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4n15 SIOUX CITY — Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller told the City Council Monday that the new design for a sculpture outside the police department's headquarters will represent the "bond" between the community and his department. The Sioux City Council heard a presentation about Brodin Studios' proposal for a custom bronze statute that would feature a turn of the century patrol officer and a child. The sculpture would be placed on the sidewalk right outside the front doors of the police department on Douglas Street. Mueller Tim Hynds, Sioux City Journal "I think this is just a positive change. I think it'll be much more well-accepted. Any public art that we can have downtown will be positive," Mueller said. The project would be primarily financed by the Gilchrist Foundation and several private donors. There would be no financial impact on the city, as the Friends of the Sioux City Police Department, a nonprofit, would maintain funds to clean, maintain and repair the sculpture. In 2020, the Friends of the Sioux City Police Department received a Gilchrist Foundation grant for a public art sculpture to be placed on the sidewalk in front of the department's headquarters. Although the council approved the initial design, which was abstract and created by a local artist, it didn't receive much support from the community, according to city documents. "I was happy to see this resurrected," Councilman Matthew O'Kane said of the sculpture project. Mueller said the department wanted "representational art" from the beginning, but that the local artist the department was initially working with "wanted to take it in a different direction." "It was a very interesting piece -- very, very abstract. I thought with the explanation, it was very, very neat, but I just don't think that it had the public support. I think going in this direction is going to be more acceptable to the public, and we've got a nice spot for it," Mueller said. The Sioux City Police and Fire Headquarters building, 601 Douglas St., is shown. Jesse Brothers, Sioux City Journal Brodin Studios, of Kimball, Minnesota, would create a "completely original custom sculpt" with vintage images and scans of actual badges and equipment from the department. The life-size bronze sculpture would be mounted on a cement base topped with a black marble base with the department's mission statement etched into the supporting structure, along with a dedication plaque. "This is going to be a custom item that will actually be made to look exactly like officers and their equipment did, for instance, back in the day," said Mueller, who said the department will send some items from its museum to Brodin Studios to serve as references. "This will be a late 19th-century officer. The whole point being that back before automobiles, the guy that walked the beat and knew everybody in his neighborhood." Mayor Bob Scott asked if there would be room outside the building for another sculpture in the future, if the fire department wanted to do a similar project. The Douglas Street police department also serves as Sioux City Fire Rescue's headquarters. "This is going to have a limited footprint," Mueller said. "That's a pretty good plot of space. If they would ever want to do something, I think there's plenty of room to do so." The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing an annual contribution of more than $321,000 to the Sioux City Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau (SCRCVB), which does business as Explore Siouxland. The council also green-lighted a letter of understanding between the SCRCVB and the city. The contribution, which totals $321,621, will commence Dec. 16, 2024 and end June 30, 2025. The SCRCVB focuses on bringing in new events and marketing Sioux City as a destination for tourists, conventions and sporting events. Explore Siouxland Executive Director Kristi Franz gives a report to the Sioux City Council on Dec. 2. The council approved a commitment of a minimum of $100,000 and 50% of any hotel/motel taxes collected beyond $2.4 million. Since $2,843,241.80 was collected in hotel/motel taxes in 2024, the SCRCVB will receive $221,620.90 of the hotel/motel taxes. "This Letter of Understanding will be funded using FY 2025 Tourism operating funds; however, a budget add of $112,877.90 will be necessary to ensure available budget," city documents stated. Local leaders refocused their tourism efforts after Sioux City eliminated the city department that oversaw not only tourism, but also the Tyson Events Center and the Convention Center. The change occurred after the city hired OVG360, formerly Spectra, a Philadelphia-based venue management firm, to run the Tyson. The Convention & Visitors Bureau Board manages the new CVB, while the Events Facilities Advisory Board continues to oversee the city-owned venues. The Journal’s Jared McNett shows how to download and browse the Sioux City Journal's app. Jesse BrothersTeen with autism ‘left traumatised and scared’ after she was removed by police from Lisburn shop, says sister

