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California Democrats open special session to Trump-proof state prioritiesTORONTO — Canada's main stock index lost more than 100 points Tuesday ahead of an expected interest rate cut Wednesday, while U.S. markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 121.09 points at 25,504.33. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 154.10 points at 44,247.83. The S&P 500 index was down 17.94 points at 6,034.91, while the Nasdaq composite was down 49.45 points at 19,687.24. “Relative to the churn we have seen in the markets the last few days ... today being a little bit of a boring day would be fairly welcome for many investors,” said Stephen Duench, vice-president and portfolio manager for AGF Investments Inc. Wednesday is set to be more exciting, with an interest rate cut expected in Canada and important consumer inflation data coming in the U.S. “I do expect a little bit more fireworks tomorrow,” said Duench. The Bank of Canada is widely expected to announce an outsized cut Wednesday of half a percentage point, he said. “Anything other than that would be a surprise.” The U.S. Federal Reserve has its last decision of the year scheduled for next week, and market watchers are leaning toward a smaller quarter-percentage-point cut there, said Duench. It would be the third cut this year after the central bank hiked rates to a two-decade high to fight inflation. The inflation report will be the last significant data point before the central bank’s decision, Duench said. If the inflation report shows price growth is proving more stubborn than expected, that could change the Fed’s thinking on rates next week, he said. “Maybe that's part of the reason we've seen churn in the market the last few days in the U.S.” Beneath the surface, there was some movement in the tech sector, where Oracle sank 6.7 per cent after its latest earnings report missed expectations. Meanwhile, Google's stock price rose by more than five per cent. The company on Tuesday unveiled its new chip meant for quantum computing. Duench said after the advent of artificial technology led a rally earlier this year, quantum computing could be another frontier for investors to keep an eye on. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.59 cents US compared with 70.77 cents US on Monday. The January crude oil contract was up 12 cents at US$68.59 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down two cents at US$3.16 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$32.60 at US$2,718.40 an ounce and the March copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.27 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressThe NBA and NHL field more pairs of brothers, but no league outshines the when it comes to superstar siblings. From the Mannings to the Kelces to the McCaffreys and beyond, there is a long and ever-growing list of family surnames that have become gold standards in the , both on the field and off. The success on the gridiron is easy to follow. It makes sense that and T.J. Watt have both earned Defensive Player of the Year awards — they share the same genetics. The same could be said for Super Bowl champions and or and . But many of the famous brother tandems are also superstars without their cleats — whether they’re cracking jokes on a podcast or entertaining audiences in a television studio or selling soup in a big-budget ad campaign. T.J. and , along with former fullback and third brother Derek, have been all over television screens this month in a “Home Alone” inspired commercial for Dick’s Sporting Goods. and reinvented the “Monday Night Football” broadcast with their laid-back “ManningCast,” while and leveraged their “New Heights” podcast into a $100 million distribution deal this year. Baseball has had its share of marquee siblings in the past, but not even the DiMaggio clan of the mid-20th century or the Ripkens of the 1990s had the kind of stranglehold on audiences today’s football-playing brothers have. “The thing that’s unavoidable at the crux of it all is their personalities,” said , a sports management professor at George Washington University. “People succeed if they have some sort of funny point to them or this natural connection. These brothers have that.” American audiences are increasingly drawn to the league’s brothers as the continues to cement itself as the country’s dominant cultural force. The genetic component of brotherly success is obvious. If one child in a family has the genes to become a top-tier athlete, it only makes sense that their sibling would reap the same benefits. It doesn’t hurt that athletic fathers often foster those traits in their children — especially their sons. Before they became Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, and grew up around locker rooms, while their father, Archie, played for the New Orleans Saints in the 1970s and ’80s. Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had a similar up-close and personal look at what a life meant — their father, Ed, caught passes from Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway as a member of the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. Christian McCaffrey hit the league first, winning an Offensive Player of the Year award while his younger brother finished his collegiate career at Rice. “I looked up to my older brother so much. It was cool not just to follow in their footsteps but to bond with them over it,” Luke McCaffrey said. “That brought me joy and taught me the brotherhood aspect of team sports at a young age.” No one who reaches the pinnacle of their sport will say they had an easy path, but there are benefits to following in familial footsteps. “Everybody battles through different things in their life. Having people who have gone through a similar thing shows you the sort of recipe for that,” Luke McCaffrey said. “How to overcome things, how to trust