
DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." 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-footballNew Canadians, non-traditional demographics boost minor hockey uptake in B.C.Barry Keoghan reveals reason for Instagram deactivation as he slams 'inhumane' abuseToni Breidinger is set to join the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series full-time in 2025. The American driver will take the wheel of the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, backed by the support of Toyota. Breidinger's move comes after competing in the ARCA Menards Series where she celebrated impressive achievements despite not capturing a win in the 2024 season. Breidinger has now opened up on her relentless preparation during the off-season. During an interview with 5Goats , Breidinger explained: "I'm definitely excited for that next step. "Obviously, there is going to be a learning curve with it but Toyota's been super supportive, and I've been preparing and like, grinding pretty hard during the off-season." As a driver known for her upbeat outlook, Breidinger is determined to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. She aims high, aspiring to clinch the Rookie of the Year award. She added: "I'm definitely expecting the season to be tough, I think there's going to be a lot of challenges. But I think [one goal] for me is resilience. "I know I'm going to be facing challenges and I know I'm going to have to adapt to situations very quickly and learn a lot on the fly. So, I think for me, just being resilient, being a sponge, soaking everything up, and hopefully, [I can] get Rookie of the Year at the end of the season." Support plays a critical role in Breidinger's development. Within Tricon Garage, Corey Heim provides valuable guidance. "I want to know his thought processes because obviously he's so good and it seems everything comes to him so naturally," Breidinger said. "So, I'm always like, 'Corey, how do you do it?' But I always bug him with a bunch of questions and he's been super helpful for me." Parallel to her progress on the track is Breidinger's robust presence beyond racing. Her social media following is formidable, boasting over five million followers across Instagram and TikTok . This engagement cements her status as the most involved NASCAR driver on social platforms. Moreover, her modeling pursuits add to her brand, with appearances in campaigns for renowned companies and an upcoming feature in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. "Thankfully, I do enjoy doing all the side hustles and traveling and going to different events and working on social media," Breidinger explained. "But it all ties together and, yeah, it's interesting when drivers say they want to just focus on racing because I'm like, 'how are you guys paying your bills?' "Honestly. Because I wouldn't be able to race without my partners and I want to do a good job for them on and off the track. So, it's super important for me to be able to balance all of that."
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd shared some opinions with his audience during an episode of "The Herd" on Tuesday, singing the praises of former Oregon Duck and current Denver Bronco Bo Nix. In a 56-second clip posted to TikTok and various other social media platforms, Cowherd could be heard listing Nix's strengths and explaining why he believes the Broncos' signal-caller could be their next franchise quarterback. "There's nothing here that doesn't look like a star, franchise quarterback, and this is probably the worst roster he'll ever have," Cowherd said. "Arm is better than we think, super athletic, calm but confident, with a great coach." Cowherd partially credits Denver head coach Sean Payton for the early success of his rookie quarterback. Nix has thrown for 2,548 yards and 16 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions so far this season. "It's like boxing and having a great cornerman," Cowherd said. "And I think that's what Bo Nix has." Jerry Lai-Imagn Images In his last two games alone, the former Duck has tallied nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns through the air, entering offensive rookie of the year conversations. "This is not dink-and-dunk stuff. He is aggressive," Cowherd said. "On passes 15-plus yards down the field against the Raiders, he had a 129 passer rating. In fact, his last five games, Bo Nix, throwing 10-plus yards down the field, has a 127 passer rating." In the last two weeks, Nix's rookie of the year odds have improved from as poor as +3000 to just +110 according to DraftKings Sportsbook. "All the numbers are telling you," Cowherd said. "The game's not too fast, he's not overwhelmed, he's not throwing bad picks and he's throwing the ball down the field." Nix will hope to justify Cowherd's praises as the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Monday. Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PST and the game will air on ESPN.
