With each team coming off a come-from-behind win, West Virginia and North Carolina Central square off Tuesday night in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia (6-2) has won two straight games and is in the midst of a 16-day, four-game homestand that kicked off with a 73-60 win over Georgetown in the Big 12-Big East Battle on Friday night. North Carolina Central (4-7) comes off a 78-77 road win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday night. Javon Small led the Mountaineers with a game-high 26 points against Georgetown as they overcame a second-half deficit with a decisive run. "The way we played in the second half (against Georgetown), I'll take that team everywhere," West Virginia coach Darian DeVries said. "You have to be able to do that every single night, every single possession you don't always get to go on a 16-0 run to pull you out of it. That's where we are still growing as a team." Eduardo Andre was questionable for the Georgetown game after he missed the Mountaineers' 83-76 overtime win against Arizona on Nov. 29. But the fifth-year senior center returned with four points, three rebounds and four blocks. "It was good to have him back in the lineup for a reason," DeVries said. "That presence, especially defensively and the ability to block shots, that's a huge deal for us." Against Gardner-Webb, Po'Boigh King led NCCU with 28 points, well above his 17.4 points per game average, as the Eagles rallied from a 17-point second-half deficit to win on a late 3-pointer from Isaac Parson. On offense, the Eagles take care of the ball. They are seventh in the nation in turnover margin at plus-7.5 per game. They seek extra possessions on defense and are second nationally with 18.9 turnovers forced per game "We're good enough, we just need to fine tune some things," NCCU coach LeVelle Moton said. "We've got to cross some T's, dot some I's and close. We can't be a really good basketball team until we get the mindset that when winning time presents itself in the last five minutes, (the other team) has to earn it." --Field Level Media
Ulta confirms holiday policy change but there are strict exceptions if you have a gift receiptCivil Service chief tells officials to 'relish opportunities' of Keir Starmer reformsEJ Farmer scores 20 points and Youngstown State downs Toledo 93-87
Walmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victory
Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new starsBUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Quion Burns scored 17 points as Maine beat Canisius 84-79 on Saturday. Burns had seven rebounds for the Black Bears (8-5). Kellen Tynes scored 15 points while shooting 5 of 5 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line and added nine assists. Christopher Mantis had 15 points and went 5 of 8 from the field (3 for 5 from 3-point range). Jasman Sangha led the way for the Golden Griffins (0-11) with 26 points and three steals. Paul McMillan IV added 22 points and six assists for Canisius. Tana Kopa also had 16 points and two steals. The Golden Griffins prolonged their losing streak to 11 in a row. Maine plays Saturday against Stony Brook on the road, and Canisius visits Loyola Chicago on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Stony Brook wins 72-55 against RiderThere is no right of privacy in the U.S. Constitution, at least there wasn’t until 1965, when the Supreme Court famously found one in “penumbras, formed by emanations” from the Bill of Rights. It wasn’t a unanimous decision. “With all deference, I can find no such general right of privacy in the Bill of Rights, in any other part of the Constitution, or in any case ever before decided by this Court,” wrote one of the dissenting justices. However, there is an explicit right to be free from uncontrolled government searches. It’s the Fourth Amendment: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” On Dec. 6, a report on financial surveillance in the United States was released by the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. It reveals that the U.S. government has turned the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act, a law intended to stop money laundering, tax evasion and criminal activity, into a tool to break through the Fourth Amendment and search the lawful, private financial transactions of innocent Americans. According to the testimony of an FBI analyst, the Bureau considers financial institutions to be “partners.” It employed liaisons to reach out and “engage” them. That sounds a lot like the government’s “engagement” with social media platforms, its “partners” in the silencing of Americans who “spread misinformation” as the government defined or declared it. In both cases, the government coaxed or coerced its “partners” into doing what would be flatly illegal for the government to do itself. “All the operational divisions, they all have an element that has an engagement responsibility with the private sector and partnerships in general,” explained FBI “Financial Targeting” analyst Peter Sullivan in a transcribed interview, “It’s one of Director Wray’s pillars, his partnerships.” That would be FBI Director Christopher Wray, who just resigned. Here’s how the “partnership” worked with Bank of America a week after the events at the U.S Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Sullivan