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HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Aidan O'Connell might not be Mr. Right for the Raiders, but he is Mr. Right Now. He did enough in Friday's 19-17 loss at Kansas City to show that Las Vegas' quarterback job will be his for the rest of the season — barring, that is, another injury. O'Connell didn't look like a quarterback who hadn't played in nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb . Plus, the Raiders had a short week to prepare for the Chiefs, meaning O'Connell only went through a series of walk-through practices. Even so, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards, including touchdown passes of 33 yards to tight end Brock Bowers and 58 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker. He didn't throw any interceptions. “Thought he competed,” coach Antonio Pierce said Saturday morning. “I thought for what we knew we were getting with Spags (Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and that defense, that he stood in the pocket, made some tough throws, took some hits, took the shots down the field like we wanted. We had some opportunities to take shots down the field, he threw them. And I thought our skill guys did a hell of a job competing and making some really good plays for us.” O'Connell's performance would've shined even more if not for the Raiders' final offensive play. He led the Raiders from their 8-yard line to the Chiefs 32 with 15 seconds left. The plan was for O'Connell to take the snap and throw the ball away to run off a few more seconds, then send Daniel Carlson out for the potential winning field goal without giving Patrick Mahomes enough time to mount one of his signature comebacks. But rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball before O'Connell was expecting it, and the Chiefs recovered to secure another close, last-minute victory. The Raiders were called for illegal shift, which Kansas City declined. But there was some question about whether officials intended to call a false start instead. Though that infraction would have cost Las Vegas 5 yards, the pre-snap penalty still would've given Carlson a shot at the field goal. Pierce said his team heard an official's whistle before the snap, and that will be included in the Raiders' report to the NFL. “We do that every game,” Pierce said. “Typically, anywhere from three to five questions, and then we’ll get a letter within 24 to 36 hours, and we’ll read it and learn from it.” Bowers had another sensational game. He was targeted 14 times, catching 10 passes for 140 yards. For the season, he has 84 receptions for 884 yards and four TDs, making him a strong contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. “We’re seeing double-teams and them really shifting their zone to him, and I don’t really think it matters,” Pierce said. “I think we've got a really special player on our hand.” The Raiders need to do better on first and second downs to set up more favorable third-down conversions. They have faced 47 third downs from 7 to 10 yards, tied with the Dallas Cowboys for fifth most. Las Vegas' conversion rate on those plays is 36.2%, which actually is favorable compared to the rest of the league, but the Raiders are still creating too many of those situations. Las Vegas made life difficult for Mahomes, sacking him five times. And it wasn't just Maxx Crosby bringing the heat. Four players had at least one-half sack, including K’Lavon Chaisson, who had 1 1/2. It was a season-high total for the Raiders, and they have taken down the opposing quarterback in 30 consecutive games, the third-longest active streak. Carlson is usually money, but he missed field goals from 56, 55 and 58 yards. Hardly chip shots, but he is capable of converting from those distances. He had made 30 of 38 field goals from 50-plus yards entering the game, with a career long of 57 yards. WR DJ Turner injured his knee in the second half. 12 — The Raiders are one of three teams to fall behind double digits in each of their first 12 games of a season. The others were the 1986 Indianapolis Colts and 1972 New England Patriots. The Raiders visit Tampa Bay on Dec. 8. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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Why drone hysteria has taken offIowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level Media
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Men’s hockey: Lynden Breen scores hat trick in Maine’s win over RPIDonald Trump on Saturday sided with appointee Elon Musk over MAGA influencers including Laura Loomer, a report suggests. Loomer is among those who have picked a fight with Musk over certain immigration visas, which he says are necessary for him and other executives to conduct their regular business. Far-right Trump supporters argued that big businesses should instead rely upon talented workers from the United States. The GOP rift has taken over the news cycle for days, but Trump over the weekend finally gave his perspective, according to a report. ALSO READ: America's dark past and the key to stopping Trump's authoritarian rule Jon Levine, a political reporter at the New York Post who has investigated Hunter Biden and worked on the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections , said he spoke to Trump about the visas for skilled workers in a phone call. "President-elect Trump told The Post Saturday he supports immigration visas for highly skilled workers, appearing to side with Elon Musk in the roiling intra-MAGA debate on the issue," the Post reported. The article quotes Trump as saying, "I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them." Trump reportedly also said, "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.” The Post notes that Trump actually "restricted access to foreign worker visas in his first administration and has been critical of the program in the past." Read the report here.ST. PAUL — Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic died Friday following a battle with cancer. She was 62. Her family said she died surrounded by loved ones. “She had a heart of gold, willing to go to any measure to help those she loved,” they said in a statement. ADVERTISEMENT Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin the Minneapolis Democrat was committed to working for Minnesotans. She served in the Minnesota Senate for more than a decade. “It is impossible to overstate the positive impact that Senator Dziedzic’s leadership has had on our state,” Martin said in a statement. “She devoted her life to making her fellow Minnesotans’ lives better, and she refused to allow cancer to get in her way. Minnesota has lost a giant, but her extraordinary legacy will outlast us all.” Dziedzic was instrumental in holding together the Senate DFL caucus in 2023 as they passed, with a one-vote majority, a variety of Democratic priorities like funding universal school meals for students, approving a paid family and medical leave program, cementing legal