esports athlete

esports athlete As more cars with empty driver seats are hitting our streets, there are growing safety questions about how humans and robots are “sharing” the road. As of the end of October, Waymo says it’s providing more than 150,000 paid trips weekly in its self-driving cars covering one million miles. That is triple the number of weekly rides compared to June 2024. While Waymo has expanded to four cities, Phoenix has the largest operating area at 315 square miles. As the company scales up, so do safety concerns and questions about how often humans intervene in ‘fully autonomous’ rides. Waymo vs. semi Truck driver Shabani Kwizera uses a loading dock next to a central Phoenix Waymo hub. He posted to TikTok about a semi crash with a Waymo last month in the driveway to the complex. “[The tractor trailers] stop right here to check on the traffic,’ Kwizera said on the video panning the camera to the center of the driveway. “These Waymos came from the back and to the right side. The driver didn't see it by the time he was turning - the Waymo was on the blind side.” Kwizera said the truck smashed the Waymo as it turned right. The autonomous car had black scrape marks across its front, driver-side panel. Based on what he witnessed, Kwizera said a human driver would have accommodated for the truck’s turning radius and blind spot. “They're going to give us space so we can turn, but what happened with Waymo is they do not give us space,” he said. Phoenix police told ABC15 they investigated this crash. Federal auto safety investigation The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into 31 reports of crashes and alleged traffic violations involving Waymos. In letters to the self-driving car company last spring, federal safety regulators asked for extensive documentation. One NHTSA letter said the autonomous vehicles had “unexpected driving behaviors” that “may increase the risk of crash, property damage, and injury.” The letters also described “collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.” “The industry had been getting pretty much of a pass on all the annoyances and problems and loose ends,” said Phil Koopman, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University who’s studied self-driving car safety for 25 years. He is closely watching the federal investigation and Waymo’s two voluntary recalls earlier this year after crashes in the Phoenix area. “People could no longer say, well, nothing's going wrong. Leave us alone. You're getting in the way of progress,” said Koopman. Waymo’s website says the company is “on a mission to be the world's most trusted driver.” The company has multiple analyses of vehicle safety. Waymo’s latest data showed the first 25 million miles of operation, showing the fully autonomous vehicles had 81% fewer airbag deployment crashes, fewer injury-causing crashes, and 57% fewer police-reported crashes compared to human driving the same distance in the cities where Waymo operates. Koopman says statistically we may not know if Waymos are safer than human drivers until the self-driving cars hit one billion miles. “We're going to start to see the rare events matter more and have more concern about the safety kind of events,” Koopman said. “What we've seen is they make robot mistakes.” In social media videos now part of the federal investigation, Waymos appear to make unexpected maneuvers including cutting off a bus that had the right of way, swerving side to side behind a landscaping truck, driving into a closed construction zone, and blocking a major intersection. Professor Koopman explained autonomous cars use machine learning based on examples. “What if it sees something it doesn't know as an example?” Koopman said. “Not only does it not know what to do, it often has false confidence and just makes something up and just does something crazy.” Waymo’s remote assistance Joel Ricks Johnson, an Arizona YouTuber, said he has documented more than 170 Waymo rides. One video, which has more than 500,000 views, shows a Waymo “going rogue” when it encounters traffic cones. “The car tried to make a right turn, and it just couldn't quite do it because there were cones in the lane,” Johnson said. During the incident three years ago, Johnson said he called rider support from the back seat of the robo-car. On its blog, Waymo describes its fleet response system as phone-a-friend. Employees use their computers to connect with the car and remotely check the on-board cameras and sensors. The car can prompt human remote assistance operators with multiple-choice questions to provide a better context of the situation. The remote assistance team can also give the vehicle a trajectory to follow. Johnson said in his case, “It was kind of like humans fighting with robot, and then it actually just got stuck in high-speed traffic.” Waymo then sent a human roadside assistance technician to the scene to take over driving, but as the technician approached, Johnson said the Waymo car started to drive away. “Waymo tried to run,” Johnson said on the video. He estimates that roadside assistance has been called for his Waymo trips 4-5 times over 2,400 miles of travel. “I don't know if I'm exactly representative of the normal, typical rider,” Johnson said. The ABC15 Investigators emailed Waymo asking more about remote assistance operations and the frequency of human interventions. The company declined to let us view its remote assistance operations. A Waymo spokesperson would not provide information on how many humans help the cars explaining it’s not a strict ratio. Instead, he wrote, “Waymo sets expectations for service quality based on rapid response times, and we adjust and maintain the workforce necessary to meet those standards.” Waymo did not expound on those standards. Johnson said Waymo has been “cagey about statistics” and it’s not entirely clear in all cases when human intervention is occurring on a robo-taxi ride. “You can kind of tell sometimes if the car gets into a weird situation, there are little pointers here and there, like if the hazard lights turn on, if the steering looks weird, if the planned path gets really short,” Johnson said. Johnson said overall he feels very safe. “My mission is to document autonomous vehicle progress over time,” the YouTuber added. He said he pays for all his own rides. ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable. Submit your news tip to Investigators@abc15.com Waymo representative told ABC15 the autonomous driver does improve over time using artificial intelligence and operational improvements, and “it can solve more ambiguous scenarios independently and needs less help.” A Waymo spokesperson also told ABC15 the company is complying with the NHTSA investigation. NHTSA officials declined an interview request because the agency generally does not comment on an open investigation, but a spokesperson did send this statement: "The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s approach to advanced vehicle technologies prioritizes safety across multiple areas including data collection and analysis, research, rulemaking, and enforcement. "NHTSA has leveraged its authority in unprecedented ways to help assure the safety of vehicles with advanced technologies, including launching a first-of-its-kind Standing General Order requiring crash reporting and initiating a demonstration program designed to enhance public safety and transparency of ADS deployments. The Standing General Order also requires reporting of certain crashes involving vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems. "NHTSA will continue to hold manufacturers accountable for any products that introduce an unreasonable risk to safety. The agency has opened multiple investigations into several manufacturers regarding potential safety defects in ADS systems, which have led to recalls of several ADS systems." Do you have a self-driving vehicle video or story to share? You can reach ABC15 Senior Investigator Melissa Blasius by email at melissa.blasius@abc15.com or call 602-803-2506. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @MelissaBlasius or Facebook. Latest ABC15 investigations: AZ dentist’s license suspended after he allegedly used household pliers on tooth Anne Ryman Mother of murdered teen discusses killer’s sentencing, daughter's legacy Adam Mintzer REPORT: Phoenix PD shot a woman with a serious mental illness at her mom's door Melissa Blasius Will DOJ still seek Phoenix PD oversight? ABC15 learns feds still investigating Dave BiscobingGreg Gumbel , a longtime CBS sportscaster who broke barriers during his career calling some of the biggest sporting events, has died from cancer, according to a statement from his family released by the network on Friday. He was 78. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl 35 for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as someone who broke barriers and set standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. Sean McManus said of all the moves he made in his nearly 27 1/2 years leading CBS Sports, one of his proudest was bringing Gumbel back. Gumbel hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. In 1995, he hosted the world figure skating championships and the following year hosted NBC’s daytime coverage of the Atlanta Summer Olympics. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, "The NFL Today", from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004-05. Earlier this year, Gumbel recalled replacing Brent Musburger as host of "The NFL Today" in 1990, describing it as intimidating and daunting. Gumbel also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl 35 and 38. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season. Gumbel was the older brother of Bryant Gumbel, the host of NBC’s “Today” show and “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” on HBO. Bryant Gumbel received a lifetime achievement award at the Sports Emmys in 2003. Greg Gumbel grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He had plans to become an English teacher, but after his brother got into sportscasting, he auditioned at WMAQ-TV, an NBC affiliate in Chicago in 1973, according to the book "You Are Looking Live!: How The NFL Today Revolutionized Sports Broadcasting." He was soon offered a position as weekend sports anchor. Gumbel also worked for ESPN and the Madison Square Garden network . James Brown, who currently hosts “The NFL Today," described Gumbel on Friday as “Mr. Versatility and also very telegenic.” Gumbel won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting. Outside of his broadcast career, he was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years. FAQs Q1. What is the age of Greg Gumbel? A1. Greg Gumbel was 78-year-old. Q2. Where did Greg Gumbel work for? A2. Greg Gumbel worked for CBS, ESPN, and Madison Square Garden network. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Cardio Diagnostics Holdings, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CDIO – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,480,000 shares, a growth of 124.5% from the November 30th total of 1,550,000 shares. Approximately 9.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 6,750,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Cardio Diagnostics Stock Down 5.6 % CDIO stock opened at $0.93 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $0.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.45. Cardio Diagnostics has a 1 year low of $0.19 and a 1 year high of $3.56. Cardio Diagnostics Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cardio Diagnostics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cardio Diagnostics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