told bank contacts in a “brainstorming” email that they might want to file a Suspicious Activity Report listing all of the bank’s customers who had used a credit or debit card in the Washington, D.C. area on Jan. 5 or 6, had made a weapons purchase of any kind in the last six month, and had a travel reservation to come to Washington on Jan. 19 or 20, when the inauguration would be held. Without a warrant or any legal process, Bank of America sent the government a Suspicious Activity Report naming 211 customers who met those three conditions. Sullivan, whose title at the time was finance sector liaison and who testified that his role was limited to “terrorism,” took that list of 211 bank customers and identified four individuals who had made a “weapons-related transaction” after Jan. 6. Sullivan testified, “I remember going to my supervisor and saying, we should push out these four, do baseline queries of these four, which are basic criminal background queries, and push out via assessment — it’s called a Guardian. A Guardian is a no-stone-unturned assessment. It’s not an investigation. But we pushed those four Guardians out to three field offices, respectively.” The three field offices were Memphis, San Francisco and Tampa. Then the four “Guardians” were uploaded for the Washington Field Office, which “had a number of leads that were sent.” If you can’t already see it, let’s carefully go over what’s wrong with this. THEY CAN’T DO THAT TO AMERICANS. The government can’t “suggest” to federally regulated companies that they turn over lists of perfectly lawful customer transactions, then use the lists to imagine criminal plots, then send agents to knock on doors around the country to assess who might be a “domestic terrorist.” We have gone off the constitutional rails. “The FBI has manipulated the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing process to treat financial institutions as de facto arms of law enforcement, issuing ‘requests,’ without legal process, that amount to demands for information related to certain persons or activities it considers ‘suspicious,’” the House committee reported. The 1970 Bank Secrecy Act requires financial institutions to file a Suspicious Activity Report whenever the financial institution itself identifies “a suspicious transaction relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation.” Banks must also file a Currency Transaction Report with the federal government whenever any person conducts a transaction or multiple transactions totaling $10,000 in a single day. Currency Transaction Reports have “proliferated exponentially” as well. According to the House report, “If a consumer purchased a car, furniture, jewelry, art, or made a tuition payment totaling more than $10,000, a CTR was likely filed containing the consumer’s information despite there being no evidence of any suspicious activity.” Who can see these reports? Tens of thousands of government employees in “472 federal, state and local law enforcement, regulatory and national security agencies.” In 2023 alone, the reports were searched 3,362,735 times. Without a warrant. The Judiciary Committee and Select Subcommittee also discovered that the federal government is “testing out new methods and new technology to continue the financial surveillance of Americans.” The Fourth Amendment should be enough to stop this. Call your representatives and read it to them. Write Susan@SusanShelley.com and follow her on X @Susan_Shelley
Five years since its inception, a US development agency competes with China on global projectsPlease join the CSIS Defense and Security Department for the launch of a joint report with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Security Studies Program Wargaming Lab titled Confronting Armageddon: Wargaming Nuclear Deterrence and Its Failures in a U.S.-China Conflict over Taiwan by Mark Cancian , Matthew Cancian , and Eric Heginbotham . This event will feature a presentation by the report’s authors and a panel discussion with Kari Bingen , Charles Glaser , and Tong Zhao. This study examines nuclear dynamics in a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, a war that the authors hope will never occur. What creates the greatest pressure for nuclear weapons use in such a conflict? What happens if nuclear weapons are used? To answer these questions, the CSIS-MIT team modified its existing U.S.-China wargame to include nuclear weapons and ran it 15 times. The greatest pressure for nuclear use came when China teams reached a crisis: their invasion was in danger of a defeat that might threaten Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rule. To dissuade China from gambling for resurrection—using nuclear weapons to salvage a failing conventional campaign—U.S. diplomacy was much more important than nuclear brinksmanship. Favorable outcomes were possible, but total victory was unachievable. The United States must therefore be prepared to successfully prosecute a high-end conventional war while at the same time providing face saving off-ramps to the adversary. To do otherwise risks a nuclear holocaust, as indeed occurred in three game iterations. The research for this project was funded by a grant from the Department of Defense. The MIT Wargaming Lab supported the completion of this report and is grateful for generous family foundation support.
