I WANT Marcus Rashford to succeed, to be the player we know he can be. But we are now on a slippery slope of performances dropping at Manchester United — and nothing is changing from new manager to new manager. So, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football? It’s not an easy game, or an easy life. People think it is because of the amount of money and all that but there is a lot of nonsense that goes on in the background, a lot of stresses. And I don’t see a scenario in the next few months, or years, where he flips it on his head and all of a sudden comes good. Or he turns around and says: ‘I’m gonna prove you all wrong’. That makes me genuinely sad, especially because I know this will be weighing on him mentally long-term. Can you still get something out of him? I’m not sure. He needs a strict hand on him, but even that doesn’t seem to work sometimes. He’s 27 — his peak years. He’s got all the attributes you’d want for a modern-day winger or a striker, but he’s currently got the appetite of a 35-year-old. Compare it to the attitude and desire of Jamie Vardy at 37. It is chalk and cheese. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER S Rashford looks like he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Everything is always everybody else’s fault and his application stinks. He is still capable of moments. It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes and scores the winner against Manchester City this weekend and then goes missing for the next few weeks. He knows he can live off these ‘moments’ and nothing more, and that isn’t good enough. But United have bought this problem on themselves. They have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts. He has been brought through as the academy favourite, the golden boy, yet when adversity hits, he thinks everyone is against him, instead of facing up and focusing on himself. So, I have to ask him: Do you even want to do this? Do you want to play football? And it is the same old cycle. A new manager comes in and for three of four games you see a ‘new Rashford’ and then he slips back into his old ways and old form. He then begins to get dropped. We saw it on Thursday night, subbed off against Viktoria Plzen and already United boss Ruben Amorim looks fed up with him. Look, I’ve been there. It’s not nice when that is happening. As a striker you want to be left on to build some momentum, but I was at the Emirates when he came on against Arsenal last week. He was a disgrace. Amorim summed it up best when he joined, telling Rashford he will get full support but it is up to him as a player, a person. That’s where the problem lies. Nobody wants Rashford to fail, but if he keeps delivering these substandard performances then we will all keep on saying the same things. Some people say it is the environment at United that is a negative impact, but that’s a poor excuse. You don’t see Harry Maguire or Bruno Fernandes acting out or not giving everything, do you? Another academy graduate like Kobbie Mainoo isn’t acting up because he has good role models around him in his position. He is hungry to improve. So, at what point do you take responsibility for your own actions and say: It’s on me. You can only fake it for so long if you are not a hard worker, you’re not sticking to a professional regime and you’re heart isn’t in it any more. At the moment Rashford is nothing more than an academy symbol of the past, a local lad that United are too scared to move on because of what the reaction from the fan base might be. Man Utd have created this person by continuing to reward rubbish behaviour and performances with massive, unwarranted contracts. But why would anyone in England want to take Rashford on? Why would boss Mikel Arteta risk ruining all his hard work at Arsenal of building a culture of elite professionals and high standards for him? Chelsea have a young, energetic squad that could revitalise him, but I reckon most of those players would look at him now and think: Well you’re a waste of time. And no one is going to pay his current wages — he is rewarded like he is one of the best three players in the Prem yet he wouldn’t get into any of the top SIX starting XIs right now. If I was advising him, I’d tell him to go abroad but even then I’m not sure how that would go. I do feel sorry for Marcus, but he has had enough bad examples of players around him, or in his age bracket, who have gone down a similar path. It should be enough to motivate you not to become one of them, someone like Jesse Lingard. But Rashford is not seeing the warning signs all around him. THE blame game has another victim as things go from bad to worse at Old Trafford. Manchester United’s first sporting director, Dan Ashworth, arrived in the summer and is gone before Christmas. SunSport exclusively revealed last month that there was trouble at mill. That the new senior management team were already blaming each other for the mess the club were in. Chief executive Omar Berrada and Ashworth were trying to wash their hands of it all, claiming they had arrived too late after serving their gardening leave. New part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said making decisions was all down to them. Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox thought it was all a mess under previous boss Erik ten Hag but was part of the team that encouraged him to stay after every other candidate ran for cover. There is word Ashworth did not favour appointing his successor and new head coach Ruben Amorim, preferring an English manager with more experience in our game. Perhaps that was why ex-England gaffer Gareth Southgate’s name was always mentioned after they worked together at the FA. Either way, Saturday’s showing against Nottingham Forest, after their second-half capitulation at Arsenal a few days previously, proved too much.
Calgary is getting its second blast of winter in less than a week. Weather warnings have been issued across southern Alberta for 15 to 25 centimetres of snow this weekend on the heels of the season’s first big snowfall Nov. 18. Light snow started this morning, though heavier precipitation will begin in earnest on Nov. 23 and end by Nov. 24. This latest bout of snow forced clearing crews in Calgary to reset their snow plan to focus on “priority 1s” and “priority 2s,” plowing and de-icing major business routes, meaning “priority 3” residential zones will stay wet for a while longer. While city snowplows tackle most of the majors roads, some highways and parts of Calgary’s ring road remain partly covered in snow. The prairie snowstorm could cause drivers to experience sudden, reduced visibility, and highways and road surfaces could be difficult to drive because of the growing pile of snow, Environment Canada said. Accumulations of 5 to 10 centimetres will form Nov. 22 amid bursts of heavy snow. Nov. 23 will bring the lion’s share of snowfall with 10 to 15 centimetres expected, before tapering off in the evening. This second bout of winter weather began Nov. 21, when a low pressure zone triggered a “bomb cyclone” system that lashed parts of B.C. before moving further east. The storm hit Southern Alberta and is expected to spread northward through the province. Not everyone is complaining about the sudden wintry weather, though. After a delayed snow season due to warmer-than-usual temperatures, Calgary-based WinSport stated it will open its skiing facilities soon. The sporting non-profit put off its planned Nov. 22 opening due to the mild conditions, but