Stock market today: Wall Street drifts lower after weak signals on the economy
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward keeps rewriting the Miami record book. Ward, a Heisman Trophy contender who already holds the Hurricanes' single-season record for touchdown passes and is on pace to break the school marks for completion percentage, set two more school records on Saturday — both at Bernie Kosar's expense. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984, and for the next 40 years nobody matched those numbers — until now. “Congrats #CamWard,” Kosar posted on social media. “U R Awesome.” Everyone seems to think so — except Ward, that is. He has made clear all season that personal accomplishments and stats are of little, if any, importance to him. “It really doesn't mean anything ... The receiving group that I have, the O-line that I have, any quarterback in this position could set records," Ward said. Ward's 13-yard completion to Damien Martinez with 1:27 left in the second quarter gave him 3,643 yards for the season and broke that record. And in the third quarter, Ward threw a 15-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo for his 263rd completion of the year — topping another of Kosar's marks. Ward is up to 34 touchdown passes this season; the previous Miami record was 29 by Steve Walsh in 1988. And with a completion rate of 67.2%, Ward is on pace to break Miami's single-season completion percentage mark of 65.8% set last year by Tyler Van Dyke as well as the Miami career mark of 64.3% set by D'Eriq King in 2020 and 2021. “He only cares about winning,” wide receiver Jacolby George said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Wheel of Fortune — one of the best game shows of all time — is firmly in its Ryan Seacrest era, with the host taking over for Pat Sajak when the current season premiered on the 2024 TV schedule . Wheel Watchers were overall complimentary of Seacrest in his new role, and ratings indicated the takeover was a success . Now, a couple of months into Ryan’s reign, we’ve reached the point where fans are recommending nicknames for Seacrest, and you guys, some of these are wild. The nickname thing apparently started when Ryan Seacrest called his beloved co-host Vanna White “V-Dubs,” and she thought it was only fair for him to have a nickname as well. The longtime letter-turner took to social media, asking fans for their suggestions, which you can see below on Instagram: A post shared by Wheel of Fortune (@wheeloffortune) A photo posted by on The agreed-upon favorite was “Ryan-stone Cowboy” — despite it being spelled in the video like the Glen Campbell song, it’s clear the hosts are working Seacrest’s name into it — and of the three options given, that was probably the best. Fans didn’t stop there, though, with many adding their own suggestions in the comments section of the post. The Ryan-stone Cowboy might want to hold onto his bejeweled hat for these, because there are some real groaners ahead: “High-Flyin’ Ryan” – dwayneisgrig Wheel of FortuRyan – jbentup Rockin’ Ryan would be a better nickname, since he’s rocking the host of Wheel and American Idol and New Years Rockin Eve – bigman.l96 Gamma Ray Ryan (he seems to have tons of energy) – mrgabrielconrad I just call him HOT STUFF. – crystal.unscripted Let’s just say some of those are better than others, and HR might have something to say about that last one if Vanna White really did just start calling the new host “hot stuff.” From the clip it looks like Ryan Seacrest is being a good sport about the nickname suggestions, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have been watching him work. The host was quite gracious about one contestant’s impressively bad guess , and it was pretty funny to watch how he handled one particularly bizarre situation (one that had fans calling for a Wheel of Fortune rule change ). Will those good graces continue when he reads what other nicknames his viewers have come up with? More comments included: CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News Ry-Guy, or Ry-Ry, or Ryzzle. Ryzzle could be a combination for Ryan and Dazzle. – beverly.c.sanders.3 American Rydol – nickcpickles Seacrest Express – kaileyyhale How 'bout Wheelin' Dealin' Ryan 🤵🏼💰🎉 – callmemisterj Sea-money! – kbsquared_1129 He’ll always be ryry to me – ninergrl6 Some wild ideas, to be sure. It’ll be interesting to see if Vanna White keeps up her search for something fun to call her colleague, and I would particularly love to see our “Ryan-stone Cowboy” possibly getting into it by incorporating some rhinestones into his wardrobe. Just something for “American Rydol” to think about. Check your local listings to see when to catch R-Sea Cola as the host of Wheel of Fortune in your area.Lineage, Inc. (LINE) To Go Ex-Dividend on December 31st
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”
Trump taps Devin Nunes, two other Californians for administration posts