As the clock ticks toward 2025, real estate experts are predicting a rise in home sales and a stabilization of home prices across the United States in the new year, while also warning about the persistent affordability challenge. Nationally, for 2025, NAR is forecasting 4.5 million existing home sales and a median existing-home price of $410,700. However, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun cautioned that housing affordability may still be an issue for first-time buyers. “We do have a housing crisis in affordability for renters who would like to buy a property,” he said. “Americans are still not moving, which is keeping inventory lower and prices higher.” There is still a significant disparity in net worth between homeowners and renters, with homeowners having an average net worth of $415,000 compared with just $10,000 for renters in 2024, according to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances. “Both 2023 and 2024 have had historically low home sales,” Yun said. Still, he said the “worst is over” and predicted existing home sales to increase from 7 percent to 12 percent in 2025 and 10–15 percent in 2026. New-construction home sales are expected to grow by 11 percent in 2025 and 8 percent in 2026. Nationally, the median sales price is expected to rise by 2 percent. Jessica Lutz, NAR deputy chief economist and vice president of research, said high-income and high-equity homebuyers are winners in today’s market, with one in 10 purchasing a home with cash. “Many first-time buyers are using their inheritance, or others are using their savings from the ‘bank of mom and dad,’” she said. “But the prices are shutting out lots of people.” The new median age of the national first-time homebuyer has climbed to 38, and to 61 for repeat buyers. “Forty years ago, most first-time buyers were in their early 20s,” Lutz said. Fifty percent of those buyers are married, and 25 percent are single women. “We’re also seeing an all-time high of multigenerational buyers who are pooling their money to make a purchase,” she said. Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, also forecasted a hike in home sales for next year, but possibly at a lower rate of 1.5 percent. “It could be a slow climb out of this current situation, and I believe home prices will continue to go up, but at a slower pace,” she said. “Income gains, easing mortgage rates, and new construction will help with affordability, and I do expect rents to stay flat.” Yun also predicted that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates another four to six times in 2025, and forecasted the average mortgage interest at just above 6 percent in 2025. Jim Nabors, president of the National Association of Mortgage Bankers, agreed with Yun’s forecast. “We anticipate the Fed to drop rates another three-quarters of a quarter during 2025 if inflation stays stable,” he told The Epoch Times. “If you look at mortgage rates over the past 40 years, with the exception of the early 1980s and 2021, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was between 6 percent and 8 percent.” Nabors noted that the housing market relies on more than just interest rates. “The need for housing is still increasing as 10 million millennials will be looking for homes over the next few years,” he said. “They are going to have to decide when they find a house they want—are they going to buy it now at whatever rates are available or sit on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop while house prices continue to rise?” The Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown region of Connecticut and the Boston-Cambridge-Newton areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire were named next year’s Northeast hot spots. Jared Wilk, president of the Greater Boston Association of Realtors, told The Epoch Times that home prices remain high in Boston and its immediate suburbs, with a median single-family home price of $865,000. “I’m optimistic about rates coming down in 2025, but fearful that affordability is going to continue to be a challenge for first-time buyers,” he said. Wilk, a principal with the Shulkin Wilk Group at Compass in Wellesley, Massachusetts, noted that despite higher home prices, the region continues to be a major attraction because of its hospitals, universities, and technology companies. “There’s a furious demand for homes here, and as a result, we don’t see the prices easing very much,” he said. While new construction is more prevalent in the Boston suburbs, home prices still remain on the high end. Many of Wilk’s clients are people moving within the region—some desiring a closer location to Boston for employment with others seeking the outskirts of the suburbs for more affordable options. “We’re definitely seeing people pushing further north, west, and south of