Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development , is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's Cabinet. Here are some things to know about Turner: From professional football to politics Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Motivational speaker and pastor Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Headed council in Trump's first term Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones," which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. The role of HUD HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction. ___
Mikaela Shiffrin suffers abrasion on hip during crash on final run of World Cup giant slalomWhen the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen's house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team showed a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, next to the one erected of franchise great Tom Seaver . “Everything that they showed me, what they have, what they want to do, it was incredible,” Soto said. “But my favorite part was the video.” Soto was introduced at Citi Field on Thursday, a day after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and agent Scott Boras. Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. The slugger walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. Soto picked the Mets over the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. His deal includes a luxury suite and four premium tickets for home games , all for free, and personal team security for the four-time All-Star and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games. “My family is really important for me. Without them, I probably wouldn't have been here,” Soto said. “It's one of the biggest things.” Boras had asked for those sweeteners. “We included it at the beginning," Cohen said. “He made a request and we were happy to provide.” The crosstown Yankees, who reached the World Series for the first time since 2009 in part because of Soto, refused to consider the concept. “Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” general manager Brian Cashman said. Cohen purchased the Mets ahead of the 2021 season and has boosted them to baseball's highest payroll in search of the team's first title since 1986 — when the World Series MVP, like Soto, wore No. 22 — Ray Knight. The owner thanked his son, Josh, for helping create the video and commended his 93-year-old father-in-law Ralph for attending the first get-together with Soto. While other teams met Soto at the Pendry Newport Beach, a hotel just a five-minute drive from Boras Corp.'s office, Cohen asked to host the session at one of his homes. “If we’re going to some restaurant, I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be,” Cohen said. “Food's better at my house.” Cohen and Soto met again Friday at another of the owner's homes in Boca Raton, Florida. Soto wanted to know how many championships Cohen expects over the next decade? “I said I’d like to win two to four,” the owner recalled. The value of Soto's contract eclipsed Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. Its length topped Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego that runs through 2034. The 26-year-old Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks this year and has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven seasons with Washington, San Diego and the Yankees. Boras wouldn't discuss who finished second in the bidding in Soto's mind. “When you’re at a wedding, you don’t talk about the bridesmaids," he said. Soto made the decision Sunday while at home with his family. Boras referred to the group as the “Soto Supreme Court" defined as “mother, sister, father — he’s got a wide group. I think he may have eight or nine uncles.” “My information requests and such were rather unique,” Boras said, detailing that his team asked for OPS by ballpark. Soto's 1.175 at Citi Field is his highest at any stadium where he's played 15 or more games. Soto cited Cohen's relationship with Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz as a factor in his mind. “They are kind of like (a tight) family, a family that wants to win but they definitely want to take care of their players and their families,” Soto said. Cohen had his wife Alex and father-in-law attend the initial meeting to emphasize kinship. “My father-in-law is at every game, every home game,” Cohen said. “I wanted him to see how important baseball is to this family. And Alex grew up with one TV in an apartment and that Met game was on every night.” Cohen relishes owning the Mets. He spoke earlier in the day to a town hall at his hedge fund. “Whenever you meet somebody, they want to talk about the Mets before they talk about financial markets,” he said. Soto's success will be determined by World Series titles. The Yankees have 27, the Mets two. “It's such a big city, right? There's plenty of room for both of us,” Cohen said. Soto had a more direct definition. "Championships is going to tell you if it's a Yankees or Mets town at the end of the day," he said.
Last but not least, Setien completed his quartet of signings with a promising young striker who has been making waves in La Liga with his clinical finishing and movement off the ball. His ability to find space, link-up play, and convert chances will be vital for Beijing Guoan as they look to compete at the top of the Chinese Super League. Setien's attacking style of play is well-suited to maximizing the striker's potential and unleashing his goal-scoring prowess.
KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing(Note to subs: amends byline error) The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”
The major US stock indices moved higher today with the Russell 2000 leading the way with a gain of 1.65%. The NASDAQ index lags with a small 0.03% rise for the day. The final numbers are showing: Dow industrial average +461.88 points or 1.06% at 43870.35. S&P index up 31.6 points or 0.53% at 5948.71. NASDAQ index up 6.28 points or 0.03% at 18972.42. Russell 2000 up 38.48 points or 1.65% at 2364.01. Shares of Nvidia rose by $0.78 to $146.67 (gain of 0.53%) after a day of up-and-down price action. Yesterday after the close, Nvidia announced earnings that be expectations. Snowflake also announced earnings after the close and posted its best day ever with a gain of $42.23 or +32.71% to $171.35. Alphabet did not have a good day as antitrust probes wait on shares. The price fell $-8.35 or -4.74% to $167.63. Some other movers today: Dell, +3.7% Shopify, +2.44% Microsoft, -0.63%. Meta -0.43% Oracle +0.88% Apple -0.21% Home Depot +2.61%FORMER Corrie star Bruce Jones who won millions of fans with his portrayal of Les Battersby, has landed his first major acting job since soap bosses decided to kill off his character. The 71-year-old has singed up to star in pantomime over the festive season, appearing in Beauty and the Beast at the Heywood Sports Village in Greater Manchester. Bruce, who has played his beloved character for around two decades, will star opposite fellow cobbles actor, Steven Arnold, who has appeared as Ashley Peacock for more than 15 years. Indeed it now seems that actor Steven has made a return to acting, after he was spotted working at a butcher’s in Yorkshire, in a bid to pay the bills between jobs. Meanwhile, actor Bruce was thought to have signed onto the pantomime, just days after learning that his character was due to be killed off for good. Having played loudmouth cabbie Les on the soap for more than twenty years, Bruce was said to have been ‘left annoyed’ when bosses told him that his character had come to the end of the line. read more about The actor was said to have been especially miffed that he was informed of his character's exit via email, as he told GB news: "I got an email from the casting office saying, Dear Mr Jones, I am sorry to inform you Les Battersby will die in the next few months. “I read the email and thought, why send me an email like that? Why call me Mr. Jones? Why not call me Bruce? “That annoyed me a little bit, but then I felt relieved. Maybe it's time for me to go now." Most read in Soaps His exit storylines sees his daughter, Leanne, (Jane Danson) get a visit from the police to inform her that her father has passed away. Being killed off always comes as a blow, as it leaves the actor with no option to return in the future. This year has been a dramatic one on the cobbles as several long standing players have quit for good. Legendary Corrie star Helen Worth has shocked fans by announcing she will be leaving the soap this year. The actress, 73, has played Gail for 50 years but has decided that its time to retire the role. Also Paul Foreman, played by actor Peter Ash was killed off over the summer after suffering from Motor Neurone disease. After more than two decades on our screens, Peter Barlow star Chris Gascoyne has left the show - and this time it seems to be for good. Despite his departure the door has been left open for his return. Chris will also be starring in Panto as he appears in a stage production of Peter Pan as Captain Hook, a role he will be playing at the Alban Arena during the Christmas and New Year period. Meanwhile actress Sair Khan who plays Alya Nazir in the ITV soap, announced she was pregnant and expecting her first child with partner Nathan. She eventually gave birth to her baby boy in May 202 4 as she revealed the happy news on her social media. But as a result, she was forced to take a step away from the ITV set for her maternity leave. Actor Bruce Jones starred as Les Battersby from 1997 to 2007, after which he was suspended from the show when he got drunk with an undercover reporter. READ MORE SUN STORIES Bruce was said to have made inappropriate remarks as well as revealing future storylines, as well as inappropriate comments. Earlier this year he made his professional wrestling debut, at an event in Manchester.Having had the opportunity to review the various fan-designed concepts for the FC Barcelona x Kobe Bryant co-branded away jersey, I must say that the level of creativity and innovation displayed by the submissions was truly commendable. Each design featured unique elements that captured the essence of both FC Barcelona and Kobe Bryant, showcasing a deep understanding and appreciation for the history and legacy of these iconic figures.