DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A high-speed passenger train collided with a fire truck at a crossing Saturday morning in Florida, injuring three firefighters and at least a dozen train passengers, authorities said. The crash happened at 10:45 a.m. in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths. Railroad safety has been a concern since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, spilling toxic chemicals that caught fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads have not made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. Earlier this month the two operators of a Union Pacific train were killed after it collided with a semitrailer truck that was blocking a crossing in the small West Texas town of Pecos. Three other people were injured, and the local Chamber of Commerce building was damaged.Sorority and two fraternity members face charges after student died at party
Canadian freestyle skier star Mikael Kingsbury is juggling both moguls and fatherhood. The 32-year-old Olympic and world champion from Deux-Montagnes, Que., opens his World Cup season Saturday in Ruka, Finland, with partner Laurence Mongeon and their infant son Henrik in tow. Henrik was born Aug. 25. "It changes your life, that's for sure," Kingsbury said Tuesday from Ruka in a media conference call. "Get used to waking up in the middle of the night, but at the same time, it is the most beautiful thing in the world. "It brings a beautiful balance to my career." While Kingsbury acknowledges there are great hockey players named Henrik, he says the inspiration for the name was his niece liking a boy named Henrik in her kindergarten class. "I always liked the name anyway," Kingsbury said. "Laurence and I agree it fits his face. "I didn't ski as much this summer because I wanted to be home and I wanted to be present. We're five weeks on the road for the start of this season, so I couldn't see myself doing five weeks without seeing my kid. "I would have missed my family too much, so I brought them on the road for three weeks." Regarded as the most dominant moguls skier of all time, the Canadian achieved another significant milestone last season when he surpassed Swedish alpine skier Ingemar Stenmark for the most all-time World Cup victories by a male athlete in any ski discipline. Kingsbury embarks on his 16th World Cup season with a career 90 victories. He's finished in the medals in 129 of 151 career World Cup starts. But while Kingsbury claimed last season's dual moguls crown, Japan's Ikuma Horishima challenged Kingsbury's reign by claiming his first crystal globe in moguls. "The mindset is still the same. The goals are still the same," Kingsbury said. "Coming into the season, I want to focus on one race at a time. That's how you get to a crystal globe. "The main focus is being consistent, staying healthy to start the season, try to get the momentum of the start and stay healthy until the end of this season. "I usually start strong, and I can finish very strong, and that's how you win crystal globes." Kingsbury won an Olympic moguls gold medal in 2018 and silver in both 2014 and 2022. Dual moguls makes its Olympic debut in 2026 in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Kingsbury has swept both moguls and dual moguls gold medals in three straight world championships. He'll attempt the double a fourth time March 18-21 in Engadin, Switzerland. "Henrik and my family now are my priority and skiing comes second, but I know I can still win," Kingsbury said. "It's going to be different. My family is going to be home and it might be a bit more difficult, but at the same time I see a lot of positive in being a dad. I feel way more relaxed on the mountain." One secret to Kingsbury's success has been his durability. His only major injury hiccup so far was fracturing two vertebrae in his back training in Ruka ahead of the 2020-21 season. Kingsbury sat out the first three World Cups and won the fourth upon return to action. He's closer to the end of his career than the beginning, so quality training, not quantity, is important to him. "As I get older, I cannot do too much, but I've got to do the right amount and make sure I can peak in 2026," he explained. "The challenge is going to be the best dad I can and the best skier I can and try to manage in the middle. It's never going to be perfect, but I'm to do as best as I can and make sure I'm ready in 2026. "I feel fortunate for all the team (members) that I have around me, teammates, and all the coaches and staff that are working with me. They're going to make my life easy when it's going to be difficult." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Donna Spencer, The Canadian PressIn the bustling world of the stock market, it’s easy for smaller names to be overshadowed by giants. Yet ( ) and ( ) are quietly building strong cases for themselves as underrated Canadian stocks with the potential for significant rallies. These two Canadian stocks operate in vastly different industries. Yet they share the common traits of innovation, strategic growth, and value for investors seeking promising opportunities. The companies OpenText, a global leader in information management, is proving that it’s more than just a tech company. It’s an essential partner for businesses navigating the complexities of data, cybersecurity, and (AI). In its most recent quarter, OpenText reported revenues of $1.5 billion, marking a 16% year-over-year increase. This impressive growth stems from strong demand for its AI-integrated information management