
Former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is transferring to Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining. Confirming earlier reports, Keene posted an image of himself in a Wolverines uniform on social media on Monday. Keene passed for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games for the Bulldogs in 2024. Fresno State opened the season with a 30-10 loss at Michigan on Aug. 31, with Keene throwing for 235 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Including two seasons at UCF (2021-22), Keene has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 8,245 yards with 65 TDs and 28 interceptions in 39 games. Keene's competition for the starting job at Michigan includes incoming freshman Bryce Underwood, the 247Sports Composite's No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. --Field Level MediaA broad stock rally pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average , S&P 500 and small-cap focused Russell 2000 index to new records on Monday. Investors bet President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, would help guide the economy without sparking inflation. The blue-chip Dow rose 440.06 points, or 0.99%, to 44,736.57. The broad S&P 500 gained 0.3% to end at 5,987.37. Both hit new all-time highs in the session, while the Dow also notched a fresh record close. The Nasdaq Composite ticked up 0.27%, finishing the day at 19,054.84. Monday brought a broad advance as investors cheered Trump’s decision to nominate Bessent, the founder of Key Square Group. The Russell 2000 jumped 1.47% and surpassed a prior all-time high set in 2021 at session highs. More than 3 out of every 4 S&P 500 stocks traded higher in the session. Investors see Bessent, a hedge fund manager, as someone who will be supportive of the equity market. They believe he may also help mitigate some of Trump’s most extreme protectionist policies, such as his stance on taxing imports. “I would recommend that tariffs be layered in gradually,” Bessent said to CNBC in an interview earlier this month before he was picked. “If you take that price adjustment coupled with all the other disinflationary things President Trump is talking about, we’re going to be at or below the 2% inflation target again.” Treasury yields and the U.S. dollar index pulled back following the Bessent pick late Friday. Indeed, the 10-year Treasury yield dropped more than 14 basis points in Monday’s session. These moves, paired with the day’s equity market gains, show a “textbook” positive reaction to Trump’s decision, according to Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial. “You can’t ask for a better reception from the market,” Krosby said. “This is the market applauding.” Big technology, on the other hand, was more of a mixed bag. While Amazon and Alphabet closed higher, Nvidia and Netflix dropped. Monday’s action adds to the narrative that last week’s gains have restarted the postelection rally. After surging in the wake of the presidential race’s conclusion, the ascent had taken a breather as worries about rising yields and the potential for inflation from Trump’s policies took hold. U.S. markets are dark Thursday due to the Thanksgiving holiday and close early on Friday, so trading volume is likely to be light this week. During the shortened trading week, the interest rate outlook is likely to be a focus. Investors will monitor the release of October’s personal consumption expenditure price index, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, on Wednesday. Minutes from the Fed’s most recent policy meeting are also due out ahead of Thanksgiving.
Instead of waiting for the Federal Aviation Administration to build an air traffic control tower, Coeur d’Alene Airport decided to build its own. The semipermanent structure built atop a stack of shipping containers will be staffed next summer. “It is really a safety issue,” said Bruce Mattare, Kootenai County commissioner and airport liaison. The general aviation airport in Hayden mostly serves small bush planes, private jets, express cargo and emergency aircraft. Despite having no commercial passenger service, it is the second-busiest airport in Idaho in terms of total flights. Some days during peak season, it has even more flights than Boise or Spokane International Airport. From a traffic standpoint, “a Cessna flight is no different than a Southwest flight,” Mattare said. Most of the time the airfield is “uncontrolled,” meaning pilots coordinate with each other over radio to take off and land. That’s manageable in the winter months, when daily flights drop to about 150. But in the summer, that number rises to 600. “Having a tower to sequence that traffic properly and put them on the right runway – that’s definitely a safer situation,” Airport Director Gaston Patterson said. But it can take a decade to get FAA approval for a permanent tower. So, Patterson thought about interim solutions to deal with the immediate safety risk. For a few weeks during fire season, the U.S. Forest Service contracts air traffic control services at the airport using a mobile trailer. But that setup is less than ideal. From only a few feet off the ground, controllers do not have a clear view of each runway and taxiway. Patterson looked into installing a prefabricated fire lookout tower, but quotes ranged over half a million dollars. Then he thought about popular social media posts he had seen of houses built creatively out of shipping containers. He crunched the numbers and realized he could build a tower for $300,000. The smallest FAA towers cost $20 million, Patterson said. Although Kootenai County oversees