LOCKERBIE victims’ families are split over a controversial new drama about the atrocity — amid fears it could undermine their 36-year fight for justice. Oscar-winning star Colin Firth takes the lead role of campaigner Dr Jim Swire, 88, who lost his daughter Flora in the 1988 tragedy. The bereaved dad has long argued that late Libyan spy Abdelbaset al-Megrahi — the only person ever convicted over Britain’s deadliest terror attack — was innocent. His book, A Father’s Search For Justice, is the inspiration for the forthcoming Sky Atlantic drama. Now other victims’ relatives are outraged at the portrayal ahead of a trial in the US next year. Victoria Cummock, 71, whose husband John died aboard Pan Am Flight 103, accused programme makers of trying to “influence uniformed audiences” and “instil doubt in potential jurors”. The American dad of three was among 259 passengers plus 11 in the Dumfriesshire town who perished when the London-New York flight exploded in mid-air on December 21, 1988 . And Victoria, who regularly travels to the UK to visit John’s grave in Lockerbie’s Tundergarth cemetery, described the five-part series as an attempt to “undermine the course of criminal justice”. The widow added: “I feel that the casting of Colin Firth, depicted as the lone, courageous champion of truth and justice, will elevate Swire’s story, filled with unproven conspiracy theories and politically biased interpretations.” Al-Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001 after being convicted of 270 counts of murder at a 72-day trial at a special Scots court convened in The Netherlands. Controversially, Scottish ministers released him back to his homeland eight years later on compassionate grounds after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He then survived for another three years. Alleged spy Abu Agila Masud is set to stand trial in Washington DC in May accused of assembling the Lockerbie bomb. The King’s Speech A-lister Firth, 64, was spotted walking past reconstructed plane wreckage while filming Lockerbie: A Search for Truth earlier this year in Bathgate, West Lothian. Victoria revealed the scenes had upset relatives — with the real-life plane’s remains set to be sent to the US to be used in evidence against the alleged bomb maker. Slamming the telly drama, she added: “It discredits the exemplary efforts and integrity of thousands of first responders and law enforcement personnel who combed for evidence for months, in the bitter, wet cold, across 2,200sq km. It was the largest crime scene in UK history.” Dr Swire has maintained that the true bombmaker was a Jordanian “double agent, or possibly even a triple agent”. He has insisted this man was a valuable CIA asset — prompting the US and UK Governments to instead pin the blame on tyrant Muammar Gaddafi and Libyans. But bereaved loved ones are concerned millions of viewers will be swayed by his theories. Bert Ammerman, 77, whose brother Tom, 36, died in the attack, questioned the TV show’s agenda — despite retaining “respect” for Dr Swire’s decades of campaigning. He said: “Jim Swire was the key person that wanted to keep the Lockerbie story going until we found out the truth. “And for this entire period he has been a leader. For that he will always have my respect and gratitude. I disagree that Megrahi was wrongly convicted and that it was not Libya to blame. Jim really went off the beaten path.” Vowing to keep fighting for convictions, Bert, of New Jersey, US, insisted: “It’s not just Megrahi and Gaddafi that were involved — and that alone keeps us going 36 years later. My power to keep going is my brother being blown out of the air at 31,000 feet.” Among the victims when the tragic flight exploded 38 minutes after take-off were 35 students from Syracuse University in New York. Sue Lowenstein, 80, lost her son Alexander, 20 — who had been among the group studying abroad. She accused the forthcoming small-screen portrayal of deliberately courting controversy. The sculptor, of Montague, New York, said: “Controversy always creates an interesting story for TV and most of us haven’t been in agreement with Jim Swire and his beliefs.” Campaign groups told of their horror that the series was allowed to get off the ground after pleading with producers to pull the plug. A spokesman for the US-based Victims of Pan Am 103 said: “We have raised our concerns with the producers of the project. “We feel they are amplifying and highlighting a false narrative about the bombing. “A narrative that the great majority of us who lost loved ones do not align with and have fought very hard against. “They risk dishonouring the memories of those that were lost, the lifetime of work of the families, and worst of all they may put doubt in the public about those that committed this heinous act.” But Swire’s supporters insist the series, set to debut on January 2, will be a force for good. His friend, Reverend John Mosey, 84, lost daughter Helga in the tragedy — and continues to hope the “hidden” truth will emerge. Rev Mosey said: “Somebody in the US government or security departments has something they want to hide from the public and will do anything to stop it from coming out. “It’s frustrating getting nearer the end of our days so people are waiting for us to shuffle off our mortal coil and keep quiet until we do so. “Those who kept secrets ought to be brought to justice.” Dr Swire declined to comment. Last night a Sky spokesman said: “Lockerbie: A Search for Truth is based on Dr Jim Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book, The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice. “We understand there are opposing opinions and do not attempt to tell the definitive version of the Lockerbie disaster or present a conclusion. "We do not underestimate the responsibility of telling this story sensitively. We engaged with victims’ families and support groups through- out production and in the lead-up to the series launch.”
