Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual
Shooting at Northern California elementary school and suspect is dead, sheriff's department says PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — There was a shooting Wednesday at a Northern California elementary school and the suspect is dead, sheriff’s officials say. Canadian Press Dec 4, 2024 2:50 PM Dec 4, 2024 3:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — There was a shooting Wednesday at a Northern California elementary school and the suspect is dead, sheriff’s officials say. Deputies were “on scene of an active incident involving a shooting” at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said on the social platform X. It wasn’t immediately known if anyone at the school was hurt. “The suspected shooter is deceased,” the post said. A phone call and email to the sheriff’s department were not immediately returned. A representative from the Butte County Fire Department did not immediately have any information about the shooting. Students were being taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff's office said. Palermo — home to about 5,500 people — is about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More World News Two children wounded and gunman dead after shooting at Northern California school Dec 4, 2024 3:59 PM Police say searchers don’t expect to find woman in Pennsylvania sinkhole alive Dec 4, 2024 3:54 PM French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 Dec 4, 2024 1:43 PM Featured FlyerDALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys won’t play in the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. Sitting at 7-8 and out of the race in the NFC, the Cowboys have unequivocally been a disappointment, especially after team owner Jerry Jones called the 2024 campaign an “all-in” season earlier in the year as he made it clear that the goal was Super Bowl or bust. Now, however, despite being a bust, Jones was quick to dole out stocking stuffers of praise to his coaching staff after Dallas rattled off four wins in five games that culminated in a 26-24 win over the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16. Full of holiday cheer following the victory, Cowboys owner, president, and general manager Jones made his weekly visit on the Shan & RJ show on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan Tuesday to discuss Dallas’ win over a probable playoff-bound opponent and just the second win of the year at AT&T Stadium. The main key in Jones’ eye for improved play despite the team’s playoff chances crumbling has been the coaching staff and their ability to coax improvements out of young players who have taken over for an injury-depleted squad. “Really proud of these young players,” said Jones. “They just are growing mentally and physically by leaps and bounds, makes me think we’ve got an outstanding future ahead of us.” Despite the losses of franchise quarterback Dak Prescott, Pro Bowl defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, several starters on the offensive line, and many others to injury, the Cowboys showed fight, especially in the Week 16 win where they were playing for nothing but pride while their opponent was trying to maintain their playoff destiny. After starting the season 3-7, including a five-game losing streak, the Cowboys have won four of their last five games to draw near to the .500 mark at 7-8. With the potential to completely collapse, Dallas has rallied and that appears to be something Jones attributes to McCarthy and his coaching staff. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way the coaching staff, led by Mike McCarthy, and the leadership on this team,” Jones said, after McCarthy went from lame duck status in the last year of his contract to on the hot seat all season. Now Jones is potentially laying the foundation for a potential extension for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. Another part of the recent success has been the steady play of backup-turned-starter Rush, who threw for 292 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay and now has nine passing scores to just one interception over his last five games after he took over for the injured Prescott mid-season. To that end, Jones was asked if he has had any second thoughts about the protracted contract talks that ended with a record-breaking extension for Prescott now that Rush is producing results at the helm. "No. No. Not at all," Jones assured, as Prescott will almost certainly be back under center for the Cowboys next season. More curious, perhaps, is the fact that third-stringer Trey Lance hasn’t gotten more of a look, especially with Dallas out of contention. “The very best chance that we have on the next play or series, that’s what I want every play to be,” Jones responded when asked specifically about giving Lance an opportunity in the final two weeks. “So the people who go out there are the ones that I want who give us the best chance.” With Christmas upon us, Jones was also asked about the league’s unusual schedule this season which will see four AFC squads play three games in eleven days as part of the league’s mandate to have games on Christmas Day, which falls on an unwieldy Wednesday this year. “Christmas Day is Christmas Day and it doesn’t wait around for what day it’s on,” Jones, ever a major influence on NFL broadcasting decisions chimed in. “We want to be there on Christmas Day. I would think the future is whatever day it’s on, we’re going to be there on Christmas.” The Cowboys won’t be among the teams playing on Christmas Day, as they next suit up against the archrival Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at noon from Lincoln Financial Field where they will once again try to play the role of spoiler against a playoff-bound team in Week 17. Do you think the Cowboys should bring back their coaching staff for 2025? Share your thoughts with us on X (formerly Twitter) @WFAASports .
WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers are actively seeking to bolster their frontcourt depth behind Anthony Davis. In the recent few weeks, rumors have swirled around Jonas Valanciunas , who has emerged as a primary target. Despite having two years remaining on his contract, Valanciunas is a highly sought-after player. More recently another option has surfaced in the rumor mill. The Chicago Bulls are rumored to be open to all offers on 34-year-old center Nikola Vucevic and the Lakers are a team that has been interested in making an offer for him. Lakers Targeting Valancuiunas and Vucevic Valanciunas has averaged 20 minutes off the bench and in that time he averages 12 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. He also adds 5.3 defensive rebounds per game while on the court. The defensive rebounding fills a large gulf that exists between Davis (9) and James (7.1) and the next best rebounder, Rui Hachimura (3.3). While Valanciunas would be a solid option for the Lakers, Vucevic is enjoying a career-best season, averaging 21 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 58.7% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range. While both can help on offense, they don’t move the needle on defense, with both posting defensive ratings toward the bottom of their respective position. While a scoring bench center is sorely needed, the Lakers’ defense is rated 26th among the 30 teams. League sources suggest the Lakers are prepared to explore trade options involving D’Angelo Russell and multiple second-round picks to acquire a bench center. While the specifics of any potential deal remain uncertain, it’s clear that the Lakers are actively pursuing avenues to improve this position and contend for a championship. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.Espionage: Two Italian entrepreneurs investigated for obtaining information on behalf of Russia
Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus WASHINGTON (AP) — A powerful government panel has failed to reach consensus on the possible national security risks of a nearly $15 billion proposed deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. Steel. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on Monday sent its long-awaited report to President Joe Biden, a longtime opponent of the deal. Some federal agencies represented on the panel were skeptical that allowing a Japanese company to buy an American-owned steelmaker would create national security risks. That's according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter. Both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump opposed the merger and vowed to block it. Nippon Steel says it is confident the deal will go ahead. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. What a merger between Nissan and Honda means for the automakers and the industry BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan will attempt to merge and create the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Honda will initially lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. Following is a quick look at what a combined Honda and Nissan would mean for the companies, and for the auto industry. Survey: Small businesses are feeling more optimistic about the economy after the election A survey shows small business owners are feeling more optimistic about the economy following the election. The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Small Business Optimism Index rose by eight points in November to 101.7, its highest reading since June 2021. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in November to 98, following October’s pre-election record high of 110. NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said small business owners became more certain about future business conditions following the presidential election, breaking a nearly three-year streak of record high uncertainty. The survey also showed that more owners are also hoping 2025 will be a good time to grow. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Nordstrom to be acquired by Nordstrom family and a Mexican retail group in $6.25 billion deal Century-old department store Nordstrom has agreed to be acquired and taken private by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group in a $6.25 billion deal. Nordstrom shareholders will receive $24.25 in cash for each share of Nordstrom common stock, representing a 42% premium on the company’s stock as of March 18. Nordstrom’s board of directors unanimously approved the the proposed transaction, while Erik and Pete Nordstrom — part of the Nordstrom family taking over the company — recused themselves from voting. Following the close of the transaction, the Nordstrom Family will have a majority ownership stake in the company. Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of Christmas Stocks closed higher on Wall Street ahead of the Christmas holiday, led by gains in Big Tech stocks. The S&P 500 added 1.1% Tuesday. Trading closed early ahead of the holiday. Tech companies including Apple, Amazon and chip company Broadcom helped pull the market higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.3%. American Airlines shook off an early loss and ended mostly higher after the airline briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical issue. Treasury yields held steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury was little changed at 4.59% An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump won a return to the White House in part by promising big changes in economic policy — more tax cuts, huge tariffs on imports, mass deportations of immigrants working in the United States illegally. In some ways, his victory marked a repudiation of President Joe Biden’s economic stewardship and a protest against inflation. It came despite low unemployment and steady growth under the Biden administration. What lies ahead for the economy under Trump? Paul Ashworth of Capital Economics spoke recently to The Associated Press. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. American consumers feeling less confident in December, Conference Board says American consumers are feeling less confident in December, a business research group says. The Conference Board said Monday that its consumer confidence index fell back in December to 104.7 from 112.8 in November. Consumers had been feeling increasingly confident in recent months. The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months. The measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market tumbled more than a dozen points to 81.1. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future. Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda's U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market.