is set to welcome skiers to hit the slopes on Nov. 29.WASHINGTON >> Donald Trump has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a federal TikTok law that would ban the popular social media app or force its sale, with the President-elect arguing that he should have time after taking office to pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. TikTok and its owner ByteDance are fighting to keep the popular app online in the United States after Congress voted in April to ban it unless the app’s Chinese parent company sells it by Jan. 19. They have sought to have the law struck down, and the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case. But if the court does not rule in ByteDance’s favor and no divestment occurs, the app could be effectively banned in the United States on Jan. 19, one day before Trump takes office. “This case presents an unprecedented, novel, and difficult tension between free-speech rights on one side, and foreign policy and national security concerns on the other,” Trump said in a filing today. “Such a stay would vitally grant President Trump the opportunity to pursue a political resolution that could obviate the Court’s need to decide these constitutionally significant questions,” the filing added. Free speech advocates separately told the Supreme Court today that the U.S. law against Chinese-owned TikTok evokes the censorship regimes put in place by the United States’ authoritarian enemies. Trump indicated earlier this week that he favored allowing TikTok to keep operating in the United States for at least a little while, saying he had received billions of views on the social media platform during his presidential campaign. The U.S. Justice Department has argued that Chinese control of TikTok poses a continuing threat to national security, a position supported by most U.S. lawmakers. TikTok says the Justice Department has misstated the social media app’s ties to China, arguing that its content recommendation engine and user data are stored in the United States on cloud servers operated by Oracle Corp while content moderation decisions that affect U.S. users are made in the United States as well.
Thomas Frank unhappy with officials in game with BrightonMartha Barrantes Highlights Key Accounting Strategies to Drive Profitability in Small and Medium-Sized BusinessesIsraeli forces have raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of three medical facilities on the northern edge of Gaza, ordering dozens of patients and hundreds of others to evacuate and leaving part of the site on fire, health ministry officials say. or signup to continue reading Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli strikes killed at least 25 people, including 15 people in a single house in Gaza City, medics and the civil emergency service said. The Palestinian health ministry said contact with staff inside the hospital in Beit Lahiya, which has been under heavy pressure from Israeli forces for weeks, had been lost. Later on Friday, the health ministry in Gaza said that Israeli forces detained the hospital director, Abu Safiya, and dozens of his staff. "The occupation forces are inside the hospital now and they are burning it," ministry director Munir Al-Bursh said in a statement. The Israeli military said it had tried to limit harm to civilians and had "facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians, patients and medical personnel prior to the operation," but gave no details. In a statement, it said fighters from the Palestinian Hamas group, which previously controlled the Gaza Strip, had operated from the hospital throughout the war and had made the site a key stronghold. Hamas dismissed the statement as "lies," saying there were no fighters in the hospital. Youssef Abu El-Rish, the Hamas-appointed deputy health minister, said Israeli forces had set fire to the surgical department, laboratory and a storehouse. The Israeli military (IDF) said there was a small fire in an empty building inside the hospital that it said was under control. "Regarding claims that the fire was caused by IDF gunfire, the IDF is currently unaware of any such incident," it said. Like the Indonesian and Al-Awda hospitals, Kamal Adwan has been repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces who have been attacking the northern edge of the Gaza Strip for weeks, Palestinian medical staff say. Bursh said the army had ordered 350 people to leave Kamal Adwan for a nearby school sheltering displaced families. They included 75 patients, their companions, and 185 medical staff. Abu El-Rish said soldiers were transferring patients and medical staff to the Indonesian Hospital, which had already been put out of action by heavy damage and had been evacuated by Israeli forces a day earlier. Footage circulating on Palestinian and Arab media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, showed smoke rising from the area of Kamal Adwan. Much of the area around the northern towns of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya has been cleared of people and systematically razed, fuelling speculation that Israel intends to keep the area as a closed buffer zone after the fighting in Gaza ends. Israel says its campaign is to prevent Hamas militants from regrouping but that it will retain full security control of Gaza after the war. On Thursday, health officials said five medical staff, including a paediatrician, had been killed by Israeli fire at Kamal Adwan. The Israeli military said it was unaware of a strike at the hospital and that the report of the deaths would be examined. In a statement, Hamas blamed Israel and the United States for the fate of the hospital's occupants. Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 45,300 Palestinians, according to health officials in the enclave. Most of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced and much of Gaza is in ruins. 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Calgary to Be Hit With More Snow This WeekendWASHINGTON — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been 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 has 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." Though 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 whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense 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 the Washington-Virginia area. 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 cyber security 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.
