www axiebet88 net

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”Emergence of the new SyriaCANTON, Ohio — If you can find something wrong with the Cavaliers, well, you’re probably nitpicking. And hey, that’s what we do. But the bottom line is the Cavs have been the best team in the NBA through the first 25 games. How have they done it? I joined Kenny Roda on Canton’s WHBC radio to discuss that and a whole lot more. Listen to the full interview in the player directly below: In this particular conversation, we discuss the season debut of wing Max Strus , who played 70 regular-season games last season and started them all. As I wrote earlier, he’s likely to be a minutes restriction as he works his way back this year. We also talk about how the Cavaliers don’t get enough love over their 21-4 start. And not just nationally, but locally as well. But that’s not all. We also discuss the rise of Evan Mobley (offensively), Darius Garland ‘s strong play to start the season, and the positive culture in the locker room. In fact, the vibes are better right now than at any time since I started covering the team back in 2007. Yes, a lot of credit goes to coach Kenny Atkinson, but also to the players themselves. Everyone is willing to admit their mistakes and strive to come back better the next time. As I said in the interview, the Cavs are true championship contender if all this continues. So again, give a listen above and as always, feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comment section below. This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.www axiebet88 net 。

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Sells 1,141 Shares of Skyworks Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWKS)Danbaba Suntai Airport in Jalingo, Taraba state capital, would be temporarily closed The Commissioner of Transportation Development said the shut down is approved by the NCAA He said the shutdown will enable the airport's ongoing renovation projects, which began in January 2024 Legit.ng journalist Zainab Iwayemi has 5-year-experience covering the Economy, Technology, and Capital Market . The temporary closure of Danbaba Suntai Airport in the state capital of Jalingo has been announced by the Taraba State Ministry of Transportation Development. The declaration was made on Friday by Yakubu Yakubu, the Commissioner of Transportation Development, in a statement that was signed by Kwantar Genesis, the ministry's permanent secretary. According to him, the shutdown complies with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority 's clearance. He stated that the airport's current upgrading projects, which started in January 2024, will be made possible by the closure, which is expected to extend until December 20, 2024. Read also Forex: Nigerian banks' executives call for decrease in the windfall tax “These improvements include the construction of drainage systems, perimeter fencing, the installation of an Instrument Landing System, rehabilitation of the existing runway to extend its length from 2.4km to 3km, and the acquisition of two new fire tenders.” The statement read. According to the commissioner in a Daily Post report, the program is a component of the state government's endeavors to improve the airport's infrastructure and air travel services for Taraba inhabitants and those in neighboring states. He urged commuters to exercise patience while the repair is being done, as full airline operations should resume after it is finished. This is coming as Nigerians are making plan to travel across different places for the christmas and new year break. Airlines Quotes NewTicket prices Legit.ng reported that Ahead of Christmas, customers are being forced to reconsider their alternatives after nine new aircraft that Nigerian airlines recently added to their fleet failed to curb increasing ticket fees. Read also Elon Musk's Starlink places new orders on hold after addressing price hike in Nigeria Last week, BusinessDay revealed that airlines were bringing in planes to support local routes and satisfy growing demand before the Christmas season. Air fares have not yet increased as a result of the fleet expansion, as domestic airlines continue to be choked by high operating and maintenance costs, which puts pressure on their long-term viability. Source: Legit.ng

Fact checking Trump's agenda: DeportationLANSING, MI -- Millington topped North Muskegon, 35-28, in a Division 7 semifinal football game at Lansing Eastern High School on Saturday, Nov. 23. Millington held a 20-14 halftime lead and saw their second half lead grow to 35-14. The Cardinals were able to survive a North Muskegon comeback to secure the win. Millington advances to the state final at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, where they will play Monroe St. Mary CC. MLive was there to document the action, both on and off of the field. Check out photos from the game in the gallery above. Click here for a direct link to the gallery. You must be a subscriber to view the photo gallery. Subscribers click the “Get photo” link to download high-resolution images right to their device for free as part of their subscription. To subscribe, click this link.

Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort?Prep Bowl: Becker’s defense stifles Totino-Grace for Bulldogs’ first title since 2015Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers?Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Economists Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Executives Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020

ATLANTA — Jimmy Butler remained away from the team Friday as the Miami Heat flew to Atlanta for Saturday’s second stop on their three-game trip. Butler has been away from the team the past three games due to what initially was listed as a stomach ailment, an absence that coincided with yet another round of trade speculation. Having exited last Friday’s home loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first quarter, when he also appeared to turn an ankle, Butler then missed last Saturday night’s loss in Orlando, Monday night’s home victory against the Brooklyn Nets and then Thursday night’s win in the rematch with the Magic at Kia Center. Butler was listed as out Thursday due to “return to competition reconditioning.” Thursday was the eighth game missed this season by Butler, who missed 22 of last season’s 82 games, as well as a play-in game and the Heat’s 4-1 first-round playoff ouster at the hands of the Boston Celtics. In addition, Butler, 35, also has been limited to a pair of seven-minute appearances this season, one due to a November ankle sprain that kept him out the next four games, and then last Friday’s game against the Thunder. Amid Butler’s absence have been reports of disenchantment with the Heat and a desire for a trade, with the Heat previously having shut down the possibility of an extension that the six-time All-Star remains eligible for through June. In the wake of such conjecture, Heat President Pat Riley issued a statement Thursday that said, “We usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches. Therefore, we will make it clear — we are not trading Jimmy Butler.” The Heat’s three-game trip continues Saturday against the Hawks before concluding Sunday against the Houston Rockets. The Heat are 4-4 in Butler’s absence this season. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has started in his place the past two games. Jaquez stepped forward in Thursday night’s 89-88 victory over the Magic in one of his most complete performances of the season, a 15-point outing that included 3-of-5 shooting on 3-pointers and five steals. “It meant a lot,” Jaquez said of helping fuel the victory. “It’s been something that I’ve been working on a lot, as far as the little things, trying to be the best defender I can be, on the ball, off the ball, doing all the little things to help our team win games. That’s really been my focus, just to keep getting back to that.” Jaquez entered Thursday 11 of 45 on 3-pointers, with just two total conversions in his previous 10 games. “I mean, it feels good to hit a few, I ain’t gonna lie,” he said. “But my teammates, they never told me to stop shooting. They always said to let it fly. That just gives me confidence. It’s something that I work on every single day. “When they’re not going in, it’s tough. But to see a couple fall, it ends up feeling like the ocean. It’s been great just trusting in the work and just trusting that process.” Erik Spoelstra said the overall performance is what resonated with the coaching staff. “It’s not about the threes necessarily,” he said of the 2023 first-round pick out of UCLA. “The reason we drafted him and the reason he’s had success over the course of his college career and last year is he does winning things. And sometimes that can get clouded. It’s normal in this league. Everybody has narratives and expectations. It’s the last line in that box score, unfortunately. “He’s at his best when he’s filling up a lot of the things, in the box score or not in the box score. And he just did a lot of winning things.” ©2024 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Luke DeCock: Where’s Bill? Belichick’s impending UNC arrival casts long shadow over Fenway Bowl.One Liberty Properties Announces 128th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend

A royal expert has said he is “angry” after watching Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ’s new Netflix documentary. The five-part series, called Polo, gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the elitist horseback sport as it follows a handful of players, including the duke’s friend Nacho Figueras. However, while Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, are named as the executive producers of the programme , they feature very little, with their main scene being in the fifth and final episode filmed when the duke plays at a charity polo match for his non-profit Sentebale. While the programme may be popular among Polo fans, one royal expert labelled it as “really dull” and unlikely to receive large viewing numbers. Writing on X , formerly known as Twitter, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “ I’m angry that I’ve had to spend so much time watching this non-event. “Tina Brown said the Sussexes were bad planners. Where is the appeal for this 5-parter on Polo, an elitist sport? “They must have known few would watch. It’s really dull if you aren’t into the game.” Since the new series was released on December 10, royal experts have been quick to make their observations, including the fact that the Royal Family received not one mention throughout all of the five episodes. While this may be a welcome relief for some, especially after the way Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have exposed personal matters within the Royal Family over the last four years since quitting, some people believe this is an unfair snub. This was discussed on GB News , as one royal expert argued that the Royal Family has such a long history with the sport of polo that not to mention them was an interesting decision. Speaking on GB News, host Andrew Pierce explained: "There's a big gap in this because of course, polo is the favourite sport of Prince William and he isn't appearing in the documentary because he's not speaking to his brother. "I mean, you can't do a polo documentary, frankly about Prince Harry if you don't include the British Royal Family in it because they've been playing polo for decades." Royal reporter Sarah Louise Robertson then commented: “There is no mention of them whatsoever. It's almost like Harry's just erased how he got into the game in this.” The documentary is the latest Netflix series released by the couple, with Meghan set to launch another show on the platform soon in connection with her new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard.

