Alphabet (GOOGL) Stock Trades Up, Here Is Why
Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy
Rain and field goals. The Los Angeles Rams got a crucial win at the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football , with both sides just exchanging field goals in a 12-6 result. Matthew Stafford endured a poor start but the Rams just showed enough over a 49ers side that didn't receive production from Brock Purdy, whose key turnover proved costly in a game of small margins. Purdy had a chance at a Hail Mary on the final play, but didn't even get the ball out, dropping San Francisco to 6-8 in what, though not mathematically, likely ends its postseason hopes. Los Angeles has won seven of its last nine and are 8-6, very well in the mix of things with three games to play. Let's analyze the game further with winners and losers: When it became clear the game would be affected by rain, Sean McVay turned to his RB1 to deliver. And Williams paid off the faith. Williams rushed for 108 yards on 29 carries, a 3.7 average that may not seem big but definitely had its impact on the Rams' final drive that killed the clock to under 20 seconds in the fourth. Purdy is due to get paid soon by the 49ers, and though he obviously deserves a raise given his achievements with the team on a low contract, San Francisco will need to be careful. The former Mr. Irrelevant threw for 142 yards on 14 of 31 completions with a pick, which ultimately turned the game in favor of Los Angeles. Purdy still has the mental capacity to improve, but his fundamental struggles limit the team and his inability to get going when the weather gets shaky is not the best sign. In a more delayed revenge game, former 49ers cornerback Witherspoon turned up against his old side. The Ram logged five tackles (four solo) but primarily stood out in coverage, recording three passes defended. In his first game since publicly taking to social media to complain about not getting the ball enough, Samuel Sr. didn't prove much on the field. He recorded just 16 receiving yards on three catches and seven targets, with two rushes for three yards. One inexcusable drop in the third quarter drew audible groans and boos from the home crowd. It will be interesting to see what the 49ers do with Samuel Sr. long term, as he just hasn't provided enough since getting a major pay day. When they've needed to see him do more, he's consistently failed to help. These are the types of games where kickers really earn their pay. With no touchdowns from either side, Rams' Joshua Karty nailed all four of his attempts. 49ers' Jake Moody made both, too, with his 53-yard attempt just sneaking in amid a second straight inconsistent season.
TEMPE, AZ — Artificial intelligence technology is spreading rapidly, and a new class at Arizona State University could set the standard for how AI literacy is taught across the U.S. The class is called "AI Literacy in Design and the Arts," and it covers the benefits, challenges, and ethics surrounding AI. The class was added to ASU's selection of classes this fall and students will be able again in the spring. The class is taught by Lance Gharavi, a professor in the School of Music, Dance, and Theatre. Graduate student Doster Chastain admits he was initially apprehensive about using AI. “I was scared of AI, and that had kept me from using it for a long time,” Chastain says. Chastain said his interactions with AI in class has mostly come in the form of a warning. “There's always a clause, an AI clause, in every class syllabus that says, you know, here's the AI rules. Basically, don't use it.” Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip? We want to hear from you! Connect with us: share@abc15.com Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Gharavi’s course takes a different approach, encouraging students to explore AI’s capabilities and limitations. “I finally had a course that said, ‘No, let’s use this stuff. Let’s play with it. Let’s see where it breaks, let’s see where it excels,’” Chastain explains. Gharavi’s hope is to empower students with knowledge about generative AI. “We need people to seize their agency around these technologies,” Gharavi emphasizes. “These technologies are too powerful and too important for us to cede our agency to others.” Generative AI operates by learning from vast datasets and creating content based on its training. While some students initially viewed it as a glorified search engine, many, like Chastain, now see it as a digital assistant with a caveat. “At this point in the game, it takes a little more direction, honestly, than working with an actual assistant,” he observes. Chastain designs projections for theater productions and says that since taking the course he has used AI as a part of his creative process. “It doesn’t just find something and regurgitate it to you,” Chastain says. “It learns from the things it trains on and uses that knowledge.” Gharavi’s course ultimately encourages students to experiment with AI, understanding its potential and pitfalls. For those hesitant about the technology, Gharavi says they should take time to play with, and to truly have fun and play while they do. Latest from ABC15: WATCH: Deaf robotics team wins highest teamwork award at recent competition abc15.com staff Arizona seniors worried about landline services not working Christel Bell Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has missed more than 60% of votes in D.C. since mid-November Ben Brown Maricopa County to pay $6M to protestors arrested and falsely charged in 2020 Dave Biscobing
NYC has scores of small, specialized or quirky museums. Here are some highlights New York can be a magical place for museumgoers. It can also be overwhelming and overcrowded at times, especially at the biggest, most famous museums. Luckily, the city has scores of great museums to choose from: Everything from small and quirky, to elegant gems housed in historic mansions, to preserved Lower East Side tenement apartments and hands-on experiences that might surprise even longtime New Yorkers. "Going to the Museum of Modern Art or the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History is fantastic. But they can be like a big super-sized coffee drink, while we're more like a cup of espresso," says Alex Kalman, director of two of the city's tiniest museums, Mmuseumm1 and Mmuseumm2. One is built into an old elevator shaft in a downtown alleyway. (Both museums are closed for the holidays but reopen in spring.) At other small museums you'll find a cozy, Viennese-style coffee shop; kosher Jewish comfort food like bagels, blintzes, herring and house-cured salmon; and edgy gift shops to rival MoMA's famous one. You could view the chair that George Washington sat in before giving his inaugural address to Congress (New York City was the seat of U.S. government in those days.) Or you might make seltzer or solve math puzzles. Here's some of what's happening at NYC's "other" museums: 227 W 27th St. Tucked inside the Fashion Institute of Technology, behind the big sculpture in front, is the city's only museum solely devoted to fashion. And it's free. The current show, "Africa's Fashion Diaspora," runs through Dec. 29. "It's about Africa as an idea that continues to inspire designers from Africa and also those whose ancestors came from Africa," says museum director Valerie Steele. Opening in February is "Fashioning Wonder: A Cabinet of Curiosities," exploring connections between cabinets of curiosities and fashion. 1048 5th Ave. This museum, housed in a... KATHERINE ROTH Associated PressNEW YORK — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. Suspect Luigi Mangione is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Tuesday in Hollidaysburg, Pa. "We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that's possibly why he targeted that company," Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he had yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, was arrested on December 9, 2024, after a six-day manhunt and charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His arrest has sparked a viral social media movement, with many hailing him as a symbol of resistance against systemic healthcare failures. The #FreeLuigi movement gained significant traction, with his social media profiles amassing over 100,000 new followers before being suspended. Despite this, the movement continues to trend, highlighting public discontent with the U.S. healthcare system. Some social media users argue that Mangione's radicalization stemmed from the struggles faced by millions in obtaining necessary healthcare, and not from his university education. Mangione’s arrest at a McDonald's in Altoona led to the seizure of a "ghost gun," a suppressor, fake IDs, and a manifesto criticizing the healthcare system. While the manifesto seems to admit guilt, some users question Mangione's responsibility, pointing out discrepancies in surveillance photos. The fascination with Mangione has only intensified, with discussions about his attractiveness and comparisons to characters in Ryan Murphy's productions. The phenomenon is reminiscent of society's long-standing obsession with infamous criminals, blurring lines between horror and hero worship. Former FBI agent Rob D’Amico noted that Mangione is seen by some as a "Robin Hood" figure fighting against corporate greed, which complicates the investigation. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing was scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a " ghost gun " matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Luigi Mangione was arrested Monday in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in what law enforcement has called a "targeted attack." Mangione is from a prominent Maryland family with extensive business interests. The Mangione family is known for developing real estate and running businesses. Relatives expressed shock over the arrest and offered condolences to Thompson’s family. Mangione faces multiple charges, including murder, firearm possession, and forgery, in New York and Pennsylvania. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation was a success and that his pain improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.