The Federal Trade Commission has announced it will issue refunds to nearly 630,000 Fortnite players after ruling that the maker of the popular video game, Epic Games, duped people “into making unwanted purchases.” The FTC said in a Dec. 9 press release that it will send more than $72 million to consumers. The average payment is expected to be around $114, according to the FTC. A settlement was first revealed in December 2022, at which time Epic Games was ordered to pay $245 million to clear up allegations that it used deceptive means to fool players into making unwanted purchases and allowed kids the ability to accrue charges without their parents’ knowledge. “The FTC alleged that Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players of all ages to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button,” the FTC said in the Dec. 9 release. “For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item.” How do you know if you’re eligible for a refund? And how do you go about filing a claim? Here’s what to know. How to know if you’re eligible for a Fortnite refund The FTC listed on its website the requirements for a refund: Between January 2017 and September 2022, you were charged in the game for items you didn’t want. Between January 2017 and November 2018, your child charged your credit card in the game without your knowledge. Between January 2017 and September 2022, you were locked out of your account after you complained to your credit card about charges you didn’t want. If you already filed a claim after Oct. 8, you do not need to file anything further, according to the FTC. How Fortnite players can apply for a refund Eligible consumers still have time to submit a claim at www.ftc.gov/fortnite . Anyone interested in learning more about their payments can call refund administrator Rust Consulting, Inc. at 833-915-0880 or send an email to admin@fortniterefund.com . People can also visit the FTC website to learn more about the refund process. he deadline to file a claim is Jan. 10, 2025, the FTC said. How Fortnite players receive their refunds The FTC said it is in the process of sending a first round of payments, with additional refunds expected at a later date. So far, there are a total of 629,344 total payments. Affected consumers chose how they’d like to be paid when they filled out a claim form. Those people who received money through PayPal should redeem payment within 30 days. Consumers who receive checks have 90 days to cash their payment. How to find your Epic account ID When submitting a claim for a refund , people are required to provide a claim number or an Epic account ID. Epic Games provided on its website steps to find your Epic account ID online: Visit www.epicgames.com . Click “sign in” in the top right corner and sign in. Hover over your Epic Games account name and click on “account.” Your account ID is listed under “account information.” This article first appeared on TODAY.com . Read more from TODAY here: Savannah Guthrie reveals her family’s 2024 holiday card — with a surprise announcement Dad shares bittersweet video of when his 13-year-old confronted him about Santa: 'Oh my heart' Hilary Duff’s 12-year-old son joins her for rare red carpet outingAT&T Announces Plan to Phase Out Copper Landline Service by 2029, California Exempted Due to Legal Protections
India desires relations “free of terrorism” with Pakistan and hopes that its ties with Bangladesh will “settle down to a mutually beneficial and stable relationship”, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament on Friday, as he also cautioned against “point-scoring” over the state of India’s diplomatic relations. The minister was responding to Lok Sabha members during question hour. He said the government hopes its ties with Dhaka will “settle down to a mutually beneficial and stable relationship” under the new dispensation led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and that it would like to have good ties with all neighbours, including Pakistan. “But like with any other neighbour, we would also like to have ties free of terrorism. This has been the position of the government,” he said while responding to a query from BJP lawmaker Naveen Jindal on what the government would do to improve bilateral relations and trade with Pakistan. “We have made it very clear that it is for the Pakistani side to show that they are changing their behaviour of the past. That if they don’t, of course, there are implications for the relationship and for them,” he said. “I think the ball is very much in Pakistan’s court in this regard.” There were disruptions in trade because of decisions made by the Pakistan government in 2019, Jaishankar said. “It is a matter on which they took the initiative, and we have an agnostic position on this,” he said. He was referring to Pakistan’s decision to snap trade relations in August 2019 in response to the Indian government’s move to scrap the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divide the state into two union territories. At the time, Pakistan also decided against posting a high commissioner in New Delhi and downgraded diplomatic ties. The two countries have not held any substantive and sustained dialogue since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were carried out by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Pulwama suicide bombing in February 2019, which killed 40 Indian troopers and was carried out by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, brought the two countries to the brink of war. India has consistently said the improvement of bilateral ties is linked to Pakistan ending its support for cross-border terrorism. Jindal posed a supplementary query on ties with Pakistan after Jaishankar answered a question on the government’s “Neighbourhood First” policy. Jaishankar responded to another supplementary question from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) lawmaker Asaduddin Owaisi on the situation of minorities in Bangladesh by saying that this “has been a source of concern”. He said: “There have been multiple incidents of attacks on them. We have drawn our concern to their attention. Recently, the foreign secretary visited Dhaka. This subject came up during his meetings and it is our expectation that, in its own interest, Bangladesh would take measures so that its minorities are safe.” Referring to the interim government formed in Dhaka after former premier Sheikh Hasina stepped down in August, Jaishankar added: “Certainly, it is our hope that with the new dispensation in Bangladesh, we will settle down to a mutually beneficial and stable relationship.” Jaishankar spoke at length on ties with neighbouring countries when Congress MP Manish Tewari questioned whether any country in the region has an “India first” policy. He said the number of India-backed development projects, volume of trade and exchanges provide a clear picture of the country’s relations within the region. “Our neighbours also have their politics. There are ups and downs in their countries. It will have some implications for us, but it is important we are mature and we don’t get into point-scoring,” he said. “I think the idea if there is a desire to somehow show the foreign policy of this government in a bad light for political purposes, that is the member’s privilege. But then you know it is not my nature to make foreign policy partisan,” he added. Tewari pointed out that India was the eighth country visited by the Maldives president after assuming office in 2023 and that he had travelled to New Delhi “under severe economic compulsion”, while Nepal’s new prime minister had first travelled to China and signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Tewari also noted that China holds 12.9% of Sri Lanka’s external debt, while Bhutan’s negotiations with China to settle a border dispute were at an “advanced stage” and could have implications for the strategic Doklam plateau. Jaishankar responded that there had been no visit from India to Nepal for 17 years before Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to the country, while there were no high-level bilateral visits to Sri Lanka for 30 years till Modi travelled there. “Visits are important, I accept it. Visits are also the subject of timing, of convenience, of agenda...Do they give us priority? And the answer is yes...With this government and Maldives, we have inaugurated the Addu link road and reclamation project...28 islands there were provided water and sewage facilities. By the way, the