DISTILLING John Kriesel , a former Minnesota state legislator and wounded combat veteran, announced he has joined Minnesota-based Northland Vodka as a co-owner. Kriesel, a Republican, previously represented the southeast suburban Twin Cities metro. EDUCATION Zinpro Corp. , an Eden Prairie-based maker of organic trace minerals for animal nutrition, announced that Joshua Legaspi , a first-year Ph.D. student in medicinal chemistry at the University of Minnesota , is the second recipient of the Dr. Mahmoud M. Abdel-Monem Memorial Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry at the U, named in honor of the scientist who developed the metal amino acid complex that was instrumental in the company’s founding. FINANCIAL SERVICES Alerus Financial Corp. , a Grand Forks, N.D.-based financial services company with operations in the Twin Cities, announced Jon Hendry , executive vice president and chief technology officer, will retire at year’s end. Karin Taylor will assume the role of executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, and Joe Birkholz has joined the company as chief risk officer. ... Bloomington accounting firm BGM announced that Dane Boeckermann , current principal and president of CPA Services, has been named CEO of the firm, effective Jan. 1, succeeding Cory Parnell , who will continue to support the organization in a different capacity. Succeeding Boeckermann as president of CPA Services is Jason Marvin , currently principal and audit practice leader. ... Ameriprise Financial , Minneapolis, announced that Brian Mora has been named senior vice president of experienced adviser recruiting. Mora has more than 20 years with Ameriprise, most recently as regional vice president in the central region of the firm’s branch channel. HONORS KLC Financial, a Minnetonka-based provider of equipment lease and purchase financing for business, announced that Amy Lewis , vice president of operations, has been selected by Monitor as one of the Top 50 Women in Equipment Finance ; Lewis previously was named one of Finance & Commerce ’s Top Women in Finance . Monitor is a trade magazine covering the equipment finance industry. ... Midas , a national retail automotive services provider, announced that Peter Santovi , a technician at the Midas franchise shop in Shakopee, has been named the 2024 Automotive Service Excellence Master Technician of the Year for the Midas franchise system. The franchise is owned by Reed Styve . LAW Chestnut Cambronne , Minneapolis, has welcomed Elizabeth (“Ellie”) Orrick to the Class Action practice group as an associate attorney. Prior to joining the firm, Orrick served as a law clerk for the Honorable Denise D. Reilly , the Honorable Jeffrey M. Bryan , and the Honorable Jeanne M. Cochran at the Minnesota Court of Appeals . ... Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services , St. Paul, announced the following staff additions: Sidney Ahles , paralegal, Moorhead; Samira Haji , administrative assistant, Mankato; Payton Yahn , staff attorney, St. Paul Bethesda Clinic; Jen Kelso , staff attorney, St. Paul; Stacy Huntington , outreach worker, Mankato. MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY DiaMedica Therapeutics , a Minnetonka-based biopharmaceutical company, announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board to support development of a treatment of preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy condition. The members of the newly formed SAB include: Vincenzo Berghella, Thomas Jefferson University , Philadelphia; Cathy Cluver, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa; Dr. Bob Silver, University of Utah Health Sciences Center; Stephen Tong, Mercy Hospital for Women , Australia; Susan Walker; University of Melbourne , Australia. OPENINGS Rally House , a fan-centric licensed sports apparel and merchandise retailer, announced the opening of a location in Maple Grove Crossing shopping mall. SERVICES Restaurant Technologies , a Mendota Heights-based provider of cooking oil waste management to restaurants, announced that Chief People Officer Alissa Partee has transitioned into a new role as the company’s chief operations officer. Partee joined the company as CPO in 2020. TECHNOLOGY New Wave Design , an Eden Prairie-based provider of embedded computing solutions for the defense and aerospace industry, announced the appointment of Brian Paul as vice president of sales and marketing. Paul previously held leadership roles at General Dynamics, Milpower Source, Aviation Ground Equipment Corp., GPS Source and SSI Technology . Related Articles Business | Business People: Jan Malcolm, Brian Thun added to Blue Cross board Business | Presbyterian Homes and Services appoints new CEO Business | Ramsey County selects Catrice O’Neal to lead Workforce Solutions, Workforce Innovation Board Business | Business People: Symone Woolridge to anchor Fox 9 evening newscasts Business | Ramsey County selects Maria Sarabia as chief of staff EMAIL ITEMS to businessnews@pioneerpress.com .New and Old Debates on Anti-imperialism and Socialism
