‘More Ghanaian incompetence’ – Prof. Steve Hanke blasts Mahama’s plan to renegotiate IMF dealUlster claim crucial URC win in Galway as wasteful Connacht come up short
Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MOFG – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 39,042 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,116,000. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 0.19% of MidWestOne Financial Group at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MOFG. Jennison Associates LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MidWestOne Financial Group during the third quarter worth $22,186,000. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of MidWestOne Financial Group by 318.0% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 800,334 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $22,834,000 after buying an additional 608,883 shares during the last quarter. Basswood Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in MidWestOne Financial Group during the third quarter worth about $7,094,000. Jacobs Asset Management LLC bought a new position in MidWestOne Financial Group in the third quarter worth about $5,739,000. Finally, Stieven Capital Advisors L.P. acquired a new position in MidWestOne Financial Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $5,706,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.42% of the company’s stock. MidWestOne Financial Group Stock Performance MOFG opened at $29.29 on Friday. MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $19.43 and a twelve month high of $34.56. The stock has a market cap of $608.50 million, a PE ratio of -6.27 and a beta of 1.03. The business’s 50 day moving average is $31.38 and its 200-day moving average is $28.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. MidWestOne Financial Group Announces Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently weighed in on MOFG shares. StockNews.com cut MidWestOne Financial Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on MidWestOne Financial Group from $33.00 to $31.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded MidWestOne Financial Group from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their target price for the company from $34.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on MOFG Insider Transactions at MidWestOne Financial Group In other news, Director Matthew J. Hayek bought 2,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 30th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $25.00 per share, with a total value of $50,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 11,293 shares in the company, valued at approximately $282,325. This trade represents a 21.52 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, CEO Charles N. Reeves purchased 7,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, September 30th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $25.00 per share, with a total value of $175,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 45,712 shares in the company, valued at $1,142,800. This represents a 18.08 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders acquired 9,400 shares of company stock valued at $235,000. 2.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. MidWestOne Financial Group Profile ( Free Report ) MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company for MidWestOne Bank that provides commercial and retail banking products and services to individuals, businesses, governmental units, and institutional customers. It offers range of deposit products, including noninterest bearing and interest bearing demand deposits, savings, money market, and time deposits accounts. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than MidWestOne Financial Group 3 Grocery Stocks That Are Proving They Are Still Essential Buffett Takes the Bait; Berkshire Buys More Oxy in December Trading Halts Explained Top 3 ETFs to Hedge Against Inflation in 2025 How to trade using analyst ratings These 3 Chip Stock Kings Are Still Buys for 2025 Receive News & Ratings for MidWestOne Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MidWestOne Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show. On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It's not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures. "While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art," the city said in its posts. The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh," one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. "We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!” Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer specifically are a great look, and they should stay that way.” Others said the city should focus on addressing more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money on removing the googly eyes. Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been adorned with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths, leis. The city doesn’t remove those, and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Bend's communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press. “We really encourage our community to engage with the art and have fun. We just need to make sure that we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said. The post and its comments were covered by news outlets, and even made it on a segment of CBS's “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .” The city regrets that its post was misunderstood, Mitchell said. “There was no intent to be heavy-handed, and we certainly understand maybe how that was taken," she said. “We own this large collection of public art and really want to bring awareness to the community that applying adhesives does harm the art. So as stewards of the collection, we wanted to share that on social media." The city has so far spent $1,500 on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted, Mitchell said, and has started treating some of the art pieces, which are made of different types of metal such as bronze and steel. The "Phoenix Rising" sculpture might need to be repainted entirely, she said. For some, the googly eyes — like the other holiday objects — provide a welcome boost of seasonal cheer. “I look forward to seeing the creativity of whoever it is that decorates the roundabouts during the holidays,” one social media commenter said. “Brings a smile to everyone to see silliness.”
