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In a new interview, the scandal-plagued Gaetz reaffirmed his commitment to being a member of Trump’s ‘America First army’. Former United States Congress member Matt Gaetz has confirmed he will not resume his seat in the House of Representatives, amid scrutiny over sex-trafficking allegations. Gaetz had been President-elect Donald Trump’s first pick for the role of attorney general in his incoming administration. But speaking on Friday to the conservative podcast The Charlie Kirk Show, Gaetz addressed his decision to withdraw his name from consideration, as controversy loomed over his nomination. “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” Gaetz said in the interview. “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress.” Gaetz, the son of a former Florida state senator, had served as the US representative for Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2017. But on November 13, when Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Justice, Gaetz abruptly resigned his seat in Congress. Critics pointed out that his resignation came just days before the bipartisan House Ethics Committee was slated to release a report digging into allegations that Gaetz had sex with a minor, engaged in “illicit drug use” and “shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor”. Gaetz has denied the allegations. But his departure from the House threw the report into limbo, as prominent Republicans argued the committee was only tasked with investigating active members. Democrats, meanwhile, argued the report’s publication was necessary to ensure a transparent and fully informed confirmation process in the Senate. On Wednesday, the committee voted along party lines to withhold the report. By the following day, however, Gaetz announced he would no longer be seeking the attorney general’s position in Trump’s administration. He explained his nomination was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the goals of the Trump presidency. In Friday’s interview, Gaetz put a positive spin on his brief but fraught nomination. “I know there are people disappointed that I won’t be the next attorney general. But you have to understand: This is the political process, and sometimes the path you’re on is one that takes you to a different place, and it can be a glorious place,” he said. He added that he “enjoyed” his meeting with Republican senators earlier this week, as they discussed the ethics report. Still, he denied that the report played a role in his decision to abandon the confirmation process. “There is a play that is run in Washington when they’re trying to smear somebody. They go and dredge up false, years-old allegations of the most salacious and clickbaity flavour possible,” Gaetz said. “If the things that the House ethics report [said] were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell. But, of course, they’re false.” He cited his leading role in the removal of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023 as stirring up animosity against him. With all the controversy and internal party tensions he faced, Gaetz described his brief stint as the attorney general nominee as akin to “having to do two jobs at one time”. “I had a full-time job explaining to senators that maybe a tweet I said about them was rash and not reflective of how I would serve as attorney general,” Gaetz said. “And at the same time, I was having to build out the Department of Justice with the right human talent, the right policy infrastructure.” One prominent question remained, though: Would Gaetz resume his seat in the House of Representatives? After all, Gaetz had already won re-election on November 5, making him eligible to join the 119th Congress when it gets sworn in early next year. Kirk, the podcast host and prominent conservative activist, put the question to Gaetz. “I’ve been in an elected office for 14 years. I first got elected to the state House when I was 26 years old,” Gaetz responded. “I’m 42 now, and I’ve got some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue.” He nevertheless underscored his commitment to being part of Trump’s “America First army”. On Thursday, Trump quickly replaced Gaetz as his attorney general nominee with former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi , another longtime ally. On Friday, Gaetz emphasised that he and Bondi shared the same vision, and he was delighted a fellow Floridian would be his replacement. “My good friend Pam Bondi is going to be a phenomenal attorney general for Donald Trump,” he said. “She has the legal acumen. She hates criminals. She is a bright legal mind and a fellow Floridian. I think that, even though the path will take me to a different station in life and a different place in the fight for our agenda and President Trump, we’ve got a great person in place.”Cidara: Potential To Change Flu Prophylaxis Landscape With CD388Perhaps the state's solons have skimmed enough headlines in recent years to finally stick a thumb or two on the lopsided scales of justice. One story reported on the then-editor of the Albuquerque Journal serving 10 days in jail after pleading guilty to shoplifting $104 in merchandise from a Walmart. An earlier piece told of then-state Sen. Richard Martinez receiving a five-day jail sentence after seriously injuring two people in a