COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana 38-15 on Saturday. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. “In life, all good things come to an end,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. Curt Cignetti after the game: “In life, all good things come to an end.” #IUFB @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/zbkABIPLuZ Late in the first half, Indiana punter James Evans fumbled a snap and was buried at his own 7-yardline with the Buckeyes taking over. That turned quickly into a 4-yard TD run by Henderson that gave the Buckeyes a 14-7 lead. Early in the second half, Caleb Downs fielded an Evans punt at the Ohio State 21, raced down the right sideline, cut to the middle and outran the coverage for a TD that put the Buckeyes up 21-7. It was the first time a Buckeye returned a punt for a touchdown since 2014. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. “Our guys just played with a chip today, and that’s the way you got to play the game of football,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Indiana scored on its first possession of the game and its last, both short runs by Ty Son Lawson, who paced the Hoosiers with 79 rushing yards. Rourke was 8 for 18 for 68 yards. “We had communication errors, pass (protection), every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened," Cignetti said. Indiana's 151 total yards was its lowest of the season. And it was the most points surrendered by the Hoosier's defense. “We didn’t handle the noise very well, we didn’t. I don’t think we played our best game today” On the playoffs: “I don’t make those decisions.” Says he thinks the focus should be on Purdue who IU hasn’t beaten since 2019. #IUFB @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/R5hbXg7ULH Indiana: Its special season was blemished by the Buckeyes, who beat the Hoosiers for the 30th straight time. Indiana was eyeing its first conference crown since sharing one with two other teams in 1967. That won't happen now. “Ohio State deserved to win,” Cignetti said. “They had those (third quarter scores), and we just couldn’t respond.” Ohio State: Didn't waste the opportunities presented by the Hoosiers when they got sloppy. The Buckeyes led 14-7 at the break and took control in the second half. An offensive line patched together because of multiple injuries performed surprisingly well. “We know what was at stake," Day said. “We don't win this game, and we have no chance to go to Indianapolis and play in the Big Ten championship. And that's real. We've had that approach for the last few weeks now, more than that.” Some voters were obviously unsure of Indiana because it hadn't played a nationally ranked team before Ohio State. After this one, the Hoosiers will drop. Howard made history by completing 80% of his passes for the sixth time this season. No other Ohio State quarterback has done that. He completed his first 14 passes in a row and finished with a 85% completion rate. “I think Buckeye nation is now seeing, after 11 games, that this guy is a winner, he's tough, he cares about his teammates, he's a leader,” Day said. Indiana hosts Purdue in the regular-season finale next Saturday. Ohio State hosts rival Michigan on Saturday.Flock Safety Announces Full Compliance with FBI's Newly-Released Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Policy Update
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By Kim Van Haren A captivating new art installation at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is garnering lots of attention with its four striking xgwélemc (fox) sculptures, inspired by a Secwépemc Stsptekwl: a traditional story or legend. These narratives are a crucial part of the Secwépemc’s oral tradition and play a key role in passing down knowledge and cultural values through generations. TRU commissioned celebrated local artist and proud alum Bill Frymire — who is of Métis, Plains Cree and Scottish settler descent — to create the sculptures. “Storytelling is always a big part of the work that I do, so I was happy to be part of this,” he says. This isn’t Frymire’s first artistic contribution to the campus. In 2016, he created an impressive 16-foot mosaic of local NBA star Kelly Olynyk , followed six years later by a tiled Diversitree that adorns the front of the Early Childhood Education Centre. The foxes join other Indigenous art installations on campus created by different artists, including the coyote sculpture atop the Brown Family House of Learning, the wolves in the roundabout on University Drive, the artwork on the Coyote Den student residence and the territorial marker near the elevator in Old Main. “The new fox sculptures, inspired by a Secwépemc legend, beautifully enhance our campus and highlight our ongoing Indigenization efforts at TRU,” says Tina Matthew, executive director of the Office of Indigenous Education. “They are a testament to our commitment to integrating Indigenous storytelling and perspectives into our community. As one of many Indigenous-inspired sculptures on campus, they play a crucial role in fostering cultural awareness and appreciation for the rich Secwépemc history that shapes our university.” New residents on campus Crafted from aluminum to ensure resilience, each 100-pound fox sculpture depicts various poses – crouching, leaping, jumping and landing – with progressively larger tails adorned with vibrant acrylic inserts. “I use aluminum a lot in my sculptures ... and I wanted something that’s going to last a very long time and look basically the same in 20 years as it does today.” Situated in the middle of the traffic circle near the Trades and Technology Building, the four foxes symbolize the cardinal directions: east, south, west and north. For the Secwépemc, the number four is a significant, powerful number as it is prevalent in Secwépemc Stsptekwll, songs, dances and other cultural practices. A plaque will be installed that relates a Secwépemc story of the foxes. Frymire dedicated a year to this ambitious project, navigating complex challenges that included ensuring precise angles came together properly and preventing the aluminum from warping during welding. Frymire credits his friend and sculptor William McAusland for creating the miniature models based on his drawings, welders James West and Mike Caldwell for providing their expertise, and leveraging his own background in computer graphics for the final design. “In a project of this size, it’s a communal effort. Everyone can be proud of what we’ve accomplished.” He says the installation aims to connect the TRU community with Indigenous stories and shows how public art can enhance our quality of life by encouraging us to learn more about the cultural stories woven into the landscape. “I think this will engage students and visitors to TRU,” he says. “They’ll learn