5 points in a match at the CMJ: Cole Hutson shatters Lane’s standards

By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday reached a required agreement with President Joe Biden’s White House to allow his transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The congressionally mandated agreement allows transition aides to work with federal agencies and access non-public information and gives a green light to government workers to talk to the transition team. But Trump has declined to sign a separate agreement with the General Services Administration that would have given his team access to secure government offices and email accounts, in part because it would require that the president-elect limit contributions to $5,000 and reveal who is donating to his transition effort. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. The agreement is a critical step in ensuring an orderly transfer of power at noon on Inauguration Day, and lays the groundwork for the White House and government agencies to begin to share details on ongoing programs, operations and threats. It limits the risk that the Trump team could find itself taking control of the massive federal government without briefings and documents from the outgoing administration. As part of the agreement with the White House, Trump’s team will have to publicly disclose its ethics plan for the transition operation and make a commitment to uphold it, the White House said. Transition aides must sign statements that they have no financial positions that could pose a conflict of interest before they receive access to non-public federal information. Biden himself raised the agreement with Trump when they met in the Oval Office on Nov. 13, according to the White House, and Trump indicated that his team was working to get it signed. Trump chief of staff-designate Susie Wiles met with Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients at the White House on Nov. 19 and other senior officials in part to discuss remaining holdups, while lawyers for the two sides have spoken more than a half-dozen times in recent days to finalize the agreement. “Like President Biden said to the American people from the Rose Garden and directly to President-elect Trump, he is committed to an orderly transition,” said White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma. “President-elect Trump and his team will be in seat on January 20 at 12 pm – and they will immediately be responsible for a range of domestic and global challenges, foreseen and unforeseen. A smooth transition is critical to the safety and security of the American people who are counting on their leaders to be responsible and prepared.” Without the signed agreement, Biden administration officials were restricted in what they could share with the incoming team. Trump national security adviser-designate Rep. Mike Waltz met recently with Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but the outgoing team was limited in what it could discuss. “We are doing everything that we can to effect a professional and an orderly transition,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday. “And we continue to urge the incoming team to take the steps that are necessary to be able to facilitate that on their end as well.” “This engagement allows our intended Cabinet nominees to begin critical preparations, including the deployment of landing teams to every department and agency, and complete the orderly transition of power,” said Wiles in a statement. The Trump transition team says it would disclose its donors to the public and would not take foreign donations. A separate agreement with the Department of Justice to coordinate background checks for vetting and security clearances is still being actively worked on and could be signed quickly now that the White House agreement is signed. The agency has teams of investigators standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers once that document is signed. That would clear the way for transition aides and future administration appointees and nominees to begin accessing classified information before Trump takes office. Some Trump aides may hold active clearances from his first term in office or other government roles, but others will need new clearances to access classified data. Trump’s team on Friday formally told the GSA that they would not utilize the government office space blocks from the White House reserved for their use, or government email accounts, phones and computers during the transition. The White House said it does not agree with Trump’s decision to forgo support from the GSA, but is working on alternate ways to get Trump appointees the information they need without jeopardizing national security. Federal agencies are receiving guidance on Tuesday on how to share sensitive information with the Trump team without jeopardizing national security or non-public information. For instance, agencies may require in-person meetings and document reviews since the Trump team has declined to shift to using secure phones and computers. For unclassified information, agencies may ask Trump transition staff to attest that they are taking basic safeguards, like using two-factor authentication on their accounts.Azincourt Energy Corp. ( CVE:AAZ – Get Free Report )’s stock price was up 50% on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 253,181 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 2% from the average daily volume of 259,671 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.01. Azincourt Energy Stock Up 50.0 % The stock has a market capitalization of C$4.48 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.50 and a beta of 2.78. The business’s 50-day moving average is C$0.