Republican senators expressed confidence in Army veteran Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as the incoming Trump administration’s defense secretary after meeting with him on Thursday. Hegseth, along with Vice President-Elect Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), met with Republican Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). Cabinet Chaos as Gaetz Bows Out; Guest Nick Gilbertson Senators indicated that 2017 allegations of a sexual assault — that ended in no charges and that Hegseth has said stemmed from a consensual sexual encounter — would not derail his confirmation. In a statement, Barrasso, who will soon be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said: Pete Hegseth is a strong nominee to lead the Department of Defense. We had an excellent discussion about the need for America’s military to remain the best in the world. That means taking care of our service members, equipping them with the latest technology, and focusing on making our military the most lethal force on the planet. Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda. National security nominations have a history of quick confirmations in the Senate. I look forward to Pete’s hearing and a vote on the floor in January. He also posted on X: I enjoyed visiting with @PeteHegseth this morning. Pete is a strong nominee to lead the @DeptofDefense. We had an excellent discussion about the need for America’s military to remain the best in the world. I look forward to Pete’s hearing and a vote in the Senate in January. Blackburn tweeted: I just met with Vice President-Elect Vance and Secretary of Defense Nominee Pete Hegseth. Pete is a warrior, an advocate for veterans, and a well qualified nominee. He will put our enemies on notice and make our military great again. Mullin re-posted an interview he did with reporters where he told them: He’s perfect. He’s a decorated combat veteran. He’s got two bronze stars, 20 years of service. He retired as a major, and he’s a civilian. ... I think he is perfect for the position. He added, “I don’t think he has any weaknesses. I think he is very talented, and there’s a reason why President Trump trusts him. I think as he goes through this process you’re going to hear more and more about the actual what took place, and you guys will find out the guy’s a solid, solid individual. He’s the right man for the job.” Mullin also posted: As I’ve said, I trust President Trump’s judgement on picking the best cabinet nominees to serve in his administration, and @SenateGOP will process these nominees quickly. Earlier today, I visited with decorated combat vet @PeteHegseth, and look forward to getting him confirmed. Hagerty posted: Today I had an outstanding meeting with Pete Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran who put his own life on the line for America. (1/3) Pete knows that the Defense Secretary’s job is to empower the men and women of our military to carry out their patriotic duty, not consign them to serve as political pawns in a broken Washington. (2/3) A great choice by @realDonaldTrump to change Washington, and I look forward to supporting his confirmation. (3/3) According to The Hill , Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) said he had no concerns about Hegseth and thought he would “do a great job.” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said the sexual assault allegations need “to go through the confirmation process, and let Pete — and these other folks — let them answer this stuff, you know, give them their day.” He added that Hegseth “denies it, he says there’s been no wrongdoing. But let’s hear from him.” Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on ”X” , Truth Social , or on Facebook .Judge weighs whether to order Fani Willis to comply with lawmakers’ subpoenas over Trump caseBy MICHAEL R. SISAK and JENNIFER PELTZ NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won’t include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn’t sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump” who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.
A new study reveals Dundee as the cleanest city in the UK (or at least according to the sample size), with the highest recorded air and drinking water qualities. With its highest percentage in urban cleanliness and tidiness, Exeter takes second place on the list. Milton Keynes is among the least polluted cities and has the highest quality of green spaces and parks. This is based on a review conducted by Waste Direct . The firm analysed over 40 major cities in the UK to compile a list of the top 10 cleanest ones. As to what constitutes ‘clean’, metrics include air quality, followed by drinking water quality and garbage disposal (as the highest weighted factors). Additional factors, such as the percentage of cleanliness and tidiness, noise pollution, green space quality, and the comfort of public spaces, were weighted equally for each, providing insights into the overall environmental health of the cities. The data was drawn from World Population Review , ensuring reliable measurements across all locations. The top ten were found to be : As indicated above, Dundee is in top spot. The city’s green spaces score of 80 and its high public accessibility reinforce its position as the UK’s cleanest urban centre. Second placed Exeter records the highest score in urban cleanliness metrics, supported by an efficient waste management system. Milton Keynes ranks third with a composite score of 79. The city’s air quality score of 85.71 is among the highest in the study, along with a competitive drinking water quality. The city has the highest rate for green spaces and parks