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Doctors treating a 5-year-old boy shot last week at a faith-based elementary school in Northern California are unsure whether he will fully regain the use of his legs, family members said Thursday. A gunman opened fire Dec. 4 at Feather River Adventist School, along Highway 70 in Butte County, and shot two kindergartners. Elias Wolford, 5, was taken to a hospital in critical condition along with a 6-year-old boy. Both survived. Elias has undergone multiple surgeries since the shooting. But his grandmother, Debbie Wolford, wrote on social media Thursday that her grandson suffered damage to the outer edge of his spinal cord and has not retained full movement of his legs. “We knew that there was some spinal damage,” Elias’ aunt Tawnee Preisner wrote in a separate message to The Sacramento Bee. “... but at this point, it looks like he is not going to regain it with the swelling going down, we are really asking for prayers and support.” The Wolford family created a GoFundMe to help raise money for the costs associated with his medical bills and recovery. The second victim, Roman Mendez, has also undergone surgeries after being shot two times. Roman’s status as of Thursday was not immediately clear. Roman’s family also created a fundraiser to raise money for his medical bills. Glenn Litton, 56, came to the school affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, located between Palermo and Oroville, authorities said. Litton met with the school’s principal under the pretext of enrolling his grandson and gave school administrators a fake name, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said during a news conference last week. After meeting with the principal, Litton shot both boys as they wrapped up lunch break. He then fatally shot himself, Honea said. Litton appeared to have targeted the school for an attack. The gunman had planned a similar attack at a small Seventh-day Adventist school in Red Bluff , Honea said. ©2024 The Sacramento Bee. Visit sacbee.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.In conclusion, the decision to revisit "moderate easing" 14 years later carries significant implications for the future direction of economic policy. By reaffirming the relevance of this approach in today's economic landscape, policymakers are signaling their commitment to adopting a flexible, proactive, and growth-oriented strategy that responds to the unique challenges of the times. As the global economy continues to evolve and face new uncertainties, the concept of "moderate easing" stands as a testament to the enduring value of pragmatic and adaptable policy solutions in an ever-changing world.
As the popularity of "Sleeping Gate" continues to grow, more and more young adults are expressing their desire to join this virtual sleep sanctuary. The allure of escaping into a realm of tranquility and serenity, even if only for a short while, has resonated deeply with individuals seeking respite from the pressures of daily life. The act of documenting one's sleeping space and sharing it with others has become a source of comfort and solace, fostering a sense of connection and community in an increasingly fragmented world.
NonePickleball can be played anywhere there is a bit of space, indoors and out, grass or hard surface. It combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong using a paddle and plastic ball with holes. Great Broughton and Kirkby sports club, near Stokesley , used a Broadacres grant of £466 to buy equipment feeling they could use existing courts, and the activity would be good for more elderly members who were finding tennis too painful. To their delight, they found youngsters from the local primary school really enjoy playing as well. “In pickleball you serve underarm, and the paddle is lighter and easier to handle than a tennis racquet,” said committee member Philip Marshall. (Image: SHAEFER PR) “This cuts out all the aches and pains of overarm serves and shots and we’ve now found it also acts as an introductory game for tennis. It’s for everyone really and you can play competitively, for fun or simply for exercise.” The sports club has 150 members as well as social members and juniors. As well as offering football, cricket, tennis and now pickleball, the facility acts as a social hub for the village with a thriving bridge club and venue for barbeques, carnivals and other events. “Some funding streams can be very rigid on what the money can be used for and there’s a lot of form filling," said Philip. “The beauty of the Broadacres grant is that they provide money to support the ideas of community groups, and this has worked really well for us, we’ve had lots of people from across the generations trying something new.” The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved by the Association’s own residents via a voting scheme using tokens similar to how Tesco awards grants in its stores. To apply to the Fund visit https://www.broadacres.org.uk/customer-area/getting-involved/community-development-fund/