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$0.02. About Azincourt Energy ( Get Free Report ) Azincourt Energy Corp., an exploration and development company, focuses on the alternative fuels/alternative energy sector in Canada and Peru. It explores for uranium and lithium deposits, as well as other clean energy elements. The company owns interest in the East Preston project covering an area of approximately 25,000 hectares located in Saskatchewan, Canada; and the Big Hill Lithium project covering approximately an area of 7,500 hectares located in southwestern Newfoundland, Canada. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Azincourt Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Azincourt Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

Mutual Aid Organization bringing Santa to Santa Rita Park residentsJimmy Carter, the nation's 39th president who served one volatile term from 1977-81, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, Sunday at 100 after a yearslong battle with cancer during which he demonstrated the same personal strength that he displayed as president. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son, in a statement released by The Carter Center. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Carter, who lived longer than any U.S. president, had been receiving hospice care, without medical intervention, since February 2023 so he could be with his family after what the Carter Center described as a series of short hospital stays for undisclosed ailments. He is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His wife, Rosalynn, had been diagnosed with dementia in May 2023 and died Nov. 19 at age 96. "Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well." Biden was the first sitting senator to endorse Carter for president in 1976, insisting the moderate Southern Democrat was best positioned to defeat incumbent Gerald Ford. Carter would live to see Biden himself elected to the presidency, although he was too ill to attend Biden’s 2021 inauguration. He would famously go on to fulfill his pledge to vote for Biden’s Democratic vice president, Kamala Harris, in October. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," Biden added in his statement. "He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." Carter's 43-year post-presidency was the longest in American history. And while his four years in the White House were defined by national and international problems that he was unable to solve, he used his time out of office to work on many charitable projects, fight disease, monitor elections abroad and undertake peace missions that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. While Carter had what many considered a disappointing presidency, he earned back the respect and affection of people the world over for his work as a humanitarian, human rights advocate and hands-on builder of homes for the needy. The man voters eagerly discarded after one term went on to be considered America’s best former president. Carter once told reporters that, while the presidency was his most important political experience, his work with the Carter Center in Atlanta, an organization named after him and devoted to research and humanitarian activism, was more "personally gratifying." Through the center, Carter said, he could directly help poor people around the world. His post-presidency was impressive in other ways, as Carter demonstrated a deeply felt commitment to his Christian faith and his community. Even though other former presidents cashed in on their time in office with paid speeches and stints on corporate boards – and many never returned to their pre-presidential communities – Carter was different. He made money from his many books, but he wasn't overly materialistic. He brought attention to a now-well-known project called Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for poor people. The former president and his wife famously participated personally in many building projects. Born James Earl Carter Jr. – and known all his life as Jimmy – the former president came from modest beginnings. He hailed from Plains (population about 600) where his father, James Earl Carter, was a successful farmer and small businessman who for a while ran a grocery store. His mother, the former Bessie Lillian Gordy, was a nurse. Four years after Carter was born, the family moved for a while to nearby Archery, Georgia, even smaller than Plains. Jimmy had three siblings, Gloria, Ruth and Billy, and their father required hard work from all of them around the farm and in his other enterprises. Carter was studious as a boy, also very patriotic and family-oriented. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1946 and married Rosalynn, his sweetheart from home, the following month. He was assigned to the U.S. submarine fleet, serving aboard the USS Pomfret as an electronics officer among other assignments. It was during his Navy career that Carter, training for a role as engineer on a nuclear submarine, was involved with mitigating an incident at a nuclear reactor in Canada. The government of Canada describes the 1952 incident at Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario as “the world’s first nuclear reactor accident,” saying the facility experienced “mechanical problems and operator error that led to overheating fuel rods and significant damage.” Carter was widely credited with helping prevent an accident from spiraling into a disaster. After his father died in 1953, Carter gave up his promising career in the Navy and returned to Plains to help run the family businesses, especially the peanut farm. He won two terms in the state Senate and was elected governor of Georgia as a moderate Democrat in 1970. Serving one term, he audaciously decided to run for president in the 1976 election, casting himself as a maverick, a truth-teller and a Washington outsider. He surprised the political pros by winning the Democratic nomination and narrowly defeating Republican incumbent Ford in the popular vote 50.1% to 48% and 297-240 in the Electoral College. But Carter will always be known for his post-presidency. Mark Peterson | Corbis | Getty Images Former President Carter volunteers at a Habitat for Humanity construction site in 1992. After the White House, he went back to Plains. He wrote his books there, and for years he and Rosalynn made a habit of pedaling their bicycles around the town for recreation. He seemed to know all the local merchants and helped his community by volunteering on community projects and in other ways. He worshiped and taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, sometimes mowed the lawn there and tidied up after services. There was much for him to forgive in the treatment he received from his critics while he was president, but he tried to move beyond all that. Once an outsider who never fit in with the Washington political arena he struggled to navigate as president, Carter later became the subject of admiration and affection by some of the most prominent figures in American politics. Words of tribute and support came from both sides of the political aisle when the Carter family announced Feb. 18, 2023, that the former president would enter home hospice care for his final challenge – facing a cancer that had spread from his liver to his brain and that he knew amounted to a death sentence. Georgia politicians, from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to Democratic Sen. Rafael Warnock, issued statements of support. Former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, tweeted on President’s Day 2023 that he was thinking of Carter – almost 50 years after he first declared his candidacy for the nation’s highest office in December 1974. In a statement after Carter's death, former President Barack Obama and first Lady Michelle Obama lauded him for "the longest, and most impactful, post-presidency in American history." "Elected in the shadow of Watergate, Jimmy Carter promised voters that he would always tell the truth. And he did – advocating for the public good, consequences be damned. He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion. Because Jimmy Carter believed, as deeply as he believed anything, that we are all created in God’s image," they said in a statement. Carter elevated his national profile back then with a promise not to lie and a pledge to bring integrity and a common touch to the White House after the imperial reign of Richard Nixon, who resigned amid the Watergate scandal. Ford, as vice president, succeeded Nixon in office but didn't fully connect with the American people despite his personal decency and many years as a distinguished member of the House of Representatives from Michigan. Once in office, Carter did his best to limit the trappings of the imperial presidency. He ordered his staff not to have a band play the martial anthem "Hail to the Chief" when he entered a room. He wore cardigans to show his casual approach and to make the point that he had lowered the thermostats in the White House to save energy. For a while, he carried his own hand luggage aboard Air Force One when traveling. He held town meetings to stay in touch with everyday people. He advocated energy conservation and less reliance on foreign oil. And Americans liked their new president – initially. But as the nation's problems intensified, the public turned on him. The economy got worse. Inflation rose. So did unemployment. Gasoline shortages resulted in huge lines at filling stations across the country and unsettled millions. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, a signal to many that Carter wasn't perceived as a strong leader internationally and could be defied by America's adversaries. In response, Carter announced a boycott of the Olympic Summer Games in Moscow in 1980, a protest that saw support from a significant number of American allies. READ: Carter concluded that Americans were suffering from an epic loss of confidence. At one point in 1979, he canceled a major energy speech and secluded himself at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains. For eight days, he met privately with advisers there and contemplated what to do next. The result was what critics called "the malaise speech." He didn't actually use the word "malaise" but argued that the country was suffering from a profound "crisis of confidence" that damaged the nation's "heart and soul." His critics said Carter was really blaming the country for his own flawed leadership. When he fired half his Cabinet a few days later, he seemed