A wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Star power Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. People are also reading... Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. Going bowling The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Hot seats Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Youth movement Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. Recruiting watch TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits. Be the first to know
AP News Summary at 1:28 p.m. EST
NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP). Shareholders who purchased shares of LLAP during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery. CONTACT US HERE: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/terran-orbital-corporation-loss-submission-form/?id=113430&from=3 CLASS PERIOD: August 15, 2023 to August 14, 2024 ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) it would take much longer than defendants had represented to investors and analysts for Terran to convert its contracts with its customers (collectively, “Customer Contracts”) into revenue and free cash flow; (ii) Terran did not have adequate liquidity to operate its business while waiting for the Customer Contracts to generate revenue and free cash flow; (iii) Terran had concealed the true scope and severity of its dire financial situation; and (iv) as a result of the foregoing, Terran’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. DEADLINE: November 26, 2024 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/terran-orbital-corporation-loss-submission-form/?id=113430&from=3 NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of LLAP during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is November 26, 2024. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case. WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is a nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: The Gross Law Firm 15 West 38th Street, 12th floor New York, NY, 10018 Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com Phone: (646) 453-8903Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors
Food Preservatives Market Growth Size and Detailed Insights With Company Profile (2024-2031) | Akzo Nobel N.V, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Cargill, Inc. 11-26-2024 07:10 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: DataM intelligence 4 Market Research LLP Food Preservatives Market The Food Preservatives Market report by DataM Intelligence provides insights into the latest trends and developments in the market. This report identifies the key growth opportunities in the market and provides recommendations for market participants to capitalize on these opportunities. Overall, the Food Preservatives market report is an essential resource for market participants who are looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the market and identify opportunities for growth. Download a Free sample PDF (Use Corporate email ID to Get Higher Priority) at: https://www.datamintelligence.com/download-sample/food-preservatives-market The Global "Food Preservatives Market" is expected to grow at a Promising CAGR during the forecast period (2024-2031). Food preservatives are substances added to food to prevent spoilage and extend its shelf life. Common food preservatives include salt, sugar, vinegar, and chemical additives like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. Competitive Landscape: The section also contains information related to the new product launches, mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, etc., to give a clear understanding about the competitive landscape prevailing in the global market. With an emphasis on strategies there have been several primary developments done by major companies such as Akzo Nobel N.V, Archer Daniels Midland Company, BASF SE, Cargill, Inc., Celanese Corporation, Corbion N.V., Galactic S.A., Kemin Industries, Inc., Koninklijke DSM N.V, Tate & Lyle Plc Get Customization in the report as per your requirements + Exclusive Bundle & Multi-User Discounts: https://www.datamintelligence.com/customize/food-preservatives-market Market Segments: The detailed segmentation offered in the report will help customers get a clear idea about the market segments and the factors that will drive segmental growth. The Food Preservatives market has been segmented By Type (Natural (Edible Oil, Rosemary Extract, Natamycin, Vinegar, Others), Synthetic (Propionates, Sorbates, Benzoates, Others)), By Function (Anti-microbial, Anti-oxidant, Others), By Application (Meat & Poultry, Bakery, Dairy, Beverages, Snacks, Others) Research Process: Both primary and secondary data sources have been used in the global Food Preservatives Market research report. During the research process, a wide range of industry-affecting factors are examined, including governmental regulations, market conditions, competitive levels, historical data, market situation, technological advancements, upcoming developments, in related businesses, as well as market volatility, prospects, potential barriers, and challenges. Regional Outline for Food Preservatives Market: ⇥ North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) ⇥ Europe (U.K., Italy, Germany, Russia, France, Spain, The Netherlands and Rest of Europe) ⇥ Asia-Pacific (India, Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia Rest of Asia Pacific) ⇥ South America (Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America) ⇥ Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., South Africa, Rest of Middle East & Africa) **The full version of the report includes an in-depth analysis of emerging players and startups, which will provide valuable insights into the evolving market landscape and key strategies being adopted** This Report Covers: ✔ Go-to-market Strategy. ✔ Neutral perspective on the market performance. ✔Development trends, competitive landscape analysis, supply side analysis, demand side analysis, year-on-year growth, competitive benchmarking, vendor identification, and other significant analysis, as well as development status. ✔Customized regional/country reports as per request and country level analysis. ✔ Potential & niche segments and regions exhibiting promising growth covered. ✔ Analysis of Market Size (historical and forecast), Total Addressable Market (TAM), Serviceable Available Market (SAM), Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM), Market Growth, Technological Trends, Market Share, Market Dynamics, Competitive Landscape and Major Players (Innovators, Start-ups, Laggard, and Pioneer). Chapter Outline: ⏩ Market Overview: It contains five chapters, as well as information about the research scope, major manufacturers covered, market segments, Food Preservatives market segments, study objectives, and years considered. ⏩ Market Landscape: The competition in the Global Food Preservatives Market is evaluated here in terms of value, turnover, revenues, and market share by organization, as well as market rate, competitive landscape, and recent developments, transaction, growth, sale, and market shares of top companies. ⏩ Companies Profiles: The global Food Preservatives market's leading players are studied based on sales, main products, gross profit margin, revenue, price, and growth production. ⏩ Market Outlook by Region: The report goes through gross margin, sales, income, supply, market share, CAGR, and market size by region in this segment. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America are among the regions and countries studied in depth in this study. ⏩ Market Segments: It contains the deep research study which interprets how different end-user/application/type segments contribute to the Food Preservatives Market. ⏩ Market Forecast: Production Side: In this part of the report, the authors have focused on production and production value forecast, key producers forecast, and production and production value forecast by type. ⏩ Research Findings: This section of the report showcases the findings and analysis of the report. ⏩ Conclusion: This portion of the report is the last section of the report where the conclusion of the research study is provided. Unlock Year-End Savings! Get Up to 30% Off: https://www.datamintelligence.com/buy-now-page?report=food-preservatives-market Frequently asked questions: ➠ What is the global sales value, production value, consumption value, import and export of Food Preservatives market? ➠ Who are the global key manufacturers of the Food Preservatives Industry? How is their operating situation (capacity, production, sales, price, cost, gross, and revenue)? ➠ What are the Food Preservatives market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Food Preservatives Industry? ➠ Which application/end-user or product type may seek incremental growth prospects? What is the market share of each type and application? ➠ What focused approach and constraints are holding the Food Preservatives market? ➠ What are the different sales, marketing, and distribution channels in the global industry? Contact Us - Company Name: DataM Intelligence Contact Person: Sai Kiran Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com Phone: +1 877 441 4866 Website: https://www.datamintelligence.com About Us - DataM Intelligence is a Market Research and Consulting firm that provides end-to-end business solutions to organizations from Research to Consulting. We, at DataM Intelligence, leverage our top trademark trends, insights and developments to emancipate swift and astute solutions to clients like you. We encompass a multitude of syndicate reports and customized reports with a robust methodology. Our research database features countless statistics and in-depth analyses across a wide range of 6300+ reports in 40+ domains creating business solutions for more than 200+ companies across 50+ countries; catering to the key business research needs that influence the growth trajectory of our vast clientele. This release was published on openPR.NEW YORK — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor, the maker of servers used in artificial intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure. Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday. Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged, fell 1.2%. Walmart, which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget. The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for the Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October’s lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. Choe writes for the Associated Press. AP b usiness w riters Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report .
