President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday that former Sen. David Perdue , R-Ga., had agreed to be nominated to be the next U.S. ambassador to China . “As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the U.S. Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform , noting that Perdue has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong and spent much of his career working in China and elsewhere in Asia. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 “He will be instrumental in implementing my strategy to maintain Peace in the region, and a productive working relationship with China’s leaders,” Trump said. Perdue's nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. The bilateral relationship between the U.S. and China, the world’s two largest economies, is often described as the most important in the world. Ties reached their lowest point in decades in recent years, but both President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have been taking steps to improve them despite continuing disputes over trade, technology, human rights and the status of Beijing-claimed Taiwan. Trump, who takes office in January, started a trade war with China during his first term as president and has vowed to impose tariffs of 60% or more on all Chinese goods imported in his next one. Last week, he said he would impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods unless Beijing does more to stop the international flow of precursor chemicals for fentanyl. Perdue, who visited China as part of a congressional delegation in 2018, said in a Fox News commentary written with other senators after the trip that the U.S. needs to “wake up and do a better job competing with China.” “America’s outdated view of China could result in lost opportunities, or even worse, dangerous miscalculations or complacency,” the senators wrote. “We must have a long-term plan to compete and deal with China’s rising economic and geopolitical influence.” Perdue, 74, a former management consultant, was a Republican senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021. He served on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees. He lost to Democrat Jon Ossoff in a runoff after the 2020 general election. In 2022, he ran for governor after Trump recruited him to challenge Republican Gov. Brian Kemp , who refused to help Trump overturn Georgia’s election results in 2020, when the state voted for Biden. Perdue lost to Kemp in the Republican primary by more than 50 percentage points. “David has been a loyal supporter and friend, and I look forward to working with him in his new role!” Trump said Thursday. Before he entered the Senate, Perdue had a long corporate career, including as president and CEO of Reebok and CEO of Dollar General and the North Carolina textile company PillowTex. The current U.S. ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns , told NBC News in October that U.S.-China competition would continue “into the next decade.” “It’s a very challenging relationship,” he said. “But it’s without any question the most consequential relationship that we Americans have with any other country.” Xi told Biden last month that he would work with the Trump administration and that “China’s goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged.” This article first appeared on NBCNews.com . Read more from NBC News here:Sounding The Alarm For The ChildrenPASADENA, Calif. , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.32 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend is payable on January 15, 2025 to stockholders of record on December 31, 2024 . The common stock dividend for the year ending December 31, 2024 of $5.19 per common share represents an increase of 23 cents , or 5 percent, over the year ended December 31, 2023 . The dividend allows the company to share its continued high-quality, strong and increasing net cash provided by operating activities with its common stockholders while retaining a significant portion for reinvestment into its pipeline of new Class A/A+ development and redevelopment projects. For the five-year period ending December 31, 2024 , the company expects to generate for reinvestment an aggregate $2.1 billion of net cash provided by operating activities after dividends. 1 Additionally, its dividend payout ratio (quarterly common stock dividends divided by quarterly funds from operations) remains favorably low at 55 percent for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Growth in the company's net cash provided by operating activities continues to generate opportunities to increase the company's quarterly cash dividend per common share while maintaining a low FFO payout ratio. 1 Net cash provided by operating activities after dividends (i) excludes timing differences such as changes in operating assets and liabilities and (ii) includes deductions for distributions to the company's consolidated real estate joint venture partners. Amount represents the years ended December 31, 2020 through 2023 and the midpoint of the company's 2024 guidance range as provided on October 21, 2024. About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500 ® company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche with our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator and developer of collaborative Megacampus TM ecosystems in AAA life science innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston , the San Francisco Bay Area , San Diego , Seattle , Maryland , Research Triangle and New York City . For more information, please visit www.are.com . This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Actual results might differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: Sara Kabakoff , Senior Vice President – Chief Content Officer, (626) 788-5578, skabakoff@are.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alexandria-real-estate-equities-inc-declares-cash-dividend-of-1-32-per-common-share-for-4q24--an-increase-of-2-cents-over-3q24--and-an-aggregate-of-5-19-per-common-share-for-2024--an-increase-of-23-cents-or-5-percent-over-20--302326267.html SOURCE Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.Speaker Sphinx? Central Illinois congresswoman testifies about Madigan’s nickname