a little bit more about the local Secwépemc people and history. It’s in one of the main roundabouts, so it’s something that you see from afar, and then as you get closer, you can see what’s happening here. Once there’s a plaque in place, visitors will be able to connect it with the Indigenous story. “The sculptures add interest to your daily walk and make it a more interesting place to be. And on subsequent visits, you’ll discover something new.” Learn how to pronounce xgwélemc (fox) with this audio file . Recording is by Ted Gottfriedson, Secwépemc cultural advisor for TRU.Detroit Pistons @ Denver Nuggets Current Records: Detroit 14-17, Denver 16-13 When: Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 9 p.m. ET Where: Ball Arena -- Denver, Colorado TV: Altitude Sports & Entertainmnt Follow: CBS Sports App Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $43.05 The Nuggets are 8-2 against the Pistons since February of 2020, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Saturday. Having just played yesterday, the Denver Nuggets will get right back to it and host the Detroit Pistons at 9:00 p.m. ET at Ball Arena. The Nuggets are strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 119.6 points per game this season. The Nuggets' offense and defense might be a bit winded after their high-scoring matchup with the Cavaliers on Friday. The Nuggets took a 149-135 bruising from the Cavaliers. Denver has now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games. The Nuggets might have lost, but man, Nikola Jokic was a machine: he dropped a triple-double on 27 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. The game was Jokic's fifth in a row with at least 30 points. The team also got some help courtesy of Jamal Murray, who dropped a double-double on 27 points and 11 assists. Meanwhile, the Pistons had already won two in a row and they went ahead and made it three on Thursday. They skirted by Sacramento 114-113 thanks to a clutch free throw from Jaden Ivey with 3 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The win was all the more spectacular given Detroit was down by 19 with 10:12 left in the third quarter. Among those leading the charge was Cade Cunningham, who dropped a double-double on 33 points and ten assists. The Pistons are 5-2 when Cunningham posts 20 or more points, but 9-15 otherwise. Denver's defeat ended a three-game streak of wins at home and dropped them to 16-13. As for Detroit, their victory was their third straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 14-17. Looking forward, the Nuggets are the favorite in this one, as the experts expect to see them win by 5.5 points. Against the spread, they have been a house darling this year with a chancy 11-17 ATS record. The Nuggets strolled past the Pistons in their previous meeting back in January by a score of 131-114. Do the Nuggets have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Pistons turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough. Denver is a solid 5.5-point favorite against Detroit, according to the latest NBA odds . The oddsmakers were right in line with the betting community on this one, as the game opened as a 5.5-point spread, and stayed right there. The over/under is 231 points. See NBA picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Denver has won 8 out of their last 10 games against Detroit. Jan 07, 2024 - Denver 131 vs. Detroit 114 Nov 20, 2023 - Denver 107 vs. Detroit 103 Mar 16, 2023 - Denver 119 vs. Detroit 100 Nov 22, 2022 - Detroit 110 vs. Denver 108 Jan 25, 2022 - Denver 110 vs. Detroit 105 Jan 23, 2022 - Denver 117 vs. Detroit 111 May 14, 2021 - Denver 104 vs. Detroit 91 Apr 06, 2021 - Denver 134 vs. Detroit 119 Feb 25, 2020 - Denver 115 vs. Detroit 98 Feb 02, 2020 - Detroit 128 vs. Denver 123
In a year filled with national election news, Marin County had an ample supply of important stories on the local front. The topics included contentious elections; conflicts over rent control, housing and homelessness; and the persistent problems of water supply, climate upheaval and traffic congestion. A look at top stories for 2024: Politics Marin County voters weighed in on dozens of contests in March and November, electing a new county supervisor, booting incumbents on the Fairfax Town Council and affirming or rejecting a number of ballot measures. San Anselmo Councilmember Brian Colbert claimed the Ross Valley seat on the Board of Supervisors in the runoff election with Kentfield resident Heather McPhail Sridharan. Colbert, the first Black resident elected supervisor in Marin, ran for Katie Rice’s seat after she declined to seek reelection. In Fairfax, division over rent control, development and other issues spurred former Town Council members Frank Egger and Mike Ghiringhelli to run for seats again. They won, forcing incumbents Bruce Ackerman and Chance Cutrano out of office, while incumbent Barbara Coler narrowly retained her seat. The other two incumbents, Stephanie Hellman and Lisel Blash, would have been on the ballot, too, if an earlier recall petition had succeeded. Meanwhile, voters rejected Measure J, an $18 million bond measure for road repairs. In the Tamalpais Union High School District, residents voted last month to approve Measure B, a $289 million bond to pay for repairs and maintenance projects, after rejecting a $517 million measure in the spring. In San Rafael, voters narrowly approved Measure P, a parcel tax to support the construction of a new library and community center. In Novato, voters passed Measure M, a three-quarter-cent sales tax expected to raise about $10.3 million annually as the city addresses its chronic deficits. Also, with Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential race, Marin officials, educators, nonprofits and immigrant advocates began to gird for potential policy shifts and funding cuts promised during the campaign. Rent control Voters in Larkspur, San Anselmo and Fairfax rejected four ballot measures in November that would have enacted tougher rent-control laws in their communities. In Larkspur, voters weighed in on Measure K, which would have made the rent-control ordinance voters narrowly upheld in March stricter while also adding tenant protections. Fairfax residents voted on Measure I, which would have repealed the rent-control and renter protections that the Town Council approved in 2022. In San Anselmo, voters were asked to make the call on two related rent-control measures. Measure N would have enacted a rent-control ordinance approved by the Town Council by a 3-2 vote in April, and Measure O would have penalized landlords of properties with three or more dwellings who terminate a tenancy due to no fault of the tenant. Flood control In March, San Anselmo residents voted to withdraw the town from Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District 