“Barbenheimer” was a phenomenon impossible to manufacture. But, more than a year later, that hasn’t stopped people from trying to make “Glicked” — or even “Babyratu” — happen. The counterprogramming of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” in July 2023 hit a nerve culturally and had the receipts to back it up. Unlike so many things that begin as memes, it transcended its online beginnings. Instead of an either-or, the two movies ultimately complemented and boosted one another at the box office. This combination of images shows promotional art for "Gladiator II," left, and "Wicked." And ever since, moviegoers, marketers and meme makers have been trying to recreate that moment, searching the movie release schedule for odd mashups and sending candidates off into the social media void. Most attempts have fizzled (sorry, “Saw Patrol” ). This weekend is perhaps the closest approximation yet as the Broadway musical adaptation “Wicked” opens Friday against the chest-thumping sword-and-sandals epic “Gladiator II.” Two big studio releases (Universal and Paramount), with one-name titles, opposite tones and aesthetics and big blockbuster energy — it was already halfway there before the name game began: “Wickiator,” “Wadiator,” “Gladwick” and even the eyebrow raising “Gladicked” have all been suggested. “'Glicked' rolls off the tongue a little bit more,” actor Fred Hechinger said at the New York screening of “Gladiator II” this week. “I think we should all band around ‘Glicked.’ It gets too confusing if you have four or five different names for it.” As with “Barbenheimer," as reductive as it might seem, “Glicked” also has the male/female divide that make the fan art extra silly. One is pink and bright and awash in sparkles, tulle, Broadway bangers and brand tie-ins; The other is all sweat and sand, blood and bulging muscles. Both films topped Fandango’s most anticipated holiday movie survey, where 65% of respondents said that they were interested in the “Glicked” double feature. Theaters big and small are also pulling out the stops with movie-themed tie-ins. B&B Theaters will have Roman guards tearing tickets at some locations and Maximus popcorn tubs. Marcus Theaters is doing Oz photo ops and friendship bracelet-making. Alamo Drafthouse is leaning into the singalong aspect (beware, though, not all theaters are embracing this) and the punny drinks like “Defying Gravi-Tea.” This image released by Universal Pictures shows Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande in a scene from the film "Wicked." “Rather than it being in competition, I think they’re in conversation,” “Gladiator II” star Paul Mescal said. “This industry needs a shot in the arm. Those films gave it last year. We hope to do it this year.” And the hope is that audiences will flock to theaters to be part of this moment as well. It's a sorely needed influx of could-be blockbusters into a marketplace that's still at an 11% deficit from last year and down 27.2% from 2019, according to data from Comscore. “Competition is good for the marketplace. It’s good for consumers,” said Michael O'Leary, the president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners. “Having two great movies coming out at the same time is simply a multiplier effect.” “Glicked” is currently tracking for a combined North American debut in the $165 million range, with “Wicked” forecast to earn around $100 million (up from the $80 million estimates a few weeks ago) and “Gladiator II” pegged for the $65 million range. “Barbenheimer” shattered its projections last July. Going into that weekend, “Barbie” had been pegged for $90 million and “Oppenheimer” around $40 million. Ultimately, they brought in a combined $244 million in that first outing, and nearly $2.4 billion by the end of their runs. It’s possible “Glicked” will exceed expectations, too. And it has the advantage of another behemoth coming close behind: “Moana 2,” which opens just five days later on the Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday. “Glickedana” triple feature anyone? This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Pedro Pascal, left, and Paul Mescal in a scene from "Gladiator II." “These are 10 important days,” O'Leary said. “It’s going to show the moviegoing audience that there’s a lot of compelling stuff out there for them to see.” There are infinite caveats to the imperfect comparison to “Barbenheimer,” as well. “Wicked” is a “Part One.” Musicals carry their own baggage with moviegoers, even those based on wildly successful productions (ahem, “Cats”). “Gladiator II” got a head start and opened internationally last weekend. In fact, in the U.K. it played alongside “Paddington in Peru,” where that double was pegged “Gladdington.” “Gladiator” reviews, while positive, are a little more divided than the others. And neither directors Ridley Scott nor Jon M. Chu has the built-in box office cache that Christopher Nolan’s name alone carries at the moment. The new films also cost more than “Barbie” ($145 million) and “Oppenheimer” ($100 million). According to reports, “Gladiator II” had a $250 million price tag; “Wicked” reportedly cost $150 million to produce (and that does not include the cost of the second film, due next year). The narrative, though, has shifted away from “who will win the weekend.” Earlier this year, Chu told The Associated Press that he loves that this is a moment where “we can root for all movies all the time.” Close behind are a bevy of Christmas releases with double feature potential, but those feel a little more niche. There’s the remake of “Nosferatu,” the Nicole Kidman kink pic “Babygirl” and the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” The internet can’t even seem to decide on its angle for that batch of contenders, and none exactly screams blockbuster. Sometimes the joy is just in the game, however. Some are sticking with the one-name mashup (“Babyratu”); others are suggesting that the fact that two of the movies feature real-life exes (Timothée Chalamet and Lily-Rose Depp) is enough reason for a double feature. And getting people talking is half the battle. When in doubt, or lacking a catchy name, there’s always the default: “This is my Barbenheimer.” Associated Press journalist John Carucci and Film Writer Jake Coyle contributed reporting. Last summer, Malibu's iconic blonde faced off against Cillian Murphy and the hydrogen bomb in the unforgettable "Barbenheimer" double feature. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders financially are protected against potential injuries in Saturday's Alamo Bowl against BYU, according to Colorado coach Deion Sanders. The coach confirmed Monday that the school has taken out record disability insurance policies for the two players, who are both projected top-five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. "We happen to have two players that are probably gonna be the first two picks of the NFL Draft," Sanders said at a press conference in San Antonio. "And they have received, I think, the highest number of coverage that has ever been covered in college football. ... It far exceeds anyone (who) has ever played this game of college football." High-caliber players such as Sanders and Hunter typically skip non-playoff bowl games rather than risking injury and potential lost income as top draft selections. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft is in line for a four-year deal worth about $40 million. A spokesman for Colorado's athletic department confirmed to Front Office Sports that several Buffaloes players are insured for the game, but he did not provide specific costs or benefits. No. 23 Colorado (9-3) meets No. 17 BYU (10-2) at the Alamodome on Saturday. Shedeur Sanders has completed 74.2 percent of his passes this season for 3,926 yards with 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Hunter, the team's two-way star, won the Heisman earlier this month. He has 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a wide receiver and four interceptions, 11 passes defensed and 31 tackles as a cornerback. --Field Level MediaNone
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix's rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April's draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph's defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. "We've seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year," Elway said in a nod to Nix's first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. "I think the sky's the limit," Elway said, "and that's just going to continue to get better and better." In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan's Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos' GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. "You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don't and it's so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean's really good at that," Elway said. "I think the combination of Bo's maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,'" Elway added. "But also Vance Joseph's done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure's not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time." Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix's repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for "what they're doing offensively and how they're breaking Bo into the NFL because it's a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks." Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. "He's a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL," Nix said, adding, "most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It's just awesome that I'm even in that situation." Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called "way, way overdue." Elway suggested it's also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders "both great athletes." He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix, and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros — but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: "He's great at both. He's got great instincts, and that's what you need at corner." It's been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren's contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway's ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he'll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he's endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was "I couldn't pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Disability ministers will ‘champion’ inclusion and accessibility, says Timms
DEI Made the Democratic Party Less Diverse | OpinionSt. Petersburg council rejects immediate repair to Rays' ballpark roof after first giving approval
NEW YORK: Wall Street’s main indexes rose on Tuesday in a truncated trading session before Christmas, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq up for the third consecutive day, helped by gains in a handful of megacap and growth stocks. Broadcom and Nvidia provided the biggest boost to the indexes, advancing 2.7 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively, while Consumer Discretionary and Technology led gains among S&P 500 sectors. Global stocks mostly pushed higher on Tuesday in thin Christmas Eve trade as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally would sweep the market. “Santa Claus comes tonight, but if stock market participants are lucky he will start sprinkling some gifts today, which marks the official start to the ‘Santa Claus Rally’ period,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare. With few major catalysts, thin trading volumes expected in the final days of the year raised the prospect of choppy trading. Stock markets will at 1 pm ET on Tuesday and will be closed for Christmas on Wednesday. At 09.42 am the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 32.38 points, or 