Critics of the proposed pardons argue that it could set a dangerous precedent and undermine the rule of law by absolving individuals of their crimes without proper legal scrutiny. They raise concerns about the potential for political favoritism and the erosion of the justice system's credibility if pardons are granted indiscriminately.
In a devastating turn of events, three chicken farms in Japan have been hit by an outbreak of avian influenza, leading to the decision to cull a staggering 240,000 chickens. The outbreak has caused widespread concern among authorities and the poultry industry, highlighting the urgent need for stringent biosecurity measures to prevent further spread of the highly contagious disease.
Six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick interviewed for the head-coaching job at North Carolina, Inside Carolina and the Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday. According to the News & Observer, Belichick "blew them away in the interview," yet he is not likely to move forward because he is pushing 73 years old and has no experience in the college game. After he and the New England Patriots agreed to part ways following a 24-year stint, Belichick interviewed for the head job with the Atlanta Falcons, who instead hired Raheem Morris. The North Carolina interview is the first known instance of Belichick showing interest in a college position. Belichick is expected to draw interest for NFL openings in the upcoming hiring cycle. The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory firm to identify coaching candidates to replace Mack Brown, whom they fired at the end of the regular season. North Carolina went 6-6, including 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "We've had a tremendous response of people across the country, of agents calling us, coaches, people calling on behalf of other people that are in the industry," North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in an in-house interview the school posted online earlier this week. "We are very optimistic of where we are, the interest in our program is just extraordinary, and we'll get a great coach to lead us. Who can lead us in the next three, five, 10 years? We need somebody that can come in and take us from good to great." --Field Level MediaReal Madrid and Atalanta Meet Again After 4 Months: A Look Back at Their Previous EncountersSwathes of social care market could collapse under £2.8bn cost pressures
WASHINGTON (AP) — The chair of the Democratic National Committee informed party leaders on Monday that the DNC will choose his successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during four more years of Donald Trump in the White House. Jaime Harrison, in a letter to members of the party’s powerful Rules & Bylaws Committee, outlined the process of how the party will elect its new chair. Harrison said in the letter that the committee will host four candidate forums — some in person and some virtually — in January, with the final election on Feb. 1 during the party’s winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The race to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, while an insular party affair, will come days after Trump is inaugurated for a second term. Democrats' selection of a leader after Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss will be a key starting point as the party starts to move forward, including addressing any structural problems and determining how to oppose Trump. Members of the Rules & Bylaws Committee will meet on Dec. 12 to establish the rules for these elections, which beyond the chair position will include top party roles like vice chairs, treasurer, secretary and national finance chair. The committee will also use that meeting to decide the requirements for gaining access to the ballot for those top party roles. In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement that included signatures from 40 DNC members and that will likely be the same standard for the 2025 campaigns. “The DNC is committed to running a transparent, equitable, and impartial election for the next generation of leadership to guide the party forward,” Harrison said in a statement. “Electing the Chair and DNC officers is one of the most important responsibilities of the DNC Membership, and our staff will run an inclusive and transparent process that gives members the opportunity to get to know the candidates as they prepare to cast their votes.” Two Democrats have announced campaigns for chair: Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Other top Democrats are either considering a run to succeed Harrison or are being pushed by party insiders, including former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Michael Blake, a former vice chair of the party; Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan and a former Chicago mayor; Sen. Mallory McMorrow, majority whip of the Michigan Senate, and Chuck Rocha, a longtime Democratic strategist. The next chair of the committee will be tasked with rebuilding a party demoralized by a second Trump victory. They will also oversee the party’s 2028 nominating process, a complex and contentious exercise that will make the chair central to the next presidential election. Harrison, of South Carolina, made clear in his letter to the rules committee that the four forums hosted by the party would be live streamed and the party would give grassroots Democrats across the country the ability to engage with the process through those events. He also said he intends to remain neutral during the chair election. This story has been corrected to show that McMorrow is a senator, not a representative. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next?During his time at Manchester United, Rafael won numerous titles, including the Premier League, the League Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. His partnership with his twin brother Fabio, who also played for the Red Devils, was a memorable highlight for fans of the club. Rafael's passion for the game and his never-say-die attitude endeared him to supporters, earning him a reputation as a fearless competitor on the pitch.With financial institutions (FIs) fortifying their defenses and evolving their strategies against digital payment fraud, criminals are turning to a new weak spot: the customers themselves. Gone are the days of clunky phishing emails riddled with typos. Today’s fraudsters are using advanced social engineering scams to target consumers directly, leveraging fear, urgency and even fake customer service lines to dupe unsuspecting victims into handing over sensitive information. The latest PYMNTS Intelligence in “ The State of Fraud and Financial Crime in the U.S. ” reveals that social engineering fraud has increased by 56% in the past year. While FIs have made strides in curbing traditional digital payment fraud, the escalating sophistication of scams highlights critical gaps in their defenses. Unlike traditional digital payment fraud — which saw a significant decline in its share of dollar losses, dropping by 57% in 2024 — social engineering scams exploit human psychology rather than technological loopholes. Fraudsters now rely on “customer-centric” tactics, leveraging trust to bypass the robust security systems FIs have built around digital payments. This shift underscores the need for FIs to continuously adapt their fraud prevention strategies and prioritize customer education to mitigate the growing threat of social engineering scams. Read more : Financial Scams Drive 122% Increase in Fraud Losses by US Banks Fraudsters Target Consumers as Banks Beef Up Security The decline in digital payment fraud is a testament to the effectiveness of advanced security measures, such as transaction alerts and device fingerprinting. Yet, combating social engineering scams requires a different approach. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, “ The Impact of Financial Scams on Consumers’ Finances and Banking Habits ,” a collaboration with Featurespace , revealed that financial scams are widespread, affecting 3 in 10 U.S. consumers in the past five years. Scams damage consumer trust in FIs. Over half of victims consider switching FIs, and 30% actually do. The sad reality is that the true incidence of scams is likely higher than what’s being reported, due to embarrassment and perceived futility of reporting. Sixty-five percent of victims blame themselves for falling victim to fraud. But against that backdrop, the same PYMNTS Intelligence data shows that victims prioritize advanced fraud detection and monitoring technologies as the most important safeguards financial institutions can implement. Behavioral analytics — an emerging technology that analyzes patterns in user behavior to detect anomalies — has proven particularly adept at identifying scams that exploit human targets. “[End-users] often don’t have a lot of time to look at a particular message. It becomes harder to understand of it’s a ‘real’ message or one that’s trying to deceive us,” David Excell , founder of Featurespace , told PYMNTS, highlighting the role that technology can play in preventing fraud before the bad actor can stick their foot in the front door. However, a striking 83% of FIs cite budgetary constraints as a barrier to implementing new anti-fraud technologies or enhancing existing ones. While the cost of innovation remains a challenge, FIs must weigh these expenses against the financial and reputational risks of inaction. Read more : Why the Customer Experience Should Drive Fraud Prevention Strategies Winning the Digital Game of Cat and Mouse Forget the stereotype of elderly victims falling prey to smooth-talking fraudsters. Today, it’s the digital-savvy millennials and Gen Z consumers who are more likely to take the hit, per PYMNTS Intelligence. These generations, often perceived as tech-literate, are still frequent targets for scams like identity theft, fake eCommerce schemes and investment fraud, which can deliver devastating financial blows. Scammers do more than deceive their targets. These criminals contribute to undermining trust and confidence in FIs, online transactions and the financial system as a whole. Financial institutions sit at the front lines of this battle and have an opportunity — if not an obligation — to take a stand. From advanced fraud detection technologies to streamlined reporting processes, FIs can empower consumers with tools to detect, report and recover from scams. The fight against fraud is a dynamic and high-stakes battle. As fraudsters continue to refine their strategies, FIs must demonstrate equal agility by embracing innovation and prioritizing customer protection. Institutions that fail to adapt risk not only financial losses but also erosion of customer trust — a critical component of their long-term success.
The tension in the room mounted as Mbappe's words sank in. The players knew that their poor performances could not solely be attributed to a lack of skill or tactics. There was a deeper issue at play, threatening to tear the team apart from within.Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 mark as the post-election rally continues. What's next?Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Monday he will restore the critical positions in the Chicago police department responsible for enforcing the department’s federal consent decree after weeks of backlash that cutting those roles would endanger reform efforts. The mayor’s office released a statement that he would introduce a budget amendment adding back the 162 vacancies he slashed in his 2025 budget that center on roles across the offices of constitutional policing, community policing and more. It’s the latest instance of the mayor reversing course on a controversial provision in next year’s budget, which faces a $1 billion hole, including backing down on an original proposal for a $300 million property tax hike. “My administration is taking significant steps forward to fully support the implementation of CPD’s consent decree reforms and ensure effective constitutional policing,” Johnson wrote in the statement. “The investments we are making in our balanced budget reflect our commitment to improving community policing and a better, stronger, safer Chicago. We see progress in key areas. As I have always said, we have a commitment to reform, and we will continue to make the investments to fund our obligations under the consent decree.” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul had warned Johnson that the mayor’s move to slash those roles would risk the city “being held in contempt of court for failing to comply” with the order, according to a copy of the letter that was obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request this month. That same day, Maggie Hickey, the independent monitor for assessing the city’s compliance with the consent decree, warned slashing those positions would be a “devastating blow” to CPD reform. The Johnson administration in the same mayoral release on Monday quoted the attorney general as saying, “I appreciate that the concerns that I expressed regarding the proposed cuts to CPD’s budget were heard and addressed, and I am encouraged by the positive conversations I had with the corporation counsel.” Even Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling previously suggested he had fought against the cuts, and that he did not “want to break that momentum and I want to make sure that we keep going in the right direction” toward consent decree compliance. In the Monday mayor statement Snelling said reversing those cuts would “continue the progress the Department has made.” The Chicago Police Department has thus far made sluggish progress in complying with the binding court order that came about more than five years ago following the Chicago police murder of Laquan McDonald. Hickey’s latest report covering the first half of 2024 found the city is at full compliance with just 9% of its requirements, up from 7% in the previous monitoring period. Secondary compliance — which means cops have been trained on the policies — was at 37% of monitorable provisions in the same period, up from 35% compared to the last report. Johnson ran for mayor in 2023 on a platform of police reform, but a nearly $1 billion fiscal gap in his second budget season has put him in a tough spot with how to make up the deficit without angering the various factions of City Council who are more and more fed up with his rocky tenure thus far. Johnson’s statement on Monday did not immediately elaborate on what the 162 positions all were or how much restoring them will deepen the budget crisis. His $2.1 billion Chicago police budget plan for next year cut 456 vacant positions, including 358 civilian positions. Many were dedicated to reform efforts. The proposal slashed staffing for the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform by 57%, from 65 to 28. Established by interim CPD Superintendent Charlie Beck in 2020, the office was meant to combine all of the functions tied to consent decree efforts under one office, including training, professional counseling and reform management. CPD’s training division, which trains new recruits for service and current employees for promotions, would shrink by some 27% under Johnson’s proposal, taking it to 237 employees. The professional counseling division that provides mental health care and other assessments for CPD employees would drop by about the same percentage, from 35 to 25 employees. The reform management group responsible for tracking reform efforts consistent with the consent decree would shrink from 19 to 17. The Office of Community Policing would see its staffing dip from 141 down to 55 employees, a decrease of 61%, under Johnson’s proposal. That office coordinates with other city departments to “create a more cohesive partnership” between CPD and the neighborhoods they serve, according to the department’s 2023 annual report. Aside from Raoul and Hickey, several aldermen and outside groups expressed serious concerns about the impact the cuts would have on CPD’s reform efforts and its bottom line, arguing the civilian consent decree employees are often paid less than sworn officers and that their work would help the department lessen police misconduct cases that end up costing the city millions of dollars annually. The most recent warning came Monday morning from one of the city’s own oversight agencies, the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, which urged the council to reverse course. While acknowledging the city’s “severe budget challenges,” CCPSA President Anthony Driver noted in the commission’s annual budget analysis that slowed reform efforts “means more suffering and higher costs. Just as the City has not proposed cutting staff that generate revenue, the City should not cut staff whose work is essential to improve police practices, reduce harm, and reduce the costs associated with bad or unconstitutional policing.” Most of the cuts in the budget came from the “transformational” civilian positions the department added just last year to help with investigations, training, services for crime victims, and analyzing data and developing policies. Of the 456 vacant positions that were eliminated, 358 were civilian ones. Cuts to the constitutional policing or training offices, CCPSA warned, would undercut efforts to reduce harm to civilians and reduce lawsuits. “In the long run, the proposed cuts may cost much more than they save,” the report concluded. The consent decree roles have hardly been the only aspect of the mayor’s $17.3 billion spending plan that has drawn complaints. His proposed $300 million property tax hike was resoundingly shot down 50-0 this month, and a proposed 35% hike on the city alcohol liquor tax has drawn similar enmity. The Tribune’s Jake Sheridan and Sam Charles contributed.
Randy Boissonnault, whose shifting claims to Indigenous identity cost him his job as employment minister, told a House of Commons committee today that he is not Indigenous. Boissonnault was called to testify at the Indigenous and northern affairs committee after a series of media reports, led by the National Post, raised doubts about his past claims related to his heritage. The Edmonton MP has been described as Indigenous multiple times in communications from the Liberal Party, has referred to himself as "non-status adopted Cree" and has said his great-grandmother was a "full-blooded Cree woman." He has since clarified that his adoptive mother and brother are Metis, and he apologized for his shifting claims. Boissonnault out of cabinet after shifting claims about Indigenous heritage Boissonnault apologizes for shifting statements about family's Indigeneity At the committee this morning, Boissonnault said he came up with the term "non-status adopted Cree" after a conversation with an Indigenous researcher and that he was trying to convey his family's heritage. NDP MP Lori Idlout, who is Inuk, pressed him on which Cree nation his family belonged to. Boissonnault had no answer. "I grew up understanding that my family was Cree, and I didn't question my family about which nation," he said, adding that his great-grandmother "married a settler and so there was no First Nation that she was connected to." Idlout later asked what he was doing to correct the mistakes about his identity. "I would be happy to meet with you separately to get your advice on what you think I should do," Boissonnault said, as Idlout replied "No, no." "I have not stated that I'm Indigenous, I've not ever stated that I seek Indigenous status so I haven't taken any step," he said. Idlout cut him off, saying in Inuktitut that "Pretendianism is not only harmful, it is fraud." WATCH | Boissonnault leaves cabinet after uproar over Indigenous heritage claims Boissonnault leaves cabinet after uproar over Indigenous heritage claims 15 days ago Duration 4:18 Alberta MP and now former employment minister Randy Boissonnault has stepped away from the Liberal cabinet after days of criticism over his shifting Indigenous ancestry claims. Boissonnault told the committee he has been speaking with Indigenous leaders and elders and seeking advice on how to make amends. He said the phrase "non-status adopted Cree" was something he came up with because there was no term that described his situation. He said he was sorry that it was "not as clear as it could have been." He also said he felt the committee's work in "unpacking the nexus of identity, heritage and status" is important. Bloc Quebecois MP Nathalie Sinclair Desgagne asked why Boissonnault used to begin some of his speeches in the Cree language, and whether that amounted to cultural appropriation. He defended that practice, saying in French that he wanted to be an ally of Indigenous Peoples, that some Indigenous people told him he was "talented in languages" and that it was important for him to add Cree to his speeches. It is not uncommon for politicians to include words in Indigenous languages in addresses to Indigenous communities. Newly released texts raise fresh questions about Randy Boissonnault's business dealings Boissonnault cleared in preliminary ethics probe of his business dealings Conservatives call for 'other Randy' to testify as minister's business dealings face ethics probe The National Post also reported that a company he co-founded when he was not an MP had described itself as wholly Indigenous-owned in order to apply for government contracts set aside for Indigenous businesses. It was not successful in those bids. Boissonnault said Thursday he was "glad the current safeguards worked correctly." He also said his former business partner and the company's other co-founder, Stephen Anderson, used his name without his consent and "conducted himself unethically." Boissonnault insists he has not been involved in the business since he was re-elected in 2021 and said he has sought legal advice on the matter. Conservative MP Michael Cooper asked why he hadn't sued Anderson already. Boissonnault said he has started the process to begin legal action and it was one of the reasons he resigned from cabinet. The pair's business dealings and the company they founded, Global Health Imports, have been the subject of two ethics committee probes. The Conservatives have accused Anderson of lying to committee and want to call him before the bar in the House of Commons for a formal reprimand. That authority has only been used twice since 1913.I want to take the plunge and be with a man – but I’m worried about what people will think
