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NoneThe reigning Super Bowl champions saw their run of 15 straight wins ended by the Buffalo Bills last week, but got back to winning ways thanks to star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After a late Chuba Hubbard touchdown and two-point conversion had made it 27-27, the Chiefs got the ball back with less than two minutes on the clock and a 33-yard run from Mahomes helped set up Spencer Shrader for a game-winning field goal. Mahomes finished the game with 269 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Noah Gray in the first half. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs scored two touchdowns as the Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts 24-6 to improve their record to 10-1, matching that of the Chiefs. David Montgomery also ran for a score before having to leave the game with a shoulder injury. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended a four-game losing streak with a 30-7 win over the New York Giants, who “mutually agreed” to terminate the contract of quarterback Daniel Jones earlier this week. Jones’ replacement Tommy DeVito was sacked four times while opposite number Baker Mayfield ran for a touchdown and completed 24 of 30 pass attempts for 294 yards. Rachaad White, Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker also ran for touchdowns in a one-sided contest. The Dallas Cowboys ended their five-game losing streak with a remarkable 34-26 win over the Washington Commanders, with 30 points scored in the final three minutes. KaVontae Turpin’s 99-yard kick-off return for a touchdown looked to have sealed victory for the Cowboys, only for the Commanders to respond with a field goal before getting the ball back with 33 seconds remaining. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin sprinted 86 yards through the Dallas defence for a touchdown, only for Austin Seibert to miss the extra point. The Commanders tried an onside kick and Juanyeh Thomas returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw four touchdown passes as the Miami Dolphins cruised to a 34-15 win over the New England Patriots, while the Tennessee Titans pulled off a surprise 32-27 victory at the Houston Texans. The Minnesota Vikings improved to 9-2 thanks to a 30-27 overtime win against the Chicago Bears, Parker Romo kicking the decisive field goal from 29 yards.Kansas City Chiefs back to winning ways against Carolina Panthers
Connor Gaydos, a man connected to an apparent parody project to relaunch the energy company Enron and become its new CEO , was hit in the face with a pie this week as he was entering a building in New York City. The incident was caught on video and went viral on social media Thursday. The clip shows Gaydos exiting an SUV shortly before an older man slams the pie into his face as two bodyguards intervene. The bizarre incident mirrored one from more than two decades earlier, when a California woman tossed a pie into the face of Enron’s then-CEO Jeffrey Schilling . Earlier this month, a group announced the scandal-plagued Texas company was returning exactly 23 years after filing for bankruptcy amid massive fraud. “With a bold new vision, Enron will leverage cutting-edge technology, human ingenuity, and the spirit of adaptation to address the critical challenges of energy, sustainability, accessibility and affordability,” the company said in a press release that raised questions about its legitimacy. The announcement was reportedly joined by billboards in the Houston area, a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle and a video promoting the company’s comeback. An investigation conducted by Houston station KHOU turned up a disclaimer on the company’s website that read, “The information on the website is First Amendment-protected parody , represents performance art and is for entertainment purposes only.” Many have speculated the company’s reemergence is merely a publicity stunt promoting cryptocurrency .
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold accountable a former president while he was simultaneously running for another term. Trump emerges indisputably victorious, having successfully delayed the investigations through legal maneuvers and then winning re-election despite indictments that described his actions as a threat to the country's constitutional foundations. FILE - Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) “I persevered, against all odds, and WON," Trump exulted in a post on Truth Social, his social media website. He also said that “these cases, like all of the other cases I have been forced to go through, are empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” The judge in the election case granted prosecutors' dismissal request. A decision in the documents case was still pending on Monday afternoon. The outcome makes it clear that, when it comes to a president and criminal accusations, nothing supersedes the voters' own verdict. In court filings, Smith's team emphasized that the move to end their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” prosecutors said in one of their filings. They wrote that Trump’s return to the White House “sets at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: on the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” In this situation, “the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated,” they concluded. Smith’s team said it was leaving intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Steven Cheung, Trump's incoming White House communications director, said Americans “want an immediate end to the political weaponization of our justice system and we look forward to uniting our country.