president of the Maldives was present at the oath-taking of this new government,” he said. Jaishankar also noted that “Indian companies were driven out for an important project” in the Maldives in 2012, and Hambantota port was built by the Chinese in Sri Lanka in 2008. “The same Bangladesh was giving support to terrorism still 2014. The same Myanmar was hosting Indian insurgent groups,” he added. Jaishankar responded to another question from Owaisi by saying Nepal’s decision to include Indian territories in maps on its currency notes would not change India’s position. In response to yet another supplementary question, Jaishankar said India had to review its “open regime” policy for the border with Myanmar because of the “very disturbed conditions” in that country. In a written reply to a question on the government’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, Jaishankar said this guides the management of relations with countries in the immediate neighbourhood and focuses on creating mutually beneficial, people-oriented, regional frameworks for stability and prosperity, including through the building of physical and digital connectivity. Under this policy, India has helped neighbouring countries in developing infrastructure projects, ranging from large-scale infrastructure to community-related assets and platforms, and extending financial, budgetary and humanitarian aid. This includes humanitarian aid for Afghanistan, development projects in Bangladesh in cross-border power, energy and transport, assistance to Bhutan for developing its hydropower resources, maritime security and connectivity cooperation with the Maldives, and aid to Myanmar for several connectivity infrastructure projects.Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle. If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. What is Connections? The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common. Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem... Mashable TeamDelhi Farmers Protest: Hundreds of farmers from Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are set to resume their protest march to Delhi today (December 14). According to news agency PTI, a group of 101 farmers will begin their journey on foot from the Shambhu border today with plans to reach Delhi. This was confirmed by farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher, who spoke to reporters at the Shambhu protest site. Pandher also said that the government should hold talks with the farmers before they intensify the protest. The protesting farmers were forced to suspend their foot march from the Shambhu border to Delhi on Sunday after some of them sustained injuries. ALSO READ: Allu Arjun To Spend Night In Chanchalguda Jail, Officials Await HC’s Bail Order; Fans Stage Protest Tensions escalated when Haryana security personnel deployed tear gas to thwart their attempt to cross the Punjab-Haryana border. Additionally, the farmer unions decided to postpone the protest due to the deteriorating health conditions of their leader, Jagjeet Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26. Earlier in the day, senior leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) met the protesting farmers of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal of SKM (non-political), who has been on a fast-unto-death protest since November 26. The meeting took place at Khanauri, located on the Punjab-Haryana border. ALSO READ: Mahua Moitra’s Remarks On Judge Loya’s Death Lead To Disruption In Lok Sabha; Rijiju Warns Of Action | WATCH Rakesh Tikait, a leader of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), met Jagjit Singh Dallewal, in Khanauri. During the meeting, Tikait emphasized the need for farmer unions to unite again for a collective struggle. Tikait expressed concern for Dallewal’s health, stating that farmers across the country are equally worried about his condition. He urged the Union government to take note of the situation, as Dallewal has vowed to continue his fast-unto-death until the government engages in talks with the farmer unions and agrees to their demands. SC Expresses Concern Over Jagjit Singh Dallewal's Health The Supreme Court on December 13 called on the Punjab government and the Central government to provide medical assistance to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike for over 17 days at the Khanauri border. The top court urged both parties to intervene promptly and convince Dallewal to end his fast for his health and life. A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyyan directed Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to address the matter without delay and resolve it.
With E3 truly being a thing of the past in the post-pandemic world, Geoff Kieghley’s The Game Awards are now the year's biggest source of video game announcements, taking up the mantle left behind by the show that gave us such memorable moments as “my body is ready.” Keighley’s Summer Game Fest also typically features a few surprises, as does Germany's Gamescom , but it’s clear that the awards show is where the big guns come out. Despite its name, it’s almost better known as a trailer festival at this point, as joked about by Muppets Statler and Waldorf ( yes, really ) during this year’s event. With that in mind, here are the biggest reveals from last night’s show, including two different returns to fantasy favorites and a new sci-fi game from the creators of The Last of Us . The Witcher IV puts Ciri in the lead role Can you believe it’s been a little over nine years since The Witcher 3 came out? In the time since then, the title has gotten two hefty expansions and served as partial inspiration for a Netflix show, but it’s finally time for it to get a proper sequel. Simply titled The Witcher IV , the game’s reveal was the first big announcement of the show, and while gameplay wasn’t yet shown, it came with two big revelations. The first was a change in protagonist. Geralt and his Fabio hair are taking a break this time around, with his adopted daughter and apprentice Ciri instead taking up the dual blades to hunt down the monsters of the Continent. The second actually had little to do with the game itself, and was instead more of a teaser for tech nerds. At the start of the game’s trailer, a small note at the bottom of the screen said that it was “pre-rendered in Unreal Engine 5 on an unannounced Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU,” which confirms that game developers already have their hands on Nvidia’s next generation of graphics cards. Eager PC builders will likely hear about them soon, possibly as early as next month’s CES. Elden Ring Nightreign is a co-op spin-off After an almost 60-hour base game and a 30-40 hour expansion, Elden Ring isn’t done yet. In a surprising move for developer FromSoftware, the next title in the series will be a co-op, session-based game rather than an RPG set in a persistent world. You wouldn’t know that from the trailer, which mostly focuses on small groups of players grouping up to fight big bosses, Monster Hunter style (it looks sick, tbh). However, outlets such as IGN (which is owned by the same parent company as Lifehacker) have already conducted interviews and gone hands-on with preview builds, which is where these details are coming from. According to the developers, the game is built for three players but will have a solo mode, and will take place in a condensed version of the Limgrave map from the first game. Over the course of three in-game