President-elect Trump threatens tariffs against Canada and Mexico. Last month, President-elect Donald Trump threatened a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico and Canada until they took action to prevent the flow of illegal drugs and migrants into the United States. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum initially threatened retaliatory tariffs , but disavowed such measures days later, following a call with President-elect Trump . Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau dined with President-elect Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, a meeting the President-elect described as “ productive .” It is not clear whether these meetings resulted in any commitments for Canadian or Mexican action or agreement by President-elect Trump to hold off on his threat. Assad dynasty falls as ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad flees to Russia. This month, the long-running Syrian civil war reached a critical juncture when opposition forces seized control of Damascus and ended the 54-year reign of the Assad family. Following the collapse of his government, ousted President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia , where reports indicate he was granted asylum by Russian President Vladimir Putin. On December 9, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir agreed to hand over power to the rebel-led Salvation Government. U.S. President Joe Biden called the fall of the regime a “fundamental act of justice” and a “moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria.” South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol survives impeachment vote and is banned from international travel after failed martial law declaration . The South Korean Justice Ministry banned President Yoon Suk Yeol and several leaders, including Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung and Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, from leaving the country while investigations into President Yoon’s short-lived declaration of martial law are ongoing. While President Yoon managed to survive an impeachment motion brought December 7, protests continue as thousands of South Koreans demand Yoon’s replacement. Political crisis leaves France without a functioning government or 2025 budget. Following a series of events which saw Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally join forces with the left-wing coalition, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier was removed through a no-confidence vote , the first time that a no-confidence vote has toppled a French government since 1962. The 2024 budget saw the fiscal deficit increase from 5.5% to 6.1% of GDP —well above the European Commission’s limit of 3%—which Barnier sought to reverse in the 2025 budget by increasing revenues by €20 billion and decreasing spending by €60 billion . The planned budget was unpopular with the majority of parliament and voters, presenting the opportunity for Barnier’s removal. As a result of the political chaos, France will likely enter 2025 under its 2024 budget, averting a U.S.-style government shutdown but exacerbating its economic woes. European Union and MERCOSUR announce trade agreement . After a quarter century of negotiations, the European Union and MERCOSUR (a trade bloc comprised of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) reached a landmark free trade agreement which, if ratified, would create one of the largest free trade zones in the world. While European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has hailed the agreement as a “truly historic milestone,” France has long signaled its opposition to the deal and, along with Poland, Austria, and Ireland, is expected to push to prevent ratification. China responds to U.S. export controls with critical minerals ban. On December 3, 2024, China announced an immediate ban of gallium, germanium, and antimony exports to the United States alongside tighter restrictions on graphite, citing national security concerns. The move came the day after the Bureau of Industry and Security announced new export controls on manufacturing equipment and software meant to limit China’s semiconductor production. Hungary seeks to scale back EU foreign direct investment screening rules. EU member countries are considering scaling back certain critical technologies, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence, that would be subject to foreign direct investment screening requirements should EU lawmakers adopt the European Commission’s legislative proposal . Although the text removing the critical technologies was negotiated between the 27 EU member states, it is notable that the measure was led by Hungary, chair of the intergovernmental arm of the EU, noted for its China ties . The text must pass through the EU Council before talks would begin in European Parliament for the text to become finalized legislation. Chinese group actively hacking major telecom providers. On December 3 and 4, 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and partner agencies in other countries issued a joint alert concerning ongoing hacking efforts on telecommunications companies by Salt Typhoon , a China-linked hacking group. The group has targeted up to 80 telecommunications providers since last spring, with an apparent focus on national security and political targets—including both President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance—although others may have had their data compromised. President Joe Biden has been briefed “several times” about the hack, which Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) called the “worst telecom hack in our nation’s history.” U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) issues final “ICTS” technology supply chain regulations. On December 6, 2024, Commerce issued the finalized rule on Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain, known as the “ICTS” regulations. This follows issuance of an interim rule in 2021 and recent proposals to regulate cloud computing and connected vehicles under the ICTS. The final rule makes important changes to