9. The measure was brought on by a faction of residents who said millions of dollars in stormwater drainage fees collected by the district since 2007 have largely been wasted, and that a district plan to remove an old bridge in downtown San Anselmo to reduce flood risk is misguided. Opponents to the move said removing the bridge is a key component of a plan to reduce flooding risk for about 500 Ross Valley homes. Despite San Anselmo dropping out of the taxing district, residents in Ross, Larkspur and Fairfax did not see an increase in their storm drainage fee this year. The controversial removal of the bridge known as Building Bridge 2 was supposed to be done over the summer, but was postponed to 2025 because of Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements and local permitting requirements. Water supply After rain returned in a big way last year, the trend continued into 2024 with the Marin Municipal Water District and the North Marin Water District receiving above-average rainfall counts. The Marin Municipal Water District recorded 62 inches of rain from July 2023 through June, or about 120% of the average of 52 inches. The North Marin Water District recorded 34.5 inches of rain at Stafford Lake, its reservoir in Novato, exceeding its average of 27.3 inches. Since 2023, the district has been examining the best ways to increase water supply ahead of the next drought. A recent analysis showed that a project to modify Nicasio Reservoir’s spillway gates to add 3,000 acre-feet of water storage would be the most efficient way to boost supply. The $5 million project is anticipated to produce 750 acre-feet of water annually in dry conditions. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons. Other potential projects include enlarged reservoirs, a desalination plant, new pipelines to connect to the Russian River and other improvements to the water supply system. Public safety After years of work on a lifesaving barrier on the Golden Gate Bridge, officials celebrated the completion of the $224 million project this year. “This deterrent is not just a physical barrier, it is a symbol of our collective effort to prevent the loss of life and the lifelong heartache that follows,” said Kymberlyrenee Gamboa, whose 18-year-old son Kyle Gamboa died after jumping off the bridge in 2013. “This deterrent shows we care, that we all care about human beings, that we all care about life.” Also this year, e-bike safety was enhanced by new school rules and legislation. The development came amid public health reports that injuries are rising for youths — especially those younger than 16 — riding e-bikes that travel more than 20 miles per hour. Assemblymember Damon Connolly, a Democrat from San Rafael, introduced Assembly Bill 1778, which aimed to prohibit riders under 16 from operating Class 2 electric bikes and require riders to wear a helmet. The legislation proposed the rules as a pilot program for Marin County. Housing This month, the San Rafael City Council approved a proposal to redevelop the Northgate mall with 1,422 residences around shops and restaurants, capping more than three years of planning and contentious hearings. Detractors objected to the size of the complex and the influx of new residents they said could create traffic and safety issues in the neighborhood. Supporters praised the project for creating needed housing. In Marin City, opponents are resisting a large apartment project at 825 Drake Ave. A group called Save Our City filed a lawsuit last year to void a 3-2 decision by the Board of Supervisors to approve issuing up to $40 million in bonds to underwrite. In November, Marin County Superior Court judge nullified approvals for the tax-exempt bond funds. Meanwhile, the county continued to grapple with homelessness. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered state agencies this summer to remove homeless encampments, clearing the path for Marin municipalities to begin enforcing new camping rules that had been blocked by the courts. Supported by a $5.9 million grant, San Rafael opened an authorized camping area with 50 tents at Mahon Creek Path in October. The program offers social services and potential access to housing. Marin County is using an $8.67 million state grant to support a project to create housing for about 60 Latino service and agricultural workers in Bolinas. A $3.72 million grant is supporting an effort to find housing for a large group of vehicle inhabitants along Binford Road in unincorporated Novato. Land use After nearly 30 years of wrangling among the landowners and preservationists, the Marin County Open Space District closed escrow this year on its $42.1 million purchase of the Martha Co. property in Tiburon, a 110-acre ridgetop tract with panoramic views. The property is being annexed into the 122-acre Old Saint Hilary’s property, a popular hiking destination. In western Marin, the National Park Service approved a plan to remove a tule elk enclosure fence at Point Reyes National Seashore. But the agency only removed 850 feet of the 2-mile fence before being stalled by a federal lawsuit from the California Cattlemen’s Association, which has asked the court for an injunction. Parks officials and supporters said removing the barrier would enable the elk to access additional habitat, increase the species’ population resilience during drought and promote a more natural population cycle. The California Cattlemen’s Association lawsuit asserts that giving the elk freedom to roam will devastate ranching operations. Child care, education After two years of controversy, Ross Valley School District trustees agreed to sell the property that houses the Fairfax-San Anselmo Children’s Center at Deer Park in Fairfax. The nonprofit Seiderman Legacy Children’s Fund closed escrow on the $2 million deal in May and offered the children’s center a long-term lease there. The saga began in 2022 after the district deemed the property and determined it needed about $8 million worth of work to bring it up to local and state code. Staff recommended the district evict the center because of the liability concerns, prompting a community outcry. In Mill Valley, environmental issues put plans for a new $130 million Mill Valley Middle School on hold. The delay is for more studies at the campus at 425 Sycamore Ave., which used to be a burn dump. The district’s plan is to demolish the school and rebuild it at the same site. More than 200 parents signed an online petition calling for the district to rethink both the middle school site and the site of temporary classrooms during construction. The petition calls the project site dangerous because of its position on the former dump. A draft environmental impact report, which had been scheduled to be finished in October, won’t be released until February.