days, players will be tasked with surviving and preparing to take on a major boss at the end of the session. Rather than customizing their own characters, players will also instead choose between eight presets here, although I presume the same character can look very different by the end of different sessions. As a big fan of FromSoftware games, but not a huge enjoyer of their usually somewhat clunky multiplayer systems, I’m cautiously optimistic that Nightreign might finally be the game that convinces me to try playing with friends. A new game from the people behind Shadow of the Colossus It’s been eight years since the last game directed by legendary developer Fumito Ueda, the chief creative mind behind classics including Ico and Shadow of the Colossus . With the studio behind those titles, Japan Studio, having since been shut down and merged with Astro Bot developer Team Asobi (more on them later), it was unclear whether we’d ever see another title in the same vein as those games again. Luckily, it seems like Ueda and a bunch of Japan Studio veterans are back with a new game currently codenamed “Project Robot.” The trailer from last night’s award show was fairly light on details, but the vibes we all remember from Ueda’s previous games were all there, as the crowd silently watched a small figure in cryptic garb climb up a lumbering giant robot to escape an oncoming catastrophe. Like our protagonist at the end of the trailer, a release date is still up in the air, but one surprising detail: Epic Games (yes, the Fortnite people) is helping to produce. Okami is back Towards the end of the awards show, Geoff Keighley pumped up the audience for what seemed like his favorite announcement of the night, going as far as to seemingly tear up a little and bring in a real-life drummer to set the tone before the trailer played. When the host talked about impossibilities coming true and said “if you truly love video games like I do, this moment is for all of us,” I was expecting Half-Life 3 to pop up on my screen. Instead, I was surprised with an Okami sequel. I’m not disappointed! A cult classic game for the PS2 and Wii, Okami combined a beautiful art style, Japanese folklore, innovative calligraphy mechanics, and a Legend of Zelda -style approach to gameplay to create a truly impressive blend of mechanics and vision that hasn’t really been captured since. Part of the reason for that? Shortly after its release in 2006, director Hideki Kamiya left Capcom to help found Platinum Games, with his studio Clover shutting down just a few months later. The game had been a critical success, but it seems Capcom wasn’t happy with sales . Now, it seems like the publisher is ready to give Kamiya a second chance, not only announcing an Okami sequel (no official title as of yet) with him at the helm, but in fact giving him a new studio under the name of Clovers (never change, Kamiya). The news follows the success of Devil May Cry 5 , a sequel to another Kamiya classic, which probably helped change Capcom’s tune. I wouldn’t be surprised to see other cult hits like Viewtiful Joe or God Hand get their time in the sun next. A new Naughty Dog sci-fi game In the final trailer of the night, The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog revealed its next big game, and finally, it has nothing to do with zombies. Instead, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is a space adventure following a bounty hunter as she tries to be the first person in over 600 years to leave the planet Sempiria’s orbit. Actual gameplay was light (a running theme for the evening), although the reveal trailer did show our heroine arming herself with a gun and facing down a hulking robot with a not-lightsaber. In what’s proven to be a controversial decision on my Bluesky feed, the trailer also played up the ‘80s nostalgia and its brand partnerships a lot, which definitely gave it some Guardians of the Galaxy vibes. Still, the announcement’s overall lighter tone should prove to be a fun break from the grim nature of The Last of Us series, and will perhaps take Naughty Dog closer to its Jak & Daxter roots. And the winner is... Finally, you can’t have The Game Awards without declaring the game of the year. This year’s winner had to face some stacked competition, with the nominee list including Balatro , Black Myth: Wukong , Metaphor: ReFantazio , Astro Bot , and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth . In the end, though, Team Asobi’s Astro Bot pulled through. The win is the first time a platformer has taken home the game of the year award, with Astro Bot doing what even Mario could not (to be fair, he was going up against the likes of Link and Geralt when he was nominated). It’s an impressive achievement for the character’s first full-fledged game, though—and as if to celebrate, the title is about $10 off across most storefronts right now.The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released its weekly report on stocks, revealing a decrease in inventory levels. The report shows a reduction of 3.2 million barrels, which is less than the previous week’s decline of 4.7 million barrels. This decrease in crude inventories, although significant, is less than what was forecasted. Analysts had expected a sharper decline, similar to or greater than the previous week’s drop. The smaller-than-expected reduction suggests that demand for crude oil in the US may be weaker than anticipated. Comparing the actual number to the forecasted number, the decrease of 3.2 million barrels falls short of expectations. The less-than-expected decline indicates that the demand for crude oil is not as strong as was previously estimated. This could potentially be bearish for crude prices, as a smaller reduction in inventories implies a lower demand. When compared to the previous week’s numbers, the reduction of 3.2 million barrels is also less than the 4.7 million barrels decrease reported. This further suggests that the demand for crude oil may be slowing down, as the decrease in inventory levels is not as steep as it was in the previous week. The API’s weekly crude stock report provides an overview of US petroleum demand by reporting on the inventory levels of US crude oil, gasoline, and distillates stocks. A decrease in crude inventories can be indicative of greater demand, which would typically be bullish for crude prices. However, if the decrease in inventories is less than expected, as is the case in this week’s report, it implies weaker demand and can be bearish for crude prices. Despite the decrease in crude inventories, the less-than-expected decline could signal a potential slowing down of demand for crude oil in the US, which could have implications for crude prices in the near future. Source: Investing.comPedro escaped punishment after swinging an arm at Bees substitute substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact. VAR reviewed the second-half incident but deemed there was no violent conduct. Frank and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler disagreed about the decision. “As I understand the rules, you can’t swing your arm to try to hit someone,” said Frank. “If you hit them or not, it’s a red, that’s the way I understand the rules.” Frank spoke to the match officials, including referee Andy Madley, about the flashpoint at full-time. “They haven’t seen the situation yet, not on TV afterwards,” said Frank. “To be fair to him, I think the angle can be tricky so that’s why you’ve got VAR.” Asked about Frank’s assessment, Hurzeler replied: “Interesting opinion. I see it completely different. “For me, it’s not a red card. He tried to get free from a person.” Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six top-flight games. Albion dominated for large periods and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken made some important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Brentford a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Hurzeler thought the jeers at full-time were unfair. “The team doesn’t deserve that because in all the games we had in the last weeks they were all good, they were all intense, they were all where we thought we deserved more” said the German, whose team have lost to Fulham and Crystal Palace and drawn with Southampton, Leicester and West Ham in recent matches. “We try to work hard to satisfy our supporters, we try to give them what they deserve, we try to make them proud. “But the Premier League is tough. We know there will be (tough) periods we have to go through, especially with this young squad. “We try to stick together, find the positive and keep on going.” Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. Frank, who is awaiting news on Flekken and defender Ben Mee, who also left the field injured, said: “I thought it was a fair point. “Brighton were better in the first half, no big, clearcut chances, and I thought we were better second half. “Overall, I’m happy with the performance, especially the way we defended. “We haven’t had too many clean sheets this season, so in that context I thought it was very impressive against a good Brighton team. “We know we have a lot of players out – we get two more injuries during the game. “The way the players showed their mentality and character and dug in was hugely impressive.”
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Jao Ituka led Jacksonville State over East Carolina on Thursday night with 18 points off of the bench in an 86-78 victory. Ituka shot 5 for 10 (2 for 6 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Gamecocks (4-1). Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points while shooting 4 of 10 from the field and 7 for 11 from the line while he also had six rebounds and six assists. Michael Houge had 15 points and shot 6 of 11 from the field and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. RJ Felton led the Pirates (4-1) in scoring, finishing with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. C.J. Walker added 20 points and seven rebounds for East Carolina. Yann Farell also had 12 points. Ituka scored 10 points in the first half and Jacksonville State went into halftime trailing 39-37. Jacksonville State used a 13-2 second-half run to take the lead at 71-66 with 3:52 remaining. Houge scored 12 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Inside Trump's new administration: From business moguls to TV personalitiesWhat’s Happening is a free service of Columbia Gorge News and may be edited for length. Notices run as space allows. Send to kelsiec@gorgenews.com . Community Events Nov. 30 - Jan 3 – Skamania Lodge Holiday Light Walk, 4:30 p.m-9 p.m., nightly, at the Skamania County Lodge, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way in Stevenson. Dec. 8 & 15 – Photos with Santa, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Cousin’s Restaurant and Saloon, 2114 West Sixth St. in The Dalles. Dec. 9 — The Wasco County Board of Commissioners Special Session, 1:30 p.m. at 401 E. Third St., The Dalles, or via Zoom, wascocounty-org.zoom.us/j/2919733815 or call in to 1-253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 2919733815#. Dec. 9 – Free Presentation: Get me through the holidays: coping with loss on days that hold special meaning, 1 – 2:30 p.m., at the Hood River Valley Adult Center, 2010 Sterling Place in Hood River. Open to anyone in the community, no registration required. Dec. 9 — Monthly Grief Group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the White Salmon Pioneer Center, 501 NE Washington St. For anyone grieving a loss. More info at maggie@maggieconverse.com or 503-395-4738. Dec. 10 — Odell Garden Club Meeting, 10 a.m. at the Hood River County Fairgrounds Community Building. For more info, contact President Norma Curtis, 541-806-1019 or nlcurtis@hrecn.net . Meets second Tuesday of the month. Dec. 10 — Mid-Columbia Center for Living Regular Board Meeting, 11 a.m. in room 107, 1060 Webber St., The Dalles, or via Teams meeting, bit.ly/3VaelHa . Second Tuesday of the month. Dec 10 — Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group, 5:30-630 p.m. Meets second Tuesday of the month. Email belinda.ballah@hoodrivercounty.gov for more info. Dec. 11 — Back to Life Biochar Hands-On Workshop, noon to 4 p.m. in the Husum area. Underwood Conservation District’s Winter Workshop Series. In person, registration required at www.ucdwa.org . Dec. 11 – Sense of Place 15th Anniversary Season presentation, 7p.m., at Columba Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River, or via livestream. “The Wolf Next Door: A Community Perspective on the Return of Wolves,” with Lara Volski, PhD Student of Human-Wildlife Interactions. Season 15 ticket information is available online at senseofplacegorge.org and via a monthly newsletter. Dec. 12 — High Prairie Bingo Night, 6-8 p.m. at 701 Struck Road (between Lyle and Centerville). Food and drinks for sale, cash prizes; minors must be accompanied by an adult 18 or over. Dec. 12 – Mid Columbia Community Choir “A Star is Arising” Benefit Concert, 7 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 1280 W. Jewett Blvd in White Salmon. A free will donation to support WAGAP and Fish Food Bank will be accepted at the event. Dec. 12 – Mid-Columbia Community Choir Benefit Concert: Bethlehem Lullaby, 7 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 1280 W. Jewett Blvd., in White Salmon. Dec. 13 – CGOA Voic Community Choir Holiday Pops concert, 7 p.m., Hood River Valley Christian Church, 975 Indian Creek Road in Hood River. Dec. 13-14, 20-21 — A Christmas Story, 7 p.m. at The Bingen Theater. Matinee performances Dec. 8 and 15 at 1:30 p.m. Directed by Joe Garoutte; family friendly. Tickets at www.bigbritches.org . Dec. 14 — WAAAM Second Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the museum, 1600 Air Museum Road, Hood River. Different theme each month; see old technology in action. Dec. 14 – Holiday Fun Run, 10 a.m., at the Skamania Lodge, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way in Stevenson. Come dressed your festive holiday wear. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for Children. Tickets available at Skamania.com . Profits support the Stevenson volunteer firefighter association. Dec. 14 – Gateway Christmas Fair/Workshop, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Gateway Church, 111 Dry Hollow Road in The Dalles. Event is free and for all ages. Children under 12 must be accompanied by and adult. For more info, contact 541-298-8531. www.gatewaypc.org . Dec. 14 – Santa’s Big Day, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., at the White Salmon Masonic Lodge. Digital photos with Santa. Event is free and family friendly. For more info, contact Ivy Carpe at hiddengemeventsnmore@gmail.com or visit hiddengemeventsnmore@gmail.com Dec. 14 – Holiday Gift Workshop, 12 – 2 p.m. at The Dalles Public Library meeting room, 722 Court Street in The Dalles. Holiday gift related crafts. Event is all ages. Dec. 14 – 2024 Handel’s Christmas Messiah Concert, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 10th and Union St. in The Dalles. Concert is put on by The Dalles Cascade Singers. Dec. 14 – Gift of Music with John Ross, 5 – 7 p.m. in the Gorge Room at Skamania Lodge, at the Skamania County Lodge, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way in Stevenson. Dec. 14-15 — Last Chance Holiday Bazaar, 10-4 p.m. Saturday and 10-3 p.m. Sunday at the Hood River County Fairgrounds, 3020 Wy’east Road. Dec. 15. – CGOA Voci Community Choir Holiday Pops concert, 2 p.m. Old St. Peter’s Landmark, 405 Lincoln Street in The Dalles Dec. 15 — Lyle Lions Club Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center, corner of Fifth and Highway 14. First and third Monday. Dec. 15 – Patrick Lamb’s Charlie Brown Christmas, 6:30 – 8 p.m., at Hood River Middle School auditorium, 1602 May Street in Hood River. Admission is $20. Tickets can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-patrick-lamb-charlie-brown-christmas-tickets-1064480322299?aff=oddtdtcreator. Dec 17 — Mid-Columbia Car Club Meeting, 5 p.m. social / 6 p.m. meeting at Spooky’s Pizza, 3320 W. Sixth, The Dalles. Meets third Tuesday of the month. Dec 18 — Columbia Gorge Beekeepers Association Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Hood River Extension, 2990 Experiment Station Drive. All are welcome. Visitors may attend in person or via Zoom; info at admin@gorgebeekeepers.org . Dec. 19 – Hood River Adult Grief Group, 4:30-5:30pm. Meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays, November 2024-February 2025. Registration required. To register or for more information, contact Haley at Providence Hospice of the Gorge at 541-387-6449 Dec. 19 — Heritage Council Board Meeting, 5 p.m. at the History Museum of Hood River County, 300 E. Port Marina Way, Hood River. Public welcome to attend. New board members, volunteers needed. Third Thursday of the month. Dec. 20 & 21 – Gorge Winds Concert Band Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday, at The Dalles First Christian Church, 909 Court St. in The Dalles. Donations appreciate. Thru Dec. 22 — Handmade for Holidays at Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave., Hood River. Artists market; small art pieces of many types on display and for sale in the gallery. Jan. 2 — Criminal Records Expungement Clinic, 2-5 p.m. at The Dalles Public Library, 722 Court St., The Dalles. Free legal assistance to apply to set aside Oregon criminal records. Clinics are every first Thursday. No appointment necessary. For more information, email lynnmarie.crider@gmail.com . Jan. 2 – Hood River Adult Grief Group, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays, November 2024-February 2025. Registration required. To register or for more information, contact Haley at Providence Hospice of the Gorge at 541-387-6449. Jan. 2 — NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of the Gorge, 6:15-7:45 p.m. at Dalles-Wasco County Library meeting room. For info, call Barbara at 541-980-7264. Jan. 4 — Lyle Lions Club Pancake Breakfast, 7-10 a.m. at Lyle Lions Community Center, corner of Fifth and Highway 14. Adults $10, children 6-12 $5, under 5 free. Eggs and omelets cooked to order and endless pancakes. Jan. 4 — Leos Club Can and Bottle Collection, 9 a.m. to noon at Rosauers, Hood River. Supports local nonprofits. Jan. 4 – Mt. Adams Little League Christmas Tree Pick-up Fundraiser, 9 – 4 p.m. White Salmon/Bingen, Husum, Underwood, Mill-A and Lyle residents can call or text 360-831-7421, to arrange for pick up for $20. Trees must be free of decorations. Jan. 6 – Hood River Adult Grief Group, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays, November 2024-February 2025. Registration required. To register or for more information, contact Haley at Providence Hospice of the Gorge at 541-387-6449. Jan. 6 — Lyle Lions Club Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center, corner of Fifth and Highway 14. First and third Monday. Jan. 8 — Criminal Records Expungement Clinic, 3-6 p.m. at 601 Cascade Ave., Hood River. Free legal assistance to apply to set aside Oregon criminal records. Clinics are typically every first Wednesday. No appointment necessary. For more information, email lynnmarie.crider@gmail.com . Jan. 9 — High Prairie Bingo Night, 6-8 p.m. at 701 Struck Road (between Lyle and Centerville). Food and drinks for sale, cash prizes; minors must be accompanied by an adult 18 or over. Jan. 13 — Friends of the Library, 11 a.m. in the Jean Marie Gaulke Room, Hood River Library; public welcome. More at hoodriverlibrary.org/friends . Jan. 13 — Monthly Grief Group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the White Salmon Pioneer Center, 501 NE Washington St. For anyone grieving a loss. More info at maggie@maggieconverse.com or 503-395-4738. Jan 14 — Odell Garden Club Meeting, 10 a.m. at the Hood River County Fairgrounds Community Building. For more info, contact President Norma Curtis, 541-806-1019 or nlcurtis@hrecn.net . Meets second Tuesday of the month. Jan. 14 — Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group, 5:30-630 p.m. Meets second Tuesday of the month. Email belinda.ballah@hoodrivercounty.gov for more info. Jan. 15 — Columbia Gorge Beekeepers Association Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Hood River Extension, 2990 Experiment Station Drive. All are welcome. Visitors may attend in person or via Zoom; info at admin@gorgebeekeepers.org . Jan. 16 — Heritage Council Board Meeting, 5 p.m. at the History Museum of Hood River County, 300 E. Port Marina Way, Hood River. Public welcome to attend. New board members, volunteers needed. Third Thursday of the month. Jan. 16 — More than Flowers: What your Landscape Needs to Support Pollinators, 6 p.m. at the White Salmon Valley Library. Underwood Conservation District’s Winter Workshop Series; with Matthew Shephard from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Register at www.ucdwa.org/winter-workshop-series . Jan. 20 – Rotary Ski Night at Mt. Hood Meadows, 3 – 9 p.m., at Mt. Hood Meadows, 14040 OR-35, Mt Hood, Oregon. Portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the Hood River Rotary Club. Night lift tickets are on sale with dynamic early pricing at www.skihood.com/explore/Events-and-Activities/Rotary-Night Jan. 20 — Lyle Lions Club Meeting, 6 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center, corner of Fifth and Highway 14. First and third Monday. Jan. 21 — Mid-Columbia Car Club Meeting, 5 p.m. social / 6 p.m. meeting at Spooky’s Pizza, 3320 W. Sixth, The Dalles. Meets third Tuesday of the month. Feb. 19 — Soil! What it is and How it Works, 6 p.m. at the Mountain View Grange, 1085 N. Main Ave., White Salmon. Underwood Conservation District’s Winter Workshop Series; with James Cassidy, instructor of soil science, Oregon State University. Register at www.ucdwa.org/winter-workshop-series . Ongoing First Monday — Adult Writers Group, 5:30-7 p.m. at The Dalles-Wasco County Library. Third Monday — Hands On Maker Monday, 3:30 p.m. at The Dalles Public Library. With OSU Extension and 4-H. For kids, teens and adults. Projects like leatherworking, sewing, candle making, cake decorating and more. Mondays – Cascade Singers Rehearsal, 6:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 101 West 10th Street in The Dalles. Mondays — Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association Voci Community Choir Rehearsals, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Hood River Valley High School. All welcome. Questions to info@gorgeorchestra.org . Monday thru Friday — NU-2-U Shop Open, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. Ninth St., The Dalles. Shop is a nonprofit store that supports the Mid-Columbia Senior Center. More information at 541-296-4788. Monday & Wednesday — Senior Meals, noon at The Pioneer Center, White Salmon. Doors open at 8 a.m. Suggested donation for seniors 60 and over is $3.50, all others $6.50. All welcome. Monday, Wednesday and Friday — Strong Women, 10-11 a.m. at the Cascade Locks City Hall. Monday thru Friday — Klickitat Senior Services Telephone Support, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Goldendale, 509-773-3757; White Salmon, 509-493-3068; or Toll Free, 1- 800-447-7858. Staff will direct callers to available resources, assist with online benefit applications and issues with Social Security and Medicare. Seniors can also call for essential grocery delivery, prescription pickup or food bank needs. Tuesday — Senior Meals, noon at the Lyle Lions Community Center. Doors open at 10 a.m. Suggested donation for seniors 60 and over is $3.50, all others $6.50. All welcome. Tuesdays — Senior Meals, 11 a.m. at Mt. Hood Town Hall, 6575 Mount Hood Highway, Mt. Hood-Parkdale. Meals served at noon. In conjunction with Hood River Valley Adult Center; suggested $5 donation. Tuesdays — White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club, noon to 1 p.m. Learn more at www.whitesalmon-bingenrotary.org , www.facebook.com/whitesalmonbingenrotaryclub , or email rotary.club.323@gmail.com . Tuesdays — Overeater’s Anonymous, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ninth and State streets, Hood River. For more info contact Rebecca at 510-861-2212. Tuesdays — Harmony of the Gorge, 6-8 p.m. at Providence Down Manor, Hood River. Please check the website for rehearsal details at www.harmonyofthegorge.com ; info at 541-490-2481. Tuesdays — Al-Anon Meeting, 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 400 11th St., Hood River. Tuesdays — Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association Sinfonietta Rehearsals, 7-9 p.m. at Hood River Valley High School (music room). All welcome. Questions to info@gorgeorchestra.org . Tuesday & Thursday — Senior Meals, noon at the Goldendale Community Center. Doors open at 8 a.m. Suggested donation for seniors 60 and over is $3.50, all others $6.50. All welcome. Tuesdays thru Fridays — Senior Chair Yoga, 9:15 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, fourth floor, The Dalles. Cost is $4 per class. Contact debra.lutje@gmail.com for info. Wednesdays — Fitness Classes: Mat Pilates, 8:30 a.m. at Lutheran Church, Bingen; Barre 5 p.m. at Mt. View Grange, White Salmon. Loyalty, drop in rates available. ACE certified, longtime local fitness instructor. Call Caroline Elliott, 509-637-3162, for info. Wednesdays — Radio Tierra Storytime, 9:30 a.m. on Radio Tierra 95.1 FM; songs, stories and announcements for all kiddos who haven’t begun school. Wednesdays — The Dalles Rotary Club, noon at Spooky’s; visitors welcome. Wednesdays — Writing Group, 3-4 p.m. at the Hood River County Library, Columbia Room. Second Wednesday — Dufur Recreation District Meeting, 7 p.m. at Dufur City Hall. Visit website www.dufurcitypark.org for agenda and virtual attendance information. Thursdays — Hood River Art Club, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the FISH Food Bank Community Room, 1130 Tucker Road, Hood River. For more information contact Kori Walsh at Heronbird@aol.com . Thursdays — Hood River Toastmasters Club, 6:30-8 a.m. via Zoom and in-person at Bette’s Place, downtown Hood River. Drop in or email HRToastmasters@proton.me for link. Improve public speaking, listening and leadership skills. Thursdays — Take Pounds Off Sensible (TOPS) Support Group, 8:30 a.m. weigh-in and 9 a.m. meeting at Zion Church, 10th and Union, The Dalles. First meeting is free. Thursdays — Family Storytime, 10:30 a.m. at the Hood River Library. Free, open to all ages. Thursdays — Recovery Café, 1-6 p.m. at the White Salmon Grange. Dinner served; recovery circle 5-6 p.m. All welcome. Thursdays — The Dalles Kiwanis Club Meetings, noon at Spooky’s; visitors welcome. For more information go to www.thedalleskiwanis.org/ or The-Dalles-Kiwanis-Club on Facebook. Thursdays — Thursday Night Bingo, 5:30 p.m. at Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. Ninth St., The Dalles. Doors open 4 p.m. Must be 18 or over. $10 minimum buy-in. Third Thursday — West Klickitat Regional Fire Authority Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m. at the White Salmon Fire Station at 119 NE Church St. Thursday, Friday and Saturday — Hood River Valley Adult Center Thrift Shop, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds benefit Meals on Wheels. Third Fridays - Community Game Day, 1 p.m. at the Lyle Lions Community Center, Fifth and Highway 14. Play scrabble, cribbage or bring your own favorite. Coffee and cookies will be offered. Fridays — Community Playgroup, 10-11:30 a.m. at Hood River Early Childhood Center (formerly Pine Grove Elementary). Free, follows school calendar. For children 0-5 and their parents. For info call 541-386-4919. Fridays — Storytime in Cascade Locks and Parkdale, 10:30 a.m. at the library branches in those communities. Includes parent playgroups. Fridays — Reflections on the Life of the Spirit, 1 p.m. at the United Methodist church in White Salmon, 341 N. Main Ave. Hosted by Baha’is of White Salmon. Explore spiritual identity and what it means to be human. For more information, contact White Salmon Bahá’ís at 509-637-3311. Fridays — Fun Friday, 3-4:30 p.m. at The Dalles Library. For kids 5-10 in the John and Jean Thomas Children’s Wing. Arts, crafts, games; each week is different and always fun. Saturdays — Makerspace, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hood River Library and Crafty Saturdays at the Cascade Locks and Parkdale library branches (same times). Free, for children. Saturdays — Grief Share, 10 a.m. to noon at Tucker Road Baptist Church, 1455 Tucker Road, Hood River. All welcome. Info at 541-386-1049. Saturdays — Chess Lessons, 1 p.m. at The Dalles Library. Free, for all ages and skill levels, beginners to advanced. Register at wascocountylibrary.com/events . Saturdays – Teen Programs, 2 p.m. at the Hood River Co. Library, 502 State St. Pick one or all that look fun and be creative, volunteer, play games, discuss books and eat snacks. Open to ages 12-18. For more info, contact Teen Librarian Rachel or go to hoodriverlibrary.org . Saturdays — Bingo, 5:30-8 p.m. at the Mid-Columbia Senior Center, 1112 W. Ninth, The Dalles. Doors open 4 p.m.; new players should arrive by 5 p.m. Ages 8-18 must be accompanied by legal guardian. Minimum buy-in $6. Cash prizes, dinner concessions. Saturdays — Bingo, 6 p.m. at the Hood River Elks, Third and Cascade. Elks/Knights of Columbus scholarship fundraiser supports scholarships and charities. Progressive blackout prize, dinner available for purchase; 18 and older. Saturdays — Hood River Farmers’ Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Fifth and Columbia parking lot, across from Full Sail Brewing. Sundays — Pickup Basketball, 1 p.m. at the Horizon Christian gym, Hood River. Players 18 and older, $3/visit. Sundays — Columbia Gorge Orchestra Association Jazz Collective Rehearsals, 4-6 p.m. at WAAAM. All welcome. Questions to info@gorgeorchestra.org . Sundays — Cascade Singers Rehearsal, 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran, The Dalles (10th and Union streets).