in their office on Nov. 19. I’ve never hunted, instead spending much of my time behind a screen, typing away, busily compiling words that would lead to eventual stories, some more read than others. England can relate to that, I’m sure of it. When I loaded the shells and cocked the 12-gauge, ready to take aim at pheasant, I briefly wondered what I was doing out in a wheat field near Belgrade. At the time, it had made more sense, justified as an experience I shouldn’t miss, especially because he had suggested it. And it wasn’t that I was unprepared. I had taken my hunter-safety course, bought my license and tags, wore my orange, and had some shooting experience. I was ready to learn. Mike England looks out for pheasants while standing in a field of wheat on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Gallatin County. Pheasants love to eat wheat so McCarthy knew there would be a good chance to find them in the field. Still, having approached him only a few days earlier as a nagging reporter, I was suddenly thrust into the wild with the founder of Outside Bozeman and his business partner, Chris McCarthy, at their suggestion, walking the perimeter of a field as their two dogs sniffed out our prey. Looking back, from behind my screen as I try to write this, it was an odd way to get a story out of England, though ultimately, it’s one that suits him and is perhaps a fitting way to share that his magazine and media company are for sale. “Chris and I realized we had been doing this a long time, longer than anything else we’d ever done ... because we enjoy it,” England said that day. “We didn’t want to get burned out and we started thinking about passing it off to some younger, fresher blood that can infuse some new energy into it before we started to get old and cranky,” he added. “That ship may have sailed.” Old might be relative for a 54-year-old veteran who exudes a physical appearance contrasting that of a stereotypical writer. Not until he opens his mouth does his quick-witted intelligence begin to pour out, often faster than I can keep up with. But maybe cranky is more accurate, although only when it comes to certain topics, namely public lands and the seemingly increasing limitations on access. Overall, England appears to be in good spirits, in awe of blue skies and bulbous roosters, while remaining well-entrenched in the daily happenings of a quarterly publication. That publication, however, is listed for $925,000, and although I thought it to be a timely story, England and McCarthy have been trying to sell Outside Bozeman for over a year. It’s just that now, after a little nudge and a couple of phone calls, they were ready to share why. “We kept it under wraps for a while and in the past six months we told the staff, and decided it was time to let the cat out of the bag,” England said. In 1999, England was doing OK in the journalism world, but some pitches were rejected, and emails went unanswered, making him yearn to be in charge. So, he did the only logical thing and launched a magazine. “When you’re a freelancer you’re going to face some disappointments, and I was having gradual success,” England said. “It wasn’t that I felt like I couldn’t make it, but I got excited about writing whatever the hell I wanted to write, and I got excited about celebrating this town that I love so much.” Chris McCarthy holds the pheasant he killed on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Gallatin County. Having come up with an idea for it, he chipped away at his plans, drawing up a mock sketch of a first issue , what it would cover, and what it would be called. Working as a bartender at the time, he met Jim Harris, a local photographer. “After about his fourth beer Jim said, ‘You know, I got this idea for a magazine for Bozeman,” England said. “Go on,” he told Jim at the time. “I played dumb, and I just let him tell me everything about it,” England continued. “And it was exactly like my idea, down to the name. He had the same name!” The two shook hands that night and started the magazine the next day, and over a few months, the first issue was erected from the depths of their dynamic minds and published in the early summer of 2000. “It looked like a high school project,” England said. “We both put in a couple of grand and we bought a computer, some software and I sold ads. I wrote every article in that first issue. Jim produced every photo.” In their office on East Mendenhall Street, shelves of issues line a wall — the summation of what Outside Bozeman has produced over the years, slowly shifting and morphing from a biannual. “I foolishly thought that we would make a bunch of money and we’d sell it in five years,” England said. “We never made a bunch of money, but it took probably 10 years before we were making decent money.” Today, Outside Bozeman has four issues a year, filled with tongue-in-cheek writing and articles that run the gamut of outdoor-related content, fueled and altered by those feeding the publication. “We worked hard, we threw it together, and it always came out,” England said. “As the years passed, we developed processes and systems so that we didn’t have to pull all-nighters while still maintaining the energy of it and preserving the spirit. Things normalized.” Regarding style and content, and their occasional divergence into the satirical as their most devoted readers likely know, England says, “We’re smart asses and we like to joke around, have fun and poke fun. It naturally flows from our senses of humor.” “Nothing is sacred,” England said. “We get praise, but we rarely publish it, we always publish the hate mail.” Although he says Outside Bozeman prides itself on giving voice to locals, he said it’s important that his team never took themselves too seriously and attempted to