Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan to enter 2025 NFL DraftFormer NHL star Thornton back as co-GM of Canada's Spengler Cup squadScott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development , is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's incoming cabinet. Here are some things to know about Turner: From professional football to politics Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Motivational speaker and pastor Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Headed council in Trump's first term Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones," which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. The role of HUD HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction.
Ally Louks could be considered the antithesis of “extremely online.” The low-key literature scholar is generally more focused on her research and supervising undergrads at Cambridge University than on growing her once-small social media following or posting on X more than a few times a year. But last week, the 26-year-old shared a happy photo and a breezy caption on X, unaware that her post - and the niche focus of her PhD thesis - would become a lightning rod in the sprawling culture war against elite institutions and the nebulous concept of “woke.” Louks had successfully defended her thesis months earlier, but the results were made official in late November when she decided to share a post celebrating an important final step in earning her PhD. She shared the photo of her smiling and hugging the bound volume of her research and wrote, “Thrilled to say I passed my viva with no corrections and am officially PhDone.” “Honestly, I mostly shared it just so that my colleagues in academia would know that I’m finished and open for [postdoctorate opportunities],” Louks told The Washington Post on Thursday. “I didn’t do it for any other reason than that, and I didn’t expect it to be seen by anyone outside of my close circle.” The attention to Louks’s thesis, both from people looking to read it and trash it, has had the singular effect of pushing her obscure academic research to a massive audience. Louks shared the abstract to her thesis, which has been viewed more than 8 million times on X. More than 600 people have contacted her through her university to request a preview to read her pre-published work. With her thesis still under embargo, Louks said it’s too early to know exactly what this sudden strike of social media interest will yield. “What I will say is that the 600 people in my inbox requesting my thesis doesn’t even scratch the surface of all of the people who have expressed interest in reading my [work],” Louks said. “I have thousands and thousands of people across loads of different platforms saying that they would love to read the thesis or anything that I write about it, so I think that can only bode well.” That rosy outlook wasn’t as clear in the days after Louks’s post jumped from her small circle of followers to the vast expanse of the internet. Immediately, the post started to draw more traction than Louks said she ever anticipated. A round of congratulations followed from people acknowledging the challenge of earning a PhD, and Louks’s even rarer achievement of defending a thesis without drawing corrections. Soon after, Louks began receiving a flood of replies from total strangers who were alternately intrigued and incensed by the subject of her research, titled “Olfactory ethics: The politics of smell in modern and contemporary prose.” Louks traced the moment that her replies flipped from positive to negative to when she noticed her post had been re-shared by a several right-wing accounts. A new crop of overwhelmingly hostile responses emerged. Critics denigrated Louks’s intelligence, called her work “pretentious” and lobbed sexist digs about the worthlessness of a woman burnishing academic credentials rather than having babies. A common thread in the criticism, almost entirely from men, argued Louks’s research topic was too “woke,” and somehow made society worse off. While Louks took the unprovoked backlash via social media in stride, one man tracked down her personal email address (“it’s not freely available online,” she notes) to threaten her with gang rape. “I felt that was so severely inappropriate that it needed to be reported,” Louks said. The experience has been at times bewildering, even as Louks is keenly aware of the social media hive-mind and of the culture of misogyny that is especially intense for high-achieving women. She also understands that her thesis will be misinterpreted, especially since no one apart from her advisers and a few friends has read it in its entirety while it remans under embargo. The thesis itself looks at how the importance of smell is represented in modern literature, and more specifically how literary works invoke smell to communicate attitudes of desire and disgust, Louks said. An example is the notion of “funk,” which Louks said she briefly mentions in her paper, which invokes a smell with different varying interpretations. “It can mean both: a kind of negative smell, but also a sense of coolness,” Louks said, noting how “funk” conjures different ideas when, for instance, associated with Black communities. “I really don’t feel that my work is above criticism,” Louks said. “It’s just that the criticisms levied at me were not based in reality.” With her PhD secured, Louks said she is looking ahead to her graduation ceremony next year, as well as writing a book proposal and articles on her research more suitable for a nonacademic audience. She may pursue a postdoctorate program, but at the moment is still marveling at how the random lightning strike of social media fame ultimately exposed her work to a far bigger audience than she could have ever imagined. Alex Zawacki, a fellow academic who lectures on medieval history at the University of Göttingen in Germany, summed up Louks’s achievement with a post on X: “Congratulations both for finishing and for very possibly being the first person in recorded history whose dissertation will be read by someone who is not their mom or on their committee.” Related ContentHow global coffee trends affect PH market