the city to places like Brookline, Newton, Concord, and Lexington,” he noted. “And most of these towns have their own character and a commuter rail line.” Sheryl Bowden, president of the Phoenix Association of Realtors, told The Epoch Times that she wasn’t surprised to see that the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler region of Arizona also made NAR’s list of Top 10 2025 markets. Plus, the area is more affordable than many Northeast locations, with a median single-family home price of $475,000. “We’re in the Sun Belt, and people like to come here for change of scenery—either to buy second homes or to relocate,” she said. “We do have hot summers, but we never have hurricanes, tornadoes, or nasty winter weather.” Bowden said inventory is beginning to pick up and that she expects more potential buyers to hit the market in January. “We also have major employers like Google and Amazon, along with some great universities, medical schools, and sports teams—all of which are attracting people to the area,” Bowden said. Many of her buyers are former Californians seeking more affordable housing options and often paying cash for homes. She also works with retirees moving from other parts of the country. A 40-year real estate veteran, Bowden works with Realty Executives in Phoenix, but also serves the nearby communities of Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, and Chandler. “We do see a lot of new construction in our area, but they’re not building it as fast as we’d like,” she said. “I think builders are becoming a bit more conservative now, constructing just a few homes to start before putting too much inventory out there.” While prices are lower here than in much of the United States, Bowden said it’s still a struggle for first-time buyers. “I have a son who’s 28 and a daughter who’s 25, and all of their friends want to buy homes but can’t afford it yet,” Bowden said. “A lot of young people are living at home with their parents to try to save up for a down payment. Typically, your total household income should be at around $100,000 to be able to buy a home, but the majority of young people are not making that much.” In nearby Scottsdale, the median price for a single-family home jumps to $1.1 million. Other regions in NAR’s Top 10 2025 hot market list include Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North and South Carolina; Greenville-Anderson, South Carolina; Grand Rapids-Kentwood, Michigan; Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; Knoxville, Tennessee; and San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas.Queens Crane Accident Lawyer Keetick L. Sanchez Releases Insightful Article on Crane Accidents 11-21-2024 11:08 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire Queens crane accident lawyer [ https://accidentlawyer-queens.com/construction-accident-attorney/new-york-city-crane-accident-lawyer/ ] Keetick L. Sanchez of K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. has recently released an enlightening article addressing the critical issue of crane accidents in New York City. As construction remains one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, the article sheds light on the significant risks associated with crane operations and the devastating consequences they can have on both workers and bystanders. In the bustling cityscape of New York, cranes are an indispensable part of construction sites, towering over the city to help build its iconic skyline. However, these powerful machines can become sources of danger if not operated with the utmost care and adherence to safety protocols. The Queens crane accident lawyer emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes behind crane accidents and the legal implications that follow. According to Queens crane accident lawyer Keetick L. Sanchez, a staggering 20 percent of construction-related accidents are attributed to cranes. Many of these incidents result from cranes collapsing or buckling under excess weight, often due to negligence in adhering to safety standards. Sanchez notes, "When construction supervisors and contractors overlook safety limits, they put everyone on the site and nearby at significant risk." The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that 45 percent of crane accidents involve contact with energized power lines. Other common causes include improper use, overloading, and miscommunication among workers. These factors highlight the critical need for rigorous training and strict adherence to safety protocols on construction sites. "Crane accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries such as fractures, burns, and even traumatic brain injuries," Sanchez explains. The article explores the severe consequences of such accidents, including lifelong disabilities and fatalities. It