protections for abortion and gender-affirming care and legalizing cannabis for recreational use. She was respected on both sides of the political aisle and her demeanor was always steady, even amid tense times in the Senate. Dziedzic’s laid-back style made her a surprising pick for majority leader after the 2022 election. Leaders from both major political parties said they were heartbroken by her death. “Senator Kari Dziedzic was a passionate legislator, a respected leader, and a trusted colleague and friend. She will be remembered for her integrity and her compassion for Minnesotans, something that we all saw as she continued to serve even as she battled cancer,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, an East Grand Forks Republican. “I’m deeply saddened at her passing and am praying for her family and friends as we all mourn this loss.” House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, said she was “one of the most skilled diplomats ever to serve in elected office.” ADVERTISEMENT “Her legacy includes significant achievements in policy and investment in Minnesota, but more importantly she will be remembered for treating people with dignity and respect and never giving up on finding workable compromises,” Hortman said. “She had an incredible ability to work diligently through the most arcane and difficult policy issues to find resolution.” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, agreed, saying she was “an uncommon leader.” “Her talents as a consequential and thoughtful leader made us all better legislators, and her examples of kindness humor, and selflessness made us all better people,” Murphy said. Former Senate DFL Leader Melisa López Franzen praised Dziedzic as a hard worker. “The last time I spoke to Kari a few weeks ago she was still serving her constituents,” she wrote on social media. “That’s Senator Dziedzic, the hardest working legislator I have ever had the honor to serve with. Rest in peace my friend.” Dziedzic was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 and underwent emergency surgery to limit its spread. She stepped down from her leadership position in February after her cancer recurred. The Senate will now stand in a 33-33 tie between Democrats and Republicans heading into the 2025 legislative session. Gov. Tim Walz has not yet said when he might call for a special election in the Minneapolis district. ADVERTISEMENT Dziedzic had a degree in engineering but couldn’t resist the family pull into public service. Her father, Walt, was a colorful Minneapolis city council member who later served on the park board. Dziedzic told MPR News that she felt drawn into politics after watching her father’s example. “I knew the long hours. I knew the phone calls at home. I knew what I was walking into,” she said. “But I also knew the opportunity that you have to help other people. And it’s about helping people and making your community better.” Dziedzic began a career in public service as a campaign volunteer and later moved on to become a scheduling aide for former U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. After a stint working for a Hennepin County commissioner, she was nudged to run for a state Senate seat when longtime lawmaker Larry Pogemiller stepped down to take another government job. Gov. Tim Walz called Dziedzic a “one-of-a-kind leader.” He added, “Her legacy should inspire all of us in elected office to be better public servants.” Details for a memorial service have not yet been announced. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .
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MONTREAL — More than a dozen groups have refused to vacate a community centre in Montreal's Ahuntsic neighbourhood despite an eviction order from their landlord, Quebec's largest school service centre. The community groups were supposed to clear out by 5 p.m. Friday, but there were no moving trucks in sight. Rémy Robitaille, director of Solidarité Ahuntsic, which represents the 13 groups in the building, said they haven't budged because they simply don't have anywhere else to go. Robitaille said the organizations provide vital services for immigrants, refugees and seniors, as well as food bank services and French language classes for newcomers — a total of 25,000 people each year. It will take an emergency eviction order from a judge to expel the 13 groups, which he said they would contest in court. "Who will give those services?" he said Friday. "We expect a reaction from the government." The Centre de services scolaire de Montréal, which owns the building, said it has rented out the space to organizations serving the community but now needs the building to provide urgently needed French language courses for newcomers. It added that it needs to relocate French language services offered at William-Hingston Centre in Parc-Extension, another neighbourhood farther east, because of renovations to that building. “In order to fulfil our primary mission of providing schooling, and to avoid a disruption in services in the absence of another real estate solution to accommodate all our students, we must regain full possession of the building,” the CSSDM said in a statement. It also accused Solidarité Ahuntsic of refusing to sign a lease since 2018. Robitaille responded by saying the CSSDM raised the monthly rent for the whole building from about $8,000 to $24,000 — an increase the community groups have refused to pay. Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough Mayor Émilie Thuillier said she has tried to help them find another location over the past year, with no luck. Thuillier, Ahuntsic-Cartierville MP Mélanie Joly and other elected officials have called on the Quebec government to allow the 13 organizations to stay in the building for five more years. "The services they offer to the residents of the riding are essential to ensuring the social safety net of the sector. In a context of inflation, food insecurity and housing crisis, many citizens resort to the assistance offered by these resources," Joly said in a press release in May. “What we're saying to the government is that we want five years more so that the 13 organizations can stay in the building while we are constructing another one,” Thuillier said, explaining that the borough has already identified a new location suitable for a community centre nearby but it will not be ready to house the organizations for a few years. In the meantime, the mayor is asking the provincial government to give the CSSDM more funding so that it can rent spaces elsewhere for its French courses. Thuillier added that French language classes are currently offered in the building but that its state of disrepair means there will be a three-to four-year wait for those courses if the school service centre does take over. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joe Bongiorno, The Canadian PressWorld Juniors: Stancl, Hradec, Mastalirsky’s hat tricks help Czechia rout Kazakhstan
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