the airport, the airport is self-sufficient and no longer takes any local tax money because it earns enough from user fees. At first, the tower will be used from June through October. Eventually, it could be open year-round. While residents have complained of increasing noise, Mattare said the tower will help by routing air traffic over less populated neighborhoods. “People associate a tower with more traffic,” Mattare said, “but it doesn’t create traffic.” Population growth is what really drives more traffic, he said. The purpose of the tower is purely for safety. Not having a tower is like not having a traffic light at an already busy intersection. Mattare stressed the importance of the airport to the community’s local economy and emergency services. Besides Forest Service air tankers, the airport is also a base for Life Flight Network’s medical air transport. Patterson said it is possible for regular passenger flights to come to the airport in the future, but it wouldn’t be anything like major airlines seen in Spokane. Rather, it would likely be small turboprops with commuter service to close destinations like Missoula, Boise or Seattle. “While something larger could operate here under the right conditions, it would be highly unlikely,” Patterson said. Meanwhile, the airport is still on the FAA’s waiting list for a permanent control tower. If approved, the FAA would pay for the tower and staffing. The shipping container tower is easy to dismantle and could feasibly be sold to another airport, Patterson said. The tower could be a model for other small airports, and Patterson suggested the FAA consider providing something like it to high-traffic airports while they wait for an official tower.G7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
As reliance on artificial intelligence grows, so too does importance of re-skilling and upskilling workforce. Companies recognise need to equip their employees with new tech skills Over the past 11 months, we have witnessed significant shifts in workplace practices as companies adopt new strategies and reinforce existing ones. Central to this transformation has been the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into day-to-day operations. AI is not just a buzzword but has become a powerful tool that is reshaping how businesses function, enhancing efficiency, and driving productivity. Many organisations have begun leveraging AI to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more valuable and strategic work. By doing so, businesses can streamline operations and address system inefficiencies without human intervention. Beyond task automation, some companies have pushed the boundaries by using AI to enhance decision-making processes. With the ability to analyse vast amounts of data in real time, AI provides actionable insights that help decision-makers make informed choices. This data-driven approach has become essential for organisations looking to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market. AI also plays a crucial role in improving customer experience. By analysing customer data and behaviour patterns, AI can offer personalised recommendations and solutions that elevate user engagement and satisfaction. As the reliance on AI grows, so too does the importance of re-skilling and upskilling the workforce. Companies recognise the need to equip their employees with the skills required to work alongside AI and other digital tools. Research shows that digital skill training has a significant impact on boosting productivity, particularly among workers who initially have lower levels of expertise. This investment in employee development fosters a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving, as employees leverage their experience in combination with new technological capabilities to tackle complex challenges. Another prominent trend that has gained momentum, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic, is the shift from traditional office work models to more flexible work arrangements. The pandemic forced organisations to adopt remote work on a large scale, and even as the world adjusted to post-pandemic realities, hybrid work models—where employees alternate between working from home and the office—have become the preferred choice for many. A 2024 report by the Project Management Institute highlights a 57% increase in hybrid work arrangements from 2020 to 2023, with the trend expected to grow in the coming months. However, these hybrid employees reported greater job satisfaction and had lower turnover rates, particularly among women and those with long commutes. These findings suggest that flexible work arrangements have positive effects on employee retention, engagement, and overall well-being. Work-life balance has become an even more prominent priority in the modern workplace, especially in the wake of the pandemic. A growing number of companies are paying closer attention to the mental health and well-being of their employees, recognising that a healthy, supported workforce is essential for long-term productivity. Many organisations are working to de-stigmatise mental health issues and raise awareness through various initiatives, such as employee assistance programmes and mental health resources. This emphasis on mental health is particularly important for younger generations entering the workforce. Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, places a high value on mental health and well-being. These employees are also increasingly unwilling to tolerate toxic work cultures. A stark example of this shift is the backlash received by Narayana Murthy for endorsing a 70-hour workweek, which many saw as out of touch with the evolving expectations of today’s workforce. Alongside these trends, there has been a noticeable shift towards sustainability, with a greater emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Companies are increasingly aware of the need to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable business practices, driven in part by government mandates and evolving consumer expectations. The Securities and Exchange Board of India has played a pivotal role in encouraging transparency, mandating that the top 1,000 listed companies disclose their business responsibility and sustainability reports. As companies face mounting pressure from both regulators and consumers, many have voluntarily started to disclose their carbon emissions data, even when not legally required. As regulatory frameworks around sustainability continue to evolve, organisations will increasingly be held accountable for their environmental and social impacts, further pushing ESG to the forefront of corporate strategies. The rise of these workplace trends—AI integration, upskilling initiatives, flexible work arrangements, mental health prioritisation, and ESG commitment—reflects a broader shift in how organisations are evolving to meet the changing needs of their workforce and society at large. Companies that successfully adapt to these changes will not only improve their operational efficiency but also cultivate a workplace culture that values innovation, inclusivity, and well-being. These organisations will be better positioned to attract and retain top talent, respond to market dynamics, and lead in an increasingly complex global landscape. Ultimately, the future of work will hinge on balancing the integration of advanced technologies, such as AI, with a strong emphasis on human well-being and purposeful business strategies. As companies continue to evolve and innovate, the focus will be on creating work environments that empower employees, drive business growth, and contribute positively to society and the planet. This comprehensive, forward-thinking approach will define the success of organizations in the years to come. (Shivanand Pandit is a tax specialist, financial adviser and author based in Goa.)France's Macron announces fourth government of the year
Lauren Boebert joins Cameo, charging $250+ for personalized video messages"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?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
David Hilzenrath, Jodie Fleischer, Cox Media Group | (TNS) KFF Health News In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have disabilities — were allegedly overpaid, as described by a KFF Health News and Cox Media Group investigation last year. “Innocent people can be badly hurt,” O’Malley said at the time. Nearly eight months since he appeared before Congress and announced a series of policy changes, and with two months left in his term, O’Malley’s effort to fix the system has made inroads but remains a work in progress. For instance, one change, moving away from withholding 100% of people’s monthly Social Security benefits to recover alleged overpayments, has been a major improvement, say advocates for beneficiaries. “It is a tremendous change,” said Kate Lang of Justice in Aging, who called it “life-changing for many people.” The number of people from whom the Social Security Administration was withholding full monthly benefits to recoup money declined sharply — from about 46,000 in January to about 7,000 in September, the agency said. Asked to clarify whether those numbers and others provided for this article covered all programs administered by the agency, the SSA press office did not respond. Another potentially significant change — relieving beneficiaries of having to prove that an overpayment was not their fault — has not been implemented. The agency said it is working on that. Meanwhile, the agency seems to be looking to Congress to take the lead on a change some observers see as crucial: limiting how far back the government can reach to recover an alleged overpayment. Barbara Hubbell of Watkins Glen, New York, called the absence of a statute of limitations “despicable.” Hubbell said her mother was held liable for $43,000 because of an SSA error going back 19 years. “In what universe is that even legal?” Hubbell said. Paying down the overpayment balance left her mother “essentially penniless,” she added. In response to questions for this article, Social Security spokesperson Mark Hinkle said legislation is “the best and fastest way” to set a time limit. Establishing a statute of limitations was not among the policy changes O’Malley announced in his March congressional testimony. In an interview at the time, he said he expected an announcement on it “within the next couple few months.” It could probably be done by regulation, without an act of Congress, he said. Speaking generally, Hinkle said the agency has “made substantial progress on overpayments,” reducing the hardship they cause, and “continues to work diligently” to update policies. The agency is underfunded, he added, is at a near 50-year low in staffing, and could do better with more employees. The SSA did not respond to requests for an interview with O’Malley. O’Malley announced the policy changes after KFF Health News and Cox Media Group jointly published and broadcast investigative reporting on the damage overpayments and clawbacks have done to millions of beneficiaries. When O’Malley, a former Democratic governor of Maryland, presented his plans to three congressional committees in March, lawmakers