becu live at northern quest resort & casino AP News Summary at 4:18 p.m. ESTWilson stays red hot as Solano College men’s basketball team beats American RiverThe Latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Canadian Press Dec 6, 2024 12:49 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Members of the New York police crime scene unit pick up cups marking the spots where bullets lie as they investigate the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan where Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah) The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner. The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Health Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City Dec 6, 2024 12:49 PM USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus Dec 6, 2024 12:30 PM Mexico study's surprising finding: Killer heat hit harder for the young than the elderly Dec 6, 2024 11:13 AM

BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of people fled the central Syrian city of Homs, the country’s third largest, as insurgents seized two towns on the outskirts Friday, positioning themselves for an assault on a potentially major prize in their march against President Bashar Assad. The move, reported by pro-government media and an opposition war monitor, was the latest in the stunning advances by opposition fighters over the past week that have so far met little resistance from Assad’s forces. A day earlier, fighters captured the central city of Hama , Syria’s fourth largest, after the army said it withdrew to avoid fighting inside the city and spare the lives of civilians. The insurgents, led by the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have vowed to march to Homs and the capital, Damascus, Assad’s seat of power. Videos circulating online showed a highway jammed with cars full of people fleeing Homs, a city with a large population belonging to Assad’s Alawite sect, seen as his core supporters. If Assad’s military loses Homs, it could be a crippling blow. The city, parts of which were controlled by insurgents until 2014, stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where Assad enjoys wide support. Homs province is Syria’s largest in size and borders Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. The city is also home to one of Syria’s two state-run oil refineries. Pressure on the government intensified from multiple directions. Opposition protesters stormed security posts and army positions in the southern province of Sweida, opposition activists said. U.S.-backed Kurdish forces who control eastern and northeastern Syria began to encroach on government-held territory. Offensive leaves Assad reliant on Russia After years of largely being bottled up in a northwest corner of the country, the insurgents burst out a week ago, captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest , and have kept advancing since. Government troops have repeatedly fallen back. The sudden offensive has flipped the tables on a long-entrenched stalemate in Syria’s nearly 14-year-old civil war. Along with HTS, the fighters include forces of an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Turkey has denied backing the offensive , though experts say insurgents would not have launched it without the country's consent. HTS’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Golani, told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that Assad’s government was on the path to falling, propped up only by Russia and Iran. “The seeds of the regime’s defeat have always been within it,” he said. “But the truth remains, this regime is dead.” A key question about Assad’s ability to fight back is how much top ally Russia — whose troops back Assad’s forces — will throw support his way at a time when it is tied up in the war in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he planned to discuss the developments in Syria with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts at a meeting Friday in the Qatari capital, Doha. In an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, he said international actors were backing the insurgents’ advances and that he would discuss “the way to cut the channels of financing and arming them.” Meanwhile, Russia’s embassy in Syria issued a notice reminding Russian citizens that they may use commercial flights to leave the country “in view of the difficult military-political situation.” The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq and Syria — three close allies — gathered Friday in Baghdad to consult on the rapidly changing war. Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh said the current developments may pose “a serious threat to the security of the region as a whole.” Assad opponents move in center, south and east The insurgent fighters on Friday took over the central towns of Rastan and Talbiseh, putting them 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Homs, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor. “The battle of Homs is the mother of all battles and will decide who will rule Syria,” said Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory’s chief. Pro-government Sham FM said the insurgents entered Rastan and Talbiseh without facing any resistance. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military. The Observatory said Syrian troops had left Homs. But the military denied that in comments reported by the state news agency SANA, saying troops were reinforcing their positions in the city and were “ready to repel” any assault. In eastern Syria, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces coalition said it had moved into the government-held half of the city of Deir el-Zour, apparently without resistance. One of the main cities in the east, Deir el-Zour had long been split between the government on the western side of the Euphrates River and the SDF on the eastern side. The SDF also said it took control of further parts of the border with Iraq. That appeared to bring it closer to the government-held Boukamal border crossing. The crossing is a vital for the government because it is the gateway to the corridor to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. At the same time, insurgents seized Syria’s sole crossing to Jordan, according to opposition activists. Jordan announced it was closing its side of the crossing. Lebanon also closed all but one of its border crossings with Syria. Worsening economy could hurt Assad’s war effort The opposition assault has struck a blow to Syria’s already decrepit economy. On Friday, the U.S. dollar was selling on Syria’s parallel market for about 18,000 pounds, a 25% drop from a week ago. When Syria’s conflict erupted in March 2011, a dollar was valued at 47 pounds. The drop further undermines the purchasing power of Syrians at a time when the U.N. has warned that 90% of the population is below the poverty line. Syria’s economy has been hammered for years by the war, Western sanctions, corruption and an economic meltdown in neighboring Lebanon, Syria’s main gate to the outside world. Damascus residents told The Associated Press that people are rushing to markets to buy food, fearing further escalation. The worsening economy could be undermining the ability of Syria’s military to fight, as the value of soldiers’ salaries melts away while the insurgents are flush with cash. Syria’s military has not appeared to put up a cohesive counteroffensive against the opposition advances. SANA on Friday quoted an unnamed military official as saying the Syrian and Russian air forces were striking insurgents in Hama province, killing dozens of fighters. Syria’s defense minister said in a televised statement late Thursday that government forces withdrew from Hama as “a temporary tactical measure” and vowed to gain back lost areas. “We are in a good position on the ground,” Gen. Ali Mahmoud Abbas said, saying troops remained “at the gates of Hama.” He spoke before the opposition advanced further south toward Homs. He said the insurgents, whom he described as “takfiri” or Muslim extremists, are backed by foreign countries. He did not name the countries but appeared to be referring to Turkey and the United States. ___ Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press

Sean O'Leary Talks About His New Science Fiction Book Dan Tesson: A Thriller 12-06-2024 11:34 PM CET | Leisure, Entertainment, Miscellaneous Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Headlineplus Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/b8b6beb9f233746d80b32b6fddec5b07.jpg More than four million new books are published each year but fewer than one million become popular. One such author who has managed to grab the reader's attention is Sean O'Leary with his new book Dan Tesson: A Thriller. Sean O'Leary is one of those writers who knows what the reader wants from the book. He knows how to bring the reader into the story to make them feel a party of it, and his new book is no exception. The author grew up in NYC and moved to Utah to go to the University of Utah and study Electrical Engineering. While he planned to return to the east coast one day, life has a way of redirecting our plans. He never moved back but have visited several times. With his book becoming one of the newest science fiction books available, I wanted to learn more about Dan Tesson: A Thriller, and the author, this is what Sean O'Leary had to say. You have written a new book called Dan Tesson: A Thriller, can you tell me more about the book? Dan Tesson is a play on words that started as DanTe's son . I think of the book as a modern retelling of Dante's Inferno but where punishments for sins/crimes happen in this life rather than in the one to come. Dan works for a defence contractor by day and writes political blogs by night. He is very critical of the politicians of his time (2040's). He is frustrated by the way they treat his fellow Americans and many other countries in the world. He desperately wants to make a difference in making the world a better place. Unfortunately, he is like most of us, powerless to affect meaningful change. That is until one day something happens that might give him the ability to change the world the way he wants. The question is, will he abuse his power or use it to make the world into a better place? Will he succeed? Can anyone fix the world's problems? I believe the book took you 20 years to write why was that? I have been writing as long as I can remember but have only shared those stories with my closest friends and family in the last few years. I started