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DCS Corporation has been awarded a prime contract under Pool 1 of the Defense Technology Information Center's (DTIC) Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IAC MAC). The multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, research and development contract has a shared ceiling of $33,164,000,000. The IAC MAC provides Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and R&D-related analytical services to the Department of Defense and other national security customers. The broad scope covers 22 Technical Focus Areas that fit within three primary domains: Defense Systems, Cyber-Security and Information Systems, and Homeland Defense and Security. "DCS is thrilled to be an IAC MAC prime contractor," commented Jim Benbow, DCS Chairman & CEO. "We are proud of our long history supporting complex DTIC RDT&E task orders and eager to expand our support. We are proud to contribute to this critical work of accelerating research across DoD and delivering critical solutions to the Warfighter." The DoD IAC program operates as a part of DTIC and provides technical data management and research support for DoD and Federal Government users. Established in 1946, the IAC program serves the DoD science & technology and acquisition communities to drive innovation and technological developments by enhancing collaboration through integrated scientific and technical information development and dissemination for the DoD and broader S&T community. About DCS An employee-owned company, DCS offers advanced technology, engineering, and management solutions to Government agencies in the national security sector. The transformative ideas, commitment to quality, and entrepreneurial spirit that characterize our employee-owners allow us to ensure the success of each customer's mission and actively contribute to the well-being of the Nation. For more information, please visit: https://www.dcscorp.com . Contact: DCS Media, dcsmedia@dcscorp.com, 571-227-6000 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dcs-wins-prime-position-on-33b-iac-multiple-award-contract-302321384.html SOURCE DCS Corporation
Grading the Giants’ 45-33 win over the Colts at MetLife Stadium on Sunday: Offense Where the hell has this been all season? The numbers across the board were remarkable. There were 446 total yards, 25 first downs, 7 of 13 on third down conversions and a time of possession of 33:23. Drew Lock? Whoa. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for a TD. His passer rating was 155.3. Hey now, there was the run-and-catch capability that has been missing. Malik Nabers (7-171, 2 TDs) took a quick hitch and raced 32 yards for a touchdown and Darius Slayton kept his balance on a 32-yard scoring play. Wan’Dale Robinson (5-71, 1 TD) kept things moving. Tyrone Tracy Jr. (20-59) did not do much other than a 40-yard burst. Lock was not sacked. TE Daniel Bellinger midway through the second quarter was hit with a 15-yard chop block penalty. RG Jake Kubas jumped for a false start from the Indy 1-yard line and Evan Neal was called for an illegal man downfield penalty. No turnovers was a huge plus. Grade: A. Defense Now this is a departure from the norm. This unit certainly was not great but got bailed out and eventually was able to make a few plays. Jonathan Taylor (32-125, 2 TDs) did his damage but averaged only 3.9 yards per attempt. The 39-year-old Joe Flacco (26 of 38, 330 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) might be able to chuck it when he’s 50. Michael Pittman (9-109, 1 TD) and Alec Pierce (6-122, 1 TD) were constant problems. CB Deonte Banks does not trust his technique in key situations. He was isolated down the field with Pierce and was flagged for a 44-yard pass interference penalty. Banks later had another pass interference for 19 yards. S Dane Belton showed off his hands with a diving interception in the first quarter. Rakeem Nunez-Roches sacked Flacco to force the Colts to settle for a first-quarter field goal. Brian Burns had two tackles for loss on Taylor late in the first half. DT Elijah Chatman had a fourth-and-1 stop of Taylor for no gain. Rookie Dru Phillips came up with the game-sealing interception. Kayvon Thibodeaux had a late strip-sack. Grade: C. Special Teams Ihmir Smith-Marsette has quietly been a solid addition as a returner and he made noise by taking the second-half kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown. He was untouched. Jamie Gillan’s first punt traveled 48 yards with no return and he averaged 48.7 yards on his three punts. Graham Gano hit a 30-yard field goal and all five extra-point attempts. Grade: A. Coaching Man oh man, did Brian Daboll need this. He has kept the team together, but all the losing has taken a toll on everyone. Daboll said he was rough all week on Lock and that proved to be the tough love that was needed. Daboll smartly tried to lean on the running game early and limit Lock’s exposure in the passing game. Lock did his damage with only 23 passes, compared with 30 running plays. Daboll going for it on fourth-and-2 from his own 42-yard line late in the third quarter felt too extreme. Shane Bowen’s defense failed to put much heat on Flacco. Grade: B+.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday signaled his intention to work with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying "actions based on strategic decisions by the leaders" of the two countries would move forward the situation of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Ishiba made the remark at a Tokyo event themed on the abduction issue. He said his government will tackle it with firm resolution and secure the return of all the Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s. North Korea claims the issue has already been settled, but Japan, which officially lists a total of 17 Japanese nationals as abductees, rejects the assertion. The two countries have no official diplomatic ties.Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level Media
Wednesday’s college basketball schedule features plenty of excitement, including a matchup between the Cornell Big Red and the Syracuse Orange, and there are our best bets against the spread for 10 games below. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .