The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . MACON, Ga. (AP) — Myles Redding returned an interception 25 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and Whitt Newbauer threw a four-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter as No. 7-seeded Mercer beat No. 10 Rhode Island 17—10 on Saturday. Mercer advances to the FCS semifinals for the first time and will face No. 2 North Dakota State, which beat No. 15 Abilene Christian 51-31. Redding swooped in front of Hunter Helms’ intended receiver for his seventh interception of the season with 3:33 left in the first quarter, tying him with teammate TJ Moore for the most in the nation. Rhode Island got a 17-yard field goal from Ty Groff as time expired in the first half and took the lead late in the third quarter when Helms connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 56-yard touchdown for a 10-7 lead. Senior Dwayne McGee set up two fourth-quarter scores for the Bears, slashing through the right side for a 33-yard gain to give Mercer a first-and-goal at the Rhode Island 10. On third-and-goal from the 4, Newbauer found Adjatay Dabbs for the go-ahead touchdown. After the Bears twice forced the Rams to punt in their own half of the field, McGee ran 40 yards on first down to give Mercer a first down at the Rhode Island 25, setting up a 24-yard Reice Griffith field goal for the game’s final score. McGee finished with 114 yards on 21 carries and CJ Miller added 81 yards on 10 carries for Mercer (11-2), which remained unbeaten in seven home games. RELATED COVERAGE No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stake Arizona State makes College Football Playoff with 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State Helms finished 22 of 33 passing for 266 yards and Buchanan caught 11 passes for 119 yards to lead Rhode Island (11-3), but the Rams managed just 46 yards on 26 carries on the ground. — 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-footballTEHRAN – In a powerful address during the Student Day ceremony at the Sharif University of Technology, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran will not retreat in the face of any power, emphasizing the nation's strength and resilience. Addressing a gathering of students and professors, Pezeshkian underscored the vital role of youth in shaping the country’s future. Highlighting the significance of Student Day as a platform for demanding rights, Pezeshkian remarked, "Students are the hope for the country's future." He praised their ability to express their views freely, stating, "A student is not dependent on positions and ranks; they can speak the truth and defend rights without fear." Pezeshkian drew attention to recent student protests in the United States and Europe against the ongoing Israeli violence in Gaza and Lebanon, contrasting them with the relatively muted response from Iranian universities. He urged students to raise their voices against injustices, saying, "When a group of killers claims to advocate for human rights while committing atrocities, it is essential to protest against that." Elsewhere in his address, Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of capable individuals stepping forward to achieve the nation’s vision as outlined by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. "The country belongs to you," Pezeshkian declared, calling for unity among the youth to bring about necessary changes in leadership. He underscored that for the nation to progress toward its envisioned future, elite and competent individuals must take charge while those lacking capability must step aside. The president highlighted the need for a stronger connection between government and universities, stating, "Our universities are of the second generation. They need to be upgraded to the third and fourth generations." He elaborated that a fourth-generation university is one that integrates with society to address real-world problems, while a fifth-generation institution should be focused on long-term goals, looking a century into the future. Addressing Iranian student movements, Pezeshkian expressed his expectations for them to become advocates for rights, emphasizing that such advocacy transcends political affiliations. "Advocates for rights do not recognize left or right. We must dialogue together," he said. He stressed the importance of informed decision-making, insisting that policies should be grounded in scientific research, international experience, and expert consultation. The president also highlighted the critical need for Iran to implement Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards internally, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in financial transactions. He urged students and academics to collaborate in addressing systemic issues that he said hinder the nation’s economic stability. The president called for a united effort from universities and elite professionals to tackle these challenges, stating, "With the help of universities and elites, we can solve problems." Speaking on the matter of official appointments, Pezeshkian explained that the selection process for managers is based on individual capabilities, social capabilities, and structural capabilities. He emphasized the importance of education and communication skills in determining leadership potential. He posed a critical question regarding societal cohesion: "Are our doctors, engineers, merchants, and industrialists currently moving towards a clear goal, or is everyone moving in a different direction?" Pezeshkian argued that a society with well-defined goals and collaborative efforts among its professionals is more likely to thrive than one where individuals operate in isolation. As part of his ongoing efforts to improve governance, Pezeshkian announced plans for a meeting with newly appointed governors to discuss strategies for enhancing local administration and addressing community needs. He remains optimistic about the potential for collective action to create a more organized and purposeful society.
Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of WK Kellogg Co ( NYSE:KLG – Free Report ) by 2.7% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,507,713 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 38,939 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC’s holdings in WK Kellogg were worth $25,802,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royce & Associates LP grew its stake in shares of WK Kellogg by 199.8% during the 3rd quarter. Royce & Associates LP now owns 71,987 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,232,000 after purchasing an additional 47,973 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of WK Kellogg by 7.7% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,112,558 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,036,000 after buying an additional 79,808 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of WK Kellogg by 12,352.1% in the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,516,417 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,946,000 after buying an additional 1,504,239 shares during the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP bought a new stake in WK Kellogg during the second quarter valued at approximately $577,000. Finally, Atlas Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in WK Kellogg during the third quarter valued at approximately $818,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.74% of the company’s stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Barclays lifted their price target on shares of WK Kellogg from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $19.71. Insider Transactions at WK Kellogg In related news, Director G Zachary Gund acquired 65,000 shares of WK Kellogg stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 14th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $17.76 per share, for a total transaction of $1,154,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 195,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,463,200. This represents a 50.00 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Corporate insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock. WK Kellogg Trading Down 1.8 % WK Kellogg stock opened at $17.88 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. WK Kellogg Co has a 12-month low of $12.32 and a 12-month high of $24.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.92 and a beta of 0.07. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $18.66 and a 200 day moving average of $17.72. WK Kellogg ( NYSE:KLG – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 7th. The company reported $0.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.26 by $0.05. WK Kellogg had a net margin of 2.50% and a return on equity of 33.41%. The firm had revenue of $689.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $674.10 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.49 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that WK Kellogg Co will post 1.49 earnings per share for the current year. WK Kellogg Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were given a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.58%. WK Kellogg’s payout ratio is 82.05%. WK Kellogg Company Profile ( Free Report ) WK Kellogg Co operates as a food company in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It manufactures, markets, and distributes ready-to-eat cereal products primarily under the Frosted Flakes, Special K, Froot Loops, Raisin Bran, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Kashi brands. The company was formerly known as North America Cereal Co and changed its name to WK Kellogg Co in March 2023. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KLG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WK Kellogg Co ( NYSE:KLG – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for WK Kellogg Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WK Kellogg and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
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The Amrabad tiger reserve, home to at least 30 tigers, including cubs, appears to have turned a corner in terms of wildlife sightings during safaris, with visitors not only seeing a variety of wildlife but also tigers, and with increasing frequency. It’s thanks to just one tigress – F6, the matriarch of Amrabad —that more sightings of the big cat are becoming possible. F6, nicknamed Farah female as its territory falls in the Farhabad range had given birth to two cubs, a male and a female, in 2018. On Saturday, the female – F18 – a second-time mother herself, was spotted during the morning safari, sending a buzz of excitement among the visitors, and the reserve officials who posted a video of the sighting on their X social media platform account. “After we started wildlife tourism, all human activities, be it the occasional felling of trees, setting of fires and the like have come to a naught. Consequently, animals feel more safe and secure and the sightings have definitely improved. We