writing Dan Tesson when I myself was working for a defense contractor in the early 2000's. I think there are a few reasons it took so long. First, writing a novel, especially your first one, is a daunting task. Second, my style of writing involved telling myself the story over and over again adding more parts and answering questions in my mind until the story was mostly done. Then I wrote it down. That turned out to be the long way of writing. Once I sat down and started to put pen to paper, it took about 6 months. It was a learning experience. As I sit down to write my next novel, I am trying to leverage the lessons I learned writing the first book so that it does not take as long. How did you come up with the storyline for the book? I started thinking about the story in the early 2000's shortly after 9-11. I saw a lot of political corruption in our government. I and some of my coworkers went to anti-war protests while working for a defense contractor and laughed about the dichotomy of our day job verses our personal values. Much like Dan Tesson, we were unhappy with the way our government acted and wished there was a way to make a difference. I envisioned someone who had the power to make those changes. Over the next few years, I worked out what he would need to succeed and had endless discussions with my teenage son about what Dan would do in our world if he really existed. What research did you do for Dan Tesson? A lot of the stories told in the book started out as experiences that I had. I was not doing research as much as creating a character that had experiences that I could relate to. Dan and I are very different people, but many of the experiences that make us who we are, are familiar. For example, when my son was about 13, we got involved in blacksmithing. It was a wonderful adventure, and we met some the greatest people I know during that time. It was only natural that Dan and Jon would also have an affinity for the hobby but also be somewhat outsiders to the group of people who have made the craft their life. I have visited about 80 percent of the states in our country so as Dan and Jon travel across the country, many of the places they visit are familiar to me. For the rest, I used Google maps and other searches to visit those areas as though I was there. The book is set in 2040, why did you choose the time-period? I wanted the story set in the near future so that it was not current events, but not so far away as to be unfamiliar. I thought 40 years was about right, but since it took me so long to write that time looks more like 20 years now. In the early 2000's experts were talking about the possibility of a world-wide pandemic but nothing like that had really happened in my lifetime. I had no idea that life would imitate art so closely by the time I had the story completed. Who would you say the book is aimed at? They say you should never talk about politics or religion in polite conversation. While the book covers both of those topics, the main focus of the books is to decide what it means to be human. In that sense, I think it is for everyone. I most certainly have my personal opinions about all the topics in the book, but I wanted to write it in such a way as not to push my opinions as the correct answer but rather have a discussion in which everyone sitting at the table would feel comfortable expressing their perspectives. The book is not meant to be a guide to solving what ails society but rather a mirror that allows us to look at who we are and how we have chosen to construct ourselves. A lot of authors have different ways of writing, some dress up as their character while others go to a place where the story is based on, how do you write your books? I tend to live the story in my head. I imagine that I am a proverbial fly on the wall and observe the characters living their lives. I replay the story again and again, changing it, adding to it, fixing problems I see, until it feels right. Then it is just a matter of writing it down as I saw it happen. I also try and imagine myself as whatever character I am writing about and think about what it would be like to be them. I spent a lot of time being Dan and Jon, but I was also Becca and Yabi. I don't know how I could write a convincing character if I could not imagine being that person. Are you the type of author who likes to write in the peace and quiet or can you write anywhere? It depends on what you mean by writing. If it is the actual putting words down, then yes, I need it to be quiet, without distractions so I can focus on the storyline. But a good deal of writing involves daydreaming or having a discussion with someone about a topic you intend to address in the story. In that case, it could be around a roaring fire, sitting in a car on a long drive, or talking in a crowded pub surrounded by a hundred people on a Friday night. There are millions of people out there who would love to write a book but are worried about not being able to get it published, what advice would you give to them? Writing and publishing are different animals. I would not let one interfere with the other. Write the story that nags at your inner being and won't let you sleep at night. When I have a story that I am working on, I keep reimagining it in my head until it