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Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024 By Data Skrive The Thursday college basketball schedule includes seven games with a ranked team in action. Among those games is the Duke Blue Devils taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.
By KRISTEN WOOD Chilly weather and early nights make the holiday season the best time of year for cuddling up with your favorite games. From enjoying a quiet afternoon alone to gathering with family, these board, video and card games will bring cozy vibes to your holiday gaming. The holidays are prime time for coziness. Cold weather, hot drinks and days off work or school are perfect for snuggling up under a blanket. With many games designed to be cozy, relaxed and lighthearted, accompanying your cozy afternoons with a game might be your new holiday tradition. Many holidays bring together friends and family as well. While some families may look forward to feuding over the Risk board or resources in Settlers of Catan, more low-key games can be an opportunity to bond with loved ones. Cooperative games or games with a bit of friendly competition let you focus on who you’re playing with. Since these cozy games often have easier instructions, everyone can get involved. A busy holiday season also benefits from rest. Take a break from shopping, cooking, traveling and other holiday tasks with some games. Stress-busting games let you enjoy a couple of hours of quiet gameplay or raucous laughter, both sure to provide some relaxation. Relaxing board games are great for a lazy afternoon with friends or after dinner at a holiday party. These games often feature cooperative play or minimal competition, beautiful artwork and straightforward gameplay ideal for all ages. For the holidays, these games provide a whimsical escape from seasonal chaos. Patchwork Patchwork is a chill two-player puzzle game where you and your opponent compete to create the best quilt. The tactile experience and cozy results are relaxing on a chilly day. If you have more than two players, try Calico instead where you’ll create quilts for cats. Carcassonne In Carcassonne, players compete to build Medieval cities and fields by laying tiles. The game takes a bit of strategy and luck, and it will generate some friendly competition among children and adults alike. The charming artwork of parks, featuring America’s national parks, will also transport you on a road trip from the comfort of your home. Everdell and Flamecraft For those looking for longer gameplay, Everdell will have you playing as cute forest creatures building new cities during a game that averages a little over an hour. Flamecraft is another delightfully whimsical game where players try to attract dragons to improve the reputation of their shops. Each of these games is simple to pick up and, with every playthrough offering something new, they’ll get you through the entire holiday season. Parks, Everdell and Flamecraft can also be single-player games if you need a break from socialization. Snuggling up on the couch with a video game is inherently relaxing. Whether you enjoy mobile, computer, handheld or console games, the cozy game genre provides dozens of options. This season, try games ranging from relaxing to enchanting. If having everything in its place provides calm in the chaos of the holiday season, you’ll love Unpacking. This puzzle game, available on Switch, PC and Xbox, has you unpacking boxes and putting items away. Playing games like Unpacking can be a meditative experience. Other puzzle games like A Little to the Left and Spiritfarer blend stories into the gameplay. For spooky autumn vibes, try Strange Horticulture and play as the owner of a plant shop and potion maker. Maintaining a virtual farm or building a make-believe castle from your sofa can be a great stress reliever. Stardew Valley is a quintessential farming game surrounded by charming townspeople. With the highly anticipated November update, you can now play on console, mobile and PC. Palia , a massively multiplayer online game, features farming, quests and community building with other players. It’s also free. For those with a Nintendo Switch, the Animal Crossing series has you interacting with other animal players in a peaceful village. With multiplayer modes, these games are great options for playing with friends and family from afar during the holidays. For a single-player escape, try the recently-released Tiny Glade on PC where you’ll build castles. This cozy game’s detailed artistry and conflict-free gameplay will bring hours of relaxation. Or build a world from tiles in Dorfromantik. The game can be entirely chill or provide a bit of strategy if you want to go for a high score. A pack of cards is reliable entertainment at any gathering. From classics to innovative new card games, having a few in your game collection can be worthwhile. Card games can range from simple to complex, a few minutes to a few hours and single-player to dozens of players. If you have a standard deck of playing cards, Blitz is a great option for any number of players. Also known as Thirty One, this game gives every player three cards and lets them trade out a card on each turn, trying to get a value of thirty-one. President is another simple social card game where players race to get rid of their cards in ascending order. If you are imbibing this holiday season, some people play it as a drinking game. For a two-player card game, try The Fox in the Forest. This trick-taking card game features cozy graphics, and its fast, simple gameplay is perfect for a winter date night. For two to four players, Arboretum has darling tree graphics on its cards. Players lay cards down with the goal of creating a beautiful garden. This holiday season, be sure to take time to connect with loved ones and catch a few moments to yourself. Cozy games are a lighthearted escape. As the genre grows, there are options for everyone this season, from mindless games to those that require a touch of strategy – perfect for any mood or moment. Kristen Wood is a writer, photographer, avid cozy gamer and creator of The Cozy Gaming Nook , your source for everything cozy games. Her work has been featured in various online and print publications, including Elle, NBC, Forbes, Chicago Sun-Times, Martha Stewart, Seattle Times and more.Academy Sports + Outdoors Announces New $700 Million Share Repurchase Program and Quarterly Cash DividendVanquishing Bears, Thanksgiving losing streak tops Lions' holiday list
