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At a time of year when many take stock and look ahead to the year to come, IONA MACDONALD asks some well-known faces about their hopes for 2025 Dingwall Academy headteacher, Karen Cormack said: “I would love to see the Peffery Way completed so that pupils can cycle into school from Strathpeffer! “Also, I hope that at a national level there is fast and effective legislation to protect our young people from the dangers of vaping and social media. We have yet to fully understand the damage vaping is doing to physical health, but it is [having an impact]. We are increasingly aware of the damage that the ease of access to social media is doing to mental health. Young people need and deserve to be protected from both.” Development and engagement Manager for the NC500, David Richardson said: “This should be a time of peace and goodwill to all, and that is my wish for north Highland tourism in 2025. For there is far too much division locally, undermining our economy at a time when population decline is threatening so many communities. “Most locals recognise the vital contribution made by the north’s visitor-based economy, especially the much-needed income enjoyed by numerous households and the presence of countless shops and services that simply wouldn’t survive without it. “However, there are well-publicised problems too, most centred on the rapid expansion of campervan ownership and rentals across the UK and Europe. The good news is that they really can be solved if we all – politicians, governments, public agencies, businesses and community activists – start working together. What we can't do is constantly undermine our precious tourism industry in national media. “Living in the Highlands is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. Our duty is to the generations that come after us, so let’s hope that in 2025 we can all start working together to ensure that the north Highlands becomes a land of opportunity; one that our grandchildren think worth inheriting.” Laura Hamlet, the chief executive of Coigach Community Development Company (CCDC) said: “For us, we hope for something to be announced to continue or replace the Rural and Island Housing Fund that's due to end in March 2026 — without it, community house building will grind to a halt, yet it's the no.1 thing that is going to make a difference to repopulation. “A beautiful new classroom for our primary school would be nice too, to help attract new families into Coigach...the Highland Council will be considering that next year, so fingers crossed! “Thirdly, a flourishing community garden: we have spent 2024 piloting ideas and it would be lovely if we could expand these next year.”Why this beaten-up ASX All Ords stock just rocketed 31% - The Motley Fool Australia
The Cincinnati Bearcats , led by quarterback Brendan Sorsby , face the Kansas State Wildcats , led by quarterback Avery Johnson on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 (11/23/24) at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas. How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV . You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV , which is offering half off your first month. Here’s what you need to know: What: NCAA Football, Week 13 Who: Cincinnati vs. Kansas State When: Saturday, Nov. 23 (11/23/24) Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium Time: 8 p.m. ET TV: ESPN2 Live stream: fuboTV (free trial) , DirecTV Stream (free trial) *** Here are the best streaming options for college football this season: Fubo TV (free trial): fuboTV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS. DirecTV Stream (free trial) : DirecTV Stream carries ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS. Sling TV ( $25 off the first month) - Sling TV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC and NBC. ESPN+ ($9.99 a month): ESPN+ carries college football games each weekend for only $9.99 a month. These games are exclusive to the platform. Peacock TV ($5.99 a month): Peacock will simulstream all of NBC Sports’ college football games airing on the NBC broadcast network this season, including Big Ten Saturday Night. Peacock will also stream Notre Dame home games. Certain games will be streamed exclusively on Peacock this year as well. Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year. *** Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press: Cincinnati (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) at Kansas State (7-3, 4-3), Saturday, 8 p.m. EST (ESPN2) BetMGM College Football Odds: Kansas State by 81⁄2. Series record: Cincinnati leads 4-2. Kansas State is desperate to snap a two-game losing streak when it takes on Cincinnati, which still needs to win one of its final two games to achieve bowl eligibility. The Wildcats blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead at Houston before turning the ball over three times and fumbling the snap on two field-goal attempts in a home loss to Arizona State last week. Those two losses dropped them off the pace of Big 12 championship game contention. Kansas State QB Avery Johnson against the Cincinnati defense. Johnson has struggled in back-to-back games, getting thoroughly out-played last week by Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt. The Wildcats would like to see the dual-threat QB use his legs more, especially