Angel Mom Tells Senate Democrats 'Deportation Is Necessary,' Showing Photo of Murdered DaughterThe Israeli ambassador to Washington says a ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants could be reached “within days.” Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday there remain “points to finalize” and any deal requires agreement from the government. But he said “we are close to a deal.” Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a proposed ceasefire. Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon. Israeli warplanes bombed the Lebanese capital of Beirut and killed at least 12 people in southern Lebanon’s Tyre province, the country’s Health Ministry said. The deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in the indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and an Israeli ground invasion of the country’s south. Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli military bases, cities and towns, including some 250 projectiles on Sunday. In the Gaza Strip, more than 44,000 people have been killed and more than 104,000 wounded in the 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Here's the Latest: BEIRUT — A top Hamas official in Lebanon said the Palestinian militant group will support a ceasefire between its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and Israel, despite Hezbollah's previous promises to stop the fighting in Lebanon only if the war in Gaza ends. “Any announcement of a ceasefire is welcome. Hezbollah has stood by our people and made significant sacrifices,” Osama Hamdan told the Lebanese broadcaster Al-Mayadeen, which is seen as politically allied with Hezbollah. There has been no official comment on a potential Lebanon ceasefire from Gaza-based leaders of either Hamas or the smaller militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Hamdan is a member of Hamas' political wing. Palestinian militants in Gaza have repeatedly regrouped after Israeli operations, carrying out hit-and-run attacks from tunnels and bombed-out buildings. Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire across the border since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas attacked Israel and sparked the war in Gaza. Israel escalated the war in September, killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of his top commanders in a wave of airstrikes, and Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October. JERUSALEM -- Israel has tightened restrictions on public gatherings and outdoor activities in areas near the Lebanese border as officials move closer toward a ceasefire deal. The army’s Home Front Command said it was changing its public safety guidelines to “limited activity” from “partial activity.” As part of the order, school was canceled in the area. The Israeli security Cabinet is scheduled to convene Tuesday to discuss a cease-fire proposal and possibly approve it. The tighter restrictions reflect concerns that fighting could intensify ahead of any possible cease-fire. The Israeli army says at least 20 projectiles were fired by Hezbollah toward Israel Monday, a day after the Lebanese group launched over 250 rockets and missiles. The Israeli air force conducted strikes against suspected Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. Israel’s military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 12 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. BEIRUT — Israel’s military bombed commercial and residential buildings in the Lebanese capital of Beirut and killed at least 12 people in the southern port city of Tyre on Monday, the Health Ministry said, as Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli military officials said they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut’s southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city’s largest public park. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. No casualties were reported after many residents fled the targeted sites. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel had issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said more than 3,700 people in Lebanon who have been killed since Israel launched its invasion two months ago. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon’s Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding U.S.-led ceasefire negotiations. The country’s deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment in order to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike that killed three journalists and wounded others in Lebanon last month was most likely a deliberate attack on civilians and an apparent war crime, an international human rights group said Monday. The Oct. 25 airstrike killed three journalists as they slept at a guesthouse in southeast Lebanon in one of the deadliest attacks on the media since the Israel-Hezbollah war began 13 months ago. Eleven other journalists have been killed and eight wounded since then, Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said. Human Rights Watch determined that Israeli forces carried out the Oct. 25 attack using an air-dropped bomb equipped with a U.S.-produced Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, guidance kit. The group said the U.S. government should suspend weapons transfers to Israel because of the military’s repeated “unlawful attacks on civilians, for which U.S. officials may be complicit in war crimes.” There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the report. Human Rights Watch said that it found remnants at the site and reviewed photographs of pieces collected by the resort owner and determined that they were consistent with a JDAM guidance kit assembled and sold by the U.S. company Boeing. The JDAM is affixed to air-dropped bombs and allows them to be guided to a target by using satellite coordinates, making the weapon accurate to within several meters, the group said. UNITED NATIONS — Israel’s U.N. ambassador says he expects a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah to have stages, and “it’s not going to happen overnight.” Danny Danon told reporters Monday “we haven’t finalized it but we are moving forward.” He added, “I assume that the Cabinet will meet today or tomorrow to discuss it.” What’s important for Israel, he said, is that Hezbollah militants will be pushed to the north of the Litani River and will not be allowed to come back. Danon was asked about reports that Israel wants the right to go back into Lebanon to attack Hezbollah if it returns to the south but the Lebanese government rejected that out of hand. He stressed that Israel learned the lessons from U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. It called for the deployment of the Lebanese army throughout the south and disarmament of all armed groups including Hezbollah but was never implemented. “We will make sure that we will have the ability to neutralize any threat that will not be dealt in southern Lebanon,” he said. “I hope that the Lebanese army will take care of that in the future, but if they will fail again, we will be there.” In the ceasefire proposal, Danon said, “there are different stages, few requirements.” He said the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL is not part of the agreement as far as he knows, but he called its presence there “important, and we are grateful for that.” “They know about what’s happening, and I think they have also to take advantage of the situation and make sure that the uniform presence is more effective,” the Israeli ambassador said. JERUSALEM — A senior Israeli officer has resigned following the deaths of two people, including a 70-year-old Israeli man, in a Hezbollah ambush last week in southern Lebanon. The Israeli military has launched an investigation into last Wednesday’s incident, in which 70-year-old Zeev Erlich was killed along with a 20-year-old soldier. They are trying to determine, among other things, who allowed Erlich into the combat zone with the forces and why he was allowed to enter. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Col. Yoav Yarom, the chief of staff of the army’s Golani infantry brigade, said he was stepping down. Yarom, who was wounded in the incident, said a “false and far from the truth narrative” has emerged. Nonetheless, he said “in light of the values upon which I was raised ... I believe I must take a commander’s responsibility for the event.” He did not specify his role. According to Israeli media reports, Erlich was not on active duty when he was shot, but was wearing a military uniform and had a weapon. The army said he was a reservist with the rank of major and identified him as a “fallen soldier” when it announced his death. Erlich was a well-known West Bank settler and researcher of Jewish history. Media reports said he was permitted to enter Lebanon to explore a local archaeological site. The military said the investigation is continuing. JERUSALEM — Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet is set to convene on Tuesday to discuss a proposed ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Officials have said the sides are close to a deal that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah forces from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. Two officials confirmed the Cabinet meeting is set for Tuesday, but they said it is still not clear whether the decision-making body will vote to approve the deal. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing internal deliberations. — Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Weather is compounding the challenges facing displaced people in Gaza, where heavy rains and dropping temperatures are making tents and other temporary shelters uninhabitable. Government officials in the Hamas-controlled coastal enclave said on Monday that nearly 10,000 tents had been swept away by flooding over the past two days, adding to their earlier warnings about the risks facing those sheltering in low-lying floodplains, including areas designated as humanitarian zones. Um Mohammad Marouf, a mother who fled bombardments in northern Gaza and now is sheltering with her family in a Gaza City tent said the downpour had covered her children and left everyone wet and vulnerable. “We have nothing to protect ourselves,” she said outside the United Nations-provided tent where she lives with 10 family members. Marouf and others living in rows of cloth and nylon tents hung their drenched clothing on drying lines and re-erected their tarpaulin walls on Monday. Officials from the Hamas-run government said that 81% of the 135,000 tents appeared unfit for shelter, based on recent assessments, and blamed Israel for preventing the entry of additional needed tents. They said many had been swept away by seawater or were inadequate to house displaced people as winter sets in. The U.N estimates that around 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services. Israeli evacuation warnings now cover around 90% of the territory. “The first rains of the winter season mean even more suffering. Around half a million people are at risk in areas of flooding. The situation will only get worse with every drop of rain, every bomb, every strike,” UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, wrote in a statement on X on Monday. ROME — Several Arab foreign ministers, gathering in Rome on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting, are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates, and the secretary general of the League of Arab States, all participated in a Rome conference before joining G7 foreign minsters later in the day in nearby Fiuggi. “Gaza is now a graveyard for children, a graveyard for human values, a graveyard for international law,” said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The Mideast conflict was the top agenda item Monday for the G7, amid reported progress on a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said a deal could be reached within days. “We all hope and pray that this ceasefire will be realized because the absence of it will mean more destruction, and more and more animosity, and more dehumanization, and more hatred, and more bitterness which will doom the future of the region to more conflict and more killing and more destruction,” Safadi said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed that Cairo would host a ministerial-level conference next Monday on mobilizing international aid for Gaza. In remarks to the “Mediterranean Dialogues” conference, he called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, the release of hostages, provision of humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the initiation of “a serious and genuine political process” to create a Palestinian state. TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli rights group said Monday that more than a quarter of all Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel had contracted scabies since an outbreak was identified in May, and accused the prison authority of improper care and prevention. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said that more than 2,800 prisoners had caught the rash-like infection, with more than 1,700 still actively infected. The outbreak was seen in five different detention facilities, the group said. It was citing figures it said came from the Israel Prison Service. The group said it filed a legal petition calling on the prison service “ to eradicate the scabies epidemic,” accusing the authorities of failing “to implement widely recognized medical interventions necessary to contain the outbreak.” It said that it halted the legal proceedings after it received a commitment from the prison service to address the outbreak. The prison service said the court had cancelled the petition because the prisons had shown they were dealing with the outbreak in a “systematic and thorough” way. Nadav Davidovich, an Israeli public health expert who wrote a medical analysis for the group’s court proceedings, said the outbreak was a result of overcrowding in prisons and apparent neglect from prison authorities. He said such outbreaks could be prevented if prisoners were held “in more reasonable conditions.” If the first infections were treated as needed, such an outbreak could have been avoided, he said. Physicians for Human Rights-Israel also said that the Israel Prison Service had cited scabies as a reason for postponing lawyers' visits and court appearances for prisoners. It said those steps “violate prisoners’ rights and serve as punitive measures rather than public health responses.” Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the prisons, has boasted about hardening conditions to the bare minimum required by law. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s deputy parliament speaker has accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment of Lebanon in order to pressure the government to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because “we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire.” “We are optimistic, and there is hope, but nothing is guaranteed with a person like (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu),” Bousaab told reporters. Israel has carried out heavy strikes in central Beirut in recent days, while Hezbollah has increased its rocket fire into Israel. The United States is trying to broker an agreement in which Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Lebanese troops would patrol the region, along with a U.N. peacekeeping force. Israel has demanded freedom of action to strike Hezbollah if it violates the ceasefire, but Bousaab said that was not part of the emerging agreement. He also said Israel had accepted that France be part of the committee overseeing the ceasefire after Lebanese officials insisted. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli side. Israel has objected to France being on the committee in the wake of the International Criminal Court’s decision last week to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu , his former defense minister and a Hamas military commander. France said it supports the court. It said the question of whether it would arrest Netanyahu if he set foot on French soil was a “complex legal issue” that would have to be worked out. JERUSALEM — The Palestinian Health Ministry says Israeli forces killed two people, including a 13-year-old, in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military said the two had thrown explosives at forces overnight near the Palestinian town of Yabad and that the forces had responded by opening fire. The Health Ministry identified the two as Mohammed Hamarsheh, 13, and Ahmad Zayd, 20. It did not disclose details about the circumstances behind their deaths. It was the latest bloodshed in the West Bank, which has faced a surge of violence throughout the 13-month war in Gaza. The Health Ministry says nearly 800 people have been killed, with more than 160 of them 18 and younger. Many have been killed in fighting with the Israeli military, but Palestinians throwing rocks and others not involved in confrontations have also been killed. There has also been an increase in Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the West Bank since the war in Gaza began. JERUSALEM — The Israeli government has ordered all public entities to stop advertising in the Haaretz newspaper, which is known for its critical coverage of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said Sunday that the government had approved his proposal after Haaretz’ publisher called for sanctions against Israel and referred to Palestinian militants as “freedom fighters.” “We advocate for a free press and freedom of expression, but also the freedom of the government to decide not to fund incitement against the State of Israel,” Karhi wrote on the social platform X. Noa Landau, the deputy editor of Haaretz, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “working to silence independent and critical media,” comparing him to autocratic leaders in other countries. Haaretz regularly publishes investigative journalism and opinion columns critical of Israel’s ongoing half-century occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state. It has also been critical of Israel’s war conduct in Gaza at a time when most local media support the war and largely ignore the suffering of Palestinian civilians. In a speech in London last month, Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken said Israel has imposed “a cruel apartheid regime” on the Palestinians and was battling “Palestinian freedom fighters that Israel calls ‘terrorists.’” He later issued a statement, saying he had reconsidered his remarks. “For the record, Hamas are not freedom fighters,” he posted on X. “I should have said: using terrorism is illegitimate. I was wrong not to say that.” DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s supreme leader has suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be “sentenced to death” for his role in the ongoing wars in the Gaza Strip against Hamas and in Lebanon. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the remarks Monday during an event in which he spoke to members of the Basij, the all-volunteer arm of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Khamenei referenced the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Israel’s former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “What the Zionist regime did in Gaza and Lebanon is not a victory, it is a war crime. Now they have issued a warrant for their arrest. This is not enough!” Khamenei said, according to remarks published by the state-run IRNA news agency. “Netanyahu and the criminal leaders of this regime must be sentenced to death.” The International Criminal Court at the Hague does not issue death sentences. Khamenei also insisted those in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance,” like the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, would be stronger after the war. “The idiots should not think that bombing houses and hospitals in Gaza and Lebanon is a victory,” he said. “The enemy has not become winner in Gaza and Lebanon, and it will not be winner.”
Rumble Stock In Focus After Exclusive Content Deal With Dr Disrespect: Retail’s OptimisticLANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Allowing two kickoff return touchdowns and missing an extra point all in the final few minutes added up to the a third consecutive game in excruciating fashion. The underlying reason for this slide continuing was a problem long before that. An offense led by that was among the NFL's best for a long stretch of the season put up just nine points and 169 yards for the first three-plus quarters against Dallas before falling behind 20-9 and teeing off on the Cowboys' conservative defense. “We just couldn’t really get it going,” said , whose lengthy touchdown with 21 seconds left masked that he had just three catches for 16 yards through three quarters. “We’ve got to find a way to start faster and sustain drives, and that’s everybody: the whole coaching staff and the offensive players just going out there and figuring out ways that we can stay on the field.” This is not a new problem for Washington, which had a season-low 242 yards in a and 264 yards four days later at Philadelphia. Since returning from a rib injury that last month, Daniels has completed just under 61% of his passes, after 75.6% over his first seven professional starts. Daniels and have insisted this isn't about injury. The coaching staff blamed a lack of adequate practice time, but a full week of it before facing the Cowboys did not solve the problem. It is now fair to wonder if opponents have seen enough film of to figure it out. “I think teams and coordinators are going to see what other teams have success against us and try to figure out how they could incorporate that into their scheme," Daniels said after going 12 of 22 for 80 yards passing through three quarters in the Dallas game. "We’ve been in third and longer a lot these past couple games, so that’s kind of where you get into the exotic pressures and stuff like that. We’ve just got to be better on first and second downs and stay ahead of the chains.” Daniels has a point there, and it predates this losing streak. The Commanders have converted just 36% of third-down opportunities (27 for 75) over their past seven games after 52% (31 for 60) in their first five. That challenge doesn't get any easier with Tennessee coming to town Sunday. The Titans, despite being 3-8, have the second-best third-down defense in the league at 31.6%. What’s working The defense kept the Commanders in the game against Dallas, allowing just 10 points until the fourth quarter and 20 total before kickoff return touchdowns piled on to the other side of the scoreboard. Even Cooper Rush's 22-yard touchdown pass to Luke Schoonmaker with five minutes left came after a turnover that gave the Cowboys the ball at the Washington 44. The defense spending more than 35 minutes on the field certainly contributed to fatigue as play wore on. What needs help The running game that contributed to a 7-2 start has taken a hit, in part because of The Commanders got 145 yards on the ground because Daniels had 74 on seven carries, but running backs combined for just 57. Daniels could not say how much the rushing attack stalling has contributed to the offense going stagnant. “You’ve