car crash. State District Judge Francis Mathew convicted Martinez of reckless driving and aggravated drunken driving. Martinez, D-Ojo Caliente, could have been jailed for as long as 180 days for his two crimes, but judges in New Mexico typically dole out light punishment to first-offense drunken drivers. My purpose in highlighting these cases is not to seek sympathy for a well-paid thief. The point is one prominent, white-collar New Mexican served less time for inflicting terror and pain on innocents than another who stole some groceries. I wrote a column earlier this fall calling for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 days in jail for any first offender convicted of drunken driving. Many readers contacted me about that column. As the holidays approach and state legislators prepare for their 60-day session starting in January, they might be interested in a few of their comments. "This state continues to do what it has always done, and at this point it doesn't seem to care that the results are the same as they always have been. Sadly, that means increased death and injury," wrote Linda Atkinson, executive director of the DWI Resource Center and New Mexico Victims' Rights Project. "The most recent data (2022) from the New Mexico Department of Transportation indicates that DWI arrests were down almost 21% from 2018 to 2022. Convictions were also down by 24% over the same time. DWI crashes have gone from 113 fatalities in 2018 to 152 in 2022. "We could increase DWI penalties, similar to Scandinavian countries. Research tells us this would reduce death and injury caused by impaired driving," Atkinson stated. Another reader, Sheila McCarthy Grainger wrote me about her family's tragedy, fresh in her mind after 40 years. "In 1984, my husband was hit head-on by a drunk playing 'chicken' in Taos Canyon. My husband was airlifted to UNMH where he lay in a coma for 10 days, finally succumbing to his injuries. He died the day after Christmas. Our young son was left fatherless, and I was left without my best friend." Richie Grainger's death led to one of the more publicized and controversial DWI cases in New Mexico's history. The Taos News led the way in describing peculiar conduct by state police officers who'd investigated the defendant, Veto Vialpando. "Taosenos wondered why Vialpando was allowed to drive away from the scene of the tragedy after he failed to produce insurance and was charged with DWI," the weekly reported. Vialpando's family hired New Mexico's most famous defense attorney, Leon Taylor, to represent him. An early ruling boded well for Vialpando. A judge decided the jury in Raton could not be told 21-year-old Vialpando had refused to take a blood-alcohol test. Taylor offered a simple defense. He said Vialpando had been blinded by the sun. Richie Grainger, Taylor argued, died as the result of a terrible accident rather than a senseless crime. Jurors acquitted Vialpando. He died 30 years after his trial. Sheila Grainger for a time tried to repair what she believed was a broken system. "My friends who worked at the Legislature would invite me to go during the sessions to talk to various legislators about improving laws concerning drunken drivers. It was like I was talking to a blank wall. "One legislator in the House of Representatives even went so far as to tell me he had three rehab places [in his district] which brought in money. He wasn’t about to change any laws that would alter that moneymaking endeavor." She wearied of lawmakers. "It used to irk me seeing them in The Bull Ring and other eating and drinking places, laughing and slapping each other on the back for jobs well done. "My son and I endured. He has done well in his life, having two college degrees and a lovely little family. Me, I’m old now, never remarried, and I still miss Richie every day. I tell you this because your column just pointed out the fact that after 40 years nothing has improved." Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and legislators in her own party battled in springtime over a package of crime bills she coveted. Trouble was, Lujan Grisham's proposals were redundant or deemed unwise. Lawmakers rejected all of them. The Scandinavian model of stiff sentences for drunken drivers wasn't part of the package. The new year represents a fresh opportunity to change that. All the politicians read about the editor who spent 10 days in a cell for shoplifting. For all their interest in crime and punishment, they didn't find any account of a first-time drunken driver doing that much time. Call it New Mexico's legal system. Justice shouldn't be part of the description. Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index moved lower Monday, led by losses in technology and utilities stocks, while U.S. stock markets were also down. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 66.38 points at 25,625.42. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 240.59 points at 44,401.93. The S&P 500 index was down 37.42 points at 6,052.85, while the Nasdaq composite was down 123.08 points at 19,736.69. “It started pretty positive in the morning. It's just been slowly, slowly grinding down ever since,” said Michael Currie, senior investment adviser at TD Wealth. Some of the market direction Monday was driven by two separate news stories out of China, he said. “The (Chinese) central bank says they're starting to buy gold again, and they're looking to loosen their monetary policy a bit. So that helped oil a lot, helped gold a lot,” said Currie. China also said it’s investigating semiconductor giant Nvidia over suspected violations of anti-monopoly laws, which sent the company’s stock lower. Nvidia’s share price was down 2.6 per cent Monday at US$138.81. Otherwise, “it’s all about interest rates today,” said Currie. In the U.S., investors are awaiting the latest update on inflation later in the week. However, given that the slowing job market is more of a concern for the U.S. Federal Reserve at this point, the data is unlikely to change what investors currently expect from the Fed next week, said Currie: a quarter-percentage-point cut. “Unless there's something really crazy out of the inflation numbers, there’s no reason to expect anything different is going to happen next week,” he said. In Canada, where the central bank is gearing up for a rate decision Wednesday, a larger half-point cut is more likely, he said. Expectations for a bigger cut rose after last week’s jobs report, which saw the unemployment rate jump to 6.8 per cent in November. “The more we're cutting rates, especially the accelerated rate compared to the States, the more that just keeps beating up our dollar,” said Currie. He expects more buzz in the coming months about the divergence between interest rates in Canada and the U.S. as the loonie continues to weaken. “We're seeing it already, and as the gap gets bigger, it'll become more of a story.” However, Currie noted the TSX briefly touched an all-time high earlier in the day. “Basically since the US election, it's just been a non-stop rally,” he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.77 cents US compared with 70.74 cents US on Friday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.17 at US$68.37 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up 11 cents at US$3.18 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was up US$26.20 at US$2,685.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was up eight cents at US$4.28 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press
Winners and losers from CFP, bowl selections: The Big Ten’s smooth ride, SEC angst, cold-weather dreams, letdowns for UW, USC and more
NEWTOWN, Pa. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws involving Zeta Global Holdings Corp. ("Zeta Global" or "the Company") (NYSE: ZETA ) resulting from allegations of providing potentially misleading business information to the investing public. If you have non-public information that could assist in the Zeta Global Investigation or if you are a Zeta Global investor who suffered a loss and would like to learn more, you can provide your information HERE . You can also contact attorneys Eric Lechtzin of Edelson Lechtzin LLP by calling 844-563-5550 ext. 1, or via e-mail at [email protected] . THE COMPANY: Zeta Global, headquartered in New York , offers a comprehensive omnichannel, data-driven cloud platform that enables enterprises to harness consumer intelligence and marketing automation software. This platform serves clients both within the United States and internationally. THE ALLEGED WRONGDOING : On November 13, 2024 , Culper Research released a report titled "Zeta Global Holdings Corp (ZETA): Shams, Scams, and Spam." The report raised concerns about Zeta Global's financial statements and alleged that the company created fake websites, or consent farms, that tricked consumers into sharing their personal information with false promises of job applications and stimulus payments. THE REVELATION: On this news, Zeta Global's stock price fell $10.46 per share, or 37.1%, to close at $17.76 per share on November 13, 2024 . ABOUT EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP: Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California . In addition to cases involving securities and investment fraud , our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft and unpaid overtime, consumer fraud , and catastrophic injuries. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. Eric Lechtzin, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 or 215-867-2399 ext. 1 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.edelson-law.com This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. No class has been certified in this case, so you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. Your ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP
Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John has said he had to delay the release of his upcoming album due to an eye infection that has significantly impaired his vision. Speaking on ABC’s Good Morning America on Monday, the 77-year-old said he has not been able to see out of his right eye for four months, impacting his ability to work. Elton John lost sight in his right eye following a severe eye infection. Credit: AP “I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France ... And my left eye’s not the greatest,” he said. “I’m kind of stuck at the moment because I can do something like this [interview], but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know because I can’t see a lyric for a start.” During a speech at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame ceremony last year, John revealed he had a new album on the