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has launched the trailer for 'Sangeet Manapman,' a Marathi film inspired by a beloved play. Comparing the state's political situation to the film's themes of honour and dishonour, Fadnavis shared insights at the event. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance saw significant success in the recent elections, leading to Fadnavis' appointment as Chief Minister. The ministry, expanded shortly after his oath ceremony, reflects this political triumph. Highlighting the film's cultural impact, Fadnavis praised its effort to present classical Marathi art to a new generation. He emphasized the film's role in promoting Marathi culture, while assuring continued governmental support for the arts. (With inputs from agencies.)UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was one of several senior executives at the company under investigation by the Department of Justice when he was gunned down outside a Manhattan hotel on Wednesday. Thompson — who was killed in what police called a targeted shooting outside the Hilton hotel in Midtown — exercised stock options and sold shares worth $15.1 million on Feb. 16, less than two weeks before news of the federal antitrust probe went public, according to a Crain’s New York Business report from April. The stock price dropped sharply after the revelation that the DOJ was investigating whether the company had made acquisitions that consolidated its market position in violation of antitrust laws, a source familiar with the probe told the outlet. Thompson’s stock options reportedly had several years until expiration, and the sale of shares was his first since assuming the helm of parent company UnitedHealth’s insurance division in 2021. Thompson, 50, along with UnitedHealth Group chairman Stephen Helmsley, chief people officer Erin McSweeney and chief accounting officer Tom Roos, sold a combined $101.5 million in shares, with Helmsley personally netting just shy of $85 million, according to the report. Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, told Crain’s that share sales by firm principals are typically scrutinized by a company’s general counsel, who can determine whether any additional disclosures to the market may be required before the trades are executed. Earlier this year, UnitedHealth was hit by one of the largest health care data breaches in US history, the company estimating that as many as one-third of Americans’ private data — potentially including Social Security numbers — were compromised in the ransomware attack. The company wound up paying the hackers a $22 million ransom, CEO Andrew Witty told a congressional panel in May. The massive firm — with annual revenue of around $372 billion — later said it estimated its financial cost as a result of the hack to be around $705 million, Reuters reported. Originally published as UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was facing DOJ probe for insider trading when he was killed in targeted NYC shooting

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Georgetown is set to play its first road game of the season while West Virginia attempts to build off its successful 2-1 trip to the Bahamas when the former conference rivals meet on Friday in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. Picked 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, West Virginia (5-2) has been riding the hot shooting of Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Small averages a team-high 19 points and shoots 41.3 percent on 3-pointers while DeVries adds 14.9 points per game and hits on 46.9 percent of his threes. Every basket was needed last week as the Mountaineers upset then-No. 3 Gonzaga and then-No. 24 Arizona with a loss to Louisville sandwiched in between. All three contests went into overtime, believed to be a first in program history. First-year coach Darian DeVries, who led Drake to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four seasons, had never seen anything like it. "I've never been a part of three games like that, especially with the quality of opponents that we went up these last three days," he said after the Arizona win. "Just incredible resolve and grit and toughness from our group all three nights." Georgetown has started 7-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season and has done so with a completely revamped roster that includes 14 freshmen or sophomores. As a result of an inexperienced squad, coach Ed Cooley specifically delayed the Hoyas' first trip out of the nation's capital. "Obviously, the competition is going to change," Cooley said after the Hoyas defeated UMBC 86-62 on Monday. "We systematically scheduled this way to build confidence, continuity and chemistry and let our players feel what it is to win, and that's something hopefully that will have some carryover as we now get ready to head out on the road for the first time." Since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, Georgetown has won five straight games by an average of 25.2 points. Thomas Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring at 15.