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The FBI secured permission to record the phone calls of former Hillary Clinton campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle in October 2014, in the early stages of what turned out to be a massive public corruption investigation in which Solis Doyle was never charged, an agent testified Thursday. The investigation was not related to the presidential campaign, instead focusing on Solis Doyle’s brother’s dealings in the Chicago City Council. The disclosure came during the testimony of veteran FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald, who in June 2016 confronted Doyle’s brother, then-Chicago Ald. Danny Solis (25th). The FBI had wiretapped Danny Solis’ phone for several months in 2014 and 2015. Along the way, McDonald testified that they overheard the siblings discussing how to split a $100,000 payment the developer of the Nobu Hotel offered to Patti Solis Doyle. That development wound up being featured in a 2016 FBI affidavit first obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times in January 2019. The wiretap on Patti Solis Doyle’s phone was not fruitful and did not “last longer than several months,” McDonald told jurors, confirming his testimony was the first public disclosure of the recording. Through a spokesperson, Solis Doyle declined the Sun-Times’ request for comment. McDonald delivered his testimony in the racketeering conspiracy trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and his longtime ally, Michael McClain. Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise designed to enhance his political power and enrich his allies. Danny Solis was spotted in Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Courthouse on Thursday and was expected to take the witness stand in short order. He began cooperating with the FBI in 2016 and continued until the Chicago Sun-Times revealed his undercover work in January 2019. In fact, McDonald confirmed for a prosecutor Thursday that Solis’ cover was “blown” by the newspaper’s reporting. Patti Solis Doyle managed Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. Her name surfaced Thursday along with Brian Hynes, a one-time legislative aide to Madigan, in relation to the Nobu Hotel project. Doyle and Hynes were co-founders of a business founded in 2010 — Vendor Assistance Program — that aimed at helping the state of Illinois pay unpaid bills to vendors. She sold her interest in the company in 2016. Under the program, VAP and the other companies front unpaid state contractors most of what Springfield owes them, and VAP and other “qualified purchasers” go on to pocket the late-payment penalties from the state. For VAP, that business has proven to be wildly successful, especially at a time when the state owed heavily to many vendors. Disclosures the company is required to file with the state show that through July, VAP had collected nearly $396 million in late-payment penalties from Illinois taxpayers over more than a decade. Solis Doyle grew up with her brother Danny Solis in the Pilsen neighborhood, attended Notre Dame High School for Girls on the Northwest Side and earned a communications degree from Northwestern University. Danny Solis helped her land a job in City Hall, where she ended up working on campaigns for former city Treasurer Miriam Santos and former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Solis Doyle earned the trust of David Wilhelm, who managed Daley’s 1989 campaign as well as former President Bill Clinton’s first successful White House run in 1992. Wilhelm brought Solis Doyle into the tight-knit political orbit of the Clinton family, where Solis Doyle started out as a scheduler for Hillary Clinton. Solis Doyle went on to help run Clinton’s U.S. Senate campaigns, led Clinton’s political action committee and then managed her 2008 presidential campaign. After Barack Obama beat Clinton for the nomination that year, Solis Doyle jumped to his campaign as chief of staff to then Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden. She was also an advisor on Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. For years, Solis Doyle has lived in Washington, D.C., where she’s head of U.S. public affairs for a massive advisory firm. Contributing: Anthony VazquezWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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Canada's top military commander calls out US senator for questioning a woman's role in combatMid-tier police officers will get a $750 bump to their weekly pay as they and 16,000 colleagues in the nation's biggest force share in a "generational" change to wages and conditions. Login or signup to continue reading The $697 million pay lift, which will increase most wages by at least 25 per cent over four years, is aimed at curbing growing shortages in NSW Police. The offer was backed by 96 per cent of Police Association of NSW members, a record. "Despite the challenges faced with staffing shortages, the professionalism of our police officers has been recognised with a once-in-a-generation pay rise," union president Kevin Morton said on Tuesday. The deal improves flexible work arrangements, condenses pay scales and includes a $5400 one-off leadership retention payment for senior officers More than 10,000 constables, senior constables and sergeants will receive increases of at least 25 per cent before shift allowances, with the rest getting at least 22.3 per cent. For a level-three senior constable on $107,600, they will be collecting an extra $747 per week or $39,000 per year by mid-2027. "This is a whole suite of measures," Police Minister Yasmin Catley said. "It's all about the workforce: looking after them, getting them back to work, valuing them, respecting them, and making sure that they're paying properly." It follows other recruitment incentives including payments to trainees while they live at the academy in the southern NSW city of Goulburn. The force is authorised to have more than 18,000 sworn officers but long-term retention and recruitment issues left more than 2200 positions open in August. While settling a wage dispute with a key workforce, the massive pay offer has caused consternation across the public sector since being put on the table a fortnight ago. Nurses and midwives have used the deal as a rallying cry for their demand for a 15-per-cent instant pay increase, while rail chaos was narrowly averted over the weekend as those workers pressed for 36 per cent over four years. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. 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Fresh daily!They are the cornerstone of law and order - providing law abiding folk with vital assistance and acting as a deterrent to the bad guys. But as our investigation reveals the humble police station is under threat. Hundreds have been sold off by the Tories over the past decade raising half a billion pounds. But the vanishing nicks have sparked concern over rising crime in communities across the UK. Our probe found 579 stations police houses and plots of land have been sold by forces in England Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. The total raised was a staggering £462,085,828. It covers 30 of 45 forces who answered Freedom of Information requests. The Met raked just short of £190m with huge deals from 2013-23. Chelsea police station was sold for £40m in 2015. The station in Belgravia prime real estate because of its location went for £75m in June 2022. West End police station on Savile Row brought in £56m to the Met on March 29 2021. Thames Valley made £27.3m West Midlands £15.4m Northumbria almost £34m and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight £62.5m. Police Scotland sold the most with 115 station sales and seven more up for sale. They did not give a figure for the amount raised. All the forces were asked how the money was spent. Hampshire Constabulary stressed that all sale proceeds were ring fenced for capital investment. But the vast majority stated that the money was taken back into their overall policing budgets. Stations are not just disappearing in city centres our probe showed they are being lost in rural locations. Worried residents told us how criminals are being given “a free rein” in crime-plagued estates. The latest Office For National Statistics figures reveal that knife-enabled crime in England and Wales rose by 4% in the year ending June 2024 with 50,973 offences. It marked a significant 80 percent increase over the past decade. Offences involving firearms rose by six percent to 6,268 offences to 5,917 in 2023 with a 24 percent increase in the use of imitation firearms. Robbery went up by eight percent while shoplifting offences rose by 30 percent to 443,995 overall. One city of around 347,000 people will be left with just one police station after yet another sell-off was announced. In Sunderland Tyne and Wear the Farringdon Hall site in the west of the borough is now a pile of rubble. It stood at the heart of a community where locals now feel “abandoned” by police. For eight and half years the former station stood derelict with vandals lighting fires inside. With the closure of Washington police station announced in September Sunderland’s urban area will have just one station Southwick. Farringdon Labour councillor Phil Tye said: “It’s a relief to see it now demolished because it’s been a danger to the community when once it was there to keep it safe. “However that doesn’t take anything away from the fact that the ward I represent has lost its police station and along with it any real visible police presence in the community. “I believe Sunderland as a whole is now dangerously exposed with only one working police station left in a city of this size. It’s a very worrying situation.” Local John Bruce 52 said: “The Tory government is to blame for the fact we no longer have a police station they’ve all closed because there’s been no money to keep them open. “I think Keir Starmer is a law and order man and I trust him to put more police on the street because we need them. You only have to look back a month two when we had rioting from people in Sunderland who said they were protesting about immigration. “It was a disgrace and they had to bring police in from all over to deal with it. There’s no visible police presence any more you never see them walking around and the criminals feel like they have free rein.” Anthony Stephenson 34 added: “The only time you see a police officer walking around is when there has been a road accident. “They’re not out on the streets not even the community support officers who you used to see in the fairly recent past. Closing down police stations can never be a good thing and it does affect the way people feel about their own security.” Sunderland City Council confirmed in September that the local authority had been notified about the plans to sell the building. Northumbria Police said: “Washington Police Station is an old building which is no longer fit for purpose and would require considerable investment if we were to retain the site.” They added the premises had not been open to the public “for a number of years”. But local Josephine Johnson 85 fondly remembered better days. She said: “It’s a real shame to see all these police stations closing in a place where so many people live. “When I was growing up every area had a police station but on our estate there were also two police houses where the police officers and their families lived. They were part of the community and everyone knew them and where they were if they were needed. “Things have changed so much now and it’s certainly not for the better. People feel less safe than they used to.” And Rhoda Armstrong 77 said: “There are a lot of people in Washington it’s a big place with no police station at all. It is a concern that if something happens it’s going to take a long time for anyone to reach you.” In Heswall an affluent town on the Wirral Merseyside Police sold the local police