greeted him with rare bipartisan praise. But the past several months have shown how hard it can be to turn around a federal bureaucracy that is massive, complex, deeply dysfunctional, and, as it says, understaffed. Now O’Malley’s time may be running out. Lang of Justice in Aging, among the advocacy groups that have been meeting with O’Malley and other Social Security officials, said she appreciates how much the commissioner has achieved in a short time. But she added that O’Malley has “not been interested in hearing about our feelings that things have fallen short.” One long-standing policy O’Malley set out to change involves the burden of proof. When the Social Security Administration alleges someone has been overpaid and demands the money back, the burden is on the beneficiary to prove they were not at fault. Cecilia Malone, 24, a beneficiary in Lithonia, Georgia, said she and her parents spent hundreds of hours trying to get errors corrected. “Why is the burden on us to ‘prove’ we weren’t overpaid?” Malone said. It can be exceedingly difficult for beneficiaries to appeal a decision. The alleged overpayments, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars or more, often span years. And people struggling just to survive may have extra difficulty producing financial records from long ago. What’s more, in letters demanding repayment, the government does not typically spell out its case against the beneficiary — making it hard to mount a defense. Testifying before House and Senate committees in March, O’Malley promised to shift the burden of proof. “That should be on the agency,” he said. The agency expects to finalize “guidance” on the subject “in the coming months,” Hinkle said. The agency points to reduced wait times and other improvements in a phone system known to leave beneficiaries on hold. “In September, we answered calls to our national 800 number in an average of 11 minutes — a tremendous improvement from 42 minutes one year ago,” Hinkle said. Still, in response to a nonrepresentative survey by KFF Health News and Cox Media Group focused on overpayments, about half of respondents who said they contacted the agency by phone since April rated that experience as “poor,” and few rated it “good” or “excellent.” The survey was sent to about 600 people who had contacted KFF Health News to share their overpayment stories since September 2023. Almost 200 people answered the survey in September and October of this year. Most of those who said they contacted the agency by mail since April rated their experience as “poor.” Jennifer Campbell, 60, a beneficiary in Nelsonville, Ohio, said in late October that she was still waiting for someone at the agency to follow up as described during a phone call in May. “VERY POOR customer service!!!!!” Campbell wrote. “Nearly impossible to get a hold of someone,” wrote Kathryn Duff of Colorado Springs, Colorado, who has been helping a disabled family member. Letters from SSA have left Duff mystified. One was postmarked July 9, 2024, but dated more than two years earlier. Another, dated Aug. 18, 2024, said her family member was overpaid $31,635.80 in benefits from the Supplemental Security Income program, which provides money to people with little or no income or other resources who are disabled, blind, or at least 65. But Duff said her relative never received SSI benefits. What’s more, for the dates in question, payments listed in the letter to back up the agency’s math didn’t come close to $31,635.80; they totaled about a quarter of that amount. Regarding the 100% clawbacks, O’Malley in March said it’s “unconscionable that someone would find themselves facing homelessness or unable to pay bills, because Social Security withheld their entire payment for recovery of an overpayment.” He said that, starting March 25, if a beneficiary doesn’t respond to a new overpayment notice, the agency would default to withholding 10%. The agency warned of “a short transition period.” That change wasn’t automated until June 25, Hinkle said. The number of people newly placed in full withholding plummeted from 6,771 in February to 51 in September, according to data the agency provided. SSA said it would notify recipients they could request reduced withholding if it was already clawing back more than 10% of their monthly checks. Nonetheless, dozens of beneficiaries or their family members told KFF Health News and Cox Media Group they hadn’t heard they could request reduced withholding. Among those who did ask, roughly half said their requests were approved. According to the SSA, there has been almost a 20% decline in the number of people facing clawbacks of more than 10% but less than 100% of their monthly checks — from 141,316 as of March 8 to 114,950 as of Oct. 25, agency spokesperson Nicole Tiggemann said. Meanwhile, the number of people from whom the agency was withholding exactly 10% soared more than fortyfold — from just over 5,000 to well over 200,000. And the number of beneficiaries having any partial benefits withheld to recover an overpayment increased from almost 600,000 to almost 785,000, according to data Tiggemann provided. Lorraine Anne Davis, 72, of Houston, said she hasn’t received her monthly Social Security payment since June due to an alleged overpayment. Her Medicare premium was being deducted from her monthly benefit, so she’s been left to pay that out-of-pocket. Davis said she’s going to need a kidney transplant and had been trying to save money for when she’d be unable to work. Related Articles National News | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child National News | Colorado funeral home owners who