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will start his second term free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters' violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) But the case quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The U.S. Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Smith’s team in October filed a lengthy brief laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will of voters after he lost to Biden. In dismissing the case, Chutkan acknowledged prosecutors' request to do so “without prejudice,” raising the possibility that they could try to bring charges against Trump when his term is over. She wrote that is “consistent with the Government’s understanding that the immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office.” But such a move may be barred by the statute of limitations, and Trump may also try to pardon himself while in office. immunity afforded to a sitting President is temporary, expiring when they leave office. The separate case involving classified documents had been widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. The case quickly became snarled by delays, with U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon slow to issue rulings — which favored Trump’s strategy of pushing off deadlines in all his criminal cases — while also entertaining defense motions and arguments that experts said other judges would have dispensed with without hearings. In May, she indefinitely canceled the trial date amid a series of unresolved legal issues before dismissing the case outright two months later. Smith’s team appealed the decision, but now has given up that effort. Trump faced two other state prosecutions while running for president. One them, a New York case involving hush money payments, resulted in a conviction on felony charges of falsifying business records. It was the first time a former president had been found guilty of a crime. The sentencing in that case is on hold as Trump's lawyers try to have the conviction dismissed before he takes office, arguing that letting the verdict stand will interfere with his presidential transition and duties. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office is fighting the dismissal but has indicated that it would be open to delaying sentencing until Trump leaves office. Bragg, a Democrat, has said the solution needs to balance the obligations of the presidency with “the sanctity of the jury verdict." Trump was also indicted in Georgia along with 18 others accused of participating in a sprawling scheme to illegally overturn the 2020 presidential election there. Any trial appears unlikely there while Trump holds office. The prosecution already was on hold after an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Four defendants have pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty. Associated Press writers Colleen Long, Michael Sisak and Lindsay Whitehurst contributed to this story. ___ Special Counsel Jack Smith plans to step down before Trump’s inauguration, according to The New York Times. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this story. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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Drop in a question of your very own BY CLICKING HERE or by emailing Kathy Reiser at mailbag@news-gazette.com . An update (of sorts) on digital driver’s licenses for Illinois motorists ... some new quick-serve food options coming to Downtown Urbana ... what’s happening at the former Am-Ko grocery property in Midtown Champaign ... how the Illinois Distributed Museum got its name ... and what you’re buying if you fill your car with Unleaded 88 fuel. All in this week’s Mailbag. This map shows physical locations of Illinois Distributed Museum exhibits that complement its online content. "Enjoyed last weekend’s article on Dr. Virginia Bartow, which was written by Kristen Wilson, coordinator of the Illinois Distributed Museum. What is that, and how did it come to have such an inscrutable name?" The name can be a little baffling if you’re not yet a member of the COIK — clear only if known — club. The museum is “distributed” in the sense of “not centralized.” While most museums exist within a brick-and-mortar building or a complex of closely adjacent buildings, the Illinois Distributed Museum is spread across the 10 (or so) square miles that make up the UI’s Urbana-Champaign campus. It’s a mix of physical locations and online content, and its purpose is to showcase the world-changing innovations and innovators associated with the campus. It is a project of the UI Archives and the UI Library. New content is added every semester, and suggestions for new exhibits/content are welcome. The museum’s website, distributedmuseum.illinois.edu , serves as the collection’s all-in-one guidebook, map, finding aid and docent. Each exhibit has at least one physical location people may visit, along with links to related stories, people and locations. Visitors may plan and organize their tours by a specific type of innovation, societal impacts of an innovation, places or names of people. For visitors from outside the C-U area, and those who simply prefer to explore the museum virtually, the online exhibits may of course be accessed 24/7. "The embossed serial numbers and letters on newer Illinois license plates are in a totally different font than they were for many years. To my eye, the 6s, 8s and 9s on the newer plates are harder to distinguish from one another at a distance. Why did the state make that change?" You’d think this is one of those simple questions to which there would be a straightforward answer. But if there was a compelling reason behind the change, Illinois Secretary of State spokeswoman Erin Henkel was not able