PITTSBURGH — Maybe the most deflating aspect of the Steelers' last-minute loss in Cleveland was the second-stingiest defense in the NFL failing to protect another lead against one of the worst offenses in the league. And it wasn't the first time. Not only did the Steelers allow the Browns, the lowest-scoring team in the AFC, to top 18 points for only the second time this season in a 24-19 defeat, but they failed to stop them after the Steelers battled back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 remaining. The Steelers allowed Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to complete three consecutive passes after tight end Jordan Akins dropped what appeared to be an easy walk-in touchdown to set up Nick Chubb's winning score with 57 seconds remaining. "It is very deflating," outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. "We need to close out games and we were not able to do that. It sucks that we could not hold on, but a loss is a loss." The Steelers have not been very good at closing out games. They did the same thing in the home loss to Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 6, giving up a touchdown to receiver Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds remaining in a 20-17 defeat. Even against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers let Lamar Jackson complete 6 of 8 passes for 74 yards on a nine-play, 69-yard drive, including a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining, to come within a failed two-point conversion of forcing overtime. Just as disturbing was the Steelers lack of pressure on Winston, who was sacked only once — by outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who forced a fumble that DeShon Elliott recovered and led to the go-ahead touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III. The Browns had allowed a league-high 46 sacks and were using their fourth different starter at left tackle, Germain Ifedi, against the Steelers. But it didn't lead to any extra pressure by the Steelers, who are on pace to have 39 sacks — their fewest since the 2016 season (38). That was especially evident on the third-and-6 play with 1:55 remaining, when Winston had plenty of time to throw against a four-man rush and completed a 15-yard pass to receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Steelers' 9 to set up Chubb's winning touchdown. "They were able to convert when they were able to and make plays in big time moments and we were not able to," Watt said. Well received? Wide receiver Mike Williams played 19 snaps against the Browns and, for the second game in a row, did not even get a target. That means Williams has played 44 snaps since his winning touchdown catch in his Steelers debut in Washington without getting a pass thrown in his direction. The good news: The Steelers got their other receivers involved in the offense for a change. Receiver Calvin Austin had catches of 45 and 23, the latter for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:15 remaining; Van Jefferson had a 35-yard catch that led to a field goal; and tight end Pat Freiermuth re-emerged to have his most receptions (four for 57 yards) since Week 4 in Indianapolis. "We had some really good explosive plays down the field, throwing the ball to Van," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "He made some great catches.... Calvin, too. I thought the guys, the receivers, did a really good job of making plays tonight in tough weather conditions. We were able to put the ball down the field and make plays in key moments, and that was really good." Wilson had his highest completion percentage of the season (21 of 28, 75%) and second-highest yardage total (270) despite the snowy conditions. It was his third game in five starts with a 100-plus passer rating. But after cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted Winston with 4:22 remaining, the Steelers went three-and-out from their own 24 with Justin Fields, not Wilson, taking two of the final three snaps. Fields did not run the ball on either of his two plays. What's more, it seemed like a dubious decision to have Fields throw on third-and-4, especially a deep incompletion to George Pickens. That failed series led to a chunked 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman to the Steelers 45, leading to the Browns' winning touchdown. Fields played seven snaps against the Browns, which, in the end, was one too many. "I think that we all as a team, we're trying to make plays," Wilson said. "We're trying to do different things. Obviously, we have trust in Justin, too, and what he can do and what he's capable of. Listen, I always want to be in there. That's just the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin, and our team, our coaches, and everything we're doing." (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