solutions. Profitability has also improved, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) climbing 27% to $464 million and an EBITDA margin of 32%. These numbers reflect a company that’s not only growing but also becoming more efficient in its operations. Meanwhile, WELL Health Technologies is shaking up the healthcare industry with its digital-first approach. In the second quarter of 2024, WELL achieved record revenues of $243.1 million, a staggering 42% increase year-over-year. This growth was driven by strategic acquisitions and organic expansion. This contributed an impressive 21% of the total. WELL’s commitment to omni-channel patient services of combining in-person and digital healthcare position it as a key player in the rapidly evolving healthcare space. Future outlook Looking to the future, OpenText is making strategic moves to ensure sustained growth, particularly in the cloud and AI sectors. The Canadian stock has set an ambitious target of 2–5% cloud revenue growth this fiscal year, with aspirations of reaching 7–9% in subsequent years. A major part of this growth strategy is its Aviator platform. This leverages AI to streamline and enhance information management. Aviator is already gaining traction with enterprise clients, showcasing OpenText’s ability to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology into its existing product lines. WELL Health, on the other hand, is actively expanding its footprint in the digital sector. The company has announced plans to acquire INLIV, a Calgary-based provider of premium primary care and executive health services. This acquisition aligns with WELL’s strategy to diversify its offerings and strengthen its geographic reach. With the healthcare industry increasingly shifting toward digital solutions, WELL is well-positioned to capture market share and deliver consistent growth. Still valuable From a valuation perspective, both stocks offer attractive entry points. OpenText trades at a forward price/earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.2, significantly lower than many of its tech peers – thus suggesting substantial upside potential as the company continues to optimize its operations and expand its cloud offerings. WELL Health, with a market cap of approximately $1.3 billion, is trading below its average 12-month price target of $7.25, signalling room for growth as its acquisitions and organic initiatives bear fruit. Industry trends also play a crucial role in the narratives of these two Canadian stocks. OpenText operates in the information management sector. This is experiencing increasing demand for solutions that can handle vast amounts of data securely and efficiently. The demand is only expected to grow as businesses prioritize digital transformation. Similarly, WELL Health is riding the wave of the digital healthcare revolution, with telehealth and omni-channel patient care becoming cornerstones of modern healthcare delivery. Bottom line For investors, OpenText and WELL Health represent two sides of the same coin: steady, strategic growth with an eye on the future. OpenText offers exposure to the tech sector with a focus on cloud and AI. This makes it an appealing option for those who missed the boat on high-flyers. Meanwhile, WELL provides a way to invest in the burgeoning digital healthcare industry – one that is poised for continued expansion as technology reshapes the way we approach health services. OpenText and WELL Health Technologies are two underrated Canadian stocks that deserve a closer look. The strong financial performances, forward-looking strategies, and alignment with industry trends make each compelling choices for investors seeking value and growth. Whether you’re drawn to tech or healthcare, these two companies offer a promising mix of stability and upside that’s hard to ignore.
Forget The iPhone 16 Pro, Skip The Pixel 9 Pro, This Is My Smartphone Of 2024IN the gloom of a Manhattan dawn, the hooded killer emerged from behind a parked car, raised a handgun and fired into the health executive’s back. CCTV footage showed the murderer sauntering away after slaying dad-of-two Brian Thompson with the glacial cool of a seasoned underworld hitman. Yet when cops finally caught up with the man they believe to be the assassin, they instead found a gifted Ivy League student with only a $100 trespass fine against his name. Suspect Luigi Mangione , 26, hails from a dynasty of East Coast grandees who own country clubs and a conservative-leaning radio station. Tanned, with a muscular physique and chiselled good looks which have earned him the nickname “the hot assassin”, Mangione is heir to a fortune in a future that seemed golden. Classmates remember a well-liked and intelligent youngster who played football for the school team and was a decent cross country runner. READ MORE ON Luigi Mangione Freddie Leatherbury, 26, a former classmate at Mangione’s private, all-boys high school in Baltimore, said: “He was very smart, a pretty big math guy, really well read and quite well liked, to be honest. I don’t have any bad memories of him.” Last night New York Sheriff deputies had to grab Mangione by the neck to control him as they lead their suspect into Blair County Courthouse. The tech graduate screamed: “It’s completely out of touch and an insult to the intelligence of the American people and their lived experience.” So what would drive this apparently clean-cut young American immersed in wealth and privilege to allegedly assassinate a man he had apparently never met? Most read in The Sun Mangione’s