to share it for publication. There’s no official word on whether the secretary of state’s office initiated the change, if the contractor that manufactures the plates said “this is how it’s gonna be,” whether law enforcement requested the change, or ... what. In the absence of an official explanation, we went looking for an unofficial-but-credible reason. For what it’s worth, this is the explanation on license-plate aficionado Rick Kretschmer‘s “A Pictorial History of Illinois License Plates” webpage: “In mid-year 2023, plates started appearing with very different-looking plate numbers. These are being stamped using the same dies that have been used to make North Carolina plates for decades, and which have also recently started being used on Alaska and Utah plates. “I understand these plates are being made using a new manufacturing process which involves printing the plate numbers on the reflective sheeting before the number is stamped. At first, these were only seen on remakes of numbers that had been issued on the previous base. It took them a while to work through the inventory of old-die plates with new numbers issued to new registrants, but new-number plates with the new dies began to hit the streets in early 2024.” It does seem rather silly that, more than a year after the change was made, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office can’t or won’t say why the lettering style was changed. ‘I understand Illinois will begin offering digital driver’s licenses in 2025. How soon?’ Don’t hold your breath. In fact, I don’t think anyone with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has said for sure that the new digital IDs will be available in calendar year 2025. Public Act 103-0824, which amended the Illinois Identification Card Act to allow the state to issue digital (smartphone) versions of Illinois driver’s licenses, was passed by the General Assembly in May and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in August of this year. The law that takes effect on Jan. 1 simply authorizes the secretary of state’s office to begin preparing to issue digital licenses and state ID cards. That process could take a while. Secretary of state spokeswoman Erin Henkel said she could not provide a timetable for it, or a target date by which residents should be able to download the new IDs. Of course, the technology and its security features will need to be rigorously tested — and there’s also no official indication of whether that part of the process has been started or how far along it might be. At least 13 other U.S. states offer digital driver’s licenses, including neighboring Missouri and Iowa. One thing to look forward to — someday — when the new digital IDs become available: the technology will allow individuals to decide what personal information they share on those IDs. According to an August press release from the secretary of state’s office, “mobile IDs will offer privacy-control options that allow people to verify their age when legally purchasing alcohol, cannabis or renting a car, while hiding other personal information — like their address.” "It looks like the former Am-Ko grocery store property at First and Springfield in Champaign has been sold, and there’s a chain-link fence around it. Who owns it now, and what are the plans for that prime Midtown location?” Champaign County property records show the parcel at 101 E. Springfield Ave. was sold to G7 Living in October. Tax bills are sent to G7 at 212 E. Springfield Ave. in Champaign. The city of Champaign permits database says G7 Living applied for a demolition permit in mid-December. As of earlier this week, it was still marked “under review.” We reached out to the real-estate firm that handled the sale, Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty, and have not heard back about future plans for the parcel. "I’ve been seeing something called ‘Unleaded 88’ at area gas stations, primarily Circle Ks. What is that?" It is a fuel blend that contains 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent ethanol, according to Nate Harris, CEO of the Illinois Fuel and Retail Association. The ethanol used in fuel blends is made mostly from corn. Unleaded 88 — which some fuel retailers market as E-15 — usually is about 10-cents-per-gallon cheaper than more common fuel blends that contain slightly less ethanol. Unleaded 88 “typically gets slightly lower gas mileage than regular fuel, but it does give off less carbon emissions, so that’s typically why people want it,” he said. Harris said there’s no difference between E-15 and Unleaded 88; those terms are interchangeable. How it is identified at the pump is strictly a “marketing thing.” The “88” in Unleaded 88 refers to the octane level of the fuel, not the percentage of gasoline in it. “The octane measure is about the fuel’s stability, so a higher octane rating means the fuel can withstand greater pressure,” Harris said. So-called regular unleaded gasoline and blends are typically 87 octane, and mid-grade (sometimes sold as regular-plus) is 89-90 octane. High-performance or luxury vehicles “tend to want you to use the premium or ultra/super — whatever they’re marketing as — the higher-octane, 91 to 94 set,” Harris said. In the past, E-15/Unleaded 88 was sold as a seasonal fuel blend, Harris said. It was not sold in this part of the country in the warmer months, due to concerns that it contributed to smog in hot weather. But in February, the EPA changed the rule so that E-15/Unleaded 88 now can be sold year-round in Illinois and seven other Midwest states. "I saw the word 'Latinx' in the paper again this week, and am curious: What does it mean, exactly, and how do you pronounce it?" While definitions may vary, it generally is used in