quality at 87.5, ensuring its spot as one of the cleanest cities in the UK. Chester has a composite score of 79.2, ranking fourth on the list. Scoring high in both drinking water at 90 and air quality at 81, the city creates a healthy urban environment supported by a high cleanliness level. Chester exceeds Dundee with a perfect 100 score for its comfortable public spaces, providing plenty of green spaces and parks. Durham ranks fifth with strong drinking water quality. The city achieves a competitive score for cleanliness and offers great green spaces, earning an 86 rating for parks. Durham demonstrates effective environmental management with higher air quality than Exeter and the highest garbage disposal satisfaction rate among all the cities on the list. Oxford holds the sixth position with a composite score of 76.6. The city delivers strong air and good drinking water quality, providing clean and healthy living space. Oxford compensates for its moderate tidiness score with a relatively high percentage of green spaces, earning a score of 88. Belfast ranks seventh with a composite score of 76.2. The city excels in drinking water quality at 86 and earns strong garbage management ratings. Belfast’s well-kept public spaces score high, with one of the highest drinking water quality and accessibility rates, scoring 86.5. The city also has strong results in noise control and maintains high-quality green spaces. York comes eighth among the cleanest UK cities with a 75.9 score. The city has one of the highest public accessibility rates at 88.6 and notable air quality. York gets high marks for excellent noise control, a high public accessibility rating of 87, and quality air standards at 81. Sheffield holds the ninth spot with a composite score of 74. Despite being the largest city in the study with a population of 685,368, Sheffield maintains green space quality at 88 and strong drinking water standards scoring 84.52. Derby completes the list of the cleanest cities in the UK with a composite score of 73. The city has great drinking water quality at 87 and competitive air quality, providing a clean environment. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.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? 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. 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
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. “I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success,” Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. “For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us.” The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch , led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. “If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich,” offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. “I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism.” The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. “I’ve been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy,” Allar said. “I think that’s been a huge difference for me this year.” The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory . He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. “For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm,” Allar said. “Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game.” Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. “He’s a football player,” Warren said. “He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he’s just a football player and that fires up our offense.” Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. “I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballJulian Reese delivered 23 points and 11 rebounds as sluggish Maryland pulled away late in a 81-66 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday in College Park, Md. Derik Queen provided 18 points and 14 rebounds while Ja'Kobi Gillespie added nine points and as many assists as the Terrapins (11-2) improved to 19-0 all-time against the Hawks, with all of the wins coming by double-digit margins. In the final nonconference game for both teams, the Terrapins' Selton Miguel had 10 points and Jordan Geronimo added nine off the bench. Playing for the first time in seven days, Maryland never trailed but struggled to pull away from UMES (4-12). Ketron Shaw paced Maryland Eastern Shore with 20 points and nine rebounds. Evan Johnson scored 15 points and Christopher Flippin added 14 points and six boards for the Hawks of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, who are 0-12 against Division I schools this year. UMES kept in close in the first half as Maryland missed its first eight shots from 3-point range. The Terps held a 19-17 lead when Rodney Rice ended the drought with a corner 3 with 6:38 left in the half. About a minute later, Geronimo drained another from the same spot on the floor. In the final 53 seconds of the period, Reese wheeled inside for a three-point play, then DeShawn Harris-Smith added a buzzer-beating trey from the top of the key as Maryland took a 40-24 lead at the break. In the second half, the Hawks kept it close as Shaw continued to score in the open floor and Johnson drained a pair of 3-pointers. When Flippin made a pair of free throws with 10:08 left, he cut the Terrapins' lead to 54-48. But that's as close as the Hawks got as Maryland answered with three quick baskets. In the final 8:11, Gillespie and Miguel made 3-pointers and the duo combined on a fast break, with Gillespie feeding Miguel for a 3-point play that gave the Terrapins their biggest lead, 81-58, with 2:26 left. --Field Level Media
