jp888 Most pass rushers in the NFL switch sides and rush from various alignments. That includes all the elite players, mainly so that defensive coordinators can get them free from the attention that they will face on a down-to-down basis. However, the Pittsburgh Steelers do not move T.J. Watt around at all. He rushes off the right tackle all season with very little care paid attention to switching sides or rushing over the interior. The question would be, why? According to insider Mark Kaboly, he believes that Watt might be the one who is resistant to flipping sides. "I don’t know how much he wants to do that,” Kaboly said on 93.7 The Fan’s Morning Show . “I think partially it has to do with him. He just likes coming from...I mean you remember his rookie year, he was on the other side, didn’t really like it. They flipped him and Bud Dupree and then all of a sudden he took off. But at this point, you’re gonna have to do something a little different. I guarantee if you ask Teryl Austin, he’d be like, ‘Oh we move him around.’ Yeah, you move him around two or three times a game, if that.” Watt leads the NFL in chip rate and consistently gets double-teamed. The Steelers have one of the lowest blitz rates in the NFL. When it comes down to it, Watt does need to move around to get himself free and allow the Steelers' pass rush to pop even more. Whether it is his own opinion or the coaching staff’s, something needs to change, or games such as the one that happened in Cleveland could continue to happen. BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. More Pittsburgh Steelers News Pittsburgh Steelers open as underdogs in crucial division game vs. Bengals Pittsburgh Steelers future opponent gets reinforcements, including star running back Pittsburgh Steelers coach floated as college head coach candidate Pittsburgh Steelers' future opponent loses star pass rusher for season Browns safety sends bold message to Pittsburgh Steelers: ‘Come get yo get back’AP Business SummaryBrief at 3:36 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.

In a column expressing skepticism that Donald Trump's proposed "Department of Government Efficiency" will be able to accomplish, an expert at the Brookings Institution, who played a key part in former Vice President Al Gore's "Re-inventing Government" initiative, told the Washington Post's Dan Balz that the incoming administration is in for a dose of political reality. With the president-elect selecting wealthy entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head up the off-the-cuff department, Elaine Kamarck pointed to multiple instances where cuts would be unpalatable to Trump's MAGA fans . ALSO READ: The America-attacking Trump is coming for our military — and then he's coming for us As Balz wrote, Musk and Ramaswamy "have huge ambitions and no humility about what they are undertaking," before adding, "What they have talked about amounts to a wholesale attack on federal agencies designed to eliminate thousands of regulations, reduce the federal workforce by an order of magnitude that could cripple the delivery of vital services, and effect cost savings that would amount to nearly one-third of the federal budget, or the entire discretionary part of the budget and then some." Karmack cited the Border Patrol, with 19,000 Border Patrol agents, and asked where the cuts would come from when border security was the main plank of the Trump campaign. According to Balz, "There are about 1,800 air traffic controllers, she said. Would Trump’s team cut that workforce significantly, causing potential flight cancellations and disruption?" with Kamarck predicting " “It will take about a week and Congress will say, ‘Hey, you can’t do this." "And how deeply would he try to cut the workforce at the Social Security Administration, at the risk of checks not being sent out promptly or other breakdowns in a program that he has otherwise vowed not to touch?" Balz asked. With Ramaswamy and Musk boasting, "We expect to prevail," Balz wrote, "Those words no doubt reflect the aggressive approach the president-elect and his advisers hope to take once he is sworn in. Meanwhile, executive branch employees are bracing for what could be coming and opponents are preparing to resist through legal and other channels. Whether Trump’s shock troops, led by Musk and Ramaswamy, are truly ready will be known soon." You can read more here .Macom SVP Ambra Roth sells $1.99 million in stock

Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss

A group of veterans who played key roles in the private evacuation of thousands of Americans from Afghanistan in 2021 spoke out in defense of Pete Hegseth , President-elect Donald Trump 's defense secretary pick. Hegseth's nomination has come under heavy scrutiny, putting into question the viability of him passing the Senate. Several leading veterans have come to his defense, including former Force Recon Marine Chad Robichaux. WHAT MAGA AND THE GOP WILL LOOK LIKE IN A POST-TRUMP ERA Robichaux's and his team evacuated over 17,000 people in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, an act recognized by Congress. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, he threw his full support behind Hegseth. He took particular aim at senators hesitant on voting for his confirmation, hitting them for not being hesitant when confirming current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. HOW TRUMP COULD IMPACT THE PENTAGON "That's the same Senate that's saying that [Hegseth] maybe had a few too many drinks, or whatever he did, is the same one that was silent when [Austin] left Americans behind, and when I say left Americans behind — thousands of Americans behind, in Afghanistan, when he left thousands of Americans stranded in Africa when he left thousands of Americans stranded in Ukraine," he said. Robichaux said that he had seen a groundswell of support for Hegseth, among groups previously apolitical. "There is a huge push from the military . Well, I've never seen this before," he said. "I've been around the military for 30 years. I've never seen [people] in the Marine Corps for four years, putting on social media who they want to be their secretary of defense. Most of the time, they don't even know who their secretary of defense is." "Everyone wants him in, mainly because he doesn't have a star," Robichaux said, referring to generals' stars. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS, AND UNIONS TRY TO ‘TRUMP-PROOF SCIENCE’ He argued that generals were too separated from the regular troops to carry out their mission effectively, and that soldiers preferred one of their own. "Pete doesn't have to doesn't have to have lead at a strategic level. He doesn't have to have a star. He's a leader. He's he's got the right vision," Robichaux said. "And when he sits in this situation room and the nation needs him to make a decision, he's not going to do it in a silo." "He's going to be surrounded by the right people to make the right decision, to do their jobs, and that's very important for the American people to understand. He's not a Fox News host. He's a guy that served his country and in combat twice, Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) echoed this sentiment, praising Hegseth's qualifications while bashing Austin. “Pete Hegseth is exactly the kind of leader we need as Secretary of Defense. He’s a combat veteran who’s led men in battle, holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard, and has the courage to take on the root causes of our military recruitment crisis, like the destructive and divisive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion," he