is as I think it should be. Then I have to write it down, just so I can get some peace. If I don't, it will haunt me day and night. Write like that. When you have a story that you are proud of, then worry about publishing. As far as publishing, there are so many more way of getting your book out there then when I was growing up. There are still traditional publishers and there is no reason not to pursue those avenues, but it is easier than ever to self-publish or go a hybrid route where you work with a company that essentially helps you self-publish. Look at that as a secondary adventure to go on after the story has been written. What is next for you, when can we expect you to release another book? I have been asked if there will be a second Dan Tesson book and I think the answer is going to be yes. There are so many questions that are left to answer and parts of the story that still need to be told. I am excited about writing that next book. Right now, I am working on a story about General Daniel Florence O'Leary, born in Ireland in the early 1800's, and how he saved the world from Mayan disaster in 2012. While we are not related, as far as I know, I became fascinated about how a young man from County Cork Ireland wound up fighting alongside Simon Bolivar in South America liberating counties form Spanish Colonialism. As I read about his amazing life, I wondered what the world would be like if he lived in our time. As I was thinking about him and his life, I had a crazy dream about the Mayan Calendar ending in 2012 and what they would mean for all of us. I am very excited to finish the story and look forward to sharing it with others in 2025. Dan Tesson: A Thriller, has become a smash hit on Amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Dan-Tesson-Thriller-Sean-OLeary/dp/B0D78ZNDKT/ ). Media Contact Company Name: Sean O'Leary Books LLC Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=sean-oleary-talks-about-his-new-science-fiction-book-dan-tesson-a-thriller ] Country: United States Website: https://dantesson.seanolearybooks.com/ This release was published on openPR.Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg snapped back Thursday at criticism from airline executives who say the Biden administration over-regulated them, pointing out that some of those airlines are making large profits despite new passenger-protection rules . Buttigieg said the rules his department has imposed, including automatic cash refunds after flights are canceled, enjoy broad public support and “will stand the test of time.” The comments came after the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines said they hoped the government will be more pro-business when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the Trump administration will be “a breath of fresh air” for his industry. “I know that some airline CEOs have expressed hopes that the next administration will be less passenger-friendly and more corporate-friendly than this administration,” Buttigieg responded during a news conference to discuss Thanksgiving travel. “The passenger protections that we have put in place deservedly enjoy broad public, bipartisan support. I just don't run into a lot of people who are against the idea that you ought to get an automatic refund without any hassle, for example.” Buttigieg argued that strong passenger protections are good for the airline business. “Some of these companies have been showing very healthy profits even at this new and higher level of consumer protection, demonstrating to me that these things can travel together,” he said. It appeared to be a reference to Delta, the most profitable U.S. airline in recent years. Delta earned $2.6 billion in the first nine months of this year and $4.6 billion last year. The airline industry has opposed many consumer-protections written by the Biden administration, even suing the Transportation Department to kill a rule requiring greater transparency over fees that airlines charge their passengers. Airlines also oppose a current department inquiry into their frequent-flyer programs . Bastian, the Delta CEO, said he expected the Transportation Department under Trump to “take a fresh look at the regulatory environment, the bureaucracy that exists in government, the level of overreach that we have seen over the last four years within our industry.” Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan said last week, “We are hopeful for a DOT (Department of Transportation) that is maybe a little less aggressive in terms of regulating or rule-making.” Buttigieg noted that his department extracted a $140 million settlement from Southwest over widespread flight cancellations in December 2022 and is conducting a similar investigation into Delta, which canceled about 7,000 flights after a technology outage in July. He suggested airline CEOs should spend more time thinking about passengers and less about their regulator.FAIRFIELD – Justiz Wilson was hitting from the corner. He was hitting from the top of the key. He was hitting with the shot clock winding down. He was hitting with plenty of time on the clock. Maybe most importantly, the Solano Community College guard kept making those shots in clutch situations against visiting American River of Sacramento on Thursday. Fueled