the scope of the regulations and provides clarification and updates regarding Commerce’s procedures under the regulations.MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t want to take chances with his family’s safety, so the Miami Dolphins’ star quarterback hired personal security when one of his cars was broken into about a year ago. "(It was) a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “So we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we’re on the road, we’ve got someone with my wife, got someone also at the house, surveying the house.” Tagovailoa, speaking days after the home of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was broken into while the Bengals were playing a Monday night game at Dallas, also noted his security is armed, “so I hope that if you decide to go to my house, you think twice.” Burrow’s home was the latest targeted in a string of burglaries of pro athletes’ homes in the U.S., which included the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Mahomes’ and Kelce’s homes were broken into in October, prompting the NFL to issue a security alert to teams and the players’ union warning that the houses of numerous pro athletes were “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups,” according to a memo previously obtained by The Associated Press. RELATED COVERAGE Steelers have stopped just about everybody this year. Up next: ‘Mr. Barkley’ Pro Picks: Eagles will beat Steelers in a close one and Bills will upset the Lions Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on having to play 3 times in an 11-day span: ‘It’s not a good feeling’ Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Tagovailoa’s personal security has been in place since long before this string of break-ins. No one was injured in the Monday night break-in at Burrow’s home, but it was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information, and the NBA later issued its own memo revealing that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. Tagovailoa, who just signed an extension with the Dolphins last offseason, said he doesn’t necessarily feel like a target, “but I wouldn’t want to play the chances with my family and kids sleeping, my wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Tua Tagovailoa says he's had personal security since one of his cars was broken intoNEW YORK (AP) — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"
WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter, the earnest Georgia peanut farmer who as U.S. president struggled with a bad economy and the Iran hostage crisis but brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, has died, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Sunday. He was 100. A Democrat, he served as president from January 1977 to January 1981 after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 U.S. election. Carter was swept from office four years later in an electoral landslide as voters embraced Republican challenger Ronald Reagan, the former actor and California governor. Carter lived longer after his term in office than any other U.S. president. Along the way, he earned a reputation as a better former president than he was a president -- a status he readily acknowledged. His one-term presidency was marked by the highs of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to the Middle East. But it was dogged by an economy in recession, persistent unpopularity and the embarrassment of the Iran hostage crisis that consumed his final 444 days in office. In recent years, Carter had experienced several health issues including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Carter decided to receive hospice care in February 2023 instead of undergoing additional medical intervention. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died on Nov. 19, 2023, at age 96. He looked frail when he attended her memorial service and funeral in a wheelchair. Carter left office profoundly unpopular but worked energetically for decades on humanitarian causes. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter had been a centrist as governor of Georgia with populist tendencies when he moved into the White House as the 39th U.S. president. He was a Washington outsider at a time when America was still reeling from the Watergate scandal that led Republican Richard Nixon to resign as president in 1974 and elevated Ford from vice president. "I'm Jimmy Carter and I'm running for president. I will never lie to you," Carter promised with an ear-to-ear smile. Asked to assess his presidency, Carter said in a 1991 documentary: "The biggest failure we had was a political failure. I never was able to convince the American people that I was a forceful and strong leader." Despite his difficulties in office, Carter had few rivals for accomplishments as a former president. He gained global acclaim as a tireless human rights advocate, a voice for the disenfranchised and a leader in the fight against hunger and poverty, winning the respect that eluded him in the White House. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his efforts to promote human rights and resolve conflicts around the world, from Ethiopia and Eritrea to Bosnia and Haiti. His Carter Center in Atlanta sent international election-monitoring delegations to polls around the world. A Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher since his teens, Carter brought a strong sense of morality to the presidency, speaking openly about his religious faith. He also sought to take some pomp out of an increasingly imperial presidency - walking, rather than riding in a limousine, in his 1977 inauguration parade. The Middle East was the focus of Carter's foreign policy. The 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, based on the 1978 Camp David Accords, ended a state of war between the two neighbors. Carter brought Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for talks. Later, as the accords seemed to be unraveling, Carter saved the day by flying to Cairo and Jerusalem for personal shuttle diplomacy. The treaty provided for Israeli withdrawal from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula and the establishment of diplomatic relations. Begin and Sadat each won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. By the 1980 election, the overriding issues were double-digit inflation, interest rates that exceeded 20% and soaring gas prices, as well as the Iran hostage crisis that brought humiliation to America. These issues marred Carter's presidency and undermined his chances of winning a second term. On Nov. 4, 1979, revolutionaries devoted to Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seized the Americans present and demanded the return of the ousted shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was backed by the United States and was being treated in a U.S. hospital. The American public initially rallied behind Carter. But his support faded in April 1980 when a commando raid failed to rescue the hostages, with eight U.S. soldiers killed in an aircraft accident in the Iranian desert. Carter's final ignominy was that Iran held the 52 hostages until minutes after Reagan took his oath of office on Jan. 20, 1981, to replace Carter, then released the planes carrying them to freedom. In another crisis, Carter protested the former Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He also asked the U.S. Senate to defer consideration of a major nuclear arms accord with Moscow. Unswayed, the Soviets remained in Afghanistan for a decade. Carter won narrow Senate approval in 1978 of a treaty to transfer the Panama Canal to the control of Panama despite critics who argued the waterway was vital to American security. He also completed negotiations on full U.S. ties with China. Carter created two new U.S. Cabinet departments -- education and energy. Amid high gas prices, he said America's "energy crisis" was "the moral equivalent of war" and urged the country to embrace conservation. "Ours is the most wasteful nation on earth," he told Americans in 1977. In 1979, Carter delivered what became known as his "malaise" speech to the nation, although he never used that word. "After listening to the American people I have been reminded again that all the legislation in the world can't fix what's wrong with America," he said in his televised address. "The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America." As president, the strait-laced Carter was embarrassed by the behavior of his hard-drinking younger brother, Billy Carter, who had boasted: "I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer." Jimmy Carter withstood a challenge from Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy for the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination but was politically diminished heading into his general election battle against a vigorous Republican adversary. Reagan, the conservative who projected an image of strength, kept Carter off balance during their debates before the November 1980 election. Reagan dismissively told Carter, "There you go again," when the Republican challenger felt the president had misrepresented Reagan's views during one debate. Carter lost the 1980 election to Reagan, who won 44 of the 50 states and amassed an Electoral College landslide. James Earl Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, one of four children of a farmer and shopkeeper. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946, served in the nuclear submarine program and left to manage the family peanut farming business. He married his wife, Rosalynn, in 1946, a union he called "the most important thing in my life." They had three sons and a daughter. Carter became a millionaire, a Georgia state legislator and Georgia's governor from 1971 to 1975. He mounted an underdog bid for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination, and out-hustled his rivals for the right to face Ford in the general election. With Walter Mondale as his vice presidential running mate, Carter was given a boost by a major Ford gaffe during one of their debates. Ford said that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and there never will be under a Ford administration," despite decades of just such domination. Carter edged Ford in the election, even though Ford actually won more states -- 27 to Carter's 23. Not all of Carter's post-presidential work was appreciated. Former President George W. Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, both Republicans, were said to have been displeased by Carter's freelance diplomacy in Iraq and elsewhere. In 2004, Carter called the Iraq war launched in 2003 by the younger Bush one of the most "gross and damaging mistakes our nation ever made." He called George W. Bush's administration "the worst in history" and said Vice President Dick Cheney was "a disaster for our country." In 2019, Carter questioned Republican Donald Trump's legitimacy as president, saying "he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." Trump responded by calling Carter "a terrible president." Carter also made trips to communist North Korea. A 1994 visit defused a nuclear crisis, as President Kim Il Sung agreed to freeze his nuclear program in exchange for resumed dialog with the United States. That led to a deal in which North Korea, in return for aid, promised not to restart its nuclear reactor or reprocess the plant's spent fuel. But Carter irked Democratic President Bill Clinton's administration by announcing the deal with North Korea's leader without first checking with Washington. In 2010, Carter won the release of an American sentenced to eight years hard labor for illegally entering North Korea. Carter wrote more than two dozen books, ranging from a presidential memoir to a children's book and poetry, as well as works about religious faith and diplomacy. His book "Faith: A Journey for All," was published in 2018.Indian Railways is taking significant steps towards enhancing the safety and efficiency of its operations by accelerating the deployment of the advanced Kavach 4.0 automatic train protection system. It is speeding up to deploy an advanced Kavach 4.0 - automatic train protection system across its key routes. Kavach 4.0 is an enhanced