The Anthony Richardson era for the Indianapolis Colts has been quite the roller coaster. There have been incredible highs and disappointing lows. But through his first 15 starts, he has done something that only Cam Newton and Josh Allen have done in that time span in the history of the NFL. HISTORY: #Colts QB Anthony Richardson is the 3rd quarterback in NFL history with at least 10 TD passes and 10 rushing TDs in his first 15 career games. Richardson joins Josh Allen and Cam Newton. pic.twitter.com/1pK860x8qi Colts QB Anthony Richardson joins Cam Newton and Josh Allen in elite club through his first 15 starts Through Richardson's first 15 starts, he has recorded 11 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing. This makes him the third player in NFL history to record at least 10 passing and rushing touchdowns in their first 15 starts. The other two being Cam Newton and Josh Allen. Newton recorded 20 passing and 14 rushing through his first 15 starts, and Allen recorded 13 passing and 10 rushing. Both of those players had more impressive numbers and success than we've seen from Richardson to date. But him joining this list shows that he has the potential to be a true dual-threat QB like Newton was and Allen currently is. To do so, he has to become a more efficient passer, but the last few weeks have shown us that his ability as a runner raises his floor tremendously if the team is willing to lean on it early in games. He has a lot of growing still to do if he is going to be the franchise QB the Colts drafted him to become. Anthony Richardson and the @Colts off to a start pic.twitter.com/GXgzKEsmR2 This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles caught heat before the start of the NFL season for showing up to husband Jonathan Owens’ preseason game with the Chicago Bears in an outfit sporting the safety's former team. But on Thursday night, she silenced the critics. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles poses with her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The decorated Olympian arrived at Soldier Field in Chicago before the Bears’ Week 17 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks wearing an outfit decorated entirely with photographs of her husband's face. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Owens reposted a photo of Biles to his Instagram Stories with the caption, "Ain’t she beautiful." Fans received the outfit choice well this time around. In August, before a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the gymnast irked some by wearing a jacket depicting Owens when he played for the Green Bay Packers. Unbothered by the criticism, Biles later shared the photos on social media with the message, "Bear down." Gymnast Simone Biles walks on the sidelines before the game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday. (Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images) SIMONE BILES CATCHES HEAT FOR WEARING JONATHAN OWENS-THEMED PACKERS JACKET TO BEARS' PRESEASON GAME Owens signed a two-year contract with the Bears in March after spending one season with the Packers. He was excused from the start of training camp this summer to support his wife as she went on to make history at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles won four medals, including three gold, to bring her total Olympic medal count to 11 — the most by any American female gymnast. Gymnast Simone Biles poses for a photo before the game between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field in Chicago on Thursday. (Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Her amazing rebound in Paris, following her well-chronicled troubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, earned her the runner-up spot for AP Female Athlete of the Year honors, just behind WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.

WASHINGTON — Author and former presidential candidate Marianne Williamson announced Thursday she’s running to lead the Democratic National Committee. “I’m proud to announce I’m running for Chair of the DNC. In order to respond to the challenge of this moment, the Democratic Party needs transformation,” she posted on social media, with a link to a lengthy letter addressed to DNC members outlining her ambitions for the office. Williamson ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and 2024. In 2020, she dropped out in January before the Iowa caucus after failing to meet the polling qualifications for several debates. In 2024, her best performance was 4% in the New Hampshire primary, behind Joe Biden, who received 63.8% of the vote despite not officially competing in the primary, and outgoing Rep. Dean Phillips, who received nearly 20%. She ended her candidacy and reentered the 2024 race twice before ending her campaign for a third and final time in July. She joins a growing field to replace outgoing chair Jaime Harrison that includes former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who ran for president in 2016; Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin; Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler; and New York state Sen. James Skoufis.Stock market today: Wall Street drifts to a mixed close in thin trading following a holiday pause

BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes' two-way standout (see: unicorn) even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative dance moves following touchdowns and interceptions, some of which include the Heisman Trophy pose. It's one of the many awards he's in line to win. Hunter is the The Associated Press college football player of the year, receiving 26 of 43 votes Thursday from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. "Couldn't do what I do without my team," Hunter said in an email on a trip to Las Vegas for an awards ceremony. "So I view being up for these awards as team awards." People are also reading... A player with his particular set of skills doesn't come around that often. He's a flashback to the days of Charles Woodson at Michigan or Champ Bailey at Georgia. Or even his coach, Deion Sanders, a two-way star in the NFL. The prospect of significant playing time on both sides of the ball is what led Hunter to join Sanders at Jackson State and why he followed Sanders to Boulder. "Coach Prime was the only coach who would consider allowing me to do what I'm doing," said Hunter, who's expected to be a top-five pick next spring in the NFL draft, possibly even the No. 1 overall selection. "He did it and knows what it takes — how much you have to be ready on both sides of the ball." Want to fuel Hunter? Simply tell him he can't. "I'm motivated when people tell me I can't do something," Hunter said. "That I can't dominate on both sides of the ball. I want to be an example for others that anything is possible. Keep pursuing your dreams." Hunter helped the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record this season and a berth in the Alamo Bowl against No. 17 BYU (10-2) on Dec. 28. He played 688 defensive snaps and 672 more on offense — the lone Power Four conference player with 30-plus snaps on both sides of the ball, according to Colorado research. Hunter has already won a second straight Paul Hornung award as the game's most versatile player. He's up for the Walter Camp (player of the year), Maxwell (most outstanding player), the Biletnikoff (best receiver) and Bednarik (top defensive player) awards. And, of course, the Heisman, where he's the odds-on favorite to win over Jeanty this weekend. Hunter can join the late Rashaan Salaam as the only Colorado players to capture the Heisman. Salaam won it in 1994 after rushing for 2,055 yards. Hunter wasn't a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back. That drew the wrath of Sanders, who earned the award with Florida State in 1988 and vowed to give his trophy to Hunter. Hunter's high school coach, Lenny Gregory, knew he had a special player the summer of Hunter's freshman year. Gregory, then the coach at Collins Hill in Georgia, had a conditioning test for his players — run six 200-yard dashes with a minute rest in between. Defensive backs had to complete each in under 32 seconds. Hunter never even got winded. He played safety/cornerback and receiver as a freshman and helped Collins Hill to a state title his senior season. "I remember just talking to colleges the spring of his ninth-grade year and telling coaches that this kid's going to be the No. 1 player in the country," recounted Gregory, who's now the coach at Gordon Central High in Calhoun, Georgia. "They'd look at him and laugh at me, 'What are you talking about? This scrawny kid? He's not big enough.' I was like, 'Just watch. Just watch.'" Hunter finished the regular season with 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. On defense, he had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and forced one crucial fumble, which secured an OT win over Baylor. Overall, Hunter had 92 receptions and allowed 22. He hauled in 14 receiving TDs and allowed just one. He was responsible for 53 first downs and gave up just six. He was targeted 119 times by Shedeur Sanders & Co. but only 39 times by opposing QBs. Hunter's likely final game in Boulder, a rout of Oklahoma State, was a three-touchdown, one-interception performance. "I'm used to seeing him do all this spectacular stuff," Shedeur Sanders said. "I'm used to all this stuff — you all are just now seeing it on national stage." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

NoneSPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Jeremy Lorenz scored 20 points as Wofford beat Kentucky Christian 100-55 on Saturday. Lorenz shot 8 for 10 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line for the Terriers (6-7). Dillon Bailey scored 16 points while going 5 of 13 from the floor, including 3 for 10 from 3-point range, and 3 for 3 from the line. Anthony Arrington, Jr. shot 4 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 3 from the line to finish with 12 points. D'Angelo Stoxstill led the Knights in scoring, finishing with 15 points and six rebounds. Kentucky Christian also got 12 points from Dejuan Johnson. LeMar Northington also had 12 points. Wofford hosts UNC Greensboro in its next matchup on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

NDP MLA Aleana Young ‘surprised’ to learn of investigation by Sask. conflict of interest commissionerBOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — An Argentine military officer who was arrested in Venezuela earlier this month has been charged with terrorism, Venezuela’s attorney general said Friday. In a statement published on Instagram, Attorney General Tarek William Saab accused the officer, Nahuel Gallo, of “being part of a group of people who tried to commit destabilizing and terrorist acts (in Venezuela) with the support of international far-right groups.” In a press conference on Friday, Argentine Security Minister Patricia Bullrich described the charges as “another lie” by Venezuela’s government, and said that Gallo should be returned to Argentina “immediately.” The case has ramped up tensions between Venezuela’s socialist government and the right-wing administration of Argentine President Javier Milei, whose embassy in Caracas is currently sheltering five high-profile opposition activists and is surrounded by Venezuelan security forces. Gallo, a corporal in Argentina’s Gendarmería security force, was detained by Venezuelan officials on Dec. 8 after he showed up at an immigration office along Venezuela’s border with Colombia and sought permission to enter the country. Gallo’s relatives said that he had traveled to Venezuela to visit his wife, who is Venezuelan and was in the country to spend some time with her mother. They have published an invitation letter that was sent to Gallo, and said he was on vacation at the time of his arrest. Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with Argentina in August after Milei and several other Latin American leaders refused to recognize the reelection in July of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Argentina’s diplomats were expelled, but the five opposition activists, who had sought refuge at the ambassador’s residence to avoid arrest, remained in the building after they were denied safe passage out of Venezuela. The activists, who have been holed up in the embassy since March, recently said that Venezuelan security forces have cut off electricity and water to the residence in a bid to pressure them to leave the building. Venezuela officials have denied those accusations, and said that the activists used the Argentine embassy to plan terrorist acts. The Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal said earlier this week that 19 foreigners are currently being held in Venezuela as political prisoners. In September, two Spanish citizens who were on vacation in the south of Venezuela were arrested and accused of being part of a plot to overthrow President Maduro. They were arrested just days after Spain’s parliament recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of the election.

Rarely does a college basketball game provide such stark contrast between the sport's haves and have-nots as when Jackson State faces No. 9 Kentucky on Friday in Lexington, Ky. While Kentucky claims eight NCAA Tournament crowns and the most wins in college basketball history, Jackson State has never won an NCAA Tournament game and enters the matchup looking for its first win of the season. Impressive tradition and current record aside, Kentucky (4-0) returned no scholarship players from last season's team that was knocked off by Oakland in the NCAA Tournament. New coach Mark Pope and his essentially all-new Wildcats are off to a promising start. Through four games, Kentucky is averaging 94.3 points per game, and with 11.5 3-pointers made per game, the team is on pace to set a school record from long distance. The Wildcats boast six double-figure scorers with transfer guards Otega Oweh (from Oklahoma, 15.0 ppg) and Koby Brea (from Dayton, 14.5 ppg) leading the team. The Wildcats defeated Duke 77-72 on Nov. 12 but showed few signs of an emotional letdown in Tuesday's 97-68 win over a Lipscomb team picked to win the Atlantic Sun Conference in the preseason. Kentucky drained a dozen 3-pointers while outrebounding their visitors 43-28. Guard Jaxson Robinson, held to a single point by Duke, dropped 20 points to lead the Kentucky attack. Afterward, Pope praised his team's focus, saying, "The last game was over and it was kind of on to, ‘How do we get better?' That's the only thing we talk about." Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff also delivered a ringing endorsement, calling Kentucky "the best offensive Power Four team we've played in my six years at Lipscomb." Jackson State (0-5) and third-year coach Mo Williams are looking for something positive to build upon. Not only are the Tigers winless, but they have lost each game by nine or more points. Sophomore guard Jayme Mitchell Jr. (13.8 ppg) is the leading scorer, but the team shoots just 35.8 percent while allowing opponents to shoot 52.3 percent. The Tigers played on Wednesday at Western Kentucky, where they lost 79-62. Reserve Tamarion Hoover had a breakout game with 18 points to lead Jackson State, but the host Hilltoppers canned 14 3-point shots and outrebounded the Tigers 42-35 to grab the win. Earlier, Williams, who played against Kentucky while a student at Alabama, admitted the difficulties of a challenging nonconference schedule for his team. "Our goal is not to win 13 nonconference games," Williams said. "We're already at a disadvantage in that regard. We use these games to get us ready for conference play and for March Madness." Jackson State has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2007. The Tigers had a perfect regular-season record (11-0) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2020-21 but lost in the league tournament. Kentucky has never played Jackson State before, but the game is being billed as part of a Unity Series of matchups in which Kentucky hosts members of the SWAC to raise awareness of Historical Black Colleges and Universities and provide funds for those schools. Past Unity Series opponents have been Southern in December 2021 and Florida A&M in December 2022. --Field Level MediaVictory in Maharashtra, a win for development and good governance, says PM Narendra ModiCHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? CHICAGO (AP) — When the Chicago Bears threatened to score in the closing minutes of a 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, fans expressed their feelings loud and clear. They weren’t cheering for a touchdown or field goal. They had something else in mind. “Sell the team!” they chanted. With their skid at 10 games, a season that started with playoff hopes can’t end soon enough for the Bears (4-12). They will wrap it up when they visit the rival Green Bay Packers on Jan. 5. “My job is to go out there and win games,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “And we don’t focus on the outside noise. The fans are going to cheer and maybe boo sometimes. And you can’t react to that. It’s not something that we react to.” Chicago is 14-36 in three seasons under general manager Ryan Poles and has two double-digit losing streaks. The Bears dropped their final 10 in 2022 when they were tanking as part of a franchise-record 14-game skid that stretched into last year. They’ve never lost more than 10 in a row in a single season. The slide was at six games when they fired former coach Matt Eberflus the day after a loss at Detroit on Thanksgiving, following a series of poor late-game decisions. They’re 0-4 under interim coach Thomas Brown, and they’ve been dominated by Green Bay in recent decades. What’s working The defense. A defense that has gone from ranking seventh in yards per game through the first six weeks to 25th did its part against Seattle. The six points allowed were a season-low and the 265 yards the Bears gave up were their second-lowest. “As we know, our defense has a certain standard and we’ve showed it,” cornerback Kyler Gordon said. “So, obviously syncing a little bit. Just getting back on the guys to get back right. It’s just important to know what we can do and just go in there and execute.” What needs help Pass protection. Williams was sacked seven times, bringing his NFL-leading total and individual franchise record to 67. The Bears broke their previous mark of 66 sacks allowed in 2004, when they used four quarterbacks. Their issues on the offensive line are well-documented. And so is Williams’ tendency to hold onto the ball too long, resulting in unnecessary sacks. “There were miscues,” Williams said. “There were stupid sacks that I was taking, losing 10, 14 yards, which is frustrating. But I will say that I will definitely take the heat for this one just because (of) some of the situations that I put us in.” Stock up DE Montez Sweat. The Bears gave up 53 yards rushing on Seattle’s game-opening field-goal drive. But the line performed better after that. Sweat picked up his first sack since Week 12 against Minnesota on the first play of Seattle’s second possession, when he took down Geno Smith for an 8-yard loss. Though he’s only missed one game, Sweat has been slowed by ankle and shin injuries. His 5 1/2 sacks are a big drop from last season, when he had a combined 12 1/2 for Washington and Chicago while becoming the first NFL player to lead two teams in the same season. Stock down Williams. Coming off a promising outing against NFC leader Detroit that followed some shaky outings, Williams had a rough night. The No. 1 overall draft pick completed 16 of 28 passes for 122 yards — not much more than his low of 93 in a Week 1 win over Tennessee — after throwing for 334 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions. The seven sacks for 46 yards both matched his second-highest totals. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 5 — The Bears once again had trouble sustaining drives, converting just 5 of 15 third downs and punting on seven of their 10 possessions. They tied a season low with 11 first downs and managed 179 yards. Chicago owns the NFL’s second-worst third-down conversion rate at 31.8% and is averaging a league-worst 287.3 yards per game. Next steps The Bears have lost 11 straight against the Packers — the longest streak by either team in the storied rivalry — and 26 of 29 counting the playoffs. They’ve dropped eight in a row at Lambeau Field since a win in 2015. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement AdvertisementBetty White Forever: New stamp will honor the much-beloved 'Golden Girls' actor