by Wilson’s 33 points, the Falcons outlasted the Beavers, 73-62, as they evened their preseason record at 3-3. The Vanden High grad is having quite a week. He poured in 38 points in a win over Cañada just two days earlier. “My mindset has changed,” said Wilson, who was 11 of 25 from the field and 6 of 11 from 3-point land. “I had a few rude awakenings this season. People are really gunning for me, so I’ve had to really lock in with God and talk to him. I’ve had to listen to my pops a little bit more. He just told me to stay aggressive.” The Beavers (4-6) closed to within one point a handful of times in the game but never tied or took the lead. The final time came at 60-59 with 6:56 left in the second half. Wilson, however, calmly landed a turnaround jumper on the other end of the court. That began a 13-3 spurt to finish the game as Wilson had 11 of those points. While Wilson was sensational, he had sturdy help from fellow backcourt mate Nicko Ignacio, who added 20 points. The freshman from Fairfield High was 9 of 13 from the field. “The last two games, we’ve had Nicko back, and obviously we’re performing better. It’s no coincidence,” said Solano head coach John Nagle. “It’s a two-headed monster for those positions so (opponents) have to pick their poison.” Wilson had seven points and two assists in a 15-5 run for the Falcons to start the game as American River was forced to call timeout. The Beavers slowly got back into the game with the help of hulking center Max Manfredi, who led American River with 19 points and eight rebounds. The Beavers finally got hot midway through the first half as a Zach Cannon 3-pointer ignited a 13-3 run to cut the deficit to 29-28 with 6:21 left. However, two clutch foul shots from Wilson kept Solano in the lead. American River was down just 35-33 with 2:33 left in the half before a drive to the hoop from Ignacio began a 9-1 spurt to give the Falcons a 44-34 lead going into the locker room. Wilson held for the final shot and nailed a 3-pointer to put an exclamation point on his first half. Manfredi continued to get his points in the second half, but Solano sophomore Jeremiah Cardwell (five points, 10 boards) did not make things easy as the two battled physically against one another. Manfredi had four personal fouls – two of those on the offensive side. “He battled,” Nagle said of Cardwell. “He is all heart. He just gets out there and sacrifices for the team.” Solano still has some work to do on several fronts as it continues the preseason. The Falcons made just eight of 20 from the foul line for the contest. Also, Wilson and Ignacio accounted for 53 of the team’s 73 points as no one else had more than seven. “I think we still need to fully trust each other,” Wilson said. “We have new people on the team. We have a lot of players back, but I think we’re still trying to mesh together and trying to figure out our identity. I think we’ve had some amazing practices this week with coach Nagle though. I think we’re coming together.”

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Joni Ernst says she’ll meet with Pete Hegseth next weekFamous Cast Adds Bill Pullman & Daniel Zovatto to Zac Efron-Led A24 Thriller By The has grown, with Black Bear announcing that and Daniel Zovatto have joined the cast of A24’s upcoming thriller starring . Pullman and Zovatto round out an all-star ensemble, which is set to be directed by Jody Hill (Observe & Report, Eastbound & Down). The pair’s roles are being kept under wraps as of now, so it’s unclear just what they’ll be doing in the movie. Pullman is a legend in the world of Hollywood, best known for his performance as President Whitmore in the Independence Day franchise. He also appeared in high-profile classic films like Spaceballs, Sleepless in Seattle, and the USA Network series The Sinner. Zovatto most recently appeared in the horror thriller The Dating Game opposite Anna Kendrick, and also appeared in the Max series Station Eleven. He’s also appeared in films like It Follows and Don’t Breathe, and will next star opposite Kevin Costner in Steven Holleran’s tropical thriller Headhunters. Who else is in the Famous cast? Famous will be led by , who has signed on to portray the dual roles of overzealous fan Lance Dunkquist and Hollywood heartthrob James Jansen. This will serve as his latest collaboration with A24 following his critically acclaimed performance in The Iron Claw biopic. Alongside Efron, the film will also star Phoebe Dynevor, Nicholas Braun, Stephanie Koenig, Debby Ryan, Mekki Leeper, and Cory Michael Smith in supporting roles. Production on the film is currently underway in Los Angeles. “In the film, Lance Dunkquist has one asset that’s about to change his life – he has the face of a movie star,” reads the synopsis. “And not just any movie star – Lance is the spitting image of a Hollywood icon, James Jansen. Lance is about to travel to Los Angeles to make his dream come true. Lance is going to be famous, no matter what it takes...” Described as a provocative and highly entertaining Los Angeles-set thriller that explores the dark side of celebrity, the film comes from a screenplay written by Chad Hodge, and is based on the acclaimed novel by New York Times bestselling author Blake Crouch. It is produced by Sam Esmail, Chad Hamilton, and Michael Sagol, with Nick Krishnamurthy and Allison Hironaka set as executive producers. It is a production by Esmail Corp. and Caviar, while A24 handles its U.S. distribution and Black Bear takes on its international rights. Anthony Nash has been writing about games and the gaming industry for nearly a decade. When he’s not writing about games, he’s usually playing them. You can find him on Twitter talking about games or sports at @_anthonynash. Share article