way with lyricist Bernie Taupin. It would mark his first studio album including all original material since Wonderful Crazy Night in 2016. However, his eye infection has delayed its release. “It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it kind of floored me. I can’t see anything, I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” John said. The pop star is undergoing unspecified treatment and remains optimistic he will recover. “There’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK. At the moment, that’s really what we’re concentrating on.” The interview comes almost three months after he told fans on social media that he had contracted a severe eye infection that left him with limited sight in the impacted eye. “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process,” he wrote on Instagram in September. Despite his impaired vision, John has made multiple appearances over the past few months, including joining pop star Dua Lipa on stage at her Royal Albert Hall concert in October, where they performed their popular duet Cold Heart .The College Football Playoff committee took SMU's wins over Alabama's strength of schedule, picking the Mustangs for the final at-large spot Sunday after a furious public debate and days of lobbying and arguing over which teams should make the 12-team field. SMU (11-2) showed it could compete against a traditional power, losing to Clemson 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal on the final play of the ACC championship game. The late-game rally probably did the trick. “I just think America saw SMU belongs," Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee told ESPN on Sunday after his team got in. "We’re a team that has a chance to compete for this championship. And to some degree, I think we’re a little bit America’s team after last night.” The Mustangs, seeded 11th, will visit No. 6 seed Penn State in the first round. The bracket was expanded from four teams this season, but that didn’t help Alabama or save the committee from controversy that began over the past two weeks as the CFP rankings — and “data points” — were parsed and criticized. The squabbling wasn't limited to who should be in the field but also who should get consideration for first-round byes. The Crimson Tide (9-3) had quality wins against Georgia and South Carolina in their first season under coach Kalen DeBoer. Losses at Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma proved costly. The 24-3 loss to Oklahoma was too much to overcome. The Sooners, who finished 6-6, rushed for 250 yards against the Crimson Tide and dominated despite having several key injuries. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said the committee's decision was not good for college football. “Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” Byrne said in a social media post. “We had an extremely challenging schedule and recognize there were two games in particular that we did not perform as well as we should have.” All of Alabama's losses came in conference play. Still, Byrne said he now will reconsider how his program schedules nonconference games. For now, the Crimson Tide will settle for playing Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31. Several teams with strong seasons were left out besides the Crimson Tide, including Miami (two losses), South Carolina and Mississippi (three losses each). Committee chairman Warde Manuel explained that strength of schedule was valued — a comment that didn’t sit well with Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. “Is this fake news??? he didn’t actually really say that ....” Kiffin wrote on a social media post, tagging both the Alabama and SMU football accounts. SMU actually increased its strength of schedule from the previous season by switching from the American Athletic Conference to the ACC. The Mustangs’ only regular-season loss this year was a nonconference game at home to 10-win BYU in the third game of the season . The Mustangs won nine straight before the loss to Clemson. That didn't make the waiting easier on Sunday. SMU was the last qualifier announced. “Until we saw SMU up there, you know, you’re just hanging, hanging on the edge,” Lashlee said. There was more controversy. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said he didn't believe any Group of Five team should get the bye over a Power Four champion, citing strength of schedule. Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez pushed back hours ahead of the bracket announcement. “Participation in the College Football Playoff isn’t about entitlement,” she wrote on social media. “It should not be contingent upon a conference patch or the logo on the helmet. ... Boise State’s body of work this season, including an 11-game win streak, has earned it one of the top four seeds ahead of the Big 12 champion.” In the end, Boise State of the Mountain West got the No. 3 seed ahead of Big 12 champion Arizona State, which was seeded fourth. But both got first-round byes. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Pierce's 20 lead Presbyterian past Youngstown State 67-42