lieu of “Latino/Latina” as a gender-neutral word to describe people of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity. Its origins, the nuances of its meaning and its appropriateness in any given situation may depend on whom you ask. Some people say the word is inclusive, and others term it as “woke.” In a 2020 report on “Latinx” and other pan-ethnic terms, the Pew Research Center said “the emergence of ‘Latinx’ coincides with a global movement to introduce gender-neutral nouns and pronouns into many languages whose grammar has traditionally used male or female constructions.” In a 2024 follow-up report, Pew researchers said “about half (53 percent) of the population that ‘Latinx’ is meant to describe has never heard of the term. While awareness of the term has grown, the share who use ‘Latinx’ to describe themselves is statistically unchanged: 4 percent of Latino adults say they have used ‘Latinx’ to describe themselves, little changed from the 3 percent who said the same in 2019.” Here in the U.S., Pew says the first uses of “Latinx” appeared more than 15 years ago; the Merriam-Webster Dictionary added it in 2018. Just as there is no universal agreement on usage of the word, its pronunciation is a matter of some debate. Merriam-Webster’s website says “the most common way to pronounce ‘Latinx’ is the same way you would Spanish-derived Latina or Latino, but pronouncing the ‘x’ as the name of the English letter X. So you get something like ‘luh-TEE-neks.’” A Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus pulls out of the Illinois Terminal on Aug. 17 in downtown Champaign. "I understand some newly cleared properties on the east side of the CN tracks in Champaign will be used as a temporary transferring zone for MTD buses while the Illinois Terminal is under construction. Is that happening soon?" “It’s still a ways out, but this is in preparation for the Illinois Terminal Expansion project that we’re currently working on with Royse Witte Downtown LLC,” said Karl Gnadt, the C-U Mass Transit District’s managing director and CEO. Readers may recall that a previous development agreement for a multi-use complex called The Yards was terminated earlier this year, after developer Core Spaces withdrew from the project. Gnadt said there is nothing new to report on the continuing negotiations with Royse Witte, the new developer. Meantime, the MTD is starting to plan the workarounds that will keep transportation services rolling while the Illinois Terminal is renovated. “As far as the amenities go with the temporary transfer area — we haven’t yet done any design work for that,” Gnadt said. “We’ll try to provide as much protection as possible, of course, but it will be temporary, so it’s unlikely that we would install a lot of new electrical or plumbing infrastructure. We’ll make every effort to keep Illinois Terminal open throughout, as well.” With the elevated train tracks in the downtown area, “Amtrak can only function from the second floor, so the construction work there will have to be appropriately phased to allow for access to the train platform.” “In general, construction projects at existing facilities where they are active public spaces are, well, a pain. We’ll try to ameliorate the difficulties and frustrations as much as we can, but we surely won’t be able to eliminate them. Patience will be required and understanding that at the end of it we’ll have an improved facility. It will be worth it!” Champaign Township Road District workers leave a salt dome in January 2019 to put de-icing solution on streets in preparation for a winter storm. "Do area road crews still use actual salt to treat icy streets and highways?" Yes, they do. Illinois Department of Transportation engineer Kensil Garnett says IDOT uses both granular salt and a saltwater brine solution to treat roads during ice and snow events. “Salt brine is effective when the roadway temperatures are around 20 degrees F or above,” he said. “When temperatures fall too low for salt to work, we have a Bio-Melt product made from beet juice that we can mix with our saltwater brine to make the treatment effective to temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero.” He said the beet-juice product is very effective and is not corrosive, like salt brine. “However, it is cost-prohibitive to use it at temperatures where salt brine will work,” he said. “The department’s salt stockpiles are in great shape, and we have an active contract to provide more salt throughout the winter as (needed). Prices for the current contract are very similar to what we have seen for the past couple seasons.” The city of Champaign uses rock salt, a salt-brine solution and calcium chloride to treat city streets, depending on conditions, according to Public Works spokesman Kris Koester. Calcium chloride has a lower freezing point than regular salt (sodium chloride), so it is more effective at lower temperatures. “We have two salt storage buildings, a brine-production facility, and two calcium-chloride tanks on the public works back lot,” Koester said. “We have an adequate supply of salt in the dome and we have a contract with the joint state of Illinois salt contract. In March 2024, we had 5,250 tons on hand and (the city) council approved us to buy up to 2,460 more tons for a price of $90.85 per ton.” Champaign County Highway Engineer Jeff Blue said county road crews use rock salt and a salt-brine solution to treat county highways. He said the salt-storage dome at the county complex in Urbana has “an adequate supply of salt in the dome and we have a contract with a vendor to haul in more salt this winter as we deplete our supply. Costs have been relatively consistent the last few years.” No-passing signs have been added to this