told the Washington Examiner. TRUMP’S ‘NO TAXES ON OVERTIME’ PROPOSAL: WHAT TO KNOW Mills put the full blame of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan on Austin, over which he filed articles of impeachment against him. "I filed articles of impeachment against Austin for his dereliction of duty because leadership matters. When Austin failed to do his job, veterans like myself who stepped in to rescue American families left behind. Pete Hegseth’s leadership, integrity, and experience are exactly what this nation needs to restore accountability and strength to the Department of Defense," he concluded. Benghazi contractor Mark "Oz" Geist also lent his support to Hegseth. "As a warfighter, Pete Hegseth stands out because he gets what it takes to win on the battlefield—he’s lived it. His firsthand experience in Iraq and Afghanistan means he understands the realities of combat, the importance of morale, and the need for a lethal, well-trained force ready to fight and win," he told the Washington Examiner in a statement. Geist contrasted Hegseth to Austin, arguing that Austin's focus had been on "bureaucracy and social agendas" to the detriment of combat effectiveness. "He knows that strength, clarity of purpose, and a no-nonsense approach are what it takes to dominate any adversary, making him a leader who would ensure the military is always ready for the next fight," he said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER After former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz dropped out as Trump’s attorney general nomination, the primary target of scrutiny landed on Hegseth. Reports emerged of past sexual assault allegations, financial mismanagement, and a drinking on the job. On Sunday the New Yorker published an article based on a whistleblower’s seven-page report detailing numerous allegations against Hegseth while he served as the president of Concerned Veterans for America from 2013 to 2016. He's pushed against the allegations, but promised Senators that he wouldn't drink if confirmed for the post. Trump’s team has publicly stood by him, decrying the accusations as false and politically motivated.AP Business SummaryBrief at 9:51 a.m. EST

Bailey scores 19 as Incarnate Word beats East Texas A&M 65-53Bailey scores 19 as Incarnate Word beats East Texas A&M 65-53The 2024 Maui Invitational field features a ton of talented teams. UConn, Memphis, Auburn, Iowa State, Michigan State, and North Carolina are some of the teams in the field. On Monday, the tournament started with Memphis and UConn facing off. However, Memphis stunned everybody by topping the defending national champions in a 99-97 final. Memphis was up by double digits with just a couple of minutes left before Solo Ball tied the game at 82 with a three-pointer. Then, overtime featured double technical fouls, and a technical foul call on UConn head coach Dan Hurley. The double technicals came at the 2:29 mark in overtime, and the technical on Hurley came with just 39 seconds remaining. David Butler II-Imagn Images Here is the technical in the final stretch of the game. Inexcusable tech for Hurley. Just cost his team the game. pic.twitter.com/ocO3Qwlfrv As a result, the officials were subject to many comments online for the decisions down the stretch. "I hate the timing of that technical on Hurley. He’s been on the refs the whole game. T him up early, so he gets the message. You can’t hit him late," one fan wrote. "You really can’t give Dan Hurley the technical in the crucial of the game. Let the man preach that just lost the game," said another . "UConn gonna lose because the refs made an atrocious call and then T’ed up Hurley? LOL," another fan mentioned . On the other hand, fans knew Hurley's technical was a long time in coming. "Dan Hurley absolutely deserved that technical. The guy was tearing up the refs from the start. He had a long leash," a fan wrote on X . "Hurley lost his mind at a bad foul call & cost us the game!" another said. "Dan Hurley costing his team the win by getting a technical with 40 seconds left lol wow," said another . "We have to talk about Dan Hurley. Hurley just cost his team with that tech," said another. We have to talk about Dan Hurley. Hurley just cost his team with that tech Kimani pulls him back and he then yanks on Kimani and he goes towards the refs more. Hurley is at times not enthusiastic, he is borderline psychotic and that results in techs Hurley had been barking at the officials all game long and was finally given a technical in a crucial moment. After that, PJ Carter hit two technical foul free throws and then two more free throws for the other foul to extend the Memphis lead to four. It's a tough pill to swallow for UConn and Hurley in the first game of the Maui Invitational. Nonetheless, the Huskies turn right around and will play the loser of Colorado-Michigan State. Related: College Basketball Giant Suffers Surprising Overtime Loss on Monday

Seven people have been arrested and charged in connection to an alleged social media drug ring at Rutgers University, New Jersey officials announced this week. Called “Operation RU Pharm,” officials said it uncovered a “closed and private social media network utilized by Rutgers University students to sell and purchase drugs,” Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone . The press release also said that the operation led to the seizure of a large amount of drugs such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, Adderall, and Xanax. Apart from these, other items seized included a firearm and “a large amount of U.S. currency.” Seven people face charges relating to the investigation, with charges of various degrees of possession and distribution of controlled substances. USA TODAY has reached out to Rutgers University for comment. Prosecutors that a social media network was set up by an alumnus of Rutgers University to facilitate the sale and distribution of narcotics. “Narcotics distributors could post menus for drugs and solicit buyers from within the Rutgers University community. Rutgers students who established their affiliation with the school were allowed to join the network and once given access, they were able to browse menus posted by distributors and contact them in order to negotiate purchases,” the statement said. According to prosecutors, 23-year-old Anudeep Revuri faces charges of first-degree leader of a drug trafficking network, second-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution, and third-degree conspiracy to commit drug distribution. The other six people charged were identified by officials as Joshua Duffy, 20; Zachary Petersen, 22; Catherine Tierney, 23; David Nudelman, 20; Donovin Williams, 20; and Noa Lisimachio, 21. They face charges of various degrees of possession and distribution of controlled substances.Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, has died

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Davion Bailey had 19 points in Incarnate Word’s 65-53 win against East Texas A&M on Saturday. Bailey had four steals for the Cardinals (5-4, 1-1 Southland Conference). Dylan Hayman went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to add 11 points. Jalin Anderson had nine points and shot 2 of 9 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line. The Lions (1-9, 0-2) were led in scoring by Scooter Williams Jr., who finished with 10 points. Mykol Sanchez-Vega added nine points for East Texas A&M. Josh Taylor finished with eight points. The Lions prolonged their losing streak to six in a row. NEXT UP Incarnate Word next plays Tuesday against Duke on the road, and East Texas A&M hosts South Alabama on Sunday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None

An animal farm in eastern Ontario wants your Christmas trees for its goats, sheep, alpacas and cattle to feed on. Vanderlaand The Barnyard Zoo in Winchester, Ont., a petting zoo, takes about 150 trees every year and uses them to feed and shelter its animals, owner Ruth Vanderlaan told CTV News Ottawa Sunday. “They do like the fresh needles,” she said. “But they will clean them right up. It's usually like a toothpick.” The farm is a family activity that attracts people living in North Dundas and the Ottawa region. “I just love tossing things over fences,” said visitor, Willow Green, while watching the goats quickly grabbing the tree branches up. Mom Erin Kergin was also visiting the zoo with her kids Sunday. She says visiting has become an annual tradition. “It’s so wonderful,” she said. “Recycling the tree, so no scraps go to waste. And that the kids actually get to see the goats and the donkeys and all the animals kind of rejoice that (they get to eat it). It's the second life for their Christmas tree, which is really lovely to see.” The Vanderlaand Barnyard Zoo is open for the Christmas holidays from Dec. 29-31 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., before being closed for Jan. 1 and 2, 2025 and reopening from the Jan. 3-6 from 11 a.m. to 3pm. Vanderlaan says if you would like a chance to feed the animals, you can come during opening hours. Otherwise, if the farm is closed, those dropping off their trees can leave them at the end of the road. The City of Ottawa has also shared a few tips on how to get rid of your Christmas trees while helping the environment. Herea re some of the options: • Leave it in your backyard. This can help improve the soil quality, as it decomposes. It can also provide shelter for wildlife. • Trim the branches and use them as supports for vines, flowers and bushes in your backyard. • Create “rustic garden edges” with the branches. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. 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These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal Eastern Ontario farm wants your Christmas trees to feed its animals: ’They do like the fresh needles’ Two adults taken to hospital following basement fire in Centretown West FOG ADVISORY | Environment Canada warns of 'near-zero' visibility as fog blankets Ottawa Here's how you can watch CTV News at Six on Sundays during the NFL season OPP warning of thin ice after two recreation vehicles fall through eastern Ontario lakes Ottawa OPP seizes $28K, suspected drug tablets following traffic stop on Highway 417 What's happening in Ottawa over the holidays CTVNews.ca Top Stories Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. 2 teenagers arrested, 1 suspect at-large after attack involving bear spray, machete A pair of teenaged boys have been charged with aggravated assault after police said they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday evening. Possible explosion at Metro Vancouver strip mall under investigation Police and firefighters were called to the scene of a potential explosion at a Metro Vancouver strip mall Sunday morning. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. Recognize the name Jolt Cola? The 1980s soda aims to make a comeback — this time with even more caffeine Jolt Cola, the soda brand that gained attention in the 1980s for offering “all the sugar and twice the caffeine,” is heading back to stores in 2025. This time, it’s promising more than twice the original caffeine content. Looking to get rid of your Christmas tree? This farm will feed it to its goats Now that the holidays are almost over, many people may be looking to dispose of their Christmas tree. One farm in Massachusetts is letting people do just that, in a furry and eco-friendly way. 'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal The earth moved in the Maniwaki area this Sunday morning. No damage was reported after a 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Maniwaki area in western Quebec, according to Earthquakes Canada. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films dominated the holiday box office this week, with 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' winning the three-day weekend over 'Mufasa' by a blue hair. Atlantic TSB investigating airplane landing incident at Halifax airport The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says they are investigating an aircraft incident at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport that caused temporary delays to all flight operations Saturday night. N.B. entrepreneur honours memory of mother with 'thank you' note legacy N.B. entrepreneur Emily Somers honours her mother with 'thank you' notes. 75-year-old man hospitalized after being struck by vehicle: Bridgewater police A 75-year-old Lunenburg County man is in hospital after being struck by a vehicle in Bridgewater, N.S., Friday morning. Toronto ‘Significant rainfall,’ and fog expected in the GTA, much of southern Ontario Sunday It’s expected to be a wet and foggy day across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Sunday, with as much as 30 mm of rain expected in some locations. Suspect charged after woman found dead at Niagara Falls home A suspect has been charged after a woman was found dead inside her Niagara Falls home. SIU investigating after Toronto cops discharge sock round, less-lethal firearm at man that resulted in serious injuries The province’s police watchdog is investigating after Toronto officers discharged sock round and less-lethal firearm at a man who had allegedly stabbed another person in the city’s Rockcliffe-Smythe area on Saturday morning. Montreal Over a dozen community groups refuse to leave Montreal centre despite eviction order More than a dozen groups have refused to vacate a community centre in Montreal's Ahuntsic neighbourhood despite an eviction order from their landlord, Quebec's largest school service centre. Earthquake near Maniwaki felt in Gatineau, Ottawa, and Montreal A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Maniwaki, Que., on Sunday morning, according to Earthquake Canada. Authorities change plan to free stranded vessel near Vercheres The Canadian Coast Guard announced on Sunday morning that a change of strategy was underway to salvage the vessel that ran aground on Christmas Eve in the St. Lawrence River, in the Verchères sector of the Montérégie region. Northern Ontario Mississauga tow truck driver charged for impersonating a cop in northern Ont. A southern Ontario resident has been charged for allegedly impersonating a peace officer during a towing incident in northwestern Ontario. Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. Montreal motorist dead after 5-vehicle collision in Kirkland Lake: OPP Ontario Provincial Police in Kirkland Lake, Ont., are investigating a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 11 that killed one person. Windsor Crews battle two apartment fires in under two hours Windsor Fire and Rescue responded to two calls at Ouellette Avenue apartment buildings Sunday morning. Rainfall warning in effect across the region It’s a wet and gloomy day across the region. Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Windsor, Essex County, and Chatham-Kent. 4.1 magnitude earthquake in western Quebec felt in Ottawa and Montreal The earth moved in the Maniwaki area this Sunday morning. No damage was reported after a 4.1 magnitude earthquake rattled the Maniwaki area in western Quebec, according to Earthquakes Canada. London Fatal crash in Middlesex County Middlesex County OPP attended the scene of a fatal motor vehicle collision in Strathroy-Caradoc early Sunday morning. New Year’s Eve in London’s Victoria Park You can ring in 2025 this Tuesday night at London’s free New Year’s Eve in the Park celebration. 'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Kitchener Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damages after fire A fire Saturday morning has a Cambridge industrial plant dealing with major damage. A plane crashes and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames Sunday in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. All but two of the 181 people on board were killed in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters, officials said. Detractors in Liberal ranks at mercy of Trudeau decision: analyst As calls mount within the federal Liberal Party for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as leader, one political analyst says there’s little his detractors can do to force his hand. Barrie Deluxe taxi goes up in flames in Barrie parking lot Some locals were quick to pull out their cellphones and capture a minivan as it went up in hot flames in a Barrie parking lot. Region under rainfall warning, fog advisory Many areas across Simcoe Muskoka, upper York Region and Grey County are under rainfall warnings and fog advisories as of Sunday morning. $47K in drugs seized, man arrested in alleged domestic assault Police in Owen Sound made one arrest and seized a ‘large’ quantity of multiple drugs after responding to an alleged domestic assault on Saturday. Winnipeg 2 teenagers arrested, 1 suspect at-large after attack involving bear spray, machete A pair of teenaged boys have been charged with aggravated assault after police said they attacked a man with bear spray and a machete Friday evening. Experts, province urge caution over ice conditions after man dies in Hanover The province, along with outdoor enthusiasts, are urging people to use caution near frozen bodies of water after a man died when his skid steer loader fell through the ice. Cross-country ski race returns to Windsor Park The Prairie Holiday Loppet made its long-awaited return to Winnipeg’s Windsor Park Saturday, with dozens of racers hitting the trails. Calgary 1 arrested after 3 stabbed in Airdrie, including 2 youth Airdrie RCMP have arrested a male in connection with multiple aggravated assaults that left three people injured. Jonathan Huberdeau scores twice as Calgary Flames beat San Jose Sharks 3-1 Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice and the Calgary Flames beat San Jose 3-1 on Saturday night, handing the Sharks their seventh straight loss. Olympic Games in 2026 on the horizon for world champion ski jumper Alex Loutitt The words "why not me" are tattooed on the back of Alexandria Loutitt's hand between her thumb and wrist. Edmonton Edmonton street photographer captures moments and people one frame at a time A local photographer who is passionate about capturing moments in one-hundredth of a second embraced many styles of his trade before landing on one which truly represents his mantra: street photography. 2 vehicles fall through ice at Sylvan Lake, promoting police warning RCMP issued a warning Saturday after two vehicles fell through the ice on Sylvan Lake. Olympic Games in 2026 on the horizon for world champion ski jumper Alex Loutitt The words "why not me" are tattooed on the back of Alexandria Loutitt's hand between her thumb and wrist. Regina Regina police charge 2 youths in city's 6th homicide of 2024 Two Regina teens are facing murder charges in connection to the death of a Regina man on Boxing Day. Regina man showcases local bead supply business Jeramy Hannah recently began selling beading supplies, after he realized the beaders in his life were struggling with a lack of local vendors, prompting him to create a business called Bead Bro. 'A great holiday memory': Echo Valley Provincial Park gets plenty of visitors at Skate the Park launch Families and groups of friends made use of the good weather as the new season of Skate the Park got underway at Echo Valley Provincial Park. Saskatoon U18 provincials curling tournament underway in PA Teams from across Saskatchewan are in Prince Albert for the U18 curling provincials. Police made two arrests following a shooting in Saskatoon A swift response from Saskatoon police led to the arrest of a man and woman following a reported shooting Friday afternoon. Saskatoon fire crews battle house fire Saskatoon firefighters responded to a house fire on the 100 block of Klassen Crescent Friday afternoon. Vancouver 2 shot during fight outside Surrey pub Two people were injured in a shooting outside of a Surrey pub in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to authorities. Possible explosion at Metro Vancouver strip mall under investigation Police and firefighters were called to the scene of a potential explosion at a Metro Vancouver strip mall Sunday morning. Vancouver man defrauded Chinese developers of US$500K, court rules A Vancouver man has been ordered to pay more than US$500,000 after a B.C. Supreme Court judge found he had defrauded the would-be developers of a real estate project in China of that amount. Vancouver Island Victoria police seek witnesses, additional victims after hit-and-run spree A woman is facing seven charges after allegedly committing multiple hit-and-run crashes in a stolen vehicle while impaired, according to police in B.C.'s capital. Online child exploitation spiked during lockdowns. Police worry it's here to stay Online predators are becoming increasingly resourceful in trolling media platforms where children gravitate, prompting an explosion in police case loads, said an officer who works for the RCMP Integrated Child Exploitation Unit in British Columbia. Vancouver man defrauded Chinese developers of US$500K, court rules A Vancouver man has been ordered to pay more than US$500,000 after a B.C. Supreme Court judge found he had defrauded the would-be developers of a real estate project in China of that amount. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay ConnectedF1 expands grid, adds Cadillac brand and new American team for '26Tech stocks help lift S&P/TSX Friday, U.S. stock markets mixed after jobs report

US stocks mostly rose Friday after a report showed a healthy jobs market, and Paris rallied as President Emmanuel Macron vowed to serve out his full term and end France's political crisis. Oil fell on concerns of oversupply and Bitcoin held at a level over $100,000 after hitting records Thursday. The world's biggest economy gained 227,000 jobs in November, more than analysts expected and up from a revised 36,000 in October, said the US Department of Labor. "The US jobs market has emphatically rebounded following October's disappointing data," said Neal Keane, head of global sales trading at ADSS. October's figures had been depressed by hurricanes and workers' strikes, while November's increases may have been exaggerated by the end of a strike at Boeing in particular -- and by retail hiring ahead of the holiday season. US stocks mostly closed higher, with the broad-based S&P 500 and tech-focused Nasdaq both hitting fresh records, although the Dow retreated slightly. Investors are mostly betting that November's jobs numbers, while comforting, are probably not strong enough to deter the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates again this month. "Investors needed a reassuring jobs report and that's exactly what they got," said eToro analyst Bret Kenwell. "The market still favors a rate cut from the Fed later this month and this report may not change that expectation." The Paris stock market closed up 1.3 percent on "hope that President Emmanuel Macron will serve out his term and that a (French) budget can be passed in the coming weeks," noted Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown. Macron on Friday was holding talks with French political leaders on the left and right as he seeks to quickly name a new prime minister after Michel Barnier's government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote. Macron adopted a defiant tone in an address to the nation Thursday evening, just 24 hours after parliament voted out Barnier over his 2025 budget plan, which included unpopular austerity measures forced through without a vote using special powers. The luxury sector benefitted also from hopes of a pickup in Chinese demand. Gucci owner Kering topped the Paris CAC 40 as its shares gained more than six percent, while LVMH rose more than three percent. French video game company Ubisoft jumped 13 percent on takeover speculation. Frankfurt closed slightly higher, other continental markets were mixed, and London slid. In Asia, shares in Seoul sank more than one percent and the won weakened to about 1,420 per dollar as lawmakers prepared to hold an impeachment vote Saturday after President Yoon Suk Yeol's dramatic, short-lived imposition of martial law this week. While analysts said the economic fallout from the crisis would likely be limited, a political storm is ongoing. Hong Kong and Shanghai rallied as investors grew hopeful of fresh stimulus when top Chinese leaders including President Xi Jinping meet to discuss economic policy next week. Bitcoin hovered above $100,000 after having blasted to the historic peak of $103,800 Thursday on news that US President-elect Donald Trump had picked crypto proponent Paul Atkins to head the nation's markets regulator. New York - Dow: DOWN 0.3 percent at 44,642.52 points (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.3 percent at 6,090.27 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.8 percent at 19,859.77 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.3 percent at 7,426.88 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.1 percent at 20,384.61 (close) London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.5 percent at 8,308.61 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.8 percent at 39,091.17 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.6 percent at 19,865.85 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.1 percent at 3,404.08 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0566 from $1.0591 on Thursday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2740 from $1.2760 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 149.97 yen from 150.09 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 82.93 from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.6 percent at $67.20 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.4 percent at $71.12 per barrel gv/rl/bys/aha

The winter track action is only a few days away as the 2024-25 gets ready to get underway. We gave you all the key dates and meets to watch, and now it’s time to see in what section and group teams will compete in. These groupings will become key when it’s time for the postseason where teams and athletes will fight for sectional and state titles. Below, you’ll find the boys and girls classifications for this year’s indoor track season. North 1 Group 1: Bergen Charter, Butler, Cresskill, Dumont, Emerson, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, Indian Hills, Jefferson Towship, Kinnelon, Midland Park, Newton, North Warren, Park Ridge, Pascack Hills, Pequannock, Pompton Lakes, Ramsey, Waldwick, Wallkill Vallley Group 2: Dwight Morrow, Elmwood Park, Lakeland, Lodi, Mahwah, Manchester Regional, Montville, Demarest, Old Tappan, Paramus, Parsippany Hills, Pascack Valley, River Dell, Sparta, Vernon, West Essex, West Milford, Westwood Group 3: Bergenfield, Cliffside Park, Dover, Payne Tech, Fort Lee, Garfield, Morris Hills, Morris Knolls, Mount Olive, Northern Highlands, Nutley, Orange, Ramapo, Randolph, Roxbury, Teaneck, Tenafly, Wayne Hills, Wayne Valley Group 4: Belleville, Bergen Tech, Bloomfield, Clifton, East Orange Campus, Eastside, Fair Lawn, Hackensack, Paterson Kennedy, Livingston, Memorial, Montclair, Morristown, North Bergen, Passaic Tech, Ridgewood, Union City, West Orange North 2 Group 1: BelovED Charter, Belvidere, Bogota, Cedar Grove, Gateway Charter, Glen Ridge, Hanover Park, Hasbrouck Heights, Hoboken, Caldwell, Marion P. Thomas Charter, Mountain Lakes, New Milford, North Arlington, Palisades Park, Ridgefield, Rutherford, Saddle Brook, Secaucus, University Charter, Verona, Weehawken, Whippany Park, Wood Ridge/Wallington Group 2: Bernards, Gov. Livingston, Hackettstown, Becton, Snyder, Hillside, Lincoln, Lyndhurst, Madison, Shabazz, Newark Collegiate, Parsippany Hills, Ridgefield Park, Science Park, Voorhees, Warren Hills, Weequahic, West Morris, Mendham Group 3: Central, Chatham, Colonia, Ferris, Memorial, Matawan, Middletown North, Middletown South, Millburn, North Hunterdon, North Plainfield, Princeton, Rahway, Red Bank Regional, Ridge, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Summit, West Side Group 4: Barringer, Bayonne, Bridgewater-Raritan, Columbia, East Side, Elizabeth, Irvington, J.P. Stevens, Kearny, Linden, North Star Academy, Phillipsburg, Piscataway, Plainfield, Union, Watchung Hills, Westfield, Dickinson, Woodbridge Central Group 1: Asbury Park, Bordentown, Bound Brook, Brearley, Delaware Valley, McNair, Dunellen, Eagle Academy, Essex Co. Vo Tech, Henry Hudson/Keyport, Highland Park, Dayton, Manville, Metuchen, New Providence, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Raritan, Shore, South Amboy, STEMCivics Charter, Thrive Charter, University Group 2: Abraham Clark, Allentown, Johnson, Cranford, Holmdel, Hopewell Valley, jackson Liberty, Manasquan, Neptune, Ocean Township, Pt. Pleasant Boro, Robbinsville, Rumson-Fair Haven, Somerville, South Plainfield, Spotswood, Wall Group 3: Brick Memorial, Brick Township, Burlington Township, Colts Neck, Ewing, Freehold Boro, Steinert, Nottingham, Hamilton West, Hightstown, Jackson Memrorial, Lakewood, Lawrence, Long Branch, Moorestown, Northern Burlington, Pennsauken, West Windsor-Plainsboro North Group 4: East Brunswick, Edison, Franklin, Freehold Township, Hillsborough, Hunterdon Central, Manalapan, Marlboro, Monroe, Montgomery, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South Brunswick, Trenton, West Windsor-Plainsboro South South Group 1: Schalick, Audubon, Buena, Burlington City, Camden, Clayton, Gateway, Glassboro, Haddon Township, Kipp Academy, Lower Cape May, Palmyra, Penns Grove, Pennsville, Pitman, Salem, West Deptford, Wildwood, Woodbury, Woodstown Group 2: Barnegat, Cedar Creek, Cinnaminson, Collingswood, Delran, Eastside Camden, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Lindenwold, Manchester Township, Mastery Camden, Oakcrest, Overbrook, Pemberton, Pinelands, Seneca, Sterling, Willingboro Group 3: Absegami, Central Reg., Cherry Hill West, Clearview, Cumberland, Delsea, Deptford, Hammonton, Highland, Lacey, Mainland, Ocean City, Shawnee, Timber Creek, Toms River East, Toms River South, Triton, Winslow Group 4: Atlantic City, Atlantic Tech, Bridgeton, Cherokee, Cherry Hill East, Eastern, Egg Harbor, Gloucester Tech, Howell, Kingsway, Lenape, Millville, Rancocas Valley, Souther, Toms River North, Vineland, Washington Township, Williamstown Non-Publics Boys Non-Public A: Bergen Catholic, Camden Catholic, Christian Brothers, Delbarton, Don Bosco Prep, Donovan