social media seems to offer a window into what detectives believe is a murderous mind. A Twitter /X account in his name has a photo above his profile of an X-ray of a spinal fusion, with screws through bones. ‘Model student’ And Mangione appears to have left an online review of US “Unabomber” terrorist Theodore Kaczynski ’s book, saying: “When communication fails, violence is necessary.” He also took an interest in magic mushrooms. One book he recommended on bookworm site Goodreads was How To Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics. This deeply sinister case began to unfurl on December 2 when Brian Thompson — CEO of medical insurer UnitedHealthcare — travelled from his home in Minnesota to New York for a company conference. Known as BT, Thompson, 50, had risen up the corporate ranks after a childhood in the small Midwest farming town of Jewell, Iowa . The son of a grain elevator operator, he was a gifted high school pupil who topped his class at his home state’s university. Heather Holm, superintendent of the South Hamilton Community School District said: “He was a model student.” His glittering academic record would lead to a career in accountancy before becoming CEO of UnitedHealthcare — the largest health insurer in the US. Steve Nelson, a former executive at the firm, said of Thompson: “He was the smartest guy in the room, but somehow not in an annoying way.” Under Brian’s helm, UnitedHealthcare had revenues of around £220billion last year and provided health coverage for more than 50 million in America’s for-profit system. Yet the company has faced criticism over denying policyholders’ claims. Earlier this year, 11 protesters were arrested outside the firm’s Minnesota headquarters protesting over alleged improper insurance denials. On December 4, at 6.45am, Brian strolled towards the Hilton Hotel close to New York’s famous Times Square where he was due to give a talk to investors and analysts. Emerging from the shadows, a masked figure in black raised a 9mm handgun with a silencer and unleashed a fatal volley of shots. The murderer escaped on an ebike via nearby Central Park. Three bullet casings found at the crime scene were engraved with the words “deny” “depose” and “defend”. They echoed the phrase “delay, deny, defend” used to describe allegations levelled at insurers who avoid payouts. Cops scoured CCTV while police dogs , drones and divers searched Central Park and its lake. Detectives were hopeful of retrieving DNA from a water bottle discarded at the murder scene. Police managed to retrieve CCTV images of the suspect — one when he removed his mask while flirting with a receptionist at a Manhattan hostel — and another from inside a cab. We just didn’t even think twice about it. We knew that was our guy They showed a young man with dark eyebrows and lean, angular face. For all the police’s forensic work, it was a tip off from the public that led them to arrest Mangione after allegedly five days on the run. Rookie cop Tyler Frye — on the beat for six months — was called to a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania by a staff member. Frye said: “We just didn’t even think twice about it. We knew that was our guy.” Officers say they discovered Mangione with fake ID, a gun similar to the one seen in CCTV footage of the killing and a manifesto lambasting the healthcare industry. The 262-word handwritten note condemned firms that “continue to abuse our country for immense profit because the American public has allowed them to get away with it.” Mangione’s note added: “To save you a lengthy investigation , I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone. "These parasites had it coming. I do apologize for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done.” The firearm that Mangione was allegedly carrying was an unlicensed “ghost gun”, possibly produced by a 3D printer. On Monday he was charged with murder. The events this week are a lifetime away from Mangione’s childhood in Maryland. Brought up in a quiet cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Baltimore, his Italian-American family are well-known in the community. Grandfather Nicholas Mangione Sr, the son of Sicilian immigrants, worked in real estate, developing a 1,000-acre golf club. He also owned two hotels , seven nursing homes and two talk radio shows. ‘He is no hero’ The suspect’s father Louis, 71, owns a nursing home company and his mother Kathleen, 60, runs a boutique travel business . The suspect has two elder sisters, MariaSanta, 34, a doctor, and Lucia, 32, who is an artist. His cousin Nino Mangione, 37, is a Republican Maryland lawmaker. Thomas J. Maronick Jr, a lawyer and radio host who knows the family, said Luigi Mangione was “just the last person you would suspect.” To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone He added: “It is just such a well-respected family and such a prominent family in Baltimore County.” Mangione graduated from Baltimore’s prestigious Gilman School with the highest grades of his year. In his 2016 graduation speech, he described his class as “coming up with new ideas and challenging the world around it.” He politely thanked parents in the audience for sending him and his classmates to the school, which he described as “far from a small financial investment.” Tuition fees are around £30,000 a year. A tech geek, Magione went on to the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania to study computer science. After college, he worked for or had internships with several tech companies. In 2022, Magione had set up home