A Legacy of Visionary Leadership and Inclusive Growth( MENAFN - GetNews) Illustria Medical Aesthetics in Milton, Ontario, launches a limited-time holiday gift card Promotion alongside advanced medical spa treatments led by expert physicians. A premier medical spa in Milton, Ontario, Illustria Medical Aesthetics is now offering an exclusive holiday gift card promotion for a limited time. Customers who purchase a $100 gift card for a loved one will receive an additional $25 gift card for themselves. A limited-time offer valid through December 31, 2024, this promotion provides an ideal opportunity to experience luxurious medical spa treatments while sharing the gift of self-care. Committed to delivering top-tier services without compromising affordability, the clinic offers comprehensive beauty services, from laser skin treatments, injectables, and advanced facial rejuvenation techniques to medical-grade skincare products to enhance skin health and maintain radiant skin, even at home. Complementing its top-tier treatments, Illustria Medical Aesthetics offers competitive pricing to make luxury medical spa experiences accessible. Whether seeking a rejuvenating facial or a transformative laser procedure, clients can experience an immersive spa experience within their budgets by referencing its published medical spa pricing . A leader in innovative skin rejuvenation solutions, Illustria Medical Aesthetics is the only medical spa in Milton to provide laser skin treatments using the state-of-the-art Picosure® Pro laser. Precise and highly effective, this advanced laser technology addresses various skin concerns, including pigmentation, fine lines, acne scars, and tattoo removal, offering clients faster results and minimal downtime. The spa ensures the highest standard of care with a team led by a board-certified aesthetic physician and licensed family physician, Dr Leonora Ogbeide, MD, CCFP. With expertise in medical aesthetics and a commitment to patient-centred care, Dr Ogbeide oversees all in-spa treatments to deliver results tailored to individual needs. A member of the Canadian Board of Aesthetic Medicine (CBAM), Dr Ogbeide stays up-to-date with the best and latest internationally recognized techniques and technologies for aesthetic medicine, frequently attending conferences and seminars to provide the most comprehensive and relevant treatment options for her patients. “I strongly believe in a no-pressure method of practice for aesthetic medicine. My goal is to help you look and feel your best on your terms-at the end of the day, that's what aesthetics is all about,” said Dr Ogbeide. Illustria Medical Aesthetics' holiday gift card promotion provides added value, allowing clients to enjoy additional savings while indulging in the clinic's wide range of treatments. The spa's competitive pricing makes luxury medical spa experiences accessible to everyone. For more information, visit Illustria Medical Aesthetics prides itself on delivering a personalized and welcoming experience. By combining advanced technology, expert care, and a client-focused approach, the clinic has earned a reputation as a trusted destination for medical spa treatments in the Milton area. The spa's highly laser skin treatments have proven effective for revitalizing skin and tattoo removals. This treatment has garnered praise for addressing even the most complex skin concerns with unparalleled precision. Picosure® Pro is typically used for dark pigments while Fotona Laser is preferred for facial laser treatments. Injectables have played a key role in Illustria Medical Aesthetics' beauty regime, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and restoring volume. Dr Ogbeide will carefully assess the depth and placement of the filler to achieve the desired results. In certain cases, multiple injections may be needed. With its facial rejuvenation services, the spa enhances skin health with advanced techniques such as chemical peels and microneedling. Dr Ogbeide uses medical-grade chemical peels to improve the look and health of the face, removing the outer layers of the skin to encourage skin regeneration. Microneedling, or collagen induction therapy, is intended to stimulate the body's natural healing processes, leading to collagen and elastin production which results in improved skin texture and firmness. This procedure Microneedling is often used to treat acne scars, fine lines, and wrinkles, as well as