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.9 per game. Sorber was named as the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Georgetown holds the narrowest of leads in the all-time series at 27-26. The two schools met 27 times between 1995 and 2012 as league foes. The Mountaineers captured their lone Big East Championship in 2010 by defeating the Hoyas 60-58 at Madison Square Garden. --Field Level MediaShare Tweet Share Share Email From Curve DAO’s impressive 45% rally to IOTA’s stunning 140% surge in just seven days, the crypto market is buzzing with activity. But amidst the excitement, BlockDAG (BDAG) is grabbing attention for its remarkable growth potential. With over $159 million already raised, BlockDAG is gearing up to disrupt the market with its cutting-edge technology. Adding to the momentum, the platform has introduced the enticing BDAG250 bonus structure, drawing even more interest. As traders rush to secure their positions and whales dive in, BlockDAG is proving to be one of the top picks right now. The project’s momentum shows no signs of slowing, setting the stage for a game-changing future. Curve DAO Token: A 45% Price Surge Curve DAO’s token saw an impressive 45% price increase in just 24 hours, reaching $1.11. This surge reflects growing confidence in Curve’s decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, known for its automated market maker (AMM) liquidity solutions. With its market cap now hitting $1.38 billion, the Curve DAO token has become a key player in the DeFi space, attracting both traders and developers. Trading volumes spiked by 93.25%, signaling strong interest from the crypto community. As broader market trends continue to boost DeFi tokens, Curve DAO’s future looks promising. IOTA Price Jumps 140% in Just a Week IOTA’s price has been on fire recently, jumping 140% in just a week to $0.5641, its highest level since May 2022. This price surge is largely attributed to major network upgrades, including decentralized smart contracts and improvements to scalability via its “Tangle” technology. Analysts are bullish about IOTA’s future, with confidence growing in its decentralized nature and its ability to handle higher transaction volumes. Even though short-term price fluctuations are expected, IOTA’s innovative approach has made it a hot topic among investors. BlockDAG: A 5-Tier Bonus That Could Change the Game While Curve DAO and IOTA are certainly worth attention, BlockDAG is attracting the biggest players in the market. The project has already raised an impressive $159 million in its presale, with over 16.8 billion coins sold. Its new 5-tier bonus structure, known as the BDAG250, is creating a lot of excitement. The BDAG250 bonus gives traders who participate in the presale up to a 150% bonus on their purchases in the first tier, with progressively higher bonuses as they buy more. The second tier offers a 170% bonus, and further tiers will unlock as purchases continue. This rewarding structure has motivated both new and existing traders to buy more BlockDAG coins. As the presale continues to gain momentum, BlockDAG has already delivered a staggering 2,240% ROI for early backers. With a unique BlockDAG structure, BlockDAG aims to provide a scalable and efficient solution for decentralized applications (dApps) and transactions. This makes it a highly attractive choice for those looking to diversify their portfolios. The project has sold over 14,000 miners and 5.7 million in miner sales, with coins priced at $0.0234. As more whales dive into the presale, it’s clear that BlockDAG’s future is bright, and its growth potential is undeniable. The BDAG250 bonus ends on January 8, making this the perfect time for buyers to get involved before the offer expires. BlockDAG is more than just another cryptocurrency project—it’s a technological breakthrough in the world of decentralized networks. Unlike traditional blockchain technologies, BlockDAG uses a block-directed acyclic graph (DAG) structure that allows for multiple blocks to be added simultaneously, improving transaction speed and scalability. This unique design allows BlockDAG to handle much higher transaction volumes without compromising security or decentralization. In addition, BlockDAG’s technology is WASM-compatible, which enhances its ability to support decentralized applications (dApps). With major partnerships already lined up, the project is set to disrupt the blockchain space, providing solutions to many of the scalability issues that traditional blockchains face. The BDAG250 bonus structure adds extra value for those who get involved now, offering a huge opportunity for growth as the presale continues to rise in popularity. With its strong community, incredible growth potential, and innovative technology, BlockDAG is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting projects in crypto. The combination of scalability, speed, and rewards is setting the stage for long-term success. Act Before January 8th! While Curve DAO and IOTA are certainly showing strong price movements, it’s BlockDAG that’s grabbing the most attention for its technological advancements and exciting presale offers. With a booming presale that has raised $159 million and a 2,240% return for early backers, BlockDAG is clearly a project to watch. Its 5-tier BDAG250 bonus structure further incentivizes traders to act quickly, making now the perfect time to jump in before the bonus offer ends on January 8. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of a transformative crypto project. Whether you’re new to the space or a seasoned buyer, BlockDAG offers an incredible chance to join at a crucial stage in its development. Act now and secure your spot before it’s too late! Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Related Items: BlockDAG , press release Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you 4 Best Cryptos to Mine in 2025: BlockDAG, Dogecoin, Ethereum Classic, and Monero Explained BlockDAG Races Toward its $600M Presale Target With Winning Strategies While Algorand Price Surges & TRON Delivers Growth BlockDAG Decides To Part Ways With Dortmund as German MiCA Regulations 2 Take Effect; Kaspa and XLM Hold Their Ground Comments