just have to work harder, and ensure even better protection to the forest,” Nagarkurnool district forest officer Rohit Gopidi said, when asked about the increasing wildlife encounters visitors are experiencing during the safari drives. It was in 2021 that wildlife tourism activities were launched in Amrabad out of Mannanur village where facilities were created for visitors to stay. It was also the year when F18, Farah Female’s first born, gave birth to four cubs – three females and a male, F (female) 36, 37 and 38, and M (male) 39. Officials believe that Farah Female, had another litter after her first which may not have succeeded. She is now believed to have given birth to two more cubs. Incidentally, F18 which was sighted on Saturday, too is believed to have two young cubs to look after, her second litter. Farah Female, and her offspring, are moving freely in the area and while the younger ones may strike out in search of their own territories later, a large male tiger has also been putting up an occasional appearance for tourists, as was the case on December 18. His territory overlaps that of F6 and F18.Running into the Swiggy IPO, a key point of debate was the difference in growth rate with its close peer Zomato. For example, in Q1 FY25, Zomato’s year-on-year (y-o-y) revenue growth rate at 62 per cent was much stronger than Swiggy’s 34 per cent. The difference was even more stark when one considers the booming quick commerce segment, where Zomato’s 130 per cent growth was way above Swiggy’s 56 per cent. This and the fact that Zomato was running many quarters ahead of Swiggy when it comes to reaching adjusted EBITDA break-even were key factors resulting in Swiggy IPO being priced at a good 50 per cent discount to Zomato’s prevailing EV/Revenue valuation. Also, the somewhat sombre mood of the Street, as indicated by the lukewarm response to Hyundai Motor India’s IPO, was another factor as well. At bl.portfolio, we had recommended investors to subscribe to the IPO despite this differential growth rate as the discounted valuation more than adequately factored for the same. Further, the competition is still in early stages with outcomes wide open. Insights from Q2 results indicate the same as well. On the face of it, Swiggy’s Q2 y-o-y revenue growth at 30 per cent is still much lower than Zomato’s 58 per cent. But looking into the granular details on a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis (which was not available in the IPO filings), it is clear the growth rates differentials will narrow, going ahead. On a q-o-q basis, Swiggy’s Q2 consolidated revenue growth at 12 per cent is almost on par with Zomato’s 13 per cent. Swiggy’s quick commerce sequential revenue growth at 27 per cent was in fact better than Zomato’s 23 per cent. This implies that although Swiggy’s market share in quick commerce with Q2 gross order value at ₹3,382 crore is lower than Zomato’s ₹6,132 crore, with better sequential growth it has actually gained market share in Q2. If this trend sustains, the y-o-y differential in growth rates will narrow over the next few quarters. This makes it more likely that at some point in time over the next few quarters, markets will take a relook at the wide valuation differential that persists between the two companies. There are other factors too, like, for example, Zomato reached adjusted EBITDA break-even at consolidated level in Q1FY24. Swiggy has now guided to achieving adjusted EBITDA break-even by Q3FY26. This implies Swiggy is 9-10 quarters behind Zomato in profitability. Currently, Swiggy is valued at a trailing EV/Revenue of close to 8 times, while Zomato trades at 17 times. This over 100 per cent premium of Zomato is hard to justify in the current context even after factoring the difference in profitability timelines. Nevertheless, investors must be careful not to interpret this as Swiggy too can scale up to a similar high valuation as that of Zomato. It only indicates that on a relative basis, Swiggy appears a more attractive bet than Zomato. Overall at current levels, Swiggy’s risk-reward appears balanced. IPO investors with long-term perspective can continue to stay invested. New investors can look to accumulate on 10-15 per cent dips. Comments
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Friends, family and neighbours of a woman who was killed by her partner earlier this year are calling for more to be done to address intimate partner violence in Nova Scotia. Dozens of people participated in a walk on Friday in Enfield, N.S., where Brenda Tatlock-Burke was killed by her husband in October. Her death was one of three fatal cases of intimate partner violence in Nova Scotia over a three-week period . "We knew Brenda and we had no idea she was living in silence," said Noreen Corkum, the walk organizer and a friend of Tatlock-Burke. Corkum and her daughter, Natacha Provost, said they wanted to put on the event to support everyone suffering from intimate partner violence, encourage people to talk about it and highlight the need for more help for individuals in these situations. "We need more programs," Corkum said. "We need more voices coming out and saying, 'This is what I've lived through and these are the steps that we need to take in order to get the help that people need.'" Noreen Corkum and her daughter, Natacha Provost, helped organize the walk. (Patrick Callaghan/CBC) Some people who showed up only knew Tatlock-Burke through others, but wanted to participate in the walk because of their own experiences with intimate partner violence. Caet