Shares of database company MongoDB ( MDB 12.20% ) surged on Thursday and there is likely a combination of factors driving the move. On one hand, the company's adoption could be about to improve thanks to a stronger relationship with Microsoft . And it also appears that spending for software might be picking back up. These are likely factors to explain why MongoDB stock was up 14% as of 1:50 p.m. ET. Could MongoDB's outlook be improving? Shares of Snowflake , a peer of MongoDB, are up big today after noting big gains in its customer count and its revenue under contract. In its fiscal second quarter of 2025, MongoDB's management noted that its consumption trends this year have been weak because of macroeconomic conditions. So the broader economic environment has been on investors' minds. And now that Snowflake's results are perking up, it bodes well for MongoDB. For its part, MongoDB is expected to report financial results for its fiscal third quarter of 2025 on Dec. 9. Investors will know then whether the optimism was warranted. However, it's not just Snowflake's results that have investors feeling more optimistic about MongoDB stock. On Tuesday the company expanded its partnership with Microsoft. Customers of both companies now have access to more products and features from MongoDB, which could help drive adoption. If there was any skepticism on Tuesday, it seems that investors' outlook for MongoDB is improving based on what's happening over at Snowflake. What to watch next quarter with MongoDB MongdoDB's Q2 revenue was only up by 13% year over year, but it guided for at least 14% growth in Q3. But with the outlook potentially improving, it's possible that MongoDB can deliver even better growth than this and that would almost assuredly excite investors. One particular area to watch when MongoDB reports Q3 results is adoption for its artificial intelligence (AI) products. AI adoption hasn't been as strong as hoped. So if adoption picks up, that could be further reason for optimism.PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain retained a six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a labored 3-0 home win over Toulouse on Friday. The defending champion dominated the first half but it took until the 35th minute to open the scoring. Young Portuguese midfielder João Neves spun to meet a cross from the right and struck a superb half volley from just outside the box. Lucas Beraldo got a second with six minutes remaining when he pounced on loose ball and fired home. Vitinha made it 3-0 in stoppage time when he showed fine footwork inside the box to finish off a quick counterattack. The scoreline was harsh on Toulouse, which came into the game in a more even second half. Only Vitinha’s last-gasp tackle stopped Zakaria Aboukhlal from equalizing after 69 minutes and then Shavy Babicka blazed over from close range a minute later when he should have hit the target. The win was a confidence boost for Luis Enrique’s side ahead of next Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at Bayern Munich. PSG lies in 25th place in the 36-team Champions League table with one win in four matches and outside the playoff spots. Monaco beats Brest The win came immediately after second-placed Monaco beaten Brest 3-2 to briefly close the gap at the top to three points. Brest, which faces Barcelona next week in the Champions League, turned in another inconsistent French league performance and not the sparkling form it has shown in Europe. Brest has struggled in Ligue 1, where it remains 12th, but shone with three wins from four in its first ever Champions League campaign. It was behind after just five minutes on Friday when Maghnes Akliouche scored with a superb airborne volley, and 2-0 down after 24 minutes thanks to Aleksandr Golovin. The Russian striker seized on a poor pass just outside the Brest penalty area and his low shot was perfectly placed to sneak in off the post and give him his first goal in nine league appearances. On-loan Brighton striker Abdallah Sima used his 1.88-meter frame to outjump the Monaco defense four minutes into the second half and cut the deficit but Akliouche restored Monaco’s two-goal cushion when he brilliantly finished a quick counterattack in stoppage time. Ludovic Ajorque got a second for Brest in the sixth minute of added time but it was not enough in a second half most notable for the red card shown to Brest coach Éric Roy. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe Federal Government has hailed the contributions and remarkable achievements of Africa’s fastest-growing financial institution, Moniepoint Inc in the financial technology sector, its commitment to advancing financial inclusion, and its ongoing collaborations with law enforcement agencies to combat financial fraud. This was stated by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, when he received the Moniepoint’s leadership team led by its Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Eniolorunda, on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa. The Moniepoint delegation included, Babatunde Olofin, MD Moniepoint Microfinance Bank; Didi Uwemakpan, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Moniepoint Inc; Ross Strike, SVP, Investor Relations and M Efemena Ogie, Head of Partnerships; Abdulmumin Tijjani, Regional Manager, North West; and Ravi Sharma, Partner, Lightrock Global – a global private equity and investors in Moniepoint Inc. During the course of the visit, CEO, Moniepoint Inc, Tosin Eniolorunda expressed gratitude to the Vice President