CISA Issues Guidance to Telecom Sector on Salt Typhoon ThreatSEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks rode their dominant defense to a big win over a division rival to vault into first place in the NFC West. No, it isn’t 2013. These are the 2024 Seahawks, who, after struggling mightily against the run earlier this season, held the visiting Arizona Cardinals to 49 rushing yards in Sunday's 16-6 victory. The defensive line kept Kyler Murray under consistent pressure thanks to a dominant performance from Leonard Williams, the secondary flew around to smack away passes, and safety Coby Bryant scored on a 69-yard pick-6. Sunday's defensive performance was reminiscent of the Seahawks of a decade ago and a promising sign that first-year coach Mike Macdonald’s system is starting to click. Macdonald, who coordinated Baltimore's NFL-best defense last year, was leading one of the worst rush defenses in the league earlier this season. But Seattle consistently stuffed the Cardinals, who came in as the fifth-best running team in the league at 149.4 yards per game. “Three games in a row now we played pretty decent on defense,” Macdonald said. “There is an expectation and standard here throughout the course of our Seahawks history that we’re trying to live up to and build on. So that’s the idea.” At 6-5, the Seahawks drew even with the Cardinals in the tightly bunched division. The teams play each other again in two weeks at Arizona. Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 16-6. Credit: AP/Jason Redmond What’s working Last month's trade for linebacker Ernest Jones IV has clearly paid off. Seattle hasn't allowed a running back to rush for more than 79 yards since its Week 8 loss to Buffalo, which was Jones' first game in a Seahawks uniform. He has led the team in tackles in every game he's played and has helped resurrect the run defense. What needs help The Seahawks' run game continues to underperform. Seattle got 65 yards on the ground Sunday, with the Cardinals holding Kenneth Walker III to 41 yards on 16 attempts. Zach Charbonnet had 22 yards on six carries. Walker hasn’t topped 100 yards since Week 1. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs to think of something different to get the running backs involved. Stock up Williams single-handedly disrupted the Cardinals with 2 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and one pass defensed. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, left, and cornerback Coby Bryant, right, tackle Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Seattle. Credit: AP/Jason Redmond “I thought he was dominant,” Macdonald said. “I knew he played great and then I looked at the stat line and he played out of his mind.” The Seahawks finished with five sacks, seven quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and six pass deflections against the Cardinals, shutting down a team that had averaged 29.3 points over its previous three games. Stock down Geno Smith finished with 254 yards passing and a touchdown, but he threw another momentum-stalling interception. Smith was picked off on a third-and-6 play on the Arizona 18-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter, ending an 11-play, 73-yard drive. Smith has an NFL-most 12 interceptions this season, more than in either of his previous two seasons as the Seahawks' full-time starter. “That was a huge drive for us. ... Obviously made a terrible mistake down there, something I got to clean up,” Smith said. “But it was a big drive. We wanted to put the game ahead at least two scores.” The offensive line has contributed to the problem. Guard Anthony Bradford left with an ankle injury, and the line struggled to protect Smith, who was sacked five times. Injuries Macdonald said Bradford is expected to miss next week's game. Key number 77 — Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the team with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown, marking the fourth consecutive game that Smith-Njigba has led the team in receptions. He topped 100 yards receiving in the previous two games. “He’s getting open,” Smith said. “He’s catching the ball. He’s doing a great job in the screen game. All-around great player. I just think the way that teams are playing us coverage-wise, I feel like it’s the ultimate sign of respect.” Up next The Seahawks play at the struggling New York Jets on Sunday.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.