comprehensive, technology-driven solution developed by Indian Railways to prevent accidents and ensure the smooth operation of trains, providing an additional layer of safety and control, according to officials. According to a press release issued, all the locomotives where a lower version of Kavach was installed will be replaced with the upgraded Kavach 4.0. Over NF Railway approximately 1966 RKM of length from Malda Town to Dibrugarh have been identified for implementation of Kavach. The implementation of Kavach 4.0 by Indian Railways across its key routes is a broader initiative to modernize its infrastructure and improve safety standards. By leveraging technology such as Kavach 4.0, the connectivity system will ensure smoother operations, minimizing human error and most importantly preventing accidents. The Kavach 4.0 system is built upon several critical technological components, including Station Kavach, which receives information from Loco Kavach and signalling systems to guide the locomotive and RFID tags, which are installed along the tracks at regular intervals and signal point to monitor the train's location and direction. Over the past period, Indian Railways has been taking several steps to cut down train accidents. By rolling out Kavach 4.0, Indian Railways is committed to making rail travel even safer for passengers. This step is part of a larger plan to strengthen the railway network and boost safety measures across the rail network of the country. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA staff and is published from ANI)
Streamlined nationwide access to digital bonuses, MGM Rewards Points, Marriott Bonvoy Points, and more JERSEY CITY, N.J. , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, today announced a major enhancement to its customer experience by consolidating BetMGM Reward Points (BRPs) into a single account. In addition to users' cash balance, this feature enables BetMGM Rewards Points to travel with them across jurisdictions. Click here to download creative assets Streamlining BetMGM Rewards Points into a single account is the next phase of BetMGM's single, digital wallet. With single account, users have one set of login credentials and account settings, along with a single cash balance accessible in all states where BetMGM is available. In August, BetMGM became the first sports betting app to offer Nevada bettors seamless, nationwide connectivity through a single, digital wallet. Through operation and partnership with MGM Resorts, this innovative feature makes BetMGM the only legalized sports betting app that allows Nevada residents and visitors to wager in the state and carry their funds to BetMGM mobile markets across the United States. "We are committed to streamlining the loyalty experience for our players so they can enjoy the rewards they earn wherever they are in the U.S.," said Adam Greenblatt , BetMGM CEO. "The BetMGM Rewards Program showcases our key differentiators -- omnichannel play, the iconic hospitality and MGM Resorts International's entertainment, and partnerships including our alliance with Marriott Bonvoy. With every bet at the sportsbook and spin of the slot you are earning rewards that can be used online or in-person." Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Sportsbook, BetMGM Casino and BetMGM Poker. Highlights of the streamlined BetMGM Rewards include: BetMGM Rewards Points now travel with you in all single account markets ( Puerto Rico and Ontario not included). When a player creates an account in a new location, their BRP balance consolidates into one balance. Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Sportsbook, BetMGM Casino and BetMGM Poker. Players can redeem BetMGM Rewards Points earned through play in the Rewards Store and use them for odds boosts and Gametime credits. BRPs can also be redeemed at MGM Resorts International destinations, exchanged for Marriott Bonvoy Points, and more. BetMGM currently operates in 29 markets across North America including AZ, CO, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MS, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, SD, TN, VA, DC, WA, WV, WY as well as Ontario, Canada and Puerto Rico . As BetMGM continues to expand to new markets and introduces new features, responsible gaming education remains a key focus. BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry-leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM's mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM's already existing responsible gaming tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience. The BetMGM app is available for download on both iOS and Android and is accessible via desktop at http://www.betmgm.com. For more information and to explore our new features, follow @BetMGM on X or visit www.betmgm.com . Disclaimer Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US), Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). Subject to eligibility requirements. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. See BetMGM.com for Terms. US promotional offers not available in DC, Mississippi , New York , Nevada , Ontario , or Puerto Rico . About BetMGM BetMGM is a market-leading sports betting and gaming entertainment company, pioneering the online gaming industry. Born out of a partnership between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM ) and Entain Plc (LSE: ENT), BetMGM has exclusive access to all of MGM's U.S. land-based and online sports betting , major tournament poker, and online gaming businesses. Utilizing Entain's U.S.