The NFL is once again offering a heaping helping of Thanksgiving Day games for 2024. Week 13 kicks off on Thursday with a tripleheader with three of the four NFC North teams in action. Between the Bears-Lions (12:30 p.m. ET, CBS), Giants-Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET Fox), and Dolphins-Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), there are also plenty of fantasy football considerations, whether you're looking for the best advice for seasonal leagues or top tips for DFS contests. Here's a complete breakdown of the slate to help you know which players have the most and least favorable matchups and assist with those tougher lineup decisions. WEEK 13 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions Start 'em, Sit 'em Chicago Bears starts and sits Start: WR D.J. Moore, RB D'Andre Swift Sit: QB Caleb Williams, WR Keenan Allen, WR Rome Odunze, TE Cole Kmet, Bears D/ST, K Cairo Santos Sleeper: RB Roschon Johnson Moore has gotten going with interim OC Thomas Brown and has the best chance to produce as the No. 1 option in the passing game with the Lions' pass defense improving each week and rough on the slot (Allen) and tight end (Kmet). Swift won't find much room to sled on his former team, but he'll be motivated and can come through as a checkdown receiver in a negative game script. Williams is coming off a big game against the Vikings' defense at home, but you can't trust him on the road. WEEK 13 FANTASY ROSTER MANAGEMENT ADVICE Stock Watch | Start 'Em, Sit 'Em | Sleepers | Busts | Usage Report | Flex Finder | Weather Detroit Lions starts and sits Start: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, RB David Montgomery, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, QB Jared Goff, Lions defense/special teams Sit: TE Sam LaPorta, WR Jameson Williams Sleeper: K Jake Bates Gibbs has been red-hot and Monty should run with extra juice in a backfield revenge game of his own. They both should score again, but this time, leave some fun for Goff. The Bears' secondary is tricky outside and can contain the big plays (see Williams), but they can be eaten in the slot (St. Brown). LaPorta is just out of TE1 range for the season, and you can't trust him too much in a minus matchup. Detroit's defense also has been hot, and that doesn't change at home. New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Start 'em, Sit 'em New York Giants starts and sits Start: WR Malik Nabers, RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. Sit: QB Tommy DeVito/Drew Lock, RB Devin Singletary, K Graham Gano, WR Wan'Dale Robinson Sleepers: TE Theo Johnson, Giants D/ST, WR Darius Slayton Nabers and Slayton can benefit from a big downfield production pivot from a banged-up DeVito to a big-armed gunslinger in Lock. Tracy is getting too much work over Singletary to sit. The Giants' D has a good pass rush and won't need to worry as much about deep action. Johnson can keep up the recent pace Dallas Cowboys starts and sits Start: WR CeeDee Lamb, K Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys D/ST Sit: QB Cooper Rush Sleepers: RB Rico Dowdle, TE Luke Schoonmaker Lamb and Aubrey have been every-weekers for a while, but Dallas' defense finally can be used again at home against an uncertain and shaky Giants QB situation. Rush had a solid floor game last week, but this is a bad downfield matchup. He has his best shot throwing to Schoonmaker along with Lamb on short-to-intermediate inside routes. Dowdle would be a volume-based play in a plus spot if needed during a no-bye week. Miami Dolphins vs. Green Bay Packers Start 'em, Sit 'em Miami Dolphins starts and sits Start: RB De'Von Achane, WR Tyreek Hill (if he plays), TE Jonnu Smith Sit: QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle, RB Raheem Mostert, K Jason Sanders, Dolphins D/ST Achane needs to be a big part of the game plan in the outdoor elements for the Dolphins to keep winning. Check Hill and the wrist injury, but you should stick with him if he is healthy enough to go. Smith has been too involved in high-leverage situations through the red zone to sit. Tagovailoa has a tough matchup away in the cold, and Waddle is still difficult to trust, despite last week's needed slump breakout. Green Bay Packers starts and sits Start: RB Josh Jacobs, WR Jayden Reed Sit: QB Jordan Love, WR Christian Watson, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Dontayvion Wicks, TE Tucker Kraft Sleeper: Packers D/ST The weather in Green Bay for Thursday night is expected to be in the high 20s with a chance of snow. That's perfect late November/early December weather for Lambeau Field. The Packers got the power-running Jacobs to churn in the frozen tundra, and he'll explode again against a middling Dolphins run defense. Getting the ball out to Reed quickly should be the passing