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Georgetown is set to play its first road game of the season while West Virginia attempts to build off its successful 2-1 trip to the Bahamas when the former conference rivals meet on Friday in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of the Big 12-Big East Battle. Picked 13th out of 16 in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, West Virginia (5-2) has been riding the hot shooting of Javon Small and Tucker DeVries. Small averages a team-high 19 points and shoots 41.3 percent on 3-pointers while DeVries adds 14.9 points per game and hits on 46.9 percent of his threes. Every basket was needed last week as the Mountaineers upset then-No. 3 Gonzaga and then-No. 24 Arizona with a loss to Louisville sandwiched in between. All three contests went into overtime, believed to be a first in program history. First-year coach Darian DeVries, who led Drake to three NCAA Tournaments in the last four seasons, had never seen anything like it. "I've never been a part of three games like that, especially with the quality of opponents that we went up these last three days," he said after the Arizona win. "Just incredible resolve and grit and toughness from our group all three nights." Georgetown has started 7-1 for the first time since the 2018-19 season and has done so with a completely revamped roster that includes 14 freshmen or sophomores. As a result of an inexperienced squad, coach Ed Cooley specifically delayed the Hoyas' first trip out of the nation's capital. "Obviously, the competition is going to change," Cooley said after the Hoyas defeated UMBC 86-62 on Monday. "We systematically scheduled this way to build confidence, continuity and chemistry and let our players feel what it is to win, and that's something hopefully that will have some carryover as we now get ready to head out on the road for the first time." Since losing to Notre Dame on Nov. 16, Georgetown has won five straight games by an average of 25.2 points. Thomas Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring at 15.8 points per game and leads the conference in rebounding at 8.9 per game. Sorber was named as the Big East Freshman of the Week for the third time in four weeks. Georgetown holds the narrowest of leads in the all-time series at 27-26. The two schools met 27 times between 1995 and 2012 as league foes. The Mountaineers captured their lone Big East Championship in 2010 by defeating the Hoyas 60-58 at Madison Square Garden. --Field Level MediaNew York City parents miffed over lack of special education services they're entitled toQUEBEC CITY, Canada, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech ® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech”) ( Nasdaq: LDTC ), an automotive software company that provides patented disruptive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software technology, LeddarVision TM, today announced that it has received the first full installment of the advanced royalty payments provided under the strategic collaboration agreement and software license agreement entered into between LeddarTech and Texas Instruments (“TI”), as announced on December 9, 2024 , to enable a comprehensive, integrated platform solution for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) markets. Under the license agreement, TI has agreed to make advanced royalty payments to catalyze joint commercialization (the “TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee”). In connection with the collaboration and license agreements with TI and the TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee, LeddarTech also announced on December 9, 2024 that it entered into a fourteenth amending agreement (the “Fourteenth Amending Agreement”) with Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec (“Desjardins”) with respect to the amended and restated financing offer dated as of April 5, 2023 (the “Desjardins Credit Facility”) and a second amending agreement (the “Second Amending Agreement”) with the initial bridge lenders and certain members of management and the board of directors (collectively, the “Bridge Lenders”) with respect to the bridge financing offer dated as of August 16, 2024 (the “Bridge Financing Offer”). Both the Fourteenth Amending Agreement and the Second Amending Agreement contain certain conditions that were to become applicable in the event that the full first installment of the TI Pre-paid Royalty Fee was not received by December 13, 2024. With the payment received, the conditions have been met to establish the short-term outside date as late as January 31, 2025. Please refer to the press release of December 9, 2024 for further details as well as the Fourteenth Amending Agreement to the Desjardins Credit Facility and the Second Amending Agreement to the Bridge Financing Offer which have been filed under LeddarTech’s SEDAR+ and EDGAR profiles at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov , respectively. About LeddarTech A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions. LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 170 patent applications (87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution. Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.LeddarTech.com and on LinkedIn , Twitter (X) , Facebook and YouTube . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this Press Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws), including, but not limited to, statements relating to LeddarTech’s anticipated strategy, future operations, prospects, objectives and financial projections and other financial metrics. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the possibility that anticipated benefits of LeddarTech’s recent business combination will not be realized; (ii) the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the business combination or other settlements or investigations may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (iii) changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; (iv) possible disruptions from the business combination that could harm LeddarTech’s business; (v) the ability of LeddarTech to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (vi) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or other parties; (vii) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships following the business combination that could affect LeddarTech’s financial performance; (viii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (ix) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak or escalation of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including COVID-19), as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; (x) access to capital and financing and LeddarTech’s ability to maintain compliance with debt covenants; (xi) LeddarTech’s ability to execute its business model, achieve design wins and generate meaningful revenue; and (xii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact: Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, LeddarTech Holdings Inc. Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 daniel.aitken@LeddarTech.com Investor relations website: investors.LeddarTech.com Investor relations contact: Kevin Hunt, ICR Inc. kevin.hunt@icrinc.com Financial media contact: Dan Brennan, ICR Inc. dan.brennan@icrinc.com Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners. LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”

Chief ‘disappointed’ to see clean water used as a political ‘tactic’ by ConservativesSANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After three straight losses, including back-to-back blowouts , the San Francisco 49ers needed a get-right game. The Chicago Bears helped provide just that. Brock Purdy carved up Chicago’s defense to lead San Francisco to its best offensive output of the season and the defense dominated the Bears in a 38-13 win Sunday that looked a lot more like the team that went to the Super Bowl last season than the one that has struggled in 2024. “I think just the biggest thing was just getting some energy and momentum,” Purdy said. “This league is hard. It’s tough. If you don’t have momentum or energy and belief within a building, it can be really tough.” The problem for San Francisco (6-7) is it might be too late to salvage its playoff hopes. Three blown fourth-quarter leads to division rivals and the lopsided losses at Green Bay and Buffalo the previous two weeks leave the Niners two games out of the playoffs with only four games to go. They might need to win out to get back to the postseason for a fourth straight season, and even then they could need some help because their three division losses will make it tough to win any tiebreakers in the tightly packed NFC West. RELATED COVERAGE Cowboys set to host Bengals under open roof after falling debris thwarted that plan against Texans Cardinals’ sudden 3-game tailspin has turned their once solid playoff hopes into a long shot Rams offense is humming with good health, and it gave a stellar performance to upset Buffalo “If we win every single game, I think we’ve put ourselves in a very good position to either win the division or somehow sneak our way into playoff contention,” tight end George Kittle said. “I thought everyone’s focused on this one week. ... Forget the whole season whether you’ve played like crap the entire season, whether you’ve had missed opportunities, or whether you have a bunch of touchdowns. Whatever it is, flush all that and just focus on this one game.” What’s working Big plays. The Niners repeatedly gashed the Bears for big plays as the passing game looked as good as it has all season. Purdy had eight completions go for at least 20 yards — tied for the most in any game for the 49ers since at least 1991 — with Kittle catching four of them, Isaac Guerendo two and one each for Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . What needs help Kickoffs. Jake Moody attempted two line-drive kicks as San Francisco tried to pin Chicago deep instead of allowing a touchback. But both kicks landed shy of the landing zone at the 20, giving the Bears the ball at the 40. Stock up DL Yetur Gross-Matos. The Niners have been struggling to generate a pass rush with Nick Bosa sidelined, but Gross-Matos made a big impact on Sunday. He had a career-high three sacks in the game after coming into the game with just one this season. Stock down S Ji’Ayir Brown. The second-year safety lost his starting job with the return of Talanoa Hufanga from a wrist injury. Brown played 15 defensive snaps in a spot role and was beat on a TD pass to Rome Odunze in his limited action. Injuries Guerendo has a sprained foot and will be evaluated later this week to see if he can play. ... OL Ben Bartch will likely go on IR after suffering a high ankle sprain Sunday. ... LB Dre Greenlaw could return this week for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl. ... DL Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and LT Trent Williams (ankle) will be evaluated this week but there is no timeline on when they will return. ... LG Aaron Banks cleared the concussion protocol and should play this week. ... LB Dee Winters (ankle), S Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles are day-to-day. Key number 305 — The 49ers outgained the Bears by 305 yards in the first half for the ninth best advantage in a first half since at least 1991. The 319 yards for San Francisco were the most by any team in a first half this season and the 4 yards allowed were the fewest. What’s next The 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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