part of Cardinal Road east of Staley Road. — No-passing zone. Two weeks ago, an alert reader asked why a good-sized hill on Cardinal Road east of Staley Road was not marked as a no-passing zone. Champaign Township Highway Commissioner Keith Padgett looked into it and consulted with county highway engineers, and they determined the hill and its approaches should have had “do not pass” signage and striping all along. Padgett sent us a photo this week, showing new “do not pass” signs on either side of the hill. He says the new striping has since been applied. — H Mart food court offerings. Last week, a reader asked which eateries would be part of the new H Mart food court when the Asian supermarket opens in early 2025 at 220 N. Broadway in Urbana. No specifics were available in time for last week’s deadline, but a few days ago H Mart sent us a note announcing that JAWS Topokki (Korean street food), Cho Dang (Korean-style tofu house and BBQ), Paik’s Noodle (Korean-style Chinese food) and Paris Baguette (bakery-café) will be featured there. Still no official word on H Mart’s projected opening date.
Arewa Group Inaugurates Media, Publicity CommitteeLAS VEGAS (AP) — The Broncos are 0-4 in Las Vegas, but in a matchup of teams heading in opposite directions, Denver has more at stake than trying to end a series skid. A victory over the Raiders puts the Broncos that much closer to an unexpected playoff berth, playing with a rookie quarterback and just a year after they went 8-9. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.clash with was briefly halted due to the absence of VAR. and Sam Morsy were called over for chat with Anthony Taylor who informed the pair there had been a fire alarm at Stockley Park - which would leave the game without any VAR. The game was briefly stopped before resuming without VAR. Fourth official Matt Donohue was also seen speaking to managers Ruben Amorim and Kieran McKenna to inform them of the VAR issues. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Amazingly, Ipswich, who had fallen behind after 81 seconds, were able to find the net before VAR was back up and running. Omari Hutchinson left United shot-stopper Andre Onana with little chance as he curled the ball into the net. Match Centre tweeted: "The match will be operating without VAR until further notice due to a fire alarm at the VAR Hub at Stockley Park." Before following it up a few minutes later: "VAR is now back up and running." Want to be on the ball with all of the latest football news? Well then sign up for the brilliant Daily Star Football email newsletter! From the latest transfer news to breaking stories, get it all in your email inbox. It only takes a matter of seconds. Simply , then provide your email address and that's it, job done. You'll receive an email with all of the top football stories. You can also sign up for our sport email, Off the Ball, for all the latest darts, boxing, snooker, F1 stories and more, "Finally someone’s burning it down," one fan joked. While a second shared: "This looks like something a parody account would write..." "I can’t explain it but this can only happen in the PL in a fixture that involves United," a third offered. And another joked: "Gotta be something wrong with that goal somewhere that’s been missed by VAR not working!" Ruben Amorim's reign had got off to the perfect start as Marcus Rashford bundled the ball home after just 81 seconds. The Red Devils were in the ascendancy as Ipswich were left chasing shadows. However, the Tractor Boys were able to find a way back into the game through Hutchinson.
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Are you "Ready For It...?" Taylor Swift is closing out her global Eras Tour with three shows at BC Place in Vancouver on December 6-8, and not only is the city set for several days of megawatt excitement, but also people from around the world are coming to town (whether they scored tickets or not). To add to the fun of the 40+ song epic concert that has been touring the world since March 2023, Vancouver is going to be buzzing with Taylor Swift-themed events, sights, experiences, and activities. (If you aren't a Swiftie, this might be a great time to get out of town...and rent your place out to any of the hundreds of fans whose hotels or Airbnbs cancelled on them.) We're rounding up all the Eras Tour/TSwift things happening in and around Vancouver (and will update this whenever there is more to add). If you've got a "Blank Space" in your Eras Tour week or weekend schedule, consider taking part in some of the joy. So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it: You know "All Too Well" that The Eras Tour and Taylor Swift in Vancouver could be the most fun you ever had. (Go ahead and dance in those Levis, but maybe not drunk under a streetlight.) For the Eras Tour weekend only, one of Vancouver's top food tours is taking inspiration from Taylor Swift's "eras" for a delicious romp through Granville Island's best bites. Crunch on Hobbs Pickles for 1989 - they're (Welcome to) New York-inspired - and enjoy a "Lavender Haze" macaron from Bon Macaron, among the many tasty stops. Plus, enjoy Taylor tidbits and trivia plus get a friendship bracelet. Tours run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. and space is limited. Book online . Head downtown to the Dunsmuir Plaza of Bentall Centre from 3 to 6 p.m ahead of Night 1 (Dec 6) and Night 2 (Dec 7) for an all-ages concert pre-party. Free to attend. From December 5 to 8, Eras Tour ticket holders can enjoy 13 per cent off their bill at Craft's two Vancouver restaurant locations (False Creek and English Bay). Just show your ticket and get the discount. Craft will also have a featured cocktail called the Swifties French Blonde. They