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Eagles' Tanner McKee throws 1st career TD pass, teammate AJ Brown launches ball into standsDominated by Ohio State for years, Indiana has a chance for the big payback
Alliant Energy Corp. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the dayATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can't hide the Atlanta Falcons' offensive shortcomings. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * ATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can't hide the Atlanta Falcons' offensive shortcomings. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? ATLANTA (AP) — Even the woeful NFC South, where no team has a winning record, can’t hide the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive shortcomings. Three straight setbacks, including an ugly 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, has left the Falcons 6-6 and feeling the pressure. Only a tiebreaker advantage over Tampa Bay has kept the Falcons atop the division. Now the Falcons must prepare to visit streaking Minnesota, which has won five straight. Veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett knows the Falcons must solve the flaws which have been exposed in the losing streak. “It’s now or never,” Jarrett said. “You have to flip the mindset fast.” Kirk Cousins threw four interceptions in the loss, matching his career high. Coach Raheem Morris said he didn’t consider playing rookie Michael Penix Jr. against the Chargers and won’t think about benching Cousins this week. Morris acknowledged the Falcons can’t expect to win when turning the ball over four times. It was the latest example of Atlanta’s offensive decline. In the three-game losing streak, Cousins has thrown six interceptions with no touchdowns. The Falcons were held under 20 points in each loss. What’s working If not for the rash of interceptions which has contributed to the scoring problems, more attention would be devoted to the surge of big plays on defense. The defense forced two fumbles and set a season high with five sacks, including two by Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons ranked last in the league with only 10 sacks before finding success with their pass rush against Justin Herbert. Herbert was forced to hold the ball while looking for an open receiver, so some credit for the pass-rush success belongs to Atlanta’s secondary. The Falcons gave up only two first downs in the second half and 187 yards for the game. What needs help Cousins, 36, was expected to be the reliable leader on offense after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract. The four interceptions were his most since 2014 with Washington. Cousins now will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons as he returns to Minnesota, his NFL home from 2018-23. Cousins has thrown 13 interceptions, one shy of his career high set in 2022. His passer rating of 90.8 is his lowest since his 86.4 mark as a part-time starter in 2014 with Washington. “Certainly when you haven’t played at the standard you want to a few weeks in a row, you know, you do want to change that, turn it around,” Cousins said. Stock up Running back Bijan Robinson had his busiest day of the season, perhaps in an attempt to take heat off Cousins. Robinson’s 26 carries set a career high. He ran for 102 yards with a touchdown, his third 100-yard game of the season. He also was heavily involved as a receiver with six catches for 33 yards. With 135 yards from scrimmage, Robinson has eight games this season with more than 100 yards combined as a rusher and receiver, the second-most in the league. Stock down Tight end Kyle Pitts had no catches on only two targets. He has only six catches in the last four games after appearing to establish momentum for a big season with two seven-catch games in a span of three weeks in October. Morris noted the Falcons have “so many people that we’ve got to get the ball to” but noted he’d like to see Pitts more involved. Injuries Younghoe Koo’s hip issues were such a concern that kicker Riley Patterson was signed to the practice squad on Friday and added to the active roster Saturday. Patterson was on the inactive list as Koo was good on two of three field goals, missing from 35 yards. Koo has made 21 of 29 attempts this season. He did not have more than five misses in any of his first five seasons with Atlanta. Key number 70 — WR Drake London had nine receptions for 86 yards, giving him 70 catches for the season. London, a 2022 first-round draft pick, is the first player in team history with at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. While Ray-Ray McCloud III led the team with a career-best 95 yards on four catches against the Chargers and Darnell Mooney has had some big games, London has been the most consistent receiver. Next steps The Falcons face a difficult test Sunday in their visit to Minnesota (10-2), which has five straight wins and is 5-1 at home. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Cam Miller threw three touchdown passes, ran for another and second-seeded North Dakota State blew past a 14-point deficit to beat 15th-seeded Abilene Christian 51-31 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Bison (11-2), in the FCS playoffs for a 15th straight season and winner of nine FCS titles, will host seventh-seeded Mercer in the quarterfinals. Abilene Christian (9-5) took a 17-3 lead on a 13-yard TD pass from Maverick McIvor to J.J. Henry, a 90-yard run by Sam Hicks and a Ritse Vaes 29-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The Bison then took over, starting with Jackson Williams' 100-yard kickoff return to start a run of 31 consecutive points, 17 coming in the second quarter for a 20-17 halftime lead. The scoring streak ended when Nehemiah Martinez’s 53-yard return helped set up Hicks’ 3-yard score to get the Wildcats within 34-24. But the Bison matched that TD on their ensuing drive on Miller’s 36-yard connection with Bryce Lance to cap their 21-point third quarter. Again, the Wildcats got within 10 early in the fourth quarter on Rovaughn Banks Jr.’s 2-yard TD run. But NDSU’s Marcus Gulley returned an interception 37 yards to the ACU 9 and the Crosa kicked a field goal and Logan Kopp followed with a 31-yard pick-6. Miller was 20 of 29 for 274 yards passing. McIvor threw for 153 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Hicks ran for 153 yards on 16 carries. ACU, champion of the United Athletic Conference, was in its first FCS playoffs since joining the classification in 2013, and beat Northern Arizona in its first-round game. Crosa has made his 262nd career PAT to pass NDSU's Cam Pederson (2015-18) and set an FCS record. ___ AP college football: and . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: The Associated Press
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Falcons feeling the pressure at .500 as Cousins' interceptions put spotlight on downturn for offenseU.S. President Joe Biden declared Sunday that the sudden demise of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad was a “fundamental act of justice,” but that it was “a moment of uncertainty” for the Mideast. Biden, speaking at the White House, said the collapse of the decades-long iron rule by the Assad family was “the best opportunity in a generation for the Syrian people to forge their own destiny.” Biden said that action by the U.S. and its allies over the last two years weakened Syria's backers — Russia, Iran and Iran-supported Hezbollah militants in Lebanon — to the extent that "for the first time" they could no longer defend the Assad government. "Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security advisers at the White House. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, "was not interested in protecting him any longer." Trump’s comments on his social media platform came a day after he decried the possibility that the U.S. might intervene militarily in Syria to aid the rebels as they moved to oust Assad, declaring, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intends for those troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted "dozens" of what he called "precision airstrikes" on Islamic State camps and operations in Syria. Biden said the U.S. is "clear eyed" that ISIS will try to take advantage of the situation in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. "We will remain vigilant," Biden said. "Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses." He added that the groups are "saying the right things now." "But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions," Biden said. Trump, who takes office January 20, linked the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, "are in a weakened state right now." Vice President-elect JD Vance, a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on his own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. "Many of 'the rebels' are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they've moderated. Time will tell," he said. With the collapse of the Assad regime, the family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. "To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we're waiting for Austin," Tice's mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he's going to be fairly dazed & he's going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!" Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus. “We've remained committed to returning him to his family," Biden told reporters. "We believe he's alive, we think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable." The president added: "We have to identify where he [Tice] is." Some material in this report came from The Associated Press.
The New Orleans Saints look like bandits in a way after some recent injury news came to the surface in the NFC. Marshon Lattimore 's injury Since being traded to the Washington Commanders , Lattimore has not played a single down for the NFC East foe. Washington has continued to see some success, but their defense would undoubtedly improve with him on the field. The Commanders just ruled out Lattimore for Week 12 as well. Dan Quinn says Marshon Lattimore won't play Sunday. Quinn says he's optimistic Lattimore could play against the #Titans in a week. He says the bye in 2 weeks won't determine when Lattimore plays. If he's ready before the bye, he'll play. Here's Lattimore at practice today @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/HDsRESOOui Lattimore has been dealing with a hamstring injury for a bulk of this season. It caused him to miss time in New Orleans, and now, it is affecting his availability for Dan Quinn's defense. The Saints got some backlash at the deadline for not garnering a second round pick for the top-flight CB. In reality, garnering a third round pick and day three draft stock was a win for the Saints in the long run. Lattimore had a great career in New Orleans, but injuries have mounted for him in recent seasons, including 2024. Without him, their secondary has still played fairly well since he was dealt away. Lattimore played in just seventeen games combined between the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 season. Before 2022, the CB was had played in at least thirteen games in every season of his NFL career. For the Saints, we will see how they choose to address the CB position during this offseason. They have a lot of faith in young CB Alontae Taylor, but his time playing outside has not been consistent. He was playing in the slot until Lattimore was traded away. Rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry also has plenty of fans in the organization. Drafting a cornerback early in the 2025 NFL Draft could make sense, too, though. Regardless, the value that the Saints got in return for Lattimore looks pretty impressive, considering his lack of availability that continues to grow in Washington. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Former city councilman Reggie Harris to become Rep. Greg Landsman's chief of staff
Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive accelerates BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press Dec 7, 2024 1:16 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Syrian opposition fighters remove a government Syrian flag from an official building in Salamiyah, east of Hama, Syria Syria, Saturday Dec. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and that government forces had withdrawn from the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the 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 three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, 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. 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. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. 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. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. ____ Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report. Bassem Mroue And Zeina Karam, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? 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A Florida state senator is introducing a bill to ban "weather modification" technology, The Independent reported Monday. The proposed legislation, by Republican state Sen. Ileana Garcia, says that “the injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of a chemical, a chemical compound, a substance, or an apparatus into the atmosphere within the borders of this state for the express purpose of affecting the temperature, the weather, or the intensity of sunlight is prohibited.” The bill is referring to stratospheric aerosol injection , a proposed "geoengineering" technology to counteract the effects of global warming by dispersing small amounts of reflective chemicals at high altitudes, to alter how much sunlight the earth absorbs and reducing temperatures. A similar effect on the atmosphere is observed from large volcanic eruptions. This proposal, which has a number of variants in terms of what chemicals to use or how to disperse them, is controversial and, at present, completely hypothetical. ALSO READ: Will Trump back the FBI’s battle against domestic extremists? He won’t say. However, the existence of the idea has fed into long-running conspiracy theories prevalent online that contrails — the condensed trails of water vapor that form behind jet aircraft in certain weather conditions — are a chemical spray used by the government for sinister purposes, like weather — or even mind — control. The most notorious weather conspiracy theory in recent years was popularized by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who suggested that a Jewish space laser could have ignited wildfires across the American West. She has since sought to disavow and downplay her promotion of this. Garcia was notably elected as the result of a "ghost candidate" scheme , where Republican operatives illegally paid someone with the same last name as former Democratic state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez to run a fake campaign for the same seat, splitting the vote just enough to unseat him in favor of the GOP. That scheme ultimately led to several investigations and criminal prosecutions.
11. SMU Mustangs 11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall) About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was offensive coordinator at SMU from 2018-19 before heading to Miami for two years and returning to take the head job. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year this season. Resume SMU notched ranked wins over then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pitt but really served notice while racking up 66 points in a win over TCU. The Mustangs lost two games by a total of six points: 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game and 18-15 to BYU. Postseason history This is SMU's first trip to the playoffs during the CFP era. The Mustangs have lost their past four bowl games, including two under Lashlee. The program had a memorable run in the early 1980s behind stars like Eric Dickerson and Craig James but numerous NCAA violations sank the Mustangs and they eventually served a two-year death penalty. The road to Atlanta SMU hits the road for the first-round matchup at No. 6 Penn State. The winner advances to play No. 3 Boise State (12-1) in the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Names to Know QB Kevin Jennings He threw for 304 yards and three TDs in the ACC title game, his fourth game over 300 yards passing this season. Jennings had a strong regular season with 2,746 yards and 19 TDs in the air and four scores on the ground. He can hurt teams with his feet, proven by a 113-yard outing against Louisville. "What is new now is the amount of criticism I receive from everyone. I get a lot of comments and messages from people on social media always criticizing everything after each game," Jennings said. RB Brashard Smith Stellar runner averaging 5.9 yards per carry to go with 1,270 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. LB Kobe Wilson Stands out against both the run and the pass, leading the team in tackles (110) and adding three sacks and two interceptions. S Isaiah Nwokobia He has enjoyed an outstanding season with 91 regular-season tackles and three interceptions while patrolling the back end. He has nine career interceptions. DT Jared Harrison-Hunte A force with 6.0 sacks, one interception and 38 tackles. He's in his first season with SMU after four at Miami. He has 15 career sacks. --Field Level MediaJohn Schindler is a well known American historian and writer. He was a professor at Naval War College and the author of several books, including the best-selling “Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: How American Greed and Righteousness Created the Next .” He also has written a series of books on espionage and national security as well as the behavior of modern warfare. He is a former officer and academic who now uses those lenses to inform his examinations of the intersection of history, politics and security. His best-known works often illuminate the implications of intelligence operations, as well as the strategic decisions that shape global events. John R. Schindler has made a name for himself as a prominent political commentator. Schindler's profuse writing provides a sympathetic view of current events that has gotten attention from a wide audience. He weaves wonky analysis with user-friendly prose, enabling a wide range of people to engage serious political topics. Through writing for platforms including the Examiner and Observer, he dedicates his efforts to shedding light on affairs at the national and international level. Schindler often covers foreign policy, and he sharpens his scissors when he cuts beyond the headlines to explain the complexities of foreign relations and how foreign governments affect American interests. His sharp instincts help make sense of the tactics employed by various countries and their leaders. Over this time he has highlighted the subtle issues that stem from changing global relationships — most notably the implications for American foreign policy. National security is another important theme in Schindler's writings. His former experience in the intelligence community shapes his views and gives his opinions depth and authenticity. It is good that Schindler is looking in the right direction, because figuring out and intelligence practices, not to mention military strategy is crucial to navigating the complexities of modern threats to security. He believes defying national security doctrine — adapting it to old and new threats, transitional ones and drastic — is required. John R. Schindler has examined several noteworthy events in international politics and given us something to think about concerning their consequences. In some instances, his criticisms of geopolitical postures taken by countries, including and , shed light on the game being played on the international geopolitical board. Schindler unpacks these events, allowing the audience to understand the larger implications of regional conflicts, alliances and power shifts. Schindler's commentary on U.S. intelligence practices feels particularly timely in our current political climate. He writes regularly about the and efficacy of intelligence operations, adding to the public debate about government transparency and accountability. His insights call into question the delicate balance between national security interests and civil liberties, an issue that has remained a point of contention in public discourse. Another major theme in Schindler's work is the changing face of global leadership. He specializes in assessing the behaviors and policies of major political leaders, and how their styles of governance impact foreign affairs. His analyses outline that effective leadership must contemplate the quickly shifting terrain of global politics, a lesson that seems especially relevant in modern discussions. John Schindler writes with the depth of someone who's been working in this world. He also has firsthand experience with the inner workings of national security, with a background in intelligence. His years in the intelligence community enable him to break down complicated international circumstances analytically. This background lends credibility to his observations as a commentator, giving readers access to a rare insider's perspective. Schindler is an academic as well as a practitioner. His educational background for his analytical work. He combines practical experience with academic knowledge, providing him with a distinctive and informed perspective on the issues of the day, earning his place as a trusted source of political commentary. John Schindler is one of the leading voices in establishing the narrative on security and political events. His written words ignite critical conversations about important topics, allowing readers to have thoughtful dialogues about the world around them. His active presence on social media, including John Schindler , only broadens his scope, allowing him to reach and educate a wider audience than print or television alone. The Schindler Perspectives are interactive activities that allow you to engage with an aspect of Schindler's perspectives. I cannot overstate the impact of John Schindler's work on public opinion. His knack for distilling complex events into digestible narratives helps keep the public informed and educated. His readers interact with his critiques and refine their own opinions of pressing matters, strengthening the quality of the electorate. Web based social networking stages work as an augmentation of Apfelstetler. However, on sites like John Schindler Twitter, he directly interacts with herdsmen and dialogues between expert material and public discourse. Such dialogue enables live feedback and enhances the discussion towards political matters over time. Written by John Schindler, Edited by Orion Rummler Schindler's regular stream of commentary helps to contextualize these changes for the public as evolve. His views, which are often circulated in the media, reflect and contribute to a synthesis of world events in which informed public discourse has a vital role. John Schindler is a deep well of knowledge: here, too, are dozens of his arch and insightful essays on national security, foreign policy and political commentary. His work not only educates policymakers and analysts alike, but helps empower the general public to be able to participate in meaningful discussions about national and global matters.SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers were hit by another family tragedy with the announcement that star left tackle Trent Williams' wife gave birth to a stillborn son late last week. Sondra Williams announced on Instagram on Sunday that she gave birth to Trenton O’Brien Williams Jr. on Nov. 24. Williams also wrote that she was initially pregnant with twins and lost the other child earlier in the pregnancy. “I can’t even begin to describe how I felt leaving the hospital without you,” she wrote. “Nor how it feels being home celebrating Thanksgiving without my baby in my arms. My heart is broken and my arms are empty. But I know you’ll always be near watching over me and your sisters. And for that, my heart smiles with gratitude. Thank God for allowing us to bond for 35 weeks and for me to birth you so I could hold you in my arms. I’m at peace knowing you will never have to suffer.” Williams wrote that her son was diagnosed with Trisomy 13, a genetic condition also known as Patau syndrome that affects how the face, brain and heart develop, along with several other internal organs. Trent Williams spent time last week at the hospital and grieving with his family, including the couple's three young daughters. “He was there at the hospital with her and got to meet him and say bye,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. "Then he had to cremate him on Friday. So he’s been dealing with that and he’s working through it. But we’re all just trying to be here for him through it all.” This is the second tragedy to hit the Niners in recent weeks. Cornerback Charvarius Ward's 1-year-old daughter , Amani Joy, died on Oct. 28. She had born prematurely with Down syndrome and had open-heart surgery in April 2023. Ward spent a few weeks away from the team and returned to the field for the first time on Sunday. Williams has missed the last two games with an ankle injury but Shanahan said he is hoping to be able to the return as soon as he's healthy. “It’s hard as a coach. It’s hard as a friend. It’s hard as a family member. It’s hard for everybody," Shanahan said. ”But we spend a lot of time with each other. That’s what’s cool about a football team. Whatever you go through, the good or the bad, we go through it together. I do like that they have a group of guys they can go to, a group of guys that can see them every day. You can never escape that full grief and stuff. But I do think it’s nice for those guys to have another avenue to get out on the football field, to get around teammates and things like that." AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflFalcons rookie QB discusses whether he would be ready to replace Kirk Cousins
Brands, Retailers Turn to Experiential Retail to Woo ConsumersWhy are some NFL teams so bad? It starts with the QBDavid Tepper is a billionaire based in the United States. The hedge fund manager is also the owner of the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Tepper was born on September 11, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After growing up on the east end of Pittsburgh, Tepper earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics at the University of Pittsburgh. The type entered service in July 1999. After he graduated, Tepper joined the finance industry, working for Equibank as a credit analyst. However, he found this role underwhelming and returned to school at Carnegie Mellon University to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Administration (MSIA), the then-equivalent of a Master of Business Administration (MBA). By 1985, Tepper had joined Goldman Sachs, and he played a major role in reviving the company after the 1987 stock market crash. After being passed over as a partner for the financial services provider, Tepper eventually created his own hedge fund called Appaloosa Management. His role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of this hedge fund has provided Tepper with some of the largest payouts of any executive in the world, including a $2.2 billion paycheck in 2012. This has allowed him to accumulate a net worth of over $21 billion. Due to his accumulated wealth, Tepper purchased the Carolina Panthers in May 2019 and helped bring an MLS franchise to Charlotte in 2019. Because of Tepper's extreme wealth, it is no shock that he operates a private jet . This business jet provides him with the ultimate luxury while traveling, including allowing him to depart whenever he pleases, fly direct routes to most airports, and even fly to a wide variety of airports that may not be operated by commercial airlines. Let's take a closer look at this large business jet , as well as some of the aircraft's statistics. About David Tepper's private jet Currently, David Tepper owns and operates a Bombardier Global 5000 registered as N793AP. According to JetSpy, this Global 5000 was first manufactured in 2011 and has a serial number of 9454. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) , the registered owner of this aircraft is Delaware Trust Co, although the main operator is designated as David Tepper. The aircraft is utilized frequently by Tepper and his team. According to JetSpy, his Global 5000 has flown a total of 154 times. These flights have amounted to a total of just over 250 flight hours. These flights have utilized over 125,000 gallons of jet fuel, which has accumulated approximately 1,211 metric tons of carbon emissions. Additionally, Tepper's Global 5000 has visited the following airports the most frequently in 2024: Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) in Morristown, New Jersey Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in Charlotte, North Carolina Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, Florida About the Bombardier Global Express series The Global 5000 is one of the aircraft that falls into Bombardier's Global Express series of aircraft. This family began with the Global Express. Bombardier began the development of this popular business jet after its acquisition of Canadair in 1986. Canadair had previously introduced the Challenger 600 series, which saw immediate success in the private aviation industry. However, Bombardier wanted to develop a private jet with a longer range. Because of this, by the early 1990s, Bombardier , along with engineers from Canadair, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , and BMW Rolls-Royce, began work on developing the new aircraft. The design was loosely based on the successful Challenger 600, which had the same cross-section as the regional airliner, the Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) . The first prototype conducted its maiden flight in October 1996, and it officially entered service in July 1999. Since then, Bombardier has released several upgraded variants. This includes the Global 5000, which was introduced in February 2002. Additionally, Bombardier has released the following other variants in this aircraft series: Bombardier Global Express XRS Global 6000 Global 5500 Global 6500 This aircraft series has been produced since 1998 and is still in current production. Overall, nearly 1,000 total aircraft variants have been produced since its introduction, making it one of the most popular business jets in the industry. Design features and performance specifications of the Bombardier Global 5000 The Global 5000 is one of the most popular aircraft of the Global Express series, with over 200 aircraft still in service. This aircraft features a fuselage with the same cross-section as the Bombardier Challenger 600 and the CRJ series. However, the Global 5000 features a shorter fuselage and a shorter range, although it can still hold a maximum of 16 passengers. Overall, the Global 5000 features the following interior cabin measurements: Cabin length: 40 feet nine inches Cabin height: six feet two inches Cabin width: seven feet eleven inches The fuselage section allows for up to four interior spaces, which can include a crew rest area, a galley, both forward and aft lavatories, and several other options. Inside the cockpit, the Bombardier Global 5000 utilizes the Bombardier vision flight deck which is based on the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite. The Global 5000 is powered by Rolls-Royce BR700 turbofan engines. These powerful engines each provide the aircraft with just under 15,000 pounds of thrust. Overall, the Global 5000 has the following performance specifications: Length 96 feet ten inches Height 25 feet six inches Wingspan 94 feet Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) 92,500 pounds Typical cruise speed 487 knots (560 miles per hour) Range 5,200 nautical miles (5,984 miles) Service ceiling 51,000 feet