stay true to something greater. “Everybody takes themselves too damn seriously and nobody wants to joke, nobody wants to offend anyone,” he said. “I think we deprive ourselves of an important aspect of life when we get too sensitive and too worried about saying the wrong thing.” Although England said they’ve “tempered ourselves a little bit — we don’t really want to deliberately offend people unless they deserve it,” he still believes the publication should “just say whatever the hell we want.” Even with politics, and getting sucked in by a partisan world, he essentially said Outside Bozeman uses its middle finger to bypass societal rules and restrictions, to “Call out the bastards and praise the heroes,” he said. So, they write what they want, when they want, not straying far from an outdoor-focused agenda while remembering to always blaming those they believe are to blame, regardless of party affiliation. “We care about this land, the landscape, and its wild creatures and habitat and nature so we fight for that,” England said. “We call out people who work against it and oftentimes it means we’re calling out Republicans but that doesn’t mean we’re Democrats, right?” I nod, waiting for more. “It just means we care about nature.” By the time I fired the shotgun for the first time, McCarthy and England were likely starting to wonder what was taking me so long. We’d traversed the field, multiple roosters had popped, and they each had a kill, but I was too fixated on taking the wrong shot, carefully watching the muzzle of the gun, mindfully aware of where my trigger finger rested, and tracking their bright orange. Still, they kept us going, only stopping by McCarthy’s truck for a quick break before crossing the road into another field, where we made our way through and around a stretch of brush. Soon enough, more pheasant roosters began to pop, to their amazement, both being seasoned hunters. In the end, I missed five shots, but England bagged his three and McCarthy one. Tired and dehydrated, I unloaded the shotgun, got back into the truck and we headed for Belgrade. McCarthy was driving and England pointed out a flock of turkeys out of legal range of our shotguns. When I asked them why they brought a reporter along for a hunting trip, they both got quiet, while I quickly realized that only Chronicle photographer Lauren Miller and I were getting paid to be there. They noted that at least one issue every year features a firearm for hunting on the cover. It all seemed fitting. “You said you would like to start hunting,” McCarthy eventually said. “And I said, ‘Well, I think I’m going out Friday,’ and Mike invited you.” “Chris looked at me and said, ‘Really? You think we want to take a reporter hunting?” England added, laughing. I stared out the window as we drove onto Interstate 90 heading east. I saw the day’s last light shine over the Spanish Peaks as McCarthy’s German shorthair pointer began to fall asleep beside me. We’d share bouts of silence before one of us would talk again. McCarthy and England continued to tell me about their journey. About how McCarthy joined in 2010 and bought into the publication around 2012. How they’d rather be hunting or somewhere deep in the wilderness or how England wonders if he’s too old to be a game warden. They told me about all the articles they’d written and how they’d done just about everything they’d wanted to do. About the advertisements, McCarthy sold over the years. How the magazine grew to a quarterly and that each year there’s an issue with a gun on the cover. “I’m surprised that we’ve made it this far. It’s a lot of work,” England said. “We’re not getting rich, so we’re not in it for the money, and I’m surprised we’ve stuck it out this long, that we haven’t gone into something else.” They told me about the writers that have made their way through Outside Bozeman. Some just briefly, and some for years — how they leave their mark and how the magazine changes with each issue. “Outside Bozeman is a living thing, it’s not just mine or Chris’ or ours,” England said. “It’s a living thing that is a reflection of the people and of Bozeman.” And although I first called them with what I thought was a scoop, I quickly began to see it all differently. Outside Bozeman is for sale, sure, and for $925,000 a buyer will get all its intellectual property rights, branding, advertising accounts, access to staffing, and 25 years of content, but that doesn’t begin to breach the whole truth. Rather, it simplifies what Outside Bozeman represents and the place it holds in Gallatin Valley. It strips away some of the magic that England and McCarthy hope continues with a new owner, when they get the boot — and a lucrative paycheck. “I learned a while ago that nobody is that important, that if they’re gone things don’t continue to move forward,” McCarthy said. “If I’m gone, sales will continue, if Mike’s gone, editorial is going to continue.” “It’s bigger than us,” England added. “It exists beyond us; anybody can pick it up. We’re a big part of it but we’re not a necessary part of it anymore.