for making time to meet with the team, underscoring the administration’s dedication to digital innovation and financial inclusion. He emphasized Moniepoint’s commitment to Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, stating that the fintech giant has grown into Africa’s latest unicorn this year, a testament to its resilience and innovation. He detailed Moniepoint’s contributions to financial inclusion, including providing digital banking solutions to millions of Nigerians, particularly underserved communities, and empowering small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). Highlighting their robust collaboration with law enforcement agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Eniolorunda reiterated Moniepoint’s commitment to using intelligence-driven technology to fight financial fraud and strengthen trust in the digital payment system. “At Moniepoint, we are big believers in driving collaborations across the entire eco-system and this is premised on collaboration being the cornerstone of progress. Our engagement here underscores our intentionality to enhance government to business relationship in a way that powers the dreams of millions of many more Nigerians. Together, we can unlock opportunities, transform lives, and build a more inclusive economy for all”, Eniolorunda said. The Vice President congratulated the Moniepoint team on achieving unicorn status, lauding their innovative approach to leveraging technology to solve financial challenges. He acknowledged the company’s impressive growth trajectory, its workforce of over 3,000 employees, and its contribution to the country’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy. In his remarks, the Vice President highlighted the diversity within Moniepoint’s team, describing it as a “kaleidoscope of colors” and reflecting the beauty of Nigeria’s multicultural and multi-regional identity. He was particularly pleased with the inclusion of individuals from various regions and backgrounds, including a notable representation of women in leadership and operational roles. While celebrating Moniepoint’s achievements, the Vice President emphasized the need for stronger auditing measures to prevent misuse of the platform, especially by fraudsters and criminal elements. He urged Moniepoint and other fintech platforms to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these challenges. He acknowledged the company’s impressive journey over the past five years as Moniepoint and their earlier contributions as a software solutions company for banks, applauding their resilience and innovation. In closing, the Vice President encouraged Moniepoint to continue expanding its global footprint, referencing his ongoing support for similar initiatives such as Amal Hassan’s Outsource to Nigeria project. He assured the Moniepoint team of his unwavering support, promising to be their “chief promoter” in advancing the brand’s visibility on the global stage. It will be recalled that Moniepoint partnered with the Corporate Affairs Commission to formally onboard over two million businesses while targeting 30m businesses over the next five years. It also launched Nigeria’s Informal Economy Report in July this year, in conjunction with SMEDAN and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments to provide a policy thrust for advancing Nigeria’s informal economy in the light of its huge contributions to the nation’s GDP. The courtesy visit marks another milestone in the partnership between the Nigerian government and private sector innovators like Moniepoint, who are key players in the administration’s drive to build a robust digital economy and foster financial inclusion across the nation.
Southwest Missouri man charged with murder in Boone County crashJaguars place QB Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on IRCOLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio – The city may have to shut down all operations for 15 days starting Jan. 1 because City Council – although it passed the 2025 municipal budget last week – did not muster enough votes to make the budget ordinance go into effect immediately. Council needed a supermajority of five votes to make the budget ordinance go into effect by Jan. 1. Instead, council approved the ordinance 4-3, which means the budget won’t become effective for 30 days after passage or until Jan. 16. “All services will have to stop,” city Finance Director David Pfaff said. “Without money being lawfully appropriated, I cannot pay any bills, nor can I retroactively pay bills if the money was not lawfully appropriated at the time the liability was incurred,” Pfaff said. That also means that the city would not have money to pay police, firefighters or service workers for 15 days. “Under the (federal) Fair Labor Standards Act, an employees must be paid for time worked,” Pfaff said. “However, without money being lawfully appropriated, I have no authority to pay them, therefore they cannot work.” The city has called a special meeting for 7:30 p.m. today (Dec. 23) to see if council can pass a stopgap measure that would fund municipal government for the first 15 days of 2025, until the previously passed budget ordinance kicks in. Voting against the budget ordinance Dec. 16 were council members Brian Dunlap, Glenn Goodwin and Joe Price. “Three people hijacked the way we do our budget process,” Mayor Sam Alai told cleveland.com . “It’s a shame that they’re going to use life safety for our residents and paychecks for our employees to play some sort of childish political game. “This is no joke,” Alai said. “This is a very serious situation that we cannot have. We need to avoid this at all costs. I gave them (council) the way to get out of it, and if they don’t, we will be shutting the city down.” Dunlap called Alai’s comments “absurd.” He said the city administration and some members of council tried to rush the budget through and didn’t provide enough time to resolve disagreements. “The mayor is the one being childish and selfish,” Dunlap said. “It’s ridiculous