A musician who spent the last three Christmas periods in hospital on her own due to Crohn’s disease is hoping to “re-write the story” to avoid a fourth December admission this year. Kirsten Parry, 29, an assistant director of music at a secondary school who lives in Ash, Surrey, was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease – an autoimmune, lifelong condition where parts of the gut become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated – in June 2021. She noticed a change in bowel habits and her symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, a loss of appetite and weight loss – and at her worst, she said she was having “accidents” and going to the toilet more than 20 times a day. Read more: Mum whose son was born premature praises support from the “incredible” staff in the neonatal unit Read more: ‘This might be my last Christmas – the thought my baby son might not remember me is heartbreaking’ She has spent the last three Christmas periods in hospital due to picking up infections which have “triggered Crohn’s flares” – and she said each admission has been “lonely” and “scary”. This year, although Kirsten has a “fear of sickness” during the winter period, she is hoping to avoid a fourth hospital admission over the festive period and wants to create “positive stories of Christmas”. Kirsten told PA Real Life: “Everyone seems to have so much energy and excitement at this time of year and I just don’t have that anymore. “I just keep getting these memories and intrusive thoughts of this time a year ago, and whenever I go into the bathroom, I think, this is where I was lying on the floor, screaming. “What I’m trying to do this Christmas is almost re-write it and think, well, I’m going to change the narrative this year and hope that I don’t have to go into hospital. “But also, I’m going to create so many positive memories, so that next year I’ve got positive stories of Christmas.” According to the charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, Crohn’s disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) where parts of the gut become swollen, inflamed and ulcerated. Crohn’s is a lifelong condition and, currently, there is no cure – but medicines, surgery, or a combination of both can help keep symptoms under control. For Kirsten, she explained that she had “never had a medical condition in (her) life” up until her Crohn’s disease diagnosis in June 2021. Although she said there is not yet “solid evidence to connect the two”, she believes her symptoms started after she contracted Covid-19 in December 2020. “I started teaching in school again – this is January 2021 – but the children weren’t in school, I was teaching from my computer,” she said. “I remember having to set them off on a task, turn my camera and microphone off, run to the toilet, come back, set them on another task, run to the toilet, come back.” Kirsten said her symptoms included sharp abdominal pain, nausea, a loss of appetite, weight loss and diarrhoea, and she was going to the toilet with “urgency” around 10 times a day at this point. However, she believed these “distressing tummy symptoms” were related to the “stress and anxiety” of her job during the Covid-19 pandemic – and she did not book a GP appointment until her friend encouraged her to do so. After a blood test and two stool samples, it was revealed Kirsten’s faecal calprotectin levels – an inflammatory marker – were “abnormal” and she was referred to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. Following her referral appointment in April, Kirsten said she had a colonoscopy and an MRI scan, which led to her official Crohn’s disease diagnosis on June 24 2021. “Doctors and nurses said, ‘Don’t worry, it’s showing up as mild, so we should be able to sort this out with minimal medication’,” she said. “Apart from being a bit anaemic, I’ve never had anything wrong with me, so I was upset and confused.” Kirsten was prescribed the first of several medications, including Pentasa, followed by steroids such as Budesonide, but her faecal calprotectin levels continued to rise. She said she started having “accidents” and her symptoms worsened in “a debilitating way”. During an appointment with her consultant in August 2021, aged 25, she said she broke down in tears, feeling “mortified”, and thought: “I shouldn’t be having to change my underwear halfway through the day.” Although Kirsten’s scans showed her Crohn’s disease as being mild, she said her faecal calprotectin levels were still “through the roof” during follow-up appointments. She then developed “an unknown infection”, which led to sepsis, followed by Clostridioides difficile – a highly contagious bacterial infection – and she was hospitalised in December 2021. She said she was not allowed any visitors and, due to the condition being contagious, she could not leave her hospital room unless she needed to have an X-ray and she could only wash herself at the sink. “I started getting these new gastro symptoms, so I started passing blood,” she said. “I was bleeding and passing things that I’ve never seen before, including the lining of my colon.” Kirsten was discharged on Christmas Eve but, due to being “very thin and very weak” and living away from her family, she spent Christmas Day sleeping on the sofa at her friend’s house. During the following week, she said she started having “accidents during the night” and her inflammatory markers were “sky-high”, leading her to have a capsule endoscopy – a small capsule that takes pictures as it travels along your gut. She said this revealed her Crohn’s was, in fact, severe, not mild, and she had “ulceration everywhere” in her small bowel. Kirsten was then given a nasogastric (NG) tube to feed herself with a liquid diet for three months and she was prescribed