in a “co-living” space in Honolulu, Hawaii, called Surfbreak that caters to remote workers. Its founder RJ Martin said: “We look for people who are looking to give back. And he fit the bill .” RJ added that Mangione was suffering from a painful back problem that meant it “wasn’t possible” for him to have sex . Mangione left Hawaii after six months to return to the East Coast, telling RJ he was planning to see his doctor. The alleged assassin would return to Hawaii in summer of 2023. In August of that year, RJ sent Mangione a text asking how he was doing. In reply he sent back pictures of his back surgery. RJ revealed: “It looked heinous, with just giant screws going into his spine.” Asked how he was feeling, Mangione replied: “So, long story.” The pair last communicated in April, after which RJ’s texts remained unanswered. A social media post for Mangione from another friend in October said: “Nobody has heard from you in months.” His family reported him missing in November. A star is born Meanwhile, Mangione’s Good Reads had also plugged a book called, Crooked: Outwitting The Back Pain Industry And Getting On The Road To Recovery. Detectives will examine whether the physical and mental anguish wracking the young man led him to kill an innocent father. Astonishingly, some have treated the alleged cold-blooded killer as an anti-capitalist champion. British actress Jameela Jamil , 38, wrote on Instagram beneath images of Mangione, including one of him hiking shirtless: “A star is born.” Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro insisted: “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this: He is no hero. READ MORE SUN STORIES “I understand people have real frustration with our healthcare system, and I have worked to address that throughout my career. “But I have no tolerance, nor should anyone, for one man using an illegal ghost gun to murder someone because he thinks his opinion matters most.” BRIAN Thompson, the 50-year-old CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death in Manhattan in an execution-like killing. Here is everything we know about Thompson's murder so far. Monday, December 2 - Thompson travels from his home in Minnesota to New York City for an investor conference in Midtown Manhattan. Wednesday, December 4, 6:45 am - Thompson walks from his hotel across the street to the New York Hilton Midtown and is murdered by a masked shooter . The execution was caught on surveillance, and the suspect was seen biking away toward Central Park. Cops spark a citywide search for the assassin. 11:30 am - Cops released disturbing images of the execution, offered a reward for information, and made a desperate plea for New Yorkers to keep their eyes out. 12:00 pm - Thompson's estranged wife Paulette revealed her husband had been threatened before he was shot. 2:45 pm - Cops released more eerie images of the suspect ordering at Starbucks that partially revealed his face. The U.S. Sun confirmed the coffee shop was just two blocks away from the shooting, but it's unclear when he stopped by. December 5, 6 am - Reports claim the words "deny," "dispose," and "defend" were engraved on live rounds and shell casings left behind by the assassin. These words echo the book Delay, Deny, Defend, which is about the failings of the healthcare industry. The author of the book had no comment on the reports. 8 am - Cops raid a hostel in the Upper West Side of New York City where the suspect is said to have stayed. It's believed he wore a mask for most of the time he was there. 11 am - A person of interest in Thompson's murder is pictured . He's wearing a hood in the photo, but his full face could be seen breaking into a beaming grin. Still, no arrests have been made in the investigation. Afternoon - Law enforcement confirms the suspect arrived in New York City on a Greyhound bus on November 24. It's also confirmed that the suspect dropped a burner cell phone near the scene of the shooting. December 6, 3 pm - Police announce they believe the killer has left New York City via interstate bus. They release more surveillance footage that shows him taking a taxi to the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. December 9 - Luigi Mangione, 26, is arrested as a "strong person of interest" at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He was carrying a three-page manifesto, fake IDs, and a gun similar to the one used in Thompson's murder.
SecureAuth Acquires SessionGuardian, Adds its Biometric Continuous Identity Assurance to Enhance Protection of Sensitive Information in a Remote-First WorldLOS ANGELES (AP) — The new chief of the Los Angeles police force said his department is working with consulate offices for Mexico and other Central American countries to draft a plan to protect immigrants ahead of the Trump administration’s plans for mass deportations. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jim McDonnell said his tenure as police chief will be marked by high engagement with the community, adding that all of society must participate in the criminal justice system to create a safe place to live. A veteran police officer and former sheriff, McDonnell was selected by Mayor Karen Bass in October and sworn in last month . The LAPD does not stop people or take action for any reason related to immigration status, and it doesn’t enforce immigration laws, a practice that has been in place for 45 years, said McDonnell, referring to a department policy known as Special Order 40 enacted in 1979. Any immigration enforcement would be “undercutting our primary mission, which is to be able to build public trust to work with every member of all of our communities, to be able to have hope that people will come forward if they were a victim of crime, a witness to a crime,” McDonnell said. The department plans to work with the consulates to create and circulate a video explaining their policies to the immigrant community and alleviating their concerns. During the last Trump administration, the U.S. Justice Department attempted to withhold funding from sanctuary cities and favor cities that pledged to cooperate with immigration enforcement for federal grants. McDonnell said the department is “cognizant of what’s at stake” –- with a majority of the LAPD budget going toward personnel, the police force often relies on grants to provide for equipment and tools. He will be working with national police groups like the Major Cities Chiefs Association to advocate for law enforcement needs with the Trump administration, McDonnell said. Along with engaging the immigrant community, McDonnell said he hopes to seek a greater level of engagement from communities that traditionally haven’t felt comfortable doing so, “just human-to-human, going out and asking for help.” He also vows to build back the police force from currently just under 9,000 sworn officers to a baseline of 10,000, ideally even exceeding that number. While recent recruitment class size numbers have been in the mid-30s, he hopes to double that to 60, McDonnell said. The additional officers will be crucial as Los Angeles prepares to play host to a number of events that will draw visitors from all over the world, including the FIFA World Cup in 2026, Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028. One additional tool in the law enforcement arsenal is the recent passage of Proposition 36 , which reverted to a previous law making some shoplifting and drug offenses felonies again. While it will mainly affect prosecutors, McDonnell said it will make arrests for those types of crimes “more meaningful” and give local businesses more safety and comfort, preventing them from having to shut down their stores and leave the community. “As we move forward, we do so judiciously so that we use the tools that are available to us,” McDonnell said. Jaimie Ding, The Associated Press
The more the merrier, which is what we’re seeing with the 12-team College Football Playoff. This has been a wild season. Interest must be at an all-time high. The 16-team playoff is right around the corner. Giving more teams chances to win a championship is what it’s all about. The Eagle’s 24-mammal Prognosticator Panel is no different. Five pickers are within five picks of the leader, retired air traffic controller Thomas Wells. I can remember when The Eagle’s picking panel had only 10 pickers, mostly from in-house. When they gave yours truly control, I increased the panelists to 16, allowing for more participation from readers and prominent folks around town. I also added my dog, with the key to finish ahead of the dog. Heck, back in the day, we had “I beat the Dog” T-shirts. The response was good, so we found a way to expand the panel to 18, to 21 and its current format. Winning was great, but if you just made the top row, you felt you accomplished something. Heck, just picking games makes you a winner. This year the guest panelists were led by graduates of Texas A&M and Texas in our salute to the return of the Lone Star Showdown rivalry in football, thus we divided the panel into four teams with Team Texas A&M and Team Texas leading the way. After making 180 grueling picks it’s dead even with Team Texas tied for the lead with Team Z, which includes graduates from Baylor, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Mississippi State, Texas Tech and Thomas, a devoted fan of Ole Miss. The team concept allows for more mammals to be in title contention this late in the season, but it comes with a price. This Prog Panel will be the first to pick for 16 weeks, because the regular season had two byes and we normally don’t pick championship week, since the Aggies haven’t been in a conference championship since 1998. But we thought we’d honor our Longhorn graduates on the panel, since we would have picked this week had A&M won. And let’s big honest, with college football interest at an all-time high our readers deserve another week of Prog before the grand finish of state high school football championships and the bowl games. Besides, Eagle managing editor Rick Weegman and I need 20 more picks to try and catch Thomas. “This has been one of the longest picking years ever,” said SportsTalk’s Chip Howard, a nine-time champ. “It’s obvious that it has favored those that know very little about the sport.” My dog, Chester, basically said the same thing. It’s been a grind. He was on the top row for several weeks and is now just a pick out of the cellar. He’s often beat down. I’ve often caught him crying when I come home, but it’s his fault, I’ve told him time and time to stay off social media. Those dog-based websites are worse than the team-based ones. It was a good week for the Texas graduates as Team Texas went 80-40, picking up 13 picks. What a comeback. They were feeling it, too. “Last week, I said, ‘I’m thinking my team is going to make up some ground in this week’s prediction,’” said Doug Wunneburger, a professor in the Texas A&M Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning Department in the College of Architecture who moved within three picks of regaining the lead. Amy Vance, who works in the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, and