describe it as "a zesty mix of elderflower, lemon, and gin," and a nod to Tay's own fave cocktail. Plus, every guest who orders the Swifties French Blonde will get free friendship bracelets. TaylorTown is a free and family-friendly Christmas celebration filled with holiday cheer featuring a Swiftie Twist as Taylor Swift lights up Vancouver and concludes her Eras Tour here. From noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, head to Bill Curtis Square and Helmcken Plaza in Yaletown to enjoy lots of merriment, like holiday-themed and Taylor-made photo opportunities and activities. Write a message on a digital birthday card for Taylor (her birthday is December 13), meet Santa, shop, and have the time of your life. Hit the water for the ultimate Swiftie celebration right across the street from the concert venue, where the magic of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour meets the thrill of a Vancouver boat cruise aboard the Burrard Queen. There are sailings on December 5 through 8 at various times (including on concert nights) and the ride will feature DJ sets, sing-alongs, a "Shake it Off" dance floor, friendship bracelet making, photo booth, and more. The daytime sailings are all-ages, while the evening cruises are for 19+ only. Get dressed in your themed gear and have a blast. (May we suggest "Blue dress, on a boat"?) Book cruises online via Eventbrite . From December 5 to 8, guests are invited to gather at the Fairmont Waterfront hotel for an energizing weekend of connection, delicious dining, and fun activities including friendship bracelet making, a special weekend brunch, and a pop-up experience. Celebratory Bottomless Brunch at ARC Restaurant : To honour the final weekend of the concert tour of the year, the hotel restaurant is turning its Bottomless Brunch into a Swift-themed celebration. It's happening Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at ARC Restaurant. The menu will have items such as “Friendship Waffles,” topped with fresh berries and chantilly cream, and “Togetherness Toast." Special cocktails and mocktails include the “Kindness Spritz” and the “Golden Mimosa." Make reservations online . Friendship Bracelet Centre : From December 6 to 8 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) gather at the Friendship Bracelet Centre to create and share bracelets in a spirit of camaraderie and positivity. Hotel guests can contact the Concierge or Royal Service for more information. Minami Yaletown will spend an enchanting week offering an exclusive Taylor Swift drink menu. From December 1 through 8, indulge in an exclusive Taylor Swift-inspired drinks menu, crafted to capture the essence of her iconic eras. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome. Glowbal Restaurant in Downtown Vancouver (590 W Georgia St) will be hosting The Glowbal Era, a one-of-a-kind concert celebration for fans to enjoy a music-inspired experience like no other. Just steps from BC Place, Glowbal's vibrant garden patio will be transformed into an exciting homage to the style and atmosphere of a global pop phenomenon. In both dinner and brunch versions, the 90-minute meal experience will include friendship bracelet making, an entree and beverage, a selfie station, a makeup artist to add sparkle, and themed decor. Offered Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. Brunch ($49) seatings are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner ($79) seatings are 2:30 to 9 p.m. Step onto a double-decker bus for a one-of-a-kind musical journey through the city while belting out your favourite Taylor Swift hits. Whether you’re a fan of Red , 1989 , or Lover , this tour is the ultimate karaoke experience for Fearless Swifties. With the evening lights of Vancouver as your stage, you’ll sing, dance, and celebrate all things Taylor with fellow fans. We make a stop at Bright Lights at Stanley Park, where you’ll have time to “Shake It Off” through the lights display. Grab your squad, pick up the mic, and get ready for an unforgettable musical adventure through the heart of the city. Tours run nightly from 6 to 8 p.m. on December 4-7 only. A special Swiftie version of Science World's After Dark event series has been booked for the week ahead of the pop star's final three Eras Tours dates at BC Place in Vancouver. The adults-only (aka 19+) After Dark: Eras Edition event takes place one night only on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and will feature an unusual mixture of Taylor Swift and science education. There will be a dance party with sing-alongs, trivia (about Swift), science demonstrations and more. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in Swift-themed fashion and bring friendship bracelets. You don't have to go far from BC Place to get to Parq Vancouver (39 Smithe St). The Casino will be handing out cowboy hats at Guest Services on level 2 of the casino floor before each show for Encore Rewards members (19+ only). The hats will be available while supplies last. Meanwhile, Honey Salt is offering a fun Taylor-themed brunch. Brunch lovers can enjoy the restaurant's menu hits and tableside Mimosa carts from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8. Make reservations online . The venue's BC Kitchen Sports Bar will offer fun programming from December 5 to 8: D/6 Bar & Lounge will offer after-parties following each concert night (Dec. 6-8) from 9 p.m. until late. Enjoy the decorated space, Swiftie swag giveaways, local female DJs spinning (and remixes of Swift's songs playing in the Hidden Lounge). The big party is on Sunday, as D/6 hosts its "End of an Era" unofficial afterparty (starting at 9 p.m.) with live dancers and drink specials. Book online . Parq's The Victor restaurant will have