CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Maria Gakdeng tied her season high with 21 points and grabbed a season-best 12 rebounds, Alyssa Ustby added 19 points and 13 boards and the No. 17 North Carolina women beat Miami 69-60 on Sunday for their third consecutive win. North Carolina (13-2, 1-1 ACC) lost its conference opener to No. 13 Georgia Tech on Dec. 15 before nonconference wins against Florida and Norfolk State. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
TROY – Earlier in the week, Troy coach Gerad Parker stated, “It’s 100 percent critical that we finish this season the right way.” Consider it done. The Trojans continued their late-season surge by absolutely demolishing Southern Mississippi 52-20 in the season finale at Veterans Memorial Stadium before a crowd of 19,521 on Saturday afternoon. It gave Troy wins in three of its final four games to complete Parker’s first season in charge at 4-8 overall, 3-5 in Sun Belt Conference play. “I couldn’t be more happier where it finished,” Parker said. “That will build momentum for our current roster as well as in recruiting, and we’re going to fight to get that done to make sure we start the right way in 2025. “I think you’re going to see a hunger when these guys get back on January 14 for the second semester of school. They’ll know what this wants to look like – more understand where we fell short and also what our momentum is. Troy's Jordan Stringer (7) and Ian Conerly-Goodly (39) pursue a USM running back. “I don’t think you’ll have to ask anybody in our locker room to prepare or be ready for offseason workouts, because they know what they want to accomplish in ’25.” It was a good day for individual accolades as well. Troy receiver Devonte Ross and running back Damien Taylor both went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season – Ross in receiving by catching five passes for 70 yards on Saturday and Taylor in rushing by gaining 169 yards on 23 attempts with three touchdowns. When Taylor scored on a 35-yard touchdown run with just under six minutes to play in the game, he had totaled 999 yards on the season. He was aware one more yard was needed to reach the 1,000-yard mark. “The defense looked at me and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to get you the ball back,'” Taylor said of conversations on the sidelines. "And then the offensive line looked at me and said, ‘Hey, one yard.’ I knew I had to get one more.” LJ Green got an interception for the Trojans on the ensuing possession and returned it 49 yards to the 16. Taylor went over the 1,000-yard mark with a carry on the next play for 11 yards – putting him at 1,010 yards for the season. On the next play, Jordan Lovett went in from 5 yards for a score, making it 52-20 after the PAT. It was the first time since 2012 that Troy had a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard receiver in the same season. “It means a lot,” Ross said. “Being here three years and being around some great receivers ... showing me what it takes to be a great receiver. My teammates. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without them pushing me hard and the O-line doing their job coming together at the end of the year and not allowing sacks.” Defensively, Brendan Jackson led the way with nine tackles, while Ian Conerly-Goodly and Phillip Lee each had seven. Lee also had two sacks and 3.5 tackles for losses and was seemingly in the Southern Miss backfield all game. “The last game of the season, I just wanted to put on tape what’s coming for next year,” Lee, a junior bandit linebacker, said. “For every team, I want to let them know, I’m eating and I’m not stopping.” Things didn’t start out so rosy for the Trojans. Troy tight end Trae Swartz can't come up with a catch against USM. Troy forced a three-and-out on the first series of the game, but the ensuing punt bounced off the helmet of Troy’s Joe Lott and the Golden Eagles recovered at the Trojans’ 41. On first down, quarterback Tate Rodemaker connected with Ti Mims down to the 1. Two plays later, Kenyon Clay went in for the score. The Golden Eagles then converted a try for 2 as Bryce Loften passed to a wide-open Kyirin Heath to make it 8-0. The Trojans scored on their first offensive series when Taylor ran in from 6 yards out on a third-and-goal situation. Scott Taylor Renfroe kicked through the extra point to pull Troy within 8-7 with 7:28 left in the opening quarter. Troy took its first lead of the game with just under three minutes left in the first quarter when Renfroe nailed a career-long 50-yard field goal, putting the Trojans ahead 10-8. Matthew Caldwell runs for a touchdown during Troy's win. Matthew Caldwell scored on a 14-yard keeper around the right side to make it a 17-8 Troy lead following the PAT with 8:50 left in the second quarter to complete a 13-play, 67-yard drive. In what was a scary incident in the first half, Troy senior safety Cecil Powell suffered a non-contact, non-football related medical emergency in the first quarter, was treated on the sideline and transported to a local hospital for evaluation. He was listed in stable condition Saturday afternoon and Parker said he was being moved from Troy to a hospital in Montgomery. Taylor got the scoring going in the third quarter with a 56-yard run one play after USM was stopped on a fourth-and-7 try when linebacker Jackson shot through to sack Rodemaker for a 7-yard loss. Renfroe added the PAT to make it 24-8 with 6:04 left in the third. Southern Miss wide receiver Ti Mims stretches for yardage after a catch. Southern Miss quickly answered when Rodemaker connected with Larry Simmons on a 75-yard touchdown pass, the longest completion of the year for the Golden Eagles. Simmons caught the pass at the USM 40 and then broke away for the score. USM failed on a try for 2, leaving the score 24-14 in Troy’s favor. Troy responded on its next possession, driving 75 yards in 10 plays to score when Caldwell spotted tight end Trae Swartz over the middle for a 10-yard TD. Renfroe’s PAT made it 31-14. For the game, Caldwell completed 14-of-26 passes for 187 yards and the one touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, Southern Miss got a TD on a 4-yard pass from Rodemaker to Mims. The extra point kick failed, but USM had pulled within 31-20 with 7:05 left. Taylor got Troy back on the scoreboard with a 35-yard TD run with just under six minutes left. Renfroe’s kick made it 38-20. The Trojans virtually put it away on the next USM possession when safety Conerly-Goodly intercepted a pass and returned it 31 yards for a score, making it 45-20 after the PAT before Lovett’s final touchdown run. Southern Miss ended its season at 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the league. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!One thing nearly all former presidents have in common is a love of sports. For Donald Trump, the game was golf. For Barack Obama, the sport was basketball. President George W. Bush owned Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. For Jimmy Carter, the sport was tennis. At the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is a clay tennis court. The tennis court was installed during Carter’s childhood on the family farm. The farm and his childhood home later became the location for the park in Plains, Georgia. In his 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” Carter described how he would play against his father as a teenager. “My father ... was an excellent tennis player,” Carter wrote. “I could never beat my father. He had a wicked sliced ball which barely bounded at all on the relatively soft dirt court.” RELATED STORY | Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100 Carter was able to upgrade his court when he entered the White House in 1977. The complex had a court installed during President Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure. But during his time in the White House, the use of the tennis courts became political fodder. Staffer James Fallows wrote in The Atlantic that Carter would personally sign off on when the White House tennis court could be used, and by which staffers. “The in-house tennis enthusiasts, of whom I was perhaps the most shameless, dispatched brief notes through his secretary asking to use the court on Tuesday afternoons while he was at a congressional briefing, or a Saturday morning, while he was away,” Fallows wrote. “I always provided spaces where he could check Yes or No; Carter would make his decision and send the note back, initialed J.” Carter was asked by Bill Moyers about whether he personally signed off on the tennis court’s use. Carter told Moyers he delegated the task to a secretary. Carter’s love of tennis came home to Plains in 1977 during his first year in the White House. World Team Tennis staged a match in the small Georgia town, which was attended by Carter’s mother Lillian. The competition was between a team of Soviet Union stars against top Americans playing on the Phoenix Racquets.
Jodie Frink Now seems like a good time to reboot a favorite feature: We asked a supersized panel of community members to tell us about the kindest, most selfless act they’ve witnessed this year. “One of the most unselfish things that I’ve noticed in the past 30 days has been act by one of the disabled members of our congregation, Jodie Frink. Rev. Robert Freeman “When her church was trying to find ways to raise money for the building repairs, she decided to have a fundraiser to help. She went and found old cups and propagated plants from her own plants and then sold them at an estate sale. She donated the proceeds to her church. She raised over 400 dollars. She is our hero.” Susannah Scaroni shows off a couple of her medals before appearing on WDWS’ ‘Monday Night SportsTalk’ at the Esquire Lounge in September. “A friend and training partner of mine competed the Chicago marathon last month with a large group of men. He told me that during the race, the three leading athletes of this group exchanged leads just amongst themselves — i.e., they didn’t ask any of the other men in the back of the pack to help at the front, where most of the wind is felt. “Understandably, at the end of the race, my friend had more energy than the men who did more of the work and he was able to out-climb them on the final hill. However, he waited for them so that they could finish ahead of him as they had done more work.” “Two weeks ago, I was trying to get students on a bus for a field trip. One of my babies, eighth-grader Elijah, bends over and picks up a dollar that was on the ground. “He walked it over to me and said, ‘Here you go, Ms. Westfield. I know it was one of your tests you were giving us.’ Renayee Westfield “I told him that it actually wasn’t a test of mine and the dollar was his free and clear. We went back and forth because he seriously thought I had planted it as some life lesson. It took about four minutes for him to believe that he could actually keep the dollar. “Doesn’t sound like much, but to this particular group, it was. He finally took it and said, ‘Wow, I could use this dollar!’ “And I let him know it must have been one of life’s little blessings waiting just for him — I mean, about five of us walked over it and didn’t see it.” Cathy Rector “This past summer I witnessed such a beautiful showing of love, support and respect for a young woman in our community that had been battling cancer for several years, but, unfortunately, was spending her final days at home with her devoted husband and extended family. “Friends, family and well-wishers, many of whom hardly knew her, got together and put the word out that there was going to be a caravan for her, to let her know so many were thinking of her. “When my husband and I arrived that day to participate, we were moved by all of the cars that had filled a local parking lot and those that were parked along the street. Everyone gathered in a circle and prayed before the caravan began. As the procession passed the family home — with signs, balloons, flowers and quiet tears — we could see her in the front yard surrounded by her loved ones, smiling as each car passed, many yelling words of support and love. “That young woman passed less than 48 hours later, but knowing that so many members of our community came out, gave of their time and let her see how much she was loved and the impact she had on so many, was kindness at its best.” Diana Gonzalez “On November 6th, during my lunchtime walk on campus, I noticed a couple of students standing on the main quad holding a sign. As I passed them, I saw that the sign said they were offering hugs and encouragement to anyone who needed one today. “Seeing this kind and caring offer warmed my heart. I was reminded to give extra hugs to my family when I come home this evening.” Board chair Jewell White with United Way President/CEO Sue Grey. “We are so fortunate that there are many times that we get to witness kindness and goodness for those in need in our community. Most recently, there were some kids, whose parents were strong United Way volunteers. “They decided they wanted to do their part — thus, the most awesome lemonade stand you could ever have, was born. “The kids make their own signs, lemonade and marketing. We really are grateful for the kind hearts of Addie, Rowen, Kynzee and Leo. They have donated hundreds of dollars to United Way because they wanted to make a difference in their community. We have used their donations to help kids all across Champaign County.” Gene Robinson Director, UI Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology “An undergraduate was facing a difficult conversation with a university official and was quite nervous about advocating for herself for the first time in this context. “Learning this, a graduate student volunteered to accompany the undergraduate — even though she herself was not feeling well, with a non-contagious ailment. “She got out of her sick bed, helped the undergraduate get through it successfully and then promptly went back home. The undergraduate was extremely grateful and now has a powerful model to pay forward.” John Thies “For a number of years, Champaign-Urbana Kiwanis has had a relationship with the Swann School in Champaign. Club member Darrold Kennedy with Edward Jones has taken the lead in coordinating club volunteers who have gone on walks with the children and adults with developmental disabilities served by Swann — a wonderful community organization. “These walks take place most weeks during the warm weather months, and Darrold is an excellent manager of the club’s involvement. Thanks to volunteers like Darrold, Champaign-Urbana is a better place.” Ashley Mayor “I was checking out a new book at the Champaign Public Library when a young boy and a children’s librarian came up to the line and waited patiently. “I watched on as the young boy had a handful of magazines and explained that he wanted to donate to the library for others to enjoy too. The librarian was showing him how to make his donation. “Both librarians were so kind to him and appreciative of his generosity.” “Presiding over the Champaign County Drug Court, I am familiar with the difficulty many of our members have obtaining employment because of their prior convictions. Ben Dyer “Many people get discouraged during their job searches, and it would be natural for someone to get a job and be very protective of that opportunity for themselves. Yet this year, as in years past, we have seen just the opposite: numerous instances of our members doing everything they can to help one another find jobs, to recommend one another for employment, and to help them succeed at work if they are hired. “It’s refreshing to see them lift one another up and try to succeed together.” Connie Hilson “As a volunteer coach for Special Olympics, I witness selfless acts and kindness at almost every practice or sporting event. It could be as simple as an athlete helping another athlete or a coach giving their time when they don’t have a family member involved. “I really appreciate the teens and young adults who get involved. For example, Josie recently organized the U of I Best Buddies drumline and their performance at the Illini Marching Band Festival. It was smiles for every-buddy involved. “Or Ella, Charlotte and Xander, who volunteer to help athletes who need that extra assist to participate. They could be hanging out with friends or doing things that teens do. Instead, they selflessly give their time to help someone else. They are inspiring and will have amazing futures.” “Recently, we met a neighbor named Jordan visiting the Mattoon Community Food Pantry for groceries. She told us that in addition to caring for her two young children, she takes care of her younger brother. Kelly Daly “As a nurse, Jordan often works shifts that are 16 hours or longer, and was excited to find healthy snacks and easy meal options for her family. When she saw that the person shopping ahead of her got the last bags of frozen strawberries, she offered to trade her soft pretzel bites for the strawberries because her kids would love them. “However, there was no trade — instead, he offered the strawberries to her and told her to enjoy them with her children. The generous gesture exemplified the pantry’s mission statement that hung on the wall behind them: ‘We are committed to respond compassionately to those in need within our community.’” Danville High School sophomore Samantha Brown with her homemade cocoa bombs. “The Danville High student the past couple of years who epitomizes selflessness and helping others is sophomore Samantha Brown. “This will be Samantha’s third year running Sam’s Cocoa Co. Samantha taught herself to make custom holiday cocoa bombs, became home kitchen-certified and makes hundreds of cocoa bombs to sell over the holidays. “All profits are used to purchase supplies for the Vermilion County Humane Society. Last year, she raised over $1,500 to help stock the Humane Society and donated cocoa bombs to the Women’s Shelter so the residents and kids could have a cocoa party.”Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the day
Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate
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NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”
Marcus Johnson and Bowling Green take down New Mexico State 61-60With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.