underscores the necessity for victims to seek legal assistance to secure rightful compensation for their suffering. Victims of crane accidents may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The article advises individuals to understand their legal rights, especially when considering workers' compensation settlements, which might limit their ability to pursue further legal action against negligent parties. In cases of negligence, multiple parties might be held accountable, from property owners to equipment manufacturers. Keetick L. Sanchez and her team are committed to meticulously investigating each accident to identify responsible parties and ensure victims receive maximum compensation. "It is crucial for victims to have a dedicated legal advocate to handle the challenges of construction accident claims," Sanchez states. For those affected by crane accidents, the article serves as a valuable resource, offering detailed insights into the types of injuries sustained and the potential legal recourses available. Sanchez encourages victims to consult with experienced crane accident lawyers to explore their options and secure their rights. Individuals who have suffered from crane accidents should not hesitate to seek legal counsel. The K.L. Sanchez Law Office offers consultations to discuss potential claims and ensures no victim is left without the support they need. About K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C.: K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. is a dedicated legal firm committed to advocating for victims of construction accidents, including crane accidents. With a focus on personal injury law, the firm strives to secure the compensation injured parties deserve. Their team of skilled attorneys is well-versed in federal and state construction regulations, offering personalized and compassionate legal support to each client. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq_-NEn7pP4 GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=2729652254808699760 Email and website Email: accidentlawny1@gmail.com Website: https://accidentlawyer-queens.com/ Media Contact Company Name: K L Sanchez Law Office, P.C. Contact Person: Keetick Sanchez Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=queens-crane-accident-lawyer-keetick-l-sanchez-releases-insightful-article-on-crane-accidents ] Phone: (646) 701-7990 Address:3763 83rd St #1m City: Jackson Heights State: New York 11372 Country: United States Website: https://accidentlawyer-queens.com This release was published on openPR.
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Georgia Republicans recommend further law to restrict transgender women's participation in sportsOpinion piece By Dan Walsh – Sports Reporter (Sydney Morning Herald) Coming to an NRL franchise not so near you – Port Moresby, to be precise – will be a whiteboard. The interminable expansion talks and reports will finally culminate in a Papua New Guinean NRL side being announced this week. Now the fun begins. And the whiteboard mapping out the all-important 2028 roster becomes the most important item in the planned Port Moresby centre of excellence. Real-life fantasy football, with real-life recruiting challenges never before seen in the NRL, starts now – albeit with a four-year burn until a side has to be put on the paddock. With little appetite for the politics, false starts and grandstanding of what is no doubt a historic move, we put our general manager’s cap on and get into the nitty-gritty of creating a 30-man roster, with lessons and theories gleaned from the successes and failures of previous expansion outfits and the men who built them. The PNG plan, variables and non-negotiables The priority signing Sam Walker, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Xavier Coates and Spencer Leniu are our targets. Chief playmaker, bona fide star, another with Papua New Guinean roots and a leading front-rower. Before his passing in 2021, inaugural Western Reds coach and career-recruiter Peter Mulholland subscribed to two marquee players – “who you might have to pay 10-15 per cent more than the rest of your players” and “two quality props at least” as the ideal club building blocks. Nathan Cleary is the prized target but we just can’t see him leaving Penrith. So Walker is our scrumbase star and will be paid accordingly – we’re banking on the half a million dollars saved on tax sweetening our deal for the Roosters No.7. Tabuai-Fidow, still just 23, is the type of player who can light up a nation, and has emerged as the Dolphins’ own marquee man after the last expansion club missed out on a string of signing targets. If $2.4 million across Tabuai-Fidow and Walker is too much of an outlay, emerging Titans fullback Keano Kini is our back-up target. Coates – born in Port Moresby and a Kumuls international – brings the local connection and ability to shift to centre, while Leniu will be 28 in 2028 and coming into his prime as a front-rower. The prospect of the NSW Origin enforcer strutting, huffing, puffing and coming off the back fence in PNG is one we just can’t resist, and we’re tipping the locals will be of the same mind. Just as Tabuai-Fidow has helped the Dolphins capture the imagination, our quartet of star signings are nothing if not entertainers. Make PNG everyone else’s second-favourite side with magic and madness, we say. What’s the point of fantasy football otherwise? The roster breakdown, local boys and philosophy Rising Dolphins star Max Plath may well be a Queensland Origin regular by the time PNG is up and running, but the 23-year-old represents utility value and salary cap savings. Plath is our pick at hooker with the ability to shift to lock, and with Storm middle Josh King offering similar cover in the front-row, you’re adding more value and cover for one roster position. Accordingly, mid-tier players like Kayal Iro, Kaeo Weekes, Connor Tracey and Erin Clark are among our wider roster targets. Most NRL clubs spend big on their frontline playmakers – in our case Walker and Storm half Jonah Pezet – while their back-ups sit in roster spots 20-30. Cowboys rookie Jaxon Purdue is our pick given he will still only be 23 in 2028, while hooker is where we see real value in Papua New Guinea’s own emerging talent. Kumuls livewire No.9 Edwin Ipape will be familiar to some fans already, and has the likes of Judah Rimbu (the 2024 Queensland Cup player of the year) and schoolboy Finley Glare following in his footsteps. Most NRL squads feature half a dozen or so players aged between 19-23, and picking schoolboys and teenagers to emerge in four years time is a task beyond us, especially when they’d be moving to compound life in Port Morseby. Rising Titans prop Josiah Pahulu – currently agitating to leave the club after missing out on a bonus payment – is one 20-year-old worth building a middle rotation around in four years time. Roughly a third of NRL salary caps (at least $3.5 million by 2027/28) is spent on the big boys, and we’re hoping a front-row/middle market stagnated by lost development years due to COVID-19 has sped up again. The likes of Brisbane’s Xavier Willison, Rabbitoh Davvy Moale, Pahulu and Wests Tigers’ Fonua Pole will be in their mid-20s by 2028, though we’re thinking we can only afford one out Willison and Pole (both off-contract at the end of 2027). Notable off-contract players at the end of 2027 Fullbacks: Jahream Bula, Scott Drinkwater, Clint Gutherson, Isaiah Iongi, Kalyn Ponga, Chevy Stewart, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Sunia Turuva Outside backs: Campbell Graham, Jacob Kiraz, Junior Pauga, Brian To’o, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dominic Young, Jack Wighton, Latrell Mitchell, Paul Alamoti, Bradman Best, Jack Bostock, Stephen Crichton, Jack Howarth, Valentine Holmes, Tolu Koula Halves and hookers: Luke Brooks, Matt Burton, Latu Fainu, Cameron Munster, Jayden Sullivan, Kaeo Weekes, Nathan Cleary, Lewis Dodd, Ethan Sanders. Sam Walker, Mitchell Woods, Max Plath, Wayde Egan, Peter Mamouzelos Forwards: Spencer Leniu, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Josh Aloiai, Tom Flegler, Moeaki Fotuaika, Royce Hunt, Moses Leota, Terrell May, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Alex Twal, De La Salle Va’a, Stenao Utoikamanu, Xavier Willison, Jai Arrow, Mitch Barnett, J’maine Hopgood, Corey Horsburgh, Max King, Fonua Pole, Victor Radley, Jason Taumalolo, Connor Watson, Isaah Yeo.Edge forwards: Ryan Couchman, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Jackson Ford, Jeremiah Nanai, Eliese Katoa, Ethan Bullemor, Coen Hess, Dylan Lucas, Matty Nicholson, Liam Martin, Isaiah Papali’i, Briton Nikora, Brendan Piakura, Jacob Preston, Jordan Riki, Hudson Young, Ben Trbojevic. North Queensland’s Griffin Neame is also on our radar. So too late-blooming Storm prop Lazarus Vaalepu, who debuted this year at 25, and young Papua New Guinean middles Cooper Bai (son of Storm cult hero Marcus) and Kafe Renson. The coach and a culture club The first and most important call of all is the man pulling it all together. Current Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou and predecessor Justin Holbrook are two obvious contenders, while Wayne Bennett will be 78, but off-contract at least, before PNG even take the paddock. Ex-Eels coach Brad Arthur is another with credentials to take up an expansion side, though a potential Perth posting is in his sights, too. Either way, the Dolphins made a point of targeting Melbourne’s vaunted playing stocks to fill key leadership positions, with the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi instrumental in their first two seasons.