hopelessly adrift. He never recovered politically. "Carter's eventual difficulties with a heavily Democratic Congress sprang as much from his personality and cultural divides within the Democratic Party, as from ideological differences between Carter and his fellow partisans," wrote political scientist Alvin Felzenberg in "The Leaders We Deserved." "Proud that he had won the presidency, without having had to court party power brokers or representatives of special interests, Carter took office believing he owed nothing to the political establishment that he had defeated on the way to the nomination." And his administration scored some successes, at least in retrospect. During 1978, his second year in office, he won Senate approval for transferring control of the Panama Canal to Panama. And he negotiated the Camp David Accords, a major peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. Carter argued in favor of energy conservation, a stance that was not very popular at the time but that resonates much better today. And he made human rights a cornerstone of American foreign policy – a goal that remains widely admired, even though his critics said he was naive and impractical at the time. In one of the worst setbacks to his presidency, Islamic extremists seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 53 Americans hostage for more than a year. Carter seemed powerless to get them released. When he ordered a rescue mission that failed miserably, his popularity declined even further. In 1980, he suffered a shattering defeat in his bid for reelection, losing to Republican challenger Ronald Reagan by an overwhelming margin and winning just six states and the District of Columbia. He was hurt and embarrassed by this repudiation, and it took him a long time to put the memory behind him. He was particularly proud of having avoided a war during his presidency. And he took comfort in having led the diplomacy that resulted in the freeing of the Iranian hostages, although it happened by design on the very day that Reagan was sworn in as president in January 1981 – too late for Carter to get credit for it. Reagan supporters said the hostages were freed because the Iranian leaders were afraid of what Reagan would do if the crisis persisted. In the decades after his presidency, Carter made a point of tracking political prisoners and working behind the scenes to help secure their release. In 2010 at the age of 85, he traveled to North Korea to secure the release of Aijalon Gomes, who was imprisoned for entering into North Korea from China for what is believed to have been missionary purposes. In a sign of the enduring esteem in which Carter was held, North Korea said it would release Gomes if the former president traveled personally to retrieve him. The final truth about Jimmy Carter was that he concluded, as did so many others, that his real legacy was not being a good politician or a good president but being a good man. There will be public observances in honor of the former president in Atlanta and Washington, according to the Carter Center, followed by a private interment in Plains. The final arrangements for his state funeral are still pending. Former U.S. News political writers Susan Milligan and Kenneth T. Walsh contributed to this report.

Question: Can you name the famous author whose brother-in-law’s baby died in Bloomington, whose mother-in-law was a feminist writer who wrote about the mistreatment of alleged witches in the 1800s and had a deep fear of tornadoes? Answer: The author is L. Frank Baum, writer of "The Wizard of Oz." Baum’s fascinating life and Bloomington connection are mentioned in the December issue of Smithsonian Magazine in the article, “The Feminist Who Inspired the Witches of Oz.” It details how Baum drew inspiration from real-life events and people to create the characters in "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked." (Thanks to Lou Ann Jacobs of Normal.) Vivian Kong Doctora talks about how to order at Kobe Revolving Sushi Bar Lifelong hockey enthusiast Adam Morris follows the growth of the Bloomington Bison in their first season. Are there parallels between the Bloomington Bison and their primary NHL affiliate? Columnist Adam Morris checks out the New York Rangers in person. The Bison are in their third month of existence, but their presence in Bloomington-Normal has already started to take root. After their five-game run against the Iowa Heartlanders ended with two consecutive losses, the Bloomington Bison can look forward to a change of scenery — and opponent. As we bask in the glow of holiday decorating and Thanksgiving leftovers, columnist Adam Morris takes stock of his gratitude as a Central Illinois hockey fan. When the Bison and Iowa Heartlanders play, penalties will be a factor. There have been 171 penalty minutes handed out, including 13 roughing calls and nine major penalties. Power plays, leadership and stamina: Three takeaways from the Bloomington Bison's first winning weekend at Grossinger Motors Arena. As the Bloomington Bison lose their top goaltender to a higher league, a grueling schedule in the coming weeks could become the team's proving ground. The Bloomington Bison's owners believe fans will be impressed with the higher level of play at Grossinger Motors Arena — but that only works if they're there to see it. Are you struggling to keep up with the Bison's ever-changing roster? You're not alone. Here's why the new Bloomington hockey team is uniquely positioned in its league — and how it could be an advantage. "Was it a little disappointing that the Bison did not come out of last weekend with a win? Of course. ... What I did see, though, felt just as encouraging." It's always exciting to see the start of something new. That's what fans are getting with the Bloomington Bison — on the ice and behind the glass. When the Bloomington Bison drop the puck in their preseason matchup Saturday, it will represent potentially best chance for sustained professional hockey in the Twin Cities. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.China’s firms are taking flight, worrying its rulers