Restoration of caretaker system to be proposed
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’
Just because your family flees their home doesn’t mean the usual griefs of adolescence give you a pass. Years in a refugee camp don’t lessen the heartbreaks of youth. Walking for miles through hostile territory, dodging bandits, won’t make school any easier when you finally get there. You can reach your goal, America, and yet feel out of place and alone. And then your father, whom you adore, dies. “My family had to move from Syria and go to Jordan when I was 4 years old because of the civil war,” said Sebba Saad Allah, 16, standing before assembled classmates, teachers and community members Wednesday evening at Sullivan High School. “I was raised in Jordan for six years with my parents and my two brothers ... In 2019, I moved to the U.S. with my family and I was very unsure if I wanted to be here or not. I wasn’t ready for new beginnings ... It was a hard year for my family and I ... I started learning English and helped my family, translating. When I was only 11 years old, COVID hits, and I stopped my education because I didn’t know how to use technology to study; 2022, I was back to school, but it was the most challenging year for me because I lost one of the most important people in my life. I lost my father because of cancer. A truly remarkable person for my family and I, who touched the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him. I miss listening to him saying the prayers before we break our fast...” Here the sophomore started crying. People clapped, encouragingly, calling out, “You’ve got this!” Enfolding teens as they struggle to be who they are and become who they will be, moving from strangers in a strange land to seasoned Americans, has long been a specialty at Sullivan, in Rogers Park, famous as Chicago’s immigrant high school. Two-thirds of Sullivan’s 724 students are refugees, immigrants or enrolled in their “English Learners” program. As many as 10% live in unstable housing situations. Add to that an ever more threatening political climate. The event Sebba Saad Allah was speaking at was Sullivan High School’s 8th Annual Thanksgiving Celebration, begun in 2016 after Donald Trump was first elected president on a wave of xenophobia. This year feels even more ominous. “There is a fear,” said Evelyn Levin, the English language program teacher at Sullivan. “There’s a lot that is unknown right now. There have been a number of students who just dropped out. There’s no way of tracking them to see if they’re still living in shelters.” More parents are reluctant to tell the school where they live. “Being listed in any sort of database is frightening to them,” Levin said. The school is trying to be proactive, to simultaneously assuage student fears while preparing them for whatever might occur next month — Trump has promised to begin deporting immigrants, including legal citizens, “on Day One.” “We have given students and families information about legal services that are available,” Levin said. “There was a legal clinic here right before Thanksgiving break.” As winter arrives, difficulties mount. “We have kids living on the train,” said STLS advocate Cindra Hart. “I’ve got kids living on the street. When it first got cold outside, I had to get coats, boots, hats, gloves.” How? “I’m begging,” she said, adding that gift cards, such as from McDonald’s, are helpful for impoverished students trying to get through Christmas break. “I need to be able to feed a kid while they’re gone from me for two weeks, because I know they’re going to eat while they’re here.” Hart said the city’s aid to her students was abruptly shut off. “All of a sudden they stopped,” she said. “They stopped . The city bum-rushed me. A whole bunch of kids who need stuff. The need is so great.” Anyone inclined to help Sullivan students is encouraged to contact the school’s clerk/treasurer, Bianca Rivera at barivera6@cps.edu. Not that the Thanksgiving event was grim. There was traditional turkey and trimmings, plus pizza and international dishes, contributed by local restaurants. The evening began with greetings were from half a dozen students in half a dozen languages, including Swahili, French, Turkish and Dari, an Afghan language, and Dinka, a language of South Sudan. Levin, who came to Sullivan this year from a West Side elementary school, spoke about how the immigrants here helped her see the city through fresh eyes — how one day she fought her way through a snow squall to get to Sullivan, only to find her students crowded around the window, transfixed. They had never seen snow. That said, the sense of festivity was muted compared with past years. “It’s a different kind of celebration this year,” said Michael Glasser, president of the Friends of Sullivan, the alumni group hosting the celebration. “We want to teach the kids the beauty of this American holiday ...” The good news is that Sullivan High School is in Chicago, a city in Illinois, where elected officials have no intention of rolling over in the face of whatever is to come from Washington. “Let me just say, anybody who goes after the students of Sullivan High School and the 9th congressional district will have to come through me,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Sullivan class of ’62. “We’re going to fight back. The entire community is going to be there to protect these students and protect their families. We are a diverse community, in the city of Chicago and in Illinois, and proud of it. That’s what the United States of America is about. A country of opportunity, not throwing people out. Not scaring them. I pledge that I will be there every step of the way to make sure these families are protected. We’re ready for the challenge and ready for the fight. I understand the fear, and I want them to feel brave and strong. We are ready to push back.”
WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline. “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online.Comedian Conan O'Brien's Parents Die 3 Days Apart from One AnotherHeavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
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