By The Associated Press Alex Ovechkin of the Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin has 868 goals after scoring 15 in the first 18 games this season. He needs 27 to set a new record. Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. Ovechkin could resume his pursuit as soon as Saturday night at Toronto in the Capitals’ first game out of the Christmas break. Ovechkin scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Nov. 18, getting goals 867 and 868 in his first game in Salt Lake City before leaving in the third period . Ovechkin seems on track to play Saturday at the Maple Leafs . He has scored 44 goals against them during his career, tied for the fifth-most among all opponents. If not Saturday, the Capitals visit Detroit on Sunday and host Boston on Tuesday in a New Year’s Eve matinee. Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals with 316 and shots on goal with 6,690. He also has 132 game-winning goals , four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr’s mark (135). Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr. Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189). Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists and is now at 707. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists. Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894). Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons. Ovechkin has played in 1,444 total games so far. Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.Ted Cruz calls suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO shooter proof leftism is a "mental disease"

A sprawling Chinese espionage campaign hacked a ninth U.S. telecom firm, a top White House official said Friday. The Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. The White House earlier this month said the attack affected at least eight telecommunications companies and dozens of nations. Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim was identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China's hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals." Although the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense of how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number" were in or near Washington. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are "primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cybersecurity practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.Hundreds of migrants detained trying to reach UK via Ireland in apparent reversal of Rwanda trend

Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78Semester 2 registration is open at Saskatchewan’s Distance Learning Centre. Sask DLC is a fully accredited online school that offers Kindergarten to Grade 12 education to Saskatchewan students of all ages and backgrounds. The straightforward school supply list includes a computer with internet access and, as part of the computer or as an add-on, a mouse, microphone, and webcam. Students also need headphones/earbuds, a scanner/cell phone camera for submitting work, a printer and paper, along with standard supplies such as pens/pencils, an eraser, ruler, scissors, markers, geometry set, binders, and paper or notebooks. New courses in practical and applied arts and elective courses will give students greater opportunities to explore their interests or try something new and see if it sparks their curiosity. Tourism 10 and 20 courses will introduce students to food and beverage, accommodation, recreation and entertainment, transportation and travel services. Tourism 10 provides the theoretical component necessary for Tourism 20. Tourism 20, newly available in Semester 2, provides more theory and is coupled with a work placement. Other new courses available in Semester 2 include Energy and Mines – Oil & Gas 20 and Football Skills 10. Students enrolling in Energy and Mines 20 will learn about energy exploration, production and environmental stewardship practices, as well as industry trends, safety, economic impacts and technological advancements. This course, available in Semester 2 only, provides 50 hours of online theory and a 50-hour work placement. Football Skills 10, one of the courses offered as part of a grouping of unique electives, will introduce students to the basic concepts of football. They will explore the elements and rules of tackle, touch and flag football while developing fitness levels, mental training and leadership skills. Students will examine the importance of basic training, conditioning, nutrition and mental wellness in developing an athlete. They will learn about game strategy and tactics, individual and team goal setting, leadership, communication and team building, sportsmanship and fair play and have the opportunity to explore pathways in football beyond high school. Football 20 and 30 are expected to be available in the 2025-26 school year. Also, Baseball 10, 20, and 30 are part of the unique electives grouping. Whether new to baseball or having some experience, students will find that these courses cater to all skill levels. Starting with the basics and rules, students progress to intermediate topics like statistics and metrics for athlete development and can explore non-playing careers such as coaching, umpiring, recruiting, and broadcasting. Baseball 30 will be available in Semester 2. Sask Polytech provided high school students taking online automotive courses, with the opportunity to get practical, hands-on learning in the automotive mechanical field, through a one-day learning camp at the Sask Polytech Saskatoon Campus. Sask DLC and Sask Polytech learning camps provide students from across the province with opportunities to learn about potential career paths and make informed choices for their future beyond high school. The camps allow students to either confirm their current career aspirations or discover new ones. Students got a preview of the Automotive Service Technician certificate program and apprenticeship training options available at Sask Polytech. “Sask Polytech is excited to support students interested in pursuing a career in the automotive industry,” Sask Polytech President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said in a News Release. “High school students can gain numerous benefits from exploring the trades and participating in the camp. It is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the automotive industry and to learn about the Automotive Service Technician program.” Interest among students in