0.08 percent, to 42,939.33, the S&P 500 gained 21.68 points, or 0.36 percent, to 5,995.75, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 116.55 points, or 0.59 percent, to 19,881.43. “Investors are breathing a sigh of relief that maybe the hawkish rate cut last week combined with the softer PCE reading indicate that inflation is not that big of a re-emerging threat,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist of CFRA Research. “As a result, maybe this market will end up creeping higher between now and the end of the year.” After a stellar run to record highs following the November election, which sparked hopes of pro-business policies under US President-elect Donald Trump, Wall Street’s rally hit a bump this month as investors grappled with the prospect of higher interest rates in 2025. The US Federal Reserve eased borrowing costs for the third time this year last Wednesday, but signaled only two more 25-basis-point reductions next year, down from its September projection of four cuts, as policymakers weigh the possibility of Trump’s policies stoking inflation. Traders expect the Fed to leave rates in the range of 4 percent to 4.25 percent by the end of 2025, from between 3.75 percent and 4 percent about 10 days ago, according to CME’s FedWatch tool. US stock markets have traditionally fared well in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in the new year, with experts advancing a number of possible reasons as the festive holiday mood and purchasing ahead of the end of the tax year. “It looks like Santa Claus’s sleigh will be a little slow getting off the ground, but he would be the first to tell you that it isn’t how he starts, it’s how he finishes,” added O’Hare. There was little news to push trading in the half-day trading session in New York. Shares in American Airlines fell more than two percent as trading got away after a technical issue forced the world’s largest carrier to ground all its US flights for an hour during the busy year-end travel period. The airline and the Federal Aviation Administration have yet to describe the nature of the technical issue. In Europe, Paris’s CAC 40 closed higher in a pre-holiday short session while Frankfurt was closed all day. London also closed in the green, despite a week clouded by lacklustre economic data that is “stoking concerns about the UK’s slowing momentum heading into the new year,” said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. Hong Kong and Shanghai stock markets closed up over one percent, as China announced fresh fiscal measures to boost its ailing economy. On Tuesday, state media reported that China will raise its deficit in order to boost spending next year, as the world’s second-largest economy battles sluggish domestic consumption, a property crisis and soaring government debt. In company news, Honda shares closed more than 12 percent higher after the Japanese auto giant announced a buyback of up to 1.1 trillion yen ($7 billion), as it enters merger talks with struggling rival Nissan. The talks on collaboration between Honda and Nissan would create the world’s third-largest automaker, expanding development of EVs and self-driving tech. Honda’s CEO insisted it was not a bailout for Nissan, which announced thousands of job cuts last month and reported a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit. — AgenciesDolphins coach Mike McDaniel says he was surprised by reports of Shaq Barrett's unretirement planA wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals, who is retiring Dec. 31 after more than 45 years in law enforcement, first became involved in that career field as a teen. When he was a senior at Clear Lake High School, the town’s police department started a reserve program. Pals said that sparked his interest, and he joined the Clear Lake Police Department as a dispatcher in August 1978, just a few months after high school graduation. “I was hooked,” he said. “I’ve always just loved law enforcement. I’ve never regretted going into law enforcement. I have always liked my job everywhere I’ve worked. I haven’t always had all good days, but I’m not sure anyone does.” Pals worked for the Clear Lake Police Department until January 1980, when the Winona County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota hired him. He initially served as a dispatcher and then worked in the jail. After Pals and his wife, Julie, had their first child, they decided they wanted to move back to North Iowa. The Mason City Police Department hired him in the summer of 1982, where he remained until he was elected as Cerro Gordo County Sheriff in November 2000. Since then, Pals has been re-elected five times. He ran unopposed in each election except for the one in 2000. It has been an honor to the chosen by the public so many times to serve them, according to Pals. “I have never taken that for granted,” he said. Pals, 64, decided not to run for a sixth term. He wants to retire now rather than waiting another four years. He said his interactions with people and helping the public are what he will miss the most. “Initially when you are younger you get into it (law enforcement) for the action part of the job, but when you are in the job you realize that action is very, very, small part of it,” Pals said. “Most of it is just dealing with people. Once you learn to communicate with people, you can do great things.” The technology used in law enforcement has changed dramatically, according to Pals. When he was a dispatcher in the late 1970s and early 1980s and needed to do a license plate check, he would run a strip of computer tape, feed it back in and transfer it to Des Moines. He said this took a lot of time and sometimes the tape would break, causing even more delays. “Now we have computers in our patrol cars and have apps on our work cellphones that make our jobs better, safer and better for the community,” Pals said. One of the highlights of Pals’ career was the