to say that I don’t want police and fire service in this city. I have kids and grandkids living here.” Goodwin and Price did not return emails seeking comment. Pretzel logic At the Nov. 25 council meeting, Dunlap raised concerns about a salary increase for Alai in the 2025 budget. Under city code that council approved years ago, the mayor must earn 5 percent more than the city’s police and fire chiefs. The idea was to ensure that the mayor is the highest-paid official in the city. In turn, under code, the police and fire chiefs must make 14 percent more than lieutenants in the Police and Fire departments. That’s because, according to Police Chief Steven Raiff and Fire Chief Jeffrey Hajek, lieutenants and even lower-ranking officers at one time were earning more than they were, due to overtime and other benefits that the chiefs do not receive. Earlier this year, police and fire lieutenants received 5 percent raises under a new collective bargaining agreement and will receive raises of 4 percent and 3 percent in 2025 and 2026, respectively. That means the chiefs and Alai also received raises of 5 percent this year and are scheduled to receive another 4 percent and 3 percent over the next two years. This year, Alai’s salary was $141,648 and both chiefs earned $134,903. “I won’t vote for anything that triggers a pay raise for an elected official, and I believe that’s what our budget does,” Dunlap said Nov. 25. Dunlap said “the tether” that connects the salaries of police and fire lieutenants, the police and fire chiefs and the mayor “is a problem.” Councilwoman Jennifer Mahnic asked Dunlap if there was a reason he didn’t bring up the issue during previous Finance Committee meetings where the budget was discussed. “No,” Dunlap said. “No reason.” At the Dec. 16 council meeting, Goodwin wanted to amend the 2025 budget and remove raises that Alai and the two chiefs are scheduled to receive. Goodwin, agreeing with Dunlap, said he was “having a tough time” with how the mayor’s salary is connected to the chiefs’ salaries, even though he was on council when that body approved that arrangement years ago. Goodwin said Alai’s and the two chiefs’ salaries might be higher than their counterparts in other communities, due to the ordinance connecting their salaries. “It was a great idea the way it was set up originally,” Goodwin said. “It just got a little bit out of hand. And like anything, you have to go back and revisit it at some point and now is the time to revisit it.” Price agreed, saying that tying the mayor’s and chiefs’ salaries together might have been a “comfortable decision” years ago “but it may not have been the best (decision.)” However, Law Director Vince Ruffa said the city cannot legally eliminate raises for Alai and the two chiefs without changing the code. Goodwin countered that the city should ask the Ohio Ethics Commission if council can amend the budget and give Alai and the two chiefs zero raises in 2025. Boldt suggested that council pass the 2025 budget and take up with issue of the mayor’s salary connection to the police and fire chiefs’ salaries later in January. Emergency but no emergency Boldt explained that the 2025 budget ordinance won’t take effect until 30 days after passage because it was an emergency ordinance. For emergency ordinances to go into effect faster – in five days – at least five council members would have had to vote in favor. The temporary appropriations ordinance that council will vote on tonight is not an emergency ordinance. Therefore, even with a slim four-vote majority, it would take effect in no more than five days. That’s because under the city charter, ordinances involving the appropriation of money take effect when a simple majority of council approves it and the mayor signs it.
BOSC stock touches 52-week high at $3.4 amid market optimismThe Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on injured reserve Wednesday, likely ending his season after a vicious illegal hit in last week's loss to the Houston Texans. Lawrence, slammed in the head and neck by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after giving himself up, would be eligible to return Week 18. However, the 2-10 Jags are already eliminated from playoff contention. Mac Jones will start for the Jags this week against the Tennessee Titans. Al-Shaair, meanwhile, was suspended three games by the NFL on Tuesday. Lawrence, 25, has thrown for 2,045 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 starts this season. He also missed time with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury. Lawrence was carrying the ball and went into a feet-first slide at Houston's 45-yard line during the second quarter of Sunday's game. Al-Shaair launched into him and delivered a forearm shot near the quarterback's head and shoulder. Multiple skirmishes erupted as Lawrence lay prone on the field. Al-Shaair was ejected, along with Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones. Lawrence immediately displayed the hand motion known as the fencing posture that is associated with traumatic brain injury. However, he was able to stand after being attended to briefly, and he sat up while being taken to the locker room on a cart. Al-Shaair took to social media Monday to apologize but the NFL was unmoved, announcing the three-game suspension on Tuesday. He is appealing. Al-Shaair, 27, is a repeat offender this season, having just been fined $11,255 for a late hit on Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was also fined $11,817 for punching Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson in a Week 2 game. That came after a sideline skirmish that began after Al-Shaair hit Bears quarterback Caleb Williams late out of bounds but wasn't flagged. Lawrence has thrown for 13,815 yards, 69 TDs and 46 INTs since being selected No. 1 overall by the Jags in the 2021 draft out of Clemson. --Field Level MediaLt. Gov. Jon Husted visits Mar-a-Lago. Could he succeed JD Vance as Ohio’s next U.S. senator?
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