Sask DLC’s Mechanical and Automotive courses continues to increase. More than 300 students registered for Mechanical and Automotive courses, including 168 with work placements so far this school year. Last year, 124 students registered in Mechanical and Automotive 10, 20 or 30-level courses, completing more than 4,500 work placement hours. An additional 98 students took the introductory theory-only course. Sask DLC offers five Mechanical and Automotive courses for students across the province, including a 10-level introductory course where students can choose to do full-online theory or participate in 75 hours of online theory with a 25-hour work placement. At the 20-and-30- level each course is a combination of 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of an in-person work placement at a local business. Students participating in the optional learning camp at Sask Polytech will earn six credit hours toward their work placement requirement. Student work placements are possible due to a partnership between Sask DLC and the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealers Association (SADA). Through this partnership, students are provided with opportunities to complete their work placement at a SADA member dealership. This partnership provides students with work placement opportunities near their home community and supports the automotive sector’s recruitment of future qualified employees to serve the industry. These courses complement several other 35 Sask DLC trades courses with work placements or hands-on learning opportunities available to students including Agriculture Equipment Technician, Autobody, Construction and Carpentry, Electrical, Energy and Mines - Oil and Gas, Parts Technician, Power Engineering, Precision Agriculture, Tourism, and Welding. Sask DLC’s Mechanical and Automotive, and other courses are open for semester 2 registration. Courses are available to full-time Sask DLC students and high school students attending local schools throughout the province to supplement their in-person learning. High school students can contact their local school administrator or guidance counsellor for help registering. Learn more about all online courses with work placements available through Sask DLC at .

Pride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come outGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — After losing to San Francisco in the playoffs three of the last five seasons, the Green Bay Packers wouldn’t mind seeing the 49ers get left out of the postseason entirely. The Packers (7-3) could damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes Sunday by beating the 49ers at Lambeau Field. San Francisco (5-5) dropped to .500 after losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks, though the 49ers remain just a game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. “I think we’re motivated to keep winning more than anything,” Packers center Josh Myers said. “Obviously, they have knocked us out quite a bit. There’s that extra motivation behind it, but at this point, we’re just trying to churn out wins.” The 49ers will be playing this game without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who injured his right shoulder in the Seahawks game. Although an MRI showed no structural damage, Purdy's shoulder didn't improve as the week wore on. Brandon Allen will start in Purdy's place. Green Bay is third in the NFC North and two games behind the Detroit Lions, but the Packers appear on track to at least earn a wild-card playoff berth. History suggests their path to a potential Super Bowl would get much clearer if the 49ers aren’t standing in their way. The 49ers trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to beat the Packers 24-21 in the divisional playoffs last year on Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left. Now, it’s the 49ers who are struggling to protect late leads, as they’ve blown fourth-quarter advantages in three games against divisional opponents. “You could look at, ‘Hey, we’re three possessions away from being 8-2,’ but you can’t really live like that,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said. “Those are the mistakes that we’ve made to be 5-5. It’s not exactly where we want to be. It is frustrating. The nice thing is we have seven games left to go out there and play Niners football and take advantage of those opportunities.” Green Bay’s recent history of playoff frustration against the 49ers also includes a 13-10 loss at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional playoffs and a 37-20 road defeat in the 2019 NFC championship game. Even the Packers players who weren’t around for last season’s playoff loss realize what this game means. “I think one of the first meetings that I was in here, we had a conversation about the Niners beating us,” said Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Packers this season. “So I understand how important it is, and we all do.” Both teams must figure out how to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The 49ers are scoring touchdowns on just 48.8% of their drives inside an opponent’s 20-yard line to rank 27th in the NFL. The Packers are slightly worse in that regard, scoring touchdowns on 48.7% of their red-zone possessions to rank 28th. In their 20-19 victory at Chicago on Sunday, Green Bay drove to the Bears 5 without scoring on two separate series. Purdy isn't the only notable player who won't be participating in Sunday's game. San Francisco won't have four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa available after he hurt his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also have been ruled out. Kittle expects to play for the 49ers on Sunday after missing the Seahawks game with a hamstring injury. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable. Green Bay’s defense feasted on turnovers the first part of the season, but hasn’t been as effective in getting those takeaways lately. The Packers have 19 takeaways – already exceeding their 2023 total – but haven’t forced any turnovers in their last two games. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t eased McCaffrey back into the lineup in his return after missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has played 91% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps the past two weeks. Jordan Mason, who rushed for 685 yards during McCaffrey’s absence, has just five snaps on offense the last two games. Shanahan said he’d like to get Mason more opportunities, but it’s hard to take McCaffrey off the field. Green Bay nearly lost to the Bears because of its third-down struggles on both sides of the ball. The Packers were 1 of 5 on third-down opportunities, while the Bears went 9 of 16. The Packers’ defense could have a tough time correcting that problem against San Francisco, which has converted 45.4% of its third-down situations to rank fourth in the league. AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

BEING a pro footballer around Christmas might be the most depressing time of your life. I’m not asking for huge amounts of sympathy. We are very privileged people who get paid extremely well, so I don’t expect the tiny violins to be coming out. But it is not an easy time. Your whole family is buzzing — the Pringles are out, the wine, the beers. So many things that you would normally enjoy but just know you cannot do it. I remember as a footballer having Christmas dinner and knowing we were playing a game the next day. I would have to ask for a third of what I would normally stuff on my plate. Now I am retired — my first Christmas away from the game for nearly 20 years — I asked my family to give me a third more than I can even stomach. I was so excited and loved it. But as a professional player, you would be counting how many potatoes you have eaten. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Then the club nutritionists would be on to you. I used to have to jump in the gym straight after my turkey dinner. Usually, if we had an away game on Boxing Day, we would have to train in the late afternoon or early evening on Christmas Day — and then it was straight to wherever the hotel was. I’d get up in the morning on Christmas Day, do stuff with the kids, have a light breakfast, probably run a 5k on the treadmill, then the family came over to have dinner but you are always watching the time. Let’s say we had dinner at 1:30pm. I would then get on the scales at 2:45pm and I am two kilos over. So, I have to jump in the sauna for 20 minutes. Then it is in the car, down to training, weigh yourself again and into a hotel with 20 other lads who also don’t want to be there. You’re looking on your social media and everyone is posting videos of themselves enjoying some drinks, opening presents, spending time with their kids. It really hits you. By the time Boxing Day comes around, everyone is in the mindset of, ‘Thank God that’s over’. I always tried to have a bigger dinner that day to make up for what I missed. For me and my family, our Christmas Day would be on the 27th, so you could enjoy yourself and have a few days resting before the New Year games. As players, we were generally well behaved during those periods. Sometimes at Watford, depending on the manager we had, we would have to come in for training at 8am on Christmas Day, so everyone would be home by midday. Get in, get out. There used to be a rule whereby you then did not have to report until Boxing Day morning. But that was stopped after a few players would turn up with red eyes after staying out until 2am. Those Christmas Day morning sessions were the worst, because my kids would wake up all excited wanting to open their presents and I would have to say: “No, wait until dad gets home!” It’s torture. And even when I got home, I would have to eat, shower, have a little nap and then drive back to the hotel for 7pm. When I first met my wife, she thought I would only train a couple of times a week and then play on a Saturday. She then got the biggest shock of her life. My life was so regimented, even at Christmas. Look, it’s part of the gig. You’re paid to put up with it but it was a mental strain at times, especially with kids and those who were really family-orientated.Big E. attended the Rate Bowl on Thursday, which drew a heated comment from Xavier Woods. The WWE star appeared at the game in a promotional appearance for WWE, and the game shared video of E. as you can see below. Woods retweeted one of the posts, writing: “Playing in my face, mocking my craft, but im the bad guy?” BIG E with the MVP! Congratulations to @KStateFB LB @austinmoore_21 , our #RateBowl Defensive Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/7r1ALe6SGS — Rate Bowl (@RateBowl) December 27, 2024 🎺 @WWEBigE is having a fun time at the #RateBowl ! pic.twitter.com/R78JHpvHeF — Rate Bowl (@RateBowl) December 27, 2024 Playing in my face, mocking my craft, but im the bad guy? https://t.co/ocvFAp3R5C — Austin Creed (@AustinCreedWins) December 27, 2024