the medication Infliximab, which has been a “game-changer”. Although this medication has helped alleviate her symptoms, she said she constantly thinks about three things: toilets, food and germs; during her day-to-day life, which is “exhausting”. “I would say I have an intrusive, anxious thought relating to either immunosuppression or Crohn’s probably every minute,” she said. “My head feels like it’s exploding sometimes.” Kirsten said her Crohn’s has led to six hospital admissions in total since her diagnosis – including during the Christmas periods in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, she was admitted due to an infection, which then triggered a Crohn’s flare and, in 2023, she was admitted with acute gastroenteritis – a condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. She said she has been able to manage her Crohn’s with regular check-ups and medications, and she is learning to base her thoughts and actions on “evidence”, rather than anxiety, as this can exacerbate her symptoms. She wants to encourage others to advocate for themselves and “trust (their) own instincts” when it comes to their health – and to enjoy Christmas this year, she is planning to “do something nice each day”, such as going for walks and meeting up with friends. Speaking about her advice to others, Kirsten said: “It’s only embarrassing if you let it be embarrassing.
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Supreme Court will take up a challenge related to California's tough vehicle emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says it will take up a business-backed appeal that could make it easier to challenge federal regulations, acting in a dispute related to California’s nation-leading standards for vehicle emissions. The justices agreed Friday to hear an appeal filed by fuel producers who object to a waiver granted to California in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency during Joe Biden’s presidency. The waiver allows California to set more stringent emissions limits than the national standard. The case won’t be argued until the spring, when the Trump administration is certain to take a more industry-friendly approach to the issue. Musk says US is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases DETROIT (AP) — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter, Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro tells the outgoing SEC chairman, Gary Gensler, that the commission’s demand for a monetary payment is a “misguided scheme” that won’t intimidate Musk. The letter also alleges that the commission reopened an investigation this week into Neuralink, Musk’s computer-to-human brain interface company. The SEC has not released the letter. Nor would it comment on it or confirm whether it has issued such a demand to Musk. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's rise JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — “My Driver and I” was supposed to be made in 2016, but was scuttled amid Saudi Arabia’s decades-long cinema ban. Eight years later, the landscape for film in the kingdom looks much different. And the star of “My Driver and I” now has an award. Roula Dakheelallah was named the winner of the Chopard Emerging Saudi Talent award at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Thursday. Both the award and the glitzy festival itself are signs of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to shaping a new film industry. The reopening of cinemas in 2018 after 35 years marked a cultural turning point for Saudi Arabia. Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports. He posted on social media Thursday that he met with union leaders and that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. He wrote that the “amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. The Maritime Alliance says the technology will improve worker safety and strengthen our supply chains, among other things. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Unique among 'Person of the Year' designees, Donald Trump gets a fact-check from Time magazine Donald Trump got something this year that no other person designed Time magazine's Person of the Year had ever received. He got a fact-check of claims that the president-elect made in the interview accompanying the magazine's piece. Trump earned the recognition of the year's biggest newsmaker for the second time, also winning it in 2016 the first time he was elected president. But in a piece described as a “12-minute” read, Time called into question more than a dozen statements Trump made when speaking to the magazine's reporters, on issues like border size, autism and crowd size at a rally. Time said it has fact-checked other interviews in the past, but not for this annual feature. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. OpenAI's Altman will donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. China signals it's prepared to double down on support for the economy as Trump tariffs loom BANGKOK (AP) — Chinese leaders met this week to plot economic policy for the coming year and sketched out plans to raise government spending and relax Beijing's monetary policy. Analysts said the broad-brush plans from the annual Central Economic Work Conference were more of a recap of current policy than ambitious new initiatives at a time when the outlook is clouded by the President-elect Donald Trump's threats to sharply raise tariffs once he takes office. The ruling Communist Party did commit to raising China's deficit and to doing more to encourage consumer spending by bringing wage increases in line with the pace of economic growth. Here's a look at China's main priorities and