got to be able to run the ball, keep the defense honest,” he said. "We got to execute the plays that are called in, and we didn’t do a good job of doing that.” Stock up Linebacker Frankie Luvu keeps making the case to be Adam Peters' best free agent signing. He and fellow offseason addition tied for a team-high eight tackles, and Luvu also knocked down three passes against Dallas. Stock down Kicker Austin Seibert going wide left on the point-after attempt that would have tied the score with 21 seconds left was his third miss of the game. He also was short on a 51-yard field goal attempt and wide left on an earlier extra point. Seibert, signed a week into the season after Cade York struggled in the opener, and was 22 of 22 on extra points before injuring his right hip and missing the previous two games. He brushed off his health and the low snap from Tyler Ott while taking responsibility for not connecting. “I made the decision to play, and here we are,” Seibert said. “I just wasn’t striking it well. But it means a lot to me to be here with these guys, so I just want to put my best foot moving forward.” Injuries Robinson's sprained ankle and fellow running back from a late kickoff return that led to him being hospitalized for further evaluation are two major immediate concerns. Quinn said Monday that Ekeler and starting right tackle Andrew Wylie are in concussion protocol. It's unclear if Robinson will be available against Tennessee, which could mean Chris Rodriguez Jr. getting elevated from the practice squad to split carries with Jeremy McNichols. The Commanders still have not gotten cornerback Marshon Lattimore into a game since from New Orleans. from a hamstring injury, and the secondary could use him against Calvin Ridley, who's coming off at Houston. Key number 17 — Handoffs to a running back against Dallas, a significant decrease from much of the season before this losing streak. Next steps Don't overlook the Titans with the late bye week coming immediately afterward. The Commanders opened as more than a touchdown favorite, but after the results over the weekend, BetMGM Sportsbook had it as 5 1/2 points Monday. ___ AP NFL: Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Dec. 10 in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that's coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3 percent on Tuesday, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high. They're the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq each fell 0.3 percent. Technology titan Oracle dragged on the market. Its stock sank 6.7 percent after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday's report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday's update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year's third cut to interest rates. NEW YORK — A judge has temporarily halted a proposed merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons, an action that could scuttle the deal. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson issued the ruling Dec. 10 after a three-week hearing in Portland, Ore. Harris Teeter parent Kroger Co. and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this year, asking Nelson to block the $24.6 billion deal until an in-house administrative judge at the FTC could consider the merger's implications. Nelson agreed to pause the merger. Regulators argue that combining the chains would be bad for consumers and workers by eliminating competition. The companies say a merger would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon. The case may now move to the FTC, although Kroger and Albertsons have asked a different federal judge to block the in-house proceedings. DETROIT — General Motors said Dec. 10 it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. GM said it would get out of robotaxis "given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market." The company said it will combine Cruise's technical staff with its own to work on advanced systems to assist drivers. NEW YORK — Alaska Airlines said Dec. 10 it will start new service to Tokyo and Seoul from its home base in Seattle next year as part of a plan to boost international flights over the next several years. The carrier also raised its fourth-quarter outlook and publicized a plan to boost profit by $1 billion over three years. It said greater efficiency from combining with Hawaiian Airlines will save the company at least $500 million by 2027. Alaska also plans to introduce a new premium co-branded credit card; similar deals have been lucrative for other carriers. Alaska also announced a plan to spend $1 billion buying back its own stock, which makes existing shares more valuable. The airline's goal is to fly from Seattle to at least a dozen international destinations by 2030, using big jets owned by Hawaiian, which Alaska bought this year. HONG KONG — China's exports slowed in November and its imports declined, falling below forecasts and underscoring potential weakness in trade at a time when its leaders are striving to boost the economy after the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Customs data released Dec. 10 showed exports grew 6.7 percent from a year earlier, down from a 12.7 percent increase in October. Analysts had estimated that exports had risen more than 8 percent. Imports fell 3.9 percent from a year earlier, reflecting weak demand from industries and consumers. With exports outpacing imports, China's trade surplus rose to $97.4 billion. The report came a day after Beijing pledged to loosen monetary policy and provide more support for the world's No. 2 economy, which is South Carolina's largest global trading partner. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to slap tariffs of 60 percent or more on imports of Chinese goods, complicating Beijing's efforts by threatening an area of the economy that has performed relatively well while the property sector remains in the doldrums and consumer spending remains fragile. MEW YORK — Morgan Stanley Smith Barney will pay a $15 million penalty as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to four financial advisers who stole millions of dollars of advisory clients' and brokerage customers' funds. The settlement announced late Monday is also related to the firm's failure to adopt policies and procedures designed to prevent and detect such theft. The SEC order said that MSSB failed to adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent its financial advisers from using two forms of unauthorized third-party disbursements, Automated Clearing House payments and certain patterns of cash wire transfers, to misappropriate funds from customer accounts. The order said the financial advisers, in Texas and California, made hundreds of unauthorized transfers from customers' or clients' accounts to themselves or for their own benefit. Morgan Stanley formed a venture with Citigroup's Smith Barney in 2009 and purchased the business outright in 2013. BEIJING — Chinese official broadcaster CCTV says a former chairman of the state-owned bank China Everbright Group has been jailed 12 years for embezzlement and bribery. Tang Shuangning, who had also held senior posts at the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, was arrested in January, part of a wider wave of prosecutions of senior officials accused of financial crimes. A court in the city of Tangshan, about 100 miles east of Beijing, found him guilty of taking advantage of his position at the state-owned bank in “seeking convenience for others” in jobs and loans, in exchange for illegal payments. The court said he had accepted illegal property with a total value of more than $1.5 million.