feature cocktails from Dec. 6-8, along with a special lounge menu of share plates designed to enjoy as a pre-show meal. Vancouver's beloved German Christmas Market at Jack Poole Plaza is selling a special Swiftie Flex Pass for use Dec.4 through 10. The ticket deal reflects 22 per cent off admission (dropping to $31.99) with unlimited access to the market, no time slot needed. Other exciting events at the market include themed nights for TS trivia and karaoke. The North Shore's iconic Canyon Lights gets a Swiftie makeover this December. The whole park will shimmer, including the bridge, which will transform into a giant friendship bracelet. Wander through the park to find Swiftie-themed photo spots, bracelet making and music for a truly "Enchanted" experience. Walk the specially named Taytops Adventure. (Treetops Adventure), an elevated journey through the rainforest canopy, or stroll along the breathtaking Swiftwalk (Cliffwalk) along the granite cliff face of the Capilano Canyon. You'll also find themed treats, Taylor-inspired cocktails, and live acoustic performances of all your favourite Eras hits from a Taylor Swift tribute singer. Whether you’re a Red fan or 1989 loyalist, this experience is a "Love Story" to the Swiftie community during her final stop in Vancouver. Canyon Lights (Taylor’s Version) is included in the price of admission or Annual Pass. Swift into Space and step into a night where science meets a whirlwind of creativity at Sparks Fly: A Swift-Themed STEAM Listening Party, taking place on Saturday, November 30 at 6 p.m. at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. This all-ages event invites attendees to embrace the wonder of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) with a hint of enchantment reminiscent of beloved pop anthems and lyrical journeys. Featuring Swiftie trivia, live science demos, snacks and drinks inspired by iconic scientific discoveries, and a listening party. Open to all ages. Tickets are available online . Available from November 29 to December 9, The Eras Menu (OEB's Version) will be featured at all OEB Metro Vancouver Area locations. Cocktails ($14 each): Food: Alongside these exclusive menu features, OEB will continue to serve its regular menu. Weekday reservations are accepted on a limited basis, and guests are encouraged to call the restaurants to inquire about availability. Contact information for each restaurant can be found here . The VPL has three all-ages fan gatherings on deck; one, at the West Point Grey branch, is during Eras Week, while two others are the following week. Advanced registration is required. Meet up with other super-fans for a special event celebrating all things Taylor Swift! Test your knowledge in a trivia challenge and express your fandom with friendship bracelets, make your own Taylor stickers, and vote for the best TS era. A post shared by The American (@theamericanvancouver) To celebrate Taylor Swift’s 3-night BC Place residency, Vancouver sports bar The American (926 Main St) has curated a week of events based on Taylor’s "Eras." The programming includes trivia, karaoke, bingo, a drag brunch, and lots of music. Most of the events are free for The American guests to play, while the big "Afternoon Delight Drag Brunch and Day Party: Reputation" has a cover charge and some seating parameters. Here's the lineup: Head to Uva in downtown Vancouver to enjoy lots of Taylor-themed fun from now through Dec. 8. You'll find song-inspired cocktails, a nightly Taylor Swift song party (sing along to fave tracks starting at 8 p.m.) and friendship bracelet making (on Dec. 6-8 only). A post shared by Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar (@uvavancouver) As Vancouver gets ready to host Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Executive Hotels is turning fans' "Wildest Dreams" into reality. Whether you're a "Lover" or living for the Midnights era, the hotels and their restaurants in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Richmond have something special for all ages to celebrate the last stop of this epic tour. Raise a Glass to Taylor: Each restaurant is serving up Taylor-made cocktails inspired by her most iconic songs and personal faves. Alouette at Hotel le Soleil: Indulge in a Paris-inspired cocktail that captures the magic of the lyrics “Stumbled down pretend alleyways. cheap wine, make believe it's champagne. I was taken by the view.” Sip, imagine, and be transported into the lyrics of your fave Midnights song. Seaside Provisions at Seaside Hotel: Toast to Taylor with her rumoured favorite, the French Blonde, a cocktail that’s as chic and timeless as her music. Free Bird Richmond at Executive Hotel Vancouver Airport: Celebrate Taylor as you arrive in Vancouver with a bold twist on the French Blonde, crafted for the Queen of an Era. Because she deserves nothing less than iconic. Parker Rooftop at The Parker Hotel: Bring your "Wildest Dreams" to life with a dreamy cocktail capturing the red lips and rosy cheeks of Taylor’s biggest hit. Hydra Estiatorio at Exchange Hotel: Is "Karma" the guy on the Chiefs, or this "Karma"-inspired cocktail? Either way, it’s a winner. You’ll remember the look on your face with the second show stopper cocktail inspired by "Last Kiss." Hotel guests will find Taylor-themed rooms that come with friendship bracelets, exclusive merch, and a special "You Belong With Me" welcome message. From Dec. 6-8, Vancouver locations of Earls will have two new exclusive Eras Tour-inspired drinks: "The Tequila Swift Margarita" (Jose Cuervo Tradicional plata tequila, Aperol, Triple sec, coconut, fresh lime) and "You Need To Calm Down" (a non-alcoholic drink with Seedlip Spice, white peach, orange, pomegranate, fresh lemon). Get ready to dive into all things Taylor Swift at the West End Community Centre on November 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. The facility will screen the Eras Tour and you can hang out for free for a night of Taylor Swift trivia and friendship bracelet-making. Register for free online . A post shared by Edible Flours (@edibleflours) The Swifties at this Vancouver gluten-free bakeshop will have Eras Tour inspired cupcakes in-store from December 3 through 8. Come on in and pick out your favourite album reincarnated as a cupcake or splurge for the entire edible discography. Pre-orders also accepted over the phone. With a file from Brendan Kergin