Clay Falls, Bryan ISD media and community relations director, are both in the bottom row, but had stellar weeks in helping Team Texas. “The Longhorn defense does it again!” Amy said. “WOW! The Horns pick up right where they left off 13 years ago — on top! Woo Hoo! 77-37-5. The Aggies would have to win the next 40 games to tie our record. Ain’t gonna happen.” She thinks some of that Longhorn magic is rubbing off on SMU, which plays Clemson for the Atlantic Coast Conference title. “Having lived in Dallas for 20 years, it is nice to see SMU in the mix again,” she said. “Go Mustangs!” Clay went 15-5 last week. “As I predicted last week, the Horns won by 10,” Clay said. “It was a fun game but that pick-six by Will Lee and that blocked punt sure made me nervous. It’s such a great rivalry game. I fully expect the Aggies to have bragging rights next year or two. It’s going to go back and forth every few years. Glad to have the in-state matchup back.” You gotta give Clay props, he’s hooking with the horns, but he also knows where he works and lives. A pair of former Eagle publishers, Donnis Baggett and Crystal Dupre, who are both two-time Prog champs, had solid weeks in helping Team Z into the lead. “Whew! It’s been an up-and-down season, hasn’t it?” said Donnis, who is with the Lucky B Ranch and had some luck. “Here’s to some great playoff games to watch, a tight field among the Prog teams at the finish line, and a merry Christmas to all.” Crystal, who is typically on the top row every year, went 15-5 last week to escape the bottom row. “At least I got off the bottom row before heading into bowl games!” said Crystal, Finis Welch Foundation development director. “Small victories count this year.” The Houston Chronicle’s Brett Zwerneman, another two-time champ, went 14-6 to not only escape the cellar, but help lead the way for Team Z. “In an effort to climb back in the cellar I turned my picks this week over to my 15-year-old son Will, a sophomore at Bryan High, who told me I had brought ‘shame to the family name’ this fall with my picks,” Z-Man said. “Let’s see if this burgeoning writer for Bryan's "The Norseman" can do any better.” Retired A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair is ecstatic to be on Team Z. He’s good at spelling and pronouncing letters. “It’s all about Team Z as we come from last to first,” Gary said. “Now, we all want the individual championship, but it is about the six of us — Steve, Donnis, Thomas, Crystal, Z-Man and your Coach Gary. Protect the lead, win at all cost and lunch with confetti at Margie’s Downtown Bryan on Coach Blair. Best old-style burger in BCS. That will help us forget about the Bevo loss until next year.” Wow. Gary buying for his team? I’m entering the transfer portal, which opens Monday. Team Media is in last place in part because of Chester (don’t ask him about it the next time you see us walking in the neighborhood). Louie Belina of the Louie Belina Show & ZONE program director, who finished on the top row last year in his rookie season, has been loitering around the bottom row this year. He was one of five pickers to go 9-11. Louie’s picking slipped this year, but not his wit. “I apologize on behalf of me (and the dog since he really can’t speak) for destroying all hopes and dreams of the media team not finishing last,” Louie said. “I am at least consistent, started awful and finishing awful. I am taking Army over Tulane and it does not matter who they would play. America. The college football selection committee makes the 3 Stooges look like a Mensa meeting. Always take Incarnate Word, always. Georgia may not be special this year, but they own Texas. Crummiest Game of the Year: Jaguars and Titans — everyone who watches loses. Happy Holidays.” Zwernemann Flooring’s Scott Raisor, who is a former champ of SportsTalk’s Friday’s Fearless Football Forecast contest, is hanging onto the top row with a slim chance of climbing over seven folks. “Sometimes it’s best not to say anything ... let my picks speak for themselves,” Scott said. Scott must have been the guy calling the fourth-and-1 plays for A&M. Bryan Broadcasting Bill Hicks helped Team Texas move into the lead with a 15-5 record that got a video review assist. Bill was originally credited with a 14-6 week, but yours truly made a mistake. We double-check all picks before appearing in print, but that one slipped by us. It was huge, though, not only for Team Texas, but he picked Franklin to beat Hitchcock. That’s the one I messed up. We didn’t want the folks in Booger County getting mad at Broadcast Bill. The games High school: Franklin vs. Columbus, Lexington vs. Tidehaven, Grapeland vs. Bremond, Brazos Christian vs. Dallas First Baptist, Angleton vs. La Porte College: Western Kentucky at Jacksonville State, UNLV at Boise State, Tulane at Army, Iowa State vs. Arizona State, Ohio vs. Miami (Ohio), Georgia vs. Texas, Marshall at Louisiana-Lafayette, Oregon vs. Penn State, Clemson vs. SMU. Crummy Game of the Week: FCS playoffs: Villanova (10-3) at Incarnate Word (10-2) NFL: Seattle at Arizona, Chicago at San Francisco, L.A. Chargers at Kansas City, Jacksonville at Tennessee, Cincinnati at DallasTrying to fit in routines around work can be tricky, especially for women. New research from Vitality’s ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report finds that eight in 10 women under 50 say their demanding work schedules are holding them back from being active. As a result, a quarter of women exercise less than once a week (25%), and over half of women exercise less than they used to (52%). Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, in partnership with Vitality, is launching Walk Out to Work Out, a new initiative encouraging women to reclaim time during their busy working days to stay active. Jessica Ennis-Hill has shared a few tips to help women fit in exercise around their working day (Image: Vitality) Additionally, she has shared some top tips on how to fit some exercise in during the working day. The full ‘Active women, healthy lives’ report can be found on the website here . 1. Incorporate Exercise ‘Snacks’ Jessica shared: "As a busy mum and business owner, I know how challenging it can be to fit in long workouts. That’s why I swear by short bursts of activity—what I call "exercise snacks." "Whether it’s a 5-minute stretch between meetings or a quick walk to clear your mind, these small moments can really add up and keep you feeling active without disrupting your day. 2. Walk and Talk Jessica explained: "When I need to take calls or brainstorm ideas, I often head out for a walk with my dog while doing it – ticking off two things I have to do. I find it not only helps me stay active but also boosts my creativity and focus. "Turn phone calls or virtual meetings into walking meetings where possible. It’s a simple way to add movement while staying productive." 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Reclaim Your Lunch Break "As someone who’s juggled intense schedules, I’ve learned the importance of protecting my lunch break," Jessica said. "I use part of it for physical activity, whether it’s a quick workout, a jog, or a calming walk. "If you feel like your lunch break has disappeared into your workday, speak to your employer about how you can reclaim that time — it’s yours to use for your well-being. I suggest putting it in the diary as a meeting – this will ring-fence the time for you." 4. Advocate for Active Policies Jessica explained: "I have worked with a lot of different sponsors and their teams and I’ve seen the difference it makes when workplaces support physical activity. "If you’re struggling to stay active, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with your employer. Suggest ideas like walking meetings, group exercise activities, or even flexible working hours to make staying active more achievable. "Remember, these changes benefit everyone, from employees to the company itself. Recommended reading: 5. Set Active Reminders Jessica said: "I rely on technology to keep me on track. Fitness trackers or simple alarms can remind you to stand, stretch, or take a short walk every hour. "Even small movements like this can make a huge difference to your energy levels and focus throughout the day."
“You need to start dressing your age; you look like a skater,” a co-worker jocularly told me as I let out a whiny chortle to disguise my unease. I felt momentarily disarmed by the comment because the only skater I knew of was pioneering board rider Tony Hawk – and he dressed like a Mormon. Radical, dude: Brendan Foster was left puzzled after some unprompted fashion advice. Credit: WAtoday I wasn’t deeply wounded by the parting barb, but it got me marinating on what toggery was befitting for someone tumbling into their late 50s. Granted, there was something transparently pretentious about the outfit I was wearing that warranted a bit of ribbing: a $100 pair of Converse boots, designer shorts, and a check western shirt from the funky, clothing outlet Get Lucky in Fremantle. There’s a good chance I would punch someone in the ear if they called me an ageing hapless hipster, but if the shoe fits. But is there a cut-off point for men of my vintage when it comes to frocking up like a more sophisticated Dude (minus the bathrobe) from the brilliant Coen Brothers movie The Big Lebowski ? There was probably more symbolic value to my outfit than I was willing to admit, and most psychiatrists would have a field day with my wardrobe. But should I just ungracefully step into a pair of elasticated trousers as my body starts to betray itself? Whatever threads I cobbled together, there was a premeditated plan and that was to feel good. At the risk of sounding reactionary, it’s a pretty harmless way to elevate your style and wellbeing, regardless of your age. I doubt the people who created the labels I sport had my demography in mind when they were coming up with a new summer range. And I haven’t stumbled across any mannequins dressed in homeless chic. (Before I go any further, I just want to sincerely acknowledge the brutal, constant ugliness women have endured from online trolls for donning certain attire. I am nothing more than a non-playing character in the game of fashion cruelties). So, what the hell should I be wearing as I reluctantly wobble into my autumn years? Remarkably, given the endless disappointing dross you can find online, there is bugger-all advice when it comes to age-appropriate apparel for chaps like me. Maybe the lack of meaningful information is because there is just an expectation, hat we decrepit dudes will morph into Alf Stewart from Home and Away . I mean, when you turn 65, does your WA Seniors Card rock up the mail with a free pair of brown sandals, grey supermarket slacks, white singlets, and handkerchiefs? The pants come with clear instructions on how to hitch them above your navel and an ankle bracelet that sets off an alarm if you attempt to enter any designer stores. There is a secret sect of khaki-dressed, police that re-educates Bohemian Boomers who dare rock a bucket hat, knee-length shorts, and old-school