Moir said she's a longtime friend of Tatlock-Burke's sister. She said she's had several family members affected by domestic violence and it's typically someone you don't expect who is being hurt by a loved one. "I want to see us get away from the idea that victims have to prove themselves," Moir said. "The very idea that you have to prove that [you're a victim] puts you in danger. It's the very reason people don't say anything." Brenda Tatlock-Burke, 59, was killed by her husband on Oct. 18. (Tara Graham) Nova Scotia politicians passed a bill in September declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province . The Mass Casualty Commission report said intimate partner violence played a role in the April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. The head of the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia said she canvassed political parties during last month's provincial election campaign to see what they would do to address intimate partner violence. Premier Tim Houston said during the campaign that government and organizations have been working to implement recommendations from the commission's report. "Domestic and gender-based violence is an issue our government takes very seriously," Houston said in a statement at the time. MORE TOP STORIES N.S. university students propose revamped colon cancer screening kits Documentary examines the life and murder of Mi'kmaw activist Violent sex offender reaches statutory release Death of second homeless man in N.S. in last two weeks leads to calls for changeNationally, 2024 will go down as an important year for elections, with the incumbent presidential candidate running for re-election, then bowing out and his running mate taking his place, versus an opponent that the present candidate who dropped out defeated four years ago, who actually won the seat this year. Sounds quite confusing, but luckily, local elections were not. Or were they? 2024 saw many new faces replacing familiar ones in government, some due to resignations, some due to elections and some due to business decisions, such as at Tennova Healthcare-Cleveland. The hospital was purchased by Vitruvian Health in 2024, and with that purchase, a change in the CEO occurred. Jarrett Millsaps, who had taken over the helm of the hospital in January 2023, was replaced by Lisa Lovelace, the hospital’s first female CEO, and the hospital changed its name to Bradley Medical Center. (See related story in today’s Cleveland Daily Banner.) Though the name didn’t change, two local government entities did have some alterations, including the Cleveland City Council. Both Dale Hughes and Avery Johnson, longtime members of the council, decided not to run for reelection, and their open seats drew a fair amount of interest. When the votes were counted in May, political newcomers Dan Moore and Duane Goff tallied the most votes, and are now members of the council. Changes within the Charleston City Commission did not go quite as smoothly as Cleveland, but in the end, three new commissioners are now in place. The August election saw David Lattimore, Faye Callaway and Donna McDermott tallying the most votes among the eight candidates running for the three seats. McDermott had earlier in the year said she would not run for reelection, but changed her mind after talking with some of her constituents. She had served as mayor since the death of Walter Goode, and as commissioner for 24 years. She stated, once elected, it would be better for her not to continue to serve on the commission, so the three-member panel was missing a commissioner. Matt Wiley, who had tallied the fourth most votes in the election, was selected to fill that seat. Earlier in the year, McDermott had selected Brandy Bishop to serve as city manager and Scott Bonk as city recorder. Both served the city for several months until the election, at which time McDermott relieved Bishop of her duties, with Bonk also terminated. Another local change is actually a “district” change, as Stephen Hatchett was practically elected in March as the new 10th Judicial District Attorney General, defeating Shari Tayloe and Jeff Miller in the Republican primary. He had no opposition in August, so he was sworn in as District Attorney General in September. However, Hatchett asked to begin serving as DA prior to September, to take over the post that was then held by Tayloe. Tayloe had been appointed by Governor Lee to serve in that position until the 2024 election due to the resignation of Steve Crump. The chancery court decided not to allow Hatchett to begin serving until his scheduled swearing in occurred on Sept. 1. Though no changes occurred within the Bradley County Board of Education due to the 2024 election, one change happened afterward. Jeff Lovingood, who had been selected to serve in the 7th District school board seat left vacated due to the death of Jerry Frazier in December 2020, turned in his resignation in November. Lovingood, who served as senior associated pastor at First Baptist Church of Cleveland since 2015, had accepted a new ministry position in Birmingham, Alabama, with the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association. The Bradley County Commission opened up the position to the public, and three individuals vied for the seat. On Dec. 16, Alan Smith, a banking advisor/consultant and adjunct professor business at Lee University, was chosen from the trio, and was sworn in that same day by County Mayor D. Gary Davis. The change in the school board was not the only adjustment in education in