construction of the Cerro Gordo County Law Enforcement Center, which was made possible by the passage of a bond issue in 2005. The center houses a much-needed larger jail than the one that was located in the courthouse. The facility also includes office space for the sheriff’s department and a joint dispatch center with Mason City. “That was a lot of work, but it was worth every minute that we put into it,” Pals said. One of his favorite jobs in law enforcement was being a K-9 handler when he was with the Mason City Police Department. The dog, Rommel, was only a year and a half old when Pals got him and began training with him. Pals’ oldest son was about the same age at the time. Rommel was more than just a work partner, according to Pals. “He became a family dog to us.” Pals also enjoyed being the DARE officer from 1991 to 1996. He said it was a great opportunity to interact with youths and the school system. Pals said local officers “have helped lot of good people in some pretty bad times in their life.” However, “you always think of the cases that were never solved.” When he was still with the Mason City Police Department, Pals was involved with the investigation into the Gerald Best homicide case. Best, 50, was found stabbed to death on Dec. 30, 1999, in his apartment. The case remains unresolved to this day, which haunts Pals. Now that the state of Iowa has launched a cold case unit, he hopes Best’s killer can be identified. “It would give some closure to the family,” Pals said. Cerro Gordo County Chief Deputy Dave Hepperly was elected in November to succeed Pals as sheriff. Pals hired Hepperly, who was formerly with the Mason City Police Department, 23 years ago. Between the two agencies, Pals and Hepperly have worked together for 40 years. This has made the transition in leadership of the sheriff’s office easier, according to Pals. Hepperly said Pals is “just a good guy. He cares about people. He’s cared about his employees. It’s not always easy being the sheriff and being the last word on things, but he’s always tried to do it fairly.” Pals has always been active in the community, according to Hepperly. “He quickly endeared himself to a lot of people, not only in Mason City but all of North Iowa,” he said. Pals is not the only longtime member of the sheriff’s office retiring this month. Office manager Joleen Vanous, who was worked in the administrative department for 32 years, is also leaving Dec. 31. Deputy Cam Manson, who has been with Cerro Gordo County for 15 years and spent 10 years with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office before that, signed off from his final shift at 4 p.m. Dec. 18. Pals said one of the things he is looking forward to the most about retirement is not having to set his alarm clock anymore except for Saturday evenings so he can get to church on Sunday morning. He plans to volunteer in the community, and there’s always plenty to do at the acreage north of Clear Lake where he lives. Kevin and Julie Pals have two sons. Todd Pals lives in Mason City and Adam Pals lives in Arizona. The couple have five grandchildren, including three in Arizona, and they are looking forward to being able to see them more often. Arizona is a great place to visit, according to Pals. However, he and his wife, who is originally from Forest City, have no plans to move there. “I love North Iowa,” he said. “We aren’t going anywhere.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Guess which ASX All Ords stock is jumping 15% on big news
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) is urging retailers to stop selling Conor McGregor's stout and whiskey products after a civil court jury found him liable last week for the assault of Nikita Hand. Clíona Saidléar, RCNI executive director, said she believed the €250,000 damages awarded to Nikita Hand was a "drop in the ocean” for a man of McGregor's wealth. "The companies making money from his alcohol and other products need to look at whether they want to align themselves with a man found by a civil jury to have sexually assaulted a woman,” she said. "They need to stop promoting him and distance themselves... €250,000 won't dent his finances, but the public can play a role here in expressing disapproval for anyone that tries make money with a man who engaged in that despicable behaviour.” Proper No 12 whiskey — which he sold in 2023 but remains a spokesperson for — and his Forged Irish Stout products are stocked by supermarkets and off-licences. During the three-week civil case, McGregor posted Instagram pictures of himself with this Forged Irish Stout in a EuroSpar in the North. He said over six million cans have been sold. Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASAI) upheld a complaint that Forged Irish Stout breached advertising rules on sexualised content. In an Instagram post, there was "significant emphasis through the use of camera angles, on the female models' cleavages and bottoms, and in some cases solely on these areas”. The ASAI said there was no creative reason for this "other than to objectify the female models”. It found this was "an irresponsible manner in which to depict women”. Read more