to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Located in Milton, Ontario, Illustria Medical Aesthetics specializes in delivering advanced medical spa treatments under the guidance of Board-Certified Physician Dr. Leonora Ogbeide. The holiday gift card promotion underscores Illustria's dedication to making self-care accessible during the festive season. Gift cards are available directly through the clinic or its website, providing an easy and thoughtful gift option for friends and family. About the Company: Illustria Medical Aesthetics , located in Milton, Ontario, is a leading medical spa offering advanced treatments under the guidance of Board-Certified Aesthetic Physician Dr. Leonora Ogbeide, MD, CCFP. The clinic specializes in laser skin treatments using the revolutionary Picosure® Pro laser, addressing skin rejuvenation, pigmentation, and tattoo removal with precision and minimal downtime. With a focus on safety and personalized care, Illustria also provides injectable treatments, facial rejuvenation, and medical-grade skincare. Known for competitive pricing and innovative solutions, Illustria is a trusted destination for achieving radiant, healthy skin. MENAFN24122024003238003268ID1109028264 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Meliá Hotels International, S.A. ( OTCMKTS:SMIZF – Get Free Report ) saw a large decline in short interest in December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,600 shares, a decline of 28.0% from the November 30th total of 5,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 36.0 days. Meliá Hotels International Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS SMIZF opened at $7.79 on Friday. Meliá Hotels International has a 12 month low of $6.00 and a 12 month high of $8.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $7.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $7.27. About Meliá Hotels International ( Get Free Report ) Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Meliá Hotels International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meliá Hotels International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .ISTANBUL: Turkiye could be one of the big winners from the new Syria crisis, giving it a chance to tackle its Syrian refugee problem and the Kurdish threat along its border, observers say. Although Syrian President Bashar Assad spurned an offer of help from his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara now appears to have an increasingly important role in decisions that will affect Syria’s immediate future. Omer Ozkizilcik, an Atlantic Council associate researcher in Ankara, said Turkiye has a “complex and difficult relationship” with Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the terrorist alliance that led last week’s militant offensive. “We can clearly say there was indirect Turkish support (for the offensive) but no direct Turkish involvement,” he told AFP. Although the attack was due to take place “seven weeks ago... Turkiye stopped the militants from launching this military offensive,” he added. Assad’s ally Russia has also been “heavily” bombing militants positions in the northwest to stymie an attack on his government. Charles Lister, an expert at Washington’s Middle East Institute agreed, saying “the Aleppo offensive was initially planned for mid-October but Turkiye put a stop to it.” It was only after Ankara’s efforts to normalize ties with the Assad goverment were rebuffed as it pushed for a political solution, that Turkiye gave its green light, Ozkizilcik said. Turkiye has pushed back against the expansion of HTS into the “security zone” in northwest Syria it has carved out for itself, and has put pressure on the radical group to drop its Al-Qaeda affiliation. It has also pressed it to avoid attacking Christian and Druze minorities, analysts say. “The HTS of today is not what it was in 2020,” Ozkizilcik said. Although Turkiye has some influence over the group, Firas Kontar, a Syrian Druze origin and author of “Syria, the Impossible Revolution,” believes Erdogan “no longer has the means to stop HTS.” Ankara and Damascus broke off ties in 2011 when the war started with Erdogan backing the militants. However, since late 2022 the Turkish leader has been seeking a rapprochement, saying in July he was ready to host Assad “at any time.” But Assad said he would only meet if Turkish forces withdrew from Syria. Ankara is hoping a rapprochement would pave the way for the return of the 3.2 million Syrian refugees still on its soil, whose presence has become a major domestic hot potato. “Now with the changing situation on the ground, the balance of power in Syria has shifted: Turkiye is the most powerful actor at the moment inside Syria, and Iran and Russia will likely try to negotiate with Turkiye,” Ozkizilcik said. Since 2016, Turkiye has staged multiple operations against Kurdish forces in northern Syria which has given it a foothold in areas bordering the frontier. The aim is to oust Kurdish fighters from the border zone, notably the YPG (People’s Protection Units) which are backed by Washington as bulwark against Daesh group terrorists. But Ankara views the YPG as an extension of the PKK which has fought a decades-long insurgency inside Turkiye and is banned as a terror group by Washington and Brussels. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, pro-Turkiye militans on Sunday seized Tal Rifaat, a town north of Aleppo and the surrounding villages, where some 200,000 Syrian Kurds were living. Tal Rifaat lies just outside Turkiye’s “security zone” with the move prompting Kurdish residents to flee to a safe zone further east. Turkiye’s secret service said it had killed a PKK leader in the area. “Turkiye has already made and probably will make many gains against the YPG terror group to secure its national security,” said Ozkizilcik.
Following a brief outage that grounded all American Airlines ( ) flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, American Airlines says it has resumed service Tuesday morning. American Airlines said a “vendor technology issue” was responsible for delaying all of its flights in the United States. But the company began boarding flights again at around 8 am ET, and flights have since resumed, airline spokeswoman Sarah Jantz told CNN. The Allied Pilots Association, which represents the 16,000 pilots at American Airlines, said American Airlines’ Flight Operations System briefly went down Tuesday morning, which led to the delays. Known as the FOS, the system handles the airline’s operations, key to getting airplanes released for departure — including passenger boarding. American Airlines has backup flight planning tools to prevent an outage from shutting down the entire airline for extended periods of time, according to the union, which said pilots and crew are trained to understand how to navigate a system outage. American Airlines didn’t confirm the specific system that had an outage but acknowledged the issue prevented it from releasing flights from the gates. The Federal Aviation Administration lifted its nationwide groundstop order for all American flights. The FAA in a statement said American requested a nationwide ground stop but it referred all questions to the airline for more information. The outage came on a day when the airline is scheduled to have more than 3,300 domestic flights, according to the aviation analytics firm Cirium. The airline resumed service with residual delays but without a substantial number of cancelations. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible,” the airline said. “We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.” American said delayed customers should be on their way with minimal disruption. “Expect some delays throughout the day but [we’re] working to mitigate those and avoid cancels,” Jantz said. “We have a smaller schedule today and have the staffing to support the quick recovery.” Just 26 flights across all airlines were canceled nationwide, according to data tracker FlightAware. More than 1,000 flights into, within and out of the United States were delayed – a number that picked up shortly after the American outage, but it could also be caused by airport congestion and some winter weather in the Northeast. ‘Complaining doesn’t seem quite right’ David Myers, a 62-year-old disaster consultant traveling from from Salisbury, Maryland, to New Orleans with a layover in Charlotte said he was first alerted to the issue at 6 am Tuesday morning. He and his wife are trying to spend Christmas with their children. “It’s Christmas Eve, so complaining doesn’t seem quite right,” Myers told CNN. “And safety always comes first. But more information at the gate would be helpful.” Customers on social media began complaining early Tuesday morning that some flights were returning to their gates and that delays are about 90 minutes. “Captain says @AmericanAir software outage preventing weight & balance calculations ‘company-wide’ with no estimate on resolution. Flights unable to depart as a result. Not a good start to Christmas Eve travel!,” on X. In a posted from Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida, an agent is heard saying “our system is down” and they are keeping passengers at the gate. American Airlines’ ( ) stock initially fell nearly 3% in premarket trading, but rose 1% following the resolution. Service outages Holiday travel delays are nothing new, but glitches and outages can make annoying situations significantly worse. In July, during the peak of summer travel