John Parker Romo made a 29-yard field goal to lift the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-27 overtime win against the host Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. Romo buried the game-winning kick in his third career game for Minnesota (9-2), which won its fourth game in a row. The score capped a 10-play, 68-yard drive for the Vikings after the Bears went three-and-out on the first overtime possession. Sam Darnold completed 22 of 34 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings. Wideout Jordan Addison finished with eight catches for a career-high 162 yards and a touchdown. The overtime defeat spoiled an impressive performance from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who completed 32 of 47 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns for Chicago (4-7). D.J. Moore had seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown, and Keenan Allen finished with nine catches for 86 yards and a score. Chicago erased an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime. Romo had put Minnesota on top 27-16 when he made a 26-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in the fourth quarter. Williams trimmed the Bears' deficit to 27-24 with 22 seconds to go. He rolled right and found Allen wide open in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown, and moments later he fired a strike to Moore for a two-point conversion. The Bears recovered an onside kick on the next play to regain possession at their 43-yard line with 21 seconds left. Cairo Santos' onside kick bounced off the foot of Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt, and Tarvarius Moore recovered it. D.J. Moore put the Bears in field-goal position with a 27-yard reception across the middle of the field, and Santos made a 48-yarder as time expired to even the score at 27-all. Minnesota led 24-10 after three quarters. Romo made a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter, and Aaron Jones punched in a 2-yard run with 1:22 left in the period to put the Vikings on top by two touchdowns. Addison and Jalen Nailor each had receiving touchdowns in the first half for Minnesota. Roschon Johnson scored on a 1-yard run for the Bears' only touchdown of the first half. Chicago trailed 14-10 at the break. --Field Level Media
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Roselyn Baker is not a firefighter anymore. That part of her life came to a screeching halt when she reported a complaint to her boss, the Monroe Rural Protection Fire District's chief, and was fired the same day, two hours later. Following her termination, nearly half of Monroe’s firefighters resigned . It’s been almost a year, and in that time, the district has racked up more than $8,000 in legal fees and paid Baker a $125,000 settlement after she filed a tort claim, alleging retaliation, wrongful termination and other misdeeds. The Fire District conducted an investigation , but the results were not released, with officials citing attorney-client privilege. People are also reading... Albany school support staff call for schools to close Jan. 6 As I See It: Why I really resigned from the Corvallis Planning Commission Unsafe left turn on Highway 20 in Linn County leads to fatal crash Two Albany residents killed in Linn County crash Samaritan Health Services CEO resigns Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Group wants to make Corvallis downtown more sophisticated Albany shelter faces federal lawsuit as whistleblower faces homelessness Family of hit-and-run victim seeks closure, clues that will lead to driver As I See It: The people of Benton County deserve leadership that promotes dialogue Christmas Eve hit-and-run causes domino effect in Albany Has a hard nonconference schedule prepared the Oregon State women's basketball team for the WCC? Corvallis high schoolers: We don't trust district to handle bias reports Albany man indicted in attempted murder case Oregon State celebrates Murphy's arrival while Washington State loses coach, quarterback The decision to close the investigation to the public was one made by the district's board of directors, according to Chief Chris Barnes. In the aftermath of the controversy, the district has updated its employee handbook and incorporated “relevant training” to prevent future incidents, Barnes said, adding staffing levels have returned normal. But for Baker, the actions signal a lack of accountability. “They sacrificed the integrity of the department to keep the people at the top,” she said. Earlier this year, several volunteer firefighters resigned from the Monroe Rural Fire Protection District following the termination of a staff firefighter after she had issued a complaint to Chief Barnes. The genesis of the complaint traces back to the January winter storm that blanketed the mid-Willamette Valley with a layer of ice . Barnes and Baker, who was an acting-in-capacity lieutenant, responded to a call at a Benton County home, according to a letter she wrote to Barnes. During the Jan. 16 incident, Baker put her portable radio on the back of her pants, attached to her duty belt and bent down to evaluate a patient. Wanting to call more medics to the scene, Barnes approached Baker from behind and grabbed her radio, yanking it several times before freeing it from her belt, the letter, dated Jan. 22, said. “The action of approaching me from behind and removing the radio from my belt made me feel extremely uncomfortable. I am more than capable of removing the portable radio from my belt in a timely manner if you are unable to find yours,” the letter says. Baker specifically asked Barnes not to touch her or her belt unless her life is under immediate threat or if she has given explicit permission. Within two hours of delivering her written complaint to Barnes, she was fired, according to the tort claim, filed two weeks later on Jan. 30. Tort claims against governmental agencies are often precursors to lawsuits. Copies of both the dated letter Baker brought to Barnes and her last check are included in the tort claim. After learning of the termination — one of only three paid positions at the district — five volunteer firefighters resigned and signed a letter sent to the board of directors, indicating they had no confidence in Chief Barnes' leadership. Resigned volunteer firefighters indicated they would return if an investigation were launched and Barnes were placed on administrative leave. They got half of what they wanted: An investigation was conducted, but Barnes was not placed on administrative leave. Shortly after the board's vote to conduct an investigation, the only remaining paid staff firefighter also resigned because of Baker’s termination. With the changes in staffing, some resigned firefighters expressed concerns about the district's ability to get to calls fast enough. However, Barnes maintained in an email that no call times were affected. Today, staffing is normal. Four paid positions, two part-time and two full-time, are filled, he said. Volunteers total 16, with two recruits finishing up at the academy, he added. The tort claim filed with the district describes battery, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, whistleblowing retaliation and wrongful termination at the hands of the fire chief. In response, Monroe Rural Fire Protection District has paid over $8,300 in attorney fees from January to July, according to invoices from Local Government Law Group obtained in a public records request. The first charge appears Jan. 23, a day after Baker’s termination. Barnes declined to comment about the settlement Baker received, but Baker said she accepted a $125,000 settlement in August. Before that, she was asked to come back to her position. Mid-Valley Media obtained the letter that was addressed to her lawyer. “After careful consideration, the district is willing to allow Ms. Baker to return to work immediately, in her same position without any loss of pay or benefits,” the Feb. 15 letter penned by Spencer Rockwell of Special Districts Insurance Services reads. “I have been asked by the district to assist them in this matter,” the letter says. At the time, the investigation was not yet complete looking into the allegations Baker made, the letter acknowledges. In February, the board of directors voted to investigate the allegations against Barnes. Mid-Valley Media attempted to obtain the records from Monroe Rural Protection Fire District, but the request was denied, based on an Oregon state law that exempts documents produced under attorney-client privilege. “The investigation was completed by a third-party and at the control and direction of the District’s legal counsel. The investigator issued a report to legal counsel. The report is an attorney-client privileged document, unconditionally exempt from disclosure, and not subject to an analysis of the public interest,” Mark Wolf of Local Government Law Group wrote in a letter to the Benton County District Attorney, to whom Mid-Valley Media appealed after its public records request was denied. When asked why the records were not released, Barnes said the decision to conduct the investigation the way it did was made by the board of directors. He couldn't speak to it. When asked what he thinks the public should know about the investigation, he gave the following reply by email: “That the board of directors fulfilled their obligation as elected officials, by investigating the matter and based on the findings of those results, made decisions that best suited the district and the public,” he said. When asked if any new trainings or changes were put in place to prevent future incidents, Barnes replied: “The board has adopted a revised and current employee handbook in collaboration with HR Answers, a Special District Association of Oregon affiliate. MRFPD has instituted additional training in relevant topics.” Inside a Corvallis coffee shop, Baker’s hands clasped over a to-go paper cup. She doesn't socialize much in Monroe anymore, she said. She doesn’t eat out at restaurants or even do much shopping there because she doesn’t want to run into anyone from the fire department. Monroe, a town of 763 according to the 2023 U.S. Census, is a place where people don’t ask very many questions, she said. She thought residents might come to the public meetings to see why firefighters were resigning. But they didn’t. On social media, some residents shared that they thought Baker was complaining because she got fired, she said. No one seemed to ask questions there either. “Some people had their minds set. People in Monroe don’t ask questions unless it benefits them or their agenda,” she said. Some of her interactions in the small town felt outright hostile. A former member of the Fire District called a local TV news station to show up to Baker's doorstep, without any warning. She knows who it was because she asked the newscaster who sent her the news tip, she said. “It felt like a direct attempt to humiliate me by invading my privacy,” she said. It’s been almost a year since the day Baker was terminated, but the details are still fresh in her mind. Baker purposely went to deliver her complaint with two other firefighters, who stood in earshot, she said. The chief had a track record of being defensive, and she didn’t want to be alone when she brought in the note. She remembers joking with her coworkers that she was going to get fired for raising a complaint, she said. Then she was. “I just wanted to keep my head down and do my job and maybe ask someone not to touch me, you know, that's it. That's it. I wasn’t even asking for him to get written up,” she said. When five volunteer firefighters resigned, saying they would return if Barnes was put on administrative leave, Baker thought that the board might grant their request. But they didn’t. Being a firefighter is a difficult job; you have to put faith and trust in your team, she said. You are being asked to put in time and effort and may even be risking fellow firefighters' lives at times. Instead, she felt like firefighters, including herself, were treated like they were disposable. “If you want people to actually care about the job they're doing and put in that time and effort, you take pride in it. You have to treat them right. You have to protect your employees,” she said. Watching it all unfold, Baker is now left with a feeling that is difficult to describe. “I feel like I got betrayed,” she said. It almost sounds too dramatic, she said, but it’s the only word that can really describe the heavy emotion, she said. Before events unfolded, she looks back at her time at Monroe Fire as rewarding. She wouldn’t go back and change that just because of what happened in the end, Baker said. At the same time, if she had a daughter, she wouldn’t want her to be a firefighter directly because of her experience, she said. Looking for a fresh start, Baker enrolled in dental hygienist school. She hasn’t tried to apply to any firefighting jobs since. It feels like something she has in her “back pocket,” but for now the feelings are too fresh, and frankly she has become disillusioned. “There was no integrity, no accountability, she said, “ I lost faith in the system, and I didn’t want to risk it again.” Related stories: Why nearly half of Monroe's volunteer firefighters resigned Shayla Escudero Allegations against Monroe fire chief to be investigated Shayla Escudero Another Monroe firefighter resigns amid allegations against chief Shayla Escudero Shayla Escudero graduated University of Southern California with a Master of Science in Journalism. She covers Albany city hall and Linn County. She is passionate about telling people forward stories and shining a light on injustices. She can be reached at Shayla.Escudero@lee.net Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. 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Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In Wolfspeed To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $75,000 in Wolfspeed between August 16, 2023 and November 6, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Wolfspeed, Inc. (“Wolfspeed” or the “Company”) (NYSE: WOLF) and reminds investors of the January 17, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com . The complaint alleges that defendants provided the public with revenue projections that depended on Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley fabrication facility ramping its production to meet and/or exceed demand for its 200mm wafer product. On November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 and unveiled guidance for the second quarter well below expectations. While defendants had repeatedly claimed that 20% utilization of the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility would result in $100 million revenue out of the facility, defendants now guided to a range 30% to 50% below that mark. The Company attributed its results and lowered guidance to “demand ... ramp[ing] more slowly than we originally anticipated” as “EV customers revise their launch time lines as the market works though this transition period.” Investors and analysts reacted immediately to Wolfspeed’s revelation. The price of Wolfspeed’s common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $13.71 per share on November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed’s stock price fell to $8.33 per share on November 7, 2024, a decline of about 39.24% in the span of just a single day. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Wolfspeed’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Wolfspeed, Inc. class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/WOLF or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc26f750-62fc-4fb1-a124-860425e3f446“The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few metres from where we were — and the runway were damaged,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on the social media platform X. He added that he and UN colleagues were safe. “We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave,” he said. UN spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay later said the injured person was with the UN Humanitarian Air Service. Our mission to negotiate the release of @UN staff detainees and to assess the health and humanitarian situation in #Yemen concluded today. We continue to call for the detainees' immediate release. As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about two hours ago, the airport... pic.twitter.com/riZayWHkvf — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 26, 2024 Israel’s army later told The Associated Press it was not aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. The Israeli strikes followed several days of Houthi launches setting off sirens in Israel. The Israeli military in a statement said it attacked infrastructure used by the Iran-backed Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa and ports in Hodeida, Al-Salif and Ras Qantib, along with power stations, asserting they were used to smuggle in Iranian weapons and for the entry of senior Iranian officials. Israel’s military added it had “capabilities to strike very far from Israel’s territory — precisely, powerfully, and repetitively”. The strikes, carried out over 1,000 miles from Jerusalem, came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “the Houthis, too, will learn what Hamas and Hezbollah and Assad’s regime and others learned” as his military has battled those more powerful proxies of Iran. The Houthi-controlled satellite channel al-Masirah reported multiple deaths and showed broken windows, collapsed ceilings and a bloodstained floor and vehicle. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the strikes. The US military has also targeted the Houthis in recent days. The UN has said the targeted ports are important entry points for humanitarian aid for Yemen, the poorest Arab nation that plunged into a civil war in 2014. Over the weekend, 16 people were wounded when a Houthi missile hit a playground in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv, while other missiles and drones have been shot down. Last week, Israeli jets struck Sanaa and Hodeida, killing nine people, calling it a response to previous Houthi attacks. The Houthis also have been targeting shipping on the Red Sea corridor in what it says is an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The UN Security Council has an emergency meeting on Monday in response to an Israeli request that it condemn the Houthi attacks and Iran for supplying them with weapons.By DEE-ANN DURBIN and MANUEL VALDES, Associated Press SEATAC, Washington (AP) — Background music is no longer an afterthought at many airports, which are hiring local musicians and carefully curating playlists to help lighten travelers’ moods . London’s Heathrow Airport built a stage to showcase emerging British performers for the first time this summer. The program was so successful the airport hopes to bring it back in 2025. Nashville International Airport has five stages that host more than 800 performances per year, from country musicians to jazz combos. In the Dominican Republic , Punta Cana International Airport greets passengers with live merengue music. Tiffany Idiart and her two nieces were delighted to hear musicians during a recent layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport . “I like it. There’s a lot of people here and they can all hear it,” said Grace Idiart, 9. “If their flight got delayed or something like that, they could have had a hard day. And so the music could have made them feel better.” Airports are also carefully curating their recorded playlists. Detroit Metro Airport plays Motown hits in a tunnel connecting its terminals. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has a playlist of local artists compiled by an area radio station. Singapore’s Changi Airport commissioned a special piano accompaniment for its giant digital waterfall. Music isn’t a new phenomenon in airport terminals. Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports,” an album released in 1978, helped define the ambient music genre. It’s minimalist and designed to calm. But Barry McPhillips, the head of international creative for Mood Media, which provides music for airports and other public spaces, said technology is enabling background music to be less generic and more tailored to specific places or times of day. Mood Media – formerly known as Muzak – develops playlists to appeal to business travelers or families depending on who’s in the airport at any given time. It might program calmer music in the security line but something more energizing in the duty-free store. “We see it as a soundscape,” McPhillips said. “We design for all of these moments.” There’s a science to Mood Music’s decisions on volume, tempo, even whether to play a song in a major key versus a minor one, he added. “How do we want to affect their mood at that moment?” McPhillips said. “It’s not just like, ‘Here’s a load of songs.’ It’s a load of songs for that 10-minute segment, and then we move to the next 10 minutes.” At the same time, many airports are going low-tech, hiring local musicians to serenade travelers and give them a sense of the place they’re passing through. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports have more than 100 live performances each year. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport began a live music program five years ago and now has two stages featuring local artists. Tami Kuiken, the manager of airport music in Seattle, said the Seattle-Tacoma airport launched its live music program about a decade ago after a city commissioner heard live music at the airport in Austin, Texas . “The idea was like, ’Man, why doesn’t Seattle have music? We’re a music city too,” Kuiken said. At first, the airport created a playlist featuring emerging artists along with famous ones like Pearl Jam . Then it decided to try live musicians for a 12-week trial. It was so successful that the airport now features live musicians daily and is building new performance spaces. “People’s anxiety levels are very high when they’re traveling,” Kuiken said. “The feedback that we started getting was that once they got through the checkpoint and they were greeted with music, all of a sudden their anxiety and stress levels dropped.” The programs also benefit musicians, who get paid to perform and gain wider exposure. When Colorado Springs Airport announced a live music program in March, more than 150 musicians applied. It now hosts two two-hour performances each week. David James, a singer and guitarist who plays at Seattle’s airport about once a week, said waking up in time for a daytime gig took some adjustment. But he’s gained new fans from all over the world. “I get really sweet responses from people all the time, saying, ‘That was so soothing to be able to just sit and listen to music in between flights,’” James said. “So it feels like it’s especially therapeutic for people.” Country stars like Blake Shelton and Keith Urban have come through Nashville’s airport and interacted with local musicians, said Stacey Nickens, the airport’s vice president of corporate communications and marketing. Shelton even gave one his guitar. Otto Stuparitz, a musicologist and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam who has studied airport music, said airports should think carefully about their selections. Music that’s meant to be actively listened to – like live music or catchy pop songs – can be very distracting in an already chaotic environment, he said. He has noticed some airports – especially in Europe — turning off piped melodies altogether. But McPhillips said big spaces like airports can feel cold and unwelcoming without background music. “A well-crafted audio strategy is one that people aren’t particularly cognizant of,” he said. “They just know they’re having a good time and that it’s appropriate.” Durbin reported from Detroit.None
