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qphil NEW YORK (Reuters) - The FBI has warned the NBA that many recent home burglaries targeting professional athletes and high net worth individuals may be connected to sophisticated, transnational theft rings, the league said in a memo obtained by Reuters on Friday. Two players in the NBA had their homes broken into in recent weeks, according to media reports, along with the NFL's twice MVP Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Travis Kelce, who is dating pop superstar Taylor Swift. The memo, which the NBA directed to teams across the league, advised that players should install updated security systems and utilize protective guard services when they are away from home for extended periods of time. "NBA Security received a briefing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation ('FBI') that connected many of the home burglaries to transnational South American Theft Groups ('SATGs')," the memo read. "These SATGs are reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices." The FBI said that the homes that were broken into were all unoccupied and, in most cases, were equipped with alarm systems that had not been activated, according to the memo. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The memo is similar in nature to a document that the NFL sent this week, in which the league advised players to ramp up home security. Around-the-clock media reports and team schedules make it easy to know when players are on the road for extended periods of time and the NFL urged players to exercise caution in what they post to social media. The NFL said that surveillance tactics included attempted home deliveries and individuals posing as joggers or home maintenance workers. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Sarah Lynch in Washington, D.C.)Berry's 27 lead Charleston Southern past Columbia International 95-89

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Berry's 27 lead Charleston Southern past Columbia International 95-89

Many of us dream of retirement: Traveling, visiting family and friends, having more control over our daily choices and schedules. But what happens when those dreams are suddenly shattered by a sudden injury, unplanned move, or loss of a job? Margaret (Maggie) Combs experienced the shattering of her dreams more than nine years ago due to an injury that took her health, her job, her home, and forced her into a nursing facility at age 64. A former speech pathologist, she suddenly found herself living in a shared room, far away from former friends, and subject to the schedules of others. She admits to being “frightened beyond her imagination,” feeling isolated, and barely coping after a near death health scare. Her reaction: A deep depression. Medical intervention helped. It did not relieve the ache and pain of dreams and a life lost. Like flowers, people need to bloom, but how does one do that when they are in rocky soil? The National Council for Aging in their publication, “Aging Mastery Playbook,” cites six critical components of healthy living. Three of them were missing in Maggie’s life: Connections and Community, Creativity and Learning, and Legacy and Purpose. Without them, she was struggling to find ways to adjust to her “new normal.” She felt lost, invisible, and out of control. Enter the Quilters. One of the volunteers for Maggie’s living facility also happened to be the president of the Columbia River Gorge Quilters’ Guild. She invited Maggie to visit a guild meeting to “get outside.” Although she had only done a “bit of sewing” growing up, Maggie accepted the invitation. Nervous about being around “such amazing quilters,” she tried to hang out on the edges. However, quilters are notorious for being social. Maggie suddenly found herself surrounded by a group of people who immediately accepted her and made her feel welcome. She left with donations of fabric, a loaned sewing machine that allowed her to hand control the sewing speed rather than use a foot pedal (Maggie uses a wheelchair for mobility), and a pattern for a 9-patch block. Lessons followed, and she started by making simple blocks with squares and triangles. Craft-based activities can help people improve their mental health. Research shows that working with bright colors is psychologically uplifting. Quilting is a challenging craft, requiring concentration and mastery of new skills. Quilters often find themselves “lost in the flow” while working, leading to reduced anxiety and helping with pain management. Quilting is also a “group activity” with quilters meeting frequently to work on projects, share skills, take classes, and have fun. “Quilting saved my life,” Maggie tells folks. “Without it, I do not know if I would even be here.” She has found quilting to be stimulating and enjoys finding quilting related websites and online ideas. She has made new friends who stop by regularly to visit. She attends monthly sewing sessions, guild classes, and volunteers at the guild’s annual fall quilt show. She especially enjoys getting “lost” in her hobby, forgetting where she lives and the many restrictions on her life. Perhaps the biggest “save” was Maggie finding a purpose. When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Maggie went into high gear, making more than 1,000 cloth masks that were dispersed to the facility residents and staff, schools, and doctor ‘s offices. The facility business manager collected donated fabric and orders for Maggie’s masks. One doctor told Maggie that she had likely saved more than 100 lives by providing cloth masks before PPE was readily available. Post pandemic, Maggie has returned to making quilts for her family and for guild charity projects. She spends her days learning new skills, looking for new patterns, organizing her “stash,” and planning her new projects. She has a goal for making sure everyone at her living facility has a wheelchair quilt and plans to host sewing sessions on site. She now has her own larger sewing machine. Staff and visitors often poke their heads in to peek at Maggie’s latest sewing project. “Create with the heart, build with the mind,” is a quote by Chris Jami. It is never too late to learn to express yourself creatively and keep your mind active. It is essential for living and aging well. Start today — create! About the author In this installment of Through the Eyes of an Elder, Kim Vogel interviews Maggie Combs. Vogel lives in Hood River and volunteers as the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for facilities in Hood River County and The Oregon Veteran’s home in The Dalles. A retired public educator, she has been quilting for more than 45 years. “Through the Eyes of an Elder” “Through the Eyes of an Elder” is contributed monthly by the Aging in the Gorge Alliance. Its purpose is to enhance understanding and appreciation for Mid-Columbia’s older adults, their loved ones, and caregivers. Email suggestions for future columns to EyesofanElder@gmail.com .Vikings have ruled out tight end Josh Oliver. What does that mean for the running game?