the process, how to enjoy playing the game.” The McCaffreys and Mannings have the added benefit of an network to support them. The fathers became wealthy in the league and had the know-how and financial ability that a typical parent might not be able to offer. In other industries, they might be derided as “nepo babies,” individuals who succeed in the same field as their parents by leveraging those professional connections. “Having a father who’s been an player is a huge inside track because you know what coaches are looking for,” said. “People will look at your kid and you can afford — because you have the money — the best training.” Even players who don’t have fathers stand to gain from a competitive upbringing. wide receivers Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown learned to love the off-field work from their father, former Mr. Universe John Brown. “His biggest impact was teaching us the discipline that it takes to make it to the professional level, the dedication that it takes and the mindset you need to have,” said New Orleans Saints receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, the oldest of three brothers. But a football-focused family offers more than just a genetic advantage. Having a training partner to hold them accountable while growing up is invaluable, siblings say. Working alongside someone with the same background and the same goals makes it easier to get in the gym, study film and devote extra time on the practice field. “We could both train together. We have the same routine, same schedule,” Equanimeous St. Brown said. “Just like in bodybuilding, they have a gym partner they go with to push one another.” For former defensive backs Jason and Devin McCourty, the dream started early — as did the preparation. During their Pop Warner days, the pair would wake up early on Saturday mornings to go over plays, throw the pigskin around and fantasize about what could be. The competitive nature that eventually carried them to the manifested in ways that didn’t always appear helpful to outsiders. “Me and him would be in full-blown arguments in offseason workouts in the summer where we didn’t think the other one was working hard enough; we’d be yelling and screaming,” said. “Our coach would often tell us to shut up in the huddle because we’d be arguing with each other if the other guy scored on us.” Those arguing teammates eventually won a Super Bowl together as members of the New England Patriots in 2019. They were just getting started. Childhood experiences transcend individual sports, but the superstars are parlaying their on-field success and familial bonds into media opportunities that their counterparts in the MLB, NBA and NHL rarely match. The NBA’s Ball family — featuring father LaVar and brothers Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo — have made the biggest push with their own six-season reality show, “Ball in the Family,” and the “Big Baller Brand” shoe line, but their national relevance has faded over time. The reality show, which aired on Facebook Watch, last aired in 2020. LaMelo Ball moved away from his family brand by signing a $100 million deal with Puma before the 2020 NBA draft. Meanwhile, the family ties seem to bloom perennially. Years removed from their playing careers, the brothers parlayed a combined four Super Bowls into a handful of shows at ESPN with their own production company — Omaha Productions. Add a regular rotation of commercials from Toyota and Allstate, and the pair are a staple of broadcasts every Sunday. The Kelces are hot on their heels, though. Their podcast, aided by younger brother ’ highly publicized relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, has become unavoidable in circles on social media. Jason Kelce sprinted into retirement this year with a slew of his own commercials and an upcoming late-night show on ESPN. “It enhances the joy and the love that you have for the game because it makes it bigger than the sport,” Luke McCaffrey said of these brotherly enterprises. “The other aspect is that it makes it easier from a marketing standpoint; you have two different audiences that can form into one.” The McCourtys have known for years that they had that joyful connection. When they were both members of the New England Patriots living in the same neighborhood in 2018, they capitalized on that natural rapport to start the “Double Coverage” podcast. “It just started to kind of happen. We were always doing things in that arena,” said, noting their own local radio and TV productions. “It just made so much sense to do it and go for it.” The idea was a hit, paving the way for the duo to transition to broadcasting careers after they hung up their cleats. is an analyst for ESPN and calls games for CBS Sports, while Devin McCourty works the pregame, halftime and postgame shows for NBC’s Sunday night offerings. The pair will work together on Netflix’s Christmas Day broadcasts on Wednesday. “It’s been incredible,” said. “I just think the bond that we have and the ability to be honest with each other, it resonates with people.” The Kelces joined the podcasting world four years after the McCourtys, quickly becoming one of the most listened-to sports shows on platforms such as Spotify. The St. Browns started their own show two months later, and while they haven’t matched the rousing success of “New Heights,” their show has still found an audience and produced a handful of viral clips. “The opportunity to become popular and to get into media is very low,” said, especially when players become staple members of a given team. “That stability allows you to build up a strong fan base and recognition within a team community.” The most successful programs, she said, will feature top players. Coincidentally, the age of the podcast coincided with the age of uber-talented brothers in the . In the four major North American sports, there is only one pair of brothers in a