station for £1.3m in 2022. It has been turned into a pub the Harry Beswick which recently won an award for its design. Resident Neville Hope 62 an accountant said: “We are fortunate to live here but I don’t think it’s as safe as it once was. You hardly ever see a bobby on the beat now. With a lack of police presence there’s no deterrent for criminals.” Pam Walton 57 a dental hygienist added: “It is just a sad reflection that whatever government is in power there always seems to be cutbacks. All we ever hear from politicians is that they will put more police on the streets but it never seems to happen. “My friend was broken into recently and when she reported it to the police all they asked about was if there was any CCTV. When she said no she was given a crime number and told it was very unlikely anyone would be caught. It appears the police have just given up.” Russell Dakin 80 a retired engineer added: “I remember when almost every town had its own police station. Some of the smaller villages even had a police officer living there. If you had a problem you could just walk into the police station and find someone there. Communities left in fear of crime after police stations close - while the great Tory sell-off made millions “I don’t know if it actually made the town safer by having a police station but somehow it gave you some reassurance.” In the community of Selsey in East Sussex where the town council serves a population of 11,000 the local police station is on the market for 420,000 after being sold off. Coun Andrew Brown 49 a member of the Local Alliance party said: “I have lived here all my life and it was sad when it closed. It is not that they are not dealing with crime but it is about the perception of the local people they want to see bobbies on the beat. “Unfortunately the reality is that it is now dealt with by an inspector in Chichester.” In Durham the force has steadfastly refused to close any stations and they have an intercom system in 14 stations during hours when they are not manned giving a direct link to central control. Mike Barton the former chief constable of Durham Police who retired five years ago warned the sale of stations was “short-sighted.” Terry Fisher property expert at webuyanyhome.com said their FOI research showed that the sale of police stations had raised a “staggering amount of money”. He added: “While there has been a move away from some city and town centres since the Covid pandemic with more people working from home and shopping online there is still a great demand for prime real estate in prime locations - and price tags match that demand. “There are also a number in rural areas that are becoming more popular with homebuyers as they take advantage of improving technology to be able to work remotely.” A Home Office spokesman said having officers ‘visible in our communities’ remained a priority. They added: “We are committed to ensuring thousands of additional police officers police community support officers and special constables are out patrolling towns and communities as part of our mission to deliver safer streets.”NEW YORK , Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE: M) resulting from allegations that Macy's may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. So What: If you purchased Macy's securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. What to do next: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31645 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. What is this about: On November 25, 2024 , The New York Times published an article entitled "Macy's Discovers Employee Hid Millions in Delivery Expenses." This article stated that "Macy's said on Monday that an employee had "intentionally" misstated and hidden up to $154 million in delivery expenses over the past few years, forcing the retailer to delay a much-anticipated earnings report that Wall Street uses to gauge the strength of holiday shopping." On this news, the price of Macy's, Inc. stock fell 2.2% on November 25, 2024 . Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rosen-law-firm-encourages-macys-inc-investors-to-inquire-about-securities-class-action-investigation--m-302322921.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
Vikings staying on track and in control behind Sam Darnold's composure and confidenceAlex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. 📸 PORTERAZO. JULEN, JULEN! JULEN JULEN! #AthleticRealMadrid #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/w260s6xo79 — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 4, 2024 But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Esposito's penalty books Empoli's place in the next round 💪 #FiorentinaEmpoli pic.twitter.com/UUxghH9l6b — Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 4, 2024 Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.
Softchoice (TSE:SFTC) Reaches New 52-Week High – What’s Next?TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Luke Kromenhoek threw for 209 yards and tossed three touchdown passes as Florida State halted a six-game losing streak and routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday. Kromenhoek completed 13 of 20 passes in his first college start, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas, as the Seminoles (2-9) won for the first time since Sept. 21. The true freshman also connected with Amaree Williams for a 4-yard TD and Hykeem Williams for a 10-yard TD. Florida State had the nation’s lowest scoring offense at 13.3 points. The Seminoles hadn’t scored more than 21 points or surpassed the 300-yard mark in 2024. But Florida State overwhelmed FCS Charleston Southern (1-11), accumulating 415 offensive yards. Kaleb Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Landon Sauers, and an interception for the Buccaneers. The takeaway Charleston Southern: While the Buccaneers found some success through the air, they couldn’t sustain drives and managed just 57 rushing yards on 29 carries. Florida State: The Seminoles picked up a season-best 176 rushing yards, scoring 17 points in the second quarter and 14 points in the third quarter to take control. Up next Charleston Southern’s season is over. Florida State plays host to Florida on Nov. 30. AP college football: and . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter:All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Cyber Weekend: a time for relaxing and discount shopping. With Black Friday officially behind us and Cyber Monday on the way, the holiday weekend is perfect for scoring last-chance deals on holiday gifts , stocking stuffers and other things that might be on your list, such as Christmas decorations, cookware, bakeware, and winter essentials like cozy sweaters, coats , hats and scarves . See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news For music lovers, Cyber Weekend is a chance to save as much as 50% off tech essentials such as headphones, record players, speakers and other electronics to upgrade your sound system for holiday parties, streaming Christmas movies or enjoying your favorite Christmas playlist. Shopping for new shoes? You can save 30% off at Skechers , up to 90% off at Nike and up to 70% off at Adidas . For winter clothes and other fashion essentials, the sales at ASOS , Nordstrom , Bloomingdale’s , Kohl’s and Macy’s offer up to 60% off select items. Electronics reign among the most-shopped-for items during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but frugal shoppers can find doorbuster deals on everything from clothes and makeup to furniture. Most retailers have extended their Black Friday sales into the weekend, including Urban Outfitters , Ulta B e auty , Dyson , Coach , Carhartt , The North Face , QVC and the big three: Amazon , Target and Walmart . If you’re the type of shopper who loves a bargain, Cyber Weekend is your time to shine. See below for a collection of 20 deals to shop over Cyber Weekend. For more Cyber Week deals, check out the best sales on earbuds , gaming chairs , makeup and skincare products . And for gift options, read our Shop 100 gift guide .
Pope to skip Notre Dame opening in Paris for Corsica visitLewis 8-11 1-4 17, Lesburt 3-5 3-4 11, Lilly 5-13 6-7 21, Wrisby-Jefferson 1-3 1-2 3, Cooley 4-6 4-4 13, Erold 5-9 3-3 16, Jenkins 0-2 0-1 0, DeGraaf 1-1 0-0 2, Klores 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-50 18-25 83. Sangha 2-7 0-0 4, Benard 2-2 1-2 7, McMillan 9-17 7-7 25, Palesse 9-9 1-1 22, Kopa 3-8 0-0 7, van der Plas 1-2 1-2 4, Godfrey 2-7 0-0 5, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 29-57 10-12 76. Halftime_Brown 35-25. 3-Point Goals_Brown 11-23 (Lilly 5-9, Erold 3-6, Lesburt 2-4, Cooley 1-3, Wrisby-Jefferson 0-1), Canisius 8-19 (Palesse 3-3, Benard 2-2, van der Plas 1-1, Kopa 1-4, Godfrey 1-5, Sangha 0-1, Thompson 0-1, McMillan 0-2). Fouled Out_Erold. Rebounds_Brown 30 (Cooley 10), Canisius 19 (Sangha 4). Assists_Brown 15 (Lilly, Wrisby-Jefferson, Jenkins 3), Canisius 16 (Benard 8). Total Fouls_Brown 11, Canisius 19. A_953 (2,176).A career government official who for three decades worked at the state’s expansive environmental and health agency is Gov. Henry McMaster’s pick to run the new S.C. Department of Environmental Services. Myra Reece is a career environmental official in South Carolina who was named director of the new Department of Environmental Services McMaster’s choice of Myra Reece, a former deputy director at the now defunct Department of Health and Environmental Control, elevates her from an interim director position she had held since the new environmental services agency was formed July 1 as part of a government restructuring law. DHEC was disbanded July 1. A North Augusta resident originally from Edgefield, Reece, 66, said she’s pleased McMaster chose her to be part of his cabinet. Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. “I thank Gov. McMaster for his nomination and support in protecting and preserving South Carolina’s critical air, land, water and coastal resources, and I look forward to continued engagement with the General Assembly through the confirmation process.,’’ according to a news release quoting Reece. As DES director, Reece will be in charge of a range of environmental programs, including divisions that monitor the air and water for pollution and beaches for erosion. Her agency also issues permits for industries and others seeking to discharge pollution or develop along the coast. And it enforces state environmental laws, issuing fines against those who don’t obey rules intended to protect South Carolina’s air, land and water. Reece’s appointment must be confirmed by the state Senate. Reece, who is making $179,925 as interim DES director, is well known to environmental groups, businesses and state legislators. Many praise Reece for her professionalism and willingness to work with various interests that have competing agendas. That’s an important skill in dealing with the conservative state Legislature, which controls her agency’s budget and often has dim views toward regulation. But while she served as DHEC’s top environmental official, the agency was criticized over issues that some public interest groups say need tighter regulation, such as limits on toxic forever chemicals in sewer sludge and in drinking water. DHEC also caught heat in later years over the pace in which it considered changes to state surface water rules and its oversight of pollution from huge chicken farms. It’s still early to say how the DES will perform as a new agency under Reece, particularly as the federal government seeks to cut regulations under incoming President Donald Trump. That could put more pressure on states to maintain or add environmental protection rules that would not be in place at the federal level. In picking Reece to head the new environmental services department, McMaster has shied away from any wholesale changes in how South Carolina protects the environment. Much of DHEC’s former staff were transferred to the new Department of Environmental Services and many top officials at DES are the same. McMaster, a Trump supporter who is also viewed as a moderate on environmental issues, expressed confidence in Reece, saying Thursday that she was the obvious choice to run the new department as part of his cabinet. McMaster and Reece recently announced formation of a commission that will examine water withdrawal issues. That group includes business, farm and environmental representatives. ““Through her extensive leadership experience at DHEC and now as interim Director of SCDES, there is no one more qualified or better positioned to lead this new agency forward,” the governor said in a news release. The governor’s office did not say if anyone else was considered for the job. Reece, who is married and has two sons and a granddaughter, held leadership positions at DHEC for parts of 30 years, including running the agency’s environment division and its air division. The choice of Reece as director of the DES follows McMaster’s recent announcement that he was elevating DHEC’s former top official, Edward Simmer, to run the new state Department of Public Health. During a news conference last summer, Reece said it was a new day for environmental protection in South Carolina. With one agency focused only on environmental protection — DHEC had both health and environmental functions — the state can expect better service and oversight, she said. DHEC had been criticized as lethargic and slow to respond to issues. “Being established as a separate environmental agency allows us to focus 100% of our attention and expertise on finding solutions that work for South Carolina,’’ Reece said in July. 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Novak Djokovic says his rivalry with Andy Murray has “one final chapter” after his long-time adversary joined him as his coach for the upcoming Australian Open. Murray – Britain’s greatest ever player – retired after this summer’s Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body. Many in the game expected the Scot would one day return to tennis and become a coach, particularly due to his love of the sport, hard work and his tactical acumen. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 But it came with some degree of shock on Saturday afternoon when a social media post from Djokovic, playing on Murray’s light-hearted tweet upon his departure, read: “He never liked retirement anyway”. The attached video announced Murray, who he lost to in two Slam finals but beat in four Australian showpieces, would coach him over the winter and through January’s Open in Melbourne. “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk-takers, history-makers,” Djokovic said. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard, coach Andy Murray.” Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to the start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals as well as the French Open final in 2016. It was after he unseated Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 that Murray suffered the hip injury which ultimately derailed his career. Since his retirement, Murray has been playing golf with the same dedication he pursued his tennis but will now return to his natural habitat. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game after he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jao Ituka led Jacksonville State over East Carolina on Thursday night with 18 points off of the bench in an 86-78 victory. Ituka shot 5 for 10 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (4-1). Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points while shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 7 for 11 from the line while he also had six rebounds and six assists. Michael Houge had 15 points and shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. RJ Felton led the Pirates (4-1) in scoring, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. C.J. Walker added 20 points and seven rebounds for East Carolina. Yann Farell also had 12 points. Ituka scored 10 points in the first half and Jacksonville State went into halftime trailing 39-37. Jacksonville State used a 13-2 second-half run to take the lead at 71-66 with 3:52 remaining. Houge scored 12 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Man Utd man spotted alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy in Leicester debutWASHINGTON (AP) — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea sounded like a joke too. It would be called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to an online meme featuring a surprised-looking dog from Japan. But now that Trump has won the election, Musk’s fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington. Trump put Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new department, which is really an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage Trump to make cuts by refusing to spend money allocated by Congress, a process known as impounding. The proposal goes against a 1974 law intended to prevent future presidents from following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon, who held back funding that he didn’t like. “We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. ”We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings.” It would be a dramatic attempt to expand his powers, when he already will have the benefit of a sympathetic Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, and it could swiftly become one of the most closely watched legal fights of his second administration. “He might get away with it,” said William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. “Congress’ power of the purse will turn into an advisory opinion.” Musk and Ramaswamy have started laying out their plans Right now, plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus. The nascent organization has put out a call for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.” Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns. In the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy provided the most detailed look yet at how they would operate and where they could cut. Some are longtime Republican targets, such as $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Other plans are more ambitious and could reshape the federal government. The two wrote that they would “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.” Civil service protections wouldn’t apply, they argue, because they wouldn’t be targeting specific people for political purposes. Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit.” But others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending pandemic-era flexibility about remote work. The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.” Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said such cutbacks would harm services for Americans who rely on the federal government, and he suggested that Musk and Ramaswamy were in over their heads. “I don’t think they’re even remotely qualified to perform those duties,” he said. “That’s my main concern.” Kelley said his union, which represents 750,000 employees for the federal government and the city of Washington, D.C., was ready to fight attempts to slash the workforce. “We’ve been here, we’ve heard this kind of rhetoric before,” he said. “And we are prepared.” Federal regulations would be targeted for elimination There was no mention in the Wall Street Journal of Musk’s previously stated goal of cutting $2 trillion from the budget, which is nearly a third of total annual spending. Nor did they write about “Schedule F,” a potential plan to reclassify federal employees to make them easier to fire. Ramaswamy once described the idea as the “mass deportation of federal bureaucrats out of Washington, D.C.” However, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would reduce regulations that they describe as excessive. They wrote that their department “will work with legal experts embedded in government agencies, aided by advanced technology,” to review regulations that run counter to two recent Supreme Court decisions that were intended to limit federal rulemaking authority. Musk and Ramaswamy said Trump could “immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission.” Chris Edwards, an expert on budget issues at the Cato Institute, said many Republicans have promised to reduce the size and role of government over the years, often to little effect. Sometimes it feels like every budget item and tax provision, no matter how obscure, has people dedicated to its preservation, turning attempts at cuts into political battles of attrition. “Presidents always seem to have higher priorities,” he said. “A lot of it falls to the wayside.” Although DOGE is scheduled to finish its work by July 4, 2026, Edwards said Musk and Ramaswamy should move faster to capitalize on momentum from Trump’s election victory. “Will it just collect dust on a shelf, or will it be put into effect?” Edwards said. “That all depends on Trump and where he is at that point in time.” Ramaswamy said in an online video that they’re planning regular “Dogecasts” to keep the public updated on their work, which he described as “a once-in-a-generation project” to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse.” “However bad you think it is, it’s probably worse,” he said. Musk and Ramaswamy will have allies in Congress House Republicans are expected to put Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally from Georgia, in charge of a subcommittee to work with DOGE, according to two people with knowledge of the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. Greene and Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, have already met with Ramaswamy, the two people said. Musk brought up the idea for DOGE while broadcasting a conversation with Trump on X during the campaign. “I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’” Musk said. Musk returned to the topic twice, volunteering his services by saying “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.” “I’d love it,” Trump replied, describing Musk as “the greatest cutter.” Musk has his own incentives to push this initiative forward. His companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, have billions of dollars in government contracts and face oversight from government regulators. After spending an estimated $200 million to support Trump’s candidacy, he’s poised to have expansive influence over the next administration. Trump even went to Texas earlier this week to watch SpaceX test its largest rocket. DOGE will have an ally in Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has railed against federal spending for years. He recently told Fox News that he sent “2,000 pages of waste that can be cut” to Musk and Ramaswamy. “I’m all in and will do anything I can to help them,” Paul said.
With special counsel Jack Smith’s decision to drop his election case and classified documents appeal against President-elect Donald Trump, the soon-to-be 47th president’s legal woes appear to be mostly behind him. In the case, Smith had charged Trump in Washington over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and for his activity around the breach of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. “Working with a team of private co-conspirators, the defendant acted as a candidate when he pursued multiple criminal means to disrupt, through fraud and deceit, the government function by which votes are collected and counted—a function in which the defendant, as President, had no official role,” Smith’s office wrote. Trump had pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing they are politically driven and designed to interfere with the Nov. 5 election. At the time, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said the brief was “falsehood-ridden” and accused Smith of being “hell-bent on weaponizing the Justice Department in an attempt to cling to power.” On Truth Social, meanwhile, Trump said the case would end with his “complete victory” during the 2024 election. “In ruling otherwise, the district court deviated from binding Supreme Court precedent, misconstrued the statutes that authorized the Special Counsel’s appointment, and took inadequate account of the longstanding history of Attorney General appointments of special counsels,” Cannon wrote at the time. Weeks later, Smith filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to reverse her order, which Trump’s lawyers had opposed in subsequent court filings. Cannon wrote in her order, which came after U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had cast doubt in July about Smith’s appointment, that Smith was an officer of the United States, which requires that Congress authorize the attorney general to appoint Smith as special counsel. Before Smith was named special counsel, the FBI searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in August 2022 in a bid to look for classified materials. Around the same time, Trump argued that, as president, he had declassified the documents. During most of the trial, Judge Juan Merchan had a gag order in place that barred Trump from speaking about certain witnesses, the judge’s family, court staff, and Bragg’s staff—which Trump said was election interference. The president-elect had written on social media that Merchan’s daughter was a consultant for several Democratic Party heavyweights, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Late last week, Merchan indefinitely delayed sentencing for Trump in the business records case, after the president-elect’s attorneys called for its immediate dismissal due to the election results. Sentencing in the case was initially scheduled for mid-July but was postponed until Nov. 26. In his order on Nov. 22, Merchan wrote that he was granting a request to adjourn that sentencing date as well. Other notable co-defendants listed in the Georgia case include several former Trump advisers and lawyers, including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Trump and several of his co-defendants appealed McAfee’s order to the Georgia Court of Appeals, which placed the matter on pause while it hears arguments on whether to dismiss Willis. Trump had appealed Judge Arthur Engoron’s Feb. 16 decision. The judge found that Trump, his company, and executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., schemed to pad his net worth by billions of dollars on financial statements given to banks, insurers, and others to make deals and secure loans. In oral arguments held in September, several New York appeals court judges signaled that Engoron’s ruling could be reversed. Members of the five-judge panel on the Appellate Division, the mid-level state appellate court hearing arguments in Trump’s appeal, had appeared concerned about possible overreach by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case. “Every case that you cite involves damage to consumers, damage to the marketplace,” Justice David Friedman told Judith Vale, the attorney arguing on behalf of James’s office. “We don’t have anything like that here,” Friedman said, saying that nobody “lost any money.”
MONROVIA – The Supreme Court of Liberia has issued a stay order directing the “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives to halt all actions and return to status quo ante while it reviews a petition filed by House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and his allies. By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected] In a writ issued on Friday, the Court instructed the Minister of Justice and members of the House involved in the dispute to submit their responses by November 26, 2024. The Court also ordered the Majority Bloc, led by Montserrado County Representative Richard Koon, to cease all actions until the matter is adjudicated. The injunction mandated Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshal of the Supreme Court, or his deputy, to notify the Minister of Justice and the referenced lawmakers to file their official responses. It said they must “appear and file returns on the side of the law before the Full Bench of the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia, Temple of Justice, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., as to whether or not the Petitioners’ Petition should be granted.” The order further instructed the parties to “Return to status quo ante and stay all further proceedings or actions pending the determination of the matter.” “You are commanded to read the original writ and leave a copy with them; and to file your official returns on the back of the original copy in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court by November 26, 2024. Leadership Crisis Escalates The House of Representatives has been embroiled in a bitter leadership conflict, splitting into two factions. The Majority Bloc, citing allegations of corruption, conflict of interest, and poor leadership, accused Speaker Koffa of ignoring their concerns. The crisis escalated when the Majority Bloc, comprising a significant number of lawmakers, abandoned the main chamber and began holding sessions in the joint chamber. On November 21, 2024, the group controversially declared the Speaker’s seat vacant and elected Representative Koon as their new Speaker. They also dissolved committees formed under Speaker Koffa and appointed new ones. Speaker Koffa and members of the Minority Bloc condemned these actions, arguing that no legitimate vacancy existed in the Speaker’s office to justify such moves. The Speaker and his allies subsequently filed a petition to the Supreme Court, asserting that the actions of the Majority Bloc violated the procedural framework of the House. The court’s intervention marks a critical juncture in the ongoing leadership crisis, with the Supreme Court expected to determine the legality of the Majority Bloc’s actions. This dispute has further deepened divisions within the House, raising concerns about its ability to function effectively amid the political turmoil.