“Running north to south” is a phrase used constantly by football coaches and analysts imploring running backs to get up the field as quick — and as straight — as possible. It is a running style embodied by Eastern Kentucky University’s Joshua Carter. The powerful running back from Navarre, Fla., has been effective in getting to the end zone with that style. Carter’s path to success, however, has been far from a straight line, but rather a twisting and winding journey. Coming out of high school, Carter was actually recruited for his prowess in stopping running backs — as a linebacker. At Navarre High, he concluded his senior season (2018) with the school record for tackles, tackles-for-loss, sacks and forced fumbles. Carter also showed off his raw strength in the offseason claiming two state titles in weightlifting at the 219-pound division. “Weightlifting for me was just another thing I could compete in. That’s why I wanted to do it,” Carter said. “It helped maintaining strength and discipline, and that’s what I pride myself on. I want to be a strong and disciplined person and that’s how I approach football.” Despite the performances on and off the field, many schools overlooked Carter, leaving him to take a preferred walk-on spot at South Alabama. “I really didn’t have the measurables that most people look for in a linebacker,” said the 5-foot-9, 207 pound running back. “There aren’t many schools that are looking for anyone that’s my height, but I wanted to take the opportunity at South Alabama and make the most of it. I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge.” He took that challenge head on and earned a scholarship after playing in 10 games his freshman season of 2019. However, an ACL injury and change in coaching staff brought a new challenge to Carter. “Coming back from my ACL injury the coaches at South Alabama met with me and told me they were thinking about switching me to running back,” Carter said. That switch, while challenging, was nothing new to Carter, who comes from a proud family history of running backs. His father, Tony Carter, played running back at South Carolina State before later joining the military. His oldest brother, Dwayne, lettered as a running back at Harding (Ark.), and his other older brother, Michael, played four years at North Carolina before being drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. “Playing running back wasn’t new to me,” Carter said. “I had to knock the rust off because I had played the position a bit in high school, and obviously I knew a lot about it because of my family.” After taking a redshirt year in 2021, Carter entered the transfer portal as a running back in search for a place that would look not at his measurables, but the strength and discipline he had on and off the field. “Entering the portal was a shot in the dark because I didn’t have a lot of film as a running back,” Carter said. “It was difficult for me, personally, but I relied on the strength of my family and the strength they instilled in me like I always had. Both my parents were in the military, I’m a reflection of them ... and they always told me one decision can alter your life.” Carter made a life-altering decision between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, committing to EKU after he was invited on a visit by offensive coordinator and running backs coach Andy Richman. “When I came here, I really just liked what I saw from the start,” Carter said. “Richmond was a nice change of pace compared to where I grew up in Florida. It offered less distractions and really just fit my vibe as a person. I like how tight-knit everyone is here, but I can still have quiet time with myself to focus and reflect.” The grass was not immediately greener on the other side, though. Carter found himself at a relatively still new position, in an unfamiliar place, and in a room filled with talented running backs. So, it would be up to the Florida native to make his grass as green as he could. “I had to work my way up to get on the field when I got here,” said Carter. “There was not going to be a lot of reps just handed out. I had to work my way up to the field when I got here, but I know hard work pays off ... It’s that belief that I was raised on.” His hard work began to bear fruit last season as he tallied a career-best 714 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 120 rushing attempts. He also earned All-UAC recognition from FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. Now EKU’s No. 1 running back, Carter’s strength and discipline has led to success and celebration on the field. During the regular season, the redshirt senior racked up more than 1,100 yards rushing and also caught 20 passes for 181 yards. He has a team-best 13 rushing TDs on the season. And the running back is a big reason the Colonels (8-4, 6-2 UAC) won their final four games and got an at-large bid to the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. Carter had the game-winning touchdown for EKU in three-straight weeks, including in overtime on Nov. 16 at Austin Peay. Success and celebration has been hard-earned by the once overlooked and undersized linebacker who found his gap after patiently waiting, and now continues the Carter family legacy of running backs. Family remains at the center of Carter’s plans whenever football comes to an end as well. “I currently run a clothing brand with my brothers, named C3 Sports,” Carter said. “Whenever football ends for me and even before then I plan on continuing to work on that with them and build our success together as a family.” With his track record of patience, strength, and discipline it will be no surprise to anyone who knows him when the business becomes a success, even if it does not come in a straight line, going “north to south.” The Colonels are set to take on Villanova this Saturday in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs. Game time is set for 2 p.m. in Villanova, Penn.