TV star Charlotte Crosby said she has tightened security around her home with 24-hour monitored CCTV and patrol dogs, days after masked thieves carrying a machete attempted to rob her home. The former Geordie Shore star, who is nearly eight months pregnant, thanked a security company “for all the hard work this week” after adding the protections to her home. “Trebling our security measures, worth every penny to feel safe again in my own home,” the 34-year-old said in a post to her Instagram story. “Scumbags are gunna get a big shock the next time they even step foot on any perimeter of my land.” It comes after her fiance, Jake Ankers, said on social media that a group of men carrying a machete entered their home on Thursday evening while they were in the house with their two-year-old daughter. The businessman said one of the four men “had a red balaclava on” and was carrying the weapon at the top of the stairs. Durham Constabulary were alerted at 7pm on Thursday to reports of an aggravated burglary in Houghton-le-Spring, a town in the Sunderland area. A spokeswoman for the force said: “Officers attended the area, however the suspects left the scene before their arrival. “Nobody was injured in the incident and no items are believed to have been taken.” She added that an investigation is under way and anyone with information is asked to contact police. After the incident, Crosby was admitted to hospital after experiencing “serious pains” in her stomach, but confirmed her baby is “all fine”. Ankers appeared with the reality star on BBC Three reality show Charlotte In Sunderland. Crosby is best known for appearing in the MTV reality series Geordie Shore and winning the 12th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. She and Ankers got engaged in October 2023 after she gave birth to their first child in 2022.AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Quinton Mincey had 27 points in UMass-Lowell's 96-83 victory over UMass on Saturday. Mincey added six rebounds for the River Hawks (6-4). Martin Somerville scored 22 points and added five assists. Yuri Covington had 19 points and shot 5 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 8 from the line. Jayden Ndjigue led the way for the Minutemen (3-7) with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals. Jaylen Curry added 17 points and two steals for UMass. Marqui Worthy finished with 15 points. UMass-Lowell took a 17-13 lead in the first half with a 10-0 run. Led by 12 first-half points from Covington, UMass-Lowell carried a 40-38 lead into the break. UMass-Lowell took the lead for what would be the final time on Xzavier Lino's jump shot with 15:41 left in the contest. His team would outscore UMass by 11 points in the final half. UMass-Lowell plays Wednesday against LIU at home, and UMass hosts UMass-Boston on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Police say FBI agent sexually assaulted 2 women after promise of free tattoos, modelingWASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm . But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. ___ Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.
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Is it safe to eat turkey this Thanksgiving amid bird flu outbreak? Here’s what experts sayThe dynamic duo of storyteller-filmmaker Sudhanshu Rai and Director Puneet Sharma, renowned for crafting some of the most captivating horror comedies in recent times, including the critically acclaimed Chaipatti and Chintaa Mani, are poised to unleash a bigger, more thrilling cinematic experience. Leveraging their signature storytelling style, which has consistently kept audiences on the edge of their seats, Rai and Sharma have announced their latest project, BAIDA, a groundbreaking sci-fi supernatural thriller film. Set against the rich cultural backdrop of India's Hindi heartland, BAIDA promises to deliver a unique blend of suspense, intrigue and otherworldly elements. The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast, featuring talented actors such as Sourabh Raaj Jain, celebrated for his iconic role in Mahabharat, Hiten Tejwani, and Tarun Khanna, known for his memorable performances in Lust Stories 2 and Mahadev. With its release slated for early 2025, BAIDA is poised to captivate audiences and leave a lasting impact on the cinematic landscape. Sharing a glimpse of what to expect this time, Sudhanshu Rai said, “Taking forward our signature story of being the king, BAIDA is a wholesome entertainer, an intriguing tale of unexpected twists, turns and some larger-than-life characters that will keep the audience glued to the screen. It was the constant encouragement from my fans and followers to convert my stories into films that prompted me to make my acting and directorial debut with Chaipatti, and with BAIDA, the universe of unheard & unimaginable stories is just set to get bigger.” Adding to it, Puneet Sharma, BAIDA’s Director, said, “The Indian film audience is increasingly embracing stories based on out-of-the-box concepts and unique storylines. When we released Chaipatti, it was an instant hit across all platforms, including YouTube and OTTs, and later it organically crossed 1 million views, with innumerable encouraging comments asking for its sequel. The experience was similar for our subsequent releases, Detective Boomrah and Chintaa Mani. We are sure that BAIDA will be loved by the theatre audiences, who always crave for fresh and novel content.” About Baida The upcoming sci-fi supernatural