As the 2025 chair of Asean, Malaysia aims to focus on business law reforms to ensure legal protections for businesses across Asean member countries, said Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department of Law and Institutional Reform. During a recent visit to Bangkok as part of a roadshow to foster consensus and strengthen legal cooperation, Ms Azalina emphasised the need for joint reforms, particularly in international business regulations. She said harmonised business laws are urgent for Asean members, as the region's countries are significant trade partners, often encountering cross-border disputes. "If all Asean members adopt similar clauses on dispute resolution, it would foster greater confidence in conducting cross-border trade," she said. Ms Azalina highlighted the importance of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms for the Asean community, as they provide an avenue for amicable settlements without resorting to costly litigation. "Going to court, especially in a foreign country, is expensive. A streamlined resolution process that bypasses many legal protocols would create an ideal environment for international business," she said. She said that while some lawyers work across borders, they often operate privately rather than at the government-to-government level. Implementing ADR at a governmental level would simplify lengthy legal processes and help businesses save money. Ms Azalina pointed to the European Union as a model for Asean to follow, noting that despite differing political standpoints, EU members share a unified approach to promoting business growth, supported by ADR mechanisms. Asean's trade relations now extend beyond member countries to partners such as China, India, and Japan through Asean+3 agreements, underscoring the importance of providing robust legal protections to achieve economic powerhouse status. "Language differences within Asean are recognised, but ADR can serve as a common, shared framework, fostering closer economic collaboration beyond agreements on paper," she said. Ms Azalina suggested greater collaboration between Thailand's arbitration centre and its Malaysian counterpart, particularly for business dealings between investors from both countries, to support Malaysia's aspirations for advancing business law during its Asean chairmanship. She also advocated for leveraging AI technology to improve access to justice across Asean's diverse linguistic landscape. "For instance, if I visit Thailand and inadvertently violate its laws, I may struggle to understand its legal procedures or find a Thai lawyer. A shared AI-driven system could provide basic legal FAQs, making justice more accessible," she said. The EU, she said, is already exploring AI applications in the justice system, suggesting that Asean law and justice ministers collaborate on such innovations at the 2025 Asean Law Ministers' Meeting. "I believe this system would benefit everyone in Asean," she said.In one form or another, College Football Playoff controversy touched the SEC, Big 12, ACC and Mountain West — all the relevant conferences except one. The Big Ten was essentially unscathed during the selection process for the inaugural 12-team event. Oregon, the undefeated conference champion, landed the No. 1 overall seed. Penn State, the runner up, received the No. 6 seed, followed by No. 8 Ohio State and No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers were closest to the fire but never seemed in danger of losing their spot — even after Clemson won the ACC championship and stole a bid. It was always Alabama vs. SMU for the seventh and final at-large berth. Why did Indiana stay above the fray? For that matter, why did Penn State, which had one victory over a ranked team (Illinois), receive the No. 6 seed? And why did Ohio State warrant the No. 8 spot ahead of Tennessee, giving the Buckeyes home-field advantage in their opening-round date with the Volunteers. “Ultimately as a committee and as we voted these teams, Ohio State was one ahead of Tennessee,” said Warde Manuel, the committee chair and Michigan’s athletic director. “But we didn’t look at it — as well, if we put Ohio State 6 and Tennessee 7, one is going to host and one is not. We never, I can assure you and everybody ... never even talked about it until after the Top 25 was ranked.” In each instance (Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana), there’s a case to be made for the placement of the Big Ten team. What strikes us is the conference seemed to get the benefit of the doubt despite underlying data that reflect weakness: — The Big Ten is No. 3 in the Sagarin computer ratings, far behind the SEC and even behind the Big 12. — The Big Ten was 1-3 head-to-head against the SEC. Add two losses to Notre Dame, and the conference was 1-5 against its true peer group. — The Big Ten’s overall non-conference performance was largely forgettable, with only two wins over teams that finished in the CFP rankings released Sunday: Oregon over No. 9 Boise State and Nebraska over No. 23 Colorado. — Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana all played substantially weaker schedules than two of the SEC teams, Alabama and South Carolina, that were left out of the CFP field, according to the Sagarin ratings. For all the focus on Alabama and SMU for the final at-large berth, we’d argue the Crimson Tide has a substantially stronger resume than Indiana (more quality wins, tougher schedule) except for the number of losses, which mattered dearly to the committee. (The Hoosiers played one game against a team in the final CFP rankings, Ohio