Morgan Wallen pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment , reduced from the three Class E felonies he was initially charged with, ending an eight-month process for the country crooner. He will be held for seven days in a DUI education center. He will then be on supervised probation for two years. Wallen, with a fresh haircut and clean shave, appeared alongside his attorney, Worrick Robinson, to accept the plea. It was the first time the singer made an in-person appearance in a courtroom for the charges. The hearing lasted 10 minutes. When Judge Cynthia Chappell asked how Wallen pleaded, he replied: "Conditionally guilty." More: Timeline of Morgan Wallen's rollercoaster career after his most recent arrest Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Wallen was charged with three counts of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, after he threw a chair from the roof of Chief's, a six-story honky-tonk on Broadway opened by Eric Church, in April. As soon as Chappell entered her judgment, Wallen was swiftly ushered out of the courtroom, Robinson beside him and bodyguards flanking them. Wallen made no comments as he got into an elevator. In a written statement issued after the proceedings, Robinson said Wallen's agreement, should his client adhere to all provisions, will "not result in a conviction." Wallen will also have to pay a $350 fine and court fees. "Upon the successful completion of his probation, the charges will be eligible for dismissal and expungement," Robinson said. "Mr. Wallen has cooperated fully with authorities throughout these last eight months, directly communicating and apologizing to all involved. Mr. Wallen remains committed to making a positive impact through his music and foundation." According to court records from April, it was minutes before 11 p.m. when police officers standing in front of Chief's bar saw a chair come flying down, crashing onto the street just three feet from two officers. Security footage from the bar showed Wallen throw an object over the roof, according to his arrest affidavit. After his arrest, Wallen posted a $15,250 bond and was released the next morning. Days later, Wallen took to social media to accept responsibility for the offense. "I didn't feel right publicly checking in until I made amends with some folks," he said in the post to X, formerly known as Twitter. "I've touched base with Nashville law enforcement, my family, and the good people at Chief’s. I'm not proud of my behavior, and I accept responsibility." In a Tuesday hearing , Wallen's attorney told General Sessions Judge Jim Todd that the singer was waiving his right to a preliminary hearing and a grand jury presentment. The case was quickly rolled into circuit criminal court Wednesday and a hearing was promptly scheduled to accept his plea. Records filed Wednesday showed details of the agreement and the lessening of charges to two counts of reckless endangerment without a deadly weapon. The charges each carried a maximum sentence of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. In November, Wallen was named Entertainer of the Year at the 58th Annual CMA Awards. Wallen was not in attendance, and the presenter, actor Jeff Bridges, accepted the award on his behalf. Contributing: Evan Mealins, The Nashville TennesseanFormer president Jimmy Carter died Sunday at the age of 100. Carter won three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album, in 2007, 2016, and 2019. His audiobooks, including Our Endangered Values, A Full Life, and Faith - A Journey for All, explore his life, presidency, and faith. LOS ANGELES - Former president Jimmy Carter may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of Grammy Award winners, but he actually has three awards. He's also been nominated nine times. In 2007, the 39th president won his first Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for his audiobook "Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis." The book was listed at number one on The New York Times Non-Fiction Best Seller list at the time of its release. Then in 2016, Carter won his second Grammy for "A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety." The audiobook, narrated by Carter himself, chronicles his life and career, from his childhood in rural Georgia to his time in the White House and beyond. It also features recordings of Carter's speeches and interviews, giving listeners a unique once-in-a-lifetime personal look into his perspective on politics, religion, and social issues that shaped his presidency and later, philanthropic career. FROM THE ARCHIVES: LiveNOW's Andrew Craft discusses the life and legacy of former first lady Rosalynn Carter with The First Ladies Man Andrew Och and Barbara Perry, the Director of Presidential Studies at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. Carter received his third Grammy in 2019, again for Best Spoken Word Album, this time for his audiobook "Faith - A Journey for All." RELATED: Jimmy Carter, 39th president of the United States, dies at 100 The book explores the role of faith in Carter's life and how it has influenced his work in politics and humanitarianism. Like "A Full Life," the audiobook features recordings of Carter's speeches and interviews and new material narrated by Carter. Bob Dylan and former United States President Jimmy Carter attend the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) In addition to his Grammy wins, Carter has also received numerous other honors and awards throughout his life, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work with the Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 to promote democracy, human rights, and public health around the world. Habitat for Humanity has become synonymous with Jimmy Carter. The organization's CEO in Nashville, Tennessee joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to talk about the former president's legacy. Only two other presidents have won Grammy Awards, including Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. This story is based on information from Grammy Award records, details about Jimmy Carter's audiobooks and their content, and insights into his accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize and his work with the Carter Center. Additional context comes from historical references to Carter's life, public speeches, and his contributions to politics, humanitarianism, and literature, alongside comparisons to other presidential Grammy winners like Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.