season, a led to travel chaos around the world. Most airlines recovered within a day, but for about a week. The meltdown ensnared an estimated half a million people, ruined holidays and travel plans and prompted a federal investigation In December 2022, a punishing winter storm that dumped across much of America led to widespread flight cancellations over the Christmas holiday. Although air travel was more or less back to normal a few days later, and delays as its outdated scheduling systems became overwhelmed. That storm had hit Chicago and Denver hard, where Southwest has two of its biggest hubs, exposing the airline’s technology shortcomings. The airline faced massive fines and lawsuits, but it has since upgraded its tech. CNN’s Pete Muntean, Alexandra Skores and Nick Valencia contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atKirill Kaprizov misses Texas trip, listed as day-to-day2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism — and cute little animals
In a world of great need there are more ways to donate money than ever. How should you give?
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. “I would do the same," Jefferson said. "It’s either let everybody else go off or let Justin go off. I’m going to let everybody else go off. That would be my game plan.” When the Vikings visit Chicago on Sunday, they're expecting the usual heavy dose of split-safety coverage designed to put a lid on the passing attack and force them to operate primarily underneath. “We see that every week: Teams just have different tendencies on film, and then when we go out on the field they play us totally different,” Jefferson said, later adding: “I don’t really feel like anyone else is getting played how I’m getting played.” Jefferson nonetheless is second in the NFL in receiving yards (912) behind Cincinnati's Ja'Marr Chase, his former college teammate at LSU. Last week, Jefferson set yet another all-time record by passing Torry Holt for the most receiving yards over the first five seasons of a career. Holt logged 80 regular-season games and accumulated 6,784 yards for St. Louis. Jefferson has 6,811 yards — in just 70 games. “I want to go up against those single coverages. I want to go have my opportunities to catch a deep pass downfield, just one-on-one coverage, like a lot of these other receivers get," Jefferson said. "It’s definitely difficult going up against an extra person or an extra two people, but it is what it is and the concepts that we’re drawing up and the ways that we’re trying to get me open, it definitely helps.” With fellow tight end Josh Oliver ruled out of the game on Sunday because of a sprained ankle, T.J. Hockenson is certain to have his heaviest workload since returning from knee surgery four weeks ago. He's also certain that Jefferson will continue to see persistent double-teams. “It puts it on us to make some plays and do some things to get them out of that,” Hockenson said. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell has been forced to dig deeper into the vault of play designs and game plans to help keep quarterback Sam Darnold and the offense on track. O'Connell said after Minnesota's 12-7 win at Jacksonville, when Darnold threw three interceptions to precipitate a safer strategy down the stretch, that he superseded his play-calling role with the wisdom of a head coach to help win that game. "Not just the egomaniac of wanting to score points and constantly show everybody how smart we are. There was a mode that I think you have to go into sometimes to ensure a victory,” O'Connell said on his weekly show on KFAN radio. Taking what the defense gives is usually the shrewdest strategy. “You’ve got to really implement some new things and some things that maybe you didn’t come across during your early coaching years whether as a coordinator or position coach or even when you’re responsible for a small area of the game plan as a younger coach," O'Connell said. "You really have to kind of look outside the lens of always what you see on tape.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
SAN DIEGO — Kyle McCord of No. 22 Syracuse broke Deshaun Watson's Atlantic Coast Conference single-season record of 4,593 yards passing on a 50-yard completion to Darrell Gill Jr. on the Orange's first play of the second half of the Holiday Bowl against Washington State on Friday night. McCord came in with 4,326 yards, which was fifth on the ACC's single-season list, and needed 268 yards to break Watson's record, which he set in 15 games in 2016 at Clemson. McCord hit that number on the nose with his long pass to Gill, who made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch. McCord then threw a 9-yard pass to Trebor Pena, and two plays later hit him again on a play that lost seven yards on a drive that resulted in a blocked field goal to keep Syracuse's lead at 35-21. McCord, who transferred from Ohio State, rewrote the Orange’s record book this season, coming into the Holiday Bowl with 4,326 yards passing, 29 touchdowns and 367 completions. McCord threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, two to Oronde Gadsden II.
The holiday season is finally here. I am so excited. It is the most wonderful time of year. What I enjoy the most is spending time with my family and friends and doing holiday things, such as going to see Christmas lights, making crafts, baking cookies, and activities that allow me to create memories with my family. One of my favorite activities is making crafts with my children. It allows us to have a physical reminder year-to-year of things we have done and the fun we have had. I love the quality time and the memories we can create. I started planning my Christmas crafts in October and found a great resource I plan to use this holiday season, and thought you might enjoy it too. The 4-H Clover Holiday Activity Guide has all the things a child loves. It has science, such as coding and experiments (Who wouldn’t want to make snow?). It has recipes for cookies and brownies for us, and even some for your favorite animal. Knowing that some of the cookie recipes were submitted by 4-H Club members around the county makes this extra special to me. It’s like children stepping up and learning from other children, finding ways to express what they are passionate about. How awesome is that? The guide has craft ideas for you to do with your children, or maybe you would like to take a craft to church or your holiday celebration to do with all the little ones. It has a little bit of everything. For me, there are two things I like the most: one, it is free; two, you can download it digitally or print it. I don’t know about you, but I love having a physical copy of something in my hands. Spending quality time together is a gift that keeps on giving. Now, imagine accidentally learning along the way. How can you go wrong with that? Remember, 4-H is a community that encourages growth, creativity, leadership, and a sense of service, and there’s no better time to get involved than right now. If this is something that interests you, I would love to help create a 4-H Clover account for you or your child. We can even print out a Holiday Activity Guide for you and your family. So please give me a call at (910) 671-3276, or send me an email at Jade_McNeill@ncsu.edu. I would love to help you with this and talk about all the cool things we do in 4-H year round. As we celebrate the holidays and look forward to the New Year, let’s remember that the best gift we can give our children is our time, attention, and support in their mental growth. So why not make this holiday season extra special with 4-H Clover? I know my family will. If you need any help registering, logging in, or simply want to learn more about 4-H and how it can benefit your family, I’m here to assist. Feel free to give us a call or send us an email, and I’ll be happy to guide you through the process. This holiday season, let’s make learning and spending time together a gift that keeps on giving. 4-H is a community that encourages growth, creativity, leadership, and a sense of service, and there’s no better time to get involved than right now. ABOUT N.C. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION North Carolina Cooperative Extension is a strategic partnership of NC State Extension, The Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA), and local government partners statewide. Extension delivers research-based education and technology from NC State and N.C. A&T that enriches the lives, land, and economy of North Carolinians. Extension professionals in all 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee provide educational programs specializing in agriculture, youth, communities, health, and the environment. For more information, contact Jade McNeill, Extension 4-H Youth Development Program Assistant, at 910-671-3276, by email at Jade_McNeill@ncsu.edu, or go online at http://robeson.ces.ncsu.edu/. NC State University and N.C. A&T State University are collectively committed to positive action to secure equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. NC State, N.C. A&T, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
