Selena Gomez has defended her role in the buzzy new Netflix film "Emilia Pérez" amid criticism from a fellow actor. The " Only Murders in the Building " star, 32, responded on TikTok to comments from " CODA " actor Eugenio Derbez , who slammed her performance in the movie. Gomez, who is not fluent in Spanish, speaks and sings Spanish in the musical starring Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón . In a clip from the "Hablando de Cine con" podcast shared on TikTok, Derbez, speaking Spanish, described Gomez's performance as "indefensible" and said that as he watched the movie, he thought, "Wow, what is this?' " The actor agreed with host Gaby Meza, who felt Gomez was unable to give nuance to her performance because Spanish isn't her primary language and she didn't understand what she was saying. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Gomez addressed the criticism in a comment on the TikTok video. "I understand where you are coming from. I'm sorry I did the best I could with the time I was given," the Grammy-nominated singer and actor wrote. "Doesn't take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie." Derbez responded by apologizing to Gomez. He wrote on TikTok that his "careless comments" went against "everything I stand for," adding, "There's no excuse. I was wrong, and I deeply admire your career and your kind heart." Emilia Pérez': Selena Gomez was 'so nervous' about first Spanish-speaking role " Emilia Pérez ," which follows a lawyer (Saldaña) hired by a cartel boss (Gascón) who wants to undergo gender-confirming surgery, received acclaim when it premiered in May at Cannes Film Festival . The film is in the running for numerous Oscar nominations. Gomez, who plays the title character's wife, shared Cannes' best actress prize with co-stars Saldaña, Gascón and Adriana Paz. But reactions on social media were more critical when the film hit Netflix in November. A viral X post shared a six-second clip from one of Gomez's scenes and slammed her for "thinking this is an acceptable way to speak Spanish." Others defended the actress by pointing out her lack of fluency fits the role. A community note was added to the X post stating, "Selena's character, Jessi Del Monte, is American and Spanish is not her first language. The film makes it clear about that." Latinas in Hollywood: Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Karla Sofía Gascón feted at Netflix event Gomez told NPR's "Fresh Air" in November that she spoke Spanish when she was younger but lost fluency in the language, so she took six months of lessons to prepare for the movie. "I got my first job at 7, and most of my jobs from that point on were English," she said. "And I just lost (my Spanish). That's kind of the case for a lot of people, especially Mexican American people." But Gomez told Entertainment Weekly that while she "may not be fluent" in Spanish, that "doesn't make me less proud or less Mexican in my eyes." (This story has been updated with new information .) Contributing: Edward Segarra
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96
VERIFYING claims related to Luigi Mangione after his arrest in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing‘Moana 2′ Sails Away With Second Box-Office Win Against ‘Wicked’
As it turns out, August 5 was a great day to buy bitcoin when it briefly fell below US$50,000. If you did, and held on for what turned out to be a relatively short white knuckle ride lasting exactly four months, you would have succeeded in doubling your money after bitcoin traded above US$100,000 last week to reach a new all-time high. That seems like an extraordinary outcome – and it is! Never before has the election of a US President delivered such a significant windfall to a group of investors who right now must feel like they have just experienced the trade of their lives. Since Donald Trump’s victory was confirmed one month ago, bitcoin has increased in value by an astonishing 40 percent. And bitcoin is not alone in feeling the love. Excluding stablecoins, which are designed to avoid price swings, the top 20 crypto coins have appreciated even faster, on average, than bitcoin. Dogecoin, a meme coin often promoted by Elon Musk, an ardent Trump fan-turned-adviser, has more than tripled in value since election day. It marks a stunning comeback from 2022-23, when a perfect storm sent cryptocurrencies tumbling from the peaks they had reached during the mania of 2021. Back then the US Federal Reserve was briskly raising interest rates, and in doing so cooling the speculative fever that had gripped markets in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mismanagement and fraud caused several crypto firms once deemed above board – not least FTX, one of the largest crypto exchanges – to collapse, tainting the entire industry. Financial watchdogs were preparing to pounce and potentially regulate the sector almost out of existence. But then crypto found the perfect champion in Donald Trump, a convert who would not only preach the crypto gospel to his devoted flock in the runup to his eventual re-election but proclaim the word of crypto with messianic zeal few believers could have ever imagined. On any level none of it makes any sense. Why is something whose value can’t be measured worth 40 percent more than it was a month ago? But trying to explain the rise of bitcoin is a bit like trying to explain the existence of God to an atheist. You’re either a believer in cryptocurrencies or you’re not. And right now there will be many investors wishing they could believe, but just can’t bring themselves to convert, although judging by the numbers quite a few already have. Equally, there will be plenty of others, particularly techno loving trend loving Gen Zers, who in recent weeks just couldn’t resist joining the herd. After all, they’re the generation who love nothing more than jumping on board whenever something shiny catches their attention. And for those who did, they have been handsomely rewarded for their risk-taking. It all seems such an easy way to make money, particularly as the meme coin craze once again ignites in the same way NFTs (remember those) did in 2021. But search “is bitcoin in a bubble?” and you’ll find plenty of thought provoking commentary suggesting bitcoin is no different from many other bubbles that have formed previously in financial markets; though what makes this one different is the amount of serious money now backing bitcoin as a result of the emergence of crypto-focused exchange traded funds or ETFs. Recent studies on the determinants of speculative bubbles in the cryptocurrency market have produced varied results. Some researchers have pointed to herd behaviour as the key driver, while others have emphasized the influence of tweets from the likes of Elon Musk, or more recently those of President-elect Donald Trump. Other authors have put forth the argument of volume shocks. The debate surrounding the concept of a speculative bubble often centres on whether bubbles result from rational or irrational behaviour. According to the rationalist perspective, a speculative bubble is defined as an abnormal rise in asset prices not justified by intrinsic factors. This means that asset prices increase beyond their fundamental value due to speculative activity, while continuing to attract new investors until they reach the maximum rational anticipation level before abruptly falling to their fundamental value as a result of a bubble having formed. According to the irrationalist perspective, a speculative bubble occurs when security prices, particularly stocks, rise well above their actual value. This trend continues until there are no more potential buyers. Supply then becomes significantly greater than demand, leading to panic and causing prices to rapidly go into reverse. Investors are frequently driven by herd behaviour, where one buys because they see others buying, assuming the others possess the correct information. Given the significant amount of promotion of cryptocurrencies on social media channels by a range of high profile opinion leaders and so called ‘influencers’, it’s not hard to see why bitcoin has quickly gained the momentum it has, just as we saw a few years ago with the emergence of the GameStop phenomenon. More people jumping on board in turn attracts more people until some begin to start cashing in and so the pendulum eventually tips the other way. But while it is relatively straightforward to be able to value a share, or most other financial investments, valuing bitcoin requires the investor to buy into a belief system for an asset that itself has no underlying value at all. It simply relies on the buyer being willing to pay a higher price than the seller paid it for. That old trading adage “markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent” comes to mind. So could bitcoin double in value again in a years’ time? Who knows? It is just as likely to double in value as it is to halve in value. We have no idea, which indeed is the essence of its appeal to investors who love the thrill of the chase. It’s the ultimate investment for those who revel in the ‘risk-on-steroids’ aspect of bitcoin, and crypto currencies more generally. But as the value of those cryptocurrencies closes in on US$4 trillion globally, a significant correction in the price has much greater implications for global financial stability than was the case just a few years ago. It’s worth considering the global crypto market now equates to one third of the size of the entire US mortgage market and in 2008/09 we saw what happened when less than 10 percent of it went bad. Right now, it’s the believers who are calling the tune, but it may well be the non-believers who also end up paying the price for the current speculative fervour. The NZ sharemarket recorded its second biggest weekly fall for the year with the slipping almost 2 percent, following Auckland Council’s surprise decision to sell off its remaining 9.7 percent shareholding in had investors cashing up to take advantage of the unexpected buying opportunity. As the country’s only major ‘gateway’ airport, the block sale offered investors a rare chance to buy into a high quality infrastructure, with a unique monopoly, that is particularly attractive for long term fund managers. The lightening quick sale, which seemingly attracted little debate amongst Auckland’s cash-strapped councillors compared to the decision to sell the first tranche of its shareholding last year, will return at least $1.31 billion dollars for Auckland Councils Future Fund. Auckland Airport (AIA) shares ended the week up 4.6 percent at $8.12 following the completion of the sale process. Just three weeks ago AIA shares traded as low as $7.21. With its increased liquidity, AIA will now move to the number two spot on the NZX50 index from today with a weighting of 10.1 percent, while market leader , will see its weighting slightly reduced from its current 16.8 percent and will be relegated to the number 3 position with a weighting of around 9.5%. Aside from the Auckland Airport share sale, there was a noticeable weariness amongst investors at the prospect of NZ’s economic rebound potentially taking longer than had previously been expected, according to recent data. ANZ Research said the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update, which will be released on December 17, is expected to show a potential delay to achieving a surplus until 2029 at the earliest, following a more pessimistic tone from the Treasury on the economic outlook along with an expected upgrade to bond issuance guidance. Across the Tasman, Australia’s annual GDP increased 0.8 percent, below the estimate of 1.1 percent and behind the 1 percent rise in the 12 months through June. The slowing economy raised hopes that its Reserve Bank might reduce its official cash rate when it meets this week having been at a 13-year high of 4.35 percent since late last year. (THL) shares ended the week down almost 7 percent at $1.91 after announcing part of its business would be restructured. The company said it had combined the roles of chief financial and chief people officer as well as announcing the closure of its Melbourne subassembly plant with the loss of 100 jobs. THL said support office roles in the United States had also been reduced, resulting in savings of more than $500,000 a year, as part of its program of targeting $12m in cost reductions by 2027. THL continues to face difficult trading conditions in the face of a slump in recreational vehicle rentals and sales. In the US, the benchmark index closed at 6,090, yet another record high, after gaining 1 percent for the week following better than expected jobs data on Friday which showed a total of 227,000 new roles were created in November, a sharp rebound from the 12,000 positions reported in October (subsequently revised up to 36,000 in the latest release). The unemployment rate in the US rose 0.1 percent to 4.2 percent. A US appeals court on Friday upheld a law requiring TikTok’s owner ByteDance to sell the platform or face a likely ban next year in the US, dealing a major blow to the Chinese company behind the video app. The law, signed by outgoing President Joe Biden this year, orders TikTok to be banned in the country if the app does not divest from its parent by January 19 2025 — the day before Donald Trump is inaugurated as president. The unanimous ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the law — which centres on a controversial national security issue involving China and received strong bipartisan support in Congress — was constitutional and did not violate First Amendment protections for free speech, as TikTok had claimed. The “government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States,” the panel wrote in its decision. TikTok in now left in a precarious position in one of its biggest markets, although the law’s political future is uncertain. On the campaign trail before his re-election, Trump said he opposed the platform’s ban and promised to “save” the app. In an email to staff, TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew wrote that the next step would be to “seek an injunction of the ban, pending a review by the US Supreme Court.” The law requires Apple and Google to remove the social media app, which is wildly popular among younger Generation Z users, from their app stores if a divestiture does not take place before the January deadline. It also bans the app from web-hosting services. The reported the Chinese embassy in Washington said the law would have “a serious impact on the online social platform used by half of Americans” and was a “blatant act of commercial robbery”. Before his re-election, Trump said he would not ban TikTok upon his return to the White House, in an attempt to preserve “competition” in a market dominated by Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, which the president-elect has described as an “enemy of the people”. International Migration & Travel (Oct) – Stats NZCubs acquire All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the AstrosManchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged his players to let their performances do the talking, rather than making bold statements on social media. Following Sunday's heavy defeat at Liverpool , City's players have been vocal about their determination to bounce back, with Ruben Dias promising fans that they will see the team's "warriors" spirit and Kyle Walker vowing never to give up on winning more trophies. However, Guardiola has emphasised the importance of results over rhetoric, stating in Tuesday's press conference: "It's just words," and "I know they want it, I don't have doubts about that, but we are not getting results - and you have to get results." He added: "They're not going to come to me and saying they don't believe any more. I would like to help them to find a way to be consistent and win games. Otherwise, I would not decide that I want to be with these players longer." Despite acknowledging the pressure that comes with poor results, Guardiola remains committed to his role, adding: "I accept it and we try to help them. I want to be here and if they want me, then fine." The Spaniard also expressed concerns that City's period of dominance could be drawing to a close following the worst run of his managerial career. Guardiola, who has scooped an astounding 18 trophies in eight years, acknowledged their recent struggles with the team going winless in their last seven games. Last year, Guardiola steered City to a spectacular fourth consecutive Premier League title – his third since taking over, mirroring Manchester United 's historic Treble in the process. However, this term City’s form has dipped dramatically, leaving Guardiola to concede that it may signal the decline of his illustrious side. Currently languishing in fifth place and trailing leaders Liverpool by 11 points, their quest for another Premier League crown seems increasingly unrealistic. In light of questions about whether his squad believes their golden period might be waning, Guardiola confessed: "I don't know. I cannot answer this question." Ahead of City's match against Nottingham Forest, he added, "We will try to extend it as much as possible. We're in December, with many games to play. But when it is going to finish, it is going to finish. "I want to prove we are still an incredible football club. Sooner or later it's going to be the end, but I will try to extend it as much as possible for the best of my club." Recalling earlier triumphs, Guardiola stated, "But even when we were celebrating the Treble, I said it was going to end, but I'd try to continue to push my players, and they responded unbelievably well. "This season, due to many circumstances, everything dropped. If it's the end or not, time will tell."
South Korean tennis star Kwon Soon-woo will begin his mandatory 18 months of military service in January, he has announced on Instagram . Military service has been compulsory for South Korean men aged between 18 and 35 since 1957, with only a few exceptions made. Tottenham footballer Son Heung-min was excused from just under two years of service due to him helping the nation to victory at the Asian Games in 2018. Kwon - the only South Korean man ever to win multiple ATP titles - could have been granted an exemption if he had won gold at the Asian Games last year. He was one of the favourites to do so, but he suffered a surprise early defeat in singles and only managed a bronze in doubles. The 27-year-old went viral after his Asian Games defeat to Kasidit Samrej for smashing his racket to pieces in a fit of rage. But he painted an altogether more positive picture with his statement on Instagram this week. "I will enlist in the army on January 13, 2025," he wrote. "My life as a tourist will stop for almost two years, but I will come back in a more complete form than you can imagine. "I know many people say that it is too late to start playing again after 30... I think 30 is the prime of life and I am confident. "I have only achieved 20 per cent of the goals I set for myself, and the other 80 per cent will be the Korean tennis you dream of. I will make Korean tennis what all tennis fans want it to be, and I will do it until I achieve it." Kwon will be 28 when he returns to the tour and attempts to fight his way back up the rankings, having previously reached a high of 52nd in the world. The Sangju-born competitor boasts a third-round appearance at the French Open, and he has reached the second round of every other Grand Slam since turning professional in 2015. In August, following his first-round exit at the US Open, Kwon gave fans a heads up that his military service was on the horizon. "I’ve been on tour for nine years until this year," he wrote . "I think a lot has been going on. It was really an unforgettable time. "The first half of my life on tour has ended after nine years, but I will do all the things I couldn’t achieve in the second half of my life on tour until I achieve them. I’ll find you as a perfect Kwon Soon-woo in the second half. Thank you very much to those who have supported me so far."
A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans , gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” “I'm a travelin' dog and I've made a lot of stops/All over this town...” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. “...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely ... " People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus ' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. “...If you're ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle ...” Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” "... and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return ..." Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”
LODI, Calif., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB ) announced today that Deborah Skinner, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, will be retiring effective December 31, 2024, after 24 years with Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California. The Company previously announced her intention to retire back on September 9, 2024. Ms. Skinner will remain with the Company through year-end to assist with the transition. "On behalf of the entire team at FMCB and the Board of Directors, I want to thank Debbie for her leadership and dedication to our company,” said Kent A. Steinwert, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMCB. "During her time with the Company, Debbie has been vital to the development and successful execution of our business operations and strategy. I also want to personally thank Debbie for being a trusted advisor to me and true business partner to our management team. We all wish her a happy and well-deserved retirement.” The Company also announced that Troy D. Harper will join the Company as its Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer effective December 9, 2024. Mr. Harper brings over 30 years of operational expertise in financial services to FMCB, including more than 20 years in commercial and retail banking. Prior to joining FMCB, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Information & Operations Officer for HomeStreet Bank, where he led deposit, loan, and treasury management operations, IT, corporate real estate, and security. His career experience includes additional banking and operational roles at the FDIC, Pierce Commercial Bank, CGI Group, and Deloitte Consulting. He received a B.S. in finance and accounting management from Northeastern University. Mr. Harper will work closely with Ms. Skinner until her retirement at year-end to ensure a seamless transition. "As we continue to expand our organization, it's important that we add highly accomplished, talented, and experienced people to our executive leadership team. Troy brings a depth and breadth of operations and IT experience to the Company that will enrich the management team, while enabling us to execute successfully on our objectives in 2025 and beyond,” stated Mr. Steinwert. About Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FMCB, and is the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, also known as F&M Bank. Founded in 1916, F&M Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank, which proudly serves California through 33 convenient locations. F&M Bank is financially strong, with $5.4 billion in assets, and is consistently recognized as one of the nation's safest banks by national bank rating firms. The Bank has maintained a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial for 34 consecutive years, longer than any other commercial bank in the State of California. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has paid dividends for 89 consecutive years and has increased dividends for 59 consecutive years. As a result, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is a member of a select group of only 56 publicly traded companies referred to as "Dividend Kings,” and is ranked 17 th in that group based on consecutive years of dividend increases. A "Dividend King” is a stock with 50 or more consecutive years of dividend increase. In August 2024, Farmers & Merchants Bancorp was named by Bank Director's Magazine as the #2 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual "Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2023. Last year the Bank was named by Bank Director's Magazine as the #1 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual "Ranking Banking” study of the top performing banks for 2022. In April 2024, F&M Bank was ranked 6 th on Forbes Magazine's list of "America's Best Banks" in 2023. Forbes' annual "America's Best Banks” list looks at ten metrics measuring growth, credit quality, profitability, and capital for the 2023 calendar year, as well as stock performance in the 12 months through March 18, 2024. In December 2023, F&M Bank was ranked 4 th on S&P Global Market Intelligence's "Top 50 List of Best-Performing Community Banks” in the US with assets between $3.0 billion and $10.0 billion for 2023. S&P Global Market Intelligence ranks financial institutions based on several key factors including financial returns, growth, and balance sheet risk profile. In October 2021, F&M Bank was named the "Best Community Bank in California” by Newsweek magazine. Newsweek's ranking recognizes those financial institutions that best serve their customers' needs in each state. This recognition speaks to the superior customer service the F&M Bank team members provide to its clients. F&M Bank is the 15 th largest bank lender to agriculture in the United States. F&M Bank operates in the mid-Central Valley of California, including Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Merced counties and the east region of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. F&M Bank was inducted into the National Agriculture Science Center's "Ag Hall of Fame” at the end of 2021 for providing resources, financial advice, guidance, and support to the agribusiness communities as well as to students in the next generation of agribusiness workforce. F&M Bank is dedicated to helping California remain the premier agricultural region in the world and will continue to work with the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and processors. F&M Bank remains committed to servicing the needs of agribusiness in California as has been the case since its founding over 108 years ago. F&M Bank offers a full complement of loan, deposit, equipment leasing and treasury management products to businesses, as well as a full suite of consumer banking products. The FDIC awarded F&M Bank the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" in their last Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA”) evaluation. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations regarding the Company's financial performance. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe,” "expect,” "intend,” "estimate” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will,” "would,” "should,” "could” or "may.” Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding management team changes and their anticipated impact on the Company, and the Company's expansion and its ability to execute on strategic objectives. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and which could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to the risk factors and other important factors detailed in the Company's Form 10-K, Form 10-Qs, and various other securities law filings made periodically by the Company, copies of which are available from the Company's website. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. For more information about Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and F&M Bank, visit fmbonline.com. Investor Relations Contact Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Bart R. Olson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Phone: 209-367-2485 [email protected]
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Despite dealing with his share of injuries and learning a new offense, Justin Herbert is on one of the NFL's longest streaks without throwing an interception. Herbert enters the Los Angeles Chargers' game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday having thrown 335 passes without a pick. That's the fifth-longest run in league history. Aaron Rodgers holds the record of 402 for Green Bay in 2018. “It’s one of those things where you go play quarterback and you’re not worried about it. If I throw an interception, it is what it is,” Herbert said. “I’m doing everything I can to take care of the ball and make sure that I’m not putting the team in harm’s way. At the end of the day, you got to be aggressive downfield and you got to take your shots.” Herbert suffered a sprained left ankle and bruised left leg in last Sunday's 19-17 loss at Kansas City . He practiced Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Herbert — whose last interception came midway through the first quarter on Sept. 15 at Carolina — has also joined Tom Brady as the only players who have not thrown an interception in 11 straight games with a minimum of 15 attempts in each. Brady accomplished the feat with New England in 2010. “It's pretty amazing. I said to him the other day, ‘Thank you for not having us overcome some interceptions.’ It's huge and has kept us in a lot of games,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “You have a smart quarterback that is trying to win the game. He's not trying to win stats and understands the importance of taking care of the football.” Herbert will face a Tampa Bay defense that has only six interceptions, tied for sixth fewest in the league. “He does a great job taking care of the football and understanding the offense," Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said. “If it’s not there, he can use his legs; if it’s there, he’s got a cannon of an arm. He can zip it in. He trusts his receivers — they do a good job of mixing it up.” The Chargers (8-5) have dropped two of their past three, but hold the second wild card spot in the AFC. The Bucs (7-6) have won three straight since their Week 11 bye, which gave them a chance to regroup following a stretch in which they lost five of six. All of the victories, which have carried them back to the top of the NFC South, have come against last-place teams (Giants, Panthers, Raiders). Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield has already matched a career high with 28 touchdown passes, but he hasn’t done as good a job of protecting the ball as he did a year ago. He’s thrown more interceptions through 13 games (13) than he did in 17 games (10) a year ago. He threw for 295 yards and three TDs during last week’s 28-13 win over Las Vegas , yet also turned the ball over three times to help the Raiders keep it close until the fourth quarter. “We have to understand, especially when we’re in the red zone and we’re in the scoring territory, we can’t turn it over. That’s No. 1,” Bowles said. “You don’t like the turnovers, period. Every now and then they can happen, but we have to do a better job taking care of the football as an offensive staff, period,” Bowles added. “Between the coaches and the players, we need to do a better job of focusing on exactly what we want to get done, how we need to get it done, and make sure we execute it every play. It’s not just on Baker, it’s on everybody.” Los Angeles leads the league in scoring defense, allowing 15.9 points per game. It is also fifth in sacks (39) and three-and-out percentage (24.3%) and seventh in third-down defense. “They’re really gap sound,” Mayfield said. “They don’t get bad eyes down there. Everybody does their part in whatever the play's called. Nobody tries to do too much and then like I said earlier, they fly to the ball. They don’t let you get explosives. Obviously, in the red zone, they’re closing windows pretty quick.” The Bucs are 7-1 in December and January regular-season games dating to last season and 19-5 in those games going back to 2020. The Chargers are the only opponent with a winning record that Tampa Bay will face over the final seven weeks of the season. Tampa Bay's running backs catching the ball out of the backfield. The Bucs are second in the league in receptions by running backs (85), first in receiving yards (726) and tied for the league lead with six touchdowns. Rachaad White is fourth among backs in yards after the catch with 420. He has 41 catches, and Bucky Irving has 36. “They're similar in the sense they can do the same things but different in style. They're both really shifty,” Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “The goal of offense is to get the ball to people in space with angles on blockers. They do a good of that.” AP Sports Writer Fred Goodall in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightingsConor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rulesFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — TCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss the rest of the season because of a broken bone in his left foot, the school said Friday. The 6-foot-2 senior guard, in his first season at TCU after spending the past two at Arizona State, is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday in Dallas. Collins leads the Horned Frogs (5-4) with 11.2 points and 4.4 assists per game. He also averages 4.4 rebounds per game. TCU said Collins broke his foot in the first half of its 83-74 loss to Vanderbilt last Sunday. He still played 35 minutes, finishing with six points and seven assists. Collins played 31 games as a freshman for Michigan's NCAA Sweet 16 team in 2021-22 before transferring to Arizona State. He started all 32 games last season for the Sun Devils, averaging 13.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. He could potentially get another college season through a medical redshirt. Arizona State is in its first Big 12 season. It will host TCU on Feb. 15. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
Each week, “Flying Horse” features dozens of Central Illinois children’s thoughts and drawings on various topics. This week: Christmas/favorite holiday White Christmas: I like a white Christmas. It is the best because you can play outside and build a snowman. Andrea Gavilan Grade 3, Cedar Ridge Easter: I love Easter. I love celebrating Jesus rising from the dead and died on the cross for our sin. I like going to church on Easter, too. I like eating dinner with my family. Wyatt Moore Grade 4, Centennial Favorite holiday: My favorite holiday is Christmas because it is Jesus’ birthday, and we all sing Christmas carols. Lane Fogle Grade 2, Corpus Christi Christmas: One of the reasons I like Christmas is that Santa brings me presents. This year, I hope Santa will bring me a baby doll. Grace Bussan Kindergarten, Epiphany Thanksgiving: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because we spend time with everyone. I like holidays. Valentine’s Day is when you hang out with friends and family. Christmas is when you get gifts. Breyana Washington Grade 1, Epiphany Christmas Eve: On Christmas Eve we get ready for Santa. We make cookies with frosting and sprinkles. We also get a glass of milk ready with cookies. When I get up, I am so excited for Christmas Day. I love getting ready for Christmas. Zelie Rayburn Grade 3, Epiphany Halloween: My favorite holiday is Halloween because Halloween is the only holiday where you can get free candy and dress up in costumes all night. Looking at the houses are fun, too. Taniylah Allen Grade 4, Fairview Decorating: I get to decorate the tree with my family. We get to watch Christmas movies, and if I am lucky I and my family can watch Christmas movies during dinner. Finally, on Christmas Eve we get to do a Christmas exchange in a way. My family comes over and we get to open presents with each other. Avery Mankey Grade 5, Fairview Christmas: My favorite holiday is Christmas because we get all the presents for our family. Another reason is because Santa eats milk and cookies. One more reason is because we get to celebrate the baby Jesus’ birth. Rishika Mundla Grade 2, Glenn Two holidays: My favorite holidays are Christmas and Halloween because Santa sometimes brings stuff that you want and on Halloween, if you want, you can say "Trick or treat!" Hazel Langeni Grade 1, Grove Holi festival: My favorite holiday is Holi. Holi is my favorite because Holi is a festival of colors. We can throw colorful powder on people. Preetam Sannapureddy Grade 3, Grove Best Christmas ever: One Christmas morning I heard my parents downstairs, so I came down. Then I found my stocking full and so many presents under the tree. That was the best Christmas ever. Avery J. Henson Grade 4, Grove A dream: I like decorating the tree. I like drinking hot tea. I like getting and giving gifts. I never throw them off cliffs! Spending time with family is what I love. Christmas is what I dream of! Dean Fish Grade 2, home school Snow: My favorite holiday is Christmas because I have snow at my house, and I go in the snow. I will throw the snowballs at my mom. I make a snow angel with my mom and dad. I make a snowman with my brothers. Jackson Mueller Grade 2, Jefferson Park Family: My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. My favorite part of Christmas is giving other people cool gifts, being with my family, and the best part is that my birthday is three days before it. We usually go to Oklahoma, but sometimes they come to Bloomington. I also love to cook the cookies and get the carrots and milk ready the night before. Claire Ramsey Grade 2, Northpoint Gifts: My favorite thing about Christmas is giving presents and receiving presents. I also enjoy having fun. Layton Nguyen Grade 5, Northpoint Give thanks: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because I get to see my whole family. My birthday is the day after Thanksgiving, too. Blakely Ashley Harper Grade 2, Parkside V-Day: I love Valentine’s Day. You get special cards. You get fun bags from your friends. Valentine’s Day means love and kindness. I like the parties at school we have. We get to play the day of. Valentine’s Day never ends. Dawson Curtis Grade 1, Prairieland Fourth of July : My favorite holiday is July Fourth. I can meet my cousins. Their names are Ryan and Michell and Melody. I got a tank firework and another one that shot out little bits. We also got cherry pop. It shot out beautiful red spirals. It was so beautiful. Jack Dong Grade 3, Prairieland Christmas Eve: I have the perfect family traditions on Christmas Eve. First, I go to my cousin's house and play in their big basement. After that, I visit with family members who I haven't talked to in a while. Next, we eat food and treats that everyone pitches in to make. Lastly, we gather around the fire and Christmas tree and open presents. Brayden Kleckner Grade 5, Prairieland Costumes: My favorite holiday is Halloween. We get to dress up as funny people. In December we get presents. We get to celebrate with family. Davion Hosea Grade 3, Sheridan Many holidays: New Years Eve, Fourth of July, Christmas and Advent, Thanksgiving, Saint Patrick’s Day, Halloween, and Veterans Day. Zariah Thomas Grade 2, Stevenson Joy: My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love it because it is a day filled with joy. Faye Dudley Grade 1, Sugar Creek Eat food: My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because you get to eat mashed potatoes and meat and having fun. You can also meet people and friends. It’s so much fun. Oliver Tripp Heimer Grade 2, Washington Christmas Day: On Christmas we open presents and after we open presents, we go to my grandma’s house. We stay the night for about 2-3 nights. Ryker Meisner Grade 4, Washington Candy: Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because our house is always like Halloween inside because I get a lot of candy. When I get home from trick-or-treating, my siblings and I like to do a thing called candy trading. Once we are done, we eat some candy and then go to bed. Brooklyn Znider Grade 5, Washington I like Christmas because I get to see family members that I don’t see often. My family and I decorate the tree. My mom makes delicious food. Ashley Samayoa Grade 3, Cedar Ridge Grandma's house: Here are some reasons Christmas at my grandma’s house is so special. One is my grandma, my aunt and my mom make delicious food. Two, we get presents from my grandma, grandpa and aunt and uncle. Azro Yackley Grade 4, Centennial Toys: I like Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday because I get presents. And we don’t have school on Christmas. I get tons of toys. George Gammelgard Grade 2, Corpus Christi Catholic holidays: All my favorite holidays are the three main ones. I love three main holidays because two of them are Catholic and one of them is saying what you are thankful for. I love Christmas because of all the joy. Caroline Herr Grade 1, Epiphany Wake up early: When it is Christmas, I wake up at 1:00 in the morning and I open my presents. When I’m down the stairs it is super dark, so I turn on the light. I also turn on my fireplace. Philip Ortega Grade 3, Epiphany Yummy food: Mine is Thanksgiving. First you get to say thanks to your friends and family. Next, you can eat lots of delicious food. Lastly, you can play games after you eat. I love Thanksgiving! Jazariah Conner Grade 4, Fairview Holiday travel: First, one thing about my favorite holiday is that we get to decorate around the house, and it is really fun doing that. Next, another thing about my favorite holiday is that we get to go to Ecuador during that time, so we can celebrate with my family, but sadly, we don’t get to go this year. Shannon Alomoto Casco Grade 5, Fairview Diwali: For Christmas I want a hoverboard. The reason is because I used to have one, so I know how to ride it. My sister and I can ride on it. My favorite holiday is Diwali. I like it because we get to shoot fireworks. It’s an Indian festival, the festival of lights. Adhrit Sinha Grade 2, Glenn My birthday: My favorite holiday is Easter because my birthday is around that day. Lucy Ersland Grade 1, Grove Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year's Day are some of the holidays that make the next few weeks special. Publication dates : Dec. 8, 15, 22 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The 'No Good Deed' Finale Reveals Even More Dark SecretsNC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is named head coach at MarshallHere are the high school players who have verbally committed to the Gophers football team and are expected to sign with the program during Wednesday’s opener of the early signing period. Players are listed by ranking according to 247Sports.com composite ratings of major recruiting services: Emmanuel Karmo, Edge rusher, Robbinsdale Cooper High School 6-31⁄2 , 222 pounds, four stars • The top-ranked recruit in Minnesota , Karmo is the No. 38-ranked linebacker nationally in the 247Sports composite of major recruiting services. The versatile player lined up all over the field for the Hawks. Amassed 64 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception in 10 games this season. Michigan showed late interest in Karmo, while Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC were among programs that offered him a scholarship. Jackson Kollock, QB, Laguna Beach (Calif.) High School 6-31⁄2 , 225 pounds, four stars • Three-year prep starter passed for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs with seven interceptions as a senior in leading team to 10-2 record. Also rushed for 315 yards and eight TDs. Originally committed to Washington in 2023 before flipping to Gophers last March. His other offers included California, Colorado and Oregon State, among others. Jayquan Stubbs, DL, Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High School 6-6, 249, three stars • A standout basketball player, Stubbs has the footwork and agility that will serve him well on the defensive line. Coached by former Gopher Mac Stephens, Stubbs is the 16th-ranked player in Ohio and the 55th-ranked defensive lineman nationally by 247Sports. Purdue and West Virginia were the Gophers’ main competition for Stubbs. Ethan Stendel, LB, Caledonia (Minn.) High School 6-3, 215, three stars • Second-ranked player in Minnesota by 247Sports and 71st-ranke linebacker nationally. The versatile Stendel played quarterback and linebacker for Caledonia, passing for 1,246 yards and 11 TDs, and making 57 tackles, intercepting three passes and forcing two fumbles. North Dakota and Northern Iowa also had interest in Stendel. Shane Marshall, RB, Irwin County High School, Ocilla, Ga. 5-11, 200, three stars • Productive back has rushed for 1,817 yards and 28 touchdowns in 13 games for Irwin County. Ran for 200 yards in the state quarterfinals on Friday, helping his team advance. Originally committed to South Florida before switching to the Gophers in June. Houston and Georgia Tech also had strong interest in Marshall. Bradley Martino, WR, First Baptist Academy, Naples, Fla. 6-3, 175, three stars • Lanky wideout caught 46 passes for 896 yards and 15 TDs this season, and played cornerback, with three pass breakups and an interception. Originally committed to Toledo, Martino switched to the Gophers in June. and also received offers from Louisville and Mississippi State. Naiim Parish, CB, Bergen Catholic High School, Oradell, N.J. 5-11, 165, three stars • Speedy cornerback had five interceptions, four pass breakups and 33 tackles this season. 247Sports rates him as the 21st-best player in New Jersey and 52nd-best athlete nationally. Wisconsin, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Arizona State and Michigan State were among his offers. Enoch Atewogbola, Edge, Avon (Ind.) High School 6-4, 215, three stars • Late bloomer received a bump in rating this week after collecting 58 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks and eight pass breakups this season. Boston College and Western Michigan. Ranked No. 76 nationally in edge rushers. Abu Tarawallie, DL, Providence Academy, Plymouth 6-3, 275, three stars • Tarawallie is the third-ranked player in Minnesota and the 84th-ranked defensive lineman nationally and recently received a ratings bump by 247Sports. Had 35 tackles, 71⁄2 tackles for loss and 41⁄2 sacks in 10 games this season. Wisconsin, Kansas State and Oklahoma were among others offering him a scholarship. Mark Handy, OL, La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, N.M. 6-51⁄2, 310, three stars • The third-ranked player in New Mexico and 64th-ranked interior offensive lineman nationally made official visits to California, Utah and Duke before settling on the Gophers. Also was the undefeated Class 5A heavyweight wrestling champion as a junior last season. Grant Grayton, S, Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Olney, Md. 6-2, 185, three stars • Impressed coaches during a Gophers camp and accepted offer three days later. Coming from the same high school that produced former Gophers running back Mohamed Ibrahim, Grayton is the 33rd-rated recruit in Maryland and 77th-ranked safety nationally. Nick Spence, OL, Liberty High School, Peoria, Ariz. 6-6, 280, three stars • Spence is the 14th-rated recruit in Arizona and 77th-ranked interior offensive lineman nationally. Duke and Iowa State were the other top suitors for Spence, who committed to the Gophers on his official visit in June. Kaveon Lee, Plainfield (Ill.) Central High School 6-6, 275, three stars • Lee is the latest player to commit to the Gophers, doing so on Sunday. He’s the 33rd-ranked player in Illinois and 103rd-ranked offensive tackle nationally. Purdue and Kansas State were among his other Power Four offers. Zachry Harden, CB, Newton High School, Covington, Ga. 6-2, 190, three stars • Harden is the 146th-ranked recruit in Georgia and the 124th-ranked safety nationally. Garnered offers this fall from Colorado, Missouri and Auburn after committing to the Gophers in March. Legend Lyons, WR, Charter Oak High School, Covina, Calif. 6-2, 190, three stars • Big wideout caught 55 passes for 879 yards and 12 TDs this season after having 74 catches for 950 yards and seven scores as a junior. Kansas, Utah and Arkansas also offered Lyons. Daniel Shipp, OT, Centennial High School, Corona, Calif. 6-6, 275, three stars • Under-the-radar recruit who missed the 2023 and 2022 seasons because of injuries. His diverse offers include Division II Black Hills (S.D.) State, Boise State and Fresno State. Has the frame to be a standout left tackle. Nathan Cleveland, LB, Hoffman Estates High School, River Grove, Ill. 6-1, 215, three stars • Versatile athlete who also has played safety and quarterback. He’s the 43rd-ranked player in Illinois and 162nd-ranked linebacker nationally. Rhett Hlavacka, Edge, Fond Du Lac (Wis.) High School 6-4, 235, three stars • Amassed 120 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles as a senior. Hlavacka is the 15th-ranked player in Wisconsin and 135th-ranked Edge nationally. Memphis and Northern Illinois were among his other FBS offers. Colin Hansen, DL, Byron (Minn.) High School 6-5, 230, three stars • He’s the eighth-ranked recruit in Minnesota and the 189th-rated defensive lineman nationally. Hansen’s main suitors included North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Washington State and Northern Iowa. Grant Washington, RB, St. Ignatius High School, Cleveland 5-10, 195, three stars • Speedy back originally committed to Central Michigan in May before flipping to the Gophers in June. He’s the 80th-ranked player in Ohio and 128th-ranked running back nationally. Luke Ryerse, P, East Ridge High School, Woodbury, Minn. 6-1, 210, three stars • Ryerse, the brother of former Gophers kicker Grant Ryerse, is the 12th-ranked player in Minnesota and fourth-ranked punter nationally. Originally committed to Alabama before flipping to Minnesota, where he’ll play football and baseball. Kicked a 56-yard field goal this fall, second-longest in state history. Averaged 45.4 yards per punt. Daniel Jackson, K, Alexandria (Minn.) Area High School • Went 4-for-8 on field goals this season, including a 54-yarder. Went 60-for-60 on extra points. Picked the Gophers over North Dakota State, Army and Cornell.
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How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Wednesday, December 11 Published 4:28 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2024 By Data Skrive Top-25 teams will hit the court in six games on Wednesday’s college basketball slate. That includes the Iowa State Cyclones taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Today’s Top 25 Games Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Good London Builders 2024 Property Renovation Report: Consumer Technology Winning Over Wealthy Homeowners in Connected Home MarketSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Amar'e Marshall scored 17 points as Albany beat Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 93-50 on Friday. Marshall also contributed five assists for the Great Danes (4-1). Byron Joshua added 13 points while going 4 of 4 (3 for 3 from 3-point range) while he also had five assists and five steals. Aaron Reddish shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. Puerto Rico-Mayaguez was led by David Maldonado, who posted 16 points. Jose Alicea scored 10 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