Catholic, Dwight-Englewood, Hudson Catholic, Notre Dame, Oratory, Paramus Catholic, Paul VI, Pingry, Red Bank Catholic, St. Augustine, St. Benedict’s, St. Joseph (Met.), St. Joseph Reg., St. Peter’s Prep, Seton Hall Prep Girls Non-Public A: Academy of St. Elizabeth, Academy of the Holy Angels, Camden Catholic, Donovan Catholic, Dwight Englewood, Immaculata, Immaculate Heart, Kent Place, Mt. St. Dominic, Mt. St. Mary, Notre Dame, Oak Knoll, Paramus Catholic, Paul VI, Pingry, Pope John, Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney, St. Thomas Aquinas, Trinity Hall, Union Catholic Boys Non-Public B: Bishop Eustace, Eastern Christian, Gill St. Bernard’s, Holy Cross Prep, Holy Spirit, Immaculata, Immaculate Conception, Montclair Kimberley, Morris Catholic, Morristown-Beard, Newark Academy, Pope John, Princeton Day, Ranney, Roselle Catholic, Saddle River Day, St. Joseph’s (Hamm.), St. Rose, St. Thomas Aquinas, Union Catholic, Wardlaw-Hartridge Girls Non-Public B: Bishop Eustace, Eastern Christian, Gill St. Bernard’s, Holy Cross Prep, Holy Spirit, Hudson Catholic, Immaculate Conception, Montclair Kimberley, Morris Catholic, Morristown-Beard, Newark Academy, Pope John, Princeton Day, Ranney, Roselle Catholic, Saddle River Day, St. Benedict’s, St. Dominic, St. Joseph’s (Hamm.), St. Rose, Stuart County Day, Villa Walsh, Wardlaw-Hartridge RECOMMENDED • nj .com Bowling preview 2024-25: Section/group classifications for the state tournaments Dec. 2, 2024, 8:01 p.m. Girls swimming: Group and sectional classifications for the 2024-25 season Dec. 4, 2024, 9:44 p.m. Bakari Tice can be reached at btice@njadvancemedia.com . Follow him or send him a message on Twitter/X at @BakariTice . The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)

A massive fire broke out early Sunday morning on the second floor of a two-wheeler showroom near Basti Jodhewal, reducing a stock of electric scooters to ashes. Fire officials said around 70 electric and petrol vehicles were gutted. The blaze, suspected to have been caused by a short circuit, spread rapidly. Residents in the vicinity noticed the flames and alerted the fire brigade and the showroom owners. An eyewitness reported that an employee of a nearby petrol pump was the first to spot the fire and raise the alarm. Fire officer Lovelesh Sood said that upon receiving the emergency call, fire stations from the central fire station, Sundar Nagar and Tajpur Road were immediately dispatched to the site. It took almost two hours for the firemen to being the situation under control. The showroom owners are assessing their loss. An investigation into what triggered the fire is underway, officials said.If she becomes education secretary, Linda McMahon could revise Title IX rules that serve to protect students from sex discrimination, including sexual violence. by Nadra Little , for The 19th Education leaders and advocates are speaking out against Linda McMahon, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to become education secretary, as a sexual misconduct lawsuit involving the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) garners increased interest. In October, attorneys filed a civil lawsuit on behalf of five men accusing McMahon and her husband, WWE co-founder Vince McMahon, of ignoring the sexual abuse by a male WWE employee that they endured as teen boys during the 1980s and 1990s. The men worked as “ring boys” who set up and broke down wrestling rings at WWE matches. They allege that WWE officials knew about the abuse they experienced but did not intervene. “The sexual misconduct lawsuit — it's going to get a lot of scrutiny, and I'm very troubled by those allegations,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the labor union representing 1.8 million members. “She's going to have to respond to them, about whether or not she was complicit in hiding or in covering up sexual assault. How can you be the head of education in America [with these allegations]? It's antithetical, right?” RELATED STORY: Trump taps woman behind ‘Hell in a Cell’ to smack down public education Laura A. Brevetti, an attorney for McMahon, provided a statement to The 19th in which she described the civil suit against her client as “baseless” and “filled with scurrilous lies, exaggerations, and misrepresentations.” Brevetti said that the FBI looked into the allegations years ago and “found no grounds to continue the investigation.” Along with administering federal funding, guaranteeing all students equal access to education, and ensuring schools comply with the law, the Department of Education issues updates to Title IX, a civil rights statute that prevents federally funded schools from practicing sex discrimination, which includes sexual misconduct. The accusations against McMahon have raised questions about whether she’s capable of keeping students safe. School personnel such as teachers and principals are mandated reporters, meaning they have a legal obligation to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the authorities. But McMahon has no classroom experience, having led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. The record of Betsy DeVos, education secretary during that term, has only added to the concerns about McMahon since DeVos was widely criticized for making Title IX revisions that created barriers for students trying to report sexual misconduct. The DeVos guidelines allowed schools to dismiss all but the most severe complaints of sexual harassment, subject complainants to live hearings with cross examinations, ignore cases of sexual violence involving students that occurred off campus, and drag out sexual misconduct investigations for so long that, in some cases, students graduated before action was taken. In the spring, President Joe Biden’s administration issued new Title IX guidelines that strengthened protections for survivors, but their advocates fear these gains will be reversed during the second Trump administration. Several nominees to his Cabinet posts have been accused of sexual misconduct, with Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration as attorney general as the allegations against him were scrutinized. A jury has found Trump himself liable for sexual abuse, and dozens of women have accused him of sexual misconduct. For organizations dedicated to ending sexual violence on K-12 and college campuses, McMahon’s nomination comes as a blow. Kenyora Parham, CEO of End Rape On Campus, a nonprofit working to end campus sexual violence by supporting survivors, prevention education, and policy reform, told The 19th in a statement that she is outraged that McMahon could be the next education secretary. She urged policymakers and fellow advocates to mobilize against her nomination. The allegations against her are “not only appalling but disqualifying for a role that demands the utmost integrity and commitment to student safety,” Parham said. “This nomination is a blatant and dangerous move by the Trump administration, signaling a calculated agenda to dismantle the protections afforded by Title IX. Title IX is a vital safeguard that ensures the rights of all students, particularly those who are LGBTQ+, pregnant or parenting and students of color. These protections are ... crucial for creating an educational environment free from discrimination and abuse.” Emma Grasso Levine, senior manager of Title IX policy and programs at Know Your IX, a project focused on ending gender-based and sexual violence in schools, said that she’s extremely concerned that McMahon’s nomination could lead to a “Betsy DeVos 2.0 situation.” That means, she said, “someone who is not qualified