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is to ask the Ministry of Finance to exempt the retrospective tax for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals of listed companies, as part of its moves to boost the sluggish domestic exchange. It also aims to push the Thai stock market as a listing hub for flagship businesses in sectors with the potential to grow, such as healthcare, data centres, and food and beverage. The Jump+ project will be launched next year to boost market capitalisation. SET president Asadej Kongsiri said during an interview with the Bangkok Post that listed companies are considering acquiring businesses outside the stock market, but they are concerned over potential negative consequences. "In the process of business expansion, there may be a merger along the way and sometimes the companies on the SET want to acquire non-listed peers," he said. Consequently, the SET is preparing to ask for support from the Ministry of Finance by avoiding retrospective tax collection for those businesses pursuing M&As. "That would help companies expand and grow to their goals faster without being afraid of having their accounting audited retrospectively," said Mr Asadej. These companies would grow, and that will allow the government to collect more tax revenue in the future. In turn, it would let more companies enter the official tax system, he added. JUMP+ PROJECT Mr Asadej revealed that the SET aims to increase the value of stocks and the market capitalisation of the Thai bourse through the Jump+ project, which is similar to a successful initiative by South Korea's stock exchange. Currently, there are more than 800 companies listed on the Thai bourse, with a market cap of roughly 17 trillion baht. Several companies have a large amount of assets and cash, with only a small portion of debt. Nonetheless, they do not have a plan to expand their business. "These companies are classified as having a lazy balance sheet, but they have growth potential," Mr Asadej noted. If a listed company has developed a business expansion plan and future investment, they will be able to increase their stock value, whether they grow in their current business or a new business. The Jump+ initiative is a growth acceleration platform designed to enhance the value creation journey of high-potential listed firms across the Thai capital market. Through this voluntary programme, the SET will empower listed companies by driving operational excellence, advancement in ESG (environmental, social and governance), and adoption of analytical tools and artificial intelligence (AI). Participants will gain access to advisory services and communication channels to enhance market visibility, along with benefits and incentives from the SET, government agencies and partners. The SET will also introduce a new index tracking the performance of successful Jump+ companies and provide analysis reports in partnership with the Investment Analysts Association to support their investment decisions. A group index, possibly called the SET Jump Plus Index, would be set up if a large number of companies participated in the programme, noted Mr Asadej, adding that this initiative would be implemented from the first half of 2025. LISTING HUB According to the president, the SET aims to be a listing hub for flagship Thai businesses, or industries that have strengths and high growth potential, and that are in investment trends. Target businesses include healthcare, wellness, data and cloud centres, and electronic parts. "We are preparing to meet with relevant agencies, including the Board of Investment, the Finance Ministry, and foreign embassies to help attract companies from all over the world to invest in Thailand," Mr Asadej said. "This is a long-term plan that may not be completed in my term. But it must be started to put the Thai stock market in the spotlight and increase the bourse's potential in the long term." Additionally, information spreads through social media and various other channels very quickly nowadays. They contain both the truth and untruths. Therefore, proper and effective communication and warnings provided to investors must be carried out more quickly. He added that the SET is considering the use of AI to help analyse small stocks to provide investors with better information for their investment decisions. One of the pain points nowadays is that investors can only see analysis of large stocks. It is not worth it for brokers to analyse smaller stocks that investors do not trade often. "Now there is technology that can do it. It is a basic analysis that can be translated into many languages for investors to choose from. It helps them access investment information more comprehensively," Mr Asadej said. RISK FACTORS Mr Asadej said that US-China trade is an external factor that could have implications for the Thai stock market in terms of both opportunities and risks. During the first Donald Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, there were US$130 trillion worth of manufacturing relocations from China to the rest of Asia, of which only 10% was captured by Thailand. Vietnam attracted a significant portion due to various factors such as its natural resources and a young workforce whose skill sets were better than that of the Thai population. When Trump returns to the White House next month, Thailand should adjust itself to be capable of seizing the opportunities, including manufacturing relations that are better than during the first Trump administration, said Mr Asadej. Another risk factor is that Trump will increase import taxes on countries that have a trade surplus with the US. Among the members of Asean, Thailand ranks second in terms of its trade surplus with the US and 12th within Asia. "We must closely monitor the US tax policies under the Trump government on countries where China has production bases, including Thailand," Mr Asadej said. As for domestic factors, Mr Asadej believes the political situation is more stable now and the economy is bouncing back thanks to the recovery in tourism to pre-pandemic levels and the government's faster budget disbursement. However, the energy and petrochemical groups, which are heavyweight stocks on the SET, are being pressured by the global economic slowdown while the high level of supply in the market has affected the profits of many companies. Those factors have resulted in a decrease in the total profits of listed firms on the SET overall. In future, it will be necessary to increase contributions from other industries on the SET to balance that of the energy sector, Mr Asadej added.49ers claim RB Israel Abanikanda off waivers from Jets
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