their potential implications.NoneThe Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson may have parted ways sourly last season, but both are seeing success in their own way this season. Now, Wilson is being tipped for a year-end award (though he is ineligible to actually win it). After a rough two-year stint in Denver that ended with his release with $39 million still left on the books, Wilson has resurfaced in Pittsburgh , earning shouts as a potential prospect for the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year . Meanwhile, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix is now steering the Broncos toward their first playoff appearance since 2015. Denver's risky gamble to move on from Wilson was originally criticized but has paid dividends under head coach Sean Payton's guidance. Nix has breathed new life into the Broncos' offense to help the team rack up eight wins, more than each season under Wilson. Russell Wilson gamble pays off handsomely for Sean Payton as Bo Nix makes Rookie of the Year case Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson and Justin Fields 2025 plan emerges after Steelers success The 24-year-old rookie has earned consideration for the NFL Rookie of the Year award after posting 2,842 passing yards and 17 touchdowns through 13 games this season. As Nix can take the honor, Ringer owner Bill Simmons argued that Wilson’s comeback award is all but in the bag in his l atest podcast . "What were the Russell Wilson Comeback Player of the Year odds? Because I feel like he already has it wrapped. Who is even in the mix? He was dead last year," said Simmons. "Denver paid $50 million in their cap to not have him play anymore. I thought he was done. I’m not saying he’s Russ from 10 years ago, but for whatever they were expecting from him versus what he’s delivering, it has to have surpassed it." Wilson signed a veteran league-minimum deal to join the Steelers and won four games in a row from October to November after starting just six for the team this season. He started the year with a calf injury, which led to a Justin Fields takeover, but he took his job back in week 7 with a 37-15 win over the New York Jets. The award was previously presented by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, and the Professional Football Writers of America. Now that it is recognized solely by the AP , the language states that it honors players who "overcome adversity, such as injuries or illness." Wilson was benched last season due to poor performance , which doesn’t align with the award’s stated criteria. If Wilson somehow wins, he’ll join a list of quarterbacks who have dominated the award in recent years. Since 2018, field generals like Andrew Luck and Joe Burrow have claimed the honor, with their returns marked by overcoming injuries and leading their teams to surprising success. Luck’s 2018 win came after missing the entire 2017 season due to shoulder surgery, throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns during his return. More recently, Joe Flacco’s career comeback with the Cleveland Browns last season earned him the award in just five games after a playoff push and over 1,600 yards passing. 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PORTLAND, Ore. – Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show. On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It's not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures. Recommended Videos "While the googly eyes placed on the various art pieces around town might give you a chuckle, it costs money to remove them with care to not damage the art," the city said in its posts. The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh," one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. "We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!” Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer specifically are a great look, and they should stay that way.” Others said the city should focus on addressing more important issues, such as homelessness, instead of spending time and money on removing the googly eyes. Over the years, the city’s sculptures have been adorned with other seasonal decorations, including Santa hats, wreaths, leis. The city doesn’t remove those, and views the googly eyes differently because of the adhesive, Bend's communications director, Rene Mitchell, told The Associated Press. “We really encourage our community to engage with the art and have fun. We just need to make sure that we can protect it and that it doesn’t get damaged,” she said. The post and its comments were covered by news outlets, and even made it on a segment of CBS's “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert .” The city regrets that its post was misunderstood, Mitchell said. “There was no intent to be heavy-handed, and we certainly understand maybe how that was taken," she said. “We own this large collection of public art and really want to bring awareness to the community that applying adhesives does harm the art. So as stewards of the collection, we wanted to share that on social media." The city has so far spent $1,500 on removing googly eyes from seven of the eight sculptures impacted, Mitchell said, and has started treating some of the art pieces, which are made of different types of metal such as bronze and steel. The "Phoenix Rising" sculpture might need to be repainted entirely, she said. For some, the googly eyes — like the other holiday objects — provide a welcome boost of seasonal cheer. “I look forward to seeing the creativity of whoever it is that decorates the roundabouts during the holidays,” one social media commenter said. “Brings a smile to everyone to see silliness.”