in the red zone, and that should put more pressure on a Bearcats defense that has allowed at least 31 points each of the past three games. Cincinnati: QB Brendan Sorsby, who threw for 426 yards in a shootout with Texas Tech, was held to just 66 yards passing by Iowa State last week. He compensated for the meager production through the air with 141 yards rushing and a touchdown. Kansas State: RB DJ Giddens ran just 14 times for 133 yards last week against Arizona State, though the numbers are a bit misleading. Many of them came late in the game, when the Sun Devils went to prevent-style defenses to hang onto their lead, giving Giddens more room to break a few long runs. The schools have only met six times, the last a 35-0 win by Kansas State at home on Sept. 9, 1996. ... The Bearcats can become bowl-eligible for the sixth time in seven seasons. ... Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner ran for 120 yards last week at Iowa State. He has 2,312 for his career, moving into ninth in school history. ... Bearcats LB Jared Bartlett has 7 1/2 sacks to rank second in the Big 12. ... Giddens moved into ninth in school history with 3,512 all-purpose yards last week. He has 2,872 yards rushing to rank fourth. ... Kansas State was shut out by the Sun Devils in the first half last week. It was the first time getting shut out in any half since 2022 against TCU. (The Associated Press contributed to this report) Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
CalFire took to social media Tuesday to showcase its most viewed images of 2024, offering a poignant reminder of the year’s challenging wildfire season. The agency reported managing 7,994 wildfires that scorched approximately 1,049,956 acres across the state. The fires took a heavy toll on structures, with 2,077 affected. Of these, 397 were damaged, and 1,680 were destroyed. Related Story: Despite the devastation, CalFire recorded just one fatality — a civilian — marking a decrease from the four fatalities in 2023, which included one civilian and three firefighters. Comparatively, 2023 saw 7,386 wildfires burn 332,822 acres, affecting 179 structures. That year, 22 structures were damaged, and 157 were destroyed, underscoring the increased intensity and impact of fires in 2024. The largest blaze of 2024, the Park Fire, ignited on July 24 in Butte and Tehama counties. It consumed 429,603 acres, making it the most significant wildfire of 2024. CalFire’s Most Viewed Photos of 2024 —None
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Social media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 banShohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. On Football: Falcons and Buccaneers flip spots atop the NFC South and playoff races tighten up The 49ers, Cowboys and Cardinals are out of the playoff race. The Falcons took control of their hopes and the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals kept slim chances alive. The NFL’s playoff picture became clearer Sunday. With two weeks remaining, three of eight division titles are secured, eight teams have wrapped up playoff berths and 11 more are competing for the six remaining spots. The biggest change in the standings occurred in the NFC South with Atlanta reclaiming the top spot from Tampa Bay. The Chiefs have the inside track for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC's top spot could likely come down to the Vikings-Lions matchup in Week 18. Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. They were the headliners among the Southeastern Conference's haul of 10 ranked teams. Iowa State, Duke and Alabama rounded out the top five. Kentucky had the week's biggest fall, sliding six spots to No. 10 after a loss to Ohio State. Mississippi State, Arkansas, Illinois and Baylor rejoined the poll after stints in the rankings earlier this season. They replaced Memphis, Dayton, Michigan and Clemson. The Big 12 and Big Ten were tied for second with five teams each in the AP Top 25. USC up to No. 4 in women's AP Top 25 after win over UConn. UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame stay 1-3 Southern California jumped to No. 4 in The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll on Monday after edging UConn. The Trojans moved up three spots after beating the then-No. 4 Huskies 72-70 in a rematch of last season’s Elite Eight game that UConn won. UCLA, South Carolina and Notre Dame remained the top three teams. The Bruins received 30 of the 32 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks and the Fighting Irish each got one first-place vote. UConn fell to seventh behind Texas and LSU. Maryland, Oklahoma and Ohio State rounded out the top 10 teams. Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Michael Vick has been introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick donned a Norfolk State letterman’s jacket and cap in front of a crowd of supporters that included fellow Hampton Roads, Virginia, sports greats Allen Iverson and Bruce Smith. Vick led Virginia Tech to the national championship game as a redshirt freshman and was selected No. 1 overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. His career was derailed by his conviction in 2007 for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State gear up for rematch of thriller won by Ducks Oregon and Ohio State have already produced one heck of a game this season. Now, the top-seeded Ducks and eighth-seeded Buckeyes are gearing up for a rematch more than 10 weeks later in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Of course, both teams have had ample time for evolution since that 32-31 Oregon win on Oct. 12. But they also have that game and players’ familiarity with each other, not to mention common opponents in the Big Ten. Penn State preparing for hard-charging Jeanty and Boise State in CFP quarterfinals STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State players have watched Ashton Jeanty make opponents look silly all season. They don’t want to be the next defenders Boise State’s star posterizes with jukes, spin moves, stiff arms and heavy shoulders. But they also know that slowing down Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, will be their toughest task yet when the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Texas sues NCAA in latest push to block transgender athletes in women's sports AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the NCAA to block the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, arguing that it tricks and misleads fans. The lawsuit filed in state district court argues the NCAA violates the Texas Trade Practices Act. The law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive business practices. The lawsuit is the latest attempt by conservative politicians to target transgender athletes and push the NCAA into banning them from competition. NCAA President Charlie Baker recently told Congress he was aware of fewer than 10 active transgender athletes. Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new 3-on-3 league's final player Sabrina Ionescu is joining Unrivaled as the new league’s final player for this season. The Liberty star guard who helped New York win the first championship in franchise history earlier this year signed a historic agreement on Monday. She’ll join the Phantom BC that made a trade Saturday night to acquire Natasha Cloud. Ionescu will also be playing with Brittney Griner, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally and Katie Lou Samuelson. The 27-year-old Ionescu is recovering from a procedure she had earlier this month on her right thumb to stabilize the ulnar collateral ligament. Sean Manaea to re-sign with Mets for $75 million over 3 years, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — Sean Manaea is set to return to the New York Mets on a $75 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the agreement. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Manaea blossomed into New York’s top starting pitcher this year during his first season with the team, going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts. Then he became a free agent for the third straight offseason. The reunion with Manaea, who turns 33 on Feb. 1, gives New York a much-needed frontline starter to help complete its reconstructed rotation. Mets owner Steve Cohen has committed $916.25 million to five free agents this offseason — four of them starting pitchers.
No licences, 5 rehab centres issued noticeseBron James, , owes much of his success to the unwavering support of his wife, . A four-time NBA champion, 20-time All-Star, and the league's with over 41,000 points, wouldn't be the same without the foundation of stability that Savannah provides. The , and at every step of LeBron's two-decade career, Savannah has been by his side, offering encouragement, managing their family, and being a source of strength. For an athlete in the spotlight as , this type of partnership has been invaluable in helping him stay focused and perform at the highest level for Lebron Jealousy Joins Savannah in TikTok Dance Before you watch the , it's a perfect example of the fun and connection they share as a couple. In the clip, while Savannah James dances and moves with some other friends, and you'll see how their playful chemistry highlights their relationship. Beyond moments like this, Savannah has played an important role in , keeping him grounded and that have plagued many high-profile athletes. For more than two decades, for young athletes, not only for his accomplishments on the court, but also for his behavior and integrity off it. I mean, how many athletes in any sport have been doing what they love and at the top of their game for more than 20 years? . Through her unwavering support, as both an athlete and a public figure. Whether it's managing her family or providing guidance in moments of pressure, her influence is a testament to the saying, . Now, as a mother, Savannah should during this confusing time for him and in the next few years. Load Management Key for LeBron's Title Push On the court, LeBron and the Lakers are riding a to the team after missing a few games for As he approaches his on December 30, it might be time for . Giving his body a break for a game or two after every 10 could help him stay at the top of his game and contribute more effectively to the team. In essence, a , especially since he likely dreams of winning one more title before he retires. Tonight, the Lakers host the , and after his impressive performances in the in recent games. After that, the , another chapter in the storied rivalry between and . They'll close out the year with two home games, first against the and then on December 31 against Eastern Conference leaders and LeBron's former team, the