Puma runners. Or maybe men don’t grasp what sociologist Julia Twigg calls “the changing room moment” when it comes to us blokes realising we are too old for certain items. Professor Twigg interviewed men aged between 58 and 85 who were surprisingly comfortable in the kit they’d worn most of their lives. “It is clear men have a different relationship to dress from women, and the research shows that this continues into later life,” she said. “There is less in the way of age anxiety in their choices.” It’s not uncommon for the male species to adopt a certain look in their early 20s and be buried in the first suit they bought 60 years ago. If you disregard the nexus to money, which has allowed me to buy clothing that isn’t from charity shops, my style hasn’t changed since the early 90s. I still have an unhealthy amount of corduroy pants and jackets in my wardrobe and retro shirts and sneakers. There is something comforting and reassuring about finding your own style and a certain empowerment for not caring (and caring) about what you wear. We can delude ourselves that the rags we pluck from the cupboard are not calculated pieces of composition because the pair of tracky-dacks and favourite band T-shirt you just reached for, still make you feel content. The right duds give us confidence. No matter what our age. Hey, if you’re unconvinced, here are some scientific facts. In a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , Adam Galinsky and his co-author Hajo Adam coined the term “enclothed cognition”, which describes the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes. The pair believed our garbs had the power to not only impact our mood but also influence the way we feel and interact with the world. “With enclothed cognition, the key idea is not just the wearing of clothes, but the symbolic meaning of the clothes one is wearing,” Galinsky says. I’m not sure the method worked on existentialist thinker John-Paul Sartre, who spent most of his life dressed as a Parisian bus driver. Adam and Galinsky’s theory could also be applied to the workplace, where our cognitive functions or moods shift when we see a person in certain professional attire. I, for one, would feel more assured about getting a rectal exam from a person wearing a stethoscope and lab coat than someone in high-vis. Despite our persistent denial, our clothes send out signals. They play a critical role in shaping our perceptions of who we are. Whether or not my clobber signified to my colleague that I may have missed the “changing room moment”, it didn’t matter. Whatever our generation, the get-up we choose to wear can make us feel attractive, stylish and jolly. As the Shakespeare saying goes, “apparel oft proclaims the man”. Even if that person chooses not to dress their age. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .
Todd Boehly, the American billionaire who co-owns Chelsea FC, has discussed Redbird IMI, the Emirati royal-backed joint venture is attempting to recoup its own outlay on the newspaper after its bid to take control was blocked by legislation. Boehly was invited to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend. His potential involvement emerged on Tuesday as exclusive sale negotiations with Dovid Efune, the American media executive, are due to expire in the coming days. Efune, the little-known publisher of the , has been in exclusivity for almost two months, but doubts have been raised over his ability to finalise funding for the deal. The expectation is that the Chelsea FC owner would prefer not to pursue alongside Efune, although some sources close to talks claimed he could join his bid. The 51-year-old was pictured in Abu Dhabi last week, shortly before Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the United Arab Emirates for talks with its president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is understood that Jeff Zucker, the former CNN chief who heads RedBird IMI, was also in Abu Dhabi over the grand-prix weekend for meetings with the fund’s Emirati backers. whether sale was discussed at the meeting. The wealthy petrostate was angered this year when blocking its attempted takeover of via RedBird IMI. There has been speculation in Whitehall, however, that the Treasury has been demanding a higher threshold to placate the UAE as Sir Keir seeks billions of Middle Eastern investment in major projects Boehly, meanwhile, is well-acquainted with appointed broker Raine, having struck a £2.5 billion deal with the same group in New York in 2022 to buy Chelsea from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Boehly, who is co-founder and chief executive officer of Eldridge Industries, has invested across a wide range of industries from financial services to technology. The possibility of Boehly’s involvement was first reported by but confirmed by other sources close to talks. Friends of Boehly declined to comment. RedBird IMI will not engage with any new bidder until the exclusivity period with Efune has expired, sources maintained. RedBird IMI and its advisers, who include George Osborne, the former chancellor, entered exclusive talks with Efune in October after he comfortably outbid rivals and offered enough for RedBird IMI to recover its costs of more than £500 million. It subsequently emerged that he did not have financing in place, and in November, the six-week exclusivity period was extended to give him more time to put a deal together. RedBird IMI declined to comment.Jimmy Carter’s public service heralded by Southern California lawmakers on either side of the aisle