thriller film, BAIDA, boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Manisha Rai, last seen in Detective Boomrah, and Shobhit Sujay, who delivered impactful performances in Chaipatti and Chintaa Mani. They are joined by Siddharth Banerjee, Deepak Wadhwa, Akhlaq Azad, and Pradeep Kabra in pivotal roles. Notably, the film's editor, Pratheek Shetty, is also credited with editing notable films like Kantara and 777 Charlie. BAIDA is unique in its blending of sci-fi and time travel elements with a story set in the Hindi heartland, a region typically associated with rom-coms and political dramas. The film was primarily shot in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, capturing the region's essence and featuring the local Bhojpuri dialect. To ensure authenticity, local artisans and sculptors were also involved in the film's art department. With some portions shot in Delhi, BAIDA's narrative revolves around an assassin who embarks on a transformative journey, encountering larger-than-life characters along the way. The film's first look is eagerly anticipated, scheduled to drop in January 2025.What happens when 'The Simpsons' join 'Monday Night Football'? Find out during Bengals-Cowboys
Daniel Penny is staying “staying positive and optimistic” and spending the weekend with his family as he waits for a Manhattan jury to resume deliberations in his high-profile subway chokehold case, his lawyer told The Post. Jurors are expected back in court Monday to consider whether to convict Penny on a criminally negligent homicide charge, after they deadlocked on a top charge of manslaughter. “He’s been spending as much of his free time with his mothers and sisters,” Penny’s attorney Thomas Kenniff told The Post Saturday. “They’ve been his rock throughout this very difficult time.” Criminally negligent homicide carries a sentence of probation up to four years behind bars. “While Danny is relieved by the dismissal of the manslaughter count, he still faces the second homicide charge in the indictment, and a significant state prison sentence,” Kenniff said. “He remains confident that when the jury returns on Monday, they will agree he acted reasonably in the face of the unprecedented terror Jordan Neely manifested aboard the F train. There can be no compromise when it comes to an innocent man’s freedom.” Penny’s lawyers have said the Long Island native and aspiring architect was justified in protecting passengers from a man who witnesses said yelled, “Someone’s going to die today!” and who said he was ready to go to jail after boarding the uptown F train. Deliberations began on Tuesday afternoon and culminated in the dramatic turn of events in court Friday, when prosecutors ultimately tossed the manslaughter charge. The developments garnered praise for Penny from none other than champion golfer Phil Mickelson, who shared a post from political commentator Collin Rugg on X that called Penny a “model citizen...that every mayor of every city should want more of,” a “hero” and a “breed of young men who are becoming less and less common.” Mickelson agreed with Rugg’s words. “Agree. Thank you Daniel for serving your country and for protecting the many passengers whose lives were threatened by this violent and deranged individual,” Mickelson wrote .Mincey scores 27, UMass-Lowell knocks off UMass 96-83The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.
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Mark Goldbridge is eager for Manchester United to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha, who gave the Red Devils a torrid time on Boxing Day. The Brazilian forward is enjoying a stellar season, which has seen him bag 10 goals and four assists in 19 games across competitions. Cunha, 25, opened the scoring at Molineux with a goal straight from a corner which left Andre Onana dumbfounded. He then set Hwang Hee-chan up at the death as Wolves beat United 2-0 to pile the pressure on their new head coach, Ruben Amorim . It was perhaps an audition for Cunha against a club desperate for more firepower and creativity in attack. Marcus Rashford looks increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford . At the same time, Bruno Fernandes was sent off against Wolves, and Alejandro Garnacho struggled to impress on the left of Amorim's three-man attack. Goldbridge Wants Matheus Cunha at Man United Goldbridge watched United stumble against Wolves and Cunha was the star of the show. He not only grabbed a goal and assist but also ran the visitors ragged with his quick feet and instinctive movement on the counter-attack. The YouTuber wishes he was a Red Devil, posting on X: Cunha would (be) absolutely amazing for United Matheus Cunha vs Manchester United Goals 1 Assists 1 Shots On Target 2 Dribble Attempts (Successful) 6 (4) Touches 93 Accurate Passes 50/58 (86%) Key Passes 1 Crosses (Accurate) 2 (1) Long Balls (Accurate) 6 (4) Big Chances Created 1 Ground Duels (Won) 22 (13) Aerial Duels (Won) 1 (1) Amorim has reportedly requested Manchester United swoop for Cunha in the January transfer window. Interestingly, the Portuguese coach was seen speaking to the Wolves forward after his side's loss to Vitor Perreria's men. Cunha's versatility could be a massive benefit for the Red Devils, who head into January sitting 14th in the Premier League table. They are anticipated to be active in next month's window with a left-back and a midfielder on their radar . Arsenal could be United's main competition for the ex-Atletico Madrid man. The 