-licensed, state-of-the-art technology, BetMGM offers sports betting and online gaming via market-leading brands including BetMGM, Borgata Casino , Party Casino and Party Poker. Founded in 2018, BetMGM is headquartered in New Jersey . For more information, visit https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/ . SOURCE BetMGMMIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa doesn't want to take chances with his family's safety, so the Miami Dolphins’ star quarterback hired personal security when one of his cars was broken into about a year ago. "(It was) a little too close for my comfort with my family being in the house,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “So we got personal security to take care of all of that. When we're on the road, we've got someone with my wife, got someone also at the house, surveying the house.” Tagovailoa, speaking days after the home of Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow was broken into while the Bengals were playing a Monday night game at Dallas, also noted his security is armed, "so I hope that if you decide to go to my house, you think twice.” Burrow's home was the latest targeted in a string of burglaries of pro athletes' homes in the U.S., which included the homes of Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Mahomes' and Kelce's homes were broken into in October, prompting the NFL to issue a security alert to teams and the players' union warning that the houses of numerous pro athletes were “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," according to a memo previously obtained by The Associated Press. Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted. Tagovailoa's personal security has been in place since long before this string of break-ins. No one was injured in the Monday night break-in at Burrow's home, but it was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.’s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information, and the NBA later issued its own memo revealing that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. Tagovailoa, who just signed an extension with the Dolphins last offseason, said he doesn't necessarily feel like a target, "but I wouldn't want to play the chances with my family and kids sleeping, my wife sleeping, me sleeping at the house.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Boston College’s offense had its moments on Saturday, converting 6 of 13 third downs and amassing 296 passing yards. BC caught Nebraska’s aggressive, blitzing defense with a few screens, coach Matt Rhule said, and Eagles’ quarterback Grayson James kept plays alive with timely scrambles. But Rhule said the Huskers' defense found its footing in the red zone — inside NU’s own 20 — by twice denying the Eagles points when they reached the Nebraska 9 and Nebraska 2. The Huskers, coordinated by John Butler, were trying to make BC attempt field goals. Boston College only attempted four all season, and missed its fifth try early in Saturday’s game. From thereon, BC went for its fourth downs in NU territory. It did not successfully convert one. “They missed the first one, so we felt pretty good about our opportunity — hey, they’re not going to kick one, it’ll be four downs,” Rhule said. “We knew how to address it.” Eight of BC’s drives reached Nebraska territory, producing just 13 of BC’s 15 points. “We were having trouble kicking the ball, so I didn't want to kick it,” Boston College coach Bill O’Brien said. “We were in that area where you're either going to plus-50 and punt it — which we could have done, but we're not great at that — or tried to kick a 50-yard field goal, which we're definitely not ready to do that. “I went for it on 4th down and probably put the defense in a couple tough positions. Look, Nebraska did a good job. We had trouble running the ball, had trouble scoring in the red area. We moved the ball. I think at halftime we had the time of possession, we had yardage, but didn't have the score.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Global Construction Equipment Rental Software Market Size, Share and Forecast By Key Players-EZRentOut, ARM Software, InTempo, Wynne Systems, Point of Rental
Students who left high school without a diploma because they didn’t pass their MCAS exams will get a second chance under new state guidance issued this week. The retroactive guidance, released Dec. 11 by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, says former students “must be afforded a process” to earn their “competency determination” based on their successful completion of required classwork, not their MCAS scores. “District processes must allow former students who satisfactorily completed the relevant coursework to earn a CD,” the guidance stated. The guidance only applies to students who met all local graduation requirements but did not earn their competency determination because of the three 10th-grade MCAS tests previously required for a diploma. State education officials have said about 700 students a year don’t graduate solely because of MCAS. In November, voters passed Question 2 , which eliminated the requirement that public school students must achieve certain scores on their 10th-grade English language arts, math and science MCAS tests to achieve a diploma. MCAS tests will still be administered as usual and the state will continue to collect the same data. In the two months since the election, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been tasked with issuing guidance for school districts moving forward. Now that voters have had their say, advocates and opponents of Question 2 want the state to create a new statewide graduation requirement so that all public school students are held to core standards no matter where they’re enrolled. Until then, districts must develop their own competency determinations. That process, DESE says, should be aligned with the new statute language created by Question 2; be approved by the governing board of the district, shared with all students, families/guardians, and district stakeholders' and be publicly available in multiple languages. Districts should certify that students have “satisfactorily completed coursework aligned with state academic standards and curriculum frameworks in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and at least one Science discipline (Biology, Introductory Physics, Chemistry, or Technology/Engineering),” the agency said. In regards to former students, that means school districts will also have to develop their own processes for determining that students previously met the “competency determination” outside of their MCAS scores. MORE ON MCAS
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