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Eaton Corp. PLC stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayRussia looks to be packing up its helicopters and air defenses at its base in Syria, new satellite images showBy EDDIE PELLS Indiana should be able to breathe easy this week. It has very little chance of making it into the Big Ten championship game. On the other hand, Georgia’s spot in the Southeastern Conference title game is so risky that if the Bulldogs lose they might have been better off sitting it out. Over the next two weeks, the warm familiarity of conference championship games, which began in 1992 thanks to the SEC, could run into the cold reality that comes with the first 12-team College Football Playoff. League title games give the nation’s top contenders a chance to hang a banner and impress the CFP committee, but more than ever, the bragging rights come with the risk of a season-wrecking loss — even with an expanded field. “I just don’t think it’s a quality conversation,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said last week, sticking with the time-honored cliche of looking no further than the next weekend’s opponent. Those who want to have that talk, though, already know where Georgia stands. The Bulldogs (9-2) are ranked sixth in this week’s AP Top 25 and projected somewhere near that in the next set of CFP rankings that come out Nov. 26. They already have two losses and will have to beat No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M in the SEC title game on Dec. 7 to avoid a third. How bad would a third loss hurt? The chairman of the selection committee insists that a team making a conference title game shouldn’t count against it. What that really means won’t be known until the games are played and the pairings come out on Dec. 8. “We’re going to let the season play out,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “But I think teams who make that championship game, the committee looks at them and puts them in high esteem.” All of which could be good news for Indiana in the unlikely event the Hoosiers find themselves playing for the Big Ten title. IU is coming off a flop in its first major test of the season, a 38-15 loss to Ohio State last weekend. After his team’s first loss of the season, coach Curt Cignetti took offense to being asked whether the Hoosiers were still a playoff-caliber team. “Is that a serious question?” he asked. “I’m not even gonna answer that. The answer is so obvious.” What might hurt Indiana, which dropped five spots to No. 10 in the AP poll, would be another drubbing. The Hoosiers would be at least a two-touchdown underdog in a title-game matchup against top-ranked Oregon. The odds of that happening, however, are slim. It would take a Michigan upset over No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday, combined with a Maryland upset over No. 4 Penn State and, of course, an Indiana win over Purdue (1-10). Because this is the first year of the 12-team playoff, there’s no perfect comparison to make. For instance, this is the first time Power Four conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the playoff. But 2017 provides a textbook example of how a team losing its conference title game suffered. That year, Alabama had one loss (to Auburn) and didn’t play in the SEC title game, but made the four-team field ahead of Wisconsin, which was 12-1 after a loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State didn’t make it either — two losses didn’t get teams into a four-team field. Neither did undefeated UCF. The Nov. 23 results made things a little more clear for the rest of the conferences: • In the Big 12, winning the title game will probably be the only way for Arizona State (9-2), BYU (9-2), Iowa State (9-2), Colorado (8-3) or anyone else to earn a spot in the 12-team playoff. None are ranked higher than 14th in the AP poll. • The Atlantic Coast Conference could get multiple bids. Miami (10-1), SMU (10-1) and Clemson (9-2) all finished in the top 12 of this week’s AP poll. They were cheering the loudest when both Alabama and Ole Miss suffered their third losses of the season. • The Mountain West would be a one-bid conference, but that’s only a sure thing if Boise State wins. A loss by the Broncos could open the CFP for Tulane or Army of the American Athletic. Both the MWC and AAC title games take place at 8 p.m. on Dec. 6. • Where the committee places Alabama and Ole Miss on Nov. 26 will be an indicator of what it thinks of teams with three losses that played very strong schedules. • It could also set the stakes for Georgia, which faces the prospect of loss No. 3 in the Dec. 7 title game, assuming the Bulldogs beat rival Georgia Tech this week. • Clemson has been steadily climbing. Its 34-3 loss to Georgia came on Aug. 31. Is it ancient history to the committee, though? • Indiana’s status as a playoff team — in, out, nervous? — will become apparent. The Ohio State game was Indiana’s first against a top-flight opponent. Then again, it is the Hoosiers’ only loss and their weak Big Ten schedule is not their fault.