Hall of Fame — MLB’s Paul and Lloyd Waner. The could shatter that mark in the next decade. The brothers look like shoo-ins for the Hall of Fame in Canton, as do the Kelces. has already received his gold jacket and is a semifinalist for the 2025 class. On-field excellence is good for business, according to . “For Devin and myself, kind of being captains on our teams, starters throughout our careers and then being on the same team brought a lot of notoriety to us,” he said, noting that the name recognition translated into off-field opportunities. The podcasts are also benefiting from the same concept that made the Mannings’ alternate broadcast on “Monday Night Football” a hit: people love the laid-back nature of two brothers shooting the breeze. “I think it’s just the brotherly banter, the s—- talking. We’re kind of funny sometimes, so people like that,” Equanimeous St. Brown said. “The more you know somebody, the more real the conversation is. And I’ve known my brother my whole life.” The business angle of these multimedia projects isn’t rocket science. The is a juggernaut controlling TV ratings with an iron fist with an ever-expanding schedule. The Christmas Day slate features the league’s third and fourth Wednesday games since 1948. It’s all supply and demand — according to — and the demand for content is still growing. With brothers from different teams, the podcasts double their fanbases. Fans who cheer on and the Kansas City Chiefs can embrace the same content as those who cheered on Jason Kelce when he played with the Philadelphia Eagles. It also doesn’t hurt that in today’s media landscape, there are more niche opportunities than ever before. Sports fans used to frequent the same sources for their news and highlights — ESPN, the major cable networks or newspapers. Now, there are a seemingly infinite number of podcasts, blogs and social media analysts who are each carving out their own niche followings. “There’s a lot more inventory that allows a lot more opportunities to become known,” said. “Everybody’s social media channels are the first step. Then people support you in a podcast. Then you go on to other things.” The impact goes beyond that, though. More than 80% of Americans have at least one sibling: a sister who they grew up tackling in the backyard or a brother they watched sports with. “You can relate. Being a kid and playing alongside your brother and imagining, ’Hey, I want to do that,’” said. “Or even as a parent, when you’re seeing how the Kelces get along. They can be different personalities, but when they come together, you see the uniqueness and specialness of that bond.” That bond is front of mind for many fans during the holiday season. Whether their own sibling bonds are as close as the McCourtys or Mannings, millions of Americans will reflect when they see brothers on Christmas Day. “People want to be close to their siblings,” said. “You either have that relationship or you want that relationship.” Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. .
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller sat for a long interview with the NCAA as it looked into concerns about unusual gambling activity, his lawyer said Friday amid reports a federal probe is now under way. “Hysier Miller fully cooperated with the NCAA’s investigation. He sat for a five-hour interview and answered every question the NCAA asked. He also produced every document the NCAA requested,” lawyer Jason Bologna said in a statement. “Hysier did these things because he wanted to play basketball this season, and he is devastated that he cannot.” Miller, a three-year starter from South Philadelphia, transferred to Virginia Tech this spring. However, the Hokies released him last month due to what the program called “circumstances prior to his enrollment at Virginia Tech.” Bologna declined to confirm that a federal investigation had been opened, as did spokespeople for both the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia. ESPN, citing unnamed sources, reported Thursday that authorities were investigating whether Miller bet on games he played in at Temple, and whether he adjusted his performance accordingly. “Hysier Miller has overcome more adversity in his 22 years than most people face in their lifetime. He will meet and overcome whatever obstacles lay ahead," Bologna said. Miller scored eight points — about half his season average of 15.9 — in a 100-72 loss to UAB on March 7 that was later flagged for unusual betting activity. Temple said it has been aware of those allegations since they became public in March, and has been cooperative. “We have been fully responsive and cooperative with the NCAA since the moment we learned of the investigation,” Temple President John Fry said in a letter Thursday to the school community. However, Fry said Temple had not received any requests for information from state or federal law enforcement agencies. He vowed to cooperate fully if they did. “Coaches, student-athletes and staff members receive mandatory training on NCAA rules and regulations, including prohibitions on involvement in sports wagering," Fry said in the letter. The same week the Temple-UAB game raised concerns, Loyola (Maryland) said it had removed a person from its basketball program after it became aware of a gambling violation. Temple played UAB again on March 17, losing 85-69 in the finals of the American Athletic Conference Tournament. League spokesman Tom Fenstermaker also declined comment on Friday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Tracy City Attorney Bijal Patel will resign from her job, with the Tracy City Council accepting her resignation Tuesday night during a closed session. Patel submitted her resignation during a closed session meeting on Tuesday, when performance reviews of her and City Manager Midori Lichtwardt were on agenda. Councilman Dan Arriola, who has been elected as Tracy’s next mayor, with the Nov. 5 election results still to be certified, made the announcement: “At this time Ms. Patel is voluntarily issuing her resignation as Tracy City Attorney, and the City Council is accepting her resignation.” Human Resources Director Kimberly Murdaugh reported that three council members voted to accept Patel’s resignation and two abstained from the vote. She did not specify how each individual council member voted. Patel will remain in her office until Dec. 3, and she will work remotely until her resignation becomes effective at the end of the year. She then will receive a severance package that includes the equivalent of a year’s salary, $279,807, plus 140 hours of management leave and 12 months of COBRA payments to allow for continuation of her health insurance. Patel came to the city in April 2022 with 20 years of experience working at the City of Oakland, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and City of San Francisco. Her more than 21⁄2 years at the city of Tracy were marked by conflict with Mayor Nancy Young, leading to a San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury report that, among other things, blamed Patel for delays in development and business projects and poor morale among city staff. The conflict came into the public spotlight in May 2023 when the council considered revisions to its Code of Conduct, which Young denounced as a policy document that would give the city attorney undue authority. That issue brought forth the council majority’s dissatisfaction with then-City Manager Michael Rogers, who would end up resigning. After the California State Bar declared Patel’s law license inactive for one month in July 2023, the council majority of Mayor Pro Tempore Eleassia Davis and council members Mateo Bedolla and Dan Evans continued to support her, approving a raise for her in December 2023 while Young and Arriola opposed the raise. Circumstances of that raise also led to two lawsuits against the city, the council majority in particular, but recent San Joaquin County Superior Court rulings in those cases have supported the city and Patel. Patel’s resignation comes as the council prepares to make a transition based on the results of the Nov. 5 election. Mayor Nancy Young is off of the council because of term limits, and Mayor Pro Tempore Eleassia Davis will be off of the council after an unsuccessful run for mayor. Steve Abercrombie and Dotty Nygard are the two leading candidates for council from Nov. 5, and Bedolla is likely to keep his seat on the council as the third-highest vote-getter as Arriola moves to the mayor’s seat. Despite the divisions and conflict over the past year-and-a-half, Patel and Young both made comments indicating they have reached a degree of reconciliation. “I hate that we have come to this place, and I do hope that you read the comments, at least from me, for this evaluation,” Young said, referring to the City Attorney’s performance evaluation discussed in closed session. “We’ve had our differences of approach and difference of opinion, definitely, throughout the time. I can say that in the past few months we have had a better working relationship and I do appreciate that and I do acknowledge that even in my review,” Young added. “I do wish you well in your endeavors. Even though it’s bittersweet I’m happy to be able to end on a better note than it could have been.” Patel agreed that they have put their conflicts behind them. “I do acknowledge that we have repaired our relationship in the past few weeks. It’s better to end on good note. I appreciate being able to leave on my own terms.” Davis, Evans and Bedolla, who have consistently supported Patel and praised her work on development agreements and other land-use matters, continued to offer words of support and encouragement while denouncing attacks against her. “I wanted to publicly thank you for your service to the city of Tracy,” Davis said. “I am disheartened that you are leaving, but I do understand. I do absolutely wish you the best of luck. I think you’re an outstanding attorney and I don’t think that this city did you any justice or favors, and I truly apologize as a member of this council and as a resident. You deserve better and I wish you the very best.” Evans added that he appreciated Patel’s experience as a development attorney. “You’ve got that background that really is perfect for this city. It’s what we need. It’s been invaluable, and the treatment that you’ve endured during your tenure at the city of Tracy, personally, it’s unforgivable and I’m very sorry that you’ve had to endure that.” In addition to conflicts at council meetings and the lawsuits, Patel was also subject to persistent online attacks through social media, as well as through mailers. “It’s difficult for me to even serve from this dais watching that happen. The city is losing somebody that endured that treatment to just do what’s right for this city,” Evans said. Bedolla added that Patel has contributed to progress on important city projects. “As part of a team we’ve had some really good successes in the past couple of years between the land for the aquatics center, the multigenerational rec center groundbreaking. I’ve seen things get done in this city that don’t necessarily match up with the narrative. I just want to sincerely thank you for your work.” Arriola’s comment was brief: “I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.” A statement from the City Manager’s office reads: “Over her tenure, she has played a vital role in improving legal processes and procedures, advancing the City's legal initiatives, and ensuring the protection of its interests.” During the closed session the council also conducted a performance review for City Manager Midori Lichtwardt. Young reported afterward that the council will consider an amended contract for Lichtwardt at its Dec. 3 meeting. • Contact Bob Brownne at brownne@tracypress.com , or call 209-830-4227.