Independence Realty Trust, Inc. ( NYSE:IRT – Get Free Report ) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, December 16th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a dividend of 0.16 per share by the real estate investment trust on Friday, January 17th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.21%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. Independence Realty Trust has increased its dividend payment by an average of 4.7% per year over the last three years. Independence Realty Trust has a dividend payout ratio of 246.2% meaning the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Analysts expect Independence Realty Trust to earn $1.21 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.64 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 52.9%. Independence Realty Trust Stock Performance Shares of IRT stock opened at $19.96 on Friday. Independence Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $14.07 and a fifty-two week high of $22.26. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.77, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 1.19. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $20.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.90. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Read Our Latest Analysis on Independence Realty Trust About Independence Realty Trust ( Get Free Report ) Independence Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: IRT) is a real estate investment trust that owns and operates multifamily communities, across non-gateway U.S. markets including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, and Tampa, FL. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Independence Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Independence Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .filo The solar inverter company SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. ( NASDAQ: SEDG ) has been one of my better-performing picks this year. I initiated a bearish outlook in May , seeing that the company was likely losing its edge on Enphase ( Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards will play Christmas Day games for the first time on Wednesday as the NBA delivers its 77th year of contests on the holiday. French centre Wembanyama, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, will lead the San Antonio Spurs into New York to face the Knicks, who have the league's longest holiday history. The Knicks have played the most Christmas games of any NBA club at 56 entering this year, the first coming in 1947, the year the first NBA Christmas game was played. Wembanyama, a 20-year-old who stands 7-foot-3 (2.21m), averages 24.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 4.0 blocked shots a game for the Spurs, who return to the Christmas lineup for the first time in eight years. "Very excited just about spending Christmas in New York," Wembanyama said. "Going to be like the movies I hope, maybe get a little snow. "I'll approach it just like any other game. We've got to learn about their team, scout them and apply it for sure. I'm sure it's going to be special. I'm sure the league is going to make it something special that we're going to be able to feel." Edwards, a two-time NBA All-Star guard who helped the United States capture gold at the Paris Olympics, will try to spark the Minnesota Timberwolves on a holiday road trip to Dallas in a rematch of last season's Western Conference finals. "Ant-Man" leads the T-Wolves with 25.3 points a game and also has 5.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals a contest this season. The league's past three champions will also take the court on Wednesday with the defending champion Boston Celtics playing host to Philadelphia, the 2022 trophy-lifting Golden State Warriors playing host to the Los Angeles Lakers and the 2023 winner Denver Nuggets on the road at Phoenix. Lakers star LeBron James, who turns 40 next Monday, is the NBA career leader in points on Christmas with 476 in a record 18 games on December 25. He and former Miami teammate Dwyane Wade share the lead in wins by a player on Christmas with 10. The Lakers and Knicks share the NBA record for Christmas wins by a team with 24 for each. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Bernard King scoring 60 points, the highest NBA total on Christmas Day. Three other players -- Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain and Slovenian Luka Doncic -- have scored 50 or more in a game on the holiday. Dallas guard Doncic joined the club with a 50-point effort last year. The Lakers (16-13) and Golden State (15-13) are fighting for seventh in the Western Conference just ahead of San Antonio (15-14) and Minnesota and Phoenix, both 14-14. Dallas is fourth in the West at 19-10, just ahead of Denver 16-11. The Celtics are second in the Eastern Conference at 22-7, ahead of New York (19-10) while Philadelphia has struggled to a 10-17 start, 12th in the East. js/pb
AP News Summary at 4:50 p.m. ESTRookie Brian Thomas Jr. scores again as Jaguars beat Titans 20-13 for rare series sweepNone