gameplan for Love, who has limited upside in a bad spot. The defense should make some big plays, too, in a correlated play to Jacobs. It's tough to feel any of the other pass-catchers or Love with lowered attempts for a second straight week. WEEK 13 DFS STRATEGY: Sleepers and Values FanDuel NFL Thanksgiving cash game lineup picks QB: Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, Giants $6700/$6,400 RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions $8,400 RB: Josh Jacobs, Packers $7,800 WR: D.J. Moore, Bears $6,700 WR: Jayden Reed, Packers $6,900 WR: Darius Slayton, Giants $5,400 TE: Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys $4,000 FLEX: De'Von Achane, Dolphins $9,000 D/ST: Packers $4,200 DraftKings NFL Thanksgiving tournament lineup picks QB: Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock, Giants $4,500 RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions $7,500 RB: Josh Jacobs, Packers $7,000 WR: D.J. Moore, Bears, $5,600 WR: Jayden Reed, Packers $5,700 WR: Rome Odunze, Bears $5,000 TE: Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys $3,400 FLEX: De'Von Achane, Dolphins $7,700 D/ST: Packers $3,000 The whole premise of these lineups was to get Gibbs, Jacobs, and Achane all together. To do that, it required going the cheapest at quarterback and tight end. The Packers' D is in the best spot at home related to Jacobs and Reed. Odunze and Slayton are the garbage time dart throws as downfield targets for QBs who might be trailing for much of their games. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >According to the budget, defence spending has been allocated ZiG18 billion, dwarfing investments in health (ZiG28.3 billion) and education (ZiG46.6 billion). This has raised concerns among opposition leaders, who argue that such militarisation does not advance the country’s development goals, particularly at a time when citizens are struggling with food insecurity and collapsing services. Welshman Ncube, leader of a faction of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), noted that the budget reveals glaring contradictions, misplaced priorities, and an alarming disconnect from the realities facing ordinary Zimbabweans. The government has projected a 6% GDP growth for 2025, hinging on “normal to above-normal rainfall” and macroeconomic stability. However, the former cabinet minister has argued that this optimism “ignores the deep-seated structural challenges in the economy, including unsustainable public debt now standing at US$21.1 billion”. “The government projects a 6% GDP growth for 2025, hinging on normal to above-normal rainfall and macroeconomic stability. “Yet, this optimism ignores the deep-seated structural challenges in our economy—unsustainable public debt now standing at US$21.1 billion, weak institutions, and an economic environment marred by inflationary pressures and governance failures,” he stated. “Defence spending is prioritised with an allocation of ZiG18 billion, dwarfing investments in critical sectors like agriculture, health, and education. “At a time when citizens struggle with food insecurity and collapsing services, how does such militarization advance our development goals? Resilience cannot be built on fear—it requires investment in people.” Corban Madzivanyika, Mbizo MP, described the budget’s claim of achieving 6% economic growth while implementing austerity measures as a “glaring contradiction” that will only serve to exacerbate the suffering of the most vulnerable citizens. “The proposed budget’s claim of achieving 6% economic growth while implementing austerity measures is a glaring contradiction that will only serve to exacerbate the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens,” Madzivanyika said. “Austerity measures, characterised by tough fiscal and monetary policies, have been widely discredited as a recipe for economic stagnation, rising inequality, and social unrest. “It is nothing short of economic malpractice to pursue policies that will inevitably lead to reduced government spending, higher taxes, and increased interest rates, all of which will suffocate economic activity and crush any hopes of achieving the touted 6% growth rate. “We urge the government to reconsider this flawed budget and instead prioritize policies that promote economic stimulus, social welfare, and inclusive growth. “This can be achieved by investing in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, while also implementing progressive taxation policies that address income inequality and promote social justice. “Anything less would be a betrayal of the public’s trust and a recipe for economic disaster.” The budget has also introduced new revenue measures, including a 10% withholding tax on betting winnings, a Fast Foods Tax, and taxes on the emerging sector. However, these measures have been criticised for targeting an overburdened populace without addressing corruption, a cancer that siphons billions from public coffers. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has justified the budget, arguing that it aims to provide economic relief and support key sectors. He has also offered token relief on tax-free income threshold, Capital Gains Tax on Marketable Securities, and VAT deferment on energy sector, among other measures.