It's time for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris to bench Kirk Cousins, but he probably won't for a non-football reason. The Cousins experiment is failing in Atlanta. The Falcons (6-7) lost their fourth consecutive game on Sunday, 42-21 to the Vikings (11-2). During Atlanta's losing streak, Cousins is 88-of-141 (62.4 percent) for 1,068 yards, no touchdowns and eight interceptions. It's been outscored by 55 points this season, 37 points more than through 13 games last season when Desmond Ridder was its primary starting quarterback. With the season slipping away, Week 15 against the lowly Raiders would be the perfect time to turn to rookie Michael Penix Jr., who the Falcons unexpectedly selected with the No. 8 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft a month after signing Cousins in free agency. Atlanta formed a contingency plan in case of a Cousins catastrophe. If you're going to install a fire extinguisher, you can't be afraid to break glass in case of emergency. So, why not use Penix? The Falcons have 180 million reasons to keep their faith in Cousins. He's only one year into a four-year, $180 million contract he signed during the offseason. On Monday, ESPN's Bill Barnwell noted that Atlanta is "on the hook for a $27.5 million guaranteed base salary next season." "If the Falcons bench Cousins, there's a real chance they have to eat money to trade him this offseason," Barnwell added. If NFL teams' last 2024 memories of Cousins are his current zero-touchdown, eight-interception, four-game streak, he shouldn't command much interest on the trade market. And even if Atlanta finds a willing trade partner, Barnwell writes that the Falcons "will have paid him $90 million for one year of work." Atlanta's wallet needs Cousins to be successful. Per Spotrac , the Falcons would incur a $37.5 million dead cap hit in 2025 (or spread between the 2025 and 2026 seasons) by trading the four-time Pro Bowler. Atlanta already projects to have one of the league's worst salary-cap situations entering the offseason, ranking 28th in estimated cap space ($7.6 million). ( h/t Over The Cap ) The Falcons must improve their defense during the offseason by adding an edge-rusher and cornerback, which won't come cheap. Based on Cousins' performance, it's becoming increasingly harder to justify Atlanta keeping him in the starting lineup. If it were up to us, he'd be benched for Cousins. But we aren't footing the bill.DENVER — So you're the most valuable player of that annual Thanksgiving Day backyard flag football game. Or played tackle football on any level. Or ran track. Or dabbled in basketball. Or toyed with any sport, really. Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'" Get local news delivered to your inbox!
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Robert McCray scored 22 points as Jacksonville beat East Tennessee State 60-52 on Saturday. McCray added five rebounds, five steals, and four blocks for the Dolphins (6-5). Zimi Nwokeji scored 15 points while going 5 of 6 (4 for 5 from 3-point range) and added five rebounds. Kendall Munson shot 3 of 4 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line to finish with eight points. The Buccaneers (6-5) were led by John Buggs III, who recorded 15 points. East Tennessee State also got 13 points and five assists from Quimari Peterson. Jaden Seymour also put up nine points and two blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Phillies gamble on 1-year contract for 2-time All-Star closer Jordan RomanoBy MIKE CATALINI CHATHAM, N.J. (AP) — That buzzing coming out of New Jersey? It’s unclear if it’s drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward. Related Articles National News | Today in History: December 16, the Boston Tea Party National News | Today in History: December 15, Dylann Roof convicted of killing 9 Black church members in South Carolina National News | Paying homage to veterans on Wreaths Across America Day National News | Today in History: December 14, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting National News | Court denies TikTok’s request to halt enforcement of potential US ban until Supreme Court review Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights. This week seems to have begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X. But perhaps the most fantastic development is the dizzying proliferation of conspiracies — none of which has been confirmed or suggested by federal and state officials who say they’re looking into what’s happening. It has become shorthand to refer to the flying machines as drones, but there are questions about whether what people are seeing are unmanned aircraft or something else. Some theorize the drones came from an Iranian mothership. Others think they are the Secret Service making sure President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property is secure. Others worry about China. The deep state. And on. In the face of uncertainty, people have done what they do in 2024: Create a social media group. The Facebook page, New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it , has nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. People are posting their photo and video sightings, and the online commenters take it from there. One video shows a whitish light flying in a darkened sky, and one commenter concludes it’s otherworldly. “Straight up orbs,” the person says. Others weigh in to say it’s a plane or maybe a satellite. Another group called for hunting the drones literally, shooting them down like turkeys. (Do not shoot at anything in the sky, experts warn.) Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where there have been numerous sightings. She said she first posted photos online last month wondering what the objects were and became convinced they were drones when she saw how they moved and when her son showed her on a flight tracking site that no planes were around. Now she’s glued to the Mystery Drones page, she said. “I find myself — instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning my house — checking it,” she said. She doesn’t buy what the governor said, that the drones aren’t a risk to public safety. Murphy told Biden on Friday that residents need answers. The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” “How can you say it’s not posing a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.” Then there’s the notion that people could misunderstand what they’re seeing. William Austin is the president of Warren County Community College, which has a drone technology degree program, and is coincidentally located in one of the sighting hotspots. Austin says he has looked at videos of purported drones and that airplanes are being misidentified as drones. He cited an optical effect called parallax, which is the apparent shift of an object when viewed from different perspectives. Austin encouraged people to download flight and drone tracker apps so they can better understand what they’re looking at. Nonetheless, people continue to come up with their own theories. “It represents the United States of America in 2024,” Austin said. “We’ve lost trust in our institutions, and we need it.” Federal officials echo Austin’s view that many of the sightings are piloted aircraft such as planes and helicopters being mistaken for drones, according to lawmakers and Murphy. That’s not really convincing for many, though, who are homing in on the sightings beyond just New Jersey and the East Coast, where others have reported seeing the objects. For Seph Divine, 34, another member of the drone hunting group who lives in Eugene, Oregon, it feels as if it’s up to citizen sleuths to solve the mystery. He said he tries to be a voice of reason, encouraging people to fact check their information, while also asking probing questions. “My main goal is I don’t want people to be caught up in the hysteria and I also want people to not just ignore it at the same time,” he said. “Whether or not it’s foreign military or some secret access program or something otherworldly, whatever it is, all I’m saying is it’s alarming that this is happening so suddenly and so consistently for hours at a time,” he added. Associated Press reporter Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.Juan Soto could decide on his next team before or during baseball's winter meetings
NoneCHICAGO (AP) — Jacob Meyer scored 23 points as DePaul beat Wichita State 91-72 on Saturday. Meyer shot 6 of 9 from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 7 for 7 from the line for the Blue Demons (8-2). CJ Gunn scored 22 points, shooting 9 for 12, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc. Isaiah Rivera shot 6 for 11, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points, while adding seven rebounds. Harlond Beverly led the Shockers (8-2) in scoring, finishing with 14 points. Xavier Bell added 14 points for Wichita State. Quincy Ballard also had 12 points. Rivera scored 14 points in the first half and DePaul went into halftime trailing 47-42. Meyer led DePaul with 14 points in the second half and the Blue Demons outscored Wichita State by 24 points over the final half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria falloutNone