to lead the Department of Education, whose role, as instructed by the incoming administration, may be to reduce funding or dismantle staffing and key functions of that department that are meant to protect student civil rights.” Trump has repeatedly said that he will eliminate the Department of Education. On Thursday, Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican representing South Dakota, initiated the process by introducing the “ Returning Education to Our States Act ” to disband the federal agency. The president-elect also wants to privatize education by increasing students’ access to taxpayer-funded vouchers that would cover some of their expenses at independent secular and religious schools. As chair of the board of the America First Policy Institute, which promotes Trump’s public policy proposals, McMahon has worked toward privatization. RELATED STORY: What happens if Republicans really do kill the Education Department? McMahon’s education resume has also cast doubt on her qualifications to lead the department. Current Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona worked as a classroom teacher, school principal, assistant superintendent, and education commissioner in Connecticut before Biden nominated him for the post. Also from Connecticut, McMahon served on the Connecticut State Board of Education from 2009 to 2010. At that time, critics wondered if she was qualified to serve, a controversy that grew when McMahon said that she had a bachelor’s degree in education when her degree is actually in French. McMahon has also sat on the trustee board of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, off and on since 2004. The Catholic institution announced in 2012 that it was naming its student commons building in the billionaire’s honor following her $5 million gift to the university during one of her two failed bids to become a U.S. senator representing Connecticut. Levine called McMahon’s lack of classroom experience and misconduct allegations “incredibly concerning” and questioned how she would enforce Title IX or address complaints filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which addresses claims of discrimination. Jasmine Bolton, who served as senior counsel in the Office for Civil Rights from 2021 to 2023, also has misgivings. Bolton is now policy director at the Partnership for the Future of Learning, a network of organizations fighting for educational equity and high-quality public schools. “It does send a message to our children, to youth, when you see people who have either credible allegations of sexual assault or who have suppressed allegations of sexual assault ascending to these heights without ever having to take accountability for their actions,” she said. “It is problematic, especially in this case, there’s someone who will be in charge of overseeing reregulation under Title IX. We expect that they will take aim at Title IX again, if not to address sexual assault provisions, then certainly to address the protections offered to students based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” Trump has made it clear that he plans to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ students and to retaliate against schools for teaching critical race theory and gender ideology. Bolton lamented that schools get caught in the crossfire of partisan politics, tailoring Title IX guidelines to the ideology of the administration in power. “There's a special sting that somebody who herself might be investigated under these regulations were she an administrator at a school, whether that's K-12 or or higher ed, that this is the person who may be changing the rules, making it harder for everyone, harder for schools, harder for students, to create safe environments,” Bolton said. “That is incredibly frustrating.” Trump has selected several Cabinet nominees with sexual misconduct allegations after insinuating that educators are threats to children. In a campaign video last year, he implied that the Department of Education was filled with “people that in many cases hate our children.” Conservatives in recent years have characterized teachers “as groomers,” an appropriation of a term used to describe how pedophiles prime children for abuse. In August, disparaging comments Vice President-elect JD Vance made about teachers during his 2021 Senate campaign resurfaced. He stopped short of calling teachers “groomers” but suggested he didn’t trust educators without children. Singling out Weingarten as a person who “wants to brainwash and destroy the mind[s] of children,” he said that “she should have some of her own and leave ours the hell alone.” Despite these attacks on teachers and on her personally, Weingarten, a “mom by marriage,” said that she is willing to reach across the aisle for the sake of the nation’s children because when teachers enter the classroom, they don’t have the option of working with some students and ignoring others. “That's just not who we are as people,” she said. “We make a difference in the lives of kids, and even when there are differing views, you have to be able to engage across the aisle. You can't say that a disagreement on an issue makes somebody a sworn enemy. That's who teachers are, and that's who I am. So the test for me is, ‘What are they going to do about helping kids achieve?’” In a statement after Trump selected McMahon as the nominee, Weingarten said that the AFT reached out to DeVos at the beginning of her tenure as education secretary and would do the same with the WWE co-founder. But that doesn’t mean the organization won’t resist when appropriate. “If they're going to continue smearing teachers, if they're going to continue to undermine public education, we will fight that,” Weingarten said. “Period.”

By Jon Bitner on November 25, 2024 at 3:18PM PST GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links. Walmart is discounting a bit of everything for Black Friday this year, with big savings on everything from video games and controllers to Lego sets and laptops. Walmart+ members were given early access to all the deals, but now the offers are available to everyone--and while some of the best discounts are already sold out, you’ll still find a wealth of great products listed at the lowest prices of the year. Walmart Black Friday deals at a glance Video Game Deals Nintendo Deals PlayStation Deals Xbox Deals PC Gaming Deals Lego Deals Keep in mind that you no longer need to be a Walmart+ member to cash in on these offers, but consider signing up anyway if you’re a frequent Walmart shopper to gain additional benefits throughout the year. And if one of your favorite deals is sold out, check back in the coming days--Walmart is known to restock hot products frequently. The event ends on December 1, so be sure to cash in while you can. For more savings, be sure to check GameSpot's Black Friday deals hub. A few Nintendo Switch console bundles are on sale at Walmart. These bundles were available at other retailers but sold out, so Walmart is your last chance to grab them. You’ll also find $20 price cuts on both the Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Con (Neon Red/Neon Blue), bringing them to some of their best prices of the year. Nintendo Switch + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle -- $249 ($ 299 ) Nintendo Switch OLED + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle -- $299 ($ 349 ) Switch Pro Controller -- $49 ($ 70 ) Joy-Con (Neon Red/Neon Blue) -- $59 ($ 80 ) Tons of retailers are discounting Switch games for Black Friday, but Walmart is beating most offers by $5 to $10. So before you pull the trigger