Cleveland and Bradley County in 2024. Following Russell Dyer’s resignation as director of Cleveland City Schools in late 2023, the city’s school board began a search for a new director, and narrowed that down to three individuals. Two of those were from outside the area (Tampa, Florida, and San Marcos, Texas), but the board decided to go with the local candidate: Jeff Elliott, who was serving as chief of staff for Cleveland City Schools at the time. Announcement of the choice of Elliott, a 30-year employee of the city school system, was made on May 7. Earlier in 2024, the Tennessee Board of Regents announced that Andrew White was chosen to be the next president of Cleveland State Community College. He became the eighth president of the school, relieving Ray Brooks, who had served as CSCC’s interim president since July 2023. White wasn’t the only new face at Cleveland State, as the school introduced its first K9 officer — Flex. The 17-month-old German Shorthair Pointer will join Deputy Chief Officer Tim Fowler to provide service to the school. One familiar face at CSCC has stepped down from one of his duties, but will remain at the school. Mike Policastro, who has coached the school’s baseball team, retired from that position, but will keep his athletic director job at CSCC. Susan Willcutt announced she would be retiring as finance director for Bradley County Schools in June, effective at the end of 2024. Ellen Smith will serve as interim director. Tammy Johnson announced her resignation as executive director/CEO at Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland in November, but said she will stay at the non-profit organization for a few months in 2025 to help with the selection of a new director. She had served in that position since 2017. In Johnson’s case, her husband had accepted a new job in Alabama which precipitated the move. A new job also led Mike Garren to resign as director at the Bradley County Emergency Medical Service in April to accept a position with the Hamilton County EMS. His replacement was someone the department was familiar with, as Adam Lewis, who serves as assistant to the Bradley County mayor, added that position to his list of duties, and has received praise from BCEMS employees as well as others for the job he has been doing since. Chris Bates moved up from the ranks of firefighter to become the new chief of the Cleveland Fire Department in February. He replaced Bobby Gaylor, who had served as chief since August 2021. Bates has been with the fire department for 28 years, and was serving as fire marshal when chosen as chief. Keith McAfee, who has previously served with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Federal Aviation Administration at the Chattanooga Airport, is now the new director of operations at the Cleveland Regional Jetport. He was chosen to head operations there in November.Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general
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Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week, a holiday period likely to end with another record day for air travel in the United States. AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday, most of them by car. However, travelers could be impacted by ongoing weather challenges and those flying to their destinations could be grounded by delays brought on by airline staffing shortages and an airport service workers strike . Here's the latest: People are also reading... Looking to de-stress while waiting for your flight? Many airports have a fleet of therapy dogs — designated fidos and puppers that are eager to receive pets and snuggles from weary travelers. Rules and schedules vary from airport to airport, but the group AirportTherapyDogs uses online crowdsourcing to share the locations of therapy dogs across its various social media accounts. Today, Gracie, a toy Australian shepherd, and Budge, an English bulldog, wandered the concourses at Denver International Airport, and an American Staffordshire Terrier named Hugo greeted travelers at Punta Gorda Airport in Florida. Some airports even feature other therapy pals. San Francisco International Airport’s fleet of animals includes a Flemish Giant rabbit and a hypoallergenic pig. “We cannot live on the wages that we are being paid,” ABM cabin cleaner Priscilla Hoyle said at a rally earlier Monday. “I can honestly say it’s hard every single day with my children, working a full-time job but having to look my kids in the eyes and sit there and say, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to have a home today.’” Timothy Lowe II, a wheelchair attendant, said he has to figure out where to spend the night because he doesn’t make enough for a deposit on a home. “We just want to be able to have everything that’s a necessity paid for by the job that hired us to do a great job so they can make billions,” he said. ABM said it is “committed to addressing concerns swiftly” and that there are avenues for employees to communicate issues, including a national hotline and a “general open door policy for managers at our worksite.” Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. They described living paycheck to paycheck while performing jobs that keep planes running on schedule. Most of them earn $12.50 to $19 an hour, union officials said. Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice said those workers should make $22 to $25 an hour. The strike is expected to last 24 hours. Several hundred workers participated in the work stoppage. Forty-four fights have been canceled today and nearly 1,900 were delayed by midday on the East Coast, according to FlightAware . According to the organization’s cheekily named MiseryMap , San Francisco International Airport is having the most hiccups right now, with 53 delays and three cancellations between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST. While that might sound like a lot of delays, they might not be so bad compared to last Friday when the airport suffered 671 delays and 69 cancellations. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American Airlines has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. ▶ Read more about American Airlines’ new boarding technology Travel can be stressful in the best of times. Now add in the high-level anxiety that seems to be baked into every holiday season and it’s clear travelers could use some help calming frazzled nerves. Here are a few ways to make your holiday journey a little less stressful: 1. Make a checklist of what you need to do and what you need to bring 2. Carry your comfort with you — think noise-canceling headphones, cozy clothes, snacks and extra medication 3. Stay hydrated 4. Keep up to date on delays, gate changes and cancellations with your airline’s app ▶ Read more tips about staying grounded during holiday travel Thanksgiving Day takes place late this year, with the fourth Thursday of November falling on Nov. 28. That shortens the traditional shopping season and changes the rhythm of holiday travel. With more time before the holiday , people tend to spread out their outbound travel over more days, but everyone returns at the same time, said Andrew Watterson, the chief operating officer of Southwest Airlines . “A late Thanksgiving leads to a big crush at the end,” Watterson said. “The Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Thanksgiving are usually very busy with Thanksgiving this late.” Airlines did a relatively good job of handling holiday crowds last year, when the weather was mild in most of the country. Fewer than 400 U.S. flights were canceled during Thanksgiving week in 2023 — about one out of every 450 flights. So far in 2024, airlines have canceled about 1.3% of all flights. Drivers should know that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the worst times to travel by car, but it should be smooth sailing on freeways come Thanksgiving Day, according to transportation analytics company INRIX. On the return home, the best travel times for motorists are before 1 p.m. on Sunday, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, the company said. In metropolitan areas like Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, “traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Mike Whitaker said last week that he expects his agency to use special measures at some facilities to deal with an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers. In the past, those facilities have included airports in New York City and Florida. “If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe,” Whitaker said. The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of controllers that airline officials expect will last for years, despite the agency’s lofty hiring goals. 5. Auto club and insurance company AAA predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will venture at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday and next Monday. Most of them will travel by car. 6. Drivers should get a slight break on gas prices . The nationwide average price for gasoline was $3.06 a gallon on Sunday, down from $3.27 at this time last year. 7. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 18.3 million people at U.S. airports during the same seven-day stretch. That would be 6% more than during the corresponding days last year but fit a pattern set throughout 2024. 8. The TSA predicts that 3 million people will pass through airport security checkpoints on Sunday; more than that could break the record of 3.01 million set on the Sunday after the July Fourth holiday. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the next busiest air travel days of Thanksgiving week. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving travel across the U.S. Workers who clean airplanes, remove trash and help with wheelchairs at Charlotte’s airport, one of the nation’s busiest, went on strike Monday to demand higher wages. The Service Employees International Union announced the strike in a statement early Monday, saying the workers would demand “an end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season.” The strike was expected to last 24 hours, said union spokesperson Sean Keady. Employees of ABM and Prospect Airport Services cast ballots Friday to authorize the work stoppage at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a hub for American Airlines. The two companies contract with American, one of the world’s biggest carriers, to provide services such as cleaning airplane interiors, removing trash and escorting passengers in wheelchairs. ▶ Read more about the Charlotte airport workers’ strike Parts of the Midwest and East Coast can expect to see heavy rain into Thanksgiving, and there’s potential for snow in Northeastern states. A storm last week brought rain to New York and New Jersey, where wildfires have raged in recent weeks, and heavy snow to northeastern Pennsylvania. The precipitation was expected to help ease drought conditions after an exceptionally dry fall. Heavy snow fell in northeastern Pennsylvania, including the Pocono Mountains. Higher elevations reported up to 17 inches (43 centimeters), with lesser accumulations in valley cities including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Around 35,000 customers in 10 counties were still without power, down from 80,000 a day ago. In the Catskills region of New York, nearly 10,000 people remained without power Sunday morning, two days after a storm dumped heavy snow on parts of the region. Precipitation in West Virginia helped put a dent in the state’s worst drought in at least two decades and boosted ski resorts as they prepare to open in the weeks ahead. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Two people died in the Pacific Northwest after a rapidly intensifying “ bomb cyclone ” hit the West Coast last Tuesday, bringing fierce winds that toppled trees and power lines and damaged homes and cars. Hundreds of thousands lost electricity in Washington state before powerful gusts and record rains moved into Northern California. Forecasters said the risk of flooding and mudslides remained as the region will get more rain starting Sunday. But the latest storm won’t be as intense as last week’s atmospheric river , a long plume of moisture that forms over an ocean and flows over land. “However, there’s still threats, smaller threats, and not as significant in terms of magnitude, that are still going to exist across the West Coast for the next two or three days,” weather service forecaster Rich Otto said. As the rain moves east throughout the week, Otto said, there’s a potential for heavy snowfall at higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada, as well as portions of Utah and Colorado. California’s Mammoth Mountain, which received 2 feet (0.6 meters) of fresh snow in the recent storm, could get another 4 feet (1.2 meters) before the newest system clears out Wednesday, the resort said. Another round of wintry weather could complicate travel leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, according to forecasts across the U.S., while California and Washington state continue to recover from storm damage and power outages. In California, where two people were found dead in floodwaters on Saturday, authorities braced for more rain while grappling with flooding and small landslides from a previous storm . Here’s a look at some of the regional forecasts: 9. Sierra Nevada: The National Weather Service office issued a winter storm warning through Tuesday, with heavy snow expected at higher elevations and wind gusts potentially reaching 55 mph (88 kph). Total snowfall of roughly 4 feet (1.2 meters) was forecast, with the heaviest accumulations expected Monday and Tuesday. 10. Midwest and Great Lakes: The Midwest and Great Lakes regions will see rain and snow Monday and the East Coast will be the most impacted on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, forecasters said. 11. East Coast: A low pressure system is forecast to bring rain to the Southeast early Thursday before heading to the Northeast. Areas from Boston to New York could see rain and breezy conditions, with snowfall possible in parts of northern New Hampshire, northern Maine and the Adirondacks. If the system tracks further inland, there could be less snow and more rain in the mountains, forecasters said. ▶ Read more about Thanksgiving week weather forecasts Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Tides will get new manager in 2025 as Buck Britton joins Orioles’ coaching staffUpdated December 07, 2024 at 16:21 PM ET BEIRUT — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions , led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. For the first time in the country's long-running civil war, the government now has control of only four of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Homs, Latakia and Tartus. The U.N.'s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an "orderly political transition." Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels "sorry for the Syrian people." In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. "The situation is very strange. We are not used to that," the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. "People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not." It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Assad's status Syria's state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia is busy with its war in Ukraine. Lebanon's Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. No details were immediately available. The insurgents' march Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the "final stage" of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a "salvation government" to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group's image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. Syria's military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria's third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria's largest, and the central city of Hama, the country's fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. The Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle loomed. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad's seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by "terrorists." The army said it was setting up a "strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area," apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. Diplomacy in Doha The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country's underlying problems. "Assad didn't seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people," he said. Copyright 2024 NPR