ASUNCION - Paraguay has cancelled the visa of a low-level Chinese diplomat Xu Wei over alleged "interference in domestic affairs" and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours, the Latin American nation's foreign ministry said on Dec 5. Paraguay's ministry didn't specify what Mr Xu's interference had been, but the Taiwanese embassy in Paraguay in a statement accused the envoy of trying to undermine the relationship between Paraguay and Chinese-claimed Taiwan. "He infiltrated Paraguay with an unknown purpose, to undermine the firm friendship between Paraguay and Taiwan," the Taiwanese embassy posted on X. Local media reported that Mr Xu had visited Congress with two Paraguayan opposition lawmakers, where he had urged Paraguay to recognise China over Taiwan, and said that the choice would benefit the soy-producing nation. Paraguay's long-standing diplomatic support for Taiwan has held back local farmers' grains exports to China. Paraguay is the only South American country remaining with formal relations with Taiwan. China considers democratically-governed Taiwan its own territory without any right to the trappings of a state. Taipei rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. Paraguay's foreign ministry said that Mr Xu had come to Paraguay as part of a Chinese group for a Unesco meeting, but had violated the limits of his visa. "This gentleman had a parallel agenda, he came to do internal politics that were not appropriate," said Mr Juan Baiardi, Deputy Minister of Administration and Technical Affairs of the Foreign Ministry. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowIt’s not every day an 11-year-old turns heads, but Arthur Godoy is an exception. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * It’s not every day an 11-year-old turns heads, but Arthur Godoy is an exception. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? It’s not every day an 11-year-old turns heads, but Arthur Godoy is an exception. The young Winnipeg swimmer is making a name for himself in the pool with talent his coaches say is beyond his years. The buzz reached a new high earlier this month when Godoy etched his name in the Manitoba record books, besting a mark in the 100-metre medley — four 25-metre legs in the butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle — that stood for 11 years in his age group. ALEX SHOGOLEV PHOTO Arthur Godoy’s coach is impressed witht the young swimmer’s work ethic and discipline. Godoy posted a time of one minute, 8.73 seconds at the Prairie Winter International at Pan Am Pool. He now ranks as the fastest 11-year-old 100 IM swimmer in Canada. “The way he’s swimming right now at his age is comparable to 13, 14 year olds that are in the city,” said Alex Shogolev, who has coached Godoy since June through the Alpha Swim Club. Shogolev swam for the University of Calgary and the Manitoba Bisons, competing in conference and national championships, and Olympic trials at the height of his career. That’s to say, he knows what it takes to swim at a high level, and he believes Godoy already has many of those qualities. “He does a really great job. He’s very disciplined, I think that’s the one thing that you need to have as an athlete to make it to the next level, and he’s also willing to almost go beyond the limit to train outside of his comfort zone. If you have those two things, you’re for sure going to be a great athlete,” Shogolev said. Godoy’s pre-school years were spent playing soccer in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. Though he had some exposure to the pool, he had no idea that his greatest ability was in the water. In 2019, he moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Paula and Carlos, who served in the Brazilian military and has a background as a pentathlete. They later enrolled him in Leisure Guide swimming lessons. Godoy quickly showed an advanced ability in the water and outgrew those classes. Instructors recommended his parents search for specialized training. By eight years old, Godoy was competitively swimming with a club. “I just think it’s really fun. I like the morning practises, waking up early,” said Godoy, who was named the top overall swimmer for his age group at the junior provincials in June. “I feel really good when I reach my goals and get a good time. It feels really good, the training and when the results come out, that’s one of the big reasons why I do swimming.” Godoy has joined a few different clubs around the city but left quickly as he and his parents were not satisfied with the training he received. It’s been a different story since joining Alpha in the summer, where his talents are being maximized, Paula said. “He’s excelling with Alpha,” Paula said. “The other clubs, they didn’t look at Arthur as a person who could excel in swimming. Alpha is doing this. This is the difference from the other clubs.” “He’s not alone. He’s with the right people now.” Shogolev founded Alpha Swim Club in January of 2023 after the previous club he coached for folded during to the pandemic. His club began with six swimmers but has grown to around 80 in less than two years. There are nine swim clubs in the city that specialize in athletes who are six to 20 years old, some have hundreds of swimmers under their umbrella. Shogolev’s membership may not grow much more. Space is limited and he holds a detailed selection process for anyone trying to join. Not only does he want kids who he believes have the ability to excel in the sport, but he places an emphasis on those who demonstrate an eagerness to learn. It’s led him to Godoy, and Raul and Milana Hadzhyiev, two other exceptional 10-year-old swimmers. “He always shows up on time to practice. He loves learn and take in information. Whenever we have something to critique, he takes it very well and he always tries to improve himself, not just as a swimmer but also as a younger leader in our club,” Shogolev said of Godoy. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Godoy is best in the freestyle and butterfly disciplines and is on a demanding training schedule to improve the other strokes. He’s in the water six days a week — five days with Shogolev and twice in one day with another coach once per week — and relishes every opportunity he gets. He said his hard work was on display in his record-breaking performance. “I was super happy because not a lot of people break a record,” Godoy said. “I’m proud of myself that I got the results out. The training is super hard and every day. Sometimes you just don’t want to do it but if you just give your all every day you’ll see the results come out.” joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca X: @jfreysam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the . Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. . Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the . Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. . Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementWhile Christmas Day is the most wonderful time of the year for many, Scottie Scheffler will remember his 2024 festivities for different reasons. To cap off a roller coaster year for the men’s golf World No. 1, Scheffler suffered an injury while preparing his Christmas dinner and will now miss the start of the PGA Tour’s 2025 season . “On Christmas Day while preparing dinner, Scottie sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass,” Scheffler’s manager Blake Smith said via the PGA Tour on Friday. “Small glass fragments remained in the palm which required surgery.” Smith added that Scheffler has been told he “should be back to 100% in three to four weeks”. But following surgery, the 28-year-old will miss The Sentry tournament, the PGA Tour season-opener in Hawaii. This news is just the latest in a hectic calendar year for Scheffler – on and off the golf course. On the links, Scheffler has been on a streak that most golfers can only dream of. In April, he won the Masters before going on to win gold at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. In total, Scheffler won seven events on the PGA Tour in 2024, including the TOUR Championship. Scheffler also won the Hero World Challenge and helped lead Team USA to its tenth straight win at the Presidents Cup. It was an equally memorable year off the course for the Olympic Gold medalist. Scheffler and his wife Meredith welcomed their first child on May 8 this year, just over a week before Scheffler played in the PGA Championship. It was during that tournament that Scheffler was arrested , charged with felony assault and released from jail before shooting a stellar 5-under par on day two of the event. All charges against the golfer were later dismissed . There certainly won’t be many more eventful years in the golfer’s life and his 2025 season will now be getting off to a much quieter start after his injury. Scheffler expects to return to competition in mid-January at The American Express tournament at La Quinta, California, according to Smith.

France's toppled government adds to the European Union's bigger political problemsTennessee grabs No. 1 in AP Top 25 after shakeup; No. 3 Iowa State has highest ranking since 1950sBOURNEMOUTH, England, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou confronted fans after his side's tame 1-0 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Thursday which increased the pressure on the Australian. Postecoglou's side were unrecognisable from the one that beat Manchester City 4-0 in their last away game, producing a lacklustre display and conceding from a basic set-piece. They have now lost six of their 14 league games this season and sit 10th in the table, below Bournemouth. Boos were heard from the visiting fans after the final whistle and Postecoglou engaged a few in conversation. "They are disappointed, rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback which I guess is taken on board," he told reporters. Asked what was said, he added: "Probably not for here mate. I've got no issue with it. I didn't like what was being said because I'm a human being but you've got to cop it. "I've been around long enough to know that if things don't go well, you've got to understand the frustration." Postecoglou faces a crucial few weeks if the season is not to start unravelling. His stuttering side host high-flying Chelsea on Sunday and travel to Rangers for a crucial Europa League clash next week. After a trip to bottom club Southampton they face Manchester United in the League Cup quarter-finals and host leaders Liverpool shortly before Christmas. "All I can say is I'm really disappointed with tonight and I'm determined to get it right and I'll keep fighting until we do," Postecoglou said. Adding to his woes was an injury to Ben Davies who was playing as centre back in the absence of injured duo Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. "It looks like he's done his hamstring. Him and Radu (Dragusin) have played every game. It's the one position we can't rotate. He'll obviously be out for a period of time now, we'll just have to wait and see how long it is. "It's a consequence of having the squad we have." Sign up here. Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by ERd Osmond Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

PITTSBURGH — Maybe the most deflating aspect of the Steelers' last-minute loss in Cleveland was the second-stingiest defense in the NFL failing to protect another lead against one of the worst offenses in the league. And it wasn't the first time. Not only did the Steelers allow the Browns, the lowest-scoring team in the AFC, to top 18 points for only the second time this season in a 24-19 defeat, but they failed to stop them after the Steelers battled back from an 18-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to take a 19-18 lead with 6:15 remaining. The Steelers allowed Browns quarterback Jameis Winston to complete three consecutive passes after tight end Jordan Akins dropped what appeared to be an easy walk-in touchdown to set up Nick Chubb's winning score with 57 seconds remaining. "It is very deflating," outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. "We need to close out games and we were not