on a great deal at Amazon or Best Buy, be sure to check out this long list of Switch price cuts at Walmart. Notable price cuts include The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $30 (was $70), Animal Crossing: New Horizons for $30 (was $60), and Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed for $30 (was $60). Animal Crossing: New Horizons -- $30 ($ 60 ) Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed -- $30 ($ 60 ) Hogwarts Legacy -- $30 ($ 60 ) Kirby and the Forgotten Land -- $30 ($ 60 ) The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom -- $45 ($ 60 ) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom -- $30 ($ 70 ) Nintendo Switch Sports -- $30 ($ 50 ) Nintendo World Championships -- $25 ($ 30 ) Pikmin 4 -- $30 ($ 60 ) Pokemon Legends Arceus -- $45 ($ 60 ) Sonic X Shadow Generations -- $30 ($ 50 ) Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury -- $30 ($ 60 ) Super Mario Maker 2 -- $30 ($ 60 ) Super Mario: Odyssey -- $30 ($ 60 ) Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble -- $25 ($ 50 ) DualSense controllers are discounted for Black Friday, including the Midnight Black version for $54 (was $75) and Volcanic Red for $59 (was $80). Most other models are also seeing a $20 price cut. And if you’re in the market for a great headset, check out the Pulse Elite Wireless. On sale for $129 (was $150), it provides you with support for PS5, and PC with the included Link adapter, plus 30 hours of battery life and AI-enhanced noise cancelling for impressive audio. Prepare for the winter by stocking up on affordable PS5 games. Everything from Astro Bot to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is on sale, giving you a chance to load up on titles you may have missed over the past few years. While some of these games are also on sale at other retailers, in some cases Walmart has the best prices. Astro Bot -- $50 ($ 70 ) Days Gone -- $31 ($ 40 ) Demon’s Souls -- $37 ($ 70 ) EA Sports College Football 25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) EA Sports FC 25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth -- $40 ($ 70 ) God of War Ragnarok -- $30 ($ 70 ) Gran Turismo 7 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Helldivers 2 -- $30 ($ 40 ) Horizon Forbidden West -- $30 ($ 40 ) Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition -- $45 ($ 70 ) The Last of Us Part 1 -- $30 ($ 70 ) The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered -- $40 ($ 70 ) Madden NFL 25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales -- $20 ($ 50 ) Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition -- $30 ($ 70 ) Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 -- $30 ($ 70 ) NBA 2K25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart -- $37 ($ 70 ) Returnal -- $30 ($ 70 ) Rise of the Ronin -- $30 ($ 60 ) Sackboy: A Big Adventure -- $38 ($ 60 ) Silent Hill 2 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Stellar Blade -- $50 ($ 70 ) Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection -- $31 ($ 50 ) Now is the time to pick up a new Xbox Controller, as just about all colors and patterns are just $45. These typically costs between $60-$70, making Walmart’s Black Friday sale one of the best places to pick up an official Xbox controller. You’ll also find the Elite Series 2 for $141 (was $180) and the Elite Series 2 Core for $107 (was $130). Xbox Wireless Controllers Arctic Camo -- $45 ($ 65 ) Astral Purple -- $45 ($ 65 ) Carbon Black -- $45 ($ 60 ) Daystrike Camo -- $45 ($ 70 ) Deep Pink -- $45 ($ 60 ) Electric Volt -- $45 ($ 65 ) Ghost Cypher -- $45 ($ 65 ) Mineral Camo -- $45 ($ 65 ) Nocturnal Vapor (Green) -- $45 ($ 70 ) Pulse Red -- $45 ($ 65 ) Robot White -- $45 ($ 50 ) Shock Blue -- $45 ($ 65 ) Sky Cypher -- $45 ($ 70 ) Velocity Green -- $45 ($ 60 ) Elite Series 2 Elite Series 2 -- $141 ($ 180 ) Elite Series 2 (Blue) -- $116 ($ 140 ) Elite Series 2 (White) -- $107 ($ 130 ) Three sports games are on sale for $30 each. Consider picking them up for yourself or as a holiday gift, as these are among the best prices of the year. EA Sports College Football -- $30 ($ 70 ) Madden NFL 25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) NBA 2K25 -- $30 ($ 70 ) Fan of The Office? Then don’t miss out on the fantastic Dunder Mifflin Scranton Model, which includes 15 minifigures and is a faithful replica of the iconic floorplan. Now on sale for just $70 (was $120), it’s an easy recommendation for longtime viewers. There’s also a Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set that clocks in at over 2,600 pieces--snap together all its bricks to create a massive replica of the school and its grounds. Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet (590 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Lego Ideas: The Office (1,164 pieces) -- $70 ($ 120 ) Lego Harry Potter - The Battle of Hogwarts (730 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Lego Harry Potter - Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade (1,074 pieces) -- $70 ($ 130 ) Lego Harry Potter - Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (2,660 pieces) -- $136 ($ 170 ) Lego Star Wars - Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle (599 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Amazon is matching Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet (590 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Lego Harry Potter - Chamber of Secrets (1,176 pieces) -- $96 ($ 150 ) with coupon Lego Harry Potter - The Battle of Hogwarts (730 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Lego Harry Potter - Hogwarts Express & Hogsmeade (1,074 pieces) -- $70 ($ 130 ) Lego Harry Potter - Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (2,660 pieces) -- $136 ($ 170 ) Lego Star Wars - Ahsoka Tano's T-6 Jedi Shuttle (599 pieces) -- $45 ($ 80 ) Empoleon V Collector’s Tin -- $15 Gallade V Collector’s Tin -- $15 ($ 26 ) Giratina V Collector’s Tin -- $15 ($ 26 ) Rotom V Collector’s Tin -- $15 ($ 33 ) Tyranitar V Collector's Tin -- $15 Charizard ex Super Premium Collection -- $57 ($ 100 ) Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box -- $36 ($ 50 ) Scarlet & Violet: Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box -- $33 ($ 39 ) $699 ($ 1,200 ) CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF GPU: GeForce RTX 4060 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB SSD $109 ($ 150 ) Size: 27 inches Resolution: 1080p Refresh rate: 180Hz Response time: 1ms $1,199 ($ 1,599 ) CPU: Ryzen 9-7845HX GPU: GeForce RTX 4070 RAM: 16GB Storage: 1TB SSD $880 ($ 1,200 ) Free copy of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle CPU: Ryzen 7 7435HS GPU: GeForce RTX 4070 RAM: 16GB Storage: 512GB SSD $178 ($ 278 ) Size: 55 inches Resolution: 4K Display: LCD Refresh rate: 60Hz $228 ($ 378 ) Size: 65 inches Resolution: 4K Display: LED Refresh rate: 60Hz $129 ($ 249 ) CPU: Intel Processor N4120 RAM: 4GB RAM Storage: 64GB eMMC $89 ($ 159 ) Connection: Bluetooth ANC: Yes Battery life: Up to 40 hours $89 ($ 180 ) Connection: Bluetooth ANC: Yes Battery life: Up to 30 hours $299 ($ 499 ) Dolby Atmos: Yes Bluetooth: Yes Length: 27 inches $699 ($ 899 ) Dolby Atmos: Yes Bluetooth: No Length: 45 inches $89 Dolby Atmos: No Bluetooth: Yes Length: 35 inches $130 ($ 346 ) Slide Hockey Foosball Billiards Shuffleboard Table Tennis Chess Cards Checkers Bowling Backgammon Upvote Leave BlankIU Indianapolis 88, Alabama A&M 83

No. 5 UCLA stuns top-ranked South Carolina in 15-point blowout to snap Gamecocks' 43-game win streakLAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." Get local news delivered to your inbox!