Like your pet more than people? So did some of the Greco-RomansDallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has now said a mouthful on the idea of hiring Deion Sanders to be the next head coach of "America's Team.'' But as it regards the iconic former NFL star and Colorado head coach Sanders, it's what Jerry isn't saying that seems to be hovering under the radar. In addition to Sanders having directly expressed to CowboysCountry.com his absence of interest in the job, Jerry does not sound particularly enthusiastic about the potential hook-up. “I think we're way ahead of ourselves relative to when and if he decides to go into coaching in the NFL,” Jones said on Thursday via 105.3 The Fan. “But make no mistake about it, he's one of the top people, young and old, that I've been around in the NFL." "Top people''? For sure. But what about Deion's qualifications? Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK "One of his greatest skills, that he really brings to college, is that he almost has no peer as far as being a recruiter,” Jones said. “Kids want to come play for him. And he has a way of selling that. That is one skill, that recruiting skill, that is not a huge prerequisite for NFL coaches.” That's what Jerry is really saying here. Jones and Sanders obviously have a relationship dating back to Deion’s time as a Super Bowl-winning star here in Dallas. But it is our informed impression that the Jones family will be leaning towards hiring a head coach with NFL experience. (All of this based on the safe assumption that lame-duck incumbent coach Mike McCarthy is not in place in 2025.) Jones doesn't want to obviously shoot down ideas in public. Nor does he want to insult anybody, especially a "friend.'' So some level of open-mindedness and a high level of politeness is part of this process. Related: Cowboys 2 Insiders Reveal Deion 'Interest' Blockbuster Move News There are, to the Joneses, other ideas. And better ideas. From where we sit, hiring Bill Belichick is among those. And a lot of names like Kliff Kingbury's are likely on the list as well. Deion says he's "happy where I am, I’m good.'' And it seems like Jerry Jones is happy with Deion in college football as well. And short of any unforeseen change in "happiness''? They are both telling us their real truths. Related: Source Says Kingsbury to ‘Audition’ for Cowboys Job with Jerry
SOLVIT System Wins CES 2025 Innovation Award, Illuminating Paths to Save Lives in Radio Shadow AreasSAN ANTONIO (AP) — Damari Monsanto's 22 points helped UTSA defeat Southwestern Adventist 117-58 on Thursday. Monsanto added six rebounds for the Roadrunners (6-5). Sky Wicks scored 20 points while shooting 8 for 12, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc and added eight rebounds and three steals. Amir "Primo" Spears shot 5 of 10 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 6 from the line to finish with 16 points. Domonique Wilkins and Orlando Gooden each scored 19 points for Southwestern Adventist. Jason Garcia had 13 points, four assists and two steals. Story continues below video Monsanto led his team in scoring with 16 points in the first half to help put them up 61-24 at the break. UTSA extended its lead to 87-38 during the second half, fueled by a 13-3 scoring run. Wicks scored a team-high 10 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .IIT-M to hold Open House on January 3, 4Oregon State on the verge of bowling, best win of the season? 8 takeaways from the Beavers win over Washington State
With new phones launching every month, it's hard to keep tabs on the top devices available in each price segment. In order to make the buying choice easier, we have made a list of top phones one can consider when purchasing a phone under ₹ 40,000. This list includes phones from brands like OnePlus, Realme, Motorola and Vivo. Best phones under ₹ 40,000 in December 2024: 1) OnePlus 12R: OnePlus 12R features a 6.78-inch AMOLED ProXDR display with LTPO4.0, offering a dynamic 1-120Hz refresh rate. The smartphonehouses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and Adreno 740 GPU under the hood, it offers a maximum of 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. Its 5,500mAh battery enables rapid charging with a 100W SUPERVOOC charger. The camera setup features a 50MP Sony IMX890 main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), alongside an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. For selfies, there's a 16MP front camera. The camera app offers Interval Shooting, Nightscape, Pro Mode, Movie Mode, and more. Connectivity options include NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, and dual nano-SIM slots. 2) Vivo T3 Ultra: Vivo T3 Ultra 5G features a 6.78-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution (2800 x 1260). The screen supports a 120Hz refresh rate and is capable of rendering up to 1.07 billion colours. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14. Under the hood, the Vivo T3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Vivo claims the device has achieved an impressive Antutu benchmark score exceeding 1.6 million. It packs a 5500mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging. On the camera front, the Vivo T3 Ultra sports a dual-camera setup at the rear, including a 50MP Sony IMX921 primary sensor with optical image stabilization and an 8MP ultrawide lens. For selfies and video calls, the phone features a 50MP front-facing camera. It also includes Vivo's signature ‘Aura Ring Light’ for enhanced photography under low lighting conditions. 3) Realme GT 6: Realme GT 6 feature a 6.78 inch LTPO AMOLED display with 6,000 nits of peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. It runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset with Adreno 735 GPU for handling graphics heavy tasks. There is support for up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB 4.0 storage. For optics, there is a triple camera setup including 50MP Sony LYT 808 shooter, 50MP Sony JN5 telephoto lens and an 8MP Sony IMX355 ultra-wide angle lens. For selfies and video calls, there is a 32MP Sony IMX615 shooter that supports up to 4K video recording. 4) Motorola Edge 50 Pro: Motorola Edge 50 Pro 5G houses a powerful Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, featuring an octa-core processor setup that includes a 2.63 GHz single core, 2.4 GHz tri-core, and 1.8 GHz quad-core configuration. With 8 GB RAM, users can expect a seamless multitasking experience and excellent speed. The phone’s 6.7-inch FHD+ P-OLED display boasts a 144 Hz refresh rate, which promises smooth and immersive visuals, ideal for both gaming and streaming. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the device’s 50 MP + 13 MP + 10 MP triple-camera array, while a 50 MP front camera caters to high-quality selfies. A 4500 mAh battery, coupled with Turbo Power Charging and a USB Type-C port, ensures efficient power management and swift charging.
Japan Tokyo Consumer Price Index (YoY): 3% (December) vs 2.6%