26-year-old has just over two years left on his contract, and Wolves may be under no pressure to sell, but he recently liked a social media post saying 'Manchester United soon'. However, speculation continues to grow over Rashford, who said he was 'ready for a new challenge' after Amorim dropped him for a 2-1 win against Manchester City in the Manchester Derby (December 15). He's been absent from the squad since his interview. Wolves reportedly have no plans to part ways with the 26-year-old next month. All statistics courtesy of SofaScore - correct as of 28/12/2024.ALPHARETTA, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Jackson Acquisition Company II (the “Company”) announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 20,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and will trade under the ticker symbol “JACS.U” beginning December 10, 2024. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of a Class A ordinary share upon the consummation of an initial business combination. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and rights are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols “JACS” and “JACS.R,” respectively. The offering is expected to close on December 11, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company, led by Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Richard L. Jackson, is a special purpose acquisition company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While the Company may pursue an initial business combination in any industry, the Company intends to concentrate its search on businesses with a focus on healthcare services, healthcare technology, or otherwise focused on the healthcare industry. Roth Capital Partners is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering. The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained from Roth Capital Partners, LLC, 888 San Clemente Drive, Suite 400, Newport Beach, CA 92660, (800) 678-9147 or by accessing the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov . A registration statement relating to the securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2024. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the Company’s proposed initial public offering and the Company’s search for and/or completion of an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the Company will complete an initial business combination. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, conditions and other uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company’s offering filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Copies of these documents are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209829813/en/ CONTACT: Richard L. Jackson Jackson Acquisition Company II (678) 690-1079 KEYWORD: GEORGIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FINANCE SOURCE: Jackson Acquisition Company II Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 06:09 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 06:09 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209829813/enOn game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com .None
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Voice cloning is an emerging technology powered by artificial intelligence and it's raising alarms about its potential misuse. Earlier this year, New Hampshire voters experienced this firsthand when a deepfake mimicking President Joe Biden’s voice urged them to skip the polls ahead of the primary. The deepfake likely needed only several seconds of the president's voice to create the clone. According to multiple AI voice cloning models, about 10 seconds of an actual voice is all that is needed to recreate it. And that can easily come from a phone call or a video from social media. "A person's voice is really probably not that information-dense. It's not as unique as you may think," James Betker, a technical staff member at OpenAI, told Scripps News. Betker developed TortoiseTTS, an open-source voice cloning model. "It's actually very easy to model, very easy to learn, the distribution of all human voices from a fairly small amount of data," Betker added. How AI voice cloning works AI models have been trained on vast amounts of data, learning to recognize human speech. Programs analyze the data and train repeatedly, learning characteristics such as rhythm, stress, pitch and tone. "It can look at 10 seconds of someone speaking and it has stored enough information about how humans speak with that kind of prosody and pitch. Enough information about how people speak with their processing pitch and its weights that it can just continue on," Betker said. Imagine a trained AI model as a teacher, and the person cloning the voice to be a student. When a student asks to create a cloned voice, it starts off as white noise. The teacher scores how close the student is to sounding correct. The student tries again and again based on these scores until the student produces something close to what the teacher wants. While this explanation is extremely simplified, the concept of generating a cloned voice is based on bit-by-bit, based on probability distributions. "I think, at its core, it's pretty simple," Betker said. "I think the analogy of just continuing with what you're given will take you pretty far here." There are currently some AI models that claim to only need two seconds of samples. While the results are not convincing yet, Betker says future models will need even fewer voice samples to create a convincing clone.