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Following a 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 10, the New York Giants have fallen to 2-8 and have elected to send quarterback Daniel Jones to the bench in favor of Tommy DeVito. After signing a four-year, $160M deal in March 2023, the No. 6 pick in the 2019 NFL draft out of Duke has gone 5-21 over the last two seasons, including a 3-13 record in 2023. On Thursday, it was reported that the Giants had Jones playing scout team safety during their practice, adding insult to injury for the 27-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina. During the team's media availability, Jones gave a lengthy statement at the beginning of his press conference, appearing to give his farewell and regards to the Giants organization. "The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true, and I’m extremely grateful to the Mara and Tisch families for the chance to play here," Jones said. "The Giants are truly a first-class organization and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who built it and who helped carry on that tradition. I met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime. Thank you to all my teammates, coaches and staff that have done so much for me the past six years." Jones went on to discuss the good and bad times he experienced in New York. “There have been some great times, but of course, we all wish there had been more of those," Jones added. "I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win games worse than me, and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation." Rich Barnes-Imagn Images The sixth-year quarterback proceeded to take accountability for the Giants' poor season. “Of course, this season has been disappointing for all, and, of course, I wish I could have done more," Jones continued. "I’m 100% accountable for my part. I did not play well enough consistently enough to help the team get the results. The reality of the NFL is it’s hard to win games and it requires consistent performance from everyone involved. We didn’t do that, so the idea to change something happens, and I understand." Jones finished by sending a message to the New York faithful. “I love the game," Jones stated. "I love being part of a team. I’m excited for the next opportunity. I know that there’s a lot of good football in front of me, and I’m excited about that. To all the fans, I have deep respect and appreciation for all your passion and love for the Giants. The fans are a huge part of what makes playing for the Giants so special.” A statement today after practice from Daniel Jones: pic.twitter.com/zrCye16cJy Many NFL fans were saddened by Jones' latest statement, taking to social media to leave their thoughts. "Never blamed anyone but himself," one fan said . "Will always respect his work ethic and demeanor." "Very rarely do you see that in the NFL, from a franchise player that gets benched for the back up," added another. "Props to Daniels for the humility to make that statement and apologize to the fans and the team." "my god that’s awful!!" commented a third. "Just reading out someone’s words and not caring at all." "ts sad to me even as a giants fan," wrote a fourth. "Just sad to see as a Giants fan," chimed in a fifth. "Dude really did give it his all. Hope the best for him." "Damn.. I Kinda Feel Bad For The Guy," wrote another user . Through 10 games, Jones completed 216-of-341 yards for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Giants will be heading into Week 12 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with DeVito likely taking over. They currently own the No. 4 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Related: Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Breaks Silence on Deion Sanders Coaching in NFL
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Luann de Lesseps decided to kiss and tell about her alleged hookup with actor Hugh Grant. The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum claimed that she and the “Notting Hill” star previously ended up “making out ... heavily ” during a run-in at Pierre’s restaurant in the Hamptons. “A girlfriend of mine called me and was like Hugh Grant is at Pierre’s. I said, ‘I’ll be right over.’ I called and said, ‘Get the table right next to Hugh Grant,'” de Lesseps told TooFab in an interview published Friday. “I had my family over, my brother was visiting me, and I said, ‘Let’s go.'” The Bravolebrity, 59, then shared how she began flirting with Grant, 64, before their purported meet-cute got hot and heavy. “I said, ‘Sit me right behind him.’ I pushed out my chair real fast and I bumped into him — flirting 101 — I bumped into him and said, ‘Oh I’m so sorry,'” de Lesseps claimed. She went on to say that the Golden Globe winner recognized her because they are both friends with Andy Cohen. After de Lesseps “bumped into” Grant, she said she offered to buy him a drink. “I go, ‘I’m so sorry. Can I buy you a shot? I feel terrible.’ He goes, ‘OK, but I’ll come have a shot with you if you do one with me,'” she claimed. “Before you know it, we are taking shots and making out ... heavily at the table! My brother was like, ‘I can’t believe you’re making out with Hugh Grant’, and I was like, ‘Neither can I.'” Before changing the subject, the mother of two playfully claimed that she and Grant were “kinda tipsy at that point.” De Lesseps first teased her alleged hookup with Grant during the Nov. 11 episode of “Watch What Happens Live.” Cohen, de Lesseps and “RHOP” star Stacey Rusch were answering “never have I ever” questions during a game of “Let Your Freak Flags Fly.” When Cohen said “never have I ever hooked up with someone famous,” both he and de Lesseps waved their flags. “Remember Hugh Grant?” she asked, to which Cohen replied, “Well, nothing happened.” “Well, making out!” she clapped back. “That doesn’t count?” Cohen, 56, then confirmed that he did remember the alleged makeout session, however, he wasn’t there when it happened. Although de Lesseps didn’t reveal the timeline of when she allegedly kissed Grant, he has been married to TV producer Anna Eberstein since 2018. De Lesseps was previously married to Alexandre de Lesseps from 1993 to 2009. Later, she tied the knot with Tom D’Agostino Jr. for one year before they called it quits by 2017.Pakistan’s playing XI announced for first Zimbabwe T20IHere’s a Free Way to Tip Your Amazon Delivery Drivers
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