Arne Slot heaps praise on 'extraordinary' Mohamed Salah after Liverpool star inspired Reds to 5-0 drubbing of West Ham Arne Slot hailed Mohamed Salah after continued his scoring run on Sunday However, the Egyptian star remained coy on his contract situation with Liverpool LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford By LEWIS STEELE Published: 17:08 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 17:08 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Arne Slot hailed ‘extraordinary’ Mohamed Salah after he took his goal tally to 20 for the eighth successive season. Salah, who said a new contract was ‘far away’, scored one and assisted another as five-star Liverpool thrashed West Ham to end 2024 on a high and extend their lead at the top of the Premier League . Luis Diaz , Cody Gakpo , Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota also scored in the 5-0 rout to pile pressure on Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui . And Slot said: ‘Mo and the word extraordinary is something I’ve heard a lot in the last six months — he truly deserves this. ‘We know what a player he is and we know what he's able to do. But apart from that, he works really hard for the team also when the other team has the ball and yeah, we can only hope that he can keep bringing these performances in. ‘But I would like to add that if he scores, there's also a lead up to him scoring. So there are also other players that bring him in these positions, but if you bring Mo in these positions, he's extraordinary. Definitely.’ Arne Slot labelled Mohamed Salah 'extraordinary' after he scored again against West Ham The Egyptian has logged the most goals (17) and assists (13) in the Premier League this season Liverpool moved eight points clear of Nottingham Forest in second place after their 5-0 win Salah is of course out of contract at the end of this season and when asked about this, he said: ‘We are far away from that. I don't want to put something in the media and people start saying things.’ Read More Trent Alexander-Arnold's 'move to Real Madrid is almost complete', claims bombshell report in Spain Meanwhile, Hammers boss Lopetegui was frustrated after his side succumbed to the leaders to end a decent run of results over the Christmas period. The Spaniard said: ‘We did not compete as we were thinking to today or as the opponent Liverpool demands. Today has been a tough day for us.’ The only negative for Liverpool was when defender Joe Gomez went down injured and had to be substituted in the first half. Gomez told reporters after the game that it was a hamstring injury and Liverpool will await news on the severity of the blow with scans in the next 24 hours. Fellow defender Ibrahima Konate is also injured and is hoping to step up his recovery in the coming week or so. Mohamed Salah Liverpool Arne Slot Share or comment on this article: Arne Slot heaps praise on 'extraordinary' Mohamed Salah after Liverpool star inspired Reds to 5-0 drubbing of West Ham e-mail Add commentA Virginia zoo is celebrating the arrival of an adorable newborn pygmy hippo who made her debut just before Christmas. The baby hippo, a girl who has not yet been named, was born to parents Iris and Corwin at Metro Richmond Zoo on Dec. 9. She's their third female calf in under five years. The zoo said Iris was all smiles on Christmas morning. "Most people don't get a hippopotamus for Christmas at all, so we feel lucky to have received two over the years," the zoo said. Iris and Corwin's previous calf was born on Dec. 6, 2022. Iris delivered her latest newborn after a seven-month gestation, zoo officials said. She gave birth in an indoor pool. "The baby's natural instincts kicked in and she started moving around in the water immediately," the zoo said on its website. The mom and newborn are currently being kept in an enclosure that is not on exhibit to give them privacy while they bond. "Iris is an experienced mother and very protective of her calf," the zoo said. "The calf is nursing and growing quickly." The new pygmy hippo was weighed when she was 5 days old and came in at a healthy 15 pounds, the zoo said. She could grow to weigh up to 600 pounds. Her birth will help preserve the species, which is endangered. Fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remain in the wild, according to the zoo. The species is native to the swamps and rivers of West Africa, where it's threatened by poaching and loss of habitat. Pygmy hippos do not live in groups, so after they grew up, Iris' two previous calves were moved to other zoological facilities "to live with future mates and continue contributing to the conservation of their species," the zoo said. The species is nocturnal, and the zoo says they can live up to 55 years. Earlier this year, a newborn baby hippo in Thailand named Moo Deng became a global sensation when a zookeeper started sharing her cutest moments on social media. Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for "60 Minutes" and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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