State, and lost.) Exactly why the Big Ten received the benefit of the doubt time and time again — in our view, at least — we might never know. But the conference was, indisputably, one of the biggest winners Sunday. Our breakdown of the sport’s decisive day ... As a reward for losing the SEC title game, the Longhorns received what is arguably the most coveted seed in the event: No. 5. They will open at home against three-loss Clemson, then advance to Atlanta to face Arizona State. Meanwhile, top-seeded Oregon doesn’t play a home game and will face the Ohio State-Tennessee winner. The format needs to change to provide greater rewards for the conference champions. The Irish should have been seeded higher than No. 7. But in that position, they are bracketed with No. 2 Georgia in the quarterfinals. The committee was clearly reluctant to drop the losers of conference title games (Penn State and Texas) below a team that doesn’t have a conference. Never before has one loss provided as much rocket fuel as Boise State’s 37-34 defeat at Oregon in Week 2. That performance, along with a perfect run through the rest of their schedule, propelled the Broncos all the way to the No. 3 seed and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. What a victory for the Group of Five, the Mountain West and the rebuilt Pac-12, which will be Boise State’s home in 2026. Alabama lost the resume showdown with SMU for the final at-large berth and South Carolina watched the team it defeated last week, Clemson, roll into the playoff thanks to the ACC’s automatic bid. It could not have gone much worse for the kingpin, . The Mustangs agreed to join the ACC without any media revenue distributions, filled the hole in their budget (thanks to deep-pocketed donors) and reached the CFP in their first season in a power conference. The conference was poorly ranked for five weeks and stood zero chance of receiving an at-large berth, then watched as its champion, Arizona State, was seeded behind Boise State. All in all, the committee showed the Big 12 little respect. It’s an . The CFP’s opening round will feature December 20-21 kickoffs in Columbus, South Bend and State College. The Hotline is rooting for a snowstorm that weekend at the 40th parallel. The Hotline has hammered on this point in recent weeks and will reiterate for anyone who missed it: The Cougars should have been smack in the middle of the at-large conversation. They had a better strength-of-schedule than SMU and won the head-to-head matchup . Somehow, the Cougars were seven spots below the Mustangs. There isn’t much left to say about the Sun Devils’ rise from nowhere to the CFP in three remarkable months. And even better for ASU fans: Arizona imploded. Some years aren’t as bad as others. This one was terrible — not the end result so much as the month-long process, the flip-flops and contradictions, the missteps and poor communication of intent and priorities. Give the committee a C- for its performance. Related Articles The network should generate blockbuster ratings with the marquee matchup of the opening round, Tennessee at Ohio State, which is slotted for 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday, Dec. 21. The other two games that day face competition from the NFL. But the Buckeyes and Vols will be unopposed. We aren’t knocking UW’s qualifications for the postseason or commenting on the Huskies performance over the past three month. This is more about the assignment itself: The Sun Bowl against Louisville is just, well, blah. The Granddaddy is one victory away from an Oregon-Ohio State collision in the quarterfinals — the most Pac-12 vs. Big Ten matchup it could have reasonably asked for. The more things change ... The extra week in the NCAA’s competition calendar pushed CFP selection day back to Dec. 8 and left us with less than one week until the first bowl games (Dec. 14). To be clear: We aren’t complaining, not for one second. We think the Ducks would have been better off as the No. 5 seed, with a home game and matchups against the No. 4 and No. 12 seeds. But the extra rest will be helpful — as long as it doesn’t bring rust — and the undefeated regular season and Big Ten title should be cherished. The season ends where it began, in Las Vegas against an SEC opponent. It’s just that when the Trojans left Sin City on Sept. 1, after beating LSU, they never expected to be back in December with a .500 record to face Texas A&M. With the first pick of the Pac-12 legacy schools, the Alamo matched Colorado against Brigham Young. Two ranked teams plus one Deion Sanders should equate to loads of interest and first-rate TV ratings. Any postseason berth is a victory for the Bears, but they drew a daunting opponent in the LA Bowl. We have watched both teams play numerous times, and the Rebels are better. That said, their coach, Barry Odom, just accepted the Purdue job, which could tip the balance to Cal. So let’s view the Bears as both winner and loser. Sure, the three-game losing streak was a massive disappointment given the state of play in early November. But had you told the Cougars prior to the season that their journey would end in the Holiday Bowl (against Syracuse), they assuredly would have jumped at the offer.
"They (FEMA) tend to be very rigid, very slow and very nit-picky," said Commission alternate Andy Schiffrin. "We need the money."None