able to do that. It sucks that we could not hold on, but a loss is a loss." The Steelers have not been very good at closing out games. They did the same thing in the home loss to Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 6, giving up a touchdown to receiver Jalen Tolbert with 20 seconds remaining in a 20-17 defeat. Even against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers let Lamar Jackson complete 6 of 8 passes for 74 yards on a nine-play, 69-yard drive, including a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining, to come within a failed two-point conversion of forcing overtime. Just as disturbing was the Steelers lack of pressure on Winston, who was sacked only once — by outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who forced a fumble that DeShon Elliott recovered and led to the go-ahead touchdown throw to Calvin Austin III. The Browns had allowed a league-high 46 sacks and were using their fourth different starter at left tackle, Germain Ifedi, against the Steelers. But it didn't lead to any extra pressure by the Steelers, who are on pace to have 39 sacks — their fewest since the 2016 season (38). That was especially evident on the third-and-6 play with 1:55 remaining, when Winston had plenty of time to throw against a four-man rush and completed a 15-yard pass to receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Steelers' 9 to set up Chubb's winning touchdown. "They were able to convert when they were able to and make plays in big time moments and we were not able to," Watt said. Well received? Wide receiver Mike Williams played 19 snaps against the Browns and, for the second game in a row, did not even get a target. That means Williams has played 44 snaps since his winning touchdown catch in his Steelers debut in Washington without getting a pass thrown in his direction. The good news: The Steelers got their other receivers involved in the offense for a change. Receiver Calvin Austin had catches of 45 and 23, the latter for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:15 remaining; Van Jefferson had a 35-yard catch that led to a field goal; and tight end Pat Freiermuth re-emerged to have his most receptions (four for 57 yards) since Week 4 in Indianapolis. "We had some really good explosive plays down the field, throwing the ball to Van," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "He made some great catches.... Calvin, too. I thought the guys, the receivers, did a really good job of making plays tonight in tough weather conditions. We were able to put the ball down the field and make plays in key moments, and that was really good." Wilson had his highest completion percentage of the season (21 of 28, 75%) and second-highest yardage total (270) despite the snowy conditions. It was his third game in five starts with a 100-plus passer rating. But after cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted Winston with 4:22 remaining, the Steelers went three-and-out from their own 24 with Justin Fields, not Wilson, taking two of the final three snaps. Fields did not run the ball on either of his two plays. What's more, it seemed like a dubious decision to have Fields throw on third-and-4, especially a deep incompletion to George Pickens. That failed series led to a chunked 15-yard punt by Corliss Waitman to the Steelers 45, leading to the Browns' winning touchdown. Fields played seven snaps against the Browns, which, in the end, was one too many. "I think that we all as a team, we're trying to make plays," Wilson said. "We're trying to do different things. Obviously, we have trust in Justin, too, and what he can do and what he's capable of. Listen, I always want to be in there. That's just the competitor in me. But at the same time, we have great trust in Justin, and our team, our coaches, and everything we're doing." (c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Deebo Samuel says he's "Not struggling at all just not getting the ball"

Imprisoned Proud Boys leader balks at answering a prosecutor's questions about Capitol attack

The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system. News of his capture in Pennsylvania -- following a tip from a McDonald's worker --triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. While some lauded him as a hero and lamented his arrest, others analyzed his intellectual takes in search of ideological clues. A photo on one of his social media accounts includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. No explicit political affiliation has emerged. Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." character Luigi, sometimes depicted in AI-altered images wielding a gun or holding a Big Mac. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. "I want to donate to your defense fund," added another. According to Mangione's LinkedIn profile, he is employed as a data engineer at TrueCar, a California-based online auto marketplace. A company spokesperson told AFP Mangione "has not been an employee of our company since 2023." Although he had been living in Hawaii ahead of the killing, he originally hails from Towson, Maryland, near Baltimore. He comes from a prominent and wealthy Italian-American family, according to the Baltimore Banner. The family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, its website says. A standout student, Mangione graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. In an interview with his local paper at the time, he praised his teachers for fostering a passion for learning beyond grades and encouraging intellectual curiosity. A former student who knew Mangione at the Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," this person said, asking that their name not be used. "Seemed to just be smiling, and kind of seemed like he was a smart kid. Ended up being valedictorian, which confirmed that," the former student said. Mangione went on to attend the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage, archived on the Wayback Machine. On Instagram, where his following has skyrocketed from hundreds to tens of thousands, Mangione shared snapshots of his travels in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He also posted shirtless photos flaunting a six-pack and appeared in celebratory posts with fellow members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. However, it is on X (formerly Twitter) that users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo -- an X-ray of a spine with bolts -- remains cryptic, with no public explanation. Finding a coherent political ideology has also proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on the online site goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out a string of bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione called Kaczynski "rightfully imprisoned," while also saying "'violence never solved anything' is a statement uttered by cowards and predators." According to CNN, handwritten documents recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline. In April, he wrote, "Horror vacui (nature abhors a vacuum)." The following month, he posted an essay he wrote in high school titled "How Christianity Prospered by Appealing to the Lower Classes of Ancient Rome." In another post from April, he speculated that Japan's low birthrate stems from societal disconnection, adding that "fleshlights" and other vaginal-replica sex toys should be banned. ia/nro/dwonly came out in February, but the game’s final season, which starts tomorrow, is going to be its last. Season 4 Episode 7 launches on Tuesday, and Episode 8, which is set to release on January 14th, 2025, will “serve as the last seasonal Episode for developer Rocksteady . After the release of the final content, the game will still be available to play online, according to . But the game is also getting an offline mode tomorrow — which had been , though without a specific date beyond “2024” — that will let you play the main story and all seasonal story mission content without an internet connection. The game has had a troubled history. The game was originally set to release before being delayed . And a largely unsuccessful launch — in our review, the game “hides its brash personality under a generic looter shooter” — resulted in Warner Bros. Discovery announcing in May that it would be on the game. /

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. The legislation sponsored by state Attorney General Rob Bonta is necessary to bolster safety for children online, supporters say, but industry officials vow to fight the measure and others like it under the First Amendment. Warning labels for social media gained swift bipartisan support from dozens of attorneys general, including Bonta, after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to establish the requirements earlier this year, saying social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer,” Bonta said at a news conference Monday. “Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.” State officials haven't provided details on the bill, but Bonta said the warning labels could pop up once weekly. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 say they use a social media platform, and more than a third say that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center. Parents’ concerns prompted Australia to pass the world’s first law banning social media for children under 16 in November. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who authored the California bill, said Monday. “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.” Lawmakers instead should focus on online safety education and mental health resources, not warning label bills that are “constitutionally unsound,” said Todd O’Boyle, a vice president of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “We strongly suspect that the courts will set them aside as compelled speech,” O’Boyle told The Associated Press. Victoria Hinks' 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died by suicide four months ago after being “led down dark rabbit holes” on social media that glamorized eating disorders and self-harm. Hinks said the labels would help protect children from companies that turn a blind eye to the harm caused to children’s mental health when they become addicted to social media platforms. “There's not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” Hinks said. “This could be your story." Common Sense Media, a sponsor of the bill, said it plans to lobby for similar proposals in other states. California in the past decade has positioned itself as a leader in regulating and fighting the tech industry to bolster online safety for children. The state was the first in 2022 to bar online platforms from using users’ personal information in ways that could harm children. It was one of the states that sued Meta in 2023 and TikTok in October for deliberately designing addictive features that keep kids hooked on their platforms. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also signed several bills in September to help curb the effects of social media on children, including one to prohibit social media platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to children without parental consent and one to limit or ban students from using smartphones on school campus. Federal lawmakers have held hearings on child online safety and legislation is in the works to force companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The legislation has the support of X owner Elon Musk and the President-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding. To remove this article -