let bodies decay plead guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse National News | Another E. coli recall: falafel bites from Florida, California and 16 other states National News | US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? National News | Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power A letter from the SSA dated April 8, 2024, two weeks after the new 10% withholding policy was slated to take effect, said it had overpaid her $13,538 and demanded she pay it back within 30 days. Apparently, the SSA hadn’t accounted for a pension Davis receives from overseas; Davis said she disclosed it when she filed for benefits. In a letter to her dated June 29, the agency said that, under its new policy, it would change the withholding to only 10% if she asked. Davis said she asked by phone repeatedly, and to no avail. “Nobody seems to know what’s going on” and “no one seems to be able to help you,” Davis said. “You’re just held captive.” In October, the agency said she’d receive a payment — in March 2025. Marley Presiado, a research assistant on the Public Opinion and Survey Research team at KFF, contributed to this report. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Clearwater Paper Co. (NYSE:CLW) Shares Sold by Public Sector Pension Investment Board
On June 28 2023, Microsoft and LinkedIn launched the AI Skills Initiative certificate program, a library of free videos for professionals who are beginners in generative AI . The program aims to teach participants how to apply generative AI to their work. As of December 2024, Microsoft expanded its library to form the AI Skills Navigator portal. What are the Career Essentials in Generative AI program by Microsoft and LinkedIn? The Microsoft AI Skills Initiative, developed with LinkedIn, consists of five modules. Every module includes a video, and some are supplemented with quizzes, a workbook file, or both. Completing all five modules gives the learner a Professional Certificate in Generative AI to display on LinkedIn Learning. The content presented in the AI Skills Initiative certification skews toward Microsoft’s Copilot instead of its major rival, Google’s Gemini . The Professional Certificate on Generative AI training will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese and will be free through 2025. SEE: Learn how generative AI is transforming cloud security . (TechRepublic) “We have the opportunity to provide foundational information to everyone, everywhere, to help us all stay ahead of the skills gaps and harness its creativity to retrieve helpful information,” said Naria Santa Lucia, general manager of digital inclusion at Microsoft, in an email to TechRepublic. “As we are learning, the technology is learning from us, too, and we have the power to shape how the technology can best support us.” SEE: 2025 was the year of agentic AI . The LinkedIn training course is part of Microsoft’s Skills for Jobs program, which includes a training module for teachers, trainers, and facilitators exploring artificial intelligence . Note that some of the material focuses on Microsoft Azure and Azure OpenAI. Generative AI skills are among companies’ top three training priorities More than 75% of companies plan to adopt AI in the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum. Training employees to use AI and big data is the third-highest company skills-training priority companies plan to focus on over this period, as highlighted in the WEF Future of Jobs 2023 report . That statistic includes generative AI and related technologies, such as machine learning , which fall under the same umbrella. The importance of AI in the workplace is further underscored by Microsoft’s May 2024 Work Trend Index, which found that 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work. However, 53% of people surveyed who use AI at work worry that using it makes them look replaceable. Additionally, some workers (45%) are still concerned they will lose their jobs to AI. On the other hand, a proportionate number of hiring leaders (55%) say they’re concerned about not having enough talent to fill roles in 2025. In last year’s Work Trend Index, 49% of people were concerned about AI making their jobs obsolete. At the same time, 70% are open to the possibility of delegating some tasks to AI to reduce their workloads. To address these challenges and opportunities, Microsoft proposes upskilling in AI to remediate imbalances. One element of skills training somewhat unique to generative AI is the practice of prompt engineering . “Unlike other enterprise software, generative AI tools require the user to train the tool itself,” said Shravan Goli, chief operating officer at Coursera, in an email to TechRepublic in 2023. “Without good prompts, the tool won’t be able to help employees boost productivity in a meaningful way, and increasing productivity is one of the most promising components of generative AI for workers today.” SEE: This customizable prompt engineer hiring kit from TechRepublic Premium He also noted that generative AI skills training requires ethical oversight, which Coursera considers in its own free training modules . “As with any emerging technology, society is still navigating its broader implications and managing guardrails,” Goli said. “In order to leverage this incredibly powerful tool while still ensuring responsible use